"H-huge!"
Cedric exclaimed, The pyramid erected before us was indeed huge. I didn't know how to explain it but it felt like we were transported to an unknown location, the sky was crimson red mainly because of the sun.
Everywhere was dominated by grasses and tall trees which spread out wide with the pyramid in the middle of it. Luckily for us we popped up from what we confirmed was a small pond right in front of the pyramid.
"Hehehe well what do you know, the legends are true."
"Were you doubting them before Cedric?"
Rachel questioned.
Cedric actually doesn't believes in fairytales or legends. Truth be told he only accompanied us because he wanted to get his hands on Tendon Seis but unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet.
"Well."
Cedric took a step forward towards the pyramid, I knew he was a moron but I never knew he was a total moron.
"Wait! you shouldn't go walking randomly into an ancient-"
CLICK!
Cedric's right leg crossed a wire as he walked towards the pyramid, didn't he stop to consider a pyramid as sacred as this would be protected by several booby traps or something?
The ground surrounding the pyramid slid open like a cabinet retracting into the ground-level wall of the pyramid. Multiple spikes were revealed beneath the ground facing upwards, this was a bobby trap created to impale and kill anyone who tried trespassing.
"Uh-huh."
We were in a tight spot, the entrance to the temple underground was the pyramid but how were we going to get there now? Spikes were literally everywhere around the pyramid. Solarius really went too far constructing such a landscape, she really didn't want anyone to obtain her treasures.
Cedric struggled to regain his balance as he was one step away from getting caught by the spikes, this quest was becoming more ugly as we progressed.
"Solarius must have been pissed when she created this temple, I mean what the hell is this!? a river of spikes!?"
Rachel was calm, her ability to remain calm and focused in an intense situation is probably the only reason why I haven't lost my sanity on this quest.
"Cedric, if you will."
Rachel spoke.
"Huh?"
I was confused, what was she talking about?
"Tsk, damn goddess."
I watched Cedric join his hands together before crouching to his right knee and placing his palms on the ground right in front of the spikes.
"Earth Magic: Geokinesis!"
Manipulating the elements and minerals of the ground below him, he infused his magic into the ground which caused it to extend forward creating a vertical passage over the spikes and towards the pyramid.
"Alright! let's get this over with."
Cedric is an earth mage? in theory it's possible I mean, I've come across an elementalist mage who had control over the wind but earth? It was a rare magic in this world.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Crimson Heart was ground zero for all things weird and troublesome and in my opinion that made them one of the best guilds there is because of that unique trait.
Thanks to Cedric we were able to overcome the first obstacle in our path and we crossed over the spikes. As we got to the entrance of the pyramid it had no doors leaving all but one opening for anyone who made it to the pyramid, maybe Solarius assumed no one would make it this far?
The entrance was dark but there were several lit torches fixated on the wall which extended all the way into the pyramid.
"This feels right."
I didn't know if Cedric made it his mission to scare me to death but it definitely was working, who knew what hideous things has been crawling within this walls for centuries. Following the path we found ourselves walking down a staircase halfway into the pyramid before eventually we stumbled upon a huge gate.
"W-whoa!."
The gate was completely golden with diamond encrusted decorations lining it, the door knob was literally created out of the finest crystals I have ever seen.
"Man...those goddesses don't play around do they."
"The hidden temple of Solarius....we are finally here."
Rachel muttered softly as we stood in front of the large gate, at long last we had found it.
[Somewhere above Aethercrest ]
[Tendon Seis Aero Craft]
Up above the Shinigami's Forest was a specialized carrier aircraft, it's spacious nature gave birth to the flying guild of Tendon Seis. The craft was dark purple and black in color and was powered by magic which enabled it to hover above the ground and into the air.
"You disappoint me Nageyama, you have failed yet again to obtain the heaven's paradice which is crucial for our plan."
On his right knee was Nageyama in front of his master who sat on what appeared to be a throne, surrounded by the remaining member's of the guild he knelt before the guild master of Tendon Seis who was deemed one of the most ruthless figures in the dark guilds of the world. He was the reason why Tendon Seis had ascended to the number 1 dark guild in town.
"Forgive me master, we were unable to extract the location of the heaven's paradice from the girl. If it wasn't for that accursed wind mage we would ha-"
"BLEGHH!!"
Nageyama's eyes were spread wide, his mouth followed in correspondence as blood gushed out from it and he was blown off his feet by a dark magic orb most likely launched by his master.
His back collided with the wall and he slumped to the ground groaning in excruciating pain.
"Do you know why you are still alive Nageyama?"
The master got to his feet.
"It's because your the most competent among all the other insects that swarm my guild. You dare allow a mere wind mage bring down the reputation of my guild? Of Tendon Seis!?"
The master's eyes spread out wide in rage, he spread his right palm and dark magic manifested in a spherical orb was created in his palm.
"Weakness will not be tolerated."
The craft was shaken by the influx of power which hovered above the master's palm, death was rendered to all who displays weakness in Tendon Seis. This practice made them one of the most ruthless dark guilds feared by most.
"Please give another chance master! right now my men are tailng the girl and those Crimson's she took along with them. They've confirmed their location to be the Shinigami's forest."
The master dispelled the dark magic orb, blood dripped down from the mouth of Nageyama who had been beaten by his master. He sat down back on his throne after hearing some favorable news.
"But we cannot pursue them from that point on, t-the Shinigami's forest! it's-"
Nageyama was interrupted by the final verdict of the master.
"I am aware of the history of that forest. It is not a place a dark guild should enter, you will lead a team of the bugs that swarm this guild and set a trap at the entrance and once they emerge from the forest, obtain the heaven's paradice from their grasp by any means necessary. Do you understand?"
Nageyama got to his feet, his abdomen were visibly hurting after the hit he took.
"Y-yes sir!"
He exclaimed out of fear and worries of what might become of him if he fails.
"Do not fail me again Nageyama, or you won't live to reflect on the mistakes of your pathetic life."