" The Towering Worlds : Hell's Chalice. ™ "
A Story written by @mohhdude.
(Be warned, there will be references from other series in this book!!)
Alternative Names -
" TTW : HC.™ "
" Protocol — Hell's Chalice. ™ "
" End of Earth, Beginning of Hell. ™ Chapter XIX :
" A Long Trail. "
Act I : The Dungeon Tower of Hell.
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" You can't face them at your current state, surrender… please. "
– ????
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After all of that was sorted out, The Five went on a journey to reach Aurum's Hometown: Putresc, The City of Rot. Leif had a small bruise on his cheek after Sheri had shaken him up, his shirt collar was slightly wrinkled from Sheri gripping the shirt collar. It's been 5 hours since the conversation has passed.
" Hey uh… Sheri… Sorry for not telling you when Gudo was here… ", Leif said in a sorrowful manner, Sheri folded her arms. She sighed; Victor held Kalon's hand while walking. Aurum waited for Sheri and Leif to come along, leaning on the tree behind him.
" It's alright, but you'll explain and apologize to Gudo after we find him. ", Leif nodded, Sheri kept walking as Leif did as well. Aurum followed the two. Aurum held the map of Redlocnse, there was a mark travelling from Grandolia to Putresc.
" … Miss Sheri, I'd like you to know something about Putresc. ", Sheri kept walking, turning her head and looking over her shoulder to glance at Aurum, " Yeah? ", " Putresc is a city that does not let people who are not apart of the city easily, so if you want to get past the security then I should talk to them, since I was born in Putresc. "
Sheri nodded in understanding, " Okay, how far away is Putresc then? ", " It's… pretty far. ", Aurum laughed nervously. " Like… almost a four-hundred kilometers from Grandolia. "
" … Ah, I see. ", Sheri had the look of disappointment, sighing, shaking her head. " We'll manage. Let's go. ", Aurum nodded. The Five walked along the path. As the snow slowly descends, Kalon had a hood on so he doesn't get a cold.
Leif stretched a bit, sighing. Only silence took over the party, Victor looked back at the bored 3, Sheri was drinking Mana Potions and handed Health potions to Leif, Leif took a sip and spat it out. " EUGH! IT'S SO SOUR! ", Sheri laughed at Leif spitting the Health potion.
" Hahah! You still need to drink it, Leif! It's great for health! ", Leif looked at Sheri with a rather grumpy expression, " Great for health my ass…, You'll probably contract a disease if you drink too much… ", Sheri smacked the back of his head playfully. " As if! I've been drinkin' this since I was 10! ", Leif had a slight look of concern and a nervous smile. " And Sister Brunhilde allowed that…? "
" Ah.. Erm, welllll…. I usually drink it when she isn't looking. ", Sheri had a slight bead of sweat, Kalon and Victor were having a snowball fight, Aurum shouted; " Hey! Be careful, okay?! ", Victor and Kalon shouted back in unison: " Alright! "
Victor and Kalon build a snowman. " What would be his name? ", Kalon said. " Hmmm… In my Language, Snowflake means Snezhinka, so Hinka!. ", Victor exclaimed as he looked at the snowman. Kalon nodded excitedly.
Sheri looked at the two having fun, Leif tapped Sheri's shoulder. Sheri glanced at Leif.
" Hey, Let's take a quick break first though and have a little fun. ", Sheri nodded, smiling.
Sheri kneeled down a bit, grunting a bit. " God, got a rock in my shoe. ", Leif nodded. " Take your time, I'll be with them. ", " I'll take my time, alright… ", Sheri muttered under her breath. Making a ball of snow as Leif walks ahead of her.
" Hm? What did you say— ", Sheri threw a ball of snow at his face. " HAHAHA! Never let your guard down, Leif! ", Leif had a smile on his face, dragging his hand in the snow and throwing a snowball back at her whilst she was laughing.
" Never let your guard down, Right?! ", Leif replied back. Aurum, Victor, and Kalon were having a snow ball fight. Victor was with Kalon behind the snowman as cover.
The Snowman fell, shattering. " NOOO, HINKAAA! ", Victor shouted, Kalon hugged the shattered head of the snowman. " Hinka, Noo! " Aurum threw more snowballs; he had a stack of snowballs next to him as he threw them.
Victor threw back snowballs in vengeance of Hinka's death, " I'll avenge Hinka! ", Kalon threw snowballs with Victor. Sheri and Leif had their own battle. Leif threw a snowball back, Aurum withdrew. Letting Leif, Sheri, Kalon and Victor have a huge snowball fight.
Aurum made a camp nearby, making a fire. As the others were having fun in snow. After a few hours of them having an all-out war, Kalon was wearing a coat whilst in front of a fire.
" Wow, you four really had fun, huh? ", Aurum laughed at them, Leif & Victor were distrust of him but chuckled slightly. " Yeah, thanks for setting up camp though… ", Aurum nodded. " It's my pleasure. All I can do to help you save Mr. Nomasaki. "
" … Ah, right… Aurum, you never told us your last name. What is it? ", Sheri asked Aurum whilst wearing her jacket and laying down in a tent. " Oh? Uh… My last name is Klaus. It's a bit silly since my name is sometimes affiliated with a myth. "
" Oh? What myth is that? ", Victor asked, curious to hear Aurum's answer. Aurum, blushing while embarrassed. " Well… My Last Name is from a man who gives out gifts to everyone on a very special day during the winter… so it's kinda silly. "
Silence, Sheri bursts into laughter. " HAHAHAHA! HOW STUPID IS THAT?! ONLY A KID… would… believe in that… ", Sheri stopped laughing midway, looking at Kalon, who had bright eyes with stars in them. Kalon says with a joyous voice, " I hope the man comes by and gives us all gifts! "
Aurum chuckled, looking at Kalon. " Well, the man only comes at night! He only gives gifts to kids who are nice to others. so be sure to be nice, Kalon! ", Kalon gasps excitedly. " Of course! I will be good! ", Kalon loved gifts, like any child would.
Sheri smiled warmly at Kalon, looking at Leif and Victor. " … Well, we should eat something and get some sleep. ", Aurum nodded, flipping the fish on the stick. With a few plates on the side which were washed. " Food will be ready soon, try your best to fall asleep."
Aurum looked at a sleepy Kalon next to him, " … Pst, Kalon, what if I told you the man doesn't give presents to bad kids? ", Kalon suddenly woke up in shock. " What do the bad kids get, Mister Aurum? "
" Well, They get coal and sticks! They get no cool things or anything! ", Kalon looked a bit saddened. " But.. that's not fair!, Kids are getting gifts that they like and they're just getting things they don't want! "
" The Man delivering gifts is kinda mean if they do that! Every kid deserves a gift, they might have a reason too for it! ", Aurum looked a bit shocked. But he ruffled Kalon's hair with his left hand. " You're a good kid, Kalon. "
Kalon giggled, looking at Aurum. Aurum flipped the salmon on the stick over, as some seasoning was applied on it. " Okay, food should be ready. ", Aurum served the food on a plate with a fork and knife.
Aurum gave one half to Kalon since Kalon would feel bloated while asleep. Everyone said in Unison: " Thank you for the food! ", as They started eating, some liked the perfect texture of the grilled salmon. While Leif actually devoured it in a matter of seconds.
…After all of that, The 5 go in their respective tents and sleep. Kalon slept with Sheri since Kalon gets nightmares sometimes, Leif and the other 2 slept soundly in their respective tents…
…Several hours later, Aurum got up first before all. The Sunrise was beautiful, Aurum started to cook eggs, he smacked pots and pans together. " C'mon, everyone! Wake up, Let's have breakfast and keep going to Putresc! "
Leif got up, getting out of the tent as he wiped his eyes and yawned. There was a bucket of water for everyone to wash their face with. Leif walked over as he takes a handful of water and wash his face.
Kalon and Sheri were awake, Victor sat up and stretched his arms and legs. All of them took turns with washing their face, Sheri took a handful of water and wash Kalon's face. Squeezing his nose to get the water out.
" Alright! Are you all wide awake? ", Aurum served breakfast, as after a few minutes, all of them ate the food. They got up and packed the tents after undoing them, taking all of the equipment they used to set up the camp fire. Carrying bags of their equipment.
Leif strapped his sword to his left hip, he walked with the others outside of the campsite as the snow had melted, Kalon looked a bit saddened since the snow is gone. Sheri gently pats his back. " Don't worry, It'll be snowing at sundown. ", Kalon nodded, " Okay… " The Five then continue their adventure and trails to The City of Rot, Putresc.
Leif had his hands behind his head as Victor flicked the back of Leif's head. " Hey— ", Victor looked away, whistling, just teasing with Leif. Kalon took Sheri's hand while walking. Leif looked back at the direction in front of him… Suspicious with Victor's movements.
Leif comes in contact with Solomon: " Hey, Solomon. ", " Yes? ", " Could you tell me when someone looks at my back or trying to attack my back? It can be useful in combat when I'm in a situation where I'm getting outnumbered. ", " Hm… a fine idea. Let's test it. ", "Great! So just observe Victor… "
Victor gets slightly closer, trying to tap Leif's back again. Victor was one second away from tapping Leif's back, Leif quickly sidestepped and grabbed Victor's wrist. " Got you! ", Victor was in a slight shock as Leif knew when he was going to tap his back.
" I asked Solomon to observe my back if someone was gonna attack my back! Pretty cool, huh? ", Victor nodded. " Why won't Solomon do that for me, though? ", " Probably favoritism, since I met him first! "
" It's not, I just see more potential in you than Victor, Sagamore. ", " That was rude, Dickhead… ", Victor heard the insult from Solomon, Victor will remember that… The Five kept walking until Noon, to which they have eventually reached the Putresc Border!
" Finally! ", Leif said, as he stretched his arms. " Okay, just stay with me. I'll get us in the city after I talk with the guards. ", Aurum said. Aurum walked with the five as Aurum walked in front of the guards who towered over him.
" …Aurum, Brother! It has been a bit. ", The Guard on the right says, " Indeed, It has been a while. ", The Guard on the left says.
" Haha, Okay, It's great to see you two again after a year… ", Aurum smiled and nodded. " I want to bring some of my friends into Putresc for some important reasons and for a temporary amount of time, is that fine with you? ", The Guards look at each other and nod. Then look back at Aurum.
" Yes, but we have to take their weapons and belongings for security searching. We will return the items after a few hours of searching. ", Aurum nodded. Removing his backpack, but stopped by the guard. " No no, not you. Only your… friends. "
" Oh, so we have to remove our backpacks just because I'm a Valkyrie with a Brutaci and three Humans?! ", Sheri shouted, The guards tilt their head, " Three humans? What three humans.. ? ", " What do you mean? Aurum, Leif, and Victor are humans! "
" Well uh… no.. I'm actually Brutaci, Sheri. ", " What?! But you don't have any horns on you! ", Aurum sighed. " Yeah… I was born with a birth defect as a Brutaci… that didn't really allow me to grow horns on my body. So I'm kinda like Kalon but without the horns. "
" Oof… Yeesh, sorry to hear that dude. It must be hard getting mistaken as a human. ", Sheri scratched her head. Removing her backpack and keeping it on the table. Along with her Mana and Health potions. Holding one full bottle of a Health potion.
" Sorry, Ma'am. We do not allow liquids to be travelled borders. You may retrieve this bag of mana and health potions after leaving the country, for now you must buy your own Potions. ", Sheri groaned in frustration, she kept the bottle on the table as She walked through the border. Aurum walked through the border, waiting for the other 3.
Leif kept his sword on the table, his backpack as well as Kalon's small backpack. Kalon was given a complementary lollipop for cooperating. Kalon and Leif walked through the border, Victor did the same as Leif, dropping his daggers on the table and backpack.
Victor stretched his arms, Aurum looked at the others and then back at the guards asking them: " How far is the city? ", " Not that far, around five kilometers left and you'll be there, Aurum. ", Aurum nodded. " I thank you both, goodbye. ", The Guards waved goodbye to the five and started to inspect the belongings, weapons and items.
…After walking five kilometers, they finally reached The City of Rot, Putresc. " Well, Welcome to Putresc, everyone! I'll rent out an apartment for us! ", scents of rare flowers filled the bustling streets, perfumes and fruits were being sold.
" Y'know, I thought Putresc was gonna smell bad but it actually smells really good… ", Leif said, chuckling. Kalon was now holding Leif's hand. " You okay, Kalon? "
" … S-sorry… I'm just getting a weird feeling somewhere… I feel three presences that aren't even here… ", Kalon sounded scared, Leif ruffled his hair. " Hey, we're here. You'll be fine! ", Leif assured Kalon in a positive light. Aurum walked to an Apartment complex and rented it for a week at most.
" Alright! We got an apartment, come with me. "
The others followed Aurum to the Apartment, They went into the room and it was spacious, with five beds and a bathroom. Sheri laid down on the bed on her back. Sighing in a sense of relief. " Finally! My legs were killing me! ", Leif sat on his bedside, Aurum left to tell the guards where their apartment was. Victor went to the bathroom, Kalon laid down on his own bed.
" … We'll save you, Gudo. Mark my words… ", Leif said in his head.
— Chapter XIX, Fin.