Thinking Outside The Box

Johan and Athyne followed the ghost of King Athelion up the stairs into a small chamber.

The sides of the chamber were lit by flickering torches hanging from the wall. The torches cast an yellow light on the room. A large double swinging royal blue door that had glowing golden hieroglyphics engraved on it stood at the end of the chamber opposite from the stairs they had just walked up. Through the cracks in the door wisps of white fog escaped.

"Through those doors," said King Athelion, "is a creature created from the fusion of warrior souls who once reigned supreme in these lands. Your task is to get through the doors on the opposite side of the room."

"This isn't good," said Johan, "Jade said even Divine Lords have perished here. Have you cultivated before Athyne? What is your current strength level?"

"Cultiva-what?," said Athyne raising his eye brow, "are you talking about farming?"

"No Athyne," said Johan shaking his head, "no ..."

"These levels, are meant to test different aspects of you" said King Athelion, "The first, level makes sure you have the strength to defeat several medium strength warriors at the same time. The second tests you against one very strong opponent of the higher divine lord level ... and the third will test your mind. You are quite possibly the weakest creatures that have ever entered. I am surprised that you even defeated the ghouls from the first level ..."

King Athelion's expression turned solemn.

"... how DID you three do that?," asked King Athelion confused.

"Adrenaline," said Athyne.

"Prepare yourselves and when ready, enter the room. I will wait for you on the other side," said King Athelion, "good luck. You will either be my newest castle members or succeed."

King Athelion's ghost sunk into the floor leaving Johan and Athyne alone together.

"Why do you think he kept saying three?," asked Athyne.

"Probably doesn't know how to count," muttered Johan.

Johan assumed King Athelion had seen his father. Johan had long decided to keep his father a secret since this world had many unknowns. He felt couldn't afford to let even the people closest to him know of his father's existence especially when he knew his father was being hunted by Armyka.

Johan expanded his perception to see what was behind the door. To his horror he saw a large black spider like monster the size of a mini van. It jumped from wall to wall rapidly disappearing momentarily from his perception before reappearing. It was faster than anything he'd encountered before.

"I wonder if Rey went in already," said Athyne thoughtfully.

"We need a plan," said Johan.

"Hmmm," said Athyne as he took out a green lollipop and put it in his mouth.

"What is that?," asked Johan.

"Vege-pop," said Athyne, "wanna try one? Eating em makes you strong."

"Sure," said Johan.

Athyne reached into his pocket and tossed Johan a vege-pop. Johan put it into his pocket.

"Made em myself with veges and herbs," said Athyne.

"I'll try it after we get through this level," said Johan, "last thing I need is cramps."

[Perhaps,] said JD, [I could try talking to the beast. Act as a proxy between you and them. I don't have a physical body so it cannot harm me.]

[Yeah,] thought Johan, [Anything is better than violence. Especially, since that thing is of the Divine Lord level. I don't know my cultivation realms, but I think that is very powerful. ]

"What are we waiting for?," asked Athyne, "Lets kick the butt of whatever is behind the doors and get Rey and get out of here."

Johan knew he needed to stall Athyne.

"Give me ten minutes to think," said Johan, "I want to be in the best condition possible mentally for this fight. I need to meditate."

"Whatever," said Athyne, "hurry up."

[I'll go now,] said JD.

Johan sat on the chamber floor cross legged and started to hum closing his eyes. A small glowing piece of dust came out of Johan's forehead and entered the room. Heading past the door towards the large beast entering it.

Johan monitoring what was happening in the room with his perception. The beast seemed to stop all its movements surprised as it seemed to be communicating with Johan's father.

Five minutes later a dust spark flew out of the beast and returned to Johan.

[They souls in the beast say they are trapped,] said JD, [Their vessels have been destroyed and consequently, they cannot cultivate or eat. They attain sustenance for the vessel created from the King by consuming the warriors who challenge them. The array prevents them from communicating or leave the room.]

[Will they let us through without a fight?,] thought Johan.

[Yes,] said JD, [I promised we would break the array containing them if they did.]

[I don't know anything about arrays,] said Johan.

[Son,] said JD, [either it kills us or we let them believe simple lie.]

"Fine," said Johan standing up, "lets go Athyne."

"Alright," said Athyne, "I am ready to kick butt."

Johan walked to the door opening it. They found themselves in a long room covered with cob webs. Smoke seeped out of the floors. From some of the webs, the bones of long dead warriors hung. The floors were littered with fallen armored warriors and weapons. The room smelt of rot, feces, and death.

"I think," said Johan, "if we don't attack it, and walk very quietly, it will not notice us and let us through. We are at a lower level than anyone that has come here in the past right?"

"Worth a shot," said Athyne, "But, if anything approaches us, I'm gonna nail it with these fists."

Athyne held up his balled up fist showing it to Johan.

"Just give it a shot Athyne," said Johan, "we got to avoid violence if we can."

They walked into the room past the corpses of fallen warriors. Bones, rusty armor and weapons littered the floor. The room felt evil, musty and caused them to sweat profusely. From the corner of the room a large eerie looking spider like creature watched them hungrily with its thousands of tiny black eyes. Their reflections could be seen in its pitch black mirror like eyes.

HUFF ...

HUFF ...

HUFF ...

The creature breathed deep, maliciously and noisily and its muscular chest expanded and contracted. Wisps of red smoke escaped its mouth with each breath. Its aura which was clearly being restrainned was deeply malicious, evil and oppressive.

But didn't move.

Soon Johan and Athyne were at the doors that led out of the room on the other side. They opened it exiting the room having passed the second level without a fight.

They had gotten lucky ...

This time.