Chapter 10: Being Hostage (2)

As we walked back, there were many horse-drawn carriages in front of the mansion. Indarto instructed us to go to our room. The first floor was bustling with many armored individuals conversing.

"Who are they?" I asked Indarto.

"They are the personal guards of the council members. I will explain to them the misunderstanding that you are not divine envoys. That's why I ask you to stay here for now," Indarto replied and left our room.

"I'm so confused about what to do now," Kuti said. "King Majagada is stupid and awful. I wonder what happened to our parents."

"Y-yes, I agree with that," I said, sitting next to Kuti. "B-but don't worry, I sent them a message earlier saying that we are safe and being treated well here."

"The bright side is we can adventure together again! No more pointless wars. After this, let's travel the world," Kuti said, looking at me with hope.

I nodded and hugged her. "Definitely. We will travel far and wide."

Our room door was knocked on, and Indarto's voice came from behind it. "The council members have arrived. They request an audience with the divine envoys."

I opened the door, and Indarto led us downstairs. As we appeared on the staircase, everyone below bowed their heads and fell silent.

Indarto brought us to six people seated in a circle in the living room. "Council members, may I present Thomas and Kuti, envoys of God 999."

"They match the prophecy. So, the old witch wasn't mad," one council member said. "That means we must take them to the sacred tree. If they can summon 999 to speak with us again, we must return to the righteous path and start offering sacrifices to 999."

"I agree," another council member replied.

The discussion continued. They asked for proof that we were divine envoys. Kuti demonstrated her abilities, and I showed mine. Every knight who struck me felt the pain themselves. Kuti's ability to vanish also impressed them. Once they were convinced, we were taken outside and into Indarto's carriage again.

"Where are we being taken?" I asked Indarto.

"To the city of Ludanes," Indarto replied. "More specifically, to the sacred tree."

"If you can summon the god, then we will treat you specially. We will revive the god's temple and begin seeking sacrifices again," Indarto said.

"Why did you close the temple?" I asked.

"Because we no longer wanted to be associated with the god of death," Indarto replied. "We were tired and disgusted by the massive sacrifices required in exchange for his power and blessings."

"You heretics," Kuti scoffed.

"Don't you feel guilty for killing hundreds as sacrifices?" Indarto asked.

"Why did you choose the god of death as your deity?" Kuti retorted.

The two engaged in a heated debate, and I simply listened. My phone vibrated with another message. After checking, I found it was from God 999 himself.

"We will meet soon. Don't be surprised by my appearance," 999 said.

"It's unusual for you to initiate a conversation," I replied.

"Because I am excited that my envoy is summoning me for the first time," he responded.

"Were there previous envoys?" I asked.

"Yes, and they were killed," he replied. "Do you have any other questions?"

"No," I replied.

I sent another message to my parents, informing them that we were in Ludanes. They mentioned that King Majagada was gathering a massive army for the next assault. I relayed this information to 999.

"What should we do?" I asked.

"Just stay put," 999 answered. "If Ludanes withstands the attack, you will help Ludanes. If Majagada succeeds in recapturing you, you will go with Majagada again."

"But I have a third option for you: you can escape and continue your journey," 999 added.

"I'll decide with Kuti later," I replied.

"If you want to adventure, choose the last option. If you want to live a noble life, choose the first or second option," 999 advised.

I put my phone away. Indarto noticed, "You have a phone too? Would you exchange numbers with me?"

"No," Kuti quickly replied. "Our phone numbers are private."

"If it's not allowed, that's fine," Indarto said.

Our carriage convoy entered the eastern gate of Ludanes. The citizens lined up to welcome us, kneeling and waving black flags with the number 999 arranged in a triangle. We went straight to the center of the city where the sacred tree stood.

Ludanes is the capital of the Flokian Knights League. The city is divided into eastern and western parts by the Sleland River. In the middle of the river is an island with a towering tree. Near the roots of the tree is a stone building resembling a cathedral.

The citizens followed our convoy. The gate to the bridge leading to Cathedral Island opened, and the guards knelt as they saw us. Upon reaching the front of the cathedral, we were invited to dismount.

Indarto dismounted first and helped me down. The citizens were silent and kneeling, whether out of fear or respect, I didn't know. Kuti stood behind me, and we were led into the cathedral.

Walking along a moss-covered brick path made me tread carefully. I asked Indarto, "Has this place never been maintained? Isn't this a sacred place? Why did you let it fall into disrepair?"

"Forgive us! We have been so negligent!" Indarto replied.

The knight council members were already at the double wooden doors leading into the cathedral. They unlocked the chained padlock. Indarto opened the door for us, and the scent of an old building hit our noses. The smell of incense lingered, and some were still burning.

"Ah! The incense is still burning!" Indarto exclaimed. "Praise the holy one!"

The rows of chairs in the main hall were covered with cloth to avoid dust. A large object covered with a cloth stood on the altar. Indarto invited me to step onto the altar, as they were not permitted to do so.

Indarto and the council members, assisted by the citizens, cleaned the area. Kuti and I removed the cloth covering the large object, revealing a statue of a robed figure with nine wings holding a scythe. So this is what 999 looks like?

There was a small room with a staircase near the altar. I climbed the stairs while Kuti cleaned the altar area. The staircase led to the second floor of the cathedral. There was a sign that read "Holy Person's Room" on the door near the stairs. It was the only door on the second floor.

I opened it, finding a large room filled with household items and a bed. Kuti's voice called out from below. I quickly returned to the main hall. Everything was now clean.

Kuti had found an odd section of the wall and opened it, revealing a part of the sacred tree's root. When we touched it, a white circle of light appeared above the cathedral. The sacred tree shook violently, and everyone except us knelt.

A portal appeared, and a skeletal hand emerged. Then, a figure identical to the statue stepped out. "I have returned...to claim my sacrifices and question why you have forgotten me?"

"Help me, Thomas," he commanded.

I helped him out of the portal, and he slowly grew larger. He was three times the size of a normal human. Now I understood why the cathedral's ceiling was so high. The statue slowly sank into the ground, and a large throne made of tree roots emerged.

"Sit with me, my holy envoys," he invited Kuti and me. He lifted us with his hands and placed us on his lap.

Everyone present was terrified. They dared not move or speak. The giant figure with nine wings struck the ground with his scythe and shouted, "Rise and behold your god!"

So this is 999? I felt his immense power. 999 spoke again, "I have blessed you for hundreds of years, and you have forgotten me? You even wanted to replace me with another god?"

"Thomas, Kuti, challenge all the grandmasters and council members to a duel. Let them see who is the strongest among the gods!" 999 ordered.

"Understood," Kuti and I replied.

I jumped down from 999's lap and donned my equipment. "So, where do we duel?"

Kuti did the same, "When we were captured yesterday, we were exhausted. Now it's a different story."

The grandmasters attacked me together. I blocked all their attacks with my shield, absorbing them. I then reflected their attacks back at them.

"We beg for mercy, God!" the grandmasters cried, prostrating themselves. "What do you require for us to avoid punishment?"

"Prepare 5,000 people for sacrifice. You are free to choose who. It can be war prisoners or your own citizens," 999 replied. "Your punishment will come; in two weeks, you will receive it."

"Thomas, Kuti, return to my lap. The rest of you, leave!" 999 dismissed the citizens and the grandmasters. After everyone left, 999 shrank to human size again.

"Use these two weeks to gather materials if you choose the third option," 999 said. "I will be here for two weeks. Do you have any questions?"

"What about our friend Rosa?" Kuti asked.

"Rosa is currently in Majagada," 999 replied. "Aren't you worried about your parents?"

"I guess not now. But Thomas seems to be," Kuti said.

"Y-yes, I am w-worried about them," I said.

"If you keep being like this, you won't be able to move forward, Thomas," Kuti said, hugging me. "You are with me now. Move forward with me; your parents are surely safe there."

"Sorry to interrupt, but can I taste Thomas's blood?" 999 asked. "I'm hungry. I can only drink the blood of men."

"Huh?" Kuti was shocked as she saw 999 opening her robe. "You're a woman?!"