Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Indeed, the Temple of Unlusted Tears did not seem as menacing as one would expect when one entered as a gold digger, searching for things to loot or to honourably challenge for the legacy.

However, this was because most of the important spaces were shut off from any entrants that weren't part of the twelve, with the more insignificant spaces left for everyone to explore.

This didn't mean that one couldn't die from them as some were generally protected even while they didn't have much in the way of secrets but more of bits of sentimental value.

This temple truly was a simple temple, where a determined group practised their belief.

Asides from the Slurred Grounds, Skullius had noted that this was more of an immaculately arranged living quarters than anything else.

Yet now, contrary to that belief, the Discount Human couldn't help but force up his guard as he looked to the far end of a corridor that held rows of small, multi-coloured obscure glass windows that also administered light into the space between where a carpet with intricate weavings much like a tapestry of gold and red was laid.

The cold grey remained the same on both the walls and floor but an aged, arched ceiling curved overhead, webs and dust sprinkling from it.

At the end, another set of double doors could be seen, with a rocky texture that gave a feeling of ancientness – always a bad prelude.

Skullius continued to hold the staff firmly.

He was wondering if he should use his must-be-played-early trump card right now, or wait till he arrived behind those doors. The risk of the latter option was obvious as he might not get a chance to use it but if he used it now...

'You know, don't you?' Sila's voice sounded with a ridiculing tone. 'Even I didn't use it against that Spirit Warden because I knew your body would likely not be able to handle it for a long time and afterwards, certain side effects would most definitely follow. The fact that you're considering this is a reflection of how much you can't even see beyo—'

"I won't be losing this one," Skullius said.

The brimming of the mana core slowly forming in his body gave him hope and determination. If anything, this core that he was crafting on his own, to him symbolised the start of a streak of growth and wins!

Something that represented an upsurge and a turn in the tide.

The hardwork he had injected for this thing to come into existence, the labour in body and thought, was real.

This truly felt like something he was earning rightfully.

No one would take it away from him!

The confidence from having technically beaten an existence he thought was far beyond his level was still palpable in his body.

This and his policy for gambling for the better benefit gave Skullius a rush that he had never gotten before, asides from running for his life over the course of his life in Aigas so far.

Well, no more.

Insurgency.

Null Life.

He would comprehend it all and topple everything for his yet to fully be realised goal.

For now, all he needed was growth, as Serenity said.

'Hmph! Spout all the prettiest ideals you can, Skullius,' Sila said before growing silent.

Skullius didn't put him away. He had a feeling that the bastard would continue to taunt him into relinquishing control of his body but in the process continue to divulge important details.

It didn't take long for Skullius to reach the doors.

As he did, they uncomfortably scratched against the floor while opening wide on their own, fully revealing a space triple the size of the Slurred Grounds in width, length and height.

Unlike everywhere else Skullius had been, there was abundant light here that lit every crevice and corner without being too overbearing.

Fuuuu...

Skullius took a breath as he felt with his expanded senses that didn't reach the ends of this place, his body moving through the doors which promptly closed behind him.

Ferex could see it all however.

In the chilling silence, twelve large statues could be seen imbedded into the walls seamlessly all around, each one having the basic design of a woman in specific clothing that represented the individual depicted more than the facial details and overall figure shape.

Bulky armour, leather armour, lengthy robes with collars and sashes – different variations of these were the clothing styles carved over the white marble that made the statues.

The floor was less rough here. At least it must have been originally as now, an atrocious amount of gouges and holes littered it, defacing its sanctity.

In fact, splinters and broken wooden chunks evidenced that there was supposed to be a very religious set up that was probably destroyed by the violence that took place here.

The walls were also cracked, with some of these cracks extending to the statues, breaking apart certain sections of them.

'There are groves here too like in the Slurred Grounds, but unlike before, they are still burning with mana,' Skullius noted as he moved to familiarise himself with the place.

Ferex growled, alerting Skullius of the danger he sensed.

Immense danger.

"What is it?" Skullius asked.

The response he got was a vague layout of the space along with being notified that there were... strange objects at the base of the large statues.

Indeed there were.

There were hollow spaces dug into the bottom of the statues where certain shapely objects were imbedded in, perfectly matching the shape of the hollow.

All of them were stone figures cracked beyond belief and their parts clearly torn apart were jointed without substance and fitted into the hollows.

Someone had damaged them to this degree.

Someone had fitted them back and respectfully laid them back into the hollows.

'Are they guardians?'

Basing off of Ferex's information stream, Skullius thought that these could potentially be the guardians but...

Did all of them wear out from battling outsiders or did something else happen?

The cracks that stretched through the floor where he could sense were another mystery.

Something else must have happened here.

'My [Elevated Mana Manipulation] isn't picking up much. Are they dead or something?' Skullius thought. 'They don't seem human at all.'

CHKK! CHKK!

The sound of something cracking lightly echoed in the expansive space.

Skullius turned to the sound as he prepared to go all out.

This room wasn't merely filled with inanimate objects after all, it seemed.

From one of the twelve hollows at the base of all the statues, something protruded.

It shoved its way out of the hard hold of stone, its figure which was also made of white stone, attaining colours and textures that brought its figure to life in an unnatural way!

Its appearance spontaneously changed, becoming quite lively!

The figure took a few heavy steps with slow and unsteady motion before standing still and jerking its limbs in weird ways – its own version of stretching.

The armour it decked was immaculate and pristine, its overall appearance nothing short of ethereally gorgeous.

And yet, before one could appreciate its beauty...

VWOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!!!

A literal storm of mana flooded from its body like a heavenly torrent of cyclonic judgement!

A bright flash of radiant light followed by a deafening crackle that caused the space to quiver was heard, Skullius and Ferex being blasted away by the force to smash against the wall and back down!

Atrocious!

Skullius hurriedly stood as he activated his trump card immediately!

This was it!

He said he wouldn't lose!

But this...

No!

He wouldn't make room for doubts, buts or even butts!

His senses grew firm and solid while at the same time, the tumultuous and turbulent presence before him died down, being reduced to but a smidgeon of its previous glory.

One that still caused a light, visible gust to beat against Skullius' skin still.

A clear voice, one that was mesmerising and incredibly cold at the same time leaked from the creature that had just torn itself from what seemed like slumber.

"I, Bassbion, born of the blood of the True Rose Mother awaken to welcome you. Only I and Reichiel remain to represent the legacy of the Order. The Diverse Oculus."

Gulp.

"I remain as the only one left fit to challenge all those who reach this place however and so..."

The figure seemed to pause as it faced Skullius in particular.

"Face me, Vile Filth."