The Holy Land

by Tristan H Brown

  The room was quiet and only the sound of the howling wind coming from outside could be heard. The drapes stretching from one side of the window to the other were fluttering as the five people inside stared at each other in silence. Each and every one of them appeared to be unique and extraordinary in their own right. The man who sat to the furthest left possessed a striking scar streaking across his entire face, while the woman on the right was abnormally beautiful.

  More promiscuous than these two, however, were the other three. A man who sat at the end of the table with crossed arms was notably taller than the others. No, taller would be a gross underestimation. He was huge! At the very least, towering at twelve feet. To his left, a girl with lizard-like scales and a tail could be seen tilting her head in confusion. And, to his right, a slender man with a horn protruding out from his forehead stood with his back straight.

  The first to talk was the beautiful woman, a person that Wilhelm was quite familiar with. She ran her fingers through her raven black hair and stood up from the chair. "According to my understanding, another percent of humanity, if not more, will be arriving tomorrow at dusk," she opened up with, "if we do not lay some ground rules, chaos will once again ensue."

  The one-horned man nodded in acknowledgment, "this may be the case, but there is truly not much we can do," he replied with a sigh, "there is no way of confirming how many will be transported, nor can we determine where they will be placed. It would be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack when considering the massive size of The Holy Land!"

  His words caused the scarred man to laugh, "what is there to worry about?" he asked while licking his lips, "just like monsters, humans grant experience too. We can hunt them for strength instead of sharing our newly acquired rations to them!"

  Immediately, the entire room turned cold. The exceedingly tall man stood up from his chair and glared at the scarred man, "don't get too conceited Alan, humans are not to be underestimated," he said with a cold snort, "we need as many people as we can get to uncover the secrets of this strange world, it is not something that one percent of us can accomplish!"

  As he spoke to here, he placed his hands behind his back and circled the long table. "I have already deliberated about this matter for some time and reached a conclusion," he explained, "we will escort the humans who are transported near our five areas of jurisdiction and force them to enter the lowest levels of dungeons. This way, the population can remain controlled and only seasoned warriors exit."

  He paused, "think of it as a tutorial of sorts."

  Alan snorted, "in what way is what I want any different than you?" he grumbled in dissatisfaction.

  Anastasia, the beautiful woman interjected with a sneer. "Unlike you, instead of mercilessly killing innocent humans, Heinz is giving them a path to walk on," she paused, sighing, "we can only guide them along, it's impossible for us to offer all of them refuge."

  The giant, Heinz, nodded and sat back down on his chair. "Now that we've cleared up the most troubling task for this fine evening, how goes your search for that mysterious man, Anna?" he asked with a sly smile.

  Anna shook her head in dejection. "We've already razed the town full of goblins and searched far and wide, there are no signs of him… but, we did find the remnants of a dungeon transportation circle."

  "What!?" the other four called out in shock.

  It had to be said that a dungeon would only leave a teleportation circle if someone was currently inside of it. Otherwise, the entrance portal would be open with all of its splendor intact. After defeating the last boss, the conqueror will be transported out and the portal will once again reappear as well. This meant that whoever had entered the dungeon was still alive and stuck, a huge surprise to the five people inside the room.

  All of them knew the hidden dangers of a dungeon, especially so for the higher-ranked ones. The only reason they survived one was due to the large number of people they entered with, or because of a fruitful encounter. Regardless, this kind of information was not something they could take lightly; it was almost as shocking as the upcoming batch of humans!

  Heinz immediately furrowed his brows, "Anna, leave some of your best men to stand guard outside of the portal. If someone does manage to come out of there, they will be a great asset for humanity!" he ordered while striking the table with his fist, signaling the end of the "meeting."

  ...

  Naturally, the person in question, Wilhelm, didn't know of the happenings in the outside world. He was currently stroking his magnificent beard while poking the translucent walls that entrapped him. After acquiring the Demon Eyes and testing their capabilities, he grew bored of remaining cooped up inside of the scenario. Wilhelm was unaware of how long he had already been in the third scenario, but things such as hunger and thirst appeared to no longer affect him. However, no matter how many times he attempted to break out, the walls prevailed and refused to budge even an inch.

  Thus, while bored, Wilhelm decided to exercise and acquaint himself with his other techniques. Other than sleep, he practiced like a madman, not even relenting to take a short break. He utilized his time efficiently and only rehearsed the things he felt were important, opting to disregard superficial or unimportant skills.

  Slowly, months passed, and his streamlined body became even more incredible. His muscles were perfectly compact and seemed to hold immeasurable power. Even stranger than that, instead of gaining a point in strength, Wilhelm managed to gain a point in charm, casing a wry smile to appear on his face. His training yielded satisfactory results, but he yearned for the outside with every passing day.

  Even now, he was madly scratching his head while staring at the southernmost wall, unable to understand why he had still not been let out. Then, as if the inescapable room could read his mind, cracks began to appear all over the place. Fissures started to spread and cover the space room, shaking the entire realm and causing Wilhelm to take a step back in surprise.

  "F-Finally!" he screamed in joy.

  Similarly, as if it were all a dream, a popping noise sounded out and the entire space broke open, transporting Wilhelm back to the room where he had first met the elf. The eerie candles still flickered all around him, barely illuminating the darkroom. It was just how he had remembered it; mysterious and tricky. In front of him, sat that same elf with pointy ears, staring down at Wilhelm with a faint smile.

  "Usually, many people challenge a dungeon at once, which makes a reward such as mine even rarer and more sought after," the elf spoke with squinted eyes, "but… since you've come here all by your lonesome, it's only natural for you to receive all of the rewards."

  The elf stood up from his chair and waved his hand, "as promised, I will grant you three rewards based on your corresponding rank with each scenario, including a prize given by me, personally. After which, you can choose to either exit the dungeon or continue to finish the latter half."

  Before Wilhelm could completely comprehend the elf's words, three chests popped up in front of him. They were bronze, silver, and gold respectively, each sparkling with a bizarre radiance. Wilhelm felt his mouth grow dry as he reined down his inner excitement and walked toward the first chest; the bronze one.

  Other than the initial excitement of finally escaping from that damned room, he could ultimately be rewarded for his hard work. It had been far too long since he received any rewards other than the painful evolutionary points. This fact replenished his soul and even caused him to tear up a little bit.

  He sauntered toward the bronze box and caressed it with his pale hands, admiring the sturdy wood for a moment. He then grasped the lock holding it together and tore it off, revealing the contents of the chest. It wasn't anything grandiose, but it was definitely something Wilhelm desperately needed… especially if he was going to leave the dungeon anytime soon.

  Inside, laid a pair of slick black trousers, a six-buttoned double-breasted tailcoat, and a grey vest. Additionally, it sported a pocket watch which streaked across the set of cloth
ing along with delicate, silver eyeglasses and a couple of small, hoop earrings that glistened brightly. Overall, it appeared very sophisticated and was right up Wilhelms alley when it came to attire.

  [Astaroth's Outfit]

  [Grants unimaginable comfort and increases the intimidation of which the user exudes]

  Wilhelm didn't dally for a moment longer. He ripped off the small remaining bits of his loincloth and immediately put on Astaroth's Outfit. Wilhelm couldn't help but sigh in praise at the comfort while placing the earrings inside his earlobes. The clothing bonus apparently didn't apply unless every single accessory was adorned.

  Soon, an entirely different looking man presented itself in front of Althan'aral. His ragged clothes prior had done absolutely no justice to his elegant appearance, so now, it had to be said that Wilhelm finally looked remarkable. Matching his pale, middle-aged flower boy aesthetic.

  After stretching in his new clothes, Wilhelm fixed his glasses and walked over to the silver chest. The small chain dangling from each corner of his silver eyewear chimed as he walked, albeit slightly. He opened the silver chest the same way he did with the bronze one, ripping the lock off and pulling It open.

  This time, instead of it being full of clothes, three small pills were evenly spread out. They were relatively simple and carried a blue hue, seemingly special in some way. Wilhelm carefully picked one up and scrutinized it, making sure not to press too hard.

  [Lithium pill]

  [Increases MP by 5 and Magic power by 1]

  'Although I have no spells to utilize this, it still seems quite substantial for later on' Wilhelm mused while walking toward the golden chest. This was the one he was most excited about; Althan'aral's personal gift.

  He took a deep breath and place his hands on the cover, mentally preparing himself for what laid inside. Even the elf up above watched him with eagerness, urging him to receive the gift.

  Then, without further ado, Wilhelm tore off the lock.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  A strange glow glimmered brightly from within the depths of the golden chest, blinding Wilhelm for a moment. He shielded his eyes with the palms of his hands and squinted, attempting to inspect the riches that lay inside. It took barely a second for his impaired sight to regain focus, revealing the contents of the lustrous compartment.

  Resting on a violet cushion, a brown, archaic-like book was gently laid inside of a well-placed groove. It emanated an almost ethereal aura, gripping Wilhelm’s heartstrings and irking his greed the longer he stared at it. Although it did not appear to be a god-like weapon or armor, it was mysterious and still perturbed him.

  Althan'aral, too, became enthralled at the sight of the book. The corners of his lips curled when discerning Wilhelm's thirst for knowledge, a suitable reaction. He cleared his throat after a moment's worth of time, "this book is my personal gift, something that will aid you in the far future."

  Broken from his stupor, Wilhelm's sluggish gaze departed from the book and turned toward the elf. "What is it?" He asked with a dry mouth, still unable to comprehend what the "gift" truly entailed.

  "Everything that you have seen in the last few months. The illusions and spatial rooms, all of it was magic, brandished by none other than me, " Althan'aral explained, "a mere cornerstone of the mysticism I once utilized in my prime, and just a fraction of that book was fully comprehended by me, " he continued with a booming voice, full of pride.

  Wilhelm would be lying if he said that he wasn't impressed, but he remained coolheaded and didn't leap into any outlandish assumptions. He raised three of his slender fingers and scrutinized Althan'aral deeply.

  "First, I want to know how and when you died, especially if it was caused by this strange magic. Two, I want to know how long it took you to comprehend the small fraction that you did, and lastly, how does one cast a spell?"

  A wry smile suddenly appeared on Althan'aral's face. "I cannot tell you how or when I died, nor can I tell you how long it took me to gain the power I used to have. However, I can educate you about the three basics of casting a spell."

  The elf paused while walking toward Wilhelm, "we have around two months until this dimension closes, so I'll try my best to teach you."

  Wilhelm was a bit disappointed, but he still eagerly listened to Althan'aral speak. Although both his magic power and mana were subpar in comparison to his other attributes, possessing a few spells would come in handy. This fact was further emphasized by the boasted power of Althan'aral's esoteric magic.

  "Magic is usually divided into five categories on The Holy Land: Elemental, Holy, Physical, evil, and Spatial. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, with the requirements for practicing each one vastly different from the other."

  Althan'aral then went on to explain the logistics of each and every magical category. "Elemental magic is self-explanatory, it commands the four forces of nature. More often than not, only spirit beasts can command this type of alignment. As for holy power, this kind of magic can only be acquired from devout followers of the Central God."

  Wilhelm nodded his head in understanding, "what about the other three?" He asked.

  "Physical magic deals with enchantments and body enhancements, while evil magic is the polar opposite of holy power. Lastly, spatial magic deals with the abstract. It requires a very powerful physical body to resist the otherworldly ripples of space. This is also one of the reasons why I didn't progress very far, " he lamented.

  Wilhelm stroked his chin in contemplation. He didn't care about the other forms of magic at the moment, he just needed to know how to use them. Thus, he voiced his enthusiasm toward Althan'aral. Things like holy and dark magic were useless to the current him.

  Althan'aral understood Wilhelm’s anxiousness and focused on spatial magic, the contents of the book. He first drew a complex diagram in the air, similar to what the seal of Solomon looked like… a squared circle. All sorts of strange strokes were made in the shade until Althan'aral was finally finished, breathing a sigh of relief.

  "Unlike the other categories of magic, which only require a mana source and an incantation, spatial magic is a little trickier, " he explained, "you need a substitute for your inner mana source, otherwise your innards will be transported without your body, " the elf said in a serious tone, causing Wilhelm to grind his teeth.

  "To accomplish this, a human replacement circle is required, much like the one I have here," Althan'aral clarified and began to teach Wilhelm about the other two basics of magic.

  The other basic requirements were both mana and sufficient comprehension of the utilized incantation. As such, using magic was actually a grueling process that needed both patience and intelligence. With one wrong move, the entire spell would collapse and result in a fatal backlash, and if used perfectly, only a few tiers of spells were worth mentioning. But, even when considering all of the drawbacks, Wilhelm attentively listened to Althan'aral. After all, it wasn't every day that you could be instructed by an otherworldly space elf.

  Like this, time slowly passed and around two months had passed inside the dungeon. Wilhelm was currently standing on the floor with furrowed brows, a few droplets of sweat streaming down the sides of his face. His complexion was ghastly white as a strange, purple energy trailed the edges of his index finger. Wilhelm was beginning to complete an incomparably complex diagram, one that glittered within the dark atmosphere. Once his fingers reached the end, completing the strange circle, it started to pulse and spring forward.

  Soon, a few pieces of debris trembled underneath the strange magnetic force, levitating in the air. It took only a moment afterward for the pebbles to suddenly transport four inches to the left, completely unhinged by any obstacles. Then, as if it lost all of its power, the magic circle dimmed, bringing darkness to the room once again. Wilhelm crouched on the ground and clenched his fists in excitement. He had finally done it!

  In the two months Althan'aral has been teaching him, he learned many things and had progressed much quick
er than what would have normally been possible. The basic necessities of magic, and even comprehending the initial stages of the book. All of it was due to his short tutelage under the elf, leaving Wilhelm both grateful and a little reluctant to leave.

  Thinking about this, he glanced to his left, where Althan'aral sat. His light was blurred, and Wilhelm could no longer make out his facial features. It was clear as day that he wouldn't last much more additional time here, let alone continuing to teach him. In fact, it had already been a few days since the two had exchanged any words.

  Wilhelm sighed and stood up from the ground, gripping one of his daggers. He knew that Althan'aral was no longer capable of communication, so he gave him a silent bow and walked over to the portal on the left. It was the only way to get back into the holy land without finishing the entire dungeon. And, if he heeded any of the late elf’s advice, then leaving right now was very important. According to him, there was absolutely no chance of him killing the final keeper at this given time.