4. Ahriman’s temple 2 (180AD - 210AD)

Faint echoing sounds < my...dream...facing me....you are...finally here...the perfect world...my creation > more echoing sounds approach which gradually get loud "AHHH.... huff...huff"

(the man who was uphill) "it's time that i introduce myself isn't it. My name is Pnhan and yes i know you so you dont need to speak."

(Malvin) "where am i? Where are my men? What did you do to them" Malvin scans and sees Samim "SAMIM!!"what di you do to him.. Samim! Are you alright"

(Pnhan) "ok don't cause so much fuss, you and your friends are alright but i can't guarantee their safety for long since you are all samples who will be used for sacred purposes" 

(Malvin) " that's something weird coming out of mouth of a preacher who is devoted to preach the embodiment of evil" 

(Pnhan) "first off there is no such thing as evil or good in this world because in the end you and everyone else including me evaluate groups depending upon our benefits"

(Malvin) " Not everyone is same stop marking similarities between you and others"

(Pnhan) "you're just ruining my mood so let's make you understand... Do it "

As he claps the man who was somewhat dressed like a priest makes Samim drink something from vial.

(Pnhan) "it's nothing new just the gift you brought us back... So don't be so shocked we're just testing out for worthy vessels"

(Malvin) "The **** you mean by vessels... I'll kill you... Samim wake up... Samim"

(Pnhan)"now...now... Don't yell let him enjoy the embrace of Ahriman. May he the strongest one consider him otherwise..."

(Malvin) "otherwise what you bastard... "

As Malvin was just speaking Samim begins to cry with pain and his body burns in flames like a fiery inferno. And soon burns completely to ashes.

(Malvin) "Samim!! NOOO!! GODDAMMIT!! WHAT DID YOU BASTARDS DO!!"

(Pnhan) "too bad your friend's body here couldn't accept our lord's embrace. Such an unworthy soul don't worry lord will see him off to eternal flame" and then Pnhan begins to do a ritual dance. "oh lord don't you worry today we shall find your worthy vessel and begin a journey of your legacy and wreak havoc upon those puny Ahura's followers who dare to go against you"

On the other hand Malvin who was in complete shock of seeing his close friend burnt to death was staring at his ashes silently.

[Hi! My name's Samim and looks like we're gonna be together for some time so let's get to know each other more... Ha ha ha you'll always stay a serious goofball... Gosh you're no fun at all but i guess that completes our duo doesn't it]

(Pnhan) " Ahh... flashes of memories with the dead ones, regret of not fulfilling empty promises and bonds of lies but don't you worry you'll get to see them off one by one or maybe not who knows there might be a worthy one" and then he makes rest of the men drink the blood from the vial and all of them soon burn to ashes showing that there was no one worthy among them "oh look here we're gonna have a finale soon.. So tell me master Malvin would you like to delay your drink"

(Malvin) "tell me were you behind all of this... This people disappearing from mountains?"

(Pnhan) "does it matter anymore or you're trying to be a hero till death? Either ways let's just get over with it because i guess you wouldn't like to be late from journey yes" the priest dressed man comes forward and holds Malvin chin and lifts it to pour the vial. Malvin tries to avoid it but all in vain and gets forced to drink it. " Yes now we wait for finale of the fireworks... Anytime now... Now... Now?... Soon... What's the matter i was expecting nice fire show... Hmmm... Looks like i have to enkindle something so it gets easier for you to depart... Soo yes we were the ones who were abducting people and children in hope for our lord's vessel but unfortunately they all got reduced "

(Malvin) "YOU WHAT!! you even burned the children alive"

(Pnhan) "please! Don't over do it mister savior. Now please just burn already"

(man dressed as priest) " Sir don't you think he's a worthy one... He hasn't burnt till yet"

(Pnhan) " no it can't be if he were a worthy one he could have already exhibited the appearance. Im sure he's not it he'll just go ablaze later"

(man dressed as priest) "I agree sir"

(Pnhan) " just keep a watch on him"

(man dressed as priest) "Yes sir"

(Pnhan) "I guess I'll get to see the finale later"

Malvin who was facing the side effects of the blood though not flaming or burning, silently endured the pain of fatigue as the blood had begun it's action in his body. Tears coming out of his eyes not of pain but grief of loosing the only friend he made. Days passed yet Pnhan who didn't want to believe that Malvin has become a worthy vessel had started to believe and tried to check but wasn't satisfied as he didn't saw any results that should have appeared in him so he begin to torture him by burning him every day with red hot sword and applied other torture techniques.

(Malvin) [i gotta get out of here. I have to get out of here at all costs.]

(Pnhan) "I'm fascinated by the fact that you are still alive yet there is no sign of regeneration ability that might have awakened cut his hand"

(Malvin) [shit!! i was suppressing it till the right moment but its not now. What do i do?] he scans the area and spots 5 men in the room including Pnhan and the man dressed as priest while the remaining were 2 archers in the corner and a swordsman. The man dressed as priest approaches him and takes out his sword and slices Malvin's hand off. Malvin's hand regenerates in an instant and he uses the opportunity to free his other hand and dodge the swing of priest's sword and stretches his hand and grabs his neck and squeezes it so hard that it breaks.

(Pnhan) "{shocked} STAB HIS HEART!!" Pnhan turns back and runs to the door to exit the room.

The rest of the men fight Malvin. Archers whp were in corner shoot arrows which hits him in the shoulder and the leg. He takes both arrows out and the wound he got heals back quickly. The archers who were looking at him begin to panic and try to shoot again but they miss. As Malvin approaches them the swordsman who hid himself during the clash appears and attacks him suddenly stabbing his chest. He missed his heart but it was too late as Malvin takes the sword out of him and swings it cleanly cutting his head off. His head rolls towards the archers who become so overwhelmed by this action that they begin to beg him for mercy but Malvin who was following instincts of survival cut their chests open.

(Malvin) " No... Now how do i get out of this hell hole. Think... Think... " he runs his sight all over the room and then picks up the sword again and runs it across between the two doors. He then strikes it hard breaking the plank that was holding the door. "Now where are you coward come out or have you ran away already" he searches all the other rooms when he finds the people who were kept prisoners "hey where'd they all went?"

(kid) "they all just ran away"

(Malvin) "those cowards wait I'll get you out" he breaks the lock and sets the prisoners free

(kid) " Mister where are you going"

(Malvin) "sorry kid i can't accompany you guys gotta tail those cowards" and then he runs out and tries to follow the steps but then suddenly he feels nauseous "huff... Huff... What is happening to me i wa..." he faints and collapses.

The prisoners who were freed find him lying in the way and take him with them down the mountain.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***