Chapter 15: Ancient Power

Eristia was shocked to see just how much work the monsters had done when they arrived. There were crates everywhere and each one was either filled with demon realm metals or the strange heart shaped fruits. While she didn't know the full extent of their plan, she knew that her group was the only thing that could nip the monsters' plan in the bud before it could ever fully take off. Eristia peered into the mine and could feel a strange energy emanating from within that felt entirely different from demonic energy despite all the demon realm products packed into the crates scattered all around. Meanwhile Yuriy and Luciana were taking count of all the crates at the entrance and counted fifteen in all while Joshua was keeping his ever-watchful eye on Minna. Minna's stomach growled slightly as she looked at the crates of heart shaped fruits and she gulped a little. Joshua noticed where she was looking and made a disgusted face.

"Don't tell me you want one of those? How can you? they smell like a pair of moldy socks with a generous helping of rotten eggs." He said as his face contorted with disgust.

Minna didn't respond at first but fidgeted a little. She hadn't had anything to eat since the other night. Now she had a chance at a delicacy for monsters and she didn't want to pass it up.

"Are you kidding? Prisoner fruits have a sweet taste yet at the same time aren't that filling. Even humans like them despite the fact they contain demonic energy. They even can help recover magical energy and from fatigue. The juices are used to make a delicious wine as well as sweets so its always in high demand." Minna shot back.

Joshua looked at Eristia, Yuriy, and Luciana and could see the prisoner fruit was also influencing them. Each of them had a little trail of drool coming from their mouths, causing Joshua to face palm. He began to think up ways to dispose of the fruits that wouldn't involve "nuking" the entire mountain. He thought about crushing them beneath his feet but wasn't sure if it was a good idea. That's when another idea popped into his head: He could burn them. He could also see if there were any explosives left in the mines and destroy the fruit that way. Either way, though, He would have to head deep into the mines like Eristia wanted.

Meanwhile, Eristia was examining a few crates. As she looked at some of the fruit, a deep hunger began to swell in her stomach. She did her best to resist while she took note of just how packed full of fruit the crates were. Her stomach began to growl as she stared intently at the prisoner fruits. Now that she had a chance to think about it…it was getting close to lunch time. She began reaching for a prisoner fruit only to have Yuiry lightly grab her wrist and shake his head. She looked at him and could see he was struggling to control himself just as much as she was. Temptation truly is a cruel beast.

"Alright…we know they're here or have been here. Let's just check the mines and then head back." Joshua said with a frown.

He set his backpack down on the ground and rummaged around for his food before tossing granola bars to both Yuriy and Luciana and a CLIF bar to Eristia.

"That's all I can give the three of you so don't eat it all at once. Take small bites as well. I can see how much that fruit is affecting you." He said with a serious look in his eyes.

The three of them quickly unwrapped the food and began to nibble slightly to chase off the prisoner fruit induced hunger. A satisfied smile spread across their faces at just how good Joshua's snacks were. Luciana liked the berry taste of hers while Yuriy liked the crunchy taste of oats and honey from his. Eristia smiled at the subtle chocolate chip cookie taste from the CLIF bar she was eating.

"What about me?" Minna asked with an irritated scowl.

Joshua pointed to one of the crates full of fruit.

"I'm not going to stop you, but you can only have one." He replied, his voice stern.

Minna went starry eyed before rushing over to a crate and grabbing the largest prisoner fruit she could find. She gently bit into the fruit and began to savor the taste. It had been far too long since she had something this good. Joshua kept watch as Eristia, Yuriy, and Luciana ate half their food and saved the rest for later. Minna on the other hand began reaching for another prisoner fruit before Joshua approached her and stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

"I said only one….I tend to be very particular about my words." He scolded in a low angry voice.

Minna grumbled as she was led into the mines by him. The mine was littered with crates full of demon realm metals and more crates of prisoner fruits. Eristia grabbed an unlit oil lamp hanging from a support beam before they ventured further and had Joshua Light it with his lighter. Eristia could feel the strange energy getting stronger as they pressed on. Soon, Luciana and Yuriy could feel it as well and were on guard as they walked through the gloomy darkness. The crates along the walls began to be replaced by benches with white crystals like the ones Joshua found in the old cabin as well as hat looked like scientific instruments hastily scattered about on some tables. Joshua pulled out his phone and began taking a myriad of photos of everything they walked past. Various notebooks and sheets of data could be found on one bench they walked past as the strange energy kept growing stronger. As they passed by another bench with some instruments and notes on it, Joshua grabbed an instrument and a note and stuffed them into his backpack.

"So you're just going to take someone else's stuff?" Minna scolded with a raised eyebrow as she watched him stuffing the items into his backpack.

"I like to call it gathering evidence. Ain't no one here to stop me, anyway." Joshua shot back bluntly.

"We'll see about that…" Minna thought as she rolled her eyes.

As they continued, the mine opened into a large circular room with an opening in the ceiling. In the center of the room as a deep hole and several crates full of crystals lined the walls. The energy that Eristia, Yuriy, and Luciana had been feeling was emanating strongly from the hole in the center of the room. Eristia slowly approached the hole and peered down into its deep darkness. Meanwhile Lucian was examining some of the strange instruments on the table. She couldn't make sense of any of them but quickly stuffed one in her bag.

"They must have been bringing those crystals up from far below…." She muttered as she peered into the hole.

"You think that strange energy is linked to the crystals?" Yuriy asked as he approached her.

"Maybe…we must bring someone from the engineering corps here. Have them set explosives and seal off the mine." She replied as she rubbed her chin.

"What's this about some energy?" Joshua asked confusedly as he was taking more photos of the crates and the room on his phone.

"There's a strange mana signature emanating from this hole. It isn't demonic energy, but it still begs the question as to what they found and where the monsters are now?" Eristia explained to him.

Joshua walked over and peered down into the hole. The hairs on his body stood on end as he stared down into the empty blackness. For some reason this feeling felt familiar to him, as if it had been a part of him some time ago and he'd forgotten it. He could then hear a voice in his head, but it wasn't the female one he'd heard on the bridge. It was a male voice, and it sounded all too familiar.

"To the one who is worthy…come to me…..join forces with me again…."

"Did anybody else just hear that?" Joshua asked as he went pale.

Eristia and Yuriy both gave each other a confused look at his question.

"I just heard a voice call out to me telling me to go down there." He said as he stared down into the hole in a trance.

Both Eristia and Yuriy gave him a concerned look. Eristia knew that the Chief God sometimes communicated directly with the minds of heroes. Could he have heard her voice? Joshua may lack a soul, but perhaps the Chief God had plans for him? Despite the many questions circling around in her head, there wasn't time for answers. Minna on the other hand saw an opportunity. The hole was perfect for disposing of Joshua and she poised herself for her attack.

"Well….why don't you, then?" Minna said before she rushed forward.

Joshua felt himself fall forward into that deep darkness. Eristia and Yuriy both tried to reach for him but failed. Luciana turned around just in time to watch as Joshua vanished down the hole. They heard a gunshot as a bullet struck Minna in her right horn and cracked it. Minna let out slight cry of pain before spitting down into the hole.

"Good riddance to useless rubbish…" she said in an annoyed voice. "…what am I going to do about my horn?...tch…rot in hell, you evil—"

Eristia grabbed hold of Minna with an intense fury burning in her eyes. She grabbed hold of Minna's cracked horn and broke it in two. She then tossed the broken piece down into the hole before shoving Minna to the ground and drawing her sword. Minna looked at her in shock as she lay on the ground as her broken horn throbbed in pain.

"I knew we shouldn't have let you live…" she said with venom as she glared at Minna.

Yuriy and Luciana circled her as well and readied their weapons. A single sweat drop fell from Minna's head as she realized the three of them were ready to fight like hell. Meanwhile Joshua found himself nearing the bottom as a ghoulish blue glow shined up from below. Joshua braced for what would most likely be certain death had he not felt himself floating like he was in low gravity. A puzzled look spread across his face as his feet touched solid ground and he was surrounded by glowing crystals.

The walls around him had ancient carvings on them depicting knights and magic. One of the carvings he examined strangely looked just like him from when he was fifteen. Joshua kept his pistol at a low-ready position as he continued to scan the area he was in. He heard a clacking noise from above and looked up only to be nearly hit in the head by that succubus's broken piece of horn. Joshua picked it up and stuffed it in a coat pocket before scanning the room again. He could see what looked like a path behind a giant crystal formation but couldn't figure out how to get around the large, blue crystal.

"…..Come to me….embrace your destiny…."

An idea popped into Joshua's head. He pulled out his baton and flicked it open with his left hand, and with a solid blow, he shattered the crystal blocking his path. He was surprised by his strength and flexed his arm with a smug look on his face before holstering his baton. He then proceeded down a hallway of carved stone bricks and walls with runes and murals scrawled across them. He could even make out some of the runes scrawled on the walls despite them being written in an ancient language.

"…Come to me….O great ancient hero….."

Joshua continued down the hallway with his gun at the ready. His head began to pound as he remembered his dream. He begun to wonder the names Ilia, Sebastian, and Risha stuck out to him so much. Then he remembered three more.

"Who are Julia, Leonardo, and Carlyle?..." He thought as his head pounded like a drum.

He soon came to a large circular room that had a large ornate box sitting on a pedestal in the center of the room. Next to the box was another pedestal that held an ancient looking book. Joshua had only taken three steps into the room before he heard a stone slab slide down behind him and cover the entrance. Joshua let out a sigh as he approached the ornate box.

"….Accept the gift….become who you were meant to be….."

Joshua examined the box front to back and side to side. It was covered in the same runes he had seen on the walls in the hallway and had gold handles on each side. The front had a carved handprint in the shape of a left hand.

"Embrace the light of the lord and walk the path…." Joshua muttered as he read some of the runes.

Joshua then examined the book. It had a cross embossed on the cover like the one The Order had ordained across many places in Lescatie. It was bound in leather that showed no sign of age. The book felt faintly familiar to him but he brushed the feeling off. Joshua then turned back to the ornate box. He looked at the handprint and noticed that it looked more akin to a button of sorts. There was also a small slit in the center of the palm.

"This is either an awful idea or the only way out of here…." He said as he hesitantly pressed his right hand against the handprint.

The handprint emitted a blue light and held his left hand in place. Joshua let out a cry of pain as a silver blade pierced his hand. He dropped his pistol as he began trying to pull himself free from the box. The blade retracted and his hand was released causing him to tumble backwards. Joshua looked at his left hand which now had a glowing blue signet etched onto the back of his hand.

"O great warrior, please accept this gift and free us from the scourge of evil. Take sword in hand and travel far and wide to assist the people in dire need of a hero."

"I have no idea what or who you're talking about….I'm just a car parts factory worker…." Joshua groaned as he stood up.

A tingling pain rippled throughout his left hand. He took another look at his left hand as a stone slab on the other side of the room slid open. The signet was shaped just like The Order's sacred cross and a slight blue light emanated from it. Joshua looked around for his gun and re-holstered it once he found it. He then looked at the book and felt it too was important, so he stuffed it into his backpack. Joshua then cautiously approached the hallway on the other side of the room. There were no crystals to give off light so he clipped his flashlight to his hat and kept his eyes and ears open. The walls were smooth, and his path was straight. He soon came upon a door ordained with The Order's cross and his signet began glowing. The cross on the door began glowing as well before opening.

The room beyond was pitch black even with the light of his flashlight shining in. Joshua was hesitant, but the call of adventure eventually forced him inside. He heard a stone slab slide shut behind him as the room was filled with blue light. Joshua found himself in a giant room, and in the center was something that made him realize he should have stayed back in Lescatie. A giant, ancient robot with gears and such sticking out of the top of it's head stood motionless for only a few moments before the gears on its head begun turning slowly as it activated. Joshua's mouth dropped open as he realized what he had to do.

"Huh….this is like one of my Japanese animes….." He muttered as he watched the ancient automaton spring to life.