Hmmm…Seems Arthur Morgan has found his destination, but many challenges approach him. More than just the test of strength or agility. No, No…This isa test to prove Worthiness. The worthiness of a Path that one must uptake til it has been fulfilled. A Path that would lead to a Monster. A Monster which would lead to Death…and Death would lead to Nothingness.

Perhaps this is what's best for Arthur Morgan…Or…is it?

Once again…and as always…Only One way to Find out…

-Chapter 9- Worthiness Doesn't have Prerequisites

Mount Hagen…Cave of The Unknown…

Arthur had finished sketching the Cave Paintings on the wall. He closed his Journal and put it back into his satchel. He stood back up and grabbed the lantern. He shined it up closer to his face and continued walking down the cave.

There was a small opening in the Cave. Small enough that a horse couldn't fit. But large enough for Arthur to get through.

Arthur then began to squeeze through the opening with heavy difficulty. Once he was through he was met with a huge opening. It was dark, pitch black, but it was massive. His footsteps in the cave echoed throughout the large area. There was a pillar with ancient writing on it. But surprisingly it was in English.

Arthur peaked down at it and shined the light.

"This is a scary reptile

A giant lizard with wings

Because it can breathe fire

Great fear is what it brings

What is this creature?" Arthur read it out loud. A Scary Reptile? A Giant Lizard with Wings…Breathe fire…Well, that's obvious.

"Ummm…A Dragon…" Arthur said with little confidence. It was silent for a few moments. Arthur looked around with just his eyes. He looked up at the top of the cave, trying to see if anything was happening.

Suddenly the brazier on top of the pillar exploded in a flame. Scaring Arthur as he jumped.

"Damn!" Arthur said. But he realized that the Brazier was lit. And then, multiple Braziers were lit. They created a path down the large area. There were Statues of Giant Creatures…Dragons are what it looked like. Arthur looked at it with slight shock.

"What kind of sick medieval shit is this?" Arthur asked himself. It wasn't until the Braziers lit around a massive Temple in the middle of the huge area. The Temple was huge, Arthur was shocked but also amazed by such a sight.

Arthur then slowly started to walk down the Brazier path. Making his way slowly toward the large Temple. He suddenly started to hear small whispers. Whispers he couldn't make out. As he walked down the Brazier path…a Voice called out to him.

"Arthur…" The monstrous voice spoke. Arthur started to feel ringing in his ears. He clenched his head and fell to his knees. His teeth gritted as the ringing was loud.

"Arthur…" The Monstrous Voice spoke once more. But this time the ringing was slowly going away. Arthur looked around. He shook his head, his breathing had labored.

He slowly started to continue forward down the Brazier path. Suddenly…he started hearing some laughing…laughing of joy. A Feminine laugh. Arthur looked around to see what exactly he was hearing…this laugh… sounded too familiar.

"Arthur," The female voice spoke…Arthur looked around…No…It couldn't be.

Arthur turned around behind him slowly and saw…Eliza…standing before him.

"This…This…This can't be real…How…" Arthur stuttered…he couldn't believe his eyes…Why was Eliza standing right in front of him?! How was she even here?! How could he even see her?!

"I do not have a lot of time, Arthur…but…You're here for the money, right?" Eliza said as she walked closer to Arthur.

"Eliza…H-...How…How are you even here?" Arthur said still in a state of shock.

"As I said, My sweet Arthur…I don't have much time…This place is filled with many dangers and tests…it is to prove your worth…to prove if you can take…it," Eliza said. Arthur didn't know what she meant by that.

"Wh-...What do you mean?" Arthur asked, still trying to get a hold of himself for seeing Eliza.

"Your Worthiness will be proven shortly…But, Arthur…You must make a promise to me…Promise me…that you'll find someone that will make you happy…someone that will allow you to open up to others…Someone who you can love and trust…Promise me you will do this, Arthur…No matter what happens," Eliza asked Arthur as she placed a caring hand on Arthur's cheek. Arthur could feel himself slowly start to shed a tear.

"Eliza…I…" Arthur said, but he couldn't finish what he was going to say.

"I know…I love you too, My Sweet Arthur…Find the Orb…And prove your worth…" Eliza said. When she touched Arthur's cheek…it felt real. It felt just like how she actually felt. How she held him, how he held her. Arthur could feel himself nearly crying.

The image of Eliza slowly started to fade away. The last thing Arthur saw was the face of his deceased Wife…fading away with a sweet, caring smile on her face.

Arthur was alone again…In the middle of a Brazier Path…filled with darkness.

He looked at the ground…unsure of how he would react to this…Arthur then straightened up, looking toward the Brazier Path.

"Alright…Damn Dragons…you wanna test me, huh…Well, Let's get the tests going then," Arthur said as he marched forward, showing no fear and only determination.

As he continued down the path, he finally made it to the bottom of the Temple…which was shaped like a Pyramid. The steps went up to the top.

"Arthur…" The Monstrous Voice spoke once more. Arthur flinched slightly.

"Get outta my damn head," Arthur said calmly.

"Prove…Your…Worth…" The Monstrous voice spoke again. Suddenly a huge wall lifted up behind Arthur. Blocking his way of escape. Arthur looked around to see what was happening. He could see strange objects slowly rising from the ground. He tensed up, keeping his hand near his Cattleman Revolver. He also had his Carbine Repeater and a Pump Action Shotgun. With his Cleaver and a few throwing knives.

Suddenly, the objects stopped rising. They looked like Dragon Knights in a certain way. Each of them bared a unique armor set. They were rusted and old. The Whispers got louder and louder…until the Armor sets started to glow green. Coming to life as they straightened out their arms.

"Protect The Orb!" They Spoke in monstrous and nearly undead tones. They pulled out swords and axes. Arthur looked around him. He counted at least five enemies around him.

Arthur pulled out his Cattleman Revolver and fired it at one of them. Only for the bullet to bounce off the armor.

"Ah, Shit…" Arthur said. He pulled out his Carbine Repeater and shot it at another Undead Dragon Knight. This time, it pushed them back. But not enough to damage the armor.

"God Damn it!" Arthur said as he shot it again. Hitting The Undead Dragon Knight in the head, but it merely and only slightly pushed it back.

One of the Dragon Knights swung their Axes at Arthur. Arthur quickly ducked avoiding the axe. But another Dragon Knight swung his sword at Arthur. Arthur, quickly put up his Carbine Repeater to block it…As the sword made contact with the Rifle…it split it in half…breaking the Gun permanently.

"Shit," Arthur said as he tossed the pieces aside. Arthur was then hit in the back by a strong fist. Nearly breaking his back. Arthur let out a yelp of pain. Falling forward on his stomach. Arthur reached for his Pump Action Shotgun and aimed it at the advancing Dragon Knights.

Arthur shot his Pump Action hitting one of the Dragon Knights in the chest and putting a huge hole in it. Forcing it back. Arthur shot his Pump Action again, this time hitting a different Dragon Knight in the head. Completely blowing it off. The Dragon Knight fell to the ground as the Armor spread out into multiple pieces.

One Dragon Knight swung down at Arthur with his huge Axe. Arthur rolled to the side as the axe smashed down on the ground, breaking the stone. Arthur shot at the Dragon Knight, blowing its head to pieces. Three down, two to go.

Arthur was about to get back on his feet, but he felt something grab him from behind him. He was lifted up with extreme force. A Dragon Knight had picked him up. It quickly slammed Arthur into the towering wall. It lined up its Sword with his gut. Arthur had lost his Pump Action. Arthur reached for something in his belt…pulling out his Cleaver.

He then smashed the cleaver into the Dragon Knight's Helmet, putting a massive slash in it as the Cleaver was stuck in its head. The Dragon Knight only seemed to barely flinch. Arthur pulled out the cleaver and smashed it on its neck…This time decapitating it. The Dragon Knight fell to pieces as Arthur fell to the ground.

Arthur took a few heavy breaths. Arthur crawled for his Pump Action Shotgun…But was kicked in the side by a Dragon Knight. Sending him flying toward an open space.

Arthur grunted slightly as he clenched his side. The Dragon Knight advanced toward Arthur, its grip on the sword tightening. Arthur quickly pulled out his small knives and threw them at the advancing Dragon Knight.

One knife hit it in the top of the head, but it didn't flinch. Arthur threw another, hitting it in the shoulder, again, not a sign of weakness. Arthur threw one again, hitting it in the chest, once more, no weakness was expressed.

The Dragon Knight picked Arthur up off the ground, gripping his throat tightly. Arthur was lifted off the ground effortlessly. The Dragon Knight started to grip Arthur's throat even tighter. Arthur started to choke, barely able to get any air out. Arthur stabbed the Dragon Knight in the chest with a small Throwing Knife. But it didn't seem bothered by it.

Arthur's hat fell off of his head as his face slowly began to turn pale. Arthur pulled out his Cattleman Revolver and put it under the Dragon Knight's helmet. Putting it under its chin. The Dragon Knight didn't seem bothered by the Revolver aimed under its chin.

Arthur was on the brink of passing out…everything was getting fuzzy and dark. Arthur managed to get the strength to pull the trigger. BANG!

The Dragon Knight stood there, frozen. It released Arthur's throat as he fell to the ground on his back. The Dragon Knight slowly fell backward, quite awkwardly. Until it smashed on the ground as the armor pieces flew from it.

Arthur was on the ground, choking heavily, caressing his throat.

"Damn…Tough bastards…" Arthur said as he slowly got to his feet. He started to collect all his items, except his destroyed Carbine Repeater. Which was beyond repair.

"You…Are…Worthy…To…Pass…" The Monstrous voice spoke as the wall behind Arthur lowered. Arthur looked forward and slowly made his way up the steps.

After a short while…he made it to the top. He could feel strange energy around him. An eerie presence befell him.

He could see ahead of him. In the middle of the top, resting on an altar. Rested a strange…stone orb. Glowing with blue color in a certain pattern. The pattern was like a swirl and twists and turns.

Arthur could hear whispers again. He couldn't make them out…but as he got closer to the Relic. The Whispers got louder.

"Touch The Orb…They Shall See…Touch The Orb…They Will Plead…Touch The Orb…And Death Will Bring…" The Whispers spoke as they got louder and louder.

Arthur only continued to move forward as he reached out to grab it.

It seemed to glow brighter and brighter the closer Arthur got.

Arthur then put his hands on the orb…suddenly, it sparked blue energy. Arthur felt heavy strain on his body, his teeth gritted. He couldn't let go of it for some reason. Heavy Strain overtook his body.

He then started to see things and heard the Monstrous voice once more.

"Touch The Orb…They Shall See…Touch The Orb…They Will Plead…Touch The Orb…And Death Will Bring…Awaken The Inner Monster…which dwells within…" The Monstrous Voice spoke.

The strain grew heavier and heavier. He heard a roar in the back of his head. Then he saw…A Dragon. It roared as it ate him.

The Blue energy seemed to die down as the glow ceased. The strain went away as Arthur was relieved of it.

He breathed heavily as he held the Orb in his hands. He was on his knees at the top of the Pyramid.

"This…This…Damn thing had better be worth the trouble…" Arthur said as he slowly put the orb in his satchel. It no longer glimmered with a blue color, the whispers were gone. And the Monstrous voice could be heard no more.

Arthur slowly got on his feet, it felt like he had just fought a Bull with his bare hands. His legs were buckling and sore. His entire body felt heavy and sore. He let out heavy breaths.

"Gotta get back to Madam Nazar," Arthur said to himself as he slowly walked down the steps. He also noticed the Braziers were out. So he brought out his Lantern again and lit it. Making his way down the path, slowly and exhaustingly.

"She better have that money," Arthur said.

To Be Continued…