"According to the records, the dungeon should have been located in the heart of the main cathedral. However, after the pope was changed, the dungeon mysteriously disappeared. In days of old, each pope would enter the dungeon solo and should they prove to be worthy, they would be granted a class unique to the pope." Yin started to explain as they made their way through the city.
"But when the dungeon disappeared, so did the chance to get that unique class. Each of the popes after had no such power and was no more powerful than the average adventurer. If not for the fact that they still had some privileges, the paladins and knights would have taken over long ago. Though once the world changed after the first transformation, the Paladins and Knights have taken over, migrating to the southern isles with all the remaining survivors. There hasn't been any recent news from there but according to what I've read on the last report, they've created a small underground village within one of the ruins. They call it Sanctuary but it's more akin to a prison. They can't get out since a Queen lived nearby in her city while monsters swarmed the land, air and oceans. The Knights might live but they won't be able to protect the others that follow them. I suggest that be our next destination once we finish with this place what do you think? I'm guessing that some of the higher ranked paladin's might be able to help you with some information." Yin smiled as Lisandra nodded her head.
"Should we get others to help?"
"Nah we should be good. Plus, they're busy as hell anyways. You know Aarim's doing her research, Helion's trying to find more ways to upgrade mum's sword, Revel and Khionah are playing games, Nan Tian is making sure everything is in order and Silvia is head of the hospitals. So naturally it'll be a little duo adventure for the two of us." Yin grinned as Lisandra was 90% sure that they could have probably got Revel's help considering he's only playing games.
"No. I'm not letting a stinking lazy lizard join our journey." Yin pouted in annoyance as Lisandra chuckled since that was the real reason all along.
"We should be seeing the cathedral around the corner now. If it was before the new age we would have been able to see the top of the building from afar but alas, the new age was not so kind on architecture." Yin shrugged as they entered a clearing that used to be a grand path towards the cathedral.
Looking at the numerous collapsed towers, Yin could see the still disintegrating corpse of a monster laying in the centre. Ignoring it for now, she was about to continue when a booming voice rang out.
"None shall die in the land of the holy!"
Suddenly, mana erupted around her as the corpse of the monster suddenly regenerated.
"Well this is certainly a problem. Wasn't expecting company." Yin muttered as she placed a barrier around Lisandra.
Walking over to the monster that was still trying to get back onto its feet, Yin narrowed her eyes and crushed its head with her leg before opening her mouth.
Biting down on the monster, the body was drained until nothing but skin and bones was left.
"Blerg, disgusting. I would rather cook it but something tells me your power stops them from 'dying' in conventional means. Transforming them into energy doesn't really 'kill' them." Yin shrugged while looking towards the broken cathedral.
On the roof, a single figure stood.
A broken cape, cracked armour and an missing arm. But despite the numerous wounds, the aura he radiated was almost threatening to Yin. The aura of this armoured figure rang some alarm bells in her mind but not enough to be fully serious.
"None shall die in the land of the holy! By my blade, by my will, they will live!" The paladin shouted out as he charged towards her.
A holy aura wrapped around his sword as he twisted his body and cleaved his sword down, releasing a wave of energy that tore the ground apart.
Raising her eyebrow, Yin opened her mouth and ate all of the energy.
"Quite a fluffy taste. Your energy is one of the better one's I've tasted. Congrats." Yin praised while jumping to the side to dodge his next attack.
Now that he was in close proximity, Yin took this time to see his name tag.
[Alexander LVL 900 Fallen Paladin of Protection]
"None shall die in the land of the holy!" He shouted out as Yin frowned, understanding that he had lost his mind after becoming fallen.
"Shame." Yin shook her head.
Side stepping his next strike, Yin used her left hand to grab his wrist while her right palm pressed against his chest.
*BANG!!!
Letting out a pulse of energy, the upper half of the paladin's body was torn to shreds.
Shaking her head, Yin was about to walk away when she heard the same line once more.
"None… Shall… Die…"
The paladin muttered as his body started to repair itself
"In the land… Of the Holy…."
Standing back up, his arm regenerated and a blade appeared by his side.
Letting out a war cry, hundreds of mana signals could be felt surrounding them. One by one, the dead paladins and knights started to rise up from the dead, uttering the same line.
"So dedicated to your cause even after losing your mind. You have my respects. But sorry, too many have already died." Yin sighed as she stomped her foot down.
Sparks appeared around them as Yin raised her hand before snapping her fingers.
*CLICK!!! BOOM!!!!!
Exploding into pillars of fire, Yin grabbed Alexander by the head and narrowed her eyes.
Enveloping his body in a black flame that consumed his essence, wanted to make sure he didn't resurrect a second time.
"None shall die…." Alexander struggled as Yin opened her mouth.
"They didn't die. They're alive in the southern isles. They're all alive and well. You did your job properly so now rest."
Hearing this, tears could be seen under the helmet as the last of Alexander was consumed by the flames.
Shaking her head, Yin made her way back to Lisandra.
"It's sad isn't it. To want to protect but lacked the power. With no other choice he chose a path of no return so that people could survive this devastation." Lisandra lamented as Yin nodded her head.
"Mn, once we're done with this place, let's see if we can convince them to come to Asharia."
Agreeing with Yin, the two gave the fallen paladin's a moment of silence in respects for their sacrifices.
Entering through the broken gates of the cathedral, Yin searched through the rubble in hopes of finding anything that could be useful. Spending a few hours to search the entire cathedral carefully, Yin found nothing useful above ground. However, she did find a pathway below ground that led to more chambers along with a library.
With all of the runes around the library, it was not surprising that it was still intact. However, the fact that such a powerful protection array was down here without anyone's notice was strange. Since there was not a single bit of mana being released from this place.
Standing in front of the chained gates that led to the library, Yin was stumped. She had tried to use every method possible but was unable to get in. the same runes were present in the rift, stopping her from entering.
"Well I definitely want to check this place out. But neither violence nor teleporting works. You think they would leave a spare key around here?" Yin asked as Lisandra shook her head.
"I doubt it. Its probably something only the highest members are allowed to access along with the pope. I do have an idea but it might hurt. Just trust me ok?" Lisandra shrugged as she placed her hand against the gates.
Biting her lip, she released some of Beelzebub's seal, causing a flow of destructive energy to flow through her arm.
Gritting her teeth, she allowed the seal to open some more as she corroded the protective runes. Once the runes were destroyed, Lisandra immediately reactivated the seal, halting the spread but more of her wings have become black. As for her arm, the flesh around her arm had crumbled away to ash and healing was slowed down to the point it was barely noticeable.
Before she could say anything, Yin kneeled down next to her and started to wrap her arm in a bandage while applying some healing. She didn't know much healing but as a Phoenix, her power naturally had the power to heal.
It wasn't enough to heal the wound but relieving some of the pain was possible.
"You're an idiot just like mum." Yin sighed as Lisandra chuckled.
"But is the path not opened now? Shall we go?"
Rolling her eyes, Yin nodded and made her way in with Lisandra.
