44 CHAPTER - 44 - HELLISH RIVER OF VERBRECHERVELT PORTITOR - PART ⑤

"After all that said, the trial is to cross over to the other side of this hellish River Styx."

Kharon told Vanzel.

Alcesto felt relieved after thinking that he has to just cross over to the river Styx. However, Vanzel was not as relieved as Alcesto. Vanzel thought to himself,

"This task is too easy to be true. He is definitely playing some tricks. When we were crossing the river earlier, we were sucked into this cave by his ability..."

Before Vanzel could say anything, Alcesto started speaking.

"Do ya' really think that we're such fools. I was relieved... And then, I just remembered how we were brought here! Aah... So, what are ya' playing at?"

Kharon smiled again. His lips widened as he showed his menacing smile to them. He said,

"Do you guys really think that I am the one who is at fault here? I didn't even started explaining the rules and you already assumed that this trial is just a piece of cake."

Vanzel asked him,

"I understand. What are the rules?"

Kharon laughed lightly, and started speaking.

"Hehehe... Let's see..."

He walked towards Alcesto. As soon as he approached him, his stick turned into scythe and he attacked Alcesto with it. It was clearly visible that Kharon had attacked Alcesto as he swung his scythe right through his neck. It was too sudden for Alcesto to react. When Alcesto was attacked by him, Vanzel rushed towards Alcesto, but, it was too late. After swinging his scythe, Kharon stepped back. Vanzel, who came rushing towards Kharon, stopped his charge and stared at Kharon. Instead of attacking, he started looking for injuries dealt with Kharon's scythe on Alcesto.

Alcesto was collapsed on the ground. Even though Kharin slashed his neck with his scythe, there was no sign of injuries at Alcesto's neck. Deces also followed up with Vanzel and found that there was no harm done to Alcesto's body, however, he was not breathing. His heart was also not beating. Vanzel turned towards Kharon and shouted,

"What's the meaning of this, you fiend?!!"

Kharon stopped smiling and said in a serious tone,

"Well, well, well... Let's get to the rules now. I did this to show you all my power, my power over souls. Normal humans with a little bit of divine Gi can't show resistance against my attack of 'soul weilding'. I didn't use it on you both because you have dark Gi and Mr. Vanzel, you truly are an incredible case. You have both, the dark Gi and divine Gi. I would have absolutely failed to capture you soul."

Vanzel clinched his fist and asked,

"Does that mean, I can give a nice beating?"

Kharon laughed lightly and said,

"Ha ha ha! Oh come on Mr. Vanzel... Please don't forget that I am still welding your friend's soul. If you attack me right now, I might destroy his soul."

Vanzel, with anger, bit his lips. After calming down, he asked Kharon,

"Fine. Tell me the rules of your trial."

Kharon started speaking.

"The rules are very simple. Only you two, namely, Vanzel and Deces, will be crossing the river. Whilst crossing the river, you both will not be encountering any difficulties. However, hell will be awaiting for you both on the other side of the river. It's just a low level hell land. There are numerous hell lands of many levels and this is the lowest. The trial is, weather you both will make it back or not. Also, there is an artifact which I need you both to bring it here. That artifact is a sheath for a veey+very-very. If you both come back in one piece, I will be returning Alcesto's soul to his body and you three along with your other teammates on the other side, will be sent to the land of Khaos where you all will be participating in the Khaos tournament. If you both won't come back in two Khours, or Khaos hours, then I'll assume that you both are dead and I will destroy Alcesto's soul along with your other friends."

The nerves which popped on Vanzel's forehead due to immense anger and tension, started to disappear. He calmed himself and said,

"Very well. I shall accept your conditions and proceed towards the trial."

He turned back and asked Deces,

"Deces, is it all right with you?"

Deces replied immediately,

"Yes, Vanzel. Afterall, I owe my life to you."

After getting her agreement on this matter, they decided to accept Kharon's trial and cross over to the river Styx. However, Vanzel had one confusion in his mind. It was about the artifact which Kharon ordered him to bring to him. He thought to himself,

"This sheath of sword... I guess if obtaining it is the main objective of this trial..."

Deces and Vanzel swam across the river. It was not much large and hence, they did not had to hold their breath in for much longer.

After swimming for a while, they reached the the other end of the river without any difficulty, as they were promised by Kharon. They swam upwards and left their traces from the bloody river, Styx. Even though it was for a while, Vanzel was a little bit relieved that he would not be seeing human matter in the bloody river of Styx.

The other side of the river was same as the whole land which was on the previous side of the river. In the middle of the land was a huge rock of red colour. That red coloured rock was shining bright under the moonlight of the hellish land of Portitor. On the top of the rock, there was an artifact, which, according to Vanzel, would be the main objective of their trial. The sheath of the sword which was kept on the rock was of bright yellow colour. It was emitting a holy yet deadly aura from it. It's shape was not like a normal sheath. It was large. Vanzel thought to himself,

"That piece of rocks looks like superior Megalithium. And... And that sheath... Why does it feel like it's inviting me to pick it up?"

He ordered Deces to stay back and proceeded towards the rock to obtain the sheath. Deces was on guard because she was also ordered to watch for enemies behind Vanzel's back.

Vanzel walked towards the rock slowly, but with extreme caution. As closer as he gets to the rock, the holy and deadly aura of the sheath gets stronger. Even though the sheath was emitting a deadly aura, Vanzel still felt as if it wanted Vanzel to select it. As soon as he reached the rock, he got picked up the sheath.

The moment when he picked up the sheath, his head started getting heavier. He felt as if his brain would explode. The sheath's holy aura became less and less whereas the deadly aura kept on getting stronger. Vanzel almost lost his consciousness.

____TO BE CONTINUED____