130 Chapter 2: Hunters, How Many You Can Save
"What's happening?"
"The door is closed!"
"Dammit! I can't do this anymore" a hunter said as he walked toward the doors "I'm leaving now. Yu guys can have all the treasures you want."
[He's going to die if you don't stop him]
Tae heard the voice again.
"No, don't" The leader screamed
It only took a moment at the statue by the door smacked that hunter head off, his body falling backward.
The hunters started screaming as the statue returned to its original position.
"That thing just moved!"
"Wait! Doesn't that mean all the statues here can move."
"I didn't even see it swing the mace."
[Its gaze at you, the big one]
The voice said as Tae started to shudder and then began to turn to the most prominent statue which was looking at him
[Everyone should get down about now]
"EVERYONE, GET DOWN!!" Tae screamed at the top of his lungs as he got to his knees. He decided to trust this voice.
All the hunters reacted to Tae shout as they all ducked except for one.
When the big statue's eyes shot out a big ray of light at the only hunter, who was still standing, the hunter who got hit in front of everyone's face disappeared without a trace including most of the ground he stood on.
Screams could be heard from the hunters who witnessed what just happened.
[Not bad you reacted faster than I expected. Because of that only one had died this time]
"This time what do you mean this" Tae whispered
[By the end of this let's see how many you can Save]
What was originally a group of 17 hunters now became 15.
Some of the hunters were still panicking while other where breath words of relief at Tae who shouted. Tae turned his and peaked at the statue whose eyes where still lit
"What do I do next?" he whispered hoping the voice would give him more guidance on what to do next.
[The hints where on the stone tablet remember, you not helpless enough to not be able to figure it out on your own]
Tae looked at the party leader. "Mister Wook, what was the first thing the stone tablet said. The first thing it said to do."
Ro Dong-Wook looked back at him but before he could answer.
"Don't stand up?" Tae said to the hunter who was about to "It only attacks at a certain height" he said quickly when the voice told him that.
Wook looked at the youth and thought 'his instincts are good. But, it's too bad he's and E-rank, if only his abilities were higher."
Some hunters had utterly lost their sense as they laid not even moving or crying and whimpering. While others still had hope as they waited patiently for their next move.
"What was the first thing it said to do?" Tae asked Wook.
"…..Worship the lord" he said loud enough so that the other hunters can hear him. The all looked to their left and there right and nodded at each other as they all bowed to the giant statue.
[Good. But this next part about to get dangerous. He'll stand up that statue. So, follow the next one quickly.]
'What?!' Tae thought as he looked at the statue and his face became ashen.
[You guys can stand up now, it won't be attacking with its eyes. So, hurry]
The statue expression changed it was a frightening expression, that freaked out most hunters
"Mister Wook! What was the next thing the table said to do!" Tae said which caught everyone's attention while the statue was starting to stand up.
"Hurry say it we have to act quickly, or we will all be dead" Tae got to his feet "Everyone you can stand up now but stay away from the statues"
"Praise the lord" Wook said aloud
"How do we do that?"
Tae was lost in thought and at the same time hoping the voice would give him a hint.
"I' I'll try," A hunter said
"Hey! What are you trying!"
"I'm part of a church's choir. If its praise, I'm confident in it."
[Then he would be praising the wrong god]
"No, stop, you would be praising the wrong god," Tae said before the Hunter started singing
'Wait Choir' Tae thought "The statues! Everyone get to the statues with the instruments!" Tae yelled again
[Not bad, you caught on quick]
The hunters started to scurry toward the statues with the instruments, which began playing music when they walked toward.
"All of the statues with Instruments must be playing," Tae said aloud again as he quickly ran to one which no one was a" He heard the screams of death behind him, they had suffered more casualties.
When all the statues with instruments started playing the biggest statue stopped moving. Tae took this time to look back the had just lost seven more people. The Hunters meet up Tae at the statue he was at.
"Mister Wook, what was next?" Tae said exhausted facing the eight people left.
"Prove your Faith."
The biggest statue started moving but one turned around as a platform started to rise, but it was only at waist height.
"It's an Altar" Tae said
The surviving hunters looked at Tae, and he had gotten this far. Since the giant statue wasn't moving
[Go to it, all of you have to go to it]
"We need to all go to the Altar," Tae said as he walked toward the Altar the rest following him, when they as all entered the circle close to the
Altar a red flame appeared.
"The red flames must represent us," Tae said as the crackling sound was heard and blue flames that laid outside the circle appeared.
"Your last trial, the blue flames are the time-limit in which you have to stay within the circle. The doors will open due to this, and you will be free to leave without being attacked. However, you will be doing so while putting the ones you leave behind in danger. That's why he is smiling he can't wait to see you betray each other."
Tae heard the voice again, but this time he wasn't the only one as the rest of the hunter heard her too. The blue doors opened wide just then. Tae looked at the vast statue again that still had the same expression and signed
"Hey, what are you doing."
A female hunter had run out the circle and the blue door, surprising the remaining.
Mana turned her head to the glowing orb. She reached into it and pulled out a young girl who had light purplish hair. Mana had quickly put her in a beautiful outfit and hugged the girl lightly to her chest.
"Your name is Peony" she rubbed the sleepy girls head softly and lovingly as she continued to hold her while still watching.
A red flame had disappeared which caused two statues started moving forward slowly. Making the hunters panic.
"E-ranker, what happened" said one of the hunters
"Every-time someone moves out of the circle more stature will move" Tae looked sadly.
"You know I never imagined that someone as week as you could be so helpful. I honestly looked down on you. I'm alive because of you. Thank you"
"Mister Min" Tae said
"But" Min dropped his sword "I also have a family. I don't want to die here. I'm sorry" Min ran for the door as another red flame disappeared and another two more statues started to move. The remaining hunters also took off leaving only three people behind.
Tae, Wook and the female Healer. By now all the statues where moving. Tae looked at the helpless situation again before he heard laughter from the giant statue whose expression got even crazier.
He sat and leaned against the Alter "Mister Wook can you take her and get out of her" Tae said as he looked at the party leader was also about to bolt.
"She is in so much shock that she can no longer move. The doors will remain open as long as one of us stays here." Tae looked handed Wook his magical core "Can you give this to my family?"
Mister Wook nodded and gulped. He didn't dare to say that he would stay. He too was scared. He picked up the healer and bolted through to the blue door. Tae watched as the two people's flames dispersed.
Tae thought about his family and started to cry and sob as he got impaled and kicked by the statues that had broken into the circle. He tried not to think about the pain he was feeling as they were tearing him apart.
He didn't want to die. But he felt death was the best option it would pay for his mother medical bills and his sister education.
He coughed blood as his body was getting colder and stopped feeling pain.
Tae saw a light and then finally a person. He couldn't make out any features as his blood was blocking his sight. He felt something warm on his lips. Before a sudden light overwhelmed the area
(You have fulfilled all the Conditions of the 'Secret quest: The weak one's Courage)
