Dealing With Pests

The survivors' camp had different sections.

The east of the camp was populated by the Tyke faction.

The west was populated by the Rois faction.

And the middle and outer edges were populated by people who were in neither faction.

Most survivors from the Temple Of Trickery didn't join a faction because they wanted to see which side benefited them more.

Just like in politics, they wanted to choose their own leader.

And because of that, Aster and Ash were headed towards the middle section.

The survivors' camp was a zone in the middle of several temples, and coincidentally, the Temple Of Night was also one of those temples.

Aster and Ash passed by many tents.

Most tents were dirty, battered, or even completely destroyed.

There were people sleeping on the cold earth, and there were even people doing many things under the blankets.

All of that was a normal sight in the survivors' camp.

Although it wasn't obvious at first glance, Aster was sure that many dark things were happening as well. Girls weren't safe, and the leaders couldn't keep an eye out on every corner of the camp.

Especially the part that didn't choose a side.

It was also one of the reasons why most people did choose a faction.

They were protected.

At least on the surface.

Aster and Ash had passed by many tents and people, searching for a specific area.

And before long, they had found it.

It was an area between the center of the camp and the outer edge.

There was a row of tents with about twenty people around, eating meat and happily chatting away.

"Ah, man, you don't know how I screwed that wench last night." Aster already felt disgusted by the comments, but he didn't let it show on his face.

As the duo approached, they were noticed by the group.

"Oh, if it isn't the heroes of the corridor brotherhood!" A man raised his hand before sipping blood from a beast inside his mouth.

The blood slowly sipped towards his mouth, producing a smell of iron. However, except for iron, there was another smell in the mix.

It was the smell of alcohol.

"You guys hunted the toxic mushroom eaters? Don't you know that it's not pure alcohol and that your lifespan will slowly decrease with each sip?" Aster asked the group.

Meanwhile, Ash smiled. "Oh, hey, guys. Been a while. I see you all are having fun. Mind if we join?"

"Hey, Aster, can't you be more like Ash? See, he likes having fun like a true man. Don't be so crude. It's not like a day less of my life span will change things."

It wasn't just a day less.

"Yeah, we all should have fun." Ash grinned. Then, he jumped in the middle of the group before grabbing the man who talked by the shirt.

One of the temples had a room full with a supply of shirts and robes. Of course, most people only took shirts, ignoring the robes.

It wasn't cold, nor was the Holy Land particularly windy. So, there was no real need for robes.

"I thought we were supposed to have fun?" The man grumbled, trying to move Ash's hand, but he couldn't.

While they were busy decreasing their lifespan, Ash and Aster had spent weeks trying to get stronger.

Right now, Ash and Aster were as strong as Nyle before he 'sacrificed' Boar.

In other words, compared to those survivors who were barely any stronger than they were in the temple, Aster and Ash might as well be gods.

"Yes, and we are. Just different kind." Ash said before slamming the man on the ground, instantly making him lose consciousness.

"RUN!" Someone shouted, prompting the rest of the group to run scatter.

But it was futile.

Aster and Ash weren't just anyone.

They were people closest to knight apprentices, and because of that, the group could only hopelessly watch its people being hunted one by one before being tied with a rope together.

After 'fun' five minutes, Aster and Ash had finished tying everyone.

Clapping his hands together, Ash laughed. "Fun, no?"

"Screw you, Asher!" A bossy girl shouted towards Ash.

"No, I am straight." Ash seriously said.

"But she's a girl?" Aster played along.

"No, she-" Just as Ash was about to deliver the joke, he was interrupted.

"Damn you and your jokes. Why did you tie us all up? Don't you know that this is against the rules of the camp? Or did Rois order you to?" Someone gritted his teeth.

Ash furrowed his brows. He disliked being interrupted during jokes and fun times. "No, we decided to deal with all of you by ourselves. Don't worry, neither Rois nor Tyke faction will dare to touch us."

"And why are you so sure?" The bossy girl asked. "I know a person who is close to Mira. As long as he learns that something happens to me, you all will be so royally screwed!"

"Because Aster is way too important right now." Ash grinned. "And I like the phrase royally screwed. I'll use it, thanks."

Once Ash mentioned Aster's significance, the colors drained from the faces of the group.

Rumors were flying that Aster was part of a secret project between the two sections, but the group thought that it was just that, rumors.

In the end, someone sighed before asking Aster. "Why did you tie us up? If you wanted to kill us, you'd have already done so. So why?"

"I just want to ask questions," Aster said. "What is the sacrificial ceremony?"

"You want to know about back then?" The only reasonable person in the group asked.

"Yeah, I want to know everything about it. From how it happened to when, to who is involved, and to who was sacrificed. And, of course, why."

"Young man, that's not something that you need to know." Another person said. It was an elder not younger than sixty.

"I don't." Aster nodded. "But I want to know."

A week earlier, Aster had received a quest.

[ Aster

Strength: 4.99, Agility: 4.99, Vitality: 4.99, Mana: 4.99, Status: Healthy

EP: 156

Current Quests:

Inspector Of The Holy:

-Find out a big secret inside the Holy Land Of Darkness.

-Rewards: Character Option Upgrade.

 ]

"Alright." The elder nodded.

"I will tell you about the dark history of Temple Of Trickery." 

"About the gods and the process behind the sacrificial ceremony."

"And about Cecil's biggest secret."