Chapter 2 ✠ HOPE will Guide you

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HOPE will guide you

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Among the screams of pain, loss and despair. A hopeless question was asked and a whisper was given.

"Worship him"

He looks at the crying eyes. Did it answer him?

"EVERYONE DONT MOVE! STAY WHERE YOU ARE"

He heard Mr. Song's order, and a pained shuffling noise of the man came as he crawled towards them.

"Are you good Jinwoo?" He can hear Mr. Song ask.

He took a shaky breath and nodded affirmatively. "Mr Song.. Joohee is-"

"I know. She gets consumed in her panic often. It's why she can only do low-level gates despite being B-rank" Chiyul sighs, flinching noticeably "Ah right.. my arm. Can you help me stop the bleeding, Jinwoo?"

"Your arm- Mr. Song?!" The young hunter gasped at the injury his calm elder sustained. Blood gushes a continuous trickle out of the stump that was Leader Song's arm.

Hurriedly, he grabbed a med-pack and did his best to bandage it as neat and tight as possible.

"Yeahh. The bastard got me good." Song Chiyul chuckled mirthlessly, there goes his career as a swordsman. But, it's not over yet, he has people depending on him to get out of here alive.

"Good call earlier." He complimented, startling the boy a bit. "You felt it right? Trust that feeling it will save you from this and after"

"I- I just thought it was dangerous" Jinwoo said unsure, "This- It pulled me down. I wouldn't be alive if it didn't"

He looked at the cowering girl in the cage. In the end, when faced with a powerful threat, he and this creature are just the same after all. He extends his only hand past the bars to settle on its head, offering what little comfort he could give.

"Thank you for protecting Jinwoo." He said softly, petting their caged monster.

Its shaking calmed a bit at the touch. It shifted closer to what the bars allowed, looking just as bedraggled by the situation as any of them. Even the cage wasn't spared as some of the bars near the top are missing a good chunk. The seared end glowed red hot and dripping melted iron, thankfully away from their creature. At least they know it isn't entirely invincible. The least they could do is help it and get out of this situation.

"What do you reckon is the rank of that thing, Mr. Sung?" Chiyul asked the boy.

"I'm not sure I got a good reference, sir. I've never been in any gates above D-rank"

"Hmm.. I've only been able to participate in B-rank Dungeons but even then there weren't any magic-wielding beasts that can instantly kill."

Song Chiyul is a man not without fears and doubts. He is almost 60 years older and a hunter, tempting death at every gate he enters. He has faced many monsters.. but this thing is on a level he can't comprehend. Commandments. Stone guards that kill when the door is approached. A statue that shoots them if they move.

"It has rules. 'Commandments' she said. What was it again?" He asked himself, as he tried to remember the spoken words earlier.

Its eyes shone gold once more.

"Heed his words for it is law.

First, Worship the Lord. Second Praise the Lord. And third, Prove your piety towards the Lord.

Those who refuse his will may never leave. Let hope guide you in this trial"

The party looked in shock more at the fact it spoke than the words spoken.

"It can speak?!"

"Bro it just told us the fuckin rules earlier. keep up!"

"How bout you tell us how to get out here!?"

"It is one of them! We should kill it-"

"Dumbass! Then we wouldn't have known the rules!"

"I told you all! Never trust anything in these dungeons!"

"QUIET!" Their leader shouted and silence fell quickly after. "Calm down, people! Arguing or blaming it will lead us nowhere"

Jinwoo wracks his mind with everything he learned and saw in this dungeon in the hope of finding a way to survive.

"It has rules"

"Worship him"

"First, Worship the Lord"

Rules! They attack with rules! And if my theory is right...

"Hey! Get down!! What the fu-"

"Mr. Song, I think it's not attacking based on our movement" The young hunter stood up slowly. Eyes blazing with determination, glaring at the statue's more deadlier gaze.

He lifted his head slowly, gauging the limit. Before harshly bowing when he saw the light in its eyes intensify!

Theory 1 confirmed. Now the next one..

He then turned to their creature.

Let hope guide you. Does it mean.. this thing...

"Who are you?" He asked. It looked at him confused, eyes flickering from gold to blue and opening its mouth before closing it again. No answer.

"Who is he? Whats this place for!?" He asked again but no answer. Growing frustrated he shouted a last-ditch question.

"Worship him how?"

"Worship him, our lord. Bow down low at his excellence or forfeit your existence for his bright gaze is magnificent and intolerant. Oh, worship him."

Jinwoo and Chiyul look at each other in triumph. This creature is their one chance of survival. Their 'hope'

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Ah.. gets ko na.. I'm dead and I'm in hell. I don't know why my hell is Solo Leveling. Baka nanonood ng 'WatchMojo's top 10 traumatizing scenes in anime' si Satan and thought "Ha! This is genius! Ma try nga sa mga walanghiyang weebs I have around"

And guess who won that raffle!

Ang bilis lang pala mamatay ng isang tao. She knows, she already did. Pero to see it. Witness it. Smell the blood and burning flesh. Hear their cries.

One moment their there at isang saglit lang, puro kulay Pula na lang makikita mo o kung napakamalas nila, abo ka na lang. But somehow, ito ang pinaka mababaw na problema ng ating NPC.

She's so fucking scared. Takot sa kanya at takot para sa mga taong kasama nya.

Namatay ako and Im in hell

"̰ͮI̋̔̚͏͡m̧̓̂͗ ̳͔ͬ͗ş͚ͅo̭r̸ͅ͏͘rý̨̧̮̻͡-̸͈̒"

Cries of pain and outrage yung tanging maririnig mo after just one attack.

How many are left? How many dead?

Nakakaawa tignan. Isang grupo ng tao na sa sobrang takot ay walang magawa kung di sumunod. Mga tao na kahit mukha siyang some weird puting tinapay of an elf girl, still treated her with kindness.

At isa sa mga mababait na kuyang may healing powers, yung nagbigay sa kanya ng tubig.. lay dead with only top half their body remaining.

Maybe if she just have spoken sooner.

"Commandments of the Carthenon Temple"

Pero hindi niya kaya. Those were his rules for her.

"Worship him"

"Mḁṙ͖̉v̤̉e͊l̨̍ ̠̙̇̏a̱t͇͏ ̢̏ͯh͡i̓̐s͔͍͏ ̟̞̆͞wo̽r̕k̹̯ͪͬ"̱

Mga bagay na hindi niya alam kung bakit niya sinabi o kung saan niya nalaman. Bagay na hindi niya masabi kung hindi siya tatanungin ng mga tako na takot ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya.

Is it because it knows na alam ko kung ano mangyayari? Limiting me so I dont spoil his fun?

Isa lang ang tanging may sagot sa mga tanong niya. She looked back at the imposing statue.

Gago. Eons old and so childish.

Blazing eyes looked at the group bowing in satisfaction before. Showing a sadistic grin that sent shivers down everyone's spine. Its great big head, then turned at their creature in the cage, almost expectantly.

Ha! Walang hiya talaga.. ako rin? Sige..

She stood up enraged, despite the others- the humans' protest.

The glowing eyes charged up a smoking blaze. With a glare to match it, she held the sides of her dress and bowed a curtsy. Exaggerating the bow a bit out of spite.

Fine.. Ill obey the rules of your stupid game. Kung makakaalis sila dito ng buhay.

I'll be your NPC. I'll be your guide!

At para bang narinig nito ang pagsuko niya, when the statue's eyes turned back to cold unfeeling stone while its monstrous grin grew a little wider.

Let HOPE guide you.

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After the creature bowed to it, Its expression changed.

Everyone bowing was at a loss. Not knowing how long they have to bow. They can only hope and look to the creature who holds all the answers.

...

"The attack has stopped.. right?" Mr. Park asked shakily.

"No wait!"

"Isn't it going to do something?"

"It really is over?"

As if confirming their indirect questions their guide stood up straight and looked at Jinwoo. Blue eyes brimming with new tears looked at him expectantly.

"S-see! It stood up! The bastard's eyes aren't glowing anymore!"

"We're still not sure if we could trust it!" Samchik yelled at his buddy's thoughtlessness. But others stood and cheered.

"Were alive!"

"It isn't doing anything!"

"No way"

"It's over right? Right?!"

No. It's not over yet! Jinwoo stared back at the creature's determined glare.

"What-"

Before he could ask the next move. The ground shook as the holy statue stood. Leaving dents on the stone at every step.

"What the?!"

"Are we gonna have to fight that thing!?"

The statue seems to be heading towards them and some already backing up and away from the cage.

It banged at the bars impatiently to get their attention.

"The rules! the second rule!" Chiyul hurriedly turned back to their creature. "Praise him! How do we praise the lord?!"

The blue of its eyes swirled away to reveal its glowing eyes once more.

"Praise him. Abstain from Violence and Let his Servants play their Music and Sing his hymns!"

After it spoke, it seemed to want to say more but a force is stopping it. Banging the bars once again in frustration.

Why is it so dissatisfied after it said it? Jinwoo wondered grimly.

"OKAY! YOU HEARD THE LITTLE LADY THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!!"

Clangs of metal rang as some reluctantly threw down the equipment they were brandishing hurriedly. It all felt useless regardless after the power this threat showed them. Still, it only made them feel more unsure and hopeless knowing they could not even defend themselves.

"What now!?"

"Praise it said!!"

"How the fuck do we do that!!"

"I will try! She said to sing hymns!" A man with long hair stepped up, holding a cross. "I used to be part of a church choir! I know how to praise"

The man started singing a christian hymn while walking towards the approaching statue.

"Is it working?"

"It looks like it slowing down"

Before the churchman could pass the cage, a pale hand shot out from the bars. Pulling the man back to meet with a pair of scared blue eyes. Its head shook vigorously.

Shocked by the action, he stopped and tried to pry its pale hand gently from his coat.

"It's going to be fine, child" He warmly thought that it was just scared for him. "I know what I'm doing"

Jinwoo thinks the man is right in one thing. It's definitely scared for itself and them. But it is not just that. They are doing what it know they're gonna take the wrong.

Singing a song of another god at his temple...is blasphemy to this monster!

For the first time since they heard it speak, it made a noise without anyone prompting it.

An angry frustrated shout. Before gripping the guy's coat with both hands and pushing him towards them with an unexpected strength.

And away from the stone feet that are so close to crushing him. Unknown to the humans, The stone god's gaze snapped to look back at wide blue eyes. Its smile lessens a smidge, not liking their pale guide's intervention.

Joohee and Chiyul both helped the stunned guy to his feet. Dread washed over them for they realized their foolishness.

"I-it was just gonna stomp me!?"

"EVERYONE GET BACK! QUICKLY!"

The people ran for a few feet before looking back at the statue, realizing it not following and is looking at the cowering shape in the cage. Joohee was reluctant to leave their creature but she didn't have a choice Jinwoo already dragged her away when the stone god's hand descended.

Bending and crushing the metal of the cage, a stone hand picked at the cage, taking the top off and throwing it away.

They can only watch as their creature shrieks and angrily pounds its fists pathetically at the crushing hand.

Only making the stone god more amused, his shoulders shook as if it was laughing.

PUTANGIN-- !!! BITAW! YOU SICK FUC-- AAH!

It squeezed and held them in a way that they could still watch the chaos before it turned back to terrorise the humans once more. Its delight was clear as it crushed one paralyzed by fear, underfoot.

Their creature can only scream. Helpless. So they run.

"ITS TOO DANGEROUS TO STICK TOGETHER"

"EVERYONE SCATTER"

"AHHHHHHHH!!"

"THE OTHER STATUES ARE ATTACKING"

"Abstain from Violence. Violence! Stay away from Weapons! STAY AWAY FROM EM!!"

"WE ALREADY KNOW THAT!"

"Hey! That one got an axe!! DON'T GO THERE"

Jinwoo held onto Joohee's hand tightly as they ran around and away from the statues. He wracks his brain once more at the hint their guide has given.

Okay! THINK! What did she say again?! The second part!

He looked frantically at the lesser statues and looked at what they held.

Spear

Sword.

Hammer.

Horn?

Musical Instruments!

"Let his Servants play their music--"

"GO TO THE ONES HOLDING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT!"

Chiyul was the first to test the theory, standing before a statue holding a long curving horn. Its eyes lit a familiar gold and started playing a tune.

"HE'S RIGHT! THE MUSICAL STATUES ARE SAFE!"

"FIND THEM QUICK!!"

"AHHHH! MY ARM! HAAHHH!!"

"Hel- !!!"

Jinwoo dragged Joohee under a statue bearing drums but when it didn't play. He shoved Joohe under the thing.

"NO! JIN-"

"Stay here Joohee! It is safe! DON'T FOLLOW!"

He ran. All the ones near are already taken by what's left of other exhausted and traumatized party members.

And he ran.

Malice-filled stone eyes locked on his pathetic form.

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It's pointless. It's futile... Tinatry mo may baguhin then you get punished for it.

Stone fingers flexed and the pain of my ribs crushing shoots up sa buong katawan ko.

How foolish of me to think na kaya kong magligtas ng buhay! Even in this life.. napakawalang kwenta pa rin!

She can only cry and scream wordless warnings sa mga taong kanina lang ay pinangakuang iligtas. One by one music played as this bastard held her above its sadistic play of tag.

Natapos ang bangungot when a voice from a statue joined the orchestra of stone.

At ganun-ganun lang, the second part was over.

She sighed but flinched nang maradam niya lahat ng pasa at bali na natamo niya being a human stress ball. She didnt have time to whine tho, when she hears a familiar name na sinisigaw.

"JINWOO!!"

Ah si kuya payatot buhay pa.

Looking down to see who survived. She smiled at a thought.

Of the the 17 people na pumasok sa purgatoryong to.. 10 stands. Well si kuya payatot, Jinwoo, lost a leg but heyyy! 4 people more than the original.

Galing ng group na to ahh! Mas matibay kesa sa canon group lol! .. Ah.. nababaliw na ako..

The ground shook once more, as the statue stopped north of the cage at tinaas ang kamay na may hawak sa kanya.

Below, the stone floor lifted into a platform. The seal and broken metal bars glowed golden then the bars shattered into particles that stuck in the air.

What in the Zelda Shrine is thi- ?!

Then binuksan ng statua yung kamay niya. Letting her ragdoll her way down. Landing on the seal with a yelp and a loud thud.

Fuc- !! ARAY KO! NAPAKA- Ah! Tangina talaga nitong satanic padre lincoln! You piece of hard shit!

Napahiga na lang ang NPC sa sakit ng katawan, miraculously nothing is bleeding yet. Wala na rin gana mag react when the glowing particles reformed as a solid collar around their neck. Matching hand cuffs pa sa bawat kamay! Bonga diba.

Kelan ba to matatapos? Pwede na ba siya matulog?

She was distracted from admiring the shackles and the chains forming, bolting her down the alter. Nang maalala niya yung ibang tao. The ones who seem to be arguing this time.

The third and hopefully final part is starting. At feeling niya di niya ito magugustuhan. Especially, since si ate Joohee at yung isang kamay na tanda ay parang pinipigilan yung mukhang galit na nakatingin sakin.

Ah. ... Ohhhh! Gets ko na! Nilito na naman ng walanghiya yung already traumatized at stressed people. Let us see.. what will the people of Korea sacrifice tonight !?

Themselves or the Alien.

Siguro dapat talaga na seryosohin niya ang situation na ito. Afterall, sya ang obvious na mamamatay sa misinderstanding na to. Pero, she.. cant muster enough fucks to give.

So tired..

At this point, she'll gladly just give her life if it will give them even as a relief of their frustration. Relief from this madness.

Ngayon.. eyes close, breath calm.

Tanging iniisip niya lang yung granola bar na binigay sa kanya nung ate.. Di ko nasabi salamat. Nilamun ko agad.. may malapit kaya na bilihan dito nun?

o yung tubig nung kuya.. baka alam kung san may bilihan nun snacks! Sana buhay pa si kuya..

yung soft cool feeling ng powers ni ate Joohee.. Sana makapahinga siya maayos. Parang limited lang powers.. dapat di niya sinayang sakin yun kanina.. dami ngayon sugatan.

yung headpats ni tanda... sayang isa na lang kamay niya.. rip double headpats..

yung mabait at gentle na boses ng payatot na Jinwoo. Lakas ng main character energy nung kuya.. he'll live. I bet my second life

Sana.. makalabas silang lahat..

She hears arguing growing closer. Then a shout.

Silence followed by heavy breathing next to the altar.

The voice of a man said something she couldn't understand before she felt the sharp point of a blade on her chest.

"정말 .. 미안해요.."

pfft...

She let a last tear fall from her eyes.

Deja vu..

"͡I̶'̴m̵̏ ̏͞şo̝͞ ̳f̳͒u͈ĉk̶ͩin̛̘͐g ͕ͯ͡s̵̅or̵r̞͌y͍"̈

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