Chapter 17: Guardian from underworld

Asher slowly climbs the stairs compose of stone covered with a layer of moss and looks up at the ceiling of the place which is almost all filled with stalactites.

His hand slowly touches the surface of the shrine door, but strangely he can't touch it at all because there is some kind of other energy blocking him.

"Strange, what is this energy?" Asher continuously pushed his body closer to it but his body is being pushed away.

"Asher, I have a feeling this is some kind of barrier protecting the creature inside." Persea scratched her head. "Well, I guess we have to find a way to break this barrier."

Asher's eyeballs slowly move to realize the energy is coming from the three statue heads on the side of the door. The heads of the statues have strange shapes and look like dogs with creepy faces. Asher quickly glimpsed a strange carving on one of the heads that read.

"The three gazes of the guardian creatures of the underworld will form a barrier."

"Wait, I don't understand what this means at all." Persea quickly shook her head. "Ah, I'm so stupid about things like this.

Asher strokes his chin. "I don't understand what this is all about either, but perhaps it's some sort of simple puzzle."

"Puzzle? Ah, I don't like it at all." Persea shook her head repeatedly."It makes me sick."

Asher tries to figure out the meaning of the strange writing and pays attention to the direction of the statue heads attached to the door. He finds it strange that the three statue heads are pointing to one point, the center point of the door.

"Wait, for a moment, maybe we should change the direction of the head of this door." Asher's hand slowly moved one of the statue heads and suddenly there is a strange vibration around them.

"Asher, what are you doing?" Persea's blue eyeballs dilated for a moment.

"I don't know either, but look." Asher's finger pointing towards the barrier seems to be fading away. "I think the barrier will disappear if you turn all these statues the other way around."

"Alright, let's try then."

The two of them try to turn the statue's head until finally, the door barrier disappears and slowly the strange symbol attached to the body of the wall also disappears.

"Persea, we should go inside this shrine and find the guardian of light we are looking for."

Asher pushes the door of the shrine and everything seems so dark. He walks slowly and immediately the door closes itself and he quickly turns his body around.

Not long after, light shines on the floor where Asher is standing and a strange pattern is engraved on the wall which illuminates the place. In front of him is an altar made of stones and making him even more curious about this place.

"Persea, what exactly is going on here? Asher slowly descended the stairs and continued to take a look around.

"I've never been inside the temple either, Asher." Persea's eyeballs continuously observed the ceiling of the room. "I just know of their existence, but not to this point."

Asher sighs and the two of them keep walking until they reach in front of the altar covering with a puff of dust and a strange inscription.

"Guardian creatures of the underground world, Cerberion."

"What does that mean .…"

Persea raises both of her shoulders and it isn't long before a strange vibration instantly becomes so loud it causes them to panic. A few minutes later a strange portal appears from behind Asher and pulls him directly into it.

"Asher!" Persea tried to fly toward the portal but the strange energy from the portal pushes her away from the portal. "Asher!"

Asher tries to get out of the portal, but the strange energy is too strong that he gets into the portal and instantly the existing portal disappears.

***

Asher wakes up in a dark hallway with a flashlight for illumination and everything seems unfamiliar around him. He can see bones scattered on the ground and several rodents hanging around.

"Holy Crap! Where am I?" His eyes looked around the stranger's places. "What the hell is this place?"

He continues to walk until he comes to a large room where there is a large furry creature staring at him with a sharp gaze. Its eyes are blood-red, its teeth are razor-sharp, its body is thick with black fur, and strangely, it has three heads.

"Oh my, what is that? Is that the cerberion?" Asher dilated his eyes instantly.

The creature instantly breathes out fire from its mouth and strikes him and instantly filling the entire room. Asher quickly hides between the columns near him.

"Gosh, I almost get roasted to death." He took a deep breath.

Asher's sweat slowly flowed down his cheeks followed by a racing heartbeat. He has no idea the creature will immediately spit flames from its mouth.

"Damn it! How can I defeat this thing?" Asher stroked his chin and occasionally looks at the creature.

Asher begins to fire his laser light at the Cerberion, but the creature easily blocks his power and tries to hurt Asher, but fortunately, he quickly moves to avoid every attack it launches.

"Argh!"

Asher begins firing his laser light at Cerberion, but the creature easily withstands his power and attempts to injure Asher. Fortunately, he quickly evades every attack being launched and once again hides in the columns of the building.

"Damn! Is there no other way to defeat it?"

Asher tries to find an item that may be useful for defeating the wild creature, then suddenly his eyes catch the harp item acquired during the previous mission.

"Wait, maybe I can just use this harp item on Cerberion." Asher pulled out the item from his inventory box. "I hope this work."

Asher without thinking immediately used the item and slowly melodious music was heard filling the entire room. Cerberion who heard the music slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

"Good, this is now my chance."

Asher quickly stepped up and approached Cerberion who seemed to be fast asleep and suddenly a notification appeared that read "Ritual".

[Ritual: A special skill of the white magician user to tame the guardian of light. This skill will activate if the Guardian of Light is in a weak state]

Asher presses the "Ritual" button and instantly a strange light emits from Asher's staff, but unfortunately when casting the spell one of the Cerberus heads suddenly wakes up and immediately spouted fire. The burst of fire managed to hit Asher's body and slowly his blood decreased.

"Argh! Sh**!"

Asher quickly hide and used his skills to replenish his blood which is getting critical.

"The effect of the harp doesn't seem to be working properly." Asher looked around and searched for opportunities.

Asher's eyes slowly see on the cerberion's neck there is a long iron chain seemingly connecting to something. He instantly follows the iron chain which turns out to be attached to the wall of the room and beside it is a sword.

"I think using that sword may be the right way." Asher snapped his fingers, immediately run over to the sword, and pulls it out. "Prepare to die, cerberion!"