Chapter 68: (6)Messiah's path

Everyone was horrified! Hulk didn't even have the chance to defend himself, but had died in an instant!

The group would have to change their strategy if they wanted to pass this boss. Everyone began debating the best way to solve the problem, but nobody could agree with one another.

But after ten minutes of debating, Lotus called for everyone to be quiet. "Everybody, do you hear that?"

The strange, heavy sound of giant paws thumping came from far behind them, in the direction they had just come!

Lotus looked pale. "Something is destroying my beacons, and it's getting closer!"

Apophis replied, "We don't have time to debate anymore! I'll tank this monster with my Susanoo. Chocolate, get ready to heal me. Everyone else, prepare to fight!"

But even as Apophis spoke, a pure black shadow fifteen meters high loomed in the fog! Suddenly, the idea of fighting this creature seemed absurd!

What were they supposed to do? They had an unbeatable enemy in front of them and another one behind!

Apophis nodded, making his voice ring with authority. "Okay, we have no choice but to cross the bridge! If not, we're dead!"

Chocolate said, "I'll see if the Guardian's next question is any easier!" She approached the boss. "I await your question, Guardian!"

The boss answered, "What is the name of the Prophet?"

Chocolate, confused, made a wild guess. "Jesus!"

With the hiss of his blade, the boss lopped off Chocolate's head.

System: Party member "Chocolate" has died. Player "Chocolate" has left your guild "Eclipse." Player "Chocolate" has left your friend list.

Now, only Apophis, Lotus, and White remained. Was there any possibility that they'd succeed where their allies had failed?

White said, "Well, thank you for what you've done for us, Apophis! I won't forget it, and I hope we'll meet up again after making new characters."

Then White did the same as Chocolate, approaching the boss and saying, "I await your question, Guardian!"

The boss answered, "When was the Prophet of Truth born?"

Rather than answering, White drew her plasma rifle and shot the guardian in the forehead!

She inflicted no damage, and a moment later...

System: Party member "White" has died. Player "White" has left your guild "Eclipse." Player "White" has left your friend list.

Behind them, the shadow of the giant pierced the fog—it was a stone colossus!

[The Great Cleaner] [Level: ???] [Rank: ???] [Hostile]

Lotus said, "Before we are separated, I would like to know your name!"

Apophis answered, "Alexander. And you?"

"Emma!"

Apophis, with tears in his eyes, said, "I'm so sorry I got you into this! I should've shown a little more humility. Now, because of me, we're going to lose everything!"

Lotus replied, "Don't worry, you're not responsible! We all accepted the risk of doing the Dungeon in IronMan mode! The choice was ours, and we have accepted the consequences."

She embraced Apophis one last time, then stepped in front of the Guardian.

"What is the name of the holy book written by the Prophet?" it asked in its hissing voice.

Lotus did not bother answering, but only turned to Apophis and gave him a farewell smile.

The Guardian punished her failure to answer.

System: Party member "Lotus" has died. Player "Lotus" has left your guild "Eclipse." Player "Lotus" has left your friend list.

The stone colossus was now only about a hundred meters behind Apophis. He must advance or die.

So he summoned his courage and stepped forward. "I'll hear your question, Guardian!"

It answered, "Do you have faith in the Prophet of Truth?"

Apophis was surprised at the simplicity of the question. The first word that came to his mind was obviously "Yes," but this seemed like an obvious trap!

Apophis asked his Soul, "Do you have an opinion on the matter, Enclabossa?"

It whispered back to him, "No, my lord. I am sorry."

Apophis thought back across the whole dungeon and the questions each team member had been given.

One thing quickly became clear. The Dungeon was intended for players between levels 10 and 20, ones who had just unlocked space travel and would have no idea what any of the lore of Horus was.

But then, even Apophis, with his many years of experience in the game, didn't know what these questions meant. Surely the answers were supposed to be philosophical, rather than mere trivia!

Apophis summoned all his courage and said, "I think the idea of truth doesn't exist!"

The Guardian barely reacted. "This is incorrect."

But Apophis was convinced that this was the right way to approach the question, and kept speaking! "I'll say it again! There's no such thing as truth, only facts and interpretations! Your god and your prophet do not exist!"

There was a long moment of silence.

Then the Guardian of Truth vanished... leaving the bridge unguarded.