Apocalypse: Reborn as a Monster

Chapter 6: Altar

After thirty minutes of following the squad of five, Thorian could finally see the sprawling stone walls that protected Locksley. He smiled at the nostalgic sight of a city that did not have magical barriers or mana cannons.

This place would have been razed in an hour if it was ten years in the future.

The white and black kobloids stood at the edge of the forest and watched the soldiers from afar. The humans that were carrying the blue goblin walked on the main road and entered the city through the massive gate.

Even though it was night, Thorian had learned about the stars from his great uncle when he was young. Even though just the thought of the betrayer hurt him, he swallowed his pride and used the knowledge that his old mentor passed down to him.

Which one was it again?

Thorian looked up to the sky and scanned it for a few seconds before his eyes lit up. He found it.

So that's the south star.

As he found his point of reference, Thorian could easily find where the sun was going to rise from. He grinned as he looked at the closing portcullis in front of them; it was the east gate.

"Let's go back," Thorian smiled at Nox. "Tonight will go down in history."

Nox looked confused at Thorian but he did not say anything. He just shook his head and followed after the white kobloid.

As they no longer needed to walk at a crawling pace, the two crossed the four-kilometer distance in but a few minutes. As they reached close to their destination, the two stopped.

Thorian looked at Nox and laid out his plan, "I will be searching on this side, you will be going to the other side of the road. If you find a big stone with a demon's face on it, do not touch it. Come and find me immediately, do you understand?"

"Face demon?" Nox furrowed his eyebrows at the explanation.

Thorian let out a sigh, "You will know it when you will see it. Now, do you understand?"

Nox nodded his head, "Nox understand."

"Good luck," Thorian patted the night kobloid on the back. "I trust you."

With those words, Nox ran to the other side of the road and disappeared into the dark forest. Thorian turned around and started searching.

It should be buried somewhere around here, but it shouldn't be fully under the ground.

Thorian ran around while scanning the area with his eyes. Whenever something other than trees was in his field of vision, he would focus on it and search through it with great meticulousness.

Minutes slowly passed when Thorian's eyes landed on a rock outcropping behind some dense shrubbery. He walked through the bushes and circled around the rock only for his lips to part in a grin.

Found you.

Thorian chuckled under his breath as he covered his face with his hand. It took all of his self-control not to indulge in a maniacal burst of laughter. He then put his hand on top of the demon's face and said the incantation that he had memorized for so long in his head.

I, Thorian Steelblade, claim this territory by the divine right I have been given.

Thorian's vision shattered. It was as if he was looking at the words through a shattered window. Words and screens started appearing in front of his eyes.

System Error...

The "System Error" message kept repeating itself in front of Thorian's eyes before his vision was assaulted with a myriad of colors. Black, red, and gold all merged and accentuated one large screen.