Tarous, стр. 68
Bob spoke up. “The only solid information we have gathered is that this is the Temple of Death and anyone that tries to enter is turned into dust at the entrance. Which is probably why it’s called the Temple of Death.”
Thinking about the strange connection I had to the temple, I seriously doubted that was the only reason for its name.
I looked down at my feet. Someone had spray-painted a red line in the sand around the front of the temple. Of course if that wasn’t clear enough, the dark splotches in the sand were also a strong warning as well. I wondered how many people had died for them to figure out where to draw that red line.
“I know this seems obvious, but don’t cross that red line. On the other side is the kill zone,” said Cronus while pointing his finger at the red line. I felt this was rather obvious, but I simply nodded my head.
A grin formed on my face as I turned to look at Bob. “He might be lying Bob. Cross it. See what happens.”
Bob glared at me, but Cronus let out a deep chuckle.
I felt connected to the temple. I didn’t fear it. I respected it. It also felt familiar, like I knew it. Could inside be my own world, like how Cupid had his own world? I really hoped my world wasn’t filled with hearts. Being the God of Death, if it was filled with hearts they might actually be real hearts.
I turned towards the temple and took a step forward across the line. I wasn’t afraid. I stepped across the line with ease and I was not struck down. My special skill seemed to be escaping death. I wondered how many spare lives I had. Maybe I was a cat in a past life.
A mechanical voice sounded in my head.
[Welcome back God of Death. A foreign god’s power has been detected in an item that you currently possess.]
The gold coin I had gotten at Zan’s shop floated out of my pocket and hovered in front of my face.
[This item has god power similar to your God of Death powers. It can be used to create a pass to allow passage for others to enter the temple. The pass can be deactivated at any time by the current God of Death.]
“If you can change it into a pass that allows passage for others, then do so.”
The gold coin melted. The liquid floated upwards into the air and then turned black before it reformed into a coin. I took the coin and walked back across the line.
“I’m not sure if this will work, you may still die instantly, but this is supposed to allow someone to cross the line with me.”
Cronus and Bob looked at me, to the coin, to each other and back to the coin.
“I’ll do it,” said Bob.
I was extremely surprised.
“Are you sure Bob? You could die.”
“I have faith,” was his only response.
Taking the coin, he stepped towards the line.
“Stop!” I yelled. Bob froze where he was. “Place the coin in your mouth.”
He did as I said without question. Somehow I knew it was the right thing to do. As soon as he placed the coin in his mouth it disappeared. Then he stepped across the line.
He turned to look at me. “You coming?”
I smiled at him for not dying horribly and followed him into the temple.
[Master temple 74221 is at 13% operational capacity. Currently user has level 1 access. User with access item has been granted temporary level 1 access as your assistant. Access can be revoked at any time.]
“What about level 2 access?” I asked out loud. Bob stared at me. Apparently he couldn’t hear the voice. I had assumed the voice was the temple, but perhaps I was just going crazy.
[To gain level 2 access user would need to complete the trial for level 2 access.]
“What benefits do I get for level 1 access? What benefits do I get for level 2 access?”
[Level 1 access means you are allowed to enter the temple without being vaporized. Level 1 also grants you permission to attempt the level 2 trial. Level 2 access allows you to control the temple’s basic functions. Additional access includes level 3 access that allows you to enter into the pocket dimension inside of the temple.]
A pocket dimension? Now that was interesting. This temple seemed to contain the world for the God of Death. I had my own world, just like Cupid did.
“What are the temple’s basic functions?”
Bob looked at his watch. He wasn’t freaked out at all by my talking to the temple. He just seemed bored. I appreciated that he didn’t assume I was crazy or force me to explain what was happening.
[That information requires a level 2 access.]
“Of course it does. What is inside the pocket dimension contained within the temple?”
[That information requires a level 3 access.]
Why did I even bother? I tapped my foot in annoyance for a second and then said, “Please begin the trial for level 2 access.”
There was no immediate reaction from the temple. Thinking of the temple’s pocket dimension made me think of my space ring for the first time in a long time. The space within it was like a really tiny pocket dimension. With a thought, a bottle of water appeared from within the ring.
I took a swig of the bottled water. I didn’t need water to live as a god, but the dustiness of the temple had made my throat dry. I offered Bob an unopened bottle of water but he declined.
As we waited for the trial to begin, I felt my power being drained. I went from being a god to being mortal again. I hadn’t even known that was really possible. I felt so weak. I felt the path of eternity fade as I became destined to die once again.
Before I could truly understand what was happening, the