Chapter 76 76: A Thrilling Rush [Pt1]
The terrifying night passed somehow and the people's daily life went normal. But there was a new fear added into the mix for them. They no longer had the assurance that the fallen god would give them space.
"So kid, what is the plan? Do you still want to try and get into aLtheria? Or, did the previous night change your mind?"
Keith's partner asked the question. He finally looked sobered after going through an ordeal and Keith did not have the best impression of this man.
"I still want to try and get out. As people are saying, even this temple is no longer safe for us to hide out in. Who knows what can happen next."
Keith had a bad feeling about this encounter with the fallen god until now. He was sure that the fallen god had zoned in on him and the second surprised attack was also to get Keith.
"Alright kid, if that's what you want then we can head out now. Call me Clement for now. What is your name?"
The man asked Keith and Keith had half a mind to ignore him and not say anything at all. But then he reconsidered his options.
Clement was a good partner for Keith and he was also the only one Keith could count on to show him the way. Creating beef with Clement was not a wise idea in my opinion anymore.
"I'm Keith. It is nice to finally exchange names with you. Now, we should start heading out, right? Should we take some kind of supplies with us?"
Keith questioned, now suddenly aware at his back of bodily needs. He had not gotten hungry or needed to use the restroom ever since had arrived in this rift.
It was a thing to worry about since his body was still human at the end of the day. Would he not die due to all the toxins accumulating in his body?
"Don't worry. As you noticed, this place is a little special and has its own rules. You will not need, or find anything like 'necessities' here even if you look your whole life. It'll be better to save yourself the pain and get out of here."
Clement explained to Keith with a patient expression on his face. Keith agreed with him once the explanation had been given.
They both set out after that, using the confusion and panic in the masses to make their way out. The forest welcomed their presence with its quietness.
Somehow, Keith felt no danger even when he walked into the forest without any protection. There seemed to be nothing dangerous in the forest.
"So, where are we going? You have yet to explain anything to me."
Keith asked Clement once they were out on their journey. It was not he trusted Clement and that was why he had agreed to come out with him, but that he had no other choice for his survival.
"Ah yes, I should explain what we are doing, right? Our goal is the Grand Canyon on the cliff's other side. It is rumored that there is a rift beneath the Grand Canyon that opens into the outside world but it is guarded by the hell dogs. That is why no one tries to get out."
Clement explained as he made extravagated gestures with his hands and arms. Clement's words caused Keith to shiver but his calm face only made Clement back down.
"Oh, so you are not afraid at all of the demonic dogs? But what if I told you that these are no ordinary demonic dogs? They are godly familiars who fell when their god fell. They seemed to be guarding the exit of this place."
Clement explained and Keith somehow believed him.
He did not typically believe in heaven and hell. He did not even believe Clair fully when she said she was a goddess and would help Keith out.
But somehow, the creature he had seen before did have something divine about it. Its nature had not changed even when the form had changed.
"Clement, if you know this much then I assume that you know how to get past these dogs as well? I hope you are not bringing me on a suicide mission with you."
Keith half-joked and half-seriously said.
Clement was taken aback by Keith's words before a laugh bubbled in his throat and he let it out in the open.
"Y-You are a funny man, Keith. Most people would have been asking to return or crying after hearing that their opponent is a fallen god but you are just going to press on ahead? You are a brave one."
Clement praised Keith but his words were mocking as well. Clement did not seem to have much hope for them to get out.
"Fallen god or not, I need to return to the place I am needed at."
Keith replied before he started walking again. Clement was taken aback by Keith's words but then he shook his head.
"Hey, we need to head this way to get to the cliff. It'll be better for me to lead right now since you just look so lost right now."
Clement yelled as he corrected Keith's position. Did that make Keith feel embarrassed - yes? But did it show up on Keith's face? Of course not.
Keith corrected his direction and walked again.
They both soon reached the cliff Clement had mentioned and it was a steep place.
Keith had thought that they would need to climb the canyon down but it was an uphill battle from here. They had fallen quite a bit it seems.
"Is there no other way to get up this cliff without climbing it? Maybe we can walk to the side and find another way?"
Anyway, Keith looked at it, the cliff was too steep for humans to climb easily. But he could also not see where the cliff ended.
"That is not a possibility with this cliff. This cliff is special and it is endless. No one had ever found its end and people have tried a lot to look around. We need to find a way to climb it from here."
Clement's words were a pain in Keith's ass but he refused to lose hope. He had packed hundreds of tools when he had left the guild's main building. Keith was sure he had something to help him out.
He quickly looked through his storage ring and found something. It was a levitating device Clair had given him. It held her magic which was divine.
As soon as Keith found it, he took the device out and held it up.
"What is that? A magic tool? But will it even work? This place is not your typical place, it is a cursed land. Those who fall here are unable to use their aura of other powers they have. Most of the magic tools also do not work."
Clement sounded worried and for good reasons. The lack of magic tools had been a big issue for this place.
But Keith was not worried for some reason. The tool in his hand was pulsing with magic, sending warmth down Keith's spine.
Whatever magic Clair had used, it seemed not to be affected by this place.
"Don't worry Clement. You might not know who I am, but I am a real big shot. This small place will not be able to contain me for long."
Keith assured as his training as the confident grandmaster shone through. He did not even mean to speak half of the gibberish he was speaking.
But habits were hard to break.
Clement did not look impressed by Keith's speech but he was taken aback when Keith held the device up and it buzzed with power.
Nothing happened for one second, and then two seconds. Disappointment washed over Clement and Keith but then the device started working.
Before the pair knew it, they were levitating through the air and toward the upper cliff. It was coming closer by the second.
"W-What? The tool worked? How did this happen? O-Oh god, the demons are coming. Keith, tell the tool to hurry up. The demon dogs will try to rip us apart if they catch us."
The tool was working slower than Keith intended it to work. There was still a considerable distance between the cliff top and Keith's body.
The demon dogs were huge and they would easily be able to jump up this small distance. It was not safe for Keith and Clement to keep on being defenseless.
*bark*
The demon god jumped at the pair, its huge body leaning forward. Keith quickly threw Clement back and the force caused him to be pushed out of the demon's way as well. They had avoided the first attack.
"Hurry, the cliff's end is here. Grab it and pull yourself up."
Keith instructed Clement who did as Keith had told him to do. Keith also pulled himself up, successfully escaping the first demon dog.