Everyone was back on their way. As they were walking through wide grasslands which, and soon they saw sea on the horizon. And a town. A mamono friendly one. Kohako kept eyeing (YN), while Arthur was looking at the rune that was bestowed to him by the Palebloods, Michelle was looking at the new landscapes, that were wide grasslands with occasional
groups of centaurs stopping by and say hello. The sun was high in the sky and (YN) was letting out litteral clouds of steam into the atmosphere. And Kohako, was trying to blow them away using her paws, it wasn't effective. When they finally arrived they went to the Inn. They entered, though even with tall mamono like centaurs, Michelle still had to duck so she could go through the doorway. Arthur said that he was going to get some grub, and he asked if they wanted something.
(YN) : Hah, I'm good they have a fireplace over there.
Michelle : I doubt they have mithril on the menu.
Kohako : I wonder if they have Holstaur ice cream though...
Arthur : Okay... I will be going now.
And he left. (YN) sat before the fireplace and stuck his hand into the fire. Alot of peolpe started to look at him weird. "I still can't get used to this" Michelle though. Kohako sat near (YN) nuzzling onto his shoulder. Michelle is like "challenge accepted" and she sat on his other side, and then she put her arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer separating him from Kohako. Kohako not noticing it fell down. When she got up, she saw what Michelle did.
Michelle : *smug*
Kohako : *pouts* Stop right there you criminal! No one breaks the law on my watch.
Michelle : No idea what are you talking about.
Kohako : It's the one and only universal interspecies dibs rule! I found him first!
Michelle : Not my problem, I live with guidance of Ironkin traditions, and Imperial Truth.
Both : *angry grumble*
(YN) was successfully ignoring them. He looked at the fire that was dancing in between his fingers, engulfing his exposed joints. The weird part was that the metal his body was made from didn't even change its color from the heat. He pulled out his hand and put his other hand in. The light from that radiated from the fireplace barely illuminated his face. Arthur has finished his meal and wanted to rent a room, but then he saw Kohako going outside.
Arthur : Where are you going?
Kohako : My job here is done~ Besides I don't like sleeping indoors.
Arthur : Okay...
He looked at his choice allies, no comrades at the fireplace. (YN) was still burning one of his hands in the fireplace, unsurprising . And Michelle was already asleep, leaning onto (YN). Their difference in size was almost comical really, but knowing how ridiculously strong (YN) was, Arthur concluded that they would be fine. He walked to the counter and paid for their stay...
Later...
On the next morning they moved out.
And Kohako appeared, from nowhere as always. Though it was kind of suspicious at first, but apparently jinkos are really sneaky, so... Anyway they were moving closer towards their current goal, which is Zipangu. Now they just had to cross a desert...
Going through the Sabasa kingdom was out of option, because of a Lilim living here. So, they have to go through the wild desert, after they bought the things they needed, well Arthur needed most of these, but whatever.
Scene change...
Thanks to the amulet Arthur could easily ignore the scorching sun, but he had to get his armour off. As always, Arthur was walking in front of everyone, with (YN) behind him with Kohako beside (YN), and Michelle being the last in line. Girls seemed to ignore the heat, which was kinda weird especially since Kohako had alot of fur, but seeing her not breaking a sweat he shrugged it off. (YN) did not mind the sun, the only thing that changed for him was the amount of steam coming out from his mouth and nostrils, and the sun was actually scorching enough to let his body absorb some of the energy it radiated. That's why he was walking with his hoodie/jacket hybrid tied around his waist, so he only had his white shirt one. He glanced at his body seeing his exposed joints move, and tendons wrapped around his muscle were visible from under his skin. That was bizarre, honestly. Then, he noticed a triangular building in the distance.
(YN) : Hey, Arthur is this a pyramid?
Arthur took his spyglass, and looked into it.
Arthur : It seems that your eyes are as good as your strength , I can barely see it. Well, it is a thing I was told about, apparently a remnants of great old civilization, hell they even had their own gods.
(YN) : It's a tomb...
Arthur : Really, you know something about it?
(YN) : Perhaps my peolpe and theirs were great allies.
Arthur : That is possible, only monsters in their entirety could stand against Automatons and their magitech.
Kohako : Let's go there and look, then!
(YN) : As much as I wish to not raid a tomb there could be some historical records, about my peolpe, besides no poor man could have a tomb like this, I assure you.
Arthur : That would make us stay longer in the desert.
Michelle : Uh, guys...
(YN) : Hm?
Arthur : What is it?
Michelle : I don't want to worry you.
(YN) : Hearing you say that makes me increasingly worried.
Michelle : But there is a sandstorm and it's moving towards us.
Arthur : Goddammit!
They started to run, (YN) picked up Arthur and threw his over his shoulder and ran, while Michelle and Kohako were running just behind them. After almost an hour of running and taking short breaks did they arrive at the pyramid, they jumped inside the entrance to hide from the sandstorm, as it was raging just outside the pyramid.
(YN) : I swear the sandstorm was following us...
Arthur : Yeah, no joke as if something or someone wanted us to be here.
Michelle : I would probably say that it's impossible if I wasn't running from it with you lot.
(YN) : Yeah... Kinda unusual isn't.
Kohako : Alright! Let's explore.
Arthur : Well, we got a few hours, hell even days if we're unlucky.
(YN) : Supplies?
Arthur : No, worries I got this storage ring so I could ditch the backpack. Best investment ever.
(YN) : Heh, and you still had me carry your armour?
Arthur : Well, the more things I put inside the ring, the more mana I need to spend, and I'm not the best magician so I won't risk fainting in the middle of a battle because of mana exhaustion.
(YN) : Oh, that's how it is huh. Don't worry I don't feel the weight anyway.
Kohako : Sooo, do you want split up?
Michelle : Dibs on (Y-
Kohako : I will go with (YN)! *clings to your arm*
Michelle : You little-
Arthur : I don't think that splitting up is a good idea though. How about we-
Kohako : But I want to go with (YN)!
Michelle : The Iron mountains will melt before this happens.
They looked really pissed off, and (YN) had to do something about this.
(YN) : Stop. *gets the unruly tigress off his arm* We shall do it like this, before you two start a world war. We need someone to remain on the surface on look out. Me and Arthur will go in and explore. You two sit here on the surface and don't move an inch because I have had it with your squabbles. Besides Arthur has this neat storage ring we can use.
Michelle : You can't order me-
(YN) : Fight me then.
She was silenced. (YN) put Arthurs armour and his backpack down. Arthur lit up a torch. They descended into the depths of the pyramid...
Timeskip...
(YN) and Arthur were walking through a hall after they went downstairs. They saw ancient inscriptions depicting history of this once great civilization, that was destroyed long before the current demon lord started to rule. By reading the text on the walls they figured out the name of a god to whom this dynasty was devoted to. Anubis, the god of judgment and death, the one who guards the gates to heaven and decides who goes in there, but only for this particular civilization. This building also lacked any forms of traps which to (YN) was a bit disappointing, but more sad was the fact that he probably would not find any important historical records here.
(YN) : It was all lost... We don't even know how to call these people...
Arthur : Their name was lost in the sands of time. Aaaand if the the inscriptions on walls were true, we are near the treasury.
(YN) : Were defiling a grave...
Arthur : I won't take any gold here, but I will take an artifact that helps with demonic energy, because fuck morals If I'll lose my humanity following them.
(YN) : Couldn't say it better myself, but the things I am looking forward to a are historical records, and maybe some weapons, no matter how strong I am there is always a bigger fish.
Arthur : Ooh, thats how it is then.
And we're here. Can you push the doors please?
(YN) : Of course.
He pushed the large stone double door open and it revealed a chamber that was lit up with magical torches, still working to this very day full of various expensive things.
(YN) : So this is a treasury then.
Arthur : Yep.
(YN) : So what are we wanting for?
They ran into the room looking at everything. But something else caught (YN)'s attention. It was a Egyptian sword, a khopesh. It looked very beautiful but (YN) could feel some kind of an aura radiating from it, it felt similar to what he felt in the Blood Keep.
He came closer to it. It lied on a pedestal, not covered by dust unlike anything else in this building. As he walked towards it, he could swear he saw a humanoid shadow with a dogs head leaning onto the pedestal. He shook his head. And grabbed it. And the time stopped. He saw a person standing before him, it was him the Anubis.
(ignore the scales pls)
Anubis : Long it was, since a mortal stood in my domain.
(YN) : Anubis... I thought that all of the gods were either corrupted or shattered.
Anubis : It is true, the Anubis you speak to is merely a shard.
(YN) : So, what happens now? Are you going to judge us?
Anubis : Even if I wanted you dead, Chosen of Soulstream, I would not dare to go against Keepers command.
(YN) : That is, good to know.
Anubis : But I have a favour to ask.
(YN) : A favour?
Anubis : Take me with you.
(YN) : Huh?
Anubis : Do I have to explain everything? When my peolpe were inevitably losing this war I ordered to take my already splintered soul and forge a blade from it, so I will not perish with my physical form destroyed. The same sword that you hold right now. For years I watched my peolpe die out, their very civilization torn apart and forgotten, then this whore, defiled their remains and their descendants!
(YN) : I know how that feels, even though they are not my real ancestors...
Suddenly (YN) felt someone grabbing his shoulder. He snapped out of it an looked back only too see Arthur with a concerned look.
Arthur : Are you okay?
(YN) : I was having a flashback, but unfortunately I forgot everything because you distracted me.
Arthur : Oh, sorry...
(YN) : Did you find anything?
Arthur : Nothing of use, and no scrolls except ones filled with religious stuff.
(YN) : Well, I'm taking this khopesh.
Arthur : It's a scythe sword but okay, call it whatever. Now let's go back.
Timeskip...
When they got back, the storm was still going, and it was night already so they decided to go to sleep. Not having a better choice, (YN) fell asleep to conserve energy. But when everyone was asleep, Kohako got up and went outside. She brought her hand up her eyes flashed with crimson light and sandstorm stopped.