Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 109

Chapter 109

There was no time to draw another arrow.

Nataek darted forward and smashed his bow across the man’s face.

Smack—!

The sound was like a whip crack, and the man was flung sideways.

The shock of the blow transmitted all the way through Nataek’s palms.

He clenched his fist to dull the sting.

“You bastard—do you know who you just laid hands on?”

Grinding his teeth, Nataek quickly looked Medeus over.

500 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 83,400)

The moment he confirmed Medeus was unhurt, he sprinted back toward the pillar.

The metal plate there had a mechanism attached — it looked like three round rings set side-by-side, resembling car steering wheels, so at first glance they almost seemed like coiled springs.

Nataek knew instinctively—

This was the device to activate the execution ground.

Attached to each ring was a fist-sized metal orb, like a steering wheel grip, each orb etched with fragmentary lines as if part of a larger symbol.

Nataek was sure it was a puzzle tied to the quest.

Clang—!

1,000 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 82,400)

For now, he ignored the sound of clashing blades.

First, he had to see if the ‘handles’ would turn.

They rotated smoothly left and right without obstruction.

The square, breaker-box-like metal plate had 12 round holes, like the numbers on a clock face, all linked together in a circular groove.

Looking at it, there was no question — the goal was to align those steering-wheel-like rings and fit them into place.

Focus. Fit them in exactly where they belong.

Clunk, clunk—.

Nataek began rotating the handles, trying to match the fragmented lines into a complete image.

But what was the image? Wait…

The more he aligned the fragments, the clearer it became.

This… was it the Star of Inanna1?

It looked like pieces of an eight-pointed star had been broken apart.

Nataek, recalling the shape, aligned the first handle to what seemed its correct position and shoved it in.

Clunk—thud!

But nothing happened.

1,400 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 81,000)

Did it require all three to be in place before it worked?

Nataek quickly turned the second handle.

Clunk, clunk—.

He fit the slightly larger ring into the second slot.

Thud!

Perfect fit again — but all the recesses for holding the orbs were the same size.

Size wasn’t the concern — the key was completing the symbol.

And if he placed one incorrectly, it looked like retrieval would be difficult.

With only one handle left, Nataek adjusted it with extra care.

Clunk, clunk—.

Clang—!

900 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 80,100)

The noise of swordplay behind him threatened to break his focus.

Concentrate, Nataek. Stay focused.

Clunk, clunk—.

Is this it? Yes, this feels right.

He shoved the last and largest ring into place.

Thud—!

The three differently-sized rings now filled the slots, each orb set at the 2, 6, and 10 o’clock positions.

Immediately, metal panels slid into the remaining empty holes, snapping closed like the ribs of an opening fan until the surface was seamlessly covered.

Complete, the design was exactly what Nataek expected — Inanna’s eight-pointed star.

The Key of the Gods has been completed!

The completed device gave a heavy clunk.

Like the unlocking of a safe, its right side swung open like a door.

Nataek didn’t stop to wonder whether it was ancient craftsmanship or a system contrivance.

He flung the small door wide — revealing a hidden, weathered stone.

Found it. This is it!

Clang—!

1,300 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 78,800)

The effect of ‘Potion of the Archer’ is fading.

Damn. Now, of all times!

Reloading the potion could wait — breaking the stone took priority.

Nataek’s gaze darted around for a suitable tool.

“Aagh!”

Right by his ear came a horrible scream.

The would-be attacker now had Medeus’s sword buried in his chest.

Their eyes met for a split-second before Medeus pulled the blade free and turned back to engage Agadis.

2,000 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 76,800)

Blood began pooling at Nataek’s feet from the fallen soldier.

There was no time to waste — he crouched and wrenched the sword from the corpse’s grip.

Quick. Break it now.

Thunk, thunk—!

He slammed the weapon’s point into the stone repeatedly.

Thunk, thunk—!

With a splintering sound, cracks began running through it.

Just a little more! A bit more!

Crash—!

The blade punched through the center of the mudbrick.

Even then, Nataek yanked it clear and struck again and again until the brittle fragments scattered to the floor.

Thunk, thunk-thunk, thunk—!

Then his vision started shaking.

The Key of the Gods is activated.

It wasn’t his vision shaking — the pillars supporting the entrance wall were toppling like dominos.

“Medeus!”

Nataek shouted as he ran toward him — but Medeus was still locked with Agadis, unable to retreat.

Nataek stopped mid-run, unslung his bow, and nocked an arrow.

The potion’s effect was already gone.

The guiding reticle was no longer there.

Even so, he fired without hesitation — the only way to make Agadis drop his guard and give Medeus time to leap clear.

The creak of the bowstring was accompanied by the thuds of pillars and masonry falling.

Thud—!

Rumble… rrrrumble…

Just like that day when he first found the character card, the world seemed to move in slow motion.

Brrrmmm—.

The only thing in Nataek’s ears now was the taut hum of the bowstring.

He imagined a targeting reticle forming in his mind, locking on—

Whish—!

“Ugh!”

The arrow struck Agadis square in the arm.

Thunk—! Thunk, thunk! Thunk, thunk, thunk!

The sound of the temple collapsing returned all at once.

“The entrance is coming down!”

Nataek cried, rushing forward to grab Medeus’s hand.

Ruuumble—! Crash!

The pillar obliterated the spot Nataek had just been.

The wall beside the entryway followed, burying even the ground Medeus had stood on.

The fallen stone sealed off the entrance completely, crushing the soldiers within.

From the torn ceiling above, red smoke began to curl upward, while blood pooled across the floor like approaching tides.

Nataek’s eyes filled with the bright glow of a system alert.

[God’s Execution Ground] quest has begun.

Above the blood-stained sea of sacrifice was a sky wreathed in flame.

The corpses of soldiers became the grisly decoration for the execution ground.

Nataek’s eyes darted, searching for Luhal-Zagesi.

“There—stop that man!”

He saw Luhal-Zagesi shove Tartarzi ahead of him, trying to retreat deeper into the temple.

Where do you think you’re going?

Nataek drew back his bowstring again.

Hit him — please, hit him!

Whish—!

“Aagh!”

The arrow landed dead center in Luhal-Zagesi’s back.

He staggered, and in the next instant Medeus was there, pressing his sword to the man’s throat.

“Don’t move. Not if you value your head.”

No one moved — not the surviving soldiers, nor Agadis, who had been limping toward him.

The Uruk soldiers had never seen their despised “barbarian” threatening their ruler this way, and knew better than to try anything.

“Disarm yourselves — all of you!”

Medeus’s heavy, commanding voice carried like a warning bell.

Defeat and tension mixed in the air; the Kish warriors trapped inside the temple stood tall, while Uruk’s soldiers on the ground floor began lowering their weapons one by one.

Nataek, meanwhile, felt an uneasy prickle — as if someone unseen were watching.

He looked up sharply — behind a pillar on the second floor, an archer in Uruk uniform had his bow aimed downward… not at Luhal-Zagesi, but just to his side!

Nataek whipped his bow upward and shouted,

“Medeus! Above you!”

Whish—!

His arrow flew at the archer.

“Urgh…!”

His aim was true to the arm — but perhaps from being at the edge of his range, the shot lacked force, grazing instead of piercing.

It was enough — the archer’s bow tumbled to the floor below, and his own shot went wide.

The arrow flashed past Medeus and buried itself in Luhal-Zagesi’s shoulder.

3,500 of Medeus’s luck points are consumed. (Remaining: 73,300)

“Aaagh! My arm!”

Luhal-Zagesi wailed, clutching at it — but Medeus wasn’t moved by his theatrics.

He pressed the blade even closer to the man’s throat, sharp enough to slice.

“Don’t. Move.”

“I’ve been shot in the arm — how can you tell me not to move?! Why… why in the hell are you still alive, Medeus?!”

His shrill voice was the last thrashings of a cornered man.

Nataek, still eyeing the fading system message, caught sight of a red line along Medeus’s sword arm.

Did an arrow graze him?

The number — a deduction of 3,500 — and the sight of blood deepened Nataek’s concern.

Most of the soldiers had surrendered their weapons now.

Only then did Nataek approach.

“Medeus.”

“Teresi. There’s a stairway upstairs that leads outside. Have the Kish warriors take the prisoners out that way.”

“Yes. But… are you certain you’re all right?”

Nataek looked carefully at Medeus’s arm.

Medeus, his blade still at Luhal-Zagesi’s throat, could do nothing but let him inspect.

“This scratch is nothing.”

“…Let me tell the soldiers first, then.”

Medeus gave a short nod, then commanded Luhal-Zagesi:

“Raise your hands above your head and get to your feet. And don’t try anything.”

“I’ve been shot — how am I supposed to raise my hands?!”

Still oblivious to his situation, he grumbled on.

Nataek’s mind turned over the strange sense of ease he felt — had it really been this straightforward?

Yes, he’d nearly been skewered on spikes and crushed by stone, but compared to Delam, this was practically smooth sailing.

Well… good enough is good enough.

Nataek swallowed his unease and turned —

“Hurry up and move, will you?!”

From the farthest corner of the first floor, another archer who had remained hidden was now aiming directly at Medeus.

No!

“Medeus!”

Whish—!

notes:

Star of Inanna — An eight-pointed star associated with the Sumerian goddess Inanna (also called Ishtar), commonly used as her symbol.