Chapter 415: Heart of the Jungle

Onwards they marched, guided by the dousing bone, deeper and deeper into the jungle. Slaughtering, bypassing or intimidating various beasts and predators as they went.

Eventually day turned to night, as the small amount of sunlight peeking through the thick blanket of tree leaves faded and was replaced by gentle beams of soft moonlight.

It was not long after that, within the same hour in fact, that they found an area that was not shrouded in trees, and was free to bask in the glory of the moonlight.

Within the heart of the jungle, which had been filled to the brim with trees and a thick brush that allowed a whole manner of different predators and prey to hide, there was a clearing.

It was utterly devoid of trees, and the silver grass was trimmed incredibly short, as if it was being scrutinised by some kind of Jungle Home Owners Association.

Even more curious than that, was the clearing was perfectly circular, to a mathematical level of precision.

The trees stopped growing anywhere near to the edge, as if they were afraid to go over the boundary line. If by some miracle, or perhaps a cursed fate, one did grow close enough, its roots would bend and twist ninety degrees, so that they would grow around the silver grass rather than dare cross into it.

At the very centre of this perfect circle, sat a ruin. A dilapidated building, the stone walls and foundation of which still mostly stood whilst the wooden roof had long since caved in and rotted away, leaving the interior exposed to the elements.

Yet even with half of its structure missing, something inside of the pair told them everything they needed to know about the ruins purpose.

Perhaps it was the moss covered, stain glass windows depicting a beautiful, three eyed woman with light radiating from her head. Perhaps it was the icon carved about the archway that once held a splendid double door, of three spheres orbiting each other.

Or perhaps, it was the sinking feeling within their stomachs and the powerful, unmistakably divine aura that the building still radiated even in its dilapidated state.

Whichever it was, it was clear to the pair that this building was a church, and this perfect circle of silver grass was its holy grounds.

Naturally, just as the trees avoided disturbing the holy grass, none of the forest beasts seemed eager to enter the domain. Not without reason, at least.

As for Belladonna and Figg’s reason, that was all down to the Dousing Bone, which was pointing directly at the church.

However, just because the jungle dwellers dared not tread upon the sacred grass, did not mean that nothing was alive within this boundary. Indeed, what was alive and thriving within this grassy clearing, was fish.

Fish that swam through the radiant moonlight flooding the clearing like the moonlight was water. With each movement their scales reflected the light, causing it to sparkle with a thousand different colours, many of which neither Belladonna or Figgs brains could properly process or comprehend.

It was as beautiful and mystifying as it was bewildering and mind boggling.

"Are we supposed to go inside?" Figg asked, his eyes glued to the wondrous sight of the fish swimming through the air.

"I would assume so. We need to confirm the location of the portal and secure it. It might look safe now, but the beasts are definitely getting through. Either through this way, or some other path to the portal.

Either way, we need to know."

"Yeah, I know..." He muttered, peeling his eyes away from the fish and glancing at Belladonna sheepishly.

"But it just feels a little... sacrilegious, you know? Like we aren’t supposed to be here."

"Maybe..." Belladonna sighed, "Maybe. But perhaps we were led here so we could cleanse this from the Gods House, or maybe its just a coincidence, or even part of the trap to keep us away. We really can’t know.

So I say we just go in, and just hope we don’t get smited. Smote? Which one is right? It’s smited, right?"

"I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out. Let’s just get this over with." Figg said, before he lifted his foot and slowly moved it over the boundary line.

He hovered his foot over the grass for a few seconds, taking a couple deep breathes, before slamming his foot down and clenching his eyes tight.

After another few seconds like that, he peeked open one eye and glanced at the sky, as if he was expecting a bolt of lightning to descend and smite him, but when nothing came he let out a sigh of relief that made Belladonna chuckle.

He gave her a dirty look, before straightening up and sauntering deeper into the circle, brushing his hand against one of the Moon fish that swam close to him.

Belladonna stepped in after him, but the moment she crossed the threshold, she immediately stumbled and collapsed to her hands and knees.

"What the hell..." She panted heavily, heavy beads of sweat dripping from her forehead and immediately sizzling into steam when they touched the grass.

Her arms wobbled as Belladonna struggled to push herself back onto her feet, which was a herculean task as it felt like the gravity had double on her all of a sudden.

Although she eventually got back to her feet, every step felt like she was trying to walk after a marathon. Even her crippled legs in the real world felt stronger than this, but with the practice she had wobbling around on those twigs she barely managed to stagger towards the Church.

"What’s going on? Are you alright?" Figg asked, rushing over to her, unconcerned by the gravity that was trying to force Belladonna back to her knees, as he looped her arm over his shoulders and heaved her up.

With his help, Belladonna staggered closer to the church.

However they did not reach the doorway before a shadow descended upon them, blocking out the moonlight just before a heavy body slammed into them.

Amongst the flash of impossible colours, Belladonna saw a mouthful of teeth similar to her own, before she was thrown from her feet by the owner of those teeth.

She tumbled head over heels, the increased gravity not caring enough to stop her flight, as she slammed into the church wall. It was at that same moment, when her bare skin touched the crumbled and decrepit stone of the ancient church, that a searing and hellish pain exploded through her body.

A searing pain that was strangely familiar.