As Michi left Euromia for his journey to Lancania, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. He had heard stories about the spirit nation, how it was a place where the living was not welcome, and the dead roamed free. The wind whispered secrets in his ear, of a land cursed by its own king, and his people trapped between worlds.
As he walked through the forest, he encountered a group of slimes, their gooey bodies glistening in the sunlight. Michi drew his sword, ready to face them, but as he looked at them, he remembered his first time killing slimes with Airi. He smiled, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over him, and the slimes seemed to sense his distraction, they attacked ferociously.
With ease, Michi defeated the slimes, his sword slicing through their bodies like butter. As he caught his breath, he noticed a signboard in the distance, reading "Lancania 12KM". The sign seemed old and worn, as if it had been there for centuries, waiting for brave adventurers like Michi to stumble upon it.
Just as he was about to resume his journey, a cow cart came to a stop beside him. The rider, an eerie-looking man with sunken eyes, spoke in a tone that sent shivers down Michi's spine. "You seem like an adventurer. If you want to go to Lancania, I can take you there for free. I am also going there."
Michi hesitated at first, unsure if he should trust this stranger. But as he looked at the cart, he saw that it was old and worn, and the cows looked like they had been traveling for days. He thought to himself, "I'm not ready yet to journey alone this long."
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Michi said, sitting down on the cart. "I am Michi, and as you have already guessed, I am an adventurer."
The driver, Wagga, smiled, his eyes glinting with a knowing look. "So, are you going there to save the poor souls from the Ghost King?"
Michi's eyes narrowed. "Yeah it's the quest I got. But how did you know?"
Wagga chuckled, a dry, mirthless sound. "Who doesn't know this? The souls of perished people go to Lancania to move to heaven or hell by their deeds. Some remain here with us, sometimes helping us or hurting us. Which type of spirit do you want, dear adventurer?"
Michi thought for a moment before responding. "An ally, mostly. And can you tell me why Lancania is a spirit nation, cut off from the whole kingdom of Prussaria?"
Wagga's expression turned serious, and he began to tell the story of Lancania's past. "It all started 270 years ago. Lancania was a nation with its own laws and people. They had very rich ground and atmosphere. There were no diseases, no sadness, nothing. All the people were religious and stayed happy."
As Wagga spoke, Michi listened intently, his mind painting a picture of the nation that once was. He saw a land of lush forests and sparkling rivers, where people lived in harmony with nature and each other.
"But one day, soldiers from Prussaria attacked Lancania to capture the nation for its rich ground and powers. Prussaria also wanted to get hold of the strong people from Lancania to make a powerful army."
Michi's eyes widened in surprise, "Then what happened?"
Wagga's voice dropped to a whisper. "Lancania didn't even got a chance against Prussaria. The king of Lancania cursed that Lancania would not be a part of anyone, it belonged to the people of Lancania's, and always it would be their and their only. Prussaria destroyed Lancania but couldn't capture it because all the things were gone along with the nation Itself."
As Wagga finished speaking, Michi saw an old board in the distance, reading "WELCOME TO LANCANIA". He got down from the cart, his heart racing with excitement and fear.
As he turned to thank Wagga, he saw a hollow-looking skeleton staring back at him. The cows, too, were skeletons, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
Michi became speechless for a while, his body paralyzed with shock.
Wagga's voice brought him back to reality. "I am counting on you, young Adventurer. Not many adventurers take this quest, and even if they take, no one could complete this in the past. I know you will, and you will find your ally, your friend here. Now, best of luck, and goodbye kid."
With that, Wagga and his cart, along with the skeleton cows, disappeared into thin air, leaving Michi to enter Lancania alone.
As Michi stepped into Lancania, the scenery changed before his eyes like a dark canvas unfolding its secrets. The once-peaceful forest gave way to a bustling town, full of people going about their daily lives with a sense of purpose that seemed almost…dead. The buildings loomed above, their windows like empty eyes staring back at Michi.
The townspeople, too, were not normal; they were like walking corpses, their skin gray and decaying, flesh dropping from their faces and bodies like autumn leaves. Michi's eyes widened in horror as he took in the sight, his mind racing with theories. What cursed sorcery did this? What darkness had consumed this town?
The town was silent, the only sound the creaking of old wooden buildings and the rustling of dry leaves beneath Michi's feet. And then, as if sensing his presence, the townspeople turned to face him, their eyes locking onto Michi like a chilling gaze.
Their eyes, empty and soulless, seemed to bore into Michi's very soul, and they pointed their bony fingers towards the palace, their gestures eerily synchronized. Michi felt a shiver run down his spine as he followed their gaze, his heart pounding in his chest like a drum.
The palace loomed before him, its towers reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers, as if it was beckoning Michi towards his doom. As he walked towards the palace, the silence was oppressive, the only sound the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet, echoing through the stillness like a death knell.
He entered the palace, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls, the sound bouncing back at him like a haunting whisper. And then, he saw him. The Ghost King sat on a throne, his eyes fixed on Michi with an unnerving intensity.
"Ah, Michi, welcome to Lancania," the Ghost King said, his voice low and gravelly, like the rustling of dry leaves. "It's not the best time to say this, but, I can say we are the same type of victims, but it's not properly true now, right?"
Michi's eyes widened in shock, his mind reeling with questions. How did the Ghost King know his name? What secrets did he hold?
"If you know me, then you must know why I came here, right?" Michi said, his confident voice boomed down the empty halls, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.
The Ghost King nodded, his expression unreadable, his eyes glinting with a knowing light. "Of course. It's actually quite simple, go to the well behind the palace, jump in, and break the curse."
Michi's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with doubts. Why was the Ghost King telling him this? Didn't he want to keep the spirits trapped?
The Ghost King seemed to sense his confusion, his expression turning sorrowful, his eyes clouding over like a stormy sky. "I wanted to, but this was the only choice. It should be broken. Not only the spirits of the people of Lancania are here, but also a lot of outer nation's spirits are here too. And that, I never wanted."
Michi's curiosity got the better of him, his questions tumbled out like a river. "What do you mean? Why did you curse this land on the firsthand?"
The Ghost King's expression turned grave, his voice stern. "I was once a king, ruling over Lancania with wisdom and justice. But Prussaria's attack changed everything. I cursed this land, trapping the spirits of my people here. But now, I see the error of my ways. The curse must be broken."
Before Michi could ask any questions, the Ghost King resumed the narration, his words pouring out like a confession. "I was blinded by my grief and anger. I didn't see the consequences of my actions back then. But now, I do. And I must make it right."
Michi's mind reeled with questions, but the Ghost King continued. "But look, Michi, let me warn you first. You are a young adventurer with a dreadful heart. I don't force you to go into the well because a lot of young adventurers comes every now and then to complete the quest, but every single one of them died very tragically. And now, they are trapped as spirts in Lancania too."
Michi steeled himself, his determination burning like a fire inside him. "I need to do this for myself. If I don't, then there's no point in going on living anymore. So please allow me to go there."
The Ghost King nodded, his expression serious, his eyes glinting with a hint of hope. "I will not force you to stay, but sorry, I can't help you further. The secrets of the well are still a mystery to me and those fallen adventurers. And also ghosts cannot go there."
With that, Michi bid the Ghost King farewell, his heart heavy with the weight of his quest. He marched forward to the well, the air growing colder with each step, and the malevolent presence emanating from it like a dark cloud.
As he approached the well, he saw that it was surrounded by a ring of mushrooms, their caps glowing with an eerie light. The air was thick with the scent of decay and death. Michi steeled himself and began to climb down into the well, the darkness swallowing him.
As Michi climbed down the well, the air grew thick with malevolent energy, making his skin crawl. The stench of decayed death filled his nostrils, making him nauseous, and he could feel the weight of the curse bearing down upon him like a physical force. He vomited, the contents of his stomach spilling out onto the cold stone floor as he stumbled forward, his vision blurring.
The tunnel ahead seemed to stretch on forever, its entrance shrouded in an impenetrable darkness that seemed to writhe and twist like a living thing. Michi steeled himself and began to make his way towards it, his heart pounding in his chest like a drum, his footsteps echoing off the walls.
As he walked, the tunnel seemed to shift and twist around him, the walls closing in like a vice. Michi could feel eyes upon him, the weight of unseen gazes making his skin crawl. He heard whispers in the darkness, soft and raspy, urging him to turn back, to flee from the horrors that lay ahead.
But Michi pressed on, driven by a fierce determination. He knew that the source of the curse lay ahead, and he was determined to vanquish it, no matter the cost.
Finally, he emerged into a vast underground hall, the ceiling lost in darkness. And there, in the center of the hall, lay the source of the curse: a massive violet serpent, its body coiled around a pedestal of black stone, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy.
Malice emanated from the serpent's body like a deadly mist, and screams seemed to echo from its very pores. Michi knew that this was the heart of the curse, the source of the darkness that had consumed Lancania.
The serpent's eyes flickered open, and it gazed upon Michi with a malevolent intelligence. Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs. It reared up, its body uncoiling like a spring, and struck at Michi with lightning-fast speed.
Michi's forehead stone flared to life, glowing golden as he raised his sword to meet the serpent's attack. The battle was on, the two combatants clashing in a flurry of steel and scale.
The serpent's fangs snapped shut mere inches from Michi's face, its jaws wide enough to swallow him whole. Michi dodged to the side, his sword slicing through the air to strike at the serpent's exposed neck.
But the serpent was too quick, its body twisting and turning with an unnatural agility. It struck back at Michi, its fangs raking across his armor with a deafening screech.
Michi stumbled back, his armor dented and scratched. But he refused to yield. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at the serpent, his sword flashing in the dim light.
The battle raged on, the challenger and the challenged exchanging blows in a deadly dance. Michi's sword sliced through the air, striking true again and again. But the serpent would not fall, its body seeming to absorb the blows with an unnatural resilience.
As the fight wore on, Michi began to tire. The serpent's attacks were relentless, its fangs and claws tearing at his armor with a ferocity that seemed almost…personal.
But Michi refused to yield. He knew that this battle was far from over. The serpent was just the beginning, a mere taste of the horrors that lay ahead.
And so he fought on, his sword rising and falling with a deadly rhythm. The serpent's screams echoed through the hall, mingling with Michi's own battle cry.
The outcome of the battle was far from certain, but one thing was clear: only one of them would emerge victorious. The other would fall, consumed by the very darkness they had sought to vanquish.
As the fight reached its climax, Michi saw a vision of the future: a final, apocalyptic battle between himself and the serpent. The fate of Lancania hung in the air as an audience to their duel.
With renewed determination, Michi struck the final blow, his sword plunging deep into the serpent's heart. The creature let out a scream and turns into a far larger serpent with big fangs.
Michi's eyes widened in shock as the serpent transformed before his very eyes, its body growing enormous and more twisted, its fangs sharpening into razor-sharp points. The air was heavy with malevolent energy, and Michi could feel the weight of the curse bearing down upon him.
The battle raged on, the two combatants clashing in a flurry of steel and scale. Michi's sword sliced through the air, striking true again and again, but the serpent would not fall. Its body seemed to absorb the blows, its wounds closing with an unnatural speed.
As the fight wore on, Michi began to tire. The serpent's attacks were relentless, its fangs and claws tearing at his armor with a ferocity that seemed almost…personal. Michi stumbled back, his armor dented and scratched, his body battered and bruised.
But he refused to yield. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at the serpent, his sword flashing in the dim light. The serpent struck back, its fangs raking across Michi's chest, tearing through his armor and into his flesh.
Michi screamed in agony as the serpent's claws tore at his face, ripping through his skin and into his eye socket. He stumbled back, his vision blurring, his eye socket empty and bleeding.
But still he fought on, his sword rising and falling with a deadly rhythm. The serpent's screams echoed through the hall, mingling with Michi's own battle cry.
The battle raged on, the two combatants exchanging blows in a deadly dance. Michi's sword sliced through the air, striking true again and again, but the serpent would not fall.
With renewed determination, Michi struck the final blow, his sword plunging deep into the serpent's throat. The creature let out a deafening scream as it dissipated into nothingness, and the curse lifted from the land.
But he paid a significant price. Michi stood tall, but his body was bruised and battered, his armor dented and scratched. His right eye was gone, his face scarred and bleeding. His mouth was torn, his crotch ripped open. He knew that he would never be the same again, that the battle had changed him forever. But he also knew that he had saved Lancania, that the curse was lifted and the land was free. And so Michi stood tall, his sword still trembling with the force of his final blow. He knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but he was ready. For he was the hero that Lancania needed, the only one who could save it from the darkness that threatened to consume it whole.
As Michi started to climb up from the well, his healing powers activated and began to mend his wounds. The pain and fatigue began to fade away, replaced by a sense of relief and accomplishment. Michi emerged from the well, blinking in the bright sunlight, and took a deep breath of the fresh air.
But as he looked around, he saw a scene that took his breath away. Spirits were flying towards the gate, their forms shimmering with a soft, ethereal light. The gate itself was beginning to disappear, fading away like a mirage. Michi watched in awe as the spirits flew towards the gate, their faces filled with joy and gratitude.
He heard whispers of gratitude, "Thank you, young adventurer… Thank you, Michi" carried on the wind, and followed behind the ghost king were the town people, and the fallen adventurers all vanishing with smiles on their faces. Michi felt a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that he had saved the nation of Lancania.
Suddenly, Michi felt a hand grab his genitals from behind. He let out a startled "Awww" and heard a familiar laugh. It was Appolo's laugh, and Michi's eyes widened in shock as he turned to face his friend.
Appolo emerged in front of Michi, grinning mischievously. "Are you an idiot?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Why are you still here? Leave quickly, the nation and all its existence will disappear any moment now."
Michi's eyes stung with tears as he asked, "How can I see you then? Will you also vanish, Appolo?"
Appolo's grin softened, and he said, "Michi, you are in the nation of spirits, so you have spirit power as well. And as for me, it's too boring to go to the other side. How about I travel with you instead? You need a companion, Michi. You can't travel alone and complete your future missions."
Michi's face broke out into a happy smile, and he nodded eagerly. Together, the two friends started to run, dashing out of the nation as quickly as they could.
As they ran, Michi told Appolo about his plan to make a human puppet for him. Appolo's face lit up with excitement, and he asked Michi to hurry up and make it.
Outside the border, Michi stopped to catch his breath, grinning at Appolo. But then he saw Wagga in his human form, saying goodbye and thanks to Michi before disappearing into nothing with his cows and cart.
Michi felt a pang of sadness, but Appolo's presence reassured him. "Don't worry, I'll make a human puppet for you," Michi said, and Appolo's face lit up with excitement.
As they watched the nation of Lancania disappear into nothingness, Michi started to prepare for their journey ahead. He made a puppet out of mud and sticks, pouring ash on its face and using his fire and ice magic to bring it to life.
Spirit Appolo shone bright and entered the puppet, and Appolo stood up, finding himself in his old body once more. He smiled in happiness, and Michi kicked him in the genitals, making him fall and scream in mock agony. "The score is settled," Michi said.
Appolo stood up, laughing, and hugged Michi tightly. "Thank you, Michi, for protecting my promise not to leave you alone ever," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
Michi hugged him back, smiling. "Appolo, I think you know what our next mission is. Let's go."
As the new dawn rose, Michi and Appolo looked at each other, ready to start their journey back to Euromia city and announce the completion of Michi's quest.
But just as they leave, a figure emerged from the shadows from their behind unknowing to them. It was a woman, her face twisted in a snarl, her eyes blazing with hatred.
"You may have saved Lancania," she spat, "but the true enemy is still out there. The darkness that consumed Lancania is still spreading, and only you two can stop it."
Michi and Appolo exchanged a look, and nodded in unison. They knew that their journey was far from over.
And so, with the puppet Appolo by his side, Michi set off towards Euromia city, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.