🍁Nine Ancient Obelisks

Shiriss didn't want to smile at Ferrus when he decided to try his luck in Gura Gure, but his behind-the-scenes acquaintance with other victims of the Black Knight went smoothly. Now he, Asmidul, Kamistella, Erika, Genz, Ushumgallu, and Linshi, armed with the Mindjin talisman, set off on their first, and hopefully not their last, joint expedition – to the Obelisk of Fire, a mysterious ancient structure that stood in the geographical center of the seven cities of Asuguh. The journey to Onkaiha took six hours, after which they had to head into the mountains. To reach their destination, they didn't need any mountaineering equipment, but the path was still very long and exhausting, and by the time they were approaching the place indicated on the map, black clouds covered the sky, and a heavy rain began, accompanied by thunder and lightning. This place was, without a doubt, the highest in the entire country, and perhaps even on the entire southern continent. Under other circumstances, with better weather and special equipment, one could see every corner of Asuguh from here. But now, all of that was irrelevant – before the eyes of the newly assembled team stood the obelisk they had been searching for, and before them stood a knight clad in black armor: his hands were outstretched, and his palms gripped the hilt of a sword plunged into the ground. Today, he didn't look as mysterious as he did on the day of their first meeting, but the ominous aura surrounding him hadn't disappeared, and the inclement weather didn't help either. "I commend you for finding the courage to stand before me." The knight extends the inside of his right wrist forward and sharply clenches his steel fist. The air around begins to pulsate and becomes very heavy; the legs of those gathered buckle, as if someone's hand is gripping their hearts from within. Somewhere far away, Insho and Tira, and perhaps someone else, are parting with their lives.