Apocalypse Cheater

186  The Saintess of Moon

[: Daniel POV :]

"Finally, we have arrived,"

I muttered with a sense of accomplishment.

My gaze was fixated on the Templar standing before me.

Navigating through the snowy terrain hadn't proven to be overly challenging.

 However, the contrast between the pristine white landscape and the Golden Templar evoked a sense of wonder.

The sheer beauty of the Templar captured my attention, prompting a moment of awe at the sight before me.

As I stood before the captivating Templar, I couldn't afford to get lost in admiration.

My primary goal was at the forefront of my mind.

"Is this the Templar, Master?"

Phenex inquired, her eyes reflecting curiosity as she observed the structure.

"Yes, and within this Templar lies a treasure I must acquire,"

I responded with eagerness.

The allure of the treasure within fueled my resolve, overshadowing the aesthetic appeal of the Templar itself.

As Paimon questioned my eagerness for the treasure, I couldn't resist a smirk.

"You'll find out soon,"

I responded cryptically, moving confidently toward the colossal entrance of the Templar.

The gates towered above me, compelling me to crane my neck to see their end.

"Halt! State your name and your reason for visiting,"

A voice boomed, demanding an explanation for my presence.

Approaching the Holy Templar turned out to be no cakewalk.

At the entrance, two guards decked out in shiny white and gold armor, spears in hand, formed a serious roadblock.

Surprisingly, I didn't get mad.

It made sense.

The Holy Templar was a big deal and needed top-notch security.

These guards weren't your average gatekeepers.

They were the real deal, protecting a sacred place.

What caught my attention was that this sacred spot had a bunch of guards with powers way beyond the norm.

Even the entrance guards had levels above 700.

It was clear this place took its security seriously.

Realizing that these guards were way more powerful than usual was a bit scary.

Their strength could easily intimidate anyone.

Surprisingly, I didn't let it bother me too much.

Maybe it was because I had my eyes set on the treasure hidden in the Holy Templar, making their power seem less threatening.

Still, I didn't want to make a fuss or cause any trouble.

The treasure was my goal, so I decided to put on a friendly face, even though I wasn't thrilled about it.

The idea was to play it cool and avoid messing up my chances by irritating these powerful guards.

"I'm Daniel Bell, here to embark on a quest from the Saint of the Moon,"

I confidently declared.

The guards' reaction was palpable – a collective "!?" mirrored the surprise etched on their faces at my revelation.

"You...how did you know about that?"

Suspicion lingered in the air as one of the guards, squinting, questioned how I knew about the quest.

The notion of a player actively seeking an event that hadn't unfolded yet was clearly beyond their expectations.

Despite their reservations, the guards found themselves in a bind.

As much as they wanted to disrupt my progress, the rules were clear.

Players had the right to accept quests without causing a fuss.

The tension between their protective duty and the inherent rights of a player added a layer of complexity to the situation.

The atmosphere in Modern Fantasia was unique.

Its residents were living beings, with emotions coursing through them.

Despite the tension in the air, it seemed like the guards were gearing up for a confrontation.

However, I held the certainty that they wouldn't actually challenge me.

It wasn't just about the quest but the consequences they'd face for obstructing a player.

Their apparent readiness to fight masked a deeper understanding that going against a player would result in punishment.

 It became evident that their stern demeanor was, to some extent, a facade, an attempt to intimidate me into retreat.

However, I remained steadily.

Their attempts to play mind games or use intimidation tactics wouldn't easily sway my determination.

"Whether I know or not, it doesn't really mean to the both of you. I just want to rightfully attempt the Quest from the Saint herself"

I said and I added a bit of my pressure to warn them that it's not wise to fight against me.

If the both of us were to start a fight, it would be deem as a battle and not a single side would be punished.

Both of the guards gaze onto my eyes insensively and they were about to wield their skills before a voice interrupted us.

"Stop! Let him in"

A melodious feminine voice, sweet and enchanting, resonated through the air, instantly altering the atmosphere around us.

Surprisingly, even the guards, who had initially withdrawn hesitantly, sighed in defeat upon hearing the voice.

Their gazes shifted toward me as if acknowledging the authority behind those words.

"It seems like the Saintess has called for you. Come and follow me,"

The voice continued, carrying an air of undeniable authority.

With a shared sigh, the guards, as if relinquishing their earlier resistance, opened the gate, granting me entry.

The subtle interplay of power dynamics and the influence of the mysterious Saintess added an intriguing dimension to the unfolding narrative.

Upon entering through the entrance, the atmosphere that I felt was ancient and ambience.

I'm not sure how to explain, but it felt like I was at peace and my mind was clear.

I never felt so clear in mind and I could feel my inner peace expanding.

Eventually, I arrived and stopped before a gate and here is where the guards stopped guiding me.

"From here on, we can't guide any you further, and the Saintess is inside this room" The Guard said and they left me as they reported back to their duties.

However, one of the guard send a final message before he completely left the room.

"I hope whatever it is, you'll be able to achieve your goal. I'm not sure how you have heard about the quest, but I sincerely you would achieve your goal"

I don't know why he had said those words, but it was probably due to the reward and the quest.

Nevertheless, I focused back my attention on the door and opened it up without wasting any more time.

As the door made sounds of creak, I found a woman standing right in front of panels of glass where she could see outside where it was snowing.

"You have come strange player" She turned around and said with a smile.

Simultaneously struck by the revelation and captivated by her beauty, I couldn't help but stand in awe.

The Saintess, with her snowy silvery long hair cascading elegantly, possessed a pair of enchanting light blue eyes.

What made them truly unique, however, were the crescent moon-shaped pupils that held a certain otherworldly allure.

Despite the peculiarity of her gaze, it only added to the overall charm, and her beauty was undeniable.

The ethereal quality of her appearance seemed to leave an indelible impression on anyone fortunate enough to witness it.

Estimating her age, she exuded the timeless grace of someone in their mid-twenties. A

dorned in pristine white silvery nun clothes, she epitomized an ethereal presence, a figure recognized far and wide as the revered Saintess of the Moon.

Even though I had seen only in pictures, this was my first time meeting the Saintess of Moon in person.

She truly deserves to be known as the beauty of the moon.

"I indeed have come Saintess" I declared to her and she smiled sweetly.

"Even though it's odd to find a player who knows about the quest, I won't reject their request to attempt the Quest" She said.

"But...do you know what you're heading for?" She questioned with concern.

"No, I don't"

I didn't want to raise suspicion about what I know will happen.

I could come up with an excuse regarding on how I know about the quest located at this Templar.

But providing an explanation about the quest itself is another question that I can't explain.

What is important is that I need to earn her trust.

"I see, then, I'll provide a brief explanation" She blinked her eyes for a moment and I could see that her eyes lightened up for a second.

"The Holy Templar follows a religion that is based on Luna, the Moon Goddess" She said.

"As I've become a Saintess of the Moon Goddess, I was given the responsibilities of guarding our 3 treasures" She revealed.

"One which is Crown of the Crescent Moon, Luna Essence and finally, Moon Flowers" She said.

"These 3 Treasures had been guarded by each generation of Saintess but sadly, I have greatly disappointed my god"

She became saddened by her words and her fingers trembled.

"Recently, these 3 treasures had been stolen by a Monster that goes by the name of Gargantua Minotaur" She said.

"On the behalf of the Moon Goddess and as the Saintess of Woman, would you please help and return the stolen treasures?" She requested with teary eyes.

[: Return the Stolen Treasures (Ex) :]

- The treasures that belonged to North Holy Templar had been stolen. Collect 3 Stolen Treasures from the Gargantua Minotaur -

- Treasures Retrieved: 0/3 -

- Rewards: ???