Sealed in Steel [ Tank Litrpg ]

Elian sighed. "Oh, well. Another penalty later. Going to be tough on my body in this state." His hands, which were about to reach for the curtains, tingled. "What's this? A seal?"

He tried to touch the curtains but his fingers met an invisible wall. The priests were aware of his Curse and took precautions. Would've been great if they had let his Tribulation come down while he was knocked out and tanked it for him. Hazelheart could probably just swat it away.

Though Elian couldn't see outside, he heard sounds. A lot of noise, actually.

He pictured in his head the temple grounds filled with workers clearing away the rubble and reconstructing fallen walls. Simmering under the hammering and clanging was the incessant hum of many voices. Hundreds of people praying. Did they let the pilgrims back on Temple Hill? The priests must be confident that they had dealt with all threats and wanted things to return to normal.

"What happened to Thalman?" Elian softly asked the curtain.

With the arrival of Khalamundi, Thalman didn't have a prayer of succeeding. Any hole would get covered up. He couldn't have won against them either. Thalman himself said that Hazelheart specialized in combat. So, what happened to him?

Was he dead? Did he escape?

Those were the only two possibilities.

Wait. There was one more—they might've caught him again.

Elian frowned. As much as he disagreed with Thalman's ways, he understood his motives. It might be better if Thalman had died fighting for a lost cause than be imprisoned once again. There'd be no escaping the second time around because the priests would know how he had done it before. Worse, they wouldn't allow his clones to roam freely. It would be truly prison.

"Death would be preferable in that case," Elian said, shaking his head.

To distract himself from wondering whether to feel guilty or not about Thalman's situation, Elian checked on Viney. He unwrapped the bandages on his right arm, wincing as his burns stung. Curled up in its notch was Viney. Its tendrils weren't so bright green anymore. Parts of its body were mottled with brown spots.

"Are you okay?" That was a dumb question. Either he overworked Viney or Thalman's magic affected it. Probably both. "Don't worry. I'll have Gideon check you after I leave this place… if they'll let me leave."

There was a knock on the door.

Elian opened it and faced a wall. No, not a wall. An extremely large man blocked the entire doorway and more, his muscular arms threatening to tear the sleeves of his robes. The man could barely fit in the corridor—he was Priest Ihadir.

Priest Ihadir looked down at Elian. 'Looked' might not be the correct term because Ihadir wore a golden mask with no holes for his eyes. "Follow me, brother Elian," Ihadir said in a gentle voice that contrasted his intimidating appearance. "The Hundred-Armed Magistrate and the other priests await. You have much to tell us."

Time for questioning, Elian thought, nodding. Ihadir called him 'brother'. Might be a good sign. And he did stop Thalman from nuking the hills; they owed him.

Priest Ihadir was silent on their way to the Magistrate's chambers. Elian had so many questions to ask, including what happened to Thalman, but it was hard to view Ihadir as friendly. Elian heard that Itziran alchemists were aloof and viewed other people as test subjects. Instead of trying some small talk, Elian mulled over what to say to the Magistrate and the priests. He had to open up about the Giant invasion.

Elian wasn't sure where Ihadir led him, but they didn't enter through the Depositary, the small room where aspiring Penitents were supposed to leave their regrets. Ihadir couldn't fit inside the Depositary anyway. They also didn't pass the silver and golden halls.

Ihadir stopped in front of an unassuming wall on the side of a random corridor on a random floor. The wall parted, opening a doorway sufficiently wide for Ihadir to pass through. Elian followed inside and found himself in the Magistrate's chambers.

So many secret passages, Elian mused.

The Hundred-Armed Magistrate was in its usual place in the middle of the room, a giant hand with a skin of marble. The other priests were also there to complete the six that used to be seven.

This time, no sunlight shone on the Magistrate. Floating lantern orbs provided light. The roof high above was completely covered by waves of swirling concrete, frozen in place as it hardened—this must be Khalamundi's last-second act to stop Thalman. The chamber showed signs of an intense fight, with craters on the walls and floor. Almost all the statues were destroyed.

As Elian stepped forward, he checked the runes on the Magistrate's bracelet. Now, he was positive that he had seen some of them in the eyes of the Giant King.

The Magistrate opened its palm and made a swishing gesture. Elian took it to be a sign of peace. He returned the gesture with a respectful greeting of Raelyon's custom, adding in a deep bow. Then he faced each of the priests in turn and decided to give each a shallower bow. Probably no need to be this polite, but this was essentially a diplomatic mission. This was the first opportunity to gather allies to defend the Giant invasion that would land on Sarnival Port.

Elian first bowed to High Priest Ambrose Tolland. The high priest, appearing more like a very realistic copper statue dressed in robes than a living person, sat on a floating chair. Ambrose didn't give any reaction to Elian's greeting.

Not knowing how they were ranked after the high priest, Elian decided to go from right to left, bowing next to a priest he hadn't seen before. Priest Jungdu was wrapped in robes, his face hidden in a shawl. Hints of inhuman body parts peeked from behind the folds of his clothes. Jungdu wasn't really there. He attended the meeting as an apparition formed from the magic steam rising from a cauldron set on the floor.

There was another cauldron next to the first, with Priest Yonnik also attending remotely. This was the videocall equivalent of Fellenyr. Yonnik acknowledged Elian, bending his very thin neck lightly to return the bow, his pointy ears wiggling.

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Elian bowed next to Ihadir, and then to Khalamundi. This was also his first time meeting Priestess Khalamundi, but he was sure this was her. 'Meeting' might not be the right word because Khalamundi sent a golem in the form of a woman in her stead.

What's up with these priests? Elian stopped himself from chuckling. This was just so ridiculous. But it was likely that Khalamundi also had a sad backstory. She might be Cursed like Thalman and kept somewhere.

The only one who looked normal was Hazelheart. From everything Elian had heard of her, she really was normal. The tall and slender priestess with long white hair nodded at Elian. She wasn't projecting her intimidating aura.

Ambrose stirred from his hibernation and spoke, "We, the priesthood of the Hundred-Armed Magistrate, extend our gratitude to you, brother Elian. You have done great service to the Temples of Tribulation by stopping the traitor Thalman from destroying these sacred hills."

Traitor? Elian's left cheek twitched at that word. Calling Thalman a 'traitor' implied that they were on the same side beforehand. Thalman was a prisoner.

Ambrose continued, "We deem it commensurate and wise to reward you with this."

The Khalamundi golem raised her hand.

A short pedestal rose out of the ground in front of Elian. Its circular surface opened to reveal a bracelet made of shiny black stone like obsidian. It had the fist symbol of the Temples of Tribulation. Elian picked it up and sensed the power it held, bright runes circling his fingers.

"Wear our gift," said Ambrose, "and display to the world that you are of the Temples of Tribulation. Present it to any of our agents spread across the lands to gain aid. Penitents and pilgrims will know that you are their friend."

Elian wanted to jump for joy. This bracelet would be helpful, especially for his trip to Ohmenstrat which had lots of Magistrate followers. "I thank you for this gift. I am honored to be under the symbol of the Temples of Tribulation."

"The stone band also boasts of enchantments that will protect you in your most important journey. With this, we extend our aid as you stop the great calamity threatening us."

"Do you know what this great calamity is?" Elian asked while holding the black bracelet.

"The Magistrate discussed with us briefly. We wish to hear from you the true extent of the impending danger." Ambrose waved with his hand, probably meeting his movement quota for the day. "Please, tell us what you have told the Magistrate."

"I have a vision of the future," Elian said. Learning from his talk with Jadewell, a vision story was so much easier to explain than time travel.

However, the Magistrate knew Elian went back in time using the Timekeeper's power—Elian told the Magistrate about it during their first meeting. The Magistrate didn't give any reaction other than a slight wiggle. Elian took that to mean he was free to talk in the way he thought was most helpful.

"In this vision, I saw the Giants from the Forgotten Lands," Elian went on, "sailing across the vast seas to invade this continent. They will land on the port of Sarnival in less than seven months." Hazelheart cocked her head upon hearing that but didn't interrupt Elian's story. "The Giants will target Sarnival Port because it is deep enough to hold their colossal ships that are like floating islands. From Sarnival, they will march across Raelyon, destroying everything in their path as they head for these hills. Their target is the Magistrate."

"They intend to reform the Elder Giant," Ambrose muttered probably more to himself than as a comment to Elian.

"My visions… they're hazy. Many things I cannot understand." Elian held his head as he frowned, pretending to have a headache. "I've seen a terrible form, a giant mountain moving, destroying kingdoms, wiping out humanity. The Giants want to awaken this being greater than them."

The priests looked at each other. Ihadir nodded. Jungdu might also be nodding, but it was hard to tell because he hid his head.

"After they destroy this place," Yonnik said, "what did the Giants do next?"

"They didn't stop with Raelyon," Elian said, sprinkling dread over his voice. He leaned into the dramatics. "Further inland, they crushed all resistance. They then built portals that connected back to the Forgotten Lands. They no longer needed to cross the seas to reach us. Thousands of Giants poured through the gates and marched forth. No one could stop them.

"They even reached the Sarhat Kingdoms to the south. Eastward, they also spread. The Great Chasm wasn't an obstacle. They went over the crack that divides the world and invaded the Far Eastern kingdoms as well. The islands weren't safe either. They did not take prisoners. They were not conquerors; they were destroyers. And their ultimate goal seems to be reviving this mysterious colossus."

Several seconds of silence followed. Elian thought about adding more doom and gloom. What else could he say to convince the priests of the threat? Would the Magistrate side with him?

Yonnik broke the silence with his laughter. "And here I thought I'd get bored as a priest. Giants are coming! I would've branded you crazy—" he pointed at Elian "—if the Magistrate hadn't told us about it prior. The question is, what do we do?"

"I'll continue my search for safe haven," Jungdu said, with some hissing in his voice. "I have flown over—"

"There will be no haven," Yonnik snapped. "Nowhere we can hide from thousands of Giants. They will search for the Magistrate and bring about the resurrection of the Elder Giant."

"Do you claim to know of the plans of the Giants?" asked Jungdu with a growl.

"I do not. But I do know it won't be good. Will you allow them to accomplish their plans that won't be any good to us?"

"That is the reason we flee with the Magistrate," Ihadir said. "The best course of action is to deny the Giants what they seek while guaranteeing our safety. We cannot fight if we are dead. And we'd be dead if we fight."

"We have to fight at some point," Hazelheart said in a sharp tone. "We cannot run away forever. The best course of action is to choose when and where the fight is going to happen. I say we stand our ground. Let us drum up our allies."

"And tell them what? That Giants are coming?" Ihadir incredulously asked with a crack in his collected voice. "No one would believe us even if we say the information is from the Magistrate. We'd be looked upon as fools. When the Giants would come to trample everything beneath their feet, we'd be truly fools for staying."

"We won't be fools if we win." The statue of Khalamundi opened its mouth and a female voice came out. "I have protected these hills, and continue to protect them, I will. Even if it is against the Giants. Wouldn't it be more prudent to see the enemy's face than for the enemy to see our backs?"

The priests continued to bicker. Hazelheart, Khalamundi, and Yonnik were for staying, though Yonnik probably just wanted to have some entertainment. Jungdu and Ihadir wanted to run, with Ihadir even suggesting they go to the island of Itziri.

Ambrose remained silent. He could be asleep.

The Magistrate floated a few feet higher and opened its palm. With straightened fingers pointing to the ceiling, it made the sign to stop.

"Quiet, all of you," Ambrose said, his voice weak but with authority. "Let us hear from the one who brought us this terrible news. Brother Elian, share your thoughts and speak freely."

"I think… we should fight the Giants," Elian said.

"There it is, the most logical—" Hazelheart began to say.

But Ihadir cut her off, "But how can we defend against Giants?"

"Brother Elian is not finished," said Ambrose.

"Uh, yes," Elian said. "We should fight against the Giants. But I don't think we should just stay here to defend. The forces of the Temples of Tribulation should go to Sarnival Port and defeat the first thrust of the Giant invasion."