BXBX NOVEL Chapter 301 The Gatekeeper
The outside wall was busted through, shattered with piles of the cave walls falling to the ground.
From the entrance, was carved out an ark, restructuring the door to fit in the shape of what can only be described as \'Monstrously huge\'.
What was responsible for removing a heavy chunk of the entrance wall soon revealed itself.
A three-headed dog on one body with four large canines protruding at the edge of his mouth.
"Cerberus!" Dilya exclaimed with a surprised tone.
There is no way Orun would not know who Cerberus is. He already had the feeling when he saw the figure. The mention of its name by Dilya is what brushed up his memory about the true identity of the being.
"What is the gatekeeper of hell doing in the physical world". Orun asked.
He was not as surprised as when he first saw Mammon. The tale about Cerberus is about it acting as the gatekeeper of hell. It has no business meddling in the affairs that have to do with humans.
"To bring back the Demon that has escaped hell". Dilya replied, urging the elders to be on their highest alert.
Cerberus\'s job has always been to see to it that no demon crosses over to the physical world in its truest form.
Demons are allowed to get to the physical world, but only as summoned creatures.
Someone can summon a demon to carry out their will. Doing that will allow the demon temporary access to the physical realm.
Once the demons have carried out their summoner\'s will, what will happen next is for them to return to the underworld where they are expected to be.
Mammon by coming to the physical realm through the gate, has broken the natural laws that state, that a demon must not be allowed to permanently reside in the physical realm.
By passing through the gate in its full form, it has the legality to reside in the physical realm, just like any other being does.
To counter a situation where a demon gets to permanently reside in the physical realm, Cerberus came into play.
The duty of Cerberus was extended from just guarding the gate of hell, to venturing into the physical realm to drag back any demon that has passed through the gate and intends to permanently stay in the physical realm.
A crazy counter was put in place, right? Well, it gets even better from here on out.
Mammon being the demon lord of greed has always had the insatiable desire to hoard for himself all the riches that reside in the physical realm.
It has tried several times to take over the demon realm, but there are forces strong enough, if not stronger than Mammon who made his dream an unrealistic one.
Because it could not take over the demon realm, Mammon settled for the physical realm.
He has once succeeded in breaching through the gate and storming down his army of demons to invade the physical realm.
Mammon was this close to realizing his dreams until Cerberus appeared before him.
Cerberus came out of the gate and personally dragged Mammon back to the demon realm.
The gate was sealed shut after that, and the Elves were put in charge of guarding the gate, to see to it that no other demon ever finds their way out of it.
That is also why the barrier surrounding the elven nation was made. To serve as a countermeasure for a case when a demon finally walks through the gate.
"I don\'t understand. If Cerberus aims to drag Mammon back to the underworld, why isn\'t it doing that instead of just standing still and glaring at us with those menacing eyes".
Orun got the full gist of what Cerberus\'s task is, and what Mammon\'s end goal is.
What he does not understand, is why Cerberus is looking at his group with such an observant, threatening gaze when the one that it should be looking at is standing right next to it, like they are some sort of allies.
"I am just as lost as you are". Dilya answered with confusion packed in her tone.
She also wanted answers on why Cerberus is not doing the job it is assigned to, leaving Mammon to stay beside it without any form of retaliation to it.
It was unlike the gatekeeper of hell to act like that against the demon who has broken the rules.
"You look surprised, Elven queen? I would expect no less, considering how long it took for me to figure out Cerberus and how to avoid getting dragged to hell at the claws of the mighty gatekeeper". Mammon said, resorting to his usual intimidating posture.
Confusion was written all over Dilya\'s face, with questions and curiosity beckoning at her.
The last time he was stopped was also because Cerberus interfered and kept things from escalating.
Without Cerberus\'s help, nothing is stopping Mammon from achieving his will.
[ Master! ].
\'This is not a good time for a chat Oracle\'.
The circumstances do not permit Orun to have any time to make idle talks. Standing in front of him is a one hundred and ninety-something feet tall three-headed monster feasting his gaze on him.
Beside the three-headed monster (Cerberus) is a demon lord with a terrifying presence to his name.
The situation has gone beyond what should be referred to as dire and has entered the realm of world destruction-level entities.
What had Orun even more worried, is the four elven elders, Dilya, Theron, and Monryck.
He is sure of his capabilities and knows that once he goes into a serious mode, he won\'t lose out in a face-off against Mammon.
The same however cannot be said for Dilya, the four elven elders, Theron, and Monryck.
He has a vague idea of what Cerberus is from ancient knowledge passed down in the form of myths, just like how he knows what Mammon is capable of.
That knowledge made Orun doubt the capability of his subordinate against the mighty gatekeeper of hell.