This time all the voices whispered Nameless the same advice. [Drink this flask! Perhaps, you can absorb this artifact's power and become stronger!]

“Yes... I need to drink it...” the man knew that saliva was in the flask, but currently Nameless could think only about the power which contained this artifact.

I will become stronger! Thus he brought the flask to his lips and drank it up in one go. Immediately he felt as pure strong and warm energy started to circulate in his system. It's giving me so much power! I feel strong!

All of a sudden the man realized what he had drunk up.

This is gross! Nameless tossed the empty flask in the jungle. I can't believe it! I've drunk it up!

Then the man puked. He used the back of his hand to wipe his mouth. It's so disgusting! Those damn voices! They don't have mercy on me! Heartless bastards!!!

He looked up. Now he was boiling with anger. “Hey, you! Bastards up there! Do you think this is funny?! DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS IS FUNNY?! Answer me, bastards! Do you hear me?! ANSWER ME!!!”

Unexpectedly a man heard a new whisper. [I gift you a water purifier ]

The human felt that something materialized in his pocket. He was startled. Is this an answer?!

Nameless took out a glass jar with tablets in from his pocket warily. What is this?

But suddenly he realized what these tablets could do. This knowledge just appeared in his head.

“Is this your answer to me?! What does this gift mean?!”

This time nothing had happened.

Water purifier? Is this some kind of puzzle?

The human studied the jar for half an hour. He opened it – even licked the glass once – sniffed tablets and almost ate one. But nothing had happened or changed.

Finally Nameless tossed the empty jar with a few tablets in in the foliage. I don't have any wish to waste my time on this puzzle anymore!

Besides, the man suspected that those damn voices just wanted to mock him and a glass jar was just a glass jar. Without any meaning.

He showed the sky a middle finger. “That's my puzzle for you all, bastards up there!”

Now he walked back and forth. The man was angry yet. He wanted to punch a face of one of those voices. They can't just toy with me as if I'm some kind of plaything!

Soon Nameless calmed down. He had even experienced an urge to go and find that jar, but killed this impulse. Enough! That's stupid! That jar is not an answer from the voices! This is just their mockery!

The human resumed his running. He didn't believe that those monks would give up so easily. Fanatics are very persistent. I hope they don't have horses.

This idea terrified the human. He looked back. I see no one. But, perhaps, it's better to go in the jungle?

Nameless looked at lush foliage - where could hide a predator or a bunch of poisonous insects – and he understood clearly that it was better to stay on the road. Besides, it's easy to get lost in the jungle.

In about an hour the man still run. To his surprise, he didn't feel tiredness or hunger. The human still was full of energy. It shall be the power of that artifact.

It was disgusting memory. But, truth be told, that artifact was useful. Thanks to that flask I still can ran. Ha-ha! I hope those voices will never know about this thought!

Soon the man had reached a place where the road splitting into two.

The human approached a wooden arrow road post.

“Turera.” He read and scratcher his head, because it didn't tell him anything. What is this “Turera”? A city? A town? A village? An inn? A famous mountain or waterfall? Or even it can be some kind of warning? Perhaps, this Turera is a monster that everyone knows?

“The exiled.” He read the second road sign. At least it can give me some information. But who those exiled are? Are they dangerous? Or they are hospitable? Or this is just a name without any meaning? Where shall I go?

The human heard the voices. They were ready to help Nameless with advice.

[Go to Turera! It has to be a beautiful place! Turera sounds cool! Even if this is a mountain or waterfall, it's fine! Imagine that you are a tourist!]

[Go to “The exiled”! I don't know who or what live there, but you are brave man! A new adventure awaits you!]

[Wait the monks here! They are pursuing you for a long time! It was rude to leave the temple without saying “Goodbye”!]

[Wait here someone! Then ask about “Turera” and “The exiled”. And hide in the jungle now. Do you remember that the monks are pursuing you?]

~~~~~~

Interlude

“Meow? Majority of monks have gone? Are you sure, meow?” a cat-girl asked in disbelief.

She wore black clothes, a necklace - which was made from bones of little animals - and had a long soft tail. Additionally, the cat-girl had a wooden stuff.

“I am, mistress!” a big fat pig-man grunted.

He had a pig head and was armed with a large axe.

“Meow?” The cat-girl was thinking now.

In the past their priests had predicted that a great threat to all demihumans would arise soon. An honor to prevent a catastrophe was given to Niao. Fifty strong pig-men accompanied her at the beginning. It was a long and hard journey. Now she had only fifteen. Niao's group had been hiding in the jungle nearby the Divine Temple over a week. The men are starving. I can't wait anymore, meow!

“Meow! Meow!” she attracted attention of her warriors.

“The time has come, brave warriors, meow! Now we will attack the Divine Temple! Show no mercy to the followers of that puny natus-vincat, meow!”

The pig-men grunted in approval and grabbed their weapons.

~~~~~~

Fifteen big fat pig-men rushed from the jungles and ran towards the Divine Temple. Each mutant wore a metal armor and a helmet. They had large fangs.

Niao ran in the center. The pig-men guarded their magician.

The mutants didn't encountered any resistance in the gate and stormed in the holy place. Only inside they saw a group of armed monks.

The mutants halted. Now the two sides stared at each other with disgust.

“For Vahru-un!” screamed pig-men and rushed forward.

“For natu-us_vinca-at!” answered the monks and also rushed forward.

Warriors of good side and bad side collided.

The spirits watched the battle. A little later they began to whisper.

[natus_vincat's followers will win!]

[Vahrun's followers will win!]