“We aren’t seeing any more of those monsters are we…” Leafa tuckered close to Asher’s long outfit like a baby.
“I must admit, the silence is giving me chills as well.” Someone as confident as Asher was troubled by the situation presented to us.
“Does anyone feel that?” In spite of being a muscular guy, Thorne was surprisingly sensitive to the changes going on around him.
“I don’t see any monsters. But I can sense it too.” Galen after his hands had healed was back in action. For a typical party leader, he was filled with limitless energy.
The basilisk corpses disintegrated into fragments of light, leading to the inevitable conclusion that they had been summoned by someone. Even my gluttony skill failed to devour them. Although that would explain why they were easier to defeat and seemed more docile than the ones I fought back in the labyrinth.
According to Asher, the summoning of three calamity-class monsters at the same time was never heard of before. I did not have any prior knowledge because I had never met a summoner before, nor I had tried summoning magic.
Now the three basilisks were no longer a part of the dungeon ecosystem and with the air clear with that. I too felt this strange bloodthirsty malevolence watching over us. From the outset, it was not a sudden feeling, but rather a constant presence that had always been there from the moment we had stepped into this place.
The intent was so faint that we were all noticing it just now.
I was continuously skimming the place with my mystic eyes. Until Al located the place with an abnormal magic leak. The pressure was so high that it was shooting right through the thick dungeon walls distorting the space.
Slowly I started walking towards it.
“Alicia where are you going?...⸺Ughhh!” With a sigh, Regis followed me together with Hana.
The adventurer’s party decided to do the same and were right behind them.
“This is not just a wall. But, it doesn't appear to be a part of this dungeon either.” I could sense an additional space beyond it. I realised this the moment I stood in front of the wall.
Some kind of weird magic interference blocked its perception till now. I glance back at Regis and Hana and decided to enter to confirm my suspicion. I was pulled in just the same way as passing from one floor of the dungeon to another.
“Where did she go?” Leafa spoke with an incredulous look.
Regis and Hana without hesitating chased after me and rammed into the wall only to find themselves standing next to me again.
“We should go, too.” Not wanting to fall behind, Galen and others passed through the fake wall as well.
The new dungeon floor revealed a spacious interior bigger than even the previous one.
“So, is this the final boss floor?” Regis asked.
“I’ve never seen a dungeon like this.” Leafa even with her strong healing and support magic was still a novice in dungeon exploration.
But everyone was too busy denying the existence of this floor.
The entire ceiling and walls were made of deep blue Magitite crystal. What we considered a treasure on the previous floor would be mere chump change compared to the stash we have here.
Despite the size, the space felt confining. The reason why became obvious.
“Is......that......?”
At the far side of the room with the only place shrouded in darkness, was a giant throne directly carved into the dungeon wall.
All of us could only see a person’s shadow sitting on the throne but the interference still played with our senses inhibiting us from seeing who it really was.
“So, finally a bunch of foolish humans were able to make it here. But I would have preferred for you not to disturb me, and to become sustenance for my pets.” A distinct female voice echoed through the dungeon floor.
“Who was that?” Regis struggled to look around.
“N-no way. That can’t be a boss monster. They don’t speak.” Leafa felt the exact same overpowering presence and was unable to pinpoint it.
But the rest of her teammates and I were more than convinced that the person was the one who summoned the Basilisk. Despite our vantage point on the ground, it was clear from the powerful burst of magical energy that radiated from the mysterious figure that they were nothing short of the embodiment of disaster.
Their identity remained hidden from us, shrouded in a veil of secrecy that only added to their ominous aura.
“I suppose people of this era won’t know me; the human life span is so short. It’s so bothersome to remind them every time.”
The shadowy figure stood from the throne, and as they did, the place around us began to warp. As if something about this place was restricting her in all possible manner.
The figure steps down the dais and advanced towards us, her steps were slow and deliberate.
By the moment she reached the final step, all of us were sure by now and that’s when Asher also confirmed it.
“Are you the Goddess of Malice, Kaya?” Asher seemed to be well-informed about the goddess’s seal in this place.
“That is who I am and this is also how far you will go.” Finally, we could see her true form. The individual was a girl and also claimed to be a goddess.
The nightmare had itself come to life and it now had a new name.
The goddess was a sight to behold, her beauty twisted into something sinister and formidable. She had a body of a young maiden and wore a dark purple gown that seemed to absorb the light around her. Her hair hung in inky tangles down her back. Her skin was pale as death, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light.
It was obvious from what she said that she had no intention of leaving us alive.
Galen steeled himself and stood tall, his voice ringing out with determination. "We may be mortals but we won’t be stopped easily."
The goddess laughed, a sound that chilled others to the bone. "Humans never learn do they…” With that, she raised her hands, her eyes glowing with malevolent energy. ”⸻GRAVITON BINDING.”
Purple energy emits from her body, and in a blink of an eye, everyone on that floor was smashed to the ground.
Galen gritted his teeth and tried to press forward, his muscles all strained against the force of the goddess's magic. And yet he succumbed to the ground along with his teammates. Regis and Hana were no exception.
Everyone gasped as they were pulled to their knees, their bodies crushed under the weight of the magical force. The ground shook and cracked beneath their feet as they struggled to remain conscious, their bones creaking under intense pressure.
The area had increased temperature, gravity and air pressure a little bit longer and all their veins would have popped up in the field and bones crushed to powder.
“Let’s see for how long you can survive this?” Goddess Kaya cackled with delight as she watched her victims suffer, relishing in their pain and despair. For her, it was simply enacting her authority as a goddess.
But her joy only lasted for less than a second while she still thought things would go as easily as she wanted.
While no one could react because of the excruciable pain they felt in the pressure field made by the Goddess of Malice, Kaya.
The pain suddenly vanished and now everyone found themselves surrounded by a blue force field. When everyone looked back, I was the only one still standing and not being affected by the force field.
Slowly the others try to stand up and the Goddess realised this too.
“Seems there is someone interesting among you after all? Why don’t you come forward?” The Goddess asked.
The adventuring party, Regis and even Hana were too intimidated by the goddess to retort. For the people of this world, meeting a Goddess in times of peace was a bizarre situation. They were also enchanted by the blue spherical screen that now worked to protect them from the Goddess’s magic.
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I had cast a magical barrier which was strong enough to counter the Goddess’s divine magic.
I finally decided to step out of the barrier and do something. The others were still numbed and even scared of speaking in front of the goddess. Most probably it was the goddess’s authority acting out on the people of this world.
“Who are you?” After staring at us for a brief second, the goddess’s mood changes. “⸻Let’s say I am willing to hear before I destroy you all.” The goddess did not even slightly look flinched even after her magic did not work on me.
“I am Alicia. Goddess Kaya, it has been more than two hundred years since the war ended. There is no reason for you to continue fighting.” I said with the utmost respect. I did not want to offend a God after spending some time in the Divine Realm and knowing this better than anyone.
“Do you even know the reason why I am still in this place? Why don’t I show you…” The goddess lifts up her palm.
In a blink, she releases a tremendous amount of magical energy which appeared like zapped uncontrolled purple lightning and strikes the walls.
The walls of the dungeon finally reveal their true nature, in form of a golden cube that retaliates all the released energy and contains it.
It was most probably a seal mechanism in work that Mother must have placed when the two had fought. She never mentioned anything about this to me, nor did the archives in the Stark Kingdom had details of how it worked.
At least for now, we could say that this was the only thing keeping her from going out and wreaking havoc in the world. But⸻
“It's only a matter of time till I will recover to my full strength, break the seal and see the war to its final conclusion.”
“But the war has already ended. The world is peaceful.” Galen finally decided to say. Everyone could clearly see that he was terrified from the sweat he broke. But he could not stop himself from taking action.
“It doesn’t end without me.” The goddess said in an unemotional tone.
Regis, Hana and Galen’s party were still confused about what to do. Their instinct screamed to not go against the goddess.
“That’s why you cannot leave out of here alive. Die and get absorbed by the dungeon. After all, it works in my favour to weaken the seal.” The goddess finally made her intentions clear and that declaration was more than enough for me.
[ BLACK FLARE ]
I had decided to make the first move right after the Goddess spoke. Not giving her any chance to think or react.
Streams of Black fire sprung on the goddess from all sides to swallow her. But the moment they were just about to touch her, the flames vaporised and vanished.
“Trying to attack without saying anything. I like your straightforwardness.” The goddess smiled at the same time and raises her hands. ⸻“Graviton Implosion” A blast of energy shot forth, almost knocking the entire terrain and sending everyone inside the barrier tumbling by the shaking of the ground.
***
DUNGEON OF MALICE
“What happened I can’t see anything?” From inside the barrier, Regis tried to look. But the dense smoke from the aftermath obscured the view.
Even though she tried to get out of the barrier, Alicia had made sure Regis couldn’t come out. For a moment it felt so frustrating for Regis to be kept out of this.
“Master is alright…” Hana said and when the smoke cleared, turns out she was right.
A similar small blue screen projected in front of Alicia and she was able to protect herself.
“That’s some pretty magic you got there. But going against me you would need more than those sparkles.” For Goddess Kaya, even the best flame magic of Alicia was useless against her.
“As I thought so magic won’t work.” Alicia spoke to herself. It was the Goddess’s skill that cancelled Alicia’s magic before it could do anything.
While Alicia still looked calm after the setback, the news almost put Regis in shock.
“Alicia let me out. If you can’t use magic then at least let me help you.” Regis called out even before thinking what she could actually really do to help here. After all Regis only knew Alicia as an exceptional mage. But in a fight where magic is of no use, she was afraid for Alicia to lose.
“It’s dangerous here and besides I was just verifying it. I wanted this dungeon exploration to end peacefully. More than anything, I didn't want to completely destroy this place, but it looks like that's where we're headed.” Alicia said calmly.
Alicia raises her hands and pulls her mask revealing her true face and the full extent of her power. She dissolves the blue barrier around her, and her long white hairs flutter around her. She shyly turns away when everyone from inside gasps in amazement as they take in her beauty.
“Who is she? Is that really her?” Leafa was the first one to break the silence.
“Relax Leafa, we already knew from the start that something was not right about her and then she defeated those basilisks so easily.” Asher then gave a stern eye to the men in her team who kept on staring at Alicia.
But it was not just Alicia’s physical appearance that takes their breath away. They could also feel the strength and magic power radiating from her, like a force of nature.
“Right!” Thorne laughed.
“But we still can’t do anything against that kind of power.” Galen as much as he hated it, knew that if he got involved he would only get himself killed.
For Regis she had seen that happen several times, the only thing is that this time something was different. A tiny accessory on Alicia bothered her even more.
A blue scabbard materialised around Alicia’s waist and Regis had never seen or heard a mention of it before. Even Hana looked clueless about it.
The goddess’s eyes narrowed in anger and frustration with herself as she looked
at Alicia still dauntlessly standing in front of her. ‘Those white hairs… it's only my imagination I suppose.’ The goddess whispered as if some kind of painful memory ambushed her.
“No way is she planning to fight her alone.” Leafa asked others.
“Alicia…” Regis was still in wonderment.
“But will this really work? An earthly sword cannot even hurt a goddess. They possess divine magic, it’s only a miracle that this barrier is keeping us safe.” Leafa pointed out.
“It will be alright. But there’s something more. It’s her aura.” Galen said.
“What’s that?” Regis and Leafa were still unaware of the concept.
“Besides magic, we have our soul energy that can be even more powerful than magic. From the beginning, I sensed it and it was already more powerful than anything I had seen before. And right now, it almost overwhelms the space.” Galen explained. He himself was an amateur in using it, but as a trump card, it was more than enough to bring harm to the basilisk before.
“And that’s enough to stand up against a goddess?” Regis asked.
“I don’t know.” Despite what Galen thought, he was still unsure. A god is an absolute entity and it would be blasphemous to measure their limitless powers.
“So, you are not just a mage but a swordsman too, not to mention a marvellous beauty under that mask. But even if you are hiding your strength what you have right now is still not enough. But this could be good for a laugh, in years.” Despite the momentary revelation, Goddess Kaya looked more amused than wary of Alicia.
In a swift movement, Alicia unsheathed her sword and revealed a white blade. Clutching the handle as if to imbue it with her will, Alicia leapt toward the goddess.
With such speed and force, her sword almost touched the Goddess Kaya. A big explosion follows.
At least that’s what appeared to others.
“What happened?” Everyone had the same question.
In that split second, Alicia went for a direct strike at the goddess, but suddenly her own sword felt much heavier for her hand. More likely it was her entire body under that effect. Her speed dulled in the last fraction of a second.
The Goddess uses that time frame to catch hold of Alicia’s hand and push her to the ground. With a fierce look in her eyes, the goddess lifts her foot, ready to stomp on Alicia’s face.
[WIND SPHERE]
Fortunately, Alicia was able to launch a magic spell, to distract the goddess. Kaya simply tilts her head to her right and dodges. The magic spell was more than enough to open a large fissure in the ceiling hence the explosion.
Alicia took this chance, to slip and stand again. She circles and swings her sword from the left. This time it would be too late for the goddess to doge.
“It’s useless.” The goddess with a smug expression whispers to Alicia.
Alicia failing to notice a direct punch incoming on her belly from below. The impact blasts Alicia’s whole body, making her crash into a far boulder almost cracking it in the process.
“Did you really think a mortal weapon would stand a chance against a god? Why do you think the True hero sealed me here? Because even she wasn’t strong enough to defeat me.”
Alicia stands up. “No, I think she just didn’t want to be bothered by you.”
Regis too noticed that Alicia had an ambiguous expression after listening to what the goddess had to say about the True Hero.
“Look she did it.” Leafa grabs the attention of others by saying out loud.
Finally, the goddess puts her finger to her cheek only to see her rushed blood. With an antagonised expression she quickly casts healing magic and the blood trail vanishes. The goddess snarled, her eyes blazing with fury.
“I see the reason behind your confidence. So, it is not an ordinary weapon after all.” The goddess now finally appeared concerned about one factor.
The goddess continued, “No matter, I wonder how long you would last in here.” The goddess suddenly summoned warped holes behind her back and giant golden swords materialised everywhere.
“It’s not fair for her to fight alone. I am going.” Regis finally decided for herself.
“But we cannot break out of this barrier.” Asher said, even she was unable to swallow the fact to be just left as a bystander.
“She can try anything keeping me out of this, but if there is one thing I am best at that’s breaking things.”
Regis puts all her magic in her hand, and despite the burning sensation, she felt from doing this process so brutally. Her hands reach to the blue screen and make contact.
In the beginning, no one was sure that she would be able to do it. But the blue screen flickered for a moment trying to maintain its existence while Regis tries to tear it apart.
“It’s alright Regis. I told you I am strong.” With that, a new red scabbard appears on the other side of Alicia and she grabs hold of a black sword from it which confuses everyone.
Alicia smiles back at her. Even Regis could not deny that determined look on her face she had never seen before, her hands finally stopped.
“Even if you say you can handle yourself, this is also the first time I have seen you get hurt.”
***
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