Snow quickly rushed over towards where Levian had disappeared from, feeling around for any traces of magical energy that he had left. She closed her eyes but quickly noticed that there was nothing. 

With frustration, she scowled. Annoyed that Levian had disappeared. Taking with him the prize that she wanted herself.

Dairen walked over with the others. He asked, “Is everything alright? What did he want?” 

Everyone had watched unable to do anything to Levian as they were a bit further back. 

“The Emerald gem.” Snow turned around, leaving the spot. Dairen followed next to her as Mike and Rodney were a step behind. “I don’t know what he wants, but it's not going to be the last of him. Did we get anything from all that?”

“Yes, we got some new gems, materials, and even items,” Mike replied with pride. “I didn’t expect to get such a big profit, the material from Ryzar is of high quality. Taking it out with us should help everyone out.”

“That’s good.” Dairen was pleased with their harvest. “Even the HilEyes had given us immense profit. The feathers are enchanted with magical mental defense properties. The few cooks already noticed that the meat is actually edible.” 

“You’re going to eat it?” Snow was taken aback at such a thought, but then she remembered that certain monsters' meat was healthy and helpful. 

“Yes, we have a famous cook specializing in this area, he had supposedly learned under you.” 

Snow didn’t remember teaching anyone. All she did was make and serve food for profit, and that was all. 

“Who?” 

“Sam.”

“Sam?” Snow fished through her mind, trying to figure out where she had heard this name. Then it hit her, a young man with red hair and slightly tan skin popped up in her mind. Not only that, but his usual smile and goofy laughter was also the thing that she remembered him by. 

“Yea, Sam, food can do the same things as your food.”

“Like?”

“Giving extra buffs.”  

To hear that Sam was able to achieve specialties with the food that he cooked impressed her. Mostly because such a thing was not something that was looked much into as Hunters usually would just go to a restaurant and buy their own food. Cooking was the last thing on their list. 

“I’m quite impressed.” Snow truthfully meant it; she was looking forward to how he would make it. She was wondering what kind of buff that Dairen was talking about. She knew that such a thing had become famous when she started her first food cart for a moment. 

“He’s working on it now.” Dairen motioned his head back towards the back. 

Snow turned around, trying to see where Dairen had pointed out. 

Not too far away was Sam, cooking in the middle of piles of dead bodies of HilEyes. Some were plucked out while others were neatly put in a pile as the Players brought the bodies over. 

“Wait, you guys are going to eat it now?” Snow was stunned at the strange decision that they made. Mostly because they needed to get out of this dungeon. 

 “Well, I thought it was a ridiculous idea, but Sam wants to cook the birds right now when he has them still fresh.” 

“We don’t know when the dungeon will fall, we should be leaving now,” Snow replied, a bit tired. Too many things had happened, and the strenuous fight they had just gone through finally hit her.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“That’s what I said, but we can’t take Ryzar’s corpse with us. It’s too big,” Dairen said seriously. “My storage item has a certain cap limit and something like a Ryzar not going to fit in it. So, Sam decided to make the food before we go.” 

Snow went silent. Unable to figure out what to say, but stare at him for their logic. She sighed, knowing full well that they might not even listen to her if she forced Sam to leave. Instead, she went over to where Sam was cooking. 

Sam gazed up with his blueish green eyes, a radiating smile spread against his very lips, giving him a much softer boyish look. Even his curly brown hair was tied back in a little bun as a white apron was present. 

All his cooking utensils and multiple stoves were spread out before him. Sam was articulately cooking a piece of Ryzar’s meat with butter. He dashed a few leaves and even rosemary as he let it simmer. 

“Saintess,” Sam called out to her, pleased at her arrival. “Are you hungry?”

Snow could smell a heavy waft of food that made her stomach growl. Why not? So far, it seems that Levian hadn't destroyed the gem as of yet. The moment, he left the dungeon would signal the downfall. 

Sam heard her as he chuckled. “I’ll make something for you in just a second.” 

With quick fluid hands, Sam fried the food before her until he was complete. Grabbing a small paper plate, he placed the meat on the dish. “Here you go.” He handed it to her. 

With curiosity, but at the same time a bit skeptical, she grabbed the plate. 

“Don’t worry, there is no poison, and it's edible. My special skills allow me to find anything that means harm. 

Snow picked up the fork, twirling around for a few moments before she took a bite. A strong tang of flavors washed over inside her mouth, making her shudder. She felt an exhilarating of emotions and even an influx of energy wash over her, making her a lot more relaxed and fuller. 

She didn’t expect such a vast array of energy and taste. Snow thought she felt an influx of magical energy from just one taste. Devouring it whole, she felt each bite brought more back a burst of more energy and an increase of magic power. Even her mind seemed to clear up, making it easier for her to think. 

With a satisfied hiccup, Snow handed him the bowl that he had given her. She didn’t notice that the others were eating and celebrating as she was too engrossed in her food. 

“Thanks,” Snow replied. 

“You’re welcome,” satisfied that Snow pleased, Sam was back to work, cooking up more. 

It didn’t take long for everyone to wave their own fill. They quickly tidied up, leaving behind chunks of guts and even bones. 

Everybody started out from the area, following Rodney, who was directing the group. 

Surprisingly, they somehow made it back to the front without crossing the boat as the fog cleared up. 

A large portal proudly stood in place for them to exit. One-by-one, everyone started to leave, excited that their task was quickly done. 

Suddenly, before she could say anymore, Snow felt a searing hot pain shoot up her right hand. It was as if someone poured boiling water down her skin and left it there as it left a searing pain. Her left hand snapped towards her wrist as if she was trying to stop the swelling pain, but it didn’t. 

A rush of magical energy spread around her body, making her glow. Everyone around her stepped back, closing their eyes from the bright light. 

“Snow?!” Mike called out, eyes burning from her light.

Snow dropped to her knee, holding her hand. She could feel her muscles tightening, frightening her as she didn’t understand what was going on. The pain lasted for a minute; eventually, she dimmed down, allowing her to come back to sense. 

A tingling feeling rises, becoming stronger and stronger. She could feel the magic swirl in her stomach, reaching through her body until it came to her fingertips. The magic in her body was bulking and merging as if it was recreating from the inside and out. 

Her mind was frazzled with the pouring of different words that she didn’t know where it came from. It was frightening, enlightening, and eventually, all her bottled-up emotions were released as tranquility hit her mind. 

For the first time in a long time, she felt peace. 

Snow’s eyes fluttered open, trying to refocus. She didn’t remember when she had fallen to her knees and even forgotten momentarily where she was. 

She saw the same portal when she was about to pass through looming next to her. 

Both Mike and Dairen crouched beside her, wondering what was going on. They had worried that she couldn’t get through like last time. 

“Snow, what happened?” Mike asked out of concern. “Did you get stopped by the portal again?”

Snow shook her head. This time, she felt something different. It was similar to a bolt of lightning of learning something new as if God had smacked her with a new skill. Her hands raised up towards her face. She then cast her sights on both Mike and Dairen. 

“Holy Redemption.” With a whisper-like voice, the words spilled out of her mouth. She could feel the energy seeping out from her fingertips to her very core. 

A soft white light swept through the air and towards the two. They were covered in white glowing armor that made the two look a lot more heroic in the figure. Even Dairen, who was used to wearing black, had a completely different look of light and dark envelope. His armor was shimmering, amplifying everything about him. 

Even Snow could feel herself becoming empowered. The edges of her fingers started to glisten and quickly travel up throughout her body. It was an odd feeling, utterly different than being buffed with power from a spell. She could feel her magic and both Dairen and Mike’s magic, intermingling with each other. 

Suddenly, she felt a massive transference of power sweeping towards Mike and Dairen. They looked at her, surprised, not entirely understanding what was going on. 

“Snow?” Mike asked, hoping for her to give clue. 

“I don’t quite understand it either.” Snow felt a bit tired from the loss of energy as the connection between the three remained. She got up. 

“A power up?” Mike jokingly said. 

“I think it's something like that, but for how long?”

“Well, we won’t know until we find out.” 

Both agreed that the strange gift that Snow had given them was unusual, but that didn’t stop them from figuring out the effects. Even still, they stepped out through the portal as it finally closed behind them.