Up in the skies, beyond the clouds, the turbulence that once jolted our bones was now a distant memory. Here, the air felt smooth, leagues more comfortable than any carriage ride I'd ever taken. No more jarring rattles, just the serene, steady rhythm of our flight. The temperature, though—icy and biting—was far less forgiving.
My breath came out in misty wisps, freezing in the atmosphere. I could feel the cold creeping into my bones, though it wasn’t unbearable for me, considering my near immunity. Dungeon Master 05, on the other hand, likely owed his resilience to a high constitution as a high-level Verdenkind.
The sky spread out like a vast gray ocean above us, endless and oppressive, the only sound the rhythmic flap of Veilleuse-19's wings. The horizon stretched into eternity, and to my right, two of the Underworld’s many moons hung high above. One, a crimson orb, pulsed like the beating heart of some celestial beast, while another, much larger—either because it was closer or simply massive—had a sickly greenish hue, resembling a decaying gemstone in the sky. To my left, the skies of the Land of Men lay distant, untouched by the eerie glow of the Underworld's moons. We were flying right along the border between these two realms, an invisible line between life and something far more dangerous.
We’d been traveling for over a couple of hours, and things were growing monotonous. Up here, there was little to entertain the mind. Unlike when traveling by carriage or on horseback, the endless gray sky above and the misty white clouds below offered no real distraction. It was soporific, almost dreamlike, the only sound the constant beat of Veilleuse-19's wings. The silence hung heavy in the air.
I thought, for a brief moment, about flying lower, to give my guest—Dungeon Master 05—a better view of the Underworld below, something that would undoubtedly interest him. The demonic continent was nothing short of a marvel to behold, but I wasn’t in the mood to deal with what lay beneath.
Out of the five continents, the Underworld was by far the most dangerous, not just because of the beasts but because of its "sentient" inhabitants—the demons, who were, let’s say, less than hospitable. After wandering here for a decade, I knew better than to tempt fate. Sure, at my level, there was very little that could stand in my way, but precisely because of that, I didn’t want to draw the attention of certain entities.
There’s an old demonic saying: “The Underworld remembers every slight, and a demon never forgets a debt.” I’d earned the ire of a few Archdukes of Hell in my time—powerful demons, something akin to the Seraphim of Men—and flying deeper into the Underworld would undoubtedly remind them of old grudges. Best to leave sleeping devils where they lay. I glanced at Dungeon Master 05, who seemed equally dulled by the monotony of the flight. To break the silence, I offered, “It’s kind of quiet, don’t you think? How about we talk to pass the time?”
He glanced at me, cross-legged on Veilleuse-19, and after a brief pause, nodded. “Sure,” he replied simply.
“So…what do we talk about?” I asked, though I quickly realized he expected me to come up with a topic since I was the one suggesting the conversation.
I caught sight of the sword on his lap and asked, “You’re a knight, if I remember right?”
He nodded.
“You don’t look the part,” I teased.
He gave a faint smile. “I get that a lot.”
Knight as a class wasn't immediately apparent with him. Typically, knights were core classes that scaled heavily with strength, then agility and constitution. They excelled at wearing heavy armor and wielding bulky weapons—neither of which he had on him. His sword and his overall style looked more suited for a warrior, a class that prioritized agility. “Any subclasses or specializations?”
He shook his head. “I had the option of Spellblade Knight and Rune Knight when I hit level 16, but I chose neither.”
“I see… understandable. What level are you now?”
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He hesitated, but then said, “I’m level 42.”
"Oh," understanding where the hesitation came from I gave no reaction, but instead asked, "at what level is your longetivity skill?"
"Four," he casually answered.
I raised an eyebrow, then said guenuinely, "Impressive."
He gave a self-deprecating smile. “It’s an honor to hear that from the infamous Arianna, but if you want to praise someone as being impressive, you’ve got the wrong person.”
“Oh? And who should I be praising instead?”
“Dungeon Master 04.”
I winced, remembering the tragedy of Dungeon Master 04. If anyone could be called gifted, it was him. “True… but in a way, longevity feels more like a curse for him.”
Longevity. That skill was more than just extending one's lifespan—it warped time itself, particularly in its early levels. While it granted eternal youth, it also altered how one experienced time, making it a strange gift, or curse, depending on the person and its particular circumstance.
Upon unlocking the longevity skill at level 1, all it offers is immunity to senescence—preventing the natural deterioration associated with aging. However, it doesn't stop aging itself; one still grows older, but without the frailty or visible signs of age. At level 2, things become more significant, albeit with complications. First, there’s an increase in lifespan, granting an additional 50 to 75 years, but the second effect is far more drastic: the wielder’s age becomes locked at the moment they unlock level 2. This creates a potentially problematic situation if one gains it too early in life.
Take Dungeon Master 04 as an example. He managed to unlock level 2 of the skill at an absurdly young age, locking himself in the body of a child. While this wouldn’t have been entirely bad—after all, immortality is a powerful asset—his situation became more complicated due to his youthful form. The Seraphim of Peace was the first to notice his ability, seizing him for her own purposes, essentially keeping him under her control. On one hand, this saved him from being noticed by the Emperor or his Kings, who would eliminate anyone showing potential to surpass them. On the other, it effectively stunted his growth as a Highbreed, confining him to a limited path due to the Seraphim’s hold on him.
Dungeon Master 05, on the other hand, faced a different kind of dilemma. Not being a Highbreed, he wasn’t someone the Seraphim could easily take under their wing. Instead, he found himself at the mercy of the Emperor and his Kings, a target simply because of his potential to grow stronger than them. The only thing keeping them at bay was his association with the Adventurer’s Guild. But even that wouldn’t protect him forever. The situation he was in was so dire, Dungeon Master 07 had to step in, advising Dungeon Master 05 to restrict his level and power to stay under the radar.
That’s why when the events in Quel'thalas unfolded, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to get Dungeon Master 05 out of the precarious situation he found himself in. It was I who specifically requested his presence, even though I could have easily done without him.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t even a demand; it was a favor. I’ll be sure to remind Dungeon Master 07 that he owes me one next time I see him.
"A curse, huh? Everyone wants it," I heard Dungeon Master 05 comment, before adding, "and when you finally get it, you see it as a curse. Ironic. Truly."
"That’s just how things are," I replied before adding with a wry smile, "I tried to change things, you know, fifty years ago."
He frowned at me in a way that reminded me of another Dungeon Master. "Are you referring to the time you attacked two kings, massacred one of them, insulted the Emperor, and disappeared off the grid entirely?"
I shrugged dramatically. "There was an attempt, unfruitful, unfortunately."
The truth was more complicated than that. After taking down one of the Emperor's Seven Kings—the second one I had killed after the one I defeated to take the throne in Graysteel—I planned to use myself as bait. I wanted to lure the Emperor to the Voidborne Catacomb, where I knew Dungeon Master 00 could easily defeat him. But despite my best efforts, he didn't fall for it. Whether it was because he was smart or just scared, I couldn't tell.
"Well, at least it wasn’t for nothing," I mused, thinking back on the chaos I left in my wake.
Even though the Emperor didn't fall for the trap, after my failed attempt, two kingly seats were left empty. Knowing Dungeon Master 07, I figured he wouldn't waste a chance like that. Somewhere in my mind, I thought he would have Dungeon Master 05 take over, but it seemed he chose someone else for the role. I looked at Dungeon Master 05, who was staring at me with wide eyes.
He mumbled something under his breath. "Dungeon Master 07 was absolutely right about what he told me about you."
"Oh?" I raised a brow, amused. "What did he say? Good things, I hope. He better not have tarnished my image to the younger generation."
"He told me... he told me to watch out for you because you’re resentful, violent, and worse, unpredictable."
I was momentarily speechless at such accusations, which, let’s be honest, were unfair. Mostly.
"He said that about me?"
"Yes, he did." He nodded seriously before adding, "But he also said that if there’s one Dungeon Master he can trust to carry out a mission to the best of her ability, it’s you, Dungeon Master 08."
I couldn’t help but smile at that last part. "Well, at least there’s that."