"Whoah, we're so lucky to able find rainbow sheep in our first dive! Hahaha, and it was really worth is seeing Gene expression!"

"Grrr, of course, I was scared! I thought that was the serpent! You could tell me beforehand!"

"If we tell you then the rainbow sheep definitely already escape hahaha!"

"But is it really worth it?"

"Of course it was, rainbow sheep wool is highly sought by nobles and adventurer because of high resistant to almost all element. Plus it's really soft and fluffy that's why it's also become a trend among the nobles."

"So how much it worth?"

"About 200 gold coin."

"Bfuuh!? That much?!"

With that much money I can even live in leisure for a month!

"Hahaha! Even the meat is quiet delicacy, I'll ask Runa to cook it for us when we got home."

"Now that's what I want to hear!"

Um! Can I ask why you use your spear as throwing weapon?"

"Well once I activate Agni ability anything will be scorched by its heat, including me and that's why I didn't use it when we meet first, I would burn entire forest to the ground if I use it but if it's inside the rift then I don't need to worry about the environment hahaha."

"There's no need to be surprised, didn't I tell you she's really strong if I could make a comparison she would be a par with the strongest knight in the kingdom, so you'll see more crazy things if you with her."

"Gene, if I'm an at that level then you should be at Walking disaster."

"Wha-wha!? Is Gene are stronger than you?!"

"Far stronger than me, he's the true monster here! Don't you remember he could defeat minotaur with a single slash?"

"Yeah as if anyone would believe a downer can become a walking disaster, don't believe her she just toying with you."

"T-toying!? Huh? Is Gene a Downer? So that's mean he can't use any magic?!"

"Yep, I can't."

"B-b-but what was that monster from before!? Isn't that summoning magic?! And that sword?!"

"Nope, that's just something from my collection it still requires something to call them out though."

"So it's a summoning magic right?"

"Let's just keep it that way if it's easier to swallow."

"Gene stop, let's hide for a second, look at that."

Lucas points her finger to Minotaur corpse that laying right beside the corridor.

"Isn't that a minotaur? Wait isn't that?!"

Gene notice a slave collar that attached to minotaur neck.

"What do you think Gene?"

"looks like there are some nobles that playing a dirty hand here."

"So what are we gonna do?"

"I don't know why you keep asking me? You're the only veteran in our party."

"I know, I just want to hear your opinion."

"I vote to escape, we already have rainbow wool anyway, it should be enough for all of us."

"Eh....We're not hunting the serpent?"

"Aunt Lucas if you want to do it please do it alone, I don't wanna do something that dangerous, eh since when my whitestone become a Blackstone ?"

"A Blackstone...Gene looks like you can't escape before defeating the serpent."

"Huh? What'd you mean?"

"You've been marked by the rift as one of the potentials."

"Potential what?"

"As potential keeper of the treasure inside this rift."

"Ah I see, What?! A potential?! That's mean there's more than one Blackstone?!"

"I'm afraid so, and only who can defeat the serpent who will turn into goldstone and the other will revert to white one."

"So what's so special about Goldstone?"

"If you break the Goldstone, instead teleport you to the outside anyone around you will send to the hidden vault within the rift."

"Hidden? You mean-?!"

"That's right a priceless treasure that buried in this rift!"

"I see then let just let the other finish the monster, I don't really care about the vault."

"....."

"What?!"

"Then don't pretend that you excited about that! Sigh but since you can't escape there's no way I can leave you alone Runa will angry if I do that, Marie you can escape first if you....M-Marie is that...Blackstone to in your hand? Wait does that mean...mine too?!"

"Oh wow, congrats you're also selected wow, so three of us are stuck in this rift until we or somebody defeat the serpent, so much for dependable."

"W-what should we do?!"

"Sit here waiting for other adventurer defeating it."

"Hell no! Let's go to the serpent's lair!"

"I don't want it!"

"Then are you really that heartless leaving your weak Aunt fighting alone against the Serpent?"

"As if that would be true!"

"Less talking more walking!" Gene forcefully dragged by Lucas.

---

After half hour walking into a straight corridor, they stopped at the intersection.

"Uh oh, a split road...I wonder which way we should choose?"

"I suggest we do a coin toss! Left if tail and right if head!"

"Marie, can you sense what's ahead of us?"

"Hey don't ignore me!"

"Um, looks like a dead end on both side but there's something strange on the left pathway."

"Can you figure what is it?"

"It seems like a portal."

"Aha a crack?"

"What is that again?"

"A door that will you transfer into different location within the rift, there's plenty inside the labyrinth type let's g-"

*Clack*

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Eh? Did I just step on...." Gene suddenly froze after hearing a strange noise.

"Gene...RUN! Marie hold on tight!" Lucas quickly carries Marie and dash toward the crack.

"Hey wait for me!"

Suddenly the whole trap is activated, a spear fall down from the ceiling, the corridor starting to get narrowed the pitfall trap opened revealing a disgusting monster at the bottom

"What the!? The whole area is crumbling?!

"Oh shi- you just press the reset button this whole area gonna do some changing we better hurry or we'll flatten!"

"What kind of idiot that put a trap like this!?"

"A someone who doesn't like a raider like us that's for sure! Just little more! Marie you go first!"

"Eek?!"

With all of her strength, Lucas throws Marie into the crack followed with her dashing and lastly Gene right before the whole area disappear.

-----

"Ugh...my head."

Looks like we survive...now, where are we...it feels this area are really spacious...wait where's the other?! Don't tell me?!"

"Haaaa..."

"Ssh, quiet!" Lucas quickly stops Gene before screaming.

"Huh? So there you are."

"Gene, do not make any sudden movement and move slowly here." Lucas talk softly far behind the pillar

"What another rainbow-"

*sssrr*

"Uh...is that snake rattle? Please tell me that I just misheard it."

"Worse Gene, way much worse than that, slowly turn your head and don't scream."

When Gene turns around a monster with minotaur body and with snake lower body is silently staring at him while tightly grab his giant ax."

Phey it's just a chimera...wait, a chimera?!

"Gene come here and move slowly!"

Gene slowly moves away from the chimera and finally arrive safely behind the pillar where Lucas hiding and Marie still fainted.

"Haaaa I never know death is so close! Dammit, Russel says there's only a Serpent, not a freaking huge chimera!"

"That's probably the serpent that we seek Gene look over there, there's a pile of minotaur bone."

"But to able to evolve...how many minotaurs that this creature eat...so where are we?"

"It seems we're inside the serpent's lair."

"Wha- Then we need to escape from here quickly!"

"I'm afraid we can't do that this room act as a trap, I can't find any exit out from here."

"You're kidding, right? Then our only option is beating this creature?!"

"Looks like it but still why he still not attacking us? When I wake up that chimera also only keep staring at me as if he's curious."

"Hmm, maybe that chimera is friendly?"

"I'won't bet on that."

"Let me try it."

"Gene are you serious?!" Gene slowly approach the chimera once again.

"Uh hello?" Gene wave his hand then the chimera suddenly moved.

"Wha-Who is that? Where are you?" Gene confused when he hears unknown voice keep saying Zenorth.

"I'm in front of you."

"What?! You can talk?! Wait who's Zenorth?" Gene surprise that he hear chimera voice.

"To able hear my voice, you're undoubtedly are Overlord Zenorth."

"Zenorth? I think you got the wrong guy my name is Gene ."

"Hahahaha it's useless to hide your identity, the legend about a sword that kills our god-kin the Sword of Ash."

"Gene what happen?! Why you suddenly talking by yourself?" Lucas rush quickly as she see the chimera began to move

"The chimera is talking don't you hear it?"

"Talking? Are you really sure? All I hear is growling."

"What did you seek in my graveyard Overlord?"

"Graveyard?"

"That's right there's no way out from here, this place is our prison created by a magus, and I'm condemned to rot here for eternity."

"Is there really no way out from here?"

"Not for me, you are capable to escape by using something called Whitestone."

"Can't you use that?"

"No, when I try to touch the stone it disappears."

"But I heard that there's monster are using the stone to escape."

"That rule doesn't apply to me, this place is my prison."

"So the Guardian is not allowed to escape?"

"The only way for me to escape is by death and the three of you seems to possess the Blackstone."

"So you know?"

"You're a grim reaper that sends me to my death like many others."

"So it's true that in order for us to leave this dungeon are to kill you if you already know that why are you not attacking any of us?"

"What's the difference, there's no way I could defeat you, even if you fainted, it was already my loss, but to be killed by the overlord himself I can accept that."

"You're really already given up on living?"

"I don't even remember how long I've been here, every possible way that I tried are failed and now you come to send me to my death what choice do I have."

"Say if you get out what will you do? Will you seek revenge?"

"If I could get out? That's not possible and to who I would seek revenge? The magus who put me here probably long dead to who I should transfer my hatred? I would rather choose to search my brethren and rebuild our tribe again somewhere far from human civilization."

"I see, so you won't take revenge even to me the one you says who kill your god?"

"Looks like you're really don't remember any of it, but at that times our god Ouroboros are corrupted by Chaos and start devouring us one by one, if you do not appear that time, there will be none of us left,  maybe you think that you're just a murderer but for us you're our savior."

"Wait you say that as if you were there when that happens."

"I am, but I was still small at that time."

"Remind me how old are you again?"

"I don't remember, not long after our god was killed, humans began raided our lands and few of us are escape and then I was captured by a strange magus, and here I am."

"I'm sorry I don't know what to says."

"So what it will be, will you put end of my misery?"

Somehow I feel pity, I wonder if there's a way to....wait...there's a way! 

"Hehehe, you know that was little to early to give up? What if I offer you a third option, I could let you out from here."

"W-w-what did you just say Gene?! You're gonna let this beast out?! Have you lost your mind?!"

"Are you really gonna let me out?! Can you really do that!?"

"Yes, but you'll have to become my familiar, If you don't want it then-"

"Serve Overlord Zenorth?! I accept your condition!"

"It's alright I'll still….Wait, what? You accept it?"

"Yes I accept!"

"You're not gonna deny it one bit? If you became my familiar you won't able to defy me you know."

"Yes there's would no greater honor than serving the overlord!" 

The chimera howling happily, its tail are dancing almost making the whole room tremble, while Gene still in shock.

"Wha- what happened with the Chimera? Why it looks so happy?"

"....I didn't expect that…the chimera...accept the condition to become my familiar, it won't even hear the rest."

"Whaaaat?! Even we do that how could we take the chimera escape from here?!"

"I have my way, no worries, but stay away for a sec, and protect Marie I'm afraid it would cause a rebound."

"You're gonna do something dangerous again isn't it…."

"Not really but oh well."

"Just be careful, you only have one life you know."

"Actually I have many."

"Riiiiight."

-----

"So before I start let me ask you something, what are you, from what I heard that you're a serpent but why you look like that?"

"I am a serpent, but I have special abilities that allow me to morph into a creature that I eat and that Magus also want my power that's why I was captured."

"I see then this would make me easier to fool this whole system. Listen, I will separate your soul from your body until the this Blackstone turn into gold then I'll return to your body again."

"I see so it's like faking my own death?"

"Yes, but the problem is you'll lose all the transformation that you've accumulated and probably most of your power."

"I'll become overlord familiar and gained my freedom, I'll gladly trade everything that I have."

"Then I will begin."

Ashen blade shatters into million pieces and turns into black snow petal that slowly covered entire chimera body.

What's Gene thinking?! why would he release such monster? I never understand what he thinking, but his choice are rarely goes wrong...what he gonna do make such a promise? Whitestone only can be used by one person- Oh I see so that's how you do it.

Gene still holds tightly the Blackstone on his hand and finally when turning into gold he screams one again.

"Release the soul, return to where it belongs, Release!"

"Gaaaah!It hurts! What happens to me!"

"Just hold a little bit, your body is still decomposing you'll return to your former self."

"G-Gene...what with that pile of meat…did you kill that chimera?"

"Well practically I kill it though, look my stone already turn into goldstone."

"But what are we gonna do, even we could take naga out, won't the other will attack it?"

"Oh don't worry probably this process will return the chimera body into its original form and when I say original, it'll shrink into of a tiny little snake that I could easily hide it within my coat."

"Ah I see! That's pretty smart! Wait so that's was your plan?!"

"Of course, 

"Puaaah! I'm freee! Master! I'm still alive!"

A little girl appear from Chimera dead body, she has a silver hair and petite build that look really fragile.

"Small….snake...snake…..right snake…"

"Uh, Gene you say a snake, right? A little snake, so why a girl that coming out from there."

What just happen?! Did I mess up in the process?!

"Is there something wrong?"