After ten days, Aurelianne's southern expedition finally came to an end.
Within the Monster Rift, she led her demi-human squad and slew countless monsters. The demi-human team shone brightly in what was originally an adventurer's challenge, showcasing their strength to all.
Compared to humans, their untamed wildness, which had not yet been erased, made them fearless in the hunt. Their natural social instincts also made them far superior in coordinated combat.
The combat prowess of the demi-humans caused many southern nobles to question their assumptions.
"Those demi-humans who usually toil as laborers and refuse to obey without a whip… are they really this strong?"
Among the adventurers, someone had even given the demi-human team a nickname, which quickly spread: **"The Beasts."**
At this moment, on the bustling streets, the First Prince stood with his army lining both sides of the road, saluting the departing squad.
Amidst the team, Aurelianne was like a star surrounded by the moonlight. She wore a radiant smile, waving to the adventurers, citizens, and soldiers who had come to see her off.
This expedition introduced more people to Aurelianne, the imperial princess. At just fifteen years old, she had ventured into the depths of the Rift to battle monsters.
Of course, some skeptics believed that Aurelianne had only relied on her powerful demi-human subordinates and the mysterious strength of her guards to reach the thirtieth floor of the Abyss.
But criticism always arises from a public perspective.
Fortunately, most people scoffed at such claims.
After all, these critics had likely never even seen the princess in person. Many of them had never entered the Monster Rift or dared to face even the weakest of monsters.
For ten days, the Beast Guild and the demi-human team, along with countless low-tier adventurers, formed a sweeping army that cleared the Rift. The princess's efforts were witnessed by many.
The demi-humans, clad in armor, mounted their horses. At the forefront of the team, Gwen rode a white horse, her hooves striking the yellow soil as she led the group away with the crisp sound of hooves echoing behind them.
Once Aurelianne's team had departed, the once lively streets returned to their usual calm.
People loved a spectacle, but when the excitement ended, the crowd naturally dispersed.
The First Prince stood by the roadside, watching them leave. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and led his army back to the frontlines.
...
Later, the First Prince slumped into his chair.
He looked up at the bright chandelier on the ceiling, remaining silent.
"......"
Viktor's arrival had completely undermined everything he had worked so hard to build—his influence, his strength, even his reputation.
Viktor had only spent two days in the south. On the second day, he left Godinlima with the duke's daughter, returning to the capital.
Yet in just those two days, Viktor had achieved a series of astounding feats.
He slew the black dragon, rescued the duke's daughter, and eliminated the crisis in advance.
The demi-human team he brought with him dominated the spotlight during the ten-day expedition. Even the strongest adventurer guild in the south—the Beast Guild—publicly declared their allegiance.
When the Beast Guild announced their decision to join the Kravina family as a vassal, there was a moment when Albanie felt as though the sky was collapsing.
It was on that very day that he had arranged a meeting with Hela, the guild leader of the Beast Guild.
When the First Prince asked her why she had chosen to align with the Kravina family, he vividly remembered her smiling as she arched her brows. Her gaze, adorned with swirling patterns, seemed to pierce his soul.
"Your Highness, we were always just collaborators. You don’t have the authority to dictate whom I choose to follow, do you?"
"I’m simply pursuing my own love. Is that wrong?"
Her words left the First Prince speechless.
Although there were other guilds in the adventurer's capital, the Beast Guild’s decision to side with the Kravina family would only cause the First Prince to lose more supporters.
Viktor had taken everything from him—all for the sake of elevating Aurelianne.
Now, the only solace Albanie could find was that Aurelianne and her team had not uncovered the secret he had buried deep below.
The one hidden in the depths of the Abyss—Sapphirose.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
...
Meanwhile, on the fiftieth floor of the Monster Rift.
The surroundings grew darker, the red-purple earth rising into a monstrous fortress. Thick black mist swirled around the fortress, with flesh and blood protruding from its grotesque structure.
On this twisted land, countless jagged trees and rocks jutted out in distorted shapes.
Sapphirose stood still, holding a blade several times her height. Her body was covered in wounds, blood streaming down her skin, and one arm pierced through entirely.
The black-and-white wings on her back drooped at her waist, their dual-colored feathers falling off one by one.
Before her stood a massive monster—the floor guardian of the fiftieth layer.
**[Goliath Giant]**
Its four massive arms rested weakly on the ground. One of its giant axes was embedded in the earth, while the other was lodged in the fortress behind it.
Atop its enormous head, a single giant eye swiveled before locking onto Sapphirose.
Its lower body, supported by two legs, was in shambles. One leg had been severed, black blood gushing from the wound, while the other appeared twisted, its foot bent unnaturally.
The giant's massive torso bore a deep cavity, with blood gushing out in streams. Countless scars crisscrossed its limbs.
The towering figure began to sway, its head drooping lower and lower.
With a resounding crash, it collapsed entirely.
The crimson, flesh-like ground split open, forming a massive chasm resembling a gaping maw. The giant’s corpse was dragged into the abyss, leaving behind a single glowing object on the surface.
At that moment, Sapphirose finally relaxed. The enormous blade in her hand disintegrated into the air.
Dragging her heavily injured body, she bent down to pick up the item dropped by the monster, examining it closely.
It was a hollowed-out orb, its surface glowing with a red-purple light that flowed within its shell.
This time, however, she did not consume it. Instead, she placed it at her waist.
She patted her side, as if proudly displaying her spoils of war.
The various materials she had meticulously collected from countless slain monsters clinked against one another, producing a crisp sound.
Sapphirose, dragging her wounded body, began her slow ascent toward the upper layers of the Monster Rift.
...
At Gisi’s shop, an unusual customer arrived.
When old Gisi opened the door, he saw a customer wrapped in a massive cloak. With the hood pulled low and the sunlight glaring, he couldn’t make out the person’s face.
Once the customer entered, Gisi took a closer look at the peculiar visitor.
Judging by the figure… it seemed to be a woman.
But the oversized cloak obscured her back, making it appear as though she was carrying something enormous.
Gisi greeted her with the same words he had repeated countless times:
"Buying or selling?"
"...Selling."
The voice was slightly off, the enunciation awkward and labored.
But such people were common in the adventurer’s capital, so Gisi paid it no mind. Puffing on his pipe, he gestured with his chin.
"Alright, let’s see what you’ve got."
With a series of clattering sounds, a heap of monster materials was unceremoniously dumped onto the table.
At first, Gisi didn’t think much of it. He puffed on his pipe, blowing out smoke rings.
But as he examined the materials, his eyes widened, and the smoke he had inhaled got stuck in his throat, forcing it out through his nose.
"Stop! Stop! Miss, please, don’t throw any more!"
He quickly set his pipe aside, donned a pair of gloves, and carefully gathered the monster materials as if they were treasures. His eyes sparkled as he inspected them with a magnifying glass.
"Be careful with these—they’re precious items."
The more he examined, the more he gasped.
"A horn from a Magnetic Beast? Impressive…"
"Is this the heart of Timok, the floor guardian of the twentieth layer? This is a rare find!"
Before he could finish, the unnatural voice interrupted him:
"How much… in total?"
Gisi looked at the veiled woman before him with newfound respect.
Anyone capable of collecting such materials was undoubtedly a formidable adventurer.
Not daring to offer a low price, he held up a hand, showing five fingers.
"Although these are rare, the quantity is limited. I’d say… about this much."
The woman nodded silently.
"I want… to leave… this place. To go to… a more prosperous city."
"Is there… a way?"
Her voice was halting, but her enunciation had improved significantly.
Gisi took another puff of his pipe, exhaling a smoke ring.
"Ah, miss, if you’re looking to move to a better place, you’ve come to the right person."
He grinned.
"If you’re not part of a team, with your skills, you’d be better off heading to the capital. It’s far better than staying in this dump of a city."
"Adventuring isn’t a job for everyone."
He handed her a pouch of coins.
"Here’s your payment—fifty thousand Geo. Take it."
He continued, "You know about the magic train, right? With this money, you can buy a ticket at the counter. In just one day, you’ll reach the capital."
The woman tucked the pouch into her cloak.
Just then, a gust of wind blew the shop door open, lifting the woman’s hood and revealing her pale face.
In the sunlight, her complexion looked even paler than malnutrition. Her snake-like green eyes narrowed sharply, the vertical pupils contracting into thin slits. The strange gaze seemed both mesmerizing and dangerous, leaving Gisi momentarily dazed.
Yet beneath the allure, Gisi felt an overwhelming sense of danger.
The woman, seemingly unfazed, pulled her hood back up and nodded lightly at Gisi.
With a sudden burst of air beneath her feet, she vanished in a flash.
In the blink of an eye, only a cloud of dust remained.
Gisi blinked, staring blankly at the empty space before him.
"Dammit, I must’ve been seeing things."
"A monster just walked into my shop to sell me materials."
"""