The kitsune’s grin widened as she leaned forward, her voice dripping with disapproval. "More precisely," she continued, "I outrank you, rendering your skills ineffective against me. To me, you’re like an open book." Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "But you’re not like the other books I’ve discarded before. I find you interesting, Leo. I like to read you. But an unfinished book is hardly worth the time, so I’m giving you a chance to continue your story."
She paused, her gaze intense, before adding, "Unlike those mindless Dominion Lords, dungeon masters like me are both intelligent and sentient. Some of us seek only destruction, but I desire freedom. And I’m willing to invest in anyone I think is capable of helping me achieve it." Her expression softened slightly as she regarded him. "I’ve planted many seeds before you, but you… you’re the one I’m rooting for."
Leo, beginning to calm down as the overwhelming aura around him receded slightly, gathered his thoughts. "What exactly do I need to do to ‘free’ you?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.
The kitsune laughed, a sound that echoed off the cavern walls, both melodic and menacing. "Don’t concern yourself with that just yet. Focus on strengthening yourself. Although what you did to the Orc Lord and my babies is no small feat, you’re currently no match for the true monsters that roam Aetheria."
Leo’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Aetheria? Where exactly is that?"
The kitsune opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, the girl standing beside her interrupted, whispering something in her ear. The kitsune’s eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Leo, a knowing smile creeping across her lips. "Ah, it makes sense now. Another otherworlder, hmm?"
Her smile turned wicked, her eyes half-lidded as if she were savoring the moment. "I must say, that’s… exquisite." Her voice quivered slightly, as though the realization had brought her to the brink of ecstasy. "But don’t think I’ll go easy on you because of it. I want you to take me seriously, Leo. I need you to understand the true difference in our power."
As she spoke, the entire cave began to shake, the ground trembling beneath Leo’s feet. The walls groaned, and loose rocks tumbled down from above. Dust filled the air as the quake intensified, causing the stone structures around them to creak and shudder. The torches lining the walls flickered wildly, casting frantic shadows across the cavern.
Leo struggled to maintain his balance, grounding himself as the shaking grew more violent. His heart raced as the very earth beneath him seemed ready to swallow him whole. Then, slowly, a pitch-black light began to form above the kitsune’s head. It swirled and pulsed with malevolent energy, growing darker and more oppressive with each passing second.
The words "Level 4260: Silva" appeared in the air above her, glowing ominously. Leo’s knees buckled under the immense pressure, and he fell to the ground, unable to withstand the overwhelming force. His sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor before it reverted back into Roxanne. She tried to call out to him, her voice weak and strained, but before she could finish, she fainted, her form becoming limp. The cats that had been at his side were instantly unsummoned, disappearing in wisps of ethereal smoke.
A black aura began to manifest around Silva, pulsing like a storm of raw power, its waves crashing against Leo with relentless force. The air grew thick, almost suffocating, as a crimson light started to form above Silva’s name. The light burned brightly, illuminating the title "Dungeon Master".
Leo could feel the weight of her power pressing down on him, suffocating and inescapable. The sheer force of her presence was enough to drive him to his knees, his strength drained as he struggled to breathe. He was completely at her mercy, a mere speck of dust before a titanic force.
Silva’s grin widened, her eyes glowing with an unholy light. "Now," she said, her voice reverberating through the cave, "do you understand what separates us?"
"Even without your curse," she continued, her voice cold and confident, "you're still far below me. But I expect great things from you, Leo. If you ever feel you're ready to challenge me again, you can find me at the center of the World Ruins."
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She paused, letting the weight of her words settle in. "But for now, since I'm feeling generous, I'll leave this place to you. You can tell the world you 'subjugated' my dungeon." Her tone was mocking, a subtle reminder of the power imbalance between them. "A small price I’m willing to pay for our... mutual relationship."
Silva’s gaze shifted to the Roxanne, her smile turning wicked. "However, I’ll be taking the Arcanite as a guarantee—just in case you change your mind."
"No!" Leo’s heart pounded as he tried to reach for her, but before he could move, multiple dark limbs sprouted from Silva, wrapping around him and lifting him into the air. He struggled against the shadowy restraints, but their grip was ironclad.
"Don’t worry about her," she said, her voice laced with false reassurance. "I’ll take good care of her. She won’t die—unless, of course, you do first."
Leo squirmed in her grasp, powerless but refusing to give up. His eyes remained locked on Roxanne, desperate to reach her. Silva’s smile only grew, her angelic face twisted into something far more sinister. The contrast of her innocent features with her malevolent intent made the sight all the more horrifying.
Without warning, she dashed towards him with inhuman speed, her arm coiling back like a spring ready to unleash its force. Before Leo could react, she delivered a powerful punch to his gut. The impact was devastating, a crushing blow that sent him flying through the air in a spiraling trajectory.
The ceiling of the cave, thick and solid, crumbled like a fragile biscuit as Leo’s body crashed through it, the force of the punch propelling him upward and out of the dungeon. The world spun around him as he was launched into the sky, pain radiating from his core as he struggled to remain conscious.
The last thing he saw before everything went black was Silva’s glowing eyes, watching him with a satisfied grin as he hurtled away, her voice echoing in his mind: "Remember, Leo, I’ll be waiting."
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Adventurers inside the guild paused mid-conversation, their eyes drawn to the sight outside. Murmurs spread like wildfire through the room, with one of them exclaiming, "Whoa, look at the beauty!" Heads turned, and voices hushed as they watched a tall, graceful figure make her way toward the guild.
"She came out of nowhere," another adventurer whispered, captivated by the woman’s presence.
The figure was a striking elf with flowing white hair that cascaded down her back like a silver waterfall. Two elegant blades rested in crossed scabbards on her back, hinting at both her skill and readiness for battle. She moved with an ethereal grace, each step fluid and deliberate, as if she were gliding rather than walking. The noise in the guild hall grew louder, a mixture of admiration and curiosity filling the air as the elf approached.
The clamor reached a peak just as Elois and the others turned to see what was causing the commotion. Before anyone could speak, Amanda’s voice cut through the murmurs. "Lilia!" she called out, immediately standing and hurrying towards the elf.
Amanda grasped Lilia’s hands warmly, her fingers sliding easily over the soft gauntlets that covered Lilia’s slender hands—a touch that brought a flood of nostalgia to Amanda. "When did you decide to leave the sanctuary?" Amanda asked, her voice tinged with excitement and concern. Questions poured from her, each one eager to catch up on lost time. "Where have you been living? What are you doing now?"
But as Amanda continued, she noticed Lilia’s eyes begin to glisten with unshed tears. Lilia’s composure crumbled as she sobbed, her voice breaking. "I’m so sorry," she whispered, her head bowing as the first tear fell to the floor.
Amanda’s heart sank, her concern deepening. "What’s the matter, Lilia?" she asked gently, but Lilia only lowered her head further, tears streaming freely now, splashing against the ground.
It was then that Amanda noticed the faint glow of an intricate magic circle forming beneath them. Her eyes widened in realization as she instinctively let go of Lilia’s hands. "What have they made you do?" Amanda’s voice was a mix of sorrow and urgency as she stepped back, but Lilia dropped to her knees, covering her face with her hands as she began to break down completely.
Elois, who had been watching the scene unfold, stood up sharply, her eyes narrowing as she saw the cylindrical barrier slowly taking shape around Amanda and Lilia. "It’s okay, Elly," Amanda said softly, sensing Elois’s rising panic. "This is one of the elves' secret magics—an inescapable pillar that forcefully transports its target back to the sanctuary."
But she was not about to let it happen without a fight. In one fluid motion, she leapt onto the table, unsheathing her sword from her back. "Not this time!" she shouted, her voice fierce and determined. She dashed forward, the table clattering to the floor behind her as the papers they had been working on scattered into the air like leaves in the wind.
Amanda watched her friend approach, a bittersweet smile on her face. "Thank you," she whispered, just loud enough for Elois to hear. Then, with a note of finality, she added, "Please tell Leo…" But before she could finish, the magic took hold, and both elves vanished in an instant.
Suga, who had been watching in shock, grabbed his staff from the floor and began to chant a spell, but it was too late. The space where the two elves had stood was now empty, the light from the magic circle fading into nothingness. Elois slashed at the air, her blade cutting through the space where the barrier had been. She cried out in exasperation, the echoes of her shout lingering in the silent guild.