“Is this how I die?” Kingsnaver panicked as he watched his sword begin to crack before him. “I don't want to die, not like this!!!” He yelled before his whole body was engulfed by a powerful light, causing an explosion that covered the entire room. Fortunately, Aurianna and Kiana were protected by shields.

Once the explosion subsided, Kingsnaver and the others disappeared. And Aurianna felt extremely weak.

[ Congratulations for passing the test. You both managed to kill the Rogue hero Kingsnaver, once summoned to defend our world. He became consumed by greed, and spent his days harassing women and causing chaos wherever he went. ] a voice announced and a screen appeared before them.

[ Aurianna delivered a powerful attack, and Kiana restricted his movements, making your attack successful! Despite being a Grand Human, he never learned to use the full extent of his powers. You were fortunate to kill him, as he underestimated you both. However, be warned, the others won't be as easy to kill. ] the screen cautioned.

“There's fucking more?” Aurianna gasped with an annoyed look. “I'm feeling dizzy. I'll be asleep for a while, Kiana.”

“How long?” Kiana asked, understanding Aurianna had usrd alot of her mana and needed to rest.

“Just a few hours,” Aurianna stated slowly closing her eyes.

“Alright, then I'll do my best to watch over you!” Kiana declared before Aurianna passed out in her arms.

Kiana then gently carried her to the other room, similar to the one they were in before made for them to rest for two days.

Once inside, Kiana carefully laid Aurianna down and sat beside her.

“Now that we're here, what do I do?” Kiana wondered aloud, staring at Aurianna.

“Her body isn't moving, but she's breathing,” Kiana mumbled, observing Aurianna.

“While she's resting, I better explore this room and see what she didn't allow me to last time!” Kiana declared before swimming off to inspect the surroundings.

“Cleaning plants!” she gasped in excitement. “So this is what keeps the water so fresh.”

“Sweet flowers!” she exclaimed, rushing to a group of flowers and munching on them happily. “So delicious! After a hundred years, these taste heavenly!”

“Aurianna, I hope you heal well. I have so many questions!” Kiana yelled and swam back, clutching a handful of flowers.

“How do humans heal? How did your head reform? What were those beings? Why were they so huge? How can you fight so well despite looking so young?” Kiana blurted out all these questions despite Aurianna being asleep.

“I should probably get some sleep,” Kiana told herself, quickly finishing the flowers before lying beside Aurianna and drifting off.

______

“Awake now?” Leila asked as she was sitting beside Aurianna on a beach, the sea breeze tousling her hair.

“Yeah, it's been a rough day,” Aurianna replied with a hoarse voice as she woke up.

“And a new friend?” Leila inquired, a playful grin dancing on her lips.

“She's not my friend!! I just need her to pass that trial, that's all!!” Aurianna huffed, crossing her arms.

“Oh, I see,” Leila said, her hand concealing a subtle smile.

“Leila, I'm telling the truth!” Aurianna insisted, her face flushing slightly.

“But there's something I'm worried about,” Aurianna suddenly confessed.

“And what's that?” Leila asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Why would the gods keep some of the Heroes alive?” Aurianna wondered, a frown creasing her brow.

“Maybe they use them to train others?” Leila suggested.

“Maybe, or it could be something else. He kept on blabbering about some god promising him something,” Aurianna recalled Kingsnaver's words, regretting not probing further. ‘If I had the opportunity, I would have asked him more questions,’ she thought, biting her lip.

“So, what training should we focus on today? It doesn't seem like we need more swimming lessons since you've escaped,” Leila remarked, smiling.

“I need to train my raw skills!” Aurianna declared, stepping onto a nearby stone. “Being in the Ruin taught me that despite facing stronger opponents, strengthening my skills can give me a better advantage!”

“Ohhh,” Carol chimed in, appearing beside Aurianna.

“Carol!” Aurianna greeted her with a smile.

“The Hex Weaver Kleizorn and his wife are considered the best fighters in terms of raw combat skills,” Carol suggested, though her expression it seems she didn't seem happy about talking about them.

‘I remember she said he managed to take of her arm,’ Aurianna thought.

“But his wife, Vampire Queen Elizabeth, is the most skilled,” Carol added.

“How do they make it work?” Aurianna asked, with a dumb expression.

“Aurianna, don't ask,” Leila shook her head.

“But I need to know, the sense isn't sensing!” Aurianna exclaimed, furrowing her brows in thought.

“What do you mean?” Carol asked, curiously.

“First, how does he even have a wife? And second, how do they have children? He literally looks like a spider!” Aurianna blurted out, frustration evident, while Leila on the side struggled to contain her laughter.

“That's not something you should be worrying about!” Carol scolded, pinching Aurianna's cheeks lightly.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“But Carol, aren't you curious too?” Aurianna pressed, gazing at Carol intently.

“It's every monster and their personal business, alright? That's final!” Carol declared with a heavy sigh, releasing Aurianna's flushed cheeks.

“Meanie, Carol!” Aurianna pouted, rubbing her sore cheeks.

“Well, let's get ready. We're heading to the forest of the Hex Weaver!” Carol announced, transforming into her Harpy form.

_______

After a while of Carol carrying Aurianna and Leila with her Harpy form, they finally arrived at a land with an extremely large and dense forest. The foliage was so thick that it was hard to see what was inside of it.

“Hmmm Elizabeth, Kleizorn!” Carol's voice echoed loudly, resonating through the seemingly endless forest.

"Aye, Carol, did I not forewarn thee not to trespass into the domain of my lover?” a sudden, elegant voice responded. Carol likes down to see a woman in ancient gothic clothing stepping out of the forest. She flew down to meet her, gently setting Aurianna and Leila on the ground.

Before them stood a stunning vampire, her eyes a vivid blood red, and her long hair matching the same hue. Her skin, paler and greyer than Carol's. And on her face, bore a cold, displeased expression.

“Elizabeth it's alright,” a spider emerged behind her, extending a long leg protectively.

“Oh, child, you finally remembered me,” Kleizorn, the Hex Weaver, said with a pleased tone.

“Ahaha, I almost forgot," Aurianna chuckled lightly, scratching her cheek. 'He still sounds like a grandpa,' she thought, recalling the day they first met.

"Uh, there's two of you?" Kleizorn blurted out in confusion.

"This is my twin sister, Leila!" Aurianna introduced, placing her hand on Leila's shoulder.

"Nice to meet you," Leila greeted, cupping her hands politely.

"You've grown quite well, and I see Carol was your trainer. She's done a good job," Kleizorn praised, evaluating them with a tilt of his head.

"Of course, I did a good job!" Carol chuckled proudly, raising her nose high.

"So, what are you here for? It doesn't seem like you came for the contract," Kleizorn wondered.

"Honey I disdaineth that foul harpy. I hath yet to forgive this vile woman!" Elizabeth scoffed, holding onto Kleizorn and glaring at Carol.

"You want to steal thy husband!" Elizabeth accused, pointing at Carol.

"I don't want that stupid spider!" Carol retorted angrily.

"Thy beloveth man is not stupid! How dare you!" Elizabeth's cold expression softened slightly as she hugged Kleizorn tighter.

"Can you two adults stop squabbling like children? That's meant for us," Aurianna scolded, arms crossed, causing Carol to feel embarrassed.

"Kleizorn, my sister Aurianna and I came to humbly ask you to teach us how to fight better. Despite Carol's arrogance, she admitted that you and your wife are undoubtedly the most skilled fighters," Leila stated politely, and Carol gasped.

"Why would you tell him that?! Do you two not like me as your teacher anymore, snitching on me like that?"

"We love you, Carol!" Aurianna and Leila said simultaneously, giving her thumbs up.

"Your actions say otherwise! Humph!"

"Well, I'd be more than happy to help," Kleizorn agreed with a nod.

"My dearest, thou lovest me not anymore!" Elizabeth began to cry, though her face maintained the same cold expression.

"I do, Elizabeth," Kleizorn said, gently wiping her tears with his spider legs, trying to calm her down.

"What about our children as well?" Elizabeth asked curiously, raising her head to meet Kleizorn's eyes.

“I love them too,” he said with a smile, but Aurianna met his words with a doubtful gaze. 'Weren't those spiders he told me to kill on the first day, his children?' she asked herself, her expression tinged with confusion. 'I'm still wondering how they make children.'

“Thou lovest me not above all others?” Elizabeth teared up even more.

“I love you the most, Elizabeth,” Kleizorn said, his tone gentle and reassuring.

“Heh,” Elizabeth scoffed, casting a smug grin at Carol, Aurianna, and Leila.

“Why is she grinning at us like that?” Aurianna wondered, whispering to Leila.

“I'm wondering too. Perhaps it's a sign of triumph that her husband is loyal,” Leila said with a shrug.

“But ugh…I doubt anyone would fight over a spider, of all things. I suppose we all have different tastes.”

“I never imagined vampires to be competitive for potential lovers,” Leila mumbled as she and Aurianna watched Elizabeth and Kleizorn flirt before them, both of them having annoyed frowns.

“What profit dost my lord garner from extending his aid to thee?!” Elizabeth asked, her gaze intense. If looks could kill, Aurianna and Leila felt like Elizabeth's stares would have killed them a thousand times over.

‘I honestly don't like how I'm able to understand what she's saying. I know their language gets translated for us, but why is her way of speaking so strange,’ Aurianna asked Leila telepathically.

‘I was wondering that myself,’ Leila answered with a light shrug.

“Ask Eva for that, not me!” Carol spat with annoyance.

“We can ask her for anything?” Kleizorn asked, surprised.

“Yes, it seems so,” Carol replied calmly.

“Hey, but before that, I have a score to settle with Kleizorn. I want a rematch!” Carol suddenly declared, pointing at him with her claw-like hand.

“My, my, didn't accept that former defeat so elegantly?” Kleizorn asked, and though lacking an expression, Carol sensed a grin.

“I don't leave losing scores on my name!” Carol yelled.

Kleizorn chuckled before saying, “Ranked number 10 among the domain Rulers now, doesn't change much from being number 9 anyway, you know?” His tone carried a smugness, causing Carol to gnash her sharp, shark-like teeth.

“How many domain Rulers are here, actually?” Aurianna asked curiously.

“Hmm, they don't know much about this place, huh? Eva, you didn't bother to explain to them,” Kleizorn chuckled.

“You should ask Eva; she's the goddess of this entire world prison,” he insisted, his tone suggesting his disfavor towards Eva.

“Pehz, why ask that metal head? There are fifty Domain Rulers," Carol answered.

"Ohhh, and are all as strong as you, Carol?" Aurianna asked excitedly.

"No, only the top ten are, with Neil ranking first," Carol replied nonchalantly.

"Ah Neil. We must pay him a visit!" Leila declared with a serious expression.

"Yes, I'd like to know how he's doing!" Aurianna added with an excited gaze.

"All you both want is the food! I can see that look in your eyes!" Carol yelled.

"Humph, wanting some good food is not a crime!" Aurianna insisted, though the thought of Neil's food made her drool, revealing her true intention.

"Still, this child has grown. I remember when she was nothing but a tiny, ugly creature when I met her, Elizabeth," Kleizorn told Elizabeth.

"Ugly?!" Aurianna gasped, feeling offended by his words.

"But now you're still tiny. Carol, you should make them eat more," Kleizorn said, appearing before them and poking their bodies with his hind legs.

"Hey, hey, I feed them good food!" Carol declared, slightly glaring at Kleizorn.

"How could thou let your own offspring starve?" Elizabeth said coldly with a disapproving nod.

"They aren't my children!" Carol yelled to clarify.

"Sometimes I wonder something about you all," Leila suddenly blurted out.

"And what is that, Leila?" Aurianna asked curiously.

"You sometimes act better than most people I have met in my world. And despite being cruel, you're somehow nice, or maybe it's probably because we are an exception?" Leila wondered as she stared at them.

"She's right. Some people are cruel. I don't care about those who kill, but rather, those who do worse, you know?" Aurianna chimed in, her hands behind her back.

"I mean I've heard a lot of gruesome things monsters have done to people apart from killing. That's why I was on high alert when I met you, Carol," Leila stated as she stared at Carol with a smile.

Carol stared at them for a while, looking for the right words to say before speaking. "We may be monsters, but we have common sense. Acts like that are for barbarians. The real joy is driving everyone to kill themselves!" Carol declared happily.

"Well, I haven't seen the outside world for a long time, but it seems things are still the same from what you're saying," Kleizorn said with a light chuckle.

"I can't believe you'll think so low of me, humph!!!" Carol huffed, turning around and crossing her arms.

"Not really, Carol. It just surprises us. You all have probably caused world problems because of your monster instincts, but you are more humane than I thought you would be," Leila explained while nervously scratching her cheek. "I do not care about your past or the crimes you have made to end up in this prison.”

“Ehhh, this is a prison?!" Aurianna blurted out in shock.

"Yes, you didn't know?" Leila asked, a bit surprised.

"No," Aurianna replied with a serious expression.

"Aurianna, it was mentioned several times. How did you miss this?!" Leila sighed, facepalming.

"As I was saying, what I mean is that I'm grateful to you, Carol, for teaching us. We've honestly learned a lot from you," Leila said politely, and Aurianna nodded in agreement.

"Heh, are you complimenting me? Also, don't compare species like us to mere animalistic humanoids. Maybe compare Kleizorn and Elizabeth; they have too many children!" Carol sneered, looking at the two.