Thaddeus's party had mostly remained silent during their rest following the battle with Trush, though not because they had nothing to say. On one hand, it seemed possible that their cover had indeed been blown in some manner, and so there was no point in hiding or keeping quiet. On the other hand, they didn't know for sure how much the dungeon knew about them, or how well it could listen in, and it would be foolish to give away their entire cover if only a small part had slipped.

That left discussion of their remaining goal for the day as a safe topic, though, and so after some time spent healing up and consuming a few quick snacks the prince gets the group re-focused. "Alright. We have a clear shot to the arena from here, and if I recall correctly, our opponent will be a winged woman. Correct, Tizzy?"

The scout nods. "Yeah - the wings aren't just for show, she apparently likes to start off with a height advantage and swoop down on folks. Other than that she doesn't seem to have much in the way of magic, unless maybe her defenses are boosted in some way - sounds like her wings and her shield are super-tough to get through. I think the usual advantage for Challengers is one of numbers, like, if you surround her or use a lot of different types of attacks, it's harder for her to defend against everything."

Thaddeus rubs his chin. "Pinning her down will be important, then. Linda, Pulg, do you have any spells that would be useful there?"

The half-orc shakes his head, but Linda nods. "While I can create magical chains of force to bind someone with, that's difficult to do in the middle of a fight. I can create walls and barriers, though. That should be enough to help box her in, or at least keep her from getting airborne again once she's on the ground."

"I think that should be sufficient. Focus on limiting her maneuverability, and the rest of us shall attempt to overwhelm her with our particular specialties. Is everyone ready?" There's a round of nods and affirmations, and so Thaddeus readies his shield and sword. "Then on we go - I shall take the lead."

The prince does so, keeping an eye out for any further ambushes as they go, but no rabbits or fae harry them for the short walk they need to take. The floor is entirely silent when they reach the crystalline gate sealing off the arena section of the floor, and it's with his shield held high that Prince Thaddeus charges through, prepared for an immediate attack from above the moment he enters the space.

He feels a little silly, then, when he comes to a halt and realizes the floor guardian is simply standing at the opposite end of the arena, her own shield and sword held at a rest position. Part of Thaddeus's instincts tell him to strike immediately, and not let her have the initiative, but after the encounter with the wandering boss a few minutes before he finds his mind filled with one or two doubts. So instead he calls out to the heavily-armored woman. "Waiting for us, are you? I hope you haven't been too bored, we did take a brief rest before we arrived."

It's hard to be sure with the helmet covering most of her face, but Thaddeus is pretty sure the guardian responds with a sneer. "Fifteen minutes is nothing. I have been awaiting your arrival for months, you aspiring tyrant. You and your pets." The woman spits before continuing. "You had more than this, did you not? I wish you'd brought them all, so I could finish you off all at once."

"It feels as if perhaps we've gotten off on the wrong foot - or there's been some rather large assumptions made involving my reputation. Do I know you, guardian? You sound as if you have a personal concern with me."

"Not entirely personal, no - we have never met. But the lapdogs who follow you? The despoilers of my homeland? Oh yes, those I know well enough." Pausing, the guardian puts her sword aside for a moment so she can reach for her helmet. As she pulls it off, revealing her green skin, her darker green hair, and her yellow eyes, Tizzy gasps.

"What the shit! That's - she's an elf! One of our elves! How - no, wait, the dungeon must've put her together somehow. But...how does it know?"

The guardian steps forward, now wearing a bit of a smile on her face, but certainly not one that puts her challengers at ease. "The dungeon did not create me...well, perhaps in a roundabout way. But I am no monster, nor even a reincarnate. I am a Valkyrie." With an emphasis on her last word, the guardian raises her sword towards the ceiling and shouts out the rest of her introduction. "I am Valkyrie Opal Brightsky, Champion of Theolif, Lord of the Shield, and today is the day that I shall judge you, mortals."

Much of the effect is actually lost on Thaddeus, given that the man had hardly stopped to take theology lessons in every realm he had visited, but several other members of the party grow slightly pale. Lei curses, spitting a little himself.

"Theolif!? One of the gods of the 'free people'? Thaddeus, the dungeon's been working against us this whole time! We need to slay this puppet, and then retreat when we can!"

Undeterred by the panic of his companions, Thaddeus gestures for calm from his party before turning back towards Brightsky. "I see there's events conspiring here which I was unaware of. But still, I worry there has perhaps been a misunderstanding, Valkyrie. On what basis would you desire to judge me? I am not a native of your home realm, and my companions have turned aside from the conflicts of that world."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Only to bring those conflicts elsewhere. I have been charged by my lord to ensure that those who follow you do not get the opportunity to return home, and resume killing and enslaving my people. Furthermore...I have been charged by the master of this dungeon, to judge you and the worthiness of your cause. We know that you intend to steal away Xenia Worthy from this place, regardless of the fact that it would doom the rest of us here. Care to explain yourself in your own words? Is this all over so petty a matter as lordship of some kingdom?"

Thaddeus does his best to keep his emotions from his face - he was expecting a physical challenge today, not some sort of courtroom trial. But he soon realizes he has no other option than to play along, and to make his case as best as he can, even if it is far from the ideal situation he was hoping to make it in. "The Hero Xenon Worthy was the greatest champion my land has ever known." For some reason even his initial statement causes the Valkyrie to frown, but he continues. "He saved countless people and seven cities from death and destruction. Furthermore, this was not a one-off event. He, or she, has saved thousands more across their many lifetimes, and I would know this for I have visited many of those realms and heard the legends myself. My own people recognized this, and realized that the Worthy bloodline was the strongest and most just option to rule our combined kingdom."

"Not just a Hero, prince. You've seen my own realm, I know, and you know that for every life they have saved they have caused another to suffer. Did the evidence of your own eyes mean nothing to you as you recruited Darkstar's descendants, and saw the ruin of the land Prince Xenon left in his wake?"

"A terrible tragedy befell your land, I agree." Thaddeus swallows, hoping that he won't ruin his argument by pressing on some personal grudge of the woman standing opposite him. "But in a way, it only proves my purpose. Xenia can be a great hero, or a terrible villain, depending on the world in which they find themselves. So why not then return to the realm of their greatest triumphs? With the advances I've made in realmwalking artifacts, we can put an end to this cycle of endless careening around the universe. Even were she not in the current form of an ageless stone, we could guarantee her an existence as a truly immortal ruler, one who could never be defeated by death! I'm offering her the chance to find her place as our queen for millennia to come, to rule over thousands, millions of people who love her!"

Brightsky sneers. "And make you a powerful right hand in the process, hrmm? For the rest of your life - or longer, even, if your magics have taught you the trick. Would it even be Worthy ruling, or would she merely be a figurehead for your ambitions?"

"Me? I am - I am giving up any chance of ever becoming king, with a ruler like her on the throne! And I have not gone through all of this effort, all this sweat and blood, merely to find myself a figurehead puppet! She will lead our people to greatness, I believe this with every bone in my body!"

He slams his gauntlet against his breastplate for emphasis, making it ring, and his delivery does seem to make the guardian pause for a moment. But only a moment, and then she changes her approach. "And what of the people she leads now, hrmm? True, it may not be millions - but she has a new family here, loved ones and trusted friends. Taking her from this realm, in whatever manner, would mean their deaths. Do you expect her to go along with your scheme so easily?"

"I am aware that there is a potential cost. But it was not my intention to simply steal away with her core in the night and vanish, Lady Valkyrie. After we had proven the strength of our cause and the validity of our claims, it was my full intention to find a way to transplant Xenia in her entirety - dungeon and contents included. There's certainly plenty of places in my homeland where we could re-establish her, and while it may not be a kingly palace, in some ways the potential for her is far greater than were she mere flesh and blood. There'd be no need for her to fight for her own existence every single day as she does here, instead she could use her incredible powers to create herself a paradise of her own design!"

The Valkyrie presses the point. "And if your magic fails, and you have to choose between leaving her or destroying this place?"

"...In such a situation, I am sure Xenia would agree - the well-being of millions outweighs that of a dozen."

This time, before she continues, a slight smile appears on Brightsky's lips. "Ah, but there is one final matter you don't seem to have considered, prince. What if she does not wish to go with you?"

"Then the failure is mine, for not properly presenting the situation and the facts. But tell me, Valkyrie - why have you taken on the role of mouthpiece for this discussion? If our plan is known to you - and I would like to know how that occurred, but that is another matter - then why is the master of the dungeon not here to discuss this herself?"

"Oh, she is here." Brightsky tilts her head in one direction, before returning her helmet to her head. "And I would have to say, she's not been terribly impressed by what you have to say. In - ah...in her own words, prince, 'fuck thrones, the only thing she's good at is stabbing people'. She does not wish to be your 'eternal queen'."

"I will not surrender this cause so easily - if we must present a better case, then we shall proceed with our studies, and show that the lives of this dungeon's guardians can be spared. But I did not come all this way - all this way! To be dismissed without so much as a proper face-to-face conversation! Will she not grant me one?"

Brightsky doesn't answer at first, instead appearing to listen to an unheard voice by her side. What she hears seems to please her, considering the wide grin that appears after it's done. "Actually, it seems as if the master of the dungeon has chosen to grant me a favor instead. The chance to put you and your minions to my own test - for regardless of this family matter of yours, I have not forgotten or forgiven the crimes of your warlord minions. Prepare your blades and your wands, challengers - for today I am sending you all to Lord Theolif's halls."

"Yes! Finally! So much talking, talking, talking!" Everyone in the arena turns to face Pulg, as the usually soft-spoken orc exclaims loudly and draws a ritual knife from his belt. "Let this be settled - in blood!"

A declaration which the shaman punctuates by stabbing Linda Cogswell in the back, and the room descends into chaos.