115 Who Built A Fucking City!
Inside the vast meeting hall, darkness cloaked the atmosphere, casting an eerie ambience over the proceedings. The room was hushed, an oppressive silence that hung heavy in the air, unbroken by even the slightest whisper. Each face in attendance wore an expression as cold and unyielding as stone, their features devoid of any emotion.
Arranged within the hall were seven imposing thrones, their regal presence commanding attention. Three of them were aligned, facing each other, while a solitary throne stood at the far end, elevated above the rest, serving as a testament to the importance of the individual who occupied it—the queen of the vampire realm, myself.
I slowly ran my fingers along the armrest of my grand crystalline throne, marveling at its intricate design. The throne shimmered with an otherworldly radiance, crafted from the finest crystals and adorned with delicate engravings depicting the rich history of our lineage. Its regal elegance befitting the queen who sat upon it.
"What is it that requires my attention?" I inquired, my voice devoid of any discernible emotion. As the queen, I could not afford to reveal even the slightest hint of vulnerability. Emotion was a weakness, and I, the ruler, had to remain unyielding, unshakeable in my composure.
"Lady Elara," a figure rose from their seat and gracefully stepped forward into the center, away from their throne. It was Sylvaris Duskspire, the current heir of the Duskspire family, one of the seven highborn vampire families.
The seven families are Duskspire, Ebonyheart, Bloodfang, Nightthorn, Shadowcrest, and us, the Draculs. Each of their heirs was present in this meeting, while the elders kept watch from the shadows.
Sylvaris stood tall, exuding an elegant and commanding presence. His long silver hair cascaded down his back, a striking contrast against his fair complexion. His piercing blue eyes held a depth of wisdom and a glimmer of reserved power. He was adorned in dark regal attire, intricately embellished with silver embroidery that accentuated his noble lineage.
"I have something to report," Sylvaris spoke, his voice carrying a sense of tranquility, like the steady flow of a serene river. His calm demeanor stood in contrast to my own, where my words were almost devoid of emotion, reflecting the stoicism expected of a queen.
"What is it Sir. Duskpire?" I asked, even though I am the ruler I have to maintain a boundary of respect when addressing the other members of seven highblood families because,who knows who might be selected as the next ruler by the blood statue.
"According to the teams we dispatched to the upper fourth realm," Sylvaris began, and I already knew the grim truth. We had lost over fifty skilled combatants in our battle to subdue the Aberration, a beast that seemed to have emerged from the mythical realm.
We had already killed the creature twice, but to our dismay, it proved to be immortal. Unlike the other realms we had captured so far, where new entities would spawn upon the demise of their predecessors, the Aberration returned after several days had passed. It was a relentless force that defied death itself.
To counter this menace, we had dedicated years to develop a magic capable of binding the creature. After relentless efforts, we finally succeeded in chaining it down, but not without great sacrifices.
"And there's one more thing," Sylvaris continued, drawing my attention back to the present. As he read the names of the fallen, he paused before adding, "We have found something that may not belong to that realm."
I leaned forward, resting my elbow on my knee and my face in my hand, a gesture of keen interest. "Bring it inside," I commanded.
*Clap*
Sylvaris clapped his hands, signaling his servants to enter the hall. Two girls obediently stepped forward, carrying a glass box that held a peculiar artifact.
With a soft thud, they placed the box at Sylvaris's feet, their eyes cast downward, avoiding direct eye contact with anyone in the hall. The fear instilled in them by the history of our seven families was still deeply rooted, despite our efforts to maintain harmony within our kingdom.
"This is what we found there," Sylvaris spoke, gently lifting the glass case into mid-air using his magic.
"A skeleton, is it?" a melodious voice resonated from the last throne in the meeting room.
It was Isolde Ebonyheart, the current heir of the Ebonyheart family. Her flowing ebony locks cascaded down her back, contrasting against her alabaster skin. Her eyes, a captivating shade of deep violet, held a certain allure that could enchant even the most steadfast hearts.
I couldn't help but think of Isolde's notorious reputation for indulging in gossip within the noble circles, especially within the confines of her sleeping chamber.
She does have a lot of kin.
"Yes, but... it's not just any skeleton," Sylvaris replied, diverting my attention back to the artifact. Indeed, it was an enigma. The skeleton before us was incomplete, consisting only of the lower half, with fragments of flesh still clinging to the bones. Adjacent to it lay a tattered garment, a testament to the attire worn by the individual to whom this skeleton belonged.
"Is it a specimen of a newly discovered creature?" I inquired, knowing that it was not uncommon for us to come across unfamiliar beings in the realms we have conquered thus far.
Sylvaris's blue eyes gleamed with an enigmatic spark, holding our attention captive.
...silence...
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Sylvaris parted his lips, only to expel a dry breath, leaving me slightly irritated by the suspense.
"It belongs to an old creature," he stated, his words hanging in the air, gripping us all with curiosity.
...silence...
"And what creature might that be?" I pressed, unable to contain my anticipation.
"It is from a human," Sylvaris declared, his revelation leaving us all dumbfounded.
"What!?" I exclaimed, my voice echoing through the meeting hall.
....
[Ren Hilton's POV]
(A Few Minutes Earlier)
I cautiously entered the hole, making my way to the next floor. The white particles continued to repair the opening at a slow rate, a clear sign that it would eventually close and restore the dungeon to its normal state. It intrigued me how the other floors' doors, from the fifth to the ninth, remained broken without any signs of repair like this.
Nightshade Sanctum truly is a peculiar place.
The hole was spacious enough to accommodate three times my size with ease, resembling a tunnel carved out by tools like pickaxes.
As I continued forward, the tunnel eventually reached its end. There was no source of light, but it marked the conclusion of the passage.
The mana signatures grew stronger, their numbers increasing with each step.
"It seems nothing can hold you back now," Blaze sighed, sensing my growing interest. While I had no intention of seeking out a fight, my curiosity was piqued. What kind of creatures awaited me on the other side? Perhaps a colossal golem or even a real dragon?
I didn't feel compelled to engage in battle, but the mana signatures felt strangely familiar, as if there were humans on the other side.
Finally reaching the end, I prepared to step out—"!!"
Without warning, I instinctively withdrew my foot. It felt as if the ground had vanished beneath me. Was I floating above the ground?
Peering cautiously, I realized what lay ahead.
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Ding!
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System Note: Sixth Floor Boss Detected!
...
Ding!
...
*Seventh Floor Boss Detected!
...
Ding!
...
*Ninth Floor Boss Detected!
...
Ding!
...
*Twelfth Floor Boss Detected!
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Ding!
...
*Fourteenth Floor Boss Detected!
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A barrage of notifications bombarded me simultaneously. They were not supposed to appear here!
But more astounding than the notifications was the breathtaking view that unfolded before my eyes.
'Th-those are, princess!!! Those are the Crystal Golems of the Crystal Nexus from the seventh floor!!' Blaze's voice echoed in panic as he clamored onto my head for a better view. '-and those! They are the fire giants! What the fuck is going on!' His profanity-laden outburst reflected the sheer disbelief and confusion that overwhelmed us both.
However, his words faded into insignificance as my eyes remained fixed on the spectacle unfolding before me.
"Smokeball,"I called,"looks like we are going home now."
Spread out before me was an expansive cityscape of towering skyscrapers, stretching towards the ceiling of the floor. Their sleek and modern designs seemed to defy gravity, reaching unprecedented heights. A single, colossal moon adorned the sky, casting its radiant glow upon the entire floor, bathing everything in an ethereal luminescence.
But it was the diverse assortment of creatures bustling that truly stole my attention. They worked in harmony, united in purpose, constructing something remarkable. As I surveyed the scene, I noticed the roof of the floor was gradually being covered in shimmering blue crystals, an awe-inspiring spectacle.
Ogres, with their immense strength, labored to pull carts laden with wood, a precious resource. Yet, as far as my eyes could see, there was not a single tree in sight.
Who built a fucking city inside this goddamn dungeon!?
