CHAPTER 21
Dylan's interest was piqued at the mention of a dungeon.
"Should we check the situation?" Kenneth uttered.
"I think we must! This will be the perfect opportunity to test our skills." Joshua quickly chimed.
"Yeah. But we need to show up at the palace first. His Majesty The King had summoned us because of a recent event that wiped out the few towns at the same time we went into training." Lexus said.
"From what I have heard this morning, it was said that the legendary Great Destroyer from ten thousand years ago has appeared suddenly and all the people were on edge because of it." Conan shared.
Dylan frowned and nodded. "Okay. Let's go to the palace right away! His Majesty must have been curious where we have been lately."
Dylan immediately cleaned up and donned his usual hero attire that the kingdom gave them.
Soon, the group went to the palace and requested an audience for the King. Their request was immediately granted and met King William Warwood.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the King!" the five heroes greeted formally with a head bow at the same time.
King William nodded and said without beating around the bush, "So, where have you been the past few days?"
Dylan stepped in and said, "Your Majesty, we apologize for our inconsiderate behavior. We were doing group training and it was an abrupt decision on our part. That's why we failed to inform your majesty."
"Well, I notice you seem different than the last time I saw you. I guess your strengths improve by leaps and bounds. That's good." King William approved and didn't pry any further.
"Do you already learn about the recent events that plague the world this time around?" the King added.
"Yes, your majesty." the heroes answered.
King William looked at them and said, "Regarding the matter about the Great Destroyer, it's not something you can deal with at the moment with your current status. Only the Great Saintess can suppress the Great Destroyer. So for now,
we will leave the matter about the situation in the dungeon to you."
"It will be our honor, your majesty."
After some discussion, Dylan and the group left the throne room.
On their way out, they stumbled into Princess Amesha Warwood and Crown Prince Luciano Warwood with their attendants in tow.
"Greetings, His Highness Crown Prince Luciano and Her Highness Princess Amesha." the heroes greeted.
"Dylan!" Princess Amesha beamed at the sight of Dylan.
Whereas, Crown Prince Luciano nodded at the heroes as a courtesy.
He wasn't fond of the heroes as he sometimes saw them as a thorn in his side.
His father kept comparing him to the heroes and it irked him sometimes.
Nevertheless, he knew that he was inferior to the five heroes and he felt bitter about it.
"Where have you been? They said you all disappeared. I was very worried!" Princess Amesha uttered and clung to Dylan's arms, her seductive eyes never left Dylan.
Princess Amesha has a voluptuous figure and a pretty face. She was a beauty with a brain that many men sought after.
But to Dylan, the princess is like a seductive succubus. He deemed the princess as dangerous.
Dylan cleared his throat and slowly pulled away his arms from the princess' hold.
"Princess Amesha, our matter is none of your concern and that includes our whereabouts. Albeit, we appreciate your care. And you must refrain from having physical contact with me as it will affect your reputation." he said coldly.
"But I don't care!"
"Princess..." Crown Prince Luciano warned with a tinge of annoyance in his tone.
"But-"
"Princess Amesha, Crown Prince, we won't impose on you for long as we have a task that needs urgent action. Please excuse us," Lexus decided to intervene.
Immediately, the five heroes left the palace in a hurry.
Princess Amesha clenched her fist while staring at Dylan's back. "Brother, you promise me to help get Dylan!"
"Princess, why do you insist on getting that bastard? He's not suited for you! I prefer Young Duke Stephen over that cold-blooded jerk!"
"You don't understand, brother! I only want Dylan! I must get him no matter what!" Princess Amesha said with gritted teeth and furrowed eyebrows.
"He doesn't seem to like you. Can't you see?" Crown Prince Luciano was annoyed at the princess' stubbornness.
"Then... I will make him like me sooner by hook or by crook!" Princess Amesha insisted while clenching her delicate hands.
"Suit yourself then." Crown Prince Luciano surrendered. He doesn't understand his sister's taste. For him, Dylan is just a commoner and a hero, nothing else. So he wondered what the princess saw in him. Nonetheless, he must stop the princess's delusion.
...
At this time, Cruella and the group arrived at the 10th level where they found injured people and some dead bodies of monsters and humans. They must be the missing adventurers.
The wounded adventurers were momentarily shocked when they saw Cruella and her group. They thought they saw some fairies descended from heaven. And they were in awe of the group's otherworldly beauty. For a second, they thought they had died and angels appeared to get them.
"You are...?" a wounded man subconsciously asked.
"We are adventurers," Cruella answered.
The people sighed in relief.
Meira approached them and her staff suddenly lightened up. In the blink of an eye, the adventurers gasped in awe when their injuries were instantly healed and now they were in their best condition.
"Thank you, Miss..."
"I'm Meira!"
"Thank you, Miss Meira!"
"You should go back and don't go deeper. You'll die if you go on." Cruella said with a commanding tone with no room for discussion.
The adventurers looked at each other and nodded reluctantly.
They were brushing with death earlier and the trauma was still lingering in their minds.
And seeing their fallen comrades' corpses, they didn't wish to go on any further.
It's too dangerous as every floor is packed with monsters and the more they go further, the more powerful the monsters could be and they will only be asking for death if they continue going forward.
Without the adventurers' consent, Cruella teleported them all outside the dungeon and felt satisfied.
Then Cruella searched every nook leaving no stones unturned and sent the monsters into her subspace.
On the other hand, the trio just watched Cruella questioningly.
They don't know what happened to those monsters and that made them confused.
Whenever they ask Cruella about it, Cruella will only say that they will know in the future.
What's more baffling to them was Cruella called those monsters her subjects.
But subjects for what?
They have no idea. And their curiosity got the best of them and they almost strangled Cruella for an answer. However, in the end, they have no guts to do so.
Because of Cruella, it didn't take them long to arrive at the 50th floor. The temperature dropped by several degrees and it was too cold.
Lucy, the weakest of them, shuddered at the coldness like she was wrapped in ice. However, the cold disappeared when Cruella held her in her arms and warmth filled her body. She felt so comfortable that she dozed off. Meira and Sera also dozed off at the cold temperature.
Cruella was amused at the trio and chuckled. She ended up making two clones and carried the sleeping duo.
Cruella suddenly felt sleepy and thought it was odd. That's when she notices a monster. A huge Snow Wolf.
Cruella's eyes lit up and repelled the Snow Wolf's sleeping magic.
"Oh ho, you'll be the first kin I have encountered so far." Cruella releases some of her domineering aurae.
The Snow Wolf was taken aback and felt chills crawling in its bones and fell to its knees.
"Please show mercy!" the Snow Wolf kowtowed.
"Okay."
The Snow Wolf was baffled. It's that easy?
Cruella smirked and sent the Snow Wolf into her subspace. It was as though nothing happened of the sort, she continued moving forward and did the same thing to other monsters she encountered.
She can't count how many monsters she has collected so far since they entered the labyrinth. She felt like she made a great harvest. And while doing so, Cruella thought of a perfect idea that would blow the minds of the gods.
Cruella decided to collect all the monsters in the world and separate them from humans!
She will make the subspace she created the world of the monsters!
And as the god of the subspace, all the monsters will be at her command and mercy!
If the gods were to learn this matter, they would be alarmed and threatened. For them, collecting monsters like some possession was taboo in the universe.
However, with the progress of things, it will be too late for them to notice, and by the time that happens, Cruella will be a force to be reckoned with.
Of course, Cruella only did it for fun!
She didn't even take the gods seriously at all!
Well, she only respects the mysterious small figure that reincarnated her. She was beginning to see the world in a new light because of the chance that the small figure gave her. So she was grateful.
One day, she will find that mysterious small figure and thank him or her in person.
...