Gwen could almost smell the dungeon's dark entrance as she looked at it. The stench of blood.

How many people walked into this cave and never came out? How many adventurers have foolishly given their lives in search of treasure, glory, or the thrill of power? How many young men have fallen into the hands of the undead to supply their master's army?

Finally, Princess Avalon is no exception. She knew that the knights had tried to rid the city of monsters in the name of protecting it, but as far as she knew, the local undead had never really threatened it. The necromancer could have broken the guards and stopped his army from crossing the threshold, but he didn't. He may well have no interest in the superficial.

Gwen could have told herself that she was doing it for the sake of the kingdom and to protect the citizens from potential danger, but she didn't deceive herself. In order to reform the kingdom, she must constantly win. At last.

"Gwen," her half-sister Morgan whispered. "We're all waiting."

The princess crossed her hands on her hips, dressed in silver armor and armed with a long sword, turned to face her companion. Morgan, her "faithful cousin," sparkles in her deft fingers; Annie, the house's most promising spellcaster, fidgeted with nervousness; Shooter, calm and sharp; Lying (alchemist) Walter Tay, with a potion belt hanging from his chest; and Madame Searle, the most experienced and beautiful priestess of Leonis.

It wasn't the best party she could have gathered, but each of them proved their worth in their own way. Unfortunately, Percy refused to come and avenge his master......

Then again, maybe he's the smartest person among us and can let go. "Behind me is no return," the princess told her troops. "Once we take a step, there's no turning back. Do not retreat. The undead know we're coming, and they won't be relentless; Neither should we. We're either coming back victorious, or we're gone. ”

She practiced her speech, her voice changed, her composure. She needs to exude confidence and show a strong face.

"If you want to leave, now is your last moment. If you do, I won't be jealous of you either. No one will accuse you of cowardice. I want you to follow me into the depths of Helheim, and I can't guarantee you victory. What I can guarantee is that if we die, we will die honorably. Now, do any of you want to leave?"

Their reactions varied.

Morgan was excited. She's been surprisingly bold lately, which is unusual; Her victory at the rendezvous must have given her some courage.

As a seasoned leader, Mrs. Searle still maintains her dignity and self-confidence.

Anne is the youngest and least experienced member of the group, and she is nervous but determined. Gwen couldn't help but smile. The kingdom needs hardworking people like her at the helm.

Wu Long maintained a neutral expression. He's strong and he believes he can succeed. Perhaps deep down he enjoyed the challenge.

Walte

Tye also maintains a neutral expression, but with Take

The difference is that his expression is not based on confidence. Gwen believes that she is more in tune with the emotions of others than most.

As she looked at him, she felt a chill.

As for Gwen herself, even though she was surrounded by these strong and brave people, there was only one word in her head.

Lonely.

She has only shared her dream with her half-sister, and Morgan supports it out of personal ambition. "Thank you," said the princess. "Thank you for always standing by my side, despite the setbacks."

"The death of Chief Garth is a huge blow, Your Highness." The priestess shook her head sadly. "I ask the gods to forgive his soul. He may have died of a stroke, not of a sword, but he lived like a warrior. ”

It wasn't a stroke, even though it looked like a stroke, the princess thought, it was a cold-blooded murder and a warning.

If the necromancer thought it would scare her back, he was wrong. The fact that he could even get close to the leader only strengthened her resolve to take him down.

However, this incident disrupted her plans. Immediately after the chief's death, the chief's personal bodyguard shifted their mission focus from assisting her to bringing the chief's body home and managing the transfer of power. As planned by the enemy.

"Neither his death nor the death of his son shall be punished." The princess announced. "Have you all drunk the gas antidote?" Everyone nodded. Then cast your long-term buff spell. Take

u and I walked ahead, Mrs. Yseult and A

I.e. followed, Walte

and Mo

ga

e walk last. ”

The group complied, and Madame Selt sprinkled Balde's divine light on everyone. Gwen gestured to Morgan and invited her to chat privately. "Yes, Gwen? When they were far away, her half-illegitimate sister asked.

"Watch the back, but more to the alchemist." Gwen ordered. "He's much stronger than he seems, and he probably has something to do with the Lord. If he behaves suspiciously, you have full discretion to use force. ”

She researches his background, especially since he mentions that he survived his rendezvous with Nifheim ten years ago. In the last two decades, there have been four such invasions in the Ferran region, destroying entire towns and leaving only refugees.

In short, although the dates match, there is no way to verify his exact place of birth; Nor are there any witnesses to prove that a man named Walter Tay ever lived in this area. A believable backstory, but easily unverified. Her own private investigation of his "intern" ran into a similar dead end.

Finally, although albinism occurs in the descendants of the fairy, she notices that he does not make any sound when he moves, and the rhythm of his breathing never changes. This means either extensive training or supernatural abilities.

Maybe Gwen was suspicious, but something was wrong with this person.

"That'......," Morgan frowned. All right...... But what do you mean by stronger?"

"I asked the Academy's Elemental Magic professor," Gwen said. "A spell that can kill a Great Chief with a single shot should be at least level 5, but he is only registered in the official documents as having the ability to cast a level 4 spell."

"He could have landed a fatal blow," Morgan said, shrugging his shoulders. He nailed a nail in the giant's head. Or maybe he just forgot to fill out the form. ”

"Maybe." But Gwen's instincts told her otherwise. "Still, keep an eye on him."

Draw closer to your friends and closer to your enemies. If he gets involved in this dungeon nightmare, she'd rather keep him under her sword.

If she's wrong, though, and he's just hiding his ability to keep a low profile, then Walter Tye could be a welcome asset. With her country battered by a monster invasion, she can't afford to waste a skilled warrior.

It doesn't matter where he's from.

All are to be judged on their merits, including herself.

The dark stone corridors of the dungeon were eerily silent; and empty.

The toxic haze has long since cleared, allowing the group to move on without the danger of suffocation. Yet they had been walking for more than an hour; They should have encountered monsters by now.

"Where are the undead?" Anne asked, feeling more and more uneasy. "Last time it was all over the subway."

"Did we kill so many people?" Morgan asked aloud. "I don't believe it."

Big ridicule. "They killed more of us than the enemy, and the bodies were gone."

"That means they're increasing, not decreasing," Gwen agreed. This is part of the reason why she chose to lead an elite party rather than launch another raid; The number is useless when the enemy can add fallen soldiers to their ranks.

As for the absence of opponents, perhaps the Confluence has already reached the dungeon, but they should see traces of battle.

No. In all likelihood, the necromancer has rallied his forces deeper in preparation for an ambush.

Eventually, the group descended a familiar damp hallway; One leads to the domed cave, the ceiling of which is covered with blue moss. "Gwen ......," Morgan whispered from behind, and the princess stopped everyone near the entrance.

"Yes," she said, recognising the two shady ponds and the narrow path between them. "That's the place."

The cave where Ramo and Sigurd were killed, their bodies were never found.

"So, you're here." An ominous male voice echoes through the cavern.

Gwen prepares her sword first, Tacoru prepares his bow first, and the caster behind them prepares to cast an emergency spell.

A dark shadow appeared at the end of the aisle, and Miss Duchess immediately recognized it as a smoky black shadow. An evil entity from the kingdom's distant past, slain and resurrected. The master below.

As soon as he appeared, Anne struck him with lightning; But the ghost remained unmoved; He's just a phantom. "A [phantom projection]." Mrs. Sirte recognized the spell. "You're here to laugh at us, bad guy?"

"No," said the ghost. "I'm here to negotiate."

Big ridicule. "Small talk, really?"

Morgan glared at the ghost. "Did you talk when we first met?" Because I just remember that you wanted to kill me. ”

"How many people have died from your poison gas?" Anne asked sharply.

"I confess, I killed the people who invaded my house, but how can this be considered a crime?" The ghost moved, as if confused. "If someone breaks into your house and wants to steal what you deserve, aren't they robbers? Shouldn't you do everything you can to protect your people? I could have sent monsters up, but I didn't. ”

"You want people to respect you because you have a chance not to kill?" Anne asked, surprised.

"He's distracting us." Tay whispered to Mrs. Selt as she grabbed the explosives potion in her hand. "We should keep going."

"I want to hear it," replied the priestess. "He may be cruel, but it is contrary to the creed of my God to reject a sincere offer of peace."

"I mean we can coexist," the ghost explained. "My only wish is not to disturb me."

"I don't think so," Gwen said after investigating local rumors. "I studied the history of Lyonsey, where there have been many unexplained disappearances in the last few years. Although it ended abruptly two years ago, it remains unresolved. But you did it, didn't you? You need to eat because you are (Anko). ”

"A (A

kou) ?” Anne asked.

"The last man of the year who didn't deserve to die escaped from Helheim," Walter Tye explained. "They are thieves of souls, they steal other people's years to cheer for their own immortality."

The necromancer did not deny his true nature. "You criminal, I've found a solution."

"That's right," Gwen agreed. "But it's still murder."

"So you adventurers are right to kill criminals for bounty or justice, but it's wrong for an undead to need to survive?" What's the difference between this and hunting—"

"It's a waste of time," Taketaka interjected.

"I'm not interested in philosophical debates," Gwen replied. "Hurry up and state your reasons."

Then turn around and go back. Too much blood, too much pain. If you go one step further, the Holocaust will follow. I don't know what you're trying to do for disturbing my rest, but I just want to be alone. ”

"I know you're a pale snake," Gwen said, and several of her companions gasped after recognizing the name. "If we don't bother you, you'll create more undead creatures and disrupt the cycle of souls."

"How can that be a bad thing?"

"Death is a necessary part of existence," Mrs. Searle said. "It is death that gives meaning to life, is an inevitable part of existence."

"That's a bold statement for a man who has never died!"

The ghost raised his voice, and his calm appearance vanished for a moment, revealing a hidden anger. "I'll tell you what the soul of Hellheim feels like." The ghost said hoarsely. "Their existence is an eternity of remorse and pain. Centuries spent in cold and darkness, their jealousy of the living and the chosen souls of the gods boiled. There is nothing but pain after death!"

"If they wish to avoid punishment, they should follow the will of the gods and live a glorious life," replied Madame Sear, quoting Esir's teachings. Gwen herself has kept a straight face, even though she privately disagrees with this approach.

"Die decently? How many people in a world surrounded by monsters will die "honorably"? What about those who died in accidents? Is it bad luck or the plague? Countless mortals will never have the opportunity to die "honorably" from the weapons in their hands. God's system is biased. The ghost shook his head. Is death necessary?" This is the lie that mortals deceive themselves in order to avoid facing the harsh reality: death is painful and meaningless. But the undead provide an escape from this ridiculous system. Artists can create forever, and families are never separated by the claws of monsters. ”

"At what cost?" Gwen thought of Sir Sigurd and Rameau, and argued. "How many good people need to be sacrificed before you succeed?"

"If I succeed, so far, all the dead can come back." The ghost noted. "Eternal life will not only make these sacrifices worthwhile, it will also erase them. There is no need for young people to die disgracefully in front of the forces of the Nine Kingdoms. ”

This sentence hit Gwen too hard. She also sent warriors to her death in the name of the eventual reform of Avalon, praying that the end result would be worth the cost.

No, it's different, she thought. I will not kill the teenage students, nor will I assassinate the old samurai while they sleep.

"I don't believe it," Gwen replied. She's gone too far to back down now, and she needs to take Avalon's head in order for her to change his dreams.

"yes, we're not going to let your hands get blood," Anne said.

"We've got work to do, it's over," Take

u added.

"All I can do is pray that you will be freed from the regrets that still bind you to this world." Mrs. Serge shook her head sympathetically. "I understand your feelings, but the reincarnation of the soul is a necessary condition for the world to survive Ragnarok. May the gods have mercy on you. ”

The ghost remained horribly silent as no one accepted his offer to leave.

"That's dead."

The ghost disappeared without a trace.

Wu Long immediately tensed, and his keen senses noticed something. "Behind us! He warned loudly, and the group turned to look down the hallway.

Gwen heard them crawling towards them, and it was only a long time before she saw their bloodshot red eyes staring at them in the darkness. A group of hungry thousands of people, to devour the whole group.

Mouse.

Gwen immediately began to call the shots, and the battle of the dungeon officially began.