Chapter 518 I Am An Innocent Dragon
The air was thick with humidity as Archer and Teuila ventured deeper into the heart of the hot jungle where the snow couldn't touch the ground.
It melted before it touched the treetops and leaked onto the jungle floor, creating muddy puddles everywhere.
Vibrant, tropical foliage surrounded them, starkly contrasting the icy reputation of the season.
The usual blanket of snow that one would expect in Frostwinter was conspicuously absent, replaced by the rich greenery of a thriving jungle.
Teuila looked around, her eyes wide with astonishment. "I can't believe it. It's like we've stepped into a completely different world. I was expecting icy landscapes, but this jungle... it's so alive."
Archer chuckled the sound blending with the distant calls of exotic creatures. "Mana has its way of reshaping things."
They continued to stroll along a narrow path. Archer pointed out the colorful flowers that bloomed beside towering trees with vines cascading like living waterfalls.
Strange creatures flitted about, their iridescent wings catching the sunlight that filtered through the thick canopy.
As the couple proceeded on their journey, Archer's Aura Detector signaled the approach of three entities rushing toward them.
Instantly on alert, he cast Timewarp, manipulating the flow of time in their immediate vicinity.
The sudden change caused the oncoming beasts to slow down significantly as they leaped out of the underbrush.
Archer approached the mutated hyena-like beasts. Their bloodlust made them aggressive and unresponsive to reason.
He decapitated the creatures with a swift and precise movement. Teuila walked up behind him and patted him on the back as she spoke. ''You used the time to kill them easier. You're cheating now, darling.''
As they ventured deeper into the jungle. The vibrant colors of the foliage and the exotic sounds of unseen beasts surrounded them.
Archer's eyes sparkled with curiosity as their path led them through dense vegetation until, unexpectedly, the jungle yielded signs of a forgotten civilization.
His senses detected a change in the mana around them. As they rounded a bend, the vibrant greenery gave way to the remnants of a once-thriving city.
The sight took them both by surprise. The jungle had slowly reclaimed the stone structures, weaving its tendrils around them.
Archer's eyes widened in awe, and he turned to Teuila with a delighted grin as he remarked. "Well, this is unexpected.''
The blue-haired girl looked at the structures that looked abandoned yesterday, but vines grew all over.
He stepped forward and used Aura Detector to scan the area, but something blocked him. After that, he got a bad feeling and grabbed Teuila by the arm.
Archer Blinked away from the city and turned to her. ''Wait a second. I will message the other girls and tell them where we are.''
After sharing his discovery, he activated the bracelet to communicate with the girls. "Me and Teuila stumbled upon an ancient city, and I thought I'd let you ladies know. Do any of you want to join me?"
"I'll come." Numerous voices chimed in, creating a moment of confusion.
Archer shook his head, deciding to summon everyone who spoke up. Seven girls materialized before him: Nefertiti, Hecate, Sera, Hemera, Llyniel, Talila, and Nala.
Their sudden appearance surprised him, but the absence of Ella, Leira, Sia, and Halime did not go unnoticed.
He quickly sends them a message and receives an instant reply. "We're staying behind to ensure we can come to your rescue if anything happens."
''Thank you, El. But are you sure you three don't want to come?'' Archer asked.
Ella quickly answered. ''It's fine, Arch. I'm enjoying classes and want to go to the library to learn more spells, and the other two will join me.''
Archer smiled before informing the half-elf. ''Give Hali a bracelet. It's In the cupboard in my bedroom. It's the same color as her eyes.''
''Okay, I'll do that, husband, but be careful and stay safe,'' Ella spoke lovingly.
Ella got back to her classes after telling him she would see him soon, but that's when he got Sia's reply, and she told him that she was hunting bandits in the Crownlands.
After that, he approached the eight excited girls, who greeted him with kisses all over his face, which made him laugh.
Once Archer recovered from their affectionate onslaught, he spoke to them. ''We have to be careful when exploring this city. No splitting up and no rushing off.''
The girls nodded in agreement, and Archer led them into the ancient city. The worn cobblestone streets beneath their feet echoed the whispers of forgotten tales.
Dilapidated buildings surrounded them, remnants of a once-thriving civilization. They explored the city's winding alleys and crumbling structures.
But the void of significant findings perplexed them. Sensing the city's mana, Archer led them through what felt like a ghost town frozen in time.
As they delved deeper into the ruins, the atmosphere remained eerily silent. His Aura Detector scanned the surroundings, finding nothing.
The girls exchanged glances, puzzled by the city's absence of treasures or secrets. However, just as the disappointment settled in, Archer felt a sudden change in the mana around them.
The once dormant mana became chaotic and unpredictable. Archer halted, turning around to face the group, his brow furrowed in concern.
Before he could utter a word, an explosion erupted amid the group. The deafening explosion reverberated through the air as the blinding light faded.
Archer gradually regained awareness. When his senses returned, he found himself alone in an unfamiliar underground chamber.
The echoes of the explosion still lingered in the air, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. His eyes scanned the dark chamber, taking in the symbols on the walls.
An eerie mana filled the air, sending shivers down Archer's spine. He stood up from the cold, hard floor, realizing his girls were missing.
Panic briefly gripped him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task. Before him, four corridors led into the unknown depths of the underground chamber.
Before he could step, the sultry voice echoed in his mind, "My White Dragon, why do you always find yourself in trouble?"
Archer, feigning innocence, declared, "Tiamat, I am an innocent dragon. Cease slandering my good name, or I might have to unleash my fearsome tongue upon you."
"Ara Ara. How cheeky of you. Do you realize I can strike you down here and now?" Tiamat spoke.
He grinned and replied in a mischievous voice, "But you won't, my dear. I'm your husband, and you secretly adore my charming antics. In the dragon marriage contract, Clause 42, subsection B: 'Thou shalt not smite thy spouse for minor misdeeds.''
In the delightful exchange, Tiamat teasingly warned him, "Darling, I could unleash divine fury upon you for your mischievous ways."
Archer, grinning mischievously, brushed it off, "Oh, Tiamat, you adore that I'm not only devastatingly handsome but also outrageously charming. It's all right there in my dragon charm manual—Chapter 9, 'How to Make Even Deities Swoon.'"
''Enough with your marriage contract and charm manual, you cheeky dragon! I come to warn you, and you turn it into your usual teasing. Can't you be a good boy and worship me?'' Tiamat huffed teasingly, which only made him laugh.
After Archer stopped laughing, he retorted with equal playfulness, ''You're not after my worship, woman. You want my love! Stop denying it, you lewd dragon goddess. I'll claim you, and soon you'll be moaning my name from beneath me as your legs shake.''
When Tiamat heard this, she said, ''You're the lewd dragon. No one would speak to a goddess like this, but here you are. Well, I'm here to warn you that you're trapped in the Aetheria Capital, which fell into darkness, forgotten by the world thousands of years ago. Don't worry; you're the only one alone while the girls are in pairs, but you must find them before the Swarm overwhelms them.''
Archer's worry deepened as he questioned, ''Swarm? They are here?''
''Yes. But deeper down, they already know you're here. Find the girls and navigate through the maze you're in. If I remember correctly, it used to be a mine, but all sorts of beasts took it over,'' Tiamat responded.
With gratitude, Archer spoke to Tiamat, "Thank you for the warning my future wife. I'll find the others and navigate through this maze. Wish me luck."
Tiamat's voice lingered, "Good luck, my White Dragon. May the winds of fortune guide you through the shadows."
Archer turned to the dimly lit chamber as the ethereal connection dissolved. The air felt heavy with the weight of ages.
The dust-covered surfaces told tales of a place untouched by the outside world for centuries.
His keen eyes scanned the surroundings, noticing the remnants of what seemed to be an abandoned mine.
Dilapidated wooden supports barely held up the low ceiling, and rusted mining tools lay forgotten in corners.
The air was thick with an earthy scent, and the occasional water drip echoed in the silence.
[If there are any mistakes, point them out, and I'll edit it. Thanks]
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