-----
Crack, crack…!
CRAAASH!
The walls protecting the surroundings of the school slowly shattered as countless roots and branches brought dozens of more healed students.
"Students! There were still some more left!"
"Quickly! Call the medics!"
"We have to bring them all to the hospital right away!"
Medics quickly carried them into the ambulances, as they kept moving to the hospital one after another. However, although it seemed as if most students were saved, the heroes had yet to arrive.
"These aren't all the students though…" The director sighed, talking to a TV Station Reporter. "E-Especially that class where the Dungeon Gate opened… Dozens of girls must have been sucked inside! I think the masked hunters went inside of that dungeon to rescue them!"
As this was shown in the news, Elayne and her friends glowed with bright auras of Mana as they confronted the Dungeon Gate, a spiraling void of darkness leading to a different dimension.
A realm between Earth and Arcadia, a connection between both worlds. A truth that only they knew completely within Earth, as the Gods had entrusted such truth to them.
[You have absorbed a large quantity of Mana.]
[Dozens Runes have been inscribed within the Magic Circle.]
[Your Magic Circle has grown stronger.]
[Your Magic Circle Rank has increased from Rank 2 Tier 9 to Rank 2 Tier 10.]
[New Spells have been Generated: [Holy Light Spirit Smite], [Yggdragon's Spirit Breath], [Draconic Aura]]
[Your Magic Power has improved and your Mana has fully recovered.]
"Did everyone absorbed the Magic Crystals?" Elayne asked.
"Yeah." Mark nodded. "I feel much stronger, and my Mana has recovered…"
"Yep." Rita nodded. "Now let's get there already! Ugh, though it's a bit scary…"
"I did as well." Lily said, glancing at Elayne.
Elayne had distributed the huge magic crystal from Ernest to all four of them, as they were fragmented into tiny pieces. After purifying them with her spiritual light and absorbing them in just a couple of seconds, her Magic Circle finally improved to the peak of Rank 2.
Three new Spells were generated, related to her newest abilities and powers, especially the techniques she used, all of them would be useful for what had to come.
"Now, let's not waste any more time…" Elayne swallowed saliva, as she spread out her branches and roots around her friends, tightly grabbing them with her so they wouldn't get separated once inside. "Let's go!"
FLAAASH!
All four of them entered the Dungeon Gate at the same time, as they felt like they were falling through a long tube made of black and purple colored energy, twisting constantly between dimensional membranes.
"Uwaaaah!" Rita screamed in horror as they suddenly appeared in the other side, jumping out of the Dungeon Gates connecting with the outside world.
FLAAASH!
All four of them rolled over the cold floor, wrapped around by Elayne's roots and branches, they didn't fell nor hit the ground too strongly, but it was still a horrific experience.
"W-We're here…" Elayne sighed, letting go of her group as she glanced around her. "This place…"
"Woah, what's the fashion sense of the guy that made this?" Rita wondered.
"It looks like… Some sort of colorful, fantastic castle. As if it were all made out of toys." Said Mark, analyzing his surroundings.
"It looks kind of cute if you ask me…" Lily sighed, stretching her arms.
Indeed, just as they said, the dungeon they had entered wasn't just a series of caves interconnected like before, but it resembled the interior of some sort of castle.
The floor was paved with black and white ceramic. There were huge, purple pillars connecting to the red and gold ceiling, and they also noticed various toys lying around, from dolls, to wooden horses, and more.
Until now they always thought Dungeons were more like an expression of nature, like a cave, or maybe a forest, but they never expected that it could resemble such a fantastical thing.
"Elayne, can you sense Elena and her friends?!" Asked Mark.
"I… I can!" Elayne's eyes glowed with bright gold and green light. "In fact, I can sense a large quantity of Mana coming from the far northwest. Could it be that all the trapped students are in a single room? Though Elena and her friends… I think they're a bit apart from the main group, maybe because the skeletons rescued them."
"We have to hurry! Lead the way!" Rita said while panicking.
"Yeah!" Lily nodded.
"Maybe if we bring out Falco…" Mark said. "Falco! [Familiar Summon]!"
FLAAASH!
Falco quickly emerged out of thin air, the small bird was actually in Earth, but thanks to the useful Familiar Summon Spell, they were able to summon their Familiars wherever they were.
"CRAAAAH!" Falco roared, quickly beginning to absorb Mark's Mana until it grew into a huge size.
However, as they were about to use the bird to rapidly reach the girls, Falco… exploded into pink mist!
POOF!
And what was left was a small wooden toy in the shape of a bird?!
"EEH?!"
Everyone screamed in shock, only to find out there was a tall, lanky figure at the end of the corridor, who slowly walked towards them.
It resembled some sort of clown or jester, with long arms and legs, wearing a colorful triple-topped hat. His fingers were just as long and huge.
The jester wore a mask, hiding his true appearance, the mask looked like a laughing clown.
"Nuh-huh, you can't just use that! Banned!" Laughed the clown, everyone's eyes glanced in shock at the new entity that had emerged.
"F-Falco…!" Mark cried, holding the bird-shaped wooden toy. "You bastard! Who are you?!"
"Oh my! My bad, I forgot to introduce myself." Laughed the jester. "But first of all, I must welcome you to milady's Dungeon! The Castle of Illusion, Dreams, and Nightmares, Laplace!"
"La… place?" Asked Elayne, her eye twitching. "What kind of joke is this?! Where are the kids?! Are you a Death General too?"
"Hmmm~ Something like that." Laughed the clown. "My name is Laplace, a humble servant of Milady Dorothea. I am a being that could be said to be both real… and not. I am the manifestation of her dreams, of her nightmares, of her fears! Oh, and even her love! And also, her eternal guardian."
The jester's eyes glowed bright red beneath the mask.
"I welcome you, Lady Yggdrasil. We've been waiting for you."
-----
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.co(m)