1224 The level before the final level
"It's so good to be back." Michael calmly cracked his neck and said. His voice carried the weight of his newly acquired power, resonating with the authority of a level 3 Greater God. As he took in his surroundings, his gaze fell upon the Minotaur, now sleeping deeply from the exhaustion of absorbing a goddess's soul. He then turned his attention to the mummified remains of Marli's body and chuckled, a dark amusement in his tone. "I regret not killing her with my own hands," he mused, his regret laced with a hint of satisfaction at her demise.
His focus shifted to Raphael, who was recovering from the Minotaur's assault. With a deliberate pace, Michael began to walk toward him, his presence imposing and his intent clear. "What should I do with you?" he pondered aloud, the question hanging in the air as a threat. As Michael was walking toward Raphael, Gaya joined Michael's side. She glanced at the sleeping Minotaur and sarcastically remarked. "Let's not wake the baby, huh? Wouldn't want to deal with that shitstorm again." Though laced with humor, her words carried an underlying sense of relief at having survived the ordeal.
Sharing in the momentary levity, Michael smiled at Gaya's comment. His attention then shifted back to Raphael, who was still on the ground, visibly weakened from the ordeal of having the grace he absorbed forcefully taken by the Minotaur. Michael's approach was measured, his presence dominating the space as he neared the fallen enforcer of the pantheon.
Raphael, recognizing the gravity of his situation, prepared himself for what came next. Despite his weakened state, there was a resolve in his eyes—a determination to face his end with dignity. "I was prepared to do my duty, even if it meant my end. I'll face death honorably," he stated, his voice firm, accepting the fate he believed was imminent at the hands of the now more powerful God of Darkness.
Michael squatted down near Raphael, his movements deliberate and poised. He unsheathed his dark sword, the blade emanating an ominous glow, and placed it gently against Raphael's throat. The cold metal barely touching the skin served as a stark reminder of the precarious situation Raphael found himself in.
"Normally," Michael began, his voice steady and contemplative. "I'd kill anyone who dares to cross my path without a second thought." He paused, his gaze fixed on Raphael, searching for something within the enforcer that might justify a different outcome. "But for some reason, I'm having second thoughts about killing you."
"Just kill him, human. He's been chasing you, trying to capture or kill you. Why hesitate?" Her words, laced with conviction, underscored the danger Raphael represented as an enforcer of the pantheon.
Hearing Gaya's insistence and observing her earlier transformation into her Naga form, Raphael's realization dawned upon him. This young woman, so fiercely protective and powerful, was none other than the Goddess of Monsters, the wife of the God of Darkness. "So, the Goddess of Monsters has joined the God of Darkness, huh? It's a real party," A snicker escaped Raphael's lips. His tone was laced with a mix of respect and resignation, recognizing the significance of their union and the potential shift in power dynamics it represented.
After having the dark sword pressed against his throat for a while, Raphael's patience wore thin.
"Don't waste my time. Just kill me already." His voice carried a mix of defiance and acceptance, fully prepared to meet his end under the sword of the God of Darkness. Yet, Michael shook his head. "I'm going to let you live," he declared, his voice firm. "But not without leaving a mark." With a swift, deliberate motion, Michael's dark sword lightly cut across Raphael's cheek. A thin line of blood drizzled down his face, a physical reminder of this encounter and a warning.
Taken aback by the sudden pain, Raphael couldn't help but curse under his breath at Michael. The sting of the cut was a minor wound, but the implication of being marked was far more significant.
"Go tell the pantheon," Michael continued, sheathing his sword as he stood up. "The more they try to chase me down, the more gods will die." His words were a clear threat, a declaration of his readiness to defend himself and Gaya against any threats that dared to pursue them.
"You're playing a dangerous game," Raphael retorted, wiping the blood from his cheek. "a game you lost five thousand years ago." His words hinted at ancient conflicts and the complex history between the God of Darkness and the pantheon.
"If I lost, I wouldn't be here," he stated with a slight chuckle.
On the other hand, Gaya sighed with a mix of admiration and concern in her eyes as she looked at Michael. "You were never wrong," she admitted, "and let's hope this doesn't change that." In response, Michael just extended his hand, and the golden pyramid-shaped artifact, which had eluded Raphael's grasp earlier, flew back into his hand as if summoned by an unseen force. He then activated the artifact with a flick of his wrist, sending a sliver of celestial energy into it. With the celestial energy coursing through the artifact, its ancient markings glowing with power.
Turning his gaze to Raphael, Michael offered a parting remark filled with an ominous promise. "We will meet again, Raphael," he said, his voice carrying the weight of inevitability. The statement was not a threat but a certainty, acknowledging the unfinished business between them.
As Michael spoke, a vortex began to form behind him, swirling with golden light and celestial energy. He and Gaya turned to leave, stepping towards the portal that would whisk them away from the maze and the ancient beast that guarded it.
Still recovering from his ordeal, Raphael called out to them with a mix of resignation and a warning of his own. "Let's not have ancient beasts involved when we meet again," he said, a hint of begrudging respect in his tone for the formidable pair.
Without looking back, Michael and Gaya walked into the vortex, their figures disappearing into the swirling gateway as it closed behind them, leaving Raphael alone in the aftermath of their encounter. Once they stepped through the vortex, Michael and Gaya found themselves not in their expected destination but in a completely different pocket dimension attached to the dungeon. Their surroundings had drastically changed to that of a snow-capped mountain, the ground blanketed in white, the air filled with the flurry of a snowstorm.
"Fuck, now we're in a snowstorm," Gaya sighed, her breath visible in the chilly air. The scene before them was a stark contrast to the maze they had just left.
"Let's take a walk," Michael suggested, unfazed by the sudden change in environment. As they began to tread carefully through the thick snow, their footsteps leaving deep impressions behind, Gaya couldn't help but ponder the events that had just unfolded.
"Why did you really leave Raphael alive?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice.
, "I've put a spyder on Raphael." Michael simply replied. "We can hear and see everything the pantheon does now," he explained further, revealing the strategic advantage they had gained by sparing Raphael's life.
The revelation was a glimpse into the depth of Michael's planning and foresight. By allowing Raphael to live, they had secured a means to stay one step ahead of the pantheon's movements and intentions. While seemingly merciful, this decision was a calculated move in the intricate game of gods.
As Michael and Gaya trudged through the snow, their attention was abruptly drawn to the appearance of several vortexes materializing around them. "So, the other adventurers are also here," Gaya observed, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and annoyance as she watched figures step out from the swirling gateways.
Among those who emerged were elves from Aurumvale, clad in their distinctive golden armor that shimmered against the stark white backdrop of the snow. Dwarves and other adventurers followed, their expressions tense, weapons at the ready, as if expecting to be thrust back into battle the moment they set foot in this new environment.
Just then, Silvaris's voice, ever-present and filled with his characteristic mischief, echoed through the dimension. "For those who have met some unwanted godly attention, please be rest assured this level is unwanted gods free," he announced.
After hearing Silvaris, confusion spread among some of the adventurers, particularly those who hadn't encountered Raphael and Marli in the maze. They exchanged puzzled glances, muttering among themselves. "What's he talking about?" Their lack of awareness of the recent events involving the gods highlighted each group's diverse experiences within Silvaris's dungeon.
"Let's talk about Uncle Silvaris's plan for you all in this level," Silvaris's voice rang out, capturing the attention of everyone present amidst the snowy expanse. "This level is the simplest and easiest of them all," he claimed, a statement that immediately drew skeptical murmurs from the crowd.
"Yeah right, he's screwing with us," one of the Aurumvale elves muttered, his distrust evident. The sentiment was shared by many, their experiences in the dungeon thus far having taught them to take Silvaris's words with a grain of salt.
Undeterred by their skepticism, Silvaris continued. "You lazy idiots only have to climb or fly to the top of this ice mountain and take the map for the next level." His words, though straightforward, did little to alleviate the adventurers' suspicion.
They all frowned, puzzled by the new objective. "What map is that?" someone shouted, seeking clarification amidst the growing confusion.
"The next and final level of mine contains countless treasure chests and, of course, traps. This map provides a detailed view of where the traps and treasures are located," he explained, painting a picture of the potential rewards that lay ahead. "So, the one who gets their hands on the map will leave the dungeon not only very rich but also powerful. Those who don't will have to gamble on their luck and hope they don't mistake a trap for treasure."
Greetings, beloved readers,
If you're enjoying the story thus far, I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a review. Your feedback is invaluable in helping me achieve higher ratings and become a better writer.
Check out my new stories connected to the HBS universe; Anti Hero With a Legendary System and Dictator with a Badass System. The links are in the synopsis.
Your Gifts and Golden Tickets will put my book up in the ranking and motivate me to do more mass releases.
Moreover, if you're truly captivated by the story, you can show your support by gifting me power stones or other gifts. Your generosity would be a tremendous motivation for me to release more chapters and create even more compelling content.
Don't hesitate to share your thoughts on each chapter in the comments below. I always love hearing your opinions!
Additionally, if you're interested in supporting me through donations, please consider visiting my Buy Me A Coffee page at the link provided. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/donoffl
Finally, I would like to invite you to join my Discord community, where you can gain exclusive access to character artwork, theme music, and engage in Q&A sessions with me at any time. Click the link below to join.
Follow current novels on (f)reew𝒆bnovel