Chapter 561 The Weeping Lady?
Villain Ch 561. The Weeping Lady
Exiting the portal, they found themselves in a vast chamber that marked a distinct departure from the confined pathways of the previous floor. The tomb's architecture retained its signature shape and intricate carvings, but a notable transformation unfolded. The surroundings exuded an air of opulence, suggesting that they were inching closer to the heart of the dungeon's secrets.
The chamber, a spacious expanse that contrasted with the narrow confines of the prior level, revealed a promising shift in the dungeon's layout. Unlike the pyramid's single expansive hall, this chamber was not a labyrinthine maze. The pathway expanded before them, providing ample space for freedom of movement, a stark departure from the constrained corridors they had navigated earlier.
The ceiling soared high above, a cavernous expanse that eliminated the claustrophobic sensation of the previous level. The wider and more open design hinted at the potential for grander encounters and challenges. The ornate patterns and carvings adorned the walls, telling a silent tale of the tomb's history and significance within the tomb's history.
Zoe couldn't help but exhale a sigh of relief. "At last... an open space!" she exclaimed with genuine gratitude and a hint of happiness, as if stumbling upon this vast area was an extraordinary blessing.
Larissa cracked a rare smile. "Finally, we can unleash our full power without the walls closing in on us," she remarked, a newfound eagerness in her tone.
Bella chimed in, "I can use my area skills without hesitation now. Watch me turn this place into a battlefield masterpiece!"
Allen, with a smirk, quipped, "At least I don't have to push stone barriers again." As the words left his lips, he accessed his inventory, retrieving a Mana Potion. With a swift motion, he downed the potion, replenishing his magical reservoir. Vivian couldn't help but giggle at Allen's actions.
"You sound like you really hate pushing that stone," Vivian teased, her laughter echoing in the chamber.
"Kinda," Allen admitted with a chuckle. "I've been in this game, yet it feels like I'm at the gym doing some heavy lifting. Telekinetic workouts, who would've thought?" The irony added a layer of amusement to Allen's comment.
"Speaking of the gym, Allen, are you hitting the gym tomorrow morning?" Larissa asked with a teasing grin, raising an eyebrow in anticipation of his response.
Allen, glancing at Larissa, replied casually, "Yeah, I'll be there as usual. Why do you ask?"
Larissa cringed playfully and leaned in, whispering, "Well, don't forget that Sophia will probably be there."
Allen's expression shifted from casual to intrigued. "How did you know?" he inquired, his eyebrows furrowing in curiosity.
With a mischievous smile, Larissa divulged, "The receptionist mentioned she signed up for my morning Pilates class. Seems like she's planning to keep an eye on you."
Allen couldn't help but scoff, a smirk playing on his lips. "Let's see what she'll do," he remarked, an air of confident amusement surrounding his words.
Jane, who had been eavesdropping on the exchange, chimed in, "Ah, gym drama. Always a good source of entertainment."
"Let's talk about it later. Talking about her will destroy our hunting mood." Allen took the lead. "Let's continue the hunt, shall we?" he declared, gesturing forward with a confident sweep of his hand.
The group ventured through the emperor's tomb, the atmosphere significantly quieter than the chaotic echoes of the previous floor. The absence of audible clues or encounters with monsters created an eerie stillness, a departure from the adrenaline-fueled environment they had become accustomed to.
Unlike the Dead Pit, which had woven a mysterious narrative into their journey, this floor presented itself as a blank canvas devoid of traps or puzzles. It lacked the expected nuances that would typically make a dungeon intriguing.
They couldn't shake a hint of disappointment that lingered in the air. The name "Emperor's Tomb" had sparked expectations of hidden stories, treasures, rare artifacts, or valuable spell scrolls waiting to be uncovered. However, as they explored the seemingly mundane surroundings, those expectations appeared to be misplaced.
Just when the monotony threatened to settle in, a distant sound reached their ears—a soft weeping, hauntingly echoing through the chamber. The group exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity reignited by the unexpected and sorrowful melody.
Zoe furrowed her brows. "Do you guys hear that?" she questioned, her voice a whisper, almost lost in the silence.
Larissa nodded solemnly. "It sounds like a weeping woman."
The haunting sound reverberated through the air, sending shivers down their spines. Their collective gaze swept the dimly lit corridor until it settled on a lone figure— a woman squatting at the end of the hall, hugging her knees in a heartbreaking display of sorrow.
Clothed in luxurious attire with an unmistakable eastern flair, the woman appeared to be an NPC, distinguished by the absence of the typical player's garments. The intricate details of her clothing bespoke opulence, each thread woven with an air of regality. Her hairstyle, adorned with lavish accessories, hinted at a status befitting a concubine who held a cherished place in the emperor's court. The absence of a crown, a customary symbol of empresses, indicated that she was not the ruling figure but rather a favored concubine—a woman whose affections were bestowed upon her by the emperor himself.
They exchanged glances. In the midst of the emperor's tomb, where they had anticipated traps and puzzles, the unexpected encounter beckoned them to unravel the untold stories within the dungeon.
Bella, breaking the uneasy silence, voiced what they were all thinking, "This is definitely not a good sign."
Alice added, "And it isn't a good start either."
Vivian, with a wry grin, muttered, "Trouble, here we come."
Larissa remarked, "There has to be more to this. NPCs don't usually exhibit this level of emotional depth unless there's a quest involved."
They closed the distance, an unsettling realization dawned upon them—the weeping lady wasn't as corporeal as they had initially perceived. Instead of the expected solidity, her form wavered with a ghostly transparency, like a hologram. The contours of her figure seemed ethereal, defying the usual boundaries that defined NPCs or monsters.
It sent a collective shiver through the group, triggering memories of the ghostly entities they had encountered in the Death Pit. The weeping lady's spectral appearance mirrored those haunting apparitions, her transparency creating an eerie resemblance to the elusive phantoms.
Zoe couldn't help but draw the connection. "This feels like déjà vu, doesn't it? Like the ghost monsters back in the Death Pit."
Larissa couldn't help but roll her eyes at the translucent figure of the weeping lady. "Yup, I 100% agree with you," she chimed in, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation. Leave it to game designers to throw a ghostly concubine into the mix.
Shea raised an eyebrow. "This is The Emperor's tomb, right? Why is the ghost a woman?"
Zoe, with her signature touch of sarcasm, couldn't resist a playful jab. "Cause it would be weird if you saw the emperor ghost squatting and crying like her." Her words hung in the air.
Bella, always quick with a joke, couldn't resist a playful quip. "Maybe they buried the wrong corpse," she suggested with a mischievous grin.
Alice, seizing the opportunity to contribute to the comedic narrative, turned to Bella with a smirk. "Oh, that makes sense. Like they were supposed to put the emperor, but they ended up putting his concubine's corpse. And the soldiers went 'Oops! The emperor's body is still up here, guys,'" she playfully narrated, her hands gesturing in mock confusion.
Vivian, unable to contain her laughter, chimed in with a giggle. "That is the most pathetic failure story I ever heard," she declared, adding to the absurdity of their impromptu ghostly burial mix-up narrative.
"Are we supposed to talk to her?" Jane inquired, her curiosity piqued as she closely examined the ghostly NPC. Her head tilted slightly, as if trying to decipher the mysteries hidden within the translucent figure.
"I think," Allen replied, his voice tinged with disbelief. His gaze remained fixed on the ghostly presence before them, contemplating the potential interactions that lay ahead in this unexpected encounter.
Allen cautiously approached the weeping lady, a subtle nervousness crept into his movements. Despite the knowledge that this was just a game, his heart pounded rapidly within the confines of his chest. The eerie atmosphere surrounding the translucent figure added an unexpected layer of tension, and the unpredictability of the encounter left Allen with a sense of trepidation.
His footsteps echoed in the chamber, each one seemingly magnified by the silence that enveloped the space. The sorrowful sobs of the holographic concubine echoed, creating an eerie symphony that intensified Allen's unease.
As he drew closer, his hand hesitated midair, fingers twitching as if debating the appropriate course of action.
But before he touched her, the ghostly weeping lady, her mournful sobs haunting the air, suddenly ceased her lament as if a switch had been flipped. In an eerie twist of spectral movement, she turned towards Allen with an otherworldly grace. The pallor of her face remained ashen, a stark contrast to the tears that no longer cascaded down her translucent cheeks.
"Why did you lock me here?" she asked in a sorrowful voice.
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