Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



"Yes, master. Infighting among adventurers is a common occurrence within the dungeon, but this group is different. They do not seek fame, wealth, or glory like other adventurers. Instead, they seem to have a clear purpose and are working together with remarkable coordination".

"Usually, the adventurers roaming on the upper floors are more focused on their personal gains and are quick to turn on each other when the going gets tough. But this group... they are different. They fight as a team, each member covering the other's weaknesses. It's as if they have trained together for a long time" Annette nodded in agreement.

"That is indeed unusual," Simon mused "Most adventurers who are only capable of delving in the upper floors of the dungeon are usually strangers who form temporary alliances based on convenience. But this group you speak about seems to be more than just a chance encounter".

There was something about this group that felt familiar, something that made him remember another group who similarly entered his dungeon in the past.

"Exactly, master" Annette continued. "And that's not all, the reason why I gathered most of the guardians and Administrators here is because this group right after entering the dungeon, has been calling out your name"..

"What?!" In his surprise, Simon almost spilled his tea.

"You heard it right master, this group is going around on every floor shouting your name?"…

"Wait don't tell me they are the.."...

"It's the same group" Annette confirmed. The group she was talking about was the very same group that had entered his dungeon in the past to warn him about the coalition the top five guilds made to topple his dungeon.

Why did they arrive this time? Concerned, Simon straightened his posture as he spoke "On which floor are they right now? Make preparation for me to meet them".

"About that…" Annette made an apprehensive face as she continued "It seems they are not doing very well. The groups that were after them, have cornered them multiple times already and they have already suffered some casualties…"

.

.

—5 Hours ago, 28th Floor, a vast lush forest covered in thick mist. The visibility here was nearly zero, making it an ideal location for ambushes and surprise attacks. In the heart of the fog-laden forest, a tense confrontation was taking place between a group who was doing their best to run away and their relentless pursuers.

Needless to say, the group that was desperately trying to run and throw away their pursuers were in a pretty bad state. Before they came to the tower town, they had more than thirty people in their entourage.

However, most of them died on their way while stopping their pursuers or got gravely injured in the process. Even now, when they dived inside the dungeon, their pursuers did not stop. They employed the help of multiple teams of adventurers to ambush them on numerous floors and were still pursuing them relentlessly.

[Venomous Blade Strike] Two daggers glowed a unique green light and two pursuers who were tailing the group, fell down on the ground dead.

"Dammit.. kuh!!.. There is no end to them" An assassin who came out of the shadow, spoke while clutching his injured right shoulder. Blood seeped out of their grab indicating that they were clearly injured.

"Mister Brett are you alright" A burly knight with dull grey heavy armour tried to support the assassin. However, their hand were slapped away by the assassin...

"Burg?! what the hell are you still doing here? I told you to leave. Your duty her royal highness. You do not have to worry about this old man, just focus on your duty. Go… leave, I will guard your backs"

The assassin named Brett grabbed the warrior and asked them to leave. However, at this moment another voice interjected in between.

"I told him to come back" A woman donned in a black robe, stepped forward. Although she hid her appearance, that noble aura and posture she carried, still couldn't be concealed.

When Brett saw who it was, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise "Your royal highness why are you here? I told you all to leave while I hold them back. Please leave. Alvara take her royal highness and go now".

Brett insisted looking at another woman with short black hair. Just like Brett and everyone, she too had numerous wounds all over her body. The black leather that she wore, had numerous cuts from which blood seeped out. The woman was none other than the guard captain.

Alvara had a complicated face at this moment as she glanced at the woman donned in a black hood. It was clear that she was of the same mind as Brett; however, she did not speak and chose to stay silent because her royal highness had made up her mind.

"Leave? And go where? Tell me Brett, is there any place in this dungeon that is safe? The more we descend, the more powerful and deadlier the monsters will become. Not to mention there is no guarantee that our pursuers will stop chasing us if we descend down. I have already lost many subordinates already, I cannot afford to lose even you guys".

The woman spoke removing her hood. Immediately a beautiful face that carried an inborn nobility and grace appeared in front of everyone's eyes. The woman had long lustrous violet hair, phoenix like eyes that matched the colour of her hair, a shapely nose and perfect lips.

Whether it be her appearance or her aura, it could instantly captivate anyone. The woman these people were calling her royal highness, was none other than Cynthia, the mistress of the Serene Palace Merchant Guild. Her other identity was also the princess of the Ellesmere kingdom.

Hearing her words, Brett was silent, he had nothing to retort. Just like she had said, there was no safe place inside the dungeon. It was whether they died at the hands of the pursuers or the monsters lurking on the floors below.

"Although on your insistence I ran to the dungeon along with you all, I don't think it will work. That demon will not involve himself with us and besides he has no reason to do so. It would be much better if I surrendered myself to the pursuers that way, at least you all won't have to die".

Cynthia suggested with a haggard smile. These people who have died for her, were all her precious subordinates and there were only eight of them remaining. Cynthia didn't want to lose any of them anymore.

"Princess you can't do that. Our pursuers are from the Second Prince's faction, that person does not care about you or your wish. And besides, it is clear that our pursuers do not have any good intentions. If you surrendered yourself to them, you would only be putting yourself in an even greater danger" Alvara persuaded holding onto Cynthia's hands.

"It's just like the guard captain said, your royal highness cannot surrender. We are honoured that you are worried about us, however, you need not worry. If it's for you, we are happy to give up our life. Your royal highness, it was my greatest honour to have joined your shadow guards. You do not need to look back, just keep on proceeding" Brett spoke downing a healing potion.

"Princess let's go" Alvara motioned and the eight people aside from Brett, turned to leave.

Cynthia glanced back at her retainer who even in his old age stuck with her at her most difficult times one last time before turning around to leave.

She only took a few steps when the mist around them wavered and a dozen shadows emerged blocking their path.

"Hey now, who said that you all can leave?" A voice filled with amusement and malice, echoed out.

The mist seemed to part as a couple of figures stepped forward. The person leading them was a young man in his twenties. He had long slick blonde hair, thin eyebrows and a moderately handsome face.

He was wearing a full body armour that had an intricate designs and glint to it indicating that the armour was of quite a high grade. But since he wasn't a combatant, the armour was clearly a mismatch for him.

Behind him followed a tall person who was hiding their identity with a robe. Their poise was like a sword, sharp and graceful and they carried an aura that could only be cultivated by a veteran warrior.

Following behind were several adventurers giving off a strong aura.

The moment Cynthia's group saw them, their heart sank to the pits of their stomach. They all wore a grave face as they realised that escape was not going to be easy.

"Protect the princess" On Alvara's command the group formed a protective formation around the princess.

"Hahaha…You royal highness I do not understand the meaning behind your struggle. You should not know that you cannot run from your fate. Please give up on this futile struggle or else you will even lose the ones currently by your side. Do you see these men behind me, they did not have their fill of blood yet. If I give a simple command they will immediately start attacking you all"

The blonde haired man spoke with a smile as he glanced at Cynthia's haggard group.

"Herm you bastard have you forgotten the benevolence the princess showed you all those years ago when your family was about to be destroyed by the bandits? How dare you of all people betray the princess like this? You mongrel do you have no humanity?" Alvara shouted looking at the blonde haired person with hatred and disgust.