Chapter 111 Ancient City



As Rose emerged from the shadows, her words hung in the air, tinged with a mix of amusement and mild reproach. My heart skipped a beat, and nervous energy surged through me. I could even feel my face flush as I tried to come up with a suitable response.

"Fuck..."

A curse slipped through my lips, as I looked at her emerald eyes, which were now glinting with amusement.

It almost seemed as if she was enjoying my discomfort.

"So... How's the picnic?"

She repeated, taking a few graceful steps toward me and stopping a few feet away, hands clasped behind her back.

Although I tried to compose myself, my mind was racing as I fumbled for words. This was too close for this body!

"I... uh... the picnic is fine. I'm just looking for a better spot..."

Even to my own ears, the response was weak, and I mentally chided myself for not coming up with something more eloquent. 

Fuck! It hadn't even crossed my mind that she could follow me through the labyrinth-like run if she found out I was gone.

Unless...

I gazed at her eyes, searching for any signs of Mana and, of course, finding them. 

She managed to use the Mana Perception she learned just a few days ago to trail me down...

"..."

I felt the corner of my eye twitch. 

The Elven Princess sure is talented...

"Oh really?"

Rose replied, arching a delicate eyebrow inquisitively and offering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

I felt as if I stood against a Boss monster.

"Then how come you knew all the paths? Was it an accident that you managed to navigate through this ancient town without any problems and care as if you knew everything?"

Rose, with a glint in her eye, took a step closer to me, causing my body to tense up. 

"You sure have a lot of mysteries..."

She paused for a moment, before looking around the surroundings, as if evaluating her surroundings.

I swallowed hard, trying to push the nervous energy down as I followed her gaze.

As Rose scanned our surroundings, a mischievous smile played on her lips. She seemed to be relishing the moment, reveling in the upper hand she had gained. I braced myself, steeling my nerves, and mustered a semblance of composure.

"Can you let me go?"

I asked, pointing toward my jacket, which she was tightly gripping with her hand, as if not to let me go.

Rose tilted her head, her emerald eyes shining with amusement, and shook her head.

"No, you are going to escape again."

I let out a resigned sigh, realizing that there was no point in trying to resist. I knew I was trapped, and Rose seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself.

There were two options now, continue with the plan or turn back.

"..."

Looking at Rose, standing in front of me with a smug expression, I made my decision.

"Let's go."

I said, resigned to the fact that there was no way out but forward. Even if she saw the artifact, she'd probably have no clue about its use. 

Maybe I could spin a cover story if needed.

Rose's smug expression seemed to grow, and she tightened her grip on my jacket as we set off through the ancient city.

As we walked through the narrow streets and past crumbling buildings, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the history that surrounded us. The ancient city had a mystical aura, with its weathered stone structures and intricate carvings that whispered tales of forgotten times.

Although it was more or less the same in the game, as all of the things I saw earlier, this was way more stunning in real life.

"..."

Glancing at Rose, who was still grinning smugly at me, I couldn't help but think that maybe this really wasn't that bad.

'I feel like I'm getting soft..."

***

As the sun began to set behind the crumbling ruins on the outskirts of the city, a chilling wind whispered through the desolate landscape. 

Whoosh...

Suddenly, at the edge of the ruins, a group of hooded men materialized out of thin air, their arrival accompanied by a faint wisp of smoke. The air around them grew heavy with an eerie silence, as if the very essence of the area held its breath.

"..."

These figures, their faces concealed by dark hoods, exuded an aura of malevolence. Their presence alone sent shivers down the spines of any who witnessed their arrival. Shadows seemed to writhe and twist around them, elongating and contorting as if they were animated by some unearthly force.

"He's somewhere around here..."

One voice spoke from the group of hooded figures, its tone laced with a venomous determination.

Swish...

Their search commenced with methodical precision. Moving with an eerie synchrony, they spread out, scanning their surroundings with piercing gazes that seemed to pierce through the darkest depths. Each step they took sent ripples through the fabric of reality, as if they were beings from another plane of existence.

A sense of foreboding permeated the air as the hooded figures continued their relentless quest. Whispers of ancient incantations escaped their lips, carried on the wind like a haunting melody. Their presence seemed to disturb the natural order, as if the very laws of the world bent under their will.

Amongst the group, one figure stood out. From beneath the folds of his hood, a twisted horn poked out, hinting at a visage more demonic than human. Its jagged contours seemed to symbolize the dark depths of the figure's power, and the mysterious origins of the group.

The surroundings quivered in response to their presence, as if nature itself recoiled from their touch. Even the moon, rising high above, seemed to dim its glow, casting an ominous pallor over the land. It was as if the world held its breath, anticipating what the arrival of these hooded figures would bring.

"..."

The figure glanced over the ruins, its eyes gleaming with malevolence.

"We've found 'his' traces near the tower..."

One of the Demons, suddenly, spoke, making the figure look at the tower in the distance.

With an imperceptible nod from the horned figure, the hooded men converged on the ruined tower. Their movements were swift yet purposeful as if guided by some unseen force. They moved as a cohesive unit, stepping lightly over crumbling stones and debris, their feet barely making a sound.

As they approached the tower, the air grew even colder, and an eerie mist began to coil around the base. The hooded figures seemed undeterred by the supernatural atmosphere, their determination unyielding. They pressed forward, the energy of their presence crackling in the air like static electricity.

With every step, their powers seemed to heighten, resonating with the ancient magic of the land. Symbols and sigils etched into their robes shimmered with an otherworldly glow, casting ethereal shadows on the decaying walls of the tower.

The hooded figures reached the entrance of the tower, its gaping maw beckoning them forward into the unknown. Without hesitation, they stepped over the threshold, and the atmosphere shifted once again. The air grew heavier, laden with the weight of forgotten secrets and ancient curses.

Inside, the tower seemed to defy logic. Corridors twisted and turned, defying any sense of order or architectural design. Walls morphed into twisted shapes, adorned with grotesque carvings that seemed to leer at the intruders. Each step they took echoed through the hollow space, as if the tower itself whispered their presence to unseen forces.

Navigating the labyrinthine corridors, the hooded figures pressed on, their determination unswerving. They moved with unwavering purpose, their synchronized footsteps creating an eerie rhythm that reverberated through the passages.

Shadows danced along the walls, casting ethereal spectacles upon their path. Ancient torches flickered to life as they passed, illuminating their way with a ghostly light. The air grew colder still, and a hushed silence settled, broken only by the distant sound of their whispers and the creaking of aged timbers.

At each turn, the figures encountered dead ends, only to backtrack and search for alternative routes. The maze-like nature of the tower tested their resolve, but they pressed forward, undeterred by the ever-shifting paths before them. The walls seemed to taunt them, shifting and rearranging as if mocking their progress.

Yet, the hooded figures possessed an innate knowledge, an understanding of the tower's secrets that guided them through its treacherous corridors. They navigated the shifting maze with an uncanny intuition, as if they were bound to the very fabric of its existence.

Hours turned to an eternity as they delved deeper into the heart of the tower. Finally, after what seemed like an endless journey, they reached a chamber bathed in an eerie, pulsating light. The air crackled with arcane energy, and the figures knew they had arrived at their destination.

The main Demon stepped forward, glancing at the ancient city's landscape, his nose twitching as if he was smelling something.

"He's here..."