23 Orb of Guidance - IV

The <Skulls > were chasing after our tail once again, stinging a portion of my brain with their rapid approach. I couldn't even get a good night's sleep.

Thankfully, I had capable guards and companions... They were doing the dirty work for me. All I had to do was warn them in advance.

—Knock, knock knock.

"Yes, Young Master!" Owen's voice returned the instant I made the signal.

Hearing the sound of armor roughly clanking together and swords hurriedly being drawn, I drifted back into dreamland. They were more than capable of handling those <Skulls > guys as long as they had enough faith in my words.

***

When I woke up in the morning, feeling groggy, I was met with battle-scarred faces and wounded knights.

"..."

Looking at Owen who stood at attention, I tilted my head.

"Did you lose your sword?"

The knight captain's gauntlets looked worse for wear, and his armor had been shattered in several places. Fist-sized craters were spread all over the metal plates. Bruises tattooed his skin, and from what I could tell, he had a few broken ribs as well.

Nevertheless, Owen stood with the steadiness of a mountain.

Nodding, he replied, "It was broken by one of the <Skulls > warriors."

"I see," Pulling out a simple yet powerful sword from my ruby ring, I handed the blade to Owen. "Take this then. We can't have the captain of my guards roam about unarmed now, can we?"

Stunned, Owen looked at the sword now in his grasp. Although it was not the Sword of Light, it was still a beautiful sword with a golden hilt.

"Of course, you will have to return this to me in the future. I'm just lending it to you."

...It was from Leisha's Royal Treasury, after all. Owen would likely meet an unfortunate end if he were found to own such a treasure.

"Thank you, Young Master Aventine! With this, I can guarantee that no harm will come to the Young Master and his entourage!"

"Thank you for your sincerity, Owen." I smiled, "Please don't mind me and tend to the other wounded knights. Should you need anything, feel free to contact me. I have other items that your knights might find uses for."

We successfully repelled the nigh-endless raids of the <Skulls >. It was a bit anticlimactic, given that I had slept through the entire ordeal, however, it was a development that was necessary.

Should their onslaught continue, I would be unable to visit the nearby dungeon with peace of mind.

Yes... The caravan was finally close enough to the dungeon that I could visit the place without alerting anyone.

Therefore,

<Power of Death>

Instantly, my body vanished from sight.

<Power of the Sky>

Then, with the winds, I took flight.

It didn't take long for me to appear before a decrepit iron cellar door in the middle of the forest. The iron door was heavily rusted, however, it was enough for an airplane to fit into. Instead of a cellar, it felt like a hangar door for a spaceship aiming for the skies.

Or perhaps for the wine cellar of a giant.

Either way, it was huge.

[Name: Aventine Tidea]

[Level: 1]

[Health: 20/20]

[Mana: 200/200 » 280/280 (Core Mana: 100/100 » 150/150)]

[Gift: Absolute Awareness (???-Rank)]

[Physique: 2]

[Mind: 3]

[Spirit: 20 » 28]

[Traits: Power of the Sky (A-Rank), Power of the Sea (A-Rank), Power of Death (A-Rank)]

My mana reserves were now a landslide compared to the version of myself a few weeks ago. The breadth of my awareness was immense. However, it was still lacking.

Moreover, I did not have the physique to pry this iron door open.

"Lightning!"

—FLASH!

A pillar of crooked light fell from a distant cloud, snaking down to the iron door below me. It coursed through my body, making my hair stand on its ends, before smiting my target.

300,000,000 volts, in all its force, obliterated any living microbe on the iron door. It was a thorough cleansing of germs and plants.

Looking at this, I realized that I was pretty powerful. However, this specific natural phenomenon was my only means of direct offense. It also had a significant charging time.

Wind blades? That was just a piece of fantasy. Though... It should be worth a try in the future.

—BOOM!

Thunder and ionized air shook the world around me, making my ears ring from the sound. This was quite literally, a bolt of out the clear blue.

Looking down, I looked at the melted iron door. It was quite the sight. This move of mine should be estimated to be around the 4th Circle of Magic. The fact that there were wizards and mages of the 5th and even 8th Circle truly astounded me.

Floating down, I descended into the dark dungeon.

***

Barren.

Such was the nature of this high-level dungeon. The great variety of life that once thrived here, fuelled by the dungeon's heart, was being consumed by a singular being who lay on the lowest floor.

Cracked stone brick walls, dried up and void of even a sprinkle of moss. The magic ores that would usually glow with a beautiful color were now just translucent crystals on the side of the dungeon's walls.

Even the eternal torches no longer burned.

There was nothing here. It was an underground desert.

Floating down, I avoided every trap in my way. I descended staircase after staircase. I went past vast rooms that could house thousands. Stadiums, which were built underground, were still stained by the many death games held within them. A variety of ancient structures spanned each level, from churches to mansions and temples to markets.

It was like a city in and of itself.

A tinge of loneliness assaulted me at that moment.

I couldn't help but activate [Absolute Awareness], peering into this dungeon's past.

However, something blocked my senses.

"Who—?"

This was the first time this had happened to me. As I closed my eyes to focus on the essence of this dungeon, I felt a buffer between me and its distant past. It was... chilly, like walking through a freezer amid a scorching desert.

A jolt that forced me to open my eyes once more.

There I saw her.

A figure, dressed in a pure white gown, appeared before me.

A ghost.