Dungeon

Kaiser Remington

As I test out my fully healed hand, I didn't notice the figure watching me on my back. "You sure have some peculiar power kid." The old lady said.

"Where's Lucy?" I asked as I turned around to have a good look at her.

"I put her to sleep, now, tell me how you get that power of yours." She said with a serious tone.

"What power? Is it about my healing ability?" I asked right back at her to avoid suspicions.

"About your shadow magic and your eyes that see everything." She exactly said to me.

"How did you know?" I asked her as I secretly prepared magic if she tried to attempt attacking me.

"Don't be like that, no need to be wary of me." She said knowing that I was preparing for her sudden changes.

"I'll answer your questions if you'll answer mine as well." I said to her as I stop my mana and relax.

"Deal."

She hovers her hand in front of me and my tattered clothes were suddenly fixed in their original state.

"What magic is that?" I asked.

"I'll answer later." She said and smiled at me.

"I'll tell you everything but if this gets out, I'll kill you." I directly told her.

"Interesting." As if teasing me, she released high concentrated magic encircling the two of us, then, she teleported to my back and as I reacted and looked back at her, she infused all of the magic she released and struck my chest making me lose my consciousness in that exact moment.

I woke up at an unknown place surrounded by thick mists. "Where am I?" I whispered to myself.

I suddenly remembered her attack on me so I lifted my shirt and saw no damage on my skin.

"Is anyone there?" I blankly asked.

"Since you're so hesitant, I transferred your spirit in my domain where only the two of our souls are connected." She said to me but I can't see her form.

"No need to find me, we're safe here." She said again.

"Okay." I replied to her, I closed my eyes and begins to collect all that I can remember except the story about my past self.

"I got my god's vision through Kaiser, he blessed me with his power but regarding my shadow magic, I unlocked it by myself when we were attacked by the guards where Kaiser's statue stands." I also included telling her how Kaiser manipulated the time for me. She didn't respond to me so I stood up and activated my God's vision.

As I tried to find her, she caught me by surprise as she leaps from the mists and knocked me down. "Geez what are you doin..."

My words were interrupted as the old lady I expected to see turned out to be a beautiful mature adult with an emphasized womanly figure especially her figures like her large breast, curvy hips, and long black hair.

I shrugged off the idea I had in my mind and pushed her to get off of me. "Why did you hide your true form?" I asked as I looked the other way.

"Oh, do you like me this way?" She teased.

"Why would a kid like me be interested in you?" I asked blatantly.

"HAHAHA" She laughed for a moment as loud as she can then turned at me then said, "You're a very interesting human, maybe that's how Kaiser saw your potential."

"Are you a god as well?" I asked.

"Good eyes kid." She said keeping her usual face. "Now, let me tell you first more about the dungeon."

"The dungeon consists of three floors, the lower, middle, and the upper floor. From those three floors, the lower and middle floors are the only ones with three domains. The upper floor had four domains and we're currently at the upper floor's second domain.

Of course, each floor and domains have a different variety of monsters depending on your whereabouts. The demon wolf that you've slain is a high-grade and rare monster with a very dangerous presence that's why I'm surprised by how you fought it earlier.

Even though there are a small number of domains and floors, it doesn't mean that it's easy to clear. Do you know that the highest domain and floor that an adventurer reached was the middle floor's first domain."

"So you're saying that no one can reach us here?"

"Yes. But, let me tell you something about you." Her tone changed as she walks near me to tell me something serious.

"For the past four years, there were five children born in this dungeon. It is said that they were the vessels for the demon king that will be reincarnated after Kaiser destroyed him many years ago. However, the two children which are the younger ones were a defect and they were thrown out. Do you have any idea on what I'm saying, Kaiser?"

"…" I was speechless because I don't know what to say.

"How old are you?" She asked.

"Four." I replied.

"Kaiser, after the two children were thrown out of the dungeon. The shadow worshippers were formed. Rumors said that they were searching for the two defect vessels."

"…"

"Are you the other child?" She asked.

"Yes. But, who is the other one?"

"It's Lucy. I saved her before she was killed by monsters. When the five of you were born, the dungeon's abnormality started to rise."

"Abnormality?"

"Yes. The monsters gained elemental magic that they can use but we can still fight them because they don't have the intelligence of a human being."

So that explains the time when we were chased by many monsters during my first existence in this world.

"You have to keep Lucy." I told her.

"What about you?" She asked.

"I'm planning to train here for four years and get back to the surface again." I said with my hands touching my chin.

"Tell me your plans so I can advise you."

"Okay."

I told her how I want to execute my plans in the future and the actions that I'll take here in the dungeon. She also gives me good suggestions that will make my plan go smooth and now I'm sure that I can save them once I get back.

"Are you sure you want to get revenge?"

"It depends. As long as Aldea's family is keeping Flora, what I need to do is search for the whereabouts of my parents. I'm sure the shadow worshippers are targeting Kaiser's vessel."

"Kaiser's vessel?" She wonders.

"It's Aldea. Her father told me that they were the descendants of Krono."

"Don't worry. It's not true. The problem is how to get the shadow worshippers to believe that she's not a vessel."

"What do you mean Aldea's not a vessel?"

"When Kaiser provided you with his blessing. The possibility of having a vessel in his descendants is removed which means that a part of him is now yours." She confirmed but how to I defend her from the shadow worshippers? If I'll attend school with them at the age of twelve then I must first destroy the worshipper before they take action. Knowing how they react when they noticed my shadow element, I can assume that they're preparing a large-scale search operation in the dungeon.

"Do you know my element?" She asked me.

"No, you must be a healing magic user but no, I can't still see your mana body as well."

"It's because I'm a goddess. It means that you can never see mine but I can see yours because you're a mortal."

"What's your element?" I asked.

"Can you guess it if I showed you this?" She said as she raised the two of her hands on her chest level and after a couple of seconds, magic orbs with their corresponding magic affinity emerged from nothingness – it's all of the elements.

"Y-You're.. just like me." I said as I was amazed by how her fire, lightning, water, ice, wind, and earth were concentrated on a little orb.

"Good eyes. Now, show me your shadow orb." She said.

"How?" I asked.

"Just focus on your shadow magic and carefully release it on the top of your palms." She replied with her hands still hover her element.

I concentrated and closed my eyes. In my first attempt, the one I concentrated on for several minutes dissipates instantly when I released it so I focused more on my second attempt. This time, I released a purple orb on my hand - it's so light and warm.

"Now, absorb these elements as your starter ones. If you want to return to the surface, you must save Aldea without using your shadow magic." When she said that, I knew that this can improve my magic power.

I opened my God's vision and the element's power that she showed me shows a great amount of energy even higher than the wolf that I fought earlier. However, this is different. I'm not going to absorb mana residual but a pure magic element.

Following her instructions, I slowly consume it as she closes their distance towards my shadow magic and its tremendous amount of heat made me feel drowsy as I was drenched in my own sweat.

Hours passed as I concentrate on absorbing my new element and after hours of hard work, she put me to sleep by pressing her index finger on my forehead, and my body allowed itself to drift in the darkness.

"Wake up big brother." Lucy's cute voice said as she shakes my face with her two hands.

"Oh Lucy, thanks." I said as I raised my head from my slumber and cleaned the dust that I got while sleeping.

I sat up in a meditative and took a peek at my mana body. My mana's still at orange level but I can see that I have many orbs embedded in it. It's the shadow, fire, earth, wind, lightning, water, and earth. 'Woah. This could be very useful in my training.' I thought to myself.

"You must be tired, Kaiser." The goddess said as she served her handmade foods on the table.

"I thought you're a real old lady." I said at her with a poker face.

"Ohh, do you prefer the older ones?" She asked as she teased me with a playful smile.

We all ate the food served at our table and after that, we walked and proceeded to the falls.

"I forgot, what's your name?" I asked as I carry Lucy on my back while we're climbing the small hill.

"Delphine." She replied.

"I have another question." I said to her.

"Go on."

"Why are you staying on this floor and domain where many monsters are lurking?" I asked.

"Well, aside from no human ever came here before. I'm waiting for someone who's strong enough to destroy the remaining demon king's vessels – the three children which are your siblings." She said without looking back.

"I hope you find them soon before the demon king is reincarnated." I said to her. She stopped in her tracks and look back at me.

"Kaiser, I want to help you achieve your goal but I want you to help me as well." She seriously said.

"Let me think about that, Delphine." I said to her with a smile.

"Yes, think about it, Kaiser. Everyone's future will depend on the decision of the two of us." Delphine said as she started to walk again.

Why is it that at my age, I'm burdened by these big responsibilities? I thought to myself while looking in a plain distance.

As I was flooded by Delphine's remarks, she stopped walking, and there I was, standing on the great falls that look very amazing when you're close to it.

"Let me down brother! I want to swim now!" Lucy excitingly said.

"Yes, yes. Be safe." I said to her. She ran down and headed to the low water.

"Ever since you arrived here. Lucy became livelier than before. I hope you can also enjoy your time here, Kaiser." Delphine said with a genuine smile on her face.

"Of course Delphine, I would love to."

"What are you talking about? Let's swim now!" Lucy shouted as she stood from her spot waving two of her hands.

"Well, I'll be going then." Delphine said as she removes her clothes revealing her womanly figure and went down the falls.

I'm excited about this journey as well. I'll make sure to see it through the end.

"Saving the world, that is."

Thinking about my family made my heart cry in pain but what can I do? In my current state, I'll just risk their lives if I attempt to return home just to meet them. Right now, staying here is the best option before taking my own revenge.