Chapter 95 - - 95: Confrontation

Chapter 95: Chapter - 95: Confrontation

Hina’s POV:-

More than two hours had passed since I separated from the other students.

By now, I have traveled through enough tunnels and intersections that I had completely lost track of how many turns I had made, although that was not particularly important because I had been following the route I remembered rather than trying to navigate the dungeon normally.

The important thing was that I was finally getting closer to my target. I slowed down as the tunnel ahead began to change.

The walls were slightly wider here, and the floor had fewer cracks than the previous passages, while faint traces of old magical formations could occasionally be seen beneath the layer of dust covering the stone.

There was not much farther to go.

If everything went according to the original game, the Firefang Raptor should be waiting near the entrance to the chamber, guarding the path toward the item.

*I actually made it this far without meeting anyone.*

That was fortunate.

I had been slightly worried that someone might accidentally enter this section of the dungeon before me, especially after the examination began, because although the dungeon was enormous, there were still only five starting chambers and eventually many students would begin crossing into the same routes.

But so far, I had encountered nobody.

I could already see the next section of the tunnel.

*Just the Firefang Raptor, then the item.*

I unconsciously tightened my grip around my magic staff. The Firefang Raptor itself was not an opponent I needed to fear.

It was powerful enough to cause trouble for an ordinary first-year student, particularly because of its fire breath and physical strength, but my Light Reinforcement spell gave me enough mobility to avoid its attacks, especially if it follows the same attack patrern as of the game.

And in fact I think I am stronger than the heroine was supposed to be at this stage of the game, maybe because I trained more efficiently because of the better knowledge.

I did not dwell on it for long and took another step but then I stopped. There was something ahead.

A shadow.

My expression immediately became serious. Someone was standing farther down the tunnel.

I had been moving quickly enough that I had not expected to encounter anyone here, and the possibility that another student had somehow taken the same route meant that I could no longer assume the chamber was uncontested.

I slowly raised my magic staff. My body relaxing into a combat-ready posture while I continued forward carefully.

The figure ahead seemed to notice me as well. For several seconds, neither of us moved. Then I stepped far enough forward to finally see the person clearly.

First thing that came clearly in my view are their red hair.

I took a few more steps and finally could see their face and my eyes widened slightly.

"Princess Kajol? What are you doing here?"

It was Kajol Karnis. She turned toward me and her expression remained surprisingly calm.

I immediately noticed something else behind her. There is the familiar Firefang Raptor, except it was already dead.

Its large body lay near the entrance to the chamber, and beside it stood a bird that was more than three feet tall, its body covered in brilliant red feathers that seemed to glow faintly even in the dim dungeon.

The bird repeatedly struck the dead raptor with its beak, apparently checking whether it was actually dead.

I stared at it for a moment.

*That is a Flamespirit Eagle.*

I had seen its kind before in the game.

They were Spirit Beasts with an innate fire attribute, possessing considerable physical strength in addition to their elemental abilities.

My eyes returned to Kajol.

*Did she defeat the raptor?*

I had not expected that.

Of course, I knew Kajol was strong. She was a princess from Keshan Kingdom, and unlike many nobles who relied heavily on their family’s resources, she had considerable combat ability herself.

But the surprising thing is her arriving here at this critical time and defeating the Firefang Raptor.

"I am here for the same reason as you." Kajol’s answer immediately made me frown.

I know exactly what she means. She have not come here because she happened to wander into this part of the dungeon. She is after the same item.

*So she knows about it.*

That raised considerably more questions than it answered. But before I could ask anything, Kajol turned toward the chamber.

"And I think there is someone else here as well."

She walked past the corpse of the Firefang Raptor without showing the slightest hesitation.

I remained where I was for a moment.

Her attitude seems strange. She knows I am here and I want the same thing as her and yet she was behaving as though I am not even a threat.

More importantly, her words suggested that she had already realized someone else is inside the chamber as well.

*Could it be Elena?*

The thought immediately crossed my mind.

Though Elena is my roommate, yet despite sharing a room, I have never directly confronted Elena about the possibility that she is also a reincarnated person. Especially if she knows about the protective magic circle from the library.

I was still thinking about that possibility when Kajol suddenly spoke again.

"Why are you still so silent?"

She stopped near the top of the stairs and looked downward then she said something that made me almost shocked.

"I know you are here, Kai Shen."

My eyes widened slightly *What?*

Before I could process that, the Flamespirit Eagle spread its enormous wings, its powerful cry echoed through the tunnel, then it flew downward.

The sound of its wings beating against the air reverberated through the stone room.

I immediately ran toward the stairs. As I reached the edge, I caught a glimpse of several streaks of wind and fire colliding in the dimly lit chamber.

I saw a Spirit Hawk spreading her wings and engaged the Flamespirit Eagle. The two creatures clash briefly in the air.

The next moment a violent gale suddenly burst outward. The force was powerful enough to shake dust from the ceiling and push the Flamespirit Eagle backward, forcing it out of the chamber.

Only after the wind finally subsided did I see it clearly.

It was really Kai Shen standing inside the circular chamber with his magic staff in hand.

Beside him was a cyan-colored Spirit Hawk, its wings spread wide as it stared angrily toward the larger eagle.

...

Kai’s POV:-

*Still ten minutes.*

I stare at the mechanical watch in my hand. Then I look toward the stairs and then back at the watch.

*Why is time moving so slowly today?*

I grimace slightly and close the watch.

I have already been waiting here for what feels considerably longer than an hour, although I know perfectly well that it has not actually been that long.

The circular chamber is quiet and the two magical formations remain completely inactive.

Aeris is sitting near the center of the room, occasionally looking toward the stairs. While the dead Firefang Raptor remains outside.

I glanced at the watch again before putting it away.

Then I heard something.

Footsteps. Very faint at first.

*Tch. One of them is here.*

I activate Horizon Eye. The familiar sensation spreads through my vision as the surrounding environment becomes clearer, allowing me to perceive things that would normally be difficult to see through the dim lighting.

A faint image of the person with red hair standing beyond the entrance appeared in my vision.

And beside her is also an eagle. A large bird with red feathers and a faint glow surrounding its body.

The similarity between its appearance and Aeris’s ethereal aura is immediately obvious.

*So it is really her.*

I am not particularly surprised. In fact, this is almost exactly what I expected.

For some time now, I have considered Kajol an unusual variable in this world.

I had originally thought that perhaps I was simply overestimating the significance of her differences from the game’s storyline, but the more I observed her, the harder it became to dismiss them as coincidence.

Her presence at several important events was already strange and her actions did not always correspond with what I find logical.

Now she has arrived at the exact location of the hidden item. That was enough to confirm that something was going on.

Still, I did not act immediately.

There is no reason to. If she knows about this place, I want to know how much she knows before revealing what I know.

I remain standing near the edge of the circular carving. Then I sense another person approaching.

A moment later, I hear a familiar voice from the distance.

"Princess Kajol? What are you doing here?"

Hina.

Of course. I had expected that she might eventually reach this place, although I was hoping she would arrive later.

Kajol answers calmly "I am here for the same reason as you."

"And I think there is someone else here as well."

I almost sigh.

The dead Firefang Raptor is lying outside the chamber, and the fact that it is dead is already enough to tell someone familiar with this dungeon that another person reached this location first.

Then Kajol says "Why are you still so silent? I know you are here, Kai Shen."

*So she is not merely guessing.*

Before I can respond, her Flamespirit Eagle spreads its wings and flies down the stairs.

Aeris immediately reacts.

She has been sitting quietly until that moment, but as soon as the larger Spirit Beast entered the chamber, she stood and spread her own wings.

The two birds stare at each other.

I quickly assess the situation.

The Flamespirit Eagle is larger and its mana seems considerably stronger than Aeris’s, and its physical strength is also higher.

If they were to fight directly, Aeris would be at a disadvantage.

However... I also notice something else.

Aeris is considerably more agile. Her movements are lighter, and her control over the air around her body allows her to change direction much more efficiently.

Though the Flamespirit Eagle is trying to suppress her through sheer strength and size, Aeris is not allowing it to do so.

The two Spirit Beasts exchange several probing attacks, neither committing completely to the fight.

*Her maneuverability is much better.*

That is useful information. Unfortunately, I do not have enough time to watch the entire fight.

I looked toward the watch. There is only a little time left, I cannot afford to spend several minutes letting the two of them test each other.

"Aeris, back down."