Chapter 70: A Duo of Beasts

A few hours later, Eden stood before the Gate.

The enormous portal twisted quietly in front of him, its surface resembling a black-and-blue storm trapped inside a thin membrane of glass.

According to everything Eden remembered from his first life, this Gate shouldn’t have been discovered for another two weeks.

"Let’s go."

The moment Eden stepped forward, the world around him warped.

His body passed through the Gate.

Eden opened his eyes and was met by an usual silence.

The interior of the Gate stretched before him.

A dark forest.

Gray trees twisted toward the ceiling, their roots crawling over stone like veins. Strange blue moss illuminated parts of the ground, while distant echoes came through the darkness.

Normally, Eden would have immediately begun searching for the dungeon’s monsters.

Instead, he stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

Something was wrong.

He looked down.

Footprints.

Several sets.

Fresh.

Eden crouched.

The dirt had been disturbed recently.

There were also drops of purple blood.

A little farther ahead, he found the first corpse.

A four-legged Abyss Creature with a thick shell and several jagged horns.

Its body had been torn apart.

Eden slowly stood.

"...Someone’s already here."

That shouldn’t have been possible.

He knew this Gate.

He knew its history.

He knew when it had first been discovered.

And yet, someone had entered it early.

He closed his eyes.

[Stealth]

His presence disappeared.

The air around him distorted for a moment before becoming completely still.

Eden moved forward.

His footsteps were silent.

His breathing was controlled.

He followed the trail of corpses deeper into the Gate.

It didn’t take long until he found the culprit.

Voices echoed through the forest.

"...How much farther?"

"Stop complaining."

"I’m not complaining. I’m asking."

"You’ll know when we get there."

Eden stopped behind a massive tree.

He peeked around it.

Six people.

All wearing the same uniform.

Crimson-Crow.

Eden’s expression immediately became cold.

He recognized the guild.

A guild with a reputation so awful it was considered a crime syndicate made by Rogues.

And judging from what Eden could see, this particular group was no exception.

Five of them were C-Rank.

One was B-Rank.

The B-Rank walked at the center of the group, seemingly unconcerned.

Eden narrowed his eyes.

’How the hell did they find this place?’

He was certain.

In his previous life, this Gate wasn’t even known yet.

The entire point of coming here early had been to obtain Lord’s Wrath before anyone else knew about it.

Yet the Crimson-Crow had somehow arrived first.

And they clearly weren’t wandering around randomly.

They knew exactly where they were going.

Eden watched them for several seconds.

Then one of the C-Ranks spoke.

"Captain."

The B-Rank glanced back.

"Yeah?"

"Where exactly is that stupid S-Rank item?"

The others laughed quietly.

The B-Rank didn’t.

"It’s in a sealed chamber."

"So where’s the chamber?"

"At the end."

"The key is inside the boss."

The C-Rank sighed.

"So we have to clear the entire Gate?"

"Obviously."

"Wonderful."

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

’S-Rank item...’

’So they know.’

’That meant someone had given them information about Lord’s Wrath.’

’But who?’

And more importantly—

’How?’

’Does their Guild harbor a Regressor aswell?’

Eden remained hidden.

He could attack them now.

He could probably kill one or two before they even reacted.

’But where’s the fun in that?’

There was a much better option.

He watched the group move onward.

They fought another batch of Abyss Creatures.

Then another.

And another.

The Crimson-Crow members were competent.

Very competent.

They moved like an experienced team.

The B-Rank rarely needed to intervene.

Eden followed them quietly.

He watched their stamina decline.

He watched their Essence reserves slowly decrease..

The deeper they went, the more exhausted they became.

Eventually, Eden noticed something strange.

One of the C-Ranks stopped beside a cluster of purple plants.

"Found another one."

He crouched and carefully pulled it from the ground.

Purple leaves.

Thin black veins.

A faint mist surrounding it.

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

The C-Rank placed it inside a sealed container.

Another member did the same farther ahead.

Then another.

’What are they collecting?’

Eden memorized the appearance.

The plants looked poisonous.

Very poisonous.

But clearly, the Crimson-Crow members knew exactly what they were doing.

They didn’t touch the plants directly.

They didn’t consume them.

They simply harvested them.

Eden continued following.

Minutes became half an hour.

Then an hour.

By the time the Crimson-Crow group reached the boss chamber, their condition had changed dramatically.

Their breathing was heavier.

Several had minor injuries.

Their Essence reserves were visibly depleted.

Even the B-Rank was no longer completely fresh.

Eden stopped just outside the chamber.

He looked at the massive stone doors.

Beyond them was the boss.

Though, He wasn’t particularly concerned about the boss.

What looked like the chamber of a giant beast to the Crimson-Crow Awakeneds, was nothing more than a perfect opportunity for an ambush in Eden’s eyes.

Eden smiled.

’Perfect.’

The Crimson-Crow group entered.

Eden followed several seconds later.

The chamber was enormous.

Columns stretched toward the ceiling.

Broken chains hung from the walls.

And at the center stood the Gate’s boss.

A massive Minotaur.

Its body was covered in thick dark fur and scarred armor.

Two enormous horns protruded from its head.

In both hands it held a gigantic war axe.

The moment the group entered, the Minotaur roared.

Rooaaar!

The chamber shook.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

The B-Rank immediately shouted.

"Spread out!"

The group moved.

The Minotaur charged.

Its axe slammed into the ground.

The shockwave threw one of the C-Ranks backward.

"Move!"

The battle began.

Eden watched.

He didn’t interfere.

Not yet.

The Crimson-Crow members fought desperately.

The Minotaur was powerful.

Much more powerful than an ordinary C-Rank Boss.

The group compensated through teamwork.

One distracted it.

Two other attacked its legs.

Two attacked from the sides.

The B-Rank waited for openings.

Eden watched their movements.

’They’re slowing down already.’

One of the C-Ranks stumbled.

Another took a direct hit from the Minotaur’s axe and crashed into a pillar.

The B-Rank shouted.

"Get up!"

The injured C-Rank groaned.

"Trying!"

Eden smiled.

This was the moment.

He deactivated Stealth.

For a fraction of a second, nobody noticed.

Eden’s Aura Blade immediately appeared in his hand.

Purple Essence condensed along its edge.

He stepped forward, swinging once.

Two heads flew into the air.

The two C-Ranks closest to him never even saw the attack.

Their bodies collapsed.

The remaining members froze.

"What—?!"

The B-Rank spun around.

His eyes widened.

Two corpses.

Standing behind them was a young man with black hair and silver eyes.

Eden.

The B-Rank’s expression changed immediately.

"Who the fuck are you?!"

Eden smiled.

"Careful."

"Can you really afford to pay attention to me right now?"

The B-Rank’s Essence exploded.

"You bastard!"

He lunged.

Eden didn’t move.

Instead, he raised one hand.

"Come forth."

The Dark Matter within him surged.

The B-Rank suddenly felt something behind him.

He tried to turn, but it was futile.

A massive black hand emerged from the darkness.

It pierced directly through his chest.

The B-Rank froze.

His eyes widened.

Obsidian stood behind him.

The Black Knight’s hand was buried inside his torso.

For one terrible second, the B-Rank remained standing.

Then Obsidian clenched his fist.

The man’s heart was crushed.

His body went limp.

Obsidian pulled his hand free.

The corpse collapsed.

Silence.

The remaining three C-Ranks stared at Eden.

Then at Obsidian.

Then back at Eden.

Their faces had gone pale.

"Now."

He looked at Obsidian.

"Take care of the Boss."

Obsidian obediently turned.

The enormous Minotaur was already charging.

The Black Knight raised one arm.

The Minotaur swung its axe.

Obsidian caught it.

The impact shook the chamber.

The C-Ranks stared in horror.

Obsidian pushed the axe aside.

Then raised his fist.

Boom!

The Minotaur was launched backward.

Eden turned toward the remaining Crimson-Crow members.

"You can probably guess what happens next."

One of them stumbled backward.

"Wait."

Eden’s eyes remained cold.

"You came here for an S-Rank item."

He stepped toward them.

"So did I."

"Listen—"

"I don’t particularly care."

One C-Rank raised his weapon.

[Burst-Step]

Eden disappeared.

The man barely had time to react.

Eden appeared behind him.

A kick sent him crashing across the chamber.

Another attacked from the side.

Eden blocked.

Countered.

The C-Rank’s arm snapped.

He screamed.

Eden slammed his forehead into the man’s face.

Blood splattered across the floor.

The third C-Rank froze.

Eden looked at him.

"You’re next."

The man’s face twisted with fear.

"Wait!"

Eden didn’t.

The C-Rank attacked desperately.

Eden stepped around the strike and drove his elbow into the man’s stomach.

The impact lifted him from the ground.

Eden followed with a second strike.

Then a third.

The C-Rank crashed against the wall.

Eden grabbed him by the collar.

"Where did you learn about this Gate?"

The man coughed.

"Go... to hell..."

Eden sighed.

"Wrong answer."

He released him.

The man dropped.

Eden glanced toward Obsidian.

The Black Knight was fighting the Minotaur.

And it was already obvious who was winning.

The Minotaur swung its massive axe again.

Obsidian dodged.

The weapon destroyed multiple stone pillars.

Obsidian stepped inside its range.

His fist struck the Minotaur’s abdomen.

The creature bent forward.

Obsidian grabbed its horn.

Then slammed its head into the ground.

Boom!

The floor cracked.

Eden watched.

Even at five percent Dark Matter, Obsidian was terrifying.

And he hadn’t even received Eden’s buff yet.

Eden smiled.

"Let’s make this more interesting."

[Corrupted Surge]

Crimson Essence exploded around him.

His attributes surged.

His Essence output increased.

Then Eden extended his hand toward Obsidian.

The Black Knight looked toward him.

"Let’s see what you can really do."

Eden poured additional Essence through their connection.

Crimson energy spread over Obsidian’s armor.

The Black Knight’s presence exploded.

The Minotaur actually staggered.

Eden grinned.

"Sylvia."

A familiar voice answered inside his head.

[Yes, Master?]

"Give us everything you’ve got."

Sylvia paused.

"Both of you?"

"Both."

"As you command."

Dark Matter surged through Eden.

A second layer of power wrapped around his body.

His attributes climbed again.

Then the same energy poured toward Obsidian.

The Black Knight’s armor darkened.

Its silhouette became sharper.

Its movements became heavier.

More precise.

More dangerous.

Eden could feel the difference immediately.

Corrupted Surge was still the stronger enhancement.

But Dark Matter Manipulation added another layer.

And together, the two powers transformed them into something far more dangerous than either of them had been alone.

Eden looked at his remaining opponents.

Then at Obsidian.

The three C-Ranks slowly backed away.

One of them whispered:

"...What are you?"

Eden smiled.

"That’s not important."

He raised his Aura Blade.

"What matters is that you’re standing between me and my reward."

Obsidian tightened his fist.

The Minotaur roared.

Eden’s crimson Essence surged.

Dark Matter rippled across the chamber.