Chapter 361: _Grown Too Much Of A Conscience

Elsewhere In The Snow Dungeon

"Whoa." Alisha came to a halt, head rising to meet the turbulence in the skies ahead. "All that... Aether."

The sky ignited with an icy blue light for miles, devastating roars shaking above and even breaking apart sections of the snow-covered earth below.

Devon, who knew clearly what or rather, who was behind it, rolled his shoulders. "The beasts in this dungeon are just insane."

"I’m sorry," April, the S-Rank Esper whom Ambrose had discreetly helped the duo find, spoke up behind them, "but since the four of us have found each other, can’t we just leave?"

"Yeah." Her A-Rank Guide nodded beside her. "I mean, I was already considering leaving before we found you guys—ow." An elbow jab from April shut him up. "Oh, I mean... You know how these missions go these days. Dungeon raids no longer have the routines we’re used to."

Alisha responded before anyone else could speak. "My partner and our friend are both still out there." She shook her head. "You two can find your way outta here if you want. We aren’t leaving without them."

She continued walking while Devon nodded.

"Yeah, sorry guys."

As the two S-Ranks kept on following the path ahead, April stood there, not knowing whether to sit on the ground, cry or choke herself.

But her face remained a mask of calm as she tapped her A-Rank partner.

"See, Zane?"

The A-Rank clicked his tongue. "I told you we should just leave while we can."

"And again..." she gestured vaguely. "... We’ll do that when you can accurately point out where the Rift is without getting us lost..." Her boots moved through the thick snow. "In the meantime, I’ll stick with what I said. The more people we find, the better our chances."

She’d barely taken a couple steps forward when Zane groaned. He scurried after her, head turning behind them in case any beasts were lurking.

Meanwhile, Ambrose’s wings flapped with a thunderous beat as he landed on the charred snow littered with the splintered corpses of the tree monsters.

[Orion’ssealIntegrity: 6%.]

Shit, shit, fucking shit!

’We need to get the hell out of here already.’ He turned his head to the Veyr barrier.

He already knew the location of the Rift’s exit thanks to spatial awareness. In the last couple of months, his range for spatial awareness and Death sense had each gotten massive boosts.

All he needed to do now was lead the other Hunters to find each other, guide them to the Rift, and then bounce back to Earth with the black key.

Originally he was just going to grab Viktor and Devon... then Alisha and Trina, of course. Alas, he’d grown too much of a conscience.

’Devon. There’s something up with Orion.’ He reached into the fire type’s mind. ’I know where the remaining Hunters are. Including Trina. She’s hiding in a cave about a mile south from you guys’ current position. Alongside two Espers.’

’Wait, really?’ Devon mentally huffed. ’What—’

’You have to hurry. Five wolf-type beasts are closing in on her. Fast.’

Devon paled, stopping in his tracks long enough for Alisha to notice.

"Dev? What’s wrong?"

Devon didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes remained fixed ahead, but they had long stopped seeing the frozen path before him. A strange pressure brushed against his thoughts, familiar enough to make the corner of his lips twitch.

A second later, a stream of information flooded across the permanent link.

Showing coordinates and distance of a cave nearly a mile south of their current position.

Devon exhaled through his nose, hiding the relief that almost escaped him.

’Thanks.’

The connection disappeared as quickly as it’d come.

"What is it?" Alisha asked again, her voice sharper this time.

Devon blinked, forcing himself back into the moment before turning toward her.

"I think I saw something."

"You... saw something?"

He nodded while pointing toward the sky. "I’m gonna get a better view."

Before anyone could ask what exactly he meant—

BOOOOM!

Orange flames erupted beneath his boots.

Devon shot skyward like a rocket, leaving behind a pillar of fire that made both April and Zane instinctively shield their faces.

"Show off," Alisha muttered.

High above the snow-covered forest, Devon slowed his ascent, flames dispersing into harmless embers around him. From this height, he could indeed see farther than everyone else.

And, conveniently... Exactly where Ambrose had said.

Near a jagged cliffside, several enormous snow wolves prowled around the entrance of a cave, their noses constantly sniffing the air as though they had already caught the scent of prey hiding within.

Devon let his gaze linger for another second before descending. He landed with a crunch, boots digging into the snow.

"I was right. I found something."

Alisha’s head snapped toward him. "You what?"

"A cave." He pointed south. "There are people inside. And beasts closing in."

Without waiting for another heartbeat, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"What the—"

Orange fire exploded beneath them again.

The pair blasted into the air, leaving April and Zane behind in a swirl of hot wind.

"We’ll come back for you!" Devon shouted over his shoulder.

Their voices disappeared almost immediately.

Silence settled.

Zane slowly turned toward April.

"...So..."

"So..."

"We just got abandoned?"

April folded her arms. "I prefer to think of it as... tactical temporary separation."

Zane stared at her. "That’s literally abandonment with extra words."

★★★★★

Seconds later, Devon and Alisha descended above the cave.

The wolves noticed them far too late.

Alisha’s sonic blast erupted first.

The nearest beast was launched sideways, smashing through three snow-covered trees before going still.

Devon followed immediately.

Twin streams of fire burst from both palms, engulfing another wolf before it could even react.

Unlike the monstrous Tree Titans, these creatures burned fast, howling aggressively.

"A-Ranks..." Alisha muttered, dodging snapping jaws before driving a fist straight at another wolf’s skull. "Still ugly though."

The remaining wolves hesitated.

One glance at the burning corpses of their companions was enough for instinct to kick in.

The surviving beasts retreated into the forest with low, frustrated growls.

Devon released a slow breath. "We’re clear."

For several moments... Nothing happened.

Then the cave entrance stirred.

Three figures cautiously stepped outside.

Trina’s eyes widened the instant she recognised them.

"Alisha!" She broke into a sprint.

Alisha barely had time to open her arms before the woman crashed into them, hugging her so tightly they nearly toppled over.

"Oh, thank God." Trina’s voice shook with relief. "I thought... I thought nobody was coming."

Alisha smiled, gently rubbing the back of her head. "We’ve got you, buttercup."

★★★★★

Miles away, Ambrose finally relaxed his shoulders.

Forty-five intact S-Rank cores floated inside his inventory.

Not bad at all.

[Estimatedvaluepercore: 40,000–50,000 Seduction Coins.]

His lips curved despite everything. ’That’s... a manageable amount of money.’

Even Aura sounded impressed.

[Congratulations. The host has just completed one of the largest harvests recorded since the System’s activation.]

’We’ll celebrate later.’ His attention shifted toward the permanent links. ’Viktor. Devon.’

Both immediately answered. ’Yeah?’

’The remaining Hunters have all been located. I’ll transmit everyone’s positions now, alongside the Rift’s exact location. Gather them and get out of this world as quickly as possible.’

A brief silence followed.

Then Viktor’s amused voice echoed through the link. ’...And here I thought mysterious dragon gods weren’t supposed to act as GPS.’

’Oh, shut up.’ He ended the conversation before either of them could tease him further.

The illusion dissolved, the colossal dragon rapidly shrinking until only Ambrose remained, boots crunching softly against the snow.

He took one last glance toward the distant Veyr settlement. Then toward the black key resting quietly in his hand.

’I’m coming, little urchin.’

Without another word, Ambrose disappeared into the frozen woods.