Read Novel Full Chapter 222: Welcome Party
Chapter 222: Welcome Party
Not bothering to retrieve the [Shard of Truth], Vale followed Greed to the Grand Hub, then the long hallway, and traversed the new and improved maze.
They had expanded and stretched the maze, added a few more misdirections and areas for archers to shoot from. Since employing the new imps, the dungeon grew much more defensible.
’I guess I have Greed to thank for that.’
As odd as it was to think, Vale had somewhat come around to Greed — not simply because of her beauty. But more so, what she’d said about feeling lost and Vale helping her find herself.
It was something Vale could deeply relate to, having struggled with it for the past four, nearly five, months.
He now saw her less as Greed, more as Sylvia.
’Though what she did to me still remains...’
He still had to uphold those awful deals he’d been forced to make.
Deals which included defending Envy in her stead...
Vale might have come around to Greed, but it seemed impossible for a similar happening involving Envy. There was no way the two of them would ever get along.
Reaching the maze’s middle section, they found themselves in an expansive, dome-like area.
This would be the place where strong beats would be lead and where a large amount of Vale’s Legion could congregate if they needed.
The rest of the maze was quite normal in its form.
But... as the two rounded the last corner, they happened upon quite the odd sight.
Vale scratched his cheek.
"Uh, glad to see you enjoyed yourselves."
In front of Vale, all of his forces were crowding the area — his entire Legion. Alongside them was Runcal.
While that was to be expected, seeing as Vale had ordered it to protect them from Greed..
"But what are you all doing?"
Awilix, who was tied up and trapped under Salome’s heel, said:
"Those dumbasses are playing with rocks."
Vale sighed.
"I can see that..."
His gaze followed the cat’s gaze to find Runcal and Toy carefully sorting through a mound of pretty colored rocks.
Awilix rolled around, attempting to free herself from Salome and screamed:
"And that dumbass tried to bite me!"
Over in the far corner, Sivian was being detained by Sapphire, the rest of his generals, and Mias.
’So, is that what happened...’
Sivian bit down on a bubble of water which had molded into a muzzle, then said:
"Then perhaps cease your attempts to scratch me. You’re weak, but your claws are sharp."
Awilix growled and began chomping the air while looking in the snake’s direction.
Salome sighed, then pressed her heel down harder.
"Should we release them, Vale?"
"You can release Sivian, but wait to unleash that one until she calms down."
"That one?! At least call me by my name you—"
With a flurry of quills, Salome choked off Awilix’s words, their sharp points forcing their way into her mouth like a gag.
Greed laughed, then said:
"It seems I caused quite a stir. My apologies. "
"Apologies? Since when have you had such a word in your vocabulary?"
Greed let out a short laugh.
"You people are an interesting bunch."
ale’s eyes narrowed as he studied Greed’s face.
’You people?’
Did she see them as more than property now?
’Or is this all an elaborate attempt to scheme me? Get back at me for daring to resist your plot.’
To make Vale think she had changed.
After all, Greed had not said the friend bit with the [Shard of Truth] around. There was no way to confirm whether her current attitude toward him was an act or genuine. There was the possibility that she was planning for the future. Hoping to make Vale drop his guard, then strike when he’s most vulnerable.
What she’d said before sounded like a creed she lived by:
’There’s no such thing as friends, only business partners.’
Yet, for her interaction with Vale to shift her worldview completely? It was a little hard to believe.
But since doubting her at the moment brought no grace or favor, he shelved his doubts for when he could interrogate her again.
"Oh? Vale, I know I’m a hard woman to look away from, staring at me with that nefarious look in front of your Legion? My, my... surely you—"
"Whatever you were going to say. Keep it in your mind."
Greed gave Vale a sly smile and a nonchalant shrug. A moment later, her head snapped to the side, her eyes narrowing.
"They’re close."
Vale looked toward the entrance and waited in anticipation.
’Pykon, Greed, Runcal.’
Those three... those three could save Ximena.
Hope tugged at Vale’s soul. A hope he’d been trying to ignore in fear that if he exclaimed it something would go wrong.
Vale clenched his fist and took a step forward as two fateful messages rang in his ear.
[A challenger has entered the dungeon]
[A challenger has entered the dungeon]
At the bottom of the ramp at the far end of the hall, Juniper stood still, looking like a pine tree, awaiting his next order. Next to him was a beautiful human woman with flowing red hair.
Clad in bronze armor with a spear and shield in either hand, she looked like a fearsome warrior.
’Pykon.’
The one who could melt Aether.
When she spotted Greed, she knelt and asked:
"Why have you summoned me here, Master?"
Greed gestured toward Vale.
"My friend here needs help to free one of his champions from an Aether structure. I need you to melt it so Runcal can heal her."
Vale tensed at every word that escaped her lips.
Even knowing the soul contract prevented Greed from purposefully failing. That didn’t mean she’d succeed.
Vale shook his head free of thought.
Greed smiled, then said:
"Juniper, go fetch the crystal in the Dungeon Core... not the one on the ground by the throne, but the big one with a woman inside of it."
The pine tree Champion nodded, then disappeared. Well, he hadn’t exactly disappeared, but moved so fast that Vale’s eyes couldn’t follow.
Greed looked at Vale’s bedazzled expression.
"Don’t worry, he can also carry something of that load by his lonesome."
’What a fearsome Champion.’
Quick and strong.
’No wonder Greed wanted to make her journey home with him at her side.’
While the rest stood around, waiting for Juniper, they shared odd looks.
Pykon seemed to have some suspicions about the situation around her.
’Well, obviously...’
Even if she were stronger, foreign entities entirely surrounded the woman. And from her battle-hardened stare, it was obvious she hadn’t overlooked the possibility of an ambush.
Runcal and Toy continued to sort their cool rocks.
Awilix remained tied up and gagged, Salome standing on her. A sight which only confused poor Pykon more.
Then there was her master...
’Who knows how Greed acts behind closed doors with her Champions.’
But it seemed her current demeanor and attitude were not what the red-headed Champion was expecting.
After another awkward two minutes passed, Juniper reappeared, lugging the Crystal Prison. Then, he set it down and stepped away.
When Pykon saw the sight, she muttered:
"Oh, my..."
Greed sighed, then added:
"Yup. Quite the sorry sight."
Runcal looked over, his rock body scraping against itself. Then, he crawled toward Ximena.
Vale stepped away and warned.
"After you free and heal her, get away so her ability doesn’t hurt you."
Greed threw up her hand.
"No need to worry about us on that front..."
Then, Greed took a step toward the Crystal Prison as well.
Juniper dashed over and stood next to Vale. The entire Legion of Lust plus the pine Champion watched as the three studied the crystal.
Greed cryptically asked:
"You two know what you need to do, correct?"
Pykon bowed, and said:
"Of course."
Then her spear folded into a smaller form which she threw into a latch on her back. Now she wielded only the shield. Taking a stance, Pykon held the shield up to the crystal.
Runcal, who couldn’t speak, nodded at Sylvia with a cheerful look on his face.
Greed’s expression hardened as she held her hand out toward the crystal.
"Alright then, on my signal."
She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, then shouted:
"Now!"
Pykon stomped. Her power shot out from her shield and quickly consumed the Crystal Prison, turning the solidified Aether into a mushy pool.
Before Ximena could even fall, Greed used her power of polarity to rip the spear from her side then immediately encased her in a golden shell.
At the same time, pebbles shot out from Runcal’s extended arm. Each stone ball shot into Ximena’s wound and traveled throughout her body like little insects. Each working to either mend her flesh or core.
All the while Ximena’s screamed with tears beginning to flow down her face.
"AAArgh! Gyah!"
Vale stared at his Champion, studying the tears which turned into icy crystals as they fell.
He couldn’t stop himself from running to her side.