A month passed since Rae's arrival in the shadow realm. During that time, she learned more about her companions and gained what she believed to be a deeper understanding of this enigmatic world. The Devil Queen, Lucifer, was unrelenting in her insistence that Rae grow stronger, emphasizing that she would need Rae as her anchor in the material plane—the realm where mortals and the four races resided.
Lucifer explained that beings banished to the other planes of existence by the celestials could not sustain themselves in the material realm. For their return, they required summoning by a powerful individual capable of maintaining their materialization. This process demanded not only immense strength but also precise control over mana.
Rae became increasingly intrigued by her companions. Eleanor, with her mastery of fire, conjured every fire magic circle Rae ever created, even though Rae never taught her. It was as if Eleanor possessed a library of Rae's magical knowledge within her mind. Even Eleanor seemed puzzled by this phenomenon, though Rae suspected it might be linked to the telepathic bond they shared.
Then there was Cilia, the foreign princess, who remained an enigma. Her abilities were unlike anything Rae encountered, sparking endless curiosity. However, Rae had little time to fully explore them. The telepathic connection between them became evident when Cilia shared vivid memories with her, a link Rae found both unsettling and intriguing. She wondered if this bond might explain Cilia's apparent obsession with her.
The Devil Queen harbored a seething hatred for the celestials. According to her, they ruled the material plane from the shadows, suppressing anyone who grew too powerful. Rae was warned that she, too, would likely become their target.
One revelation unsettled Rae most of all: Lucifer suggested that the four races inhabiting the material plane were not its original inhabitants. While the Devil Queen lacked definitive proof, she was adamant that this must be true, as the denizens of other planes despised them with an intensity that hinted at deeper truths.
Now, the time came for Rae to return to the material plane. Her passage would be through the Sea of Shadows, an abyssal expanse that connected to all shadows across the planes of existence. The sea, mysterious and incomprehensible, seemed to "know" where travelers needed to go. For Rae, it would take her back to the dungeon she fled from a month earlier. Though she was uncertain how much time passed in the material realm, she was determined to confront the drake once more—and this time, she would not face it alone.
When everything was ready, Lucifer cast Rae and her companions into the Sea of Shadows. Darkness enveloped them, pressing against their senses like a suffocating void. Then, as suddenly as it began, light pierced through the abyss, and they emerged back in the dungeon.
"Welcome back, challengers," a deep, resonant voice echoed through the cavern. "The rules remain the same. To proceed to the next level, you must defeat me."
The drake loomed before them, its massive, terrifying frame just as Rae remembered. But this time, she wasn't alone. She had her team. The plan she had carefully devised played out in her mind: instead of targeting its neck, which she had attempted in her previous battle, they would exploit its vulnerable points—its eyes, nose, and mouth. Each member of the team had a critical role to play.
Rae began the fight, using her vampiric speed to disorient the drake. She weaved around its massive form, drawing its attacks and forcing it to expend energy. When the timing was right, she cast gravity magic, anchoring the creature's enormous body to the ground. The immense pressure from the spell pinned it in place, limiting its mobility.
Eleanor followed next, firing long-range arrows infused with fire magic, aiming for the drake's eyes. The gravitational currents Rae maintained amplified the power of the arrows, transforming them into massive, blazing projectiles. However, one arrow missed its mark and struck the ceiling, dislodging a colossal rock. The boulder plummeted onto the drake's head, dealing heavy damage. Though unintentional, the strike caused blood to spill, which Cilia immediately exploited with her blood magic.
The drake's movements became more frantic, thrashing against the crushing force of gravity. Rae noticed the pain in its erratic motions. When the drake attempted to aim its mouth at them to unleash its fiery breath, the spell forced its jaws shut. The flames it intended to release burned its own throat instead.
Rae felt the strain as her mana reserves began to wane, the gravity magic consuming a substantial amount of energy. In that brief window of weakness, the drake lashed out with its tail, swinging it toward Eleanor with alarming speed. But before the attack could land, the tail suddenly fell limp. Blood poured from every orifice of the drake's body. Though its outer form remained unscathed, it was clear its internal organs had been obliterated.
Rae's gaze snapped to Cilia, who stood pale and visibly drained. Was this her doing? The sheer destructiveness of her blood magic was both awe-inspiring and deeply unsettling.
Though exhausted, Rae's high mana recovery rate allowed her to quickly share some of her energy with Cilia, restoring color to her face. Eleanor, though visibly shaken, had escaped unscathed.
As the drake's corpse disintegrated, two objects remained in its place: a strange device resembling a flash drive and a sapphire ring. Rae picked them up, turning them over in her hands. Were these the dungeon's treasures for defeating the beast? What secrets or powers did they hold?
The gate ahead began to glow, its surface shimmering with luminous inscriptions that flickered briefly before vanishing. As it swung open, Rae felt an unexpected surge of strength course through her body. It was as though her very essence had elevated. Was this what it meant to level up?