Lust rushed at Hella, bringing out her claws to attack her, but contrary to her expectations, Hella seemed to have expected this attack and had already launched her riposte. She held out her right arm, palm open towards Lust, who was charging at her head down, before reciting an incantation that caused a red magic circle to appear in front of her and another below the succubus's feet.
Without even realising what was happening, lust was hit in the face by an explosion that sent her tumbling backwards. But before she could recover, she was hit by another, followed by a third, then a fourth and so on until she had ten. The blast propelled the succubus backwards, smashing her violently against the far wall. Wounded, the succubus got to her feet and stared at Hella for a while, saying to herself
- You filthy monster!
Before taking flight and flying over Hella with great speed in an attempt to flee the room. She was very quick and had almost reached the exit door when suddenly her wings disappeared, sending her tumbling to the ground.
- What? It's not possible. But wings...they...they dispruuuues!!!
she exclaimed before realising that Hella, who had been in the centre of the room, was now right behind her. Shocked and surprised, she screamed, shielding her head with both hands.
- Nooo wait, don't kill me, I don't want to die. I don't want to die. Please.
- You beg for mercy and yet you don't hesitate to attack me at the slightest opportunity. You've got a lot of nerve.
- I was only defending myself. You adventurers kill indiscriminately, so I acted out of reflex. But I won't do it again. I swear I won't.
- You swear it? But in whose name? Besides, I'm not an adventurer and I don't give a damn about your life. You told me you know where Assu, the master of this landing, is, so I'm listening.
- All right, I'll tell you everything, but if you're not an adventurer, then what are you doing here, and why are you looking for this monster?
- It's none of your business and my patience is wearing thin.
- That's right! Yes, I'll tell you where it is. In fact it's on the third floor of this landing. In fact, they're all there.
- All of them? Why?
- I don't know, but lately they've all been weird. They were regularly raiding outside the dungeon and bringing lots of weapons with them. I even heard Assu talking about overthrowing the dungeon master.
Hella wasn't surprised by his words and kept her cool before asking
- Overthrow the master?
- Apparently, Amon the Almighty has given up his title to someone else, a female who is also human. Since then, Assu has been on edge and has sworn to kill the human who humiliated him. According to him.
- That explains it.
- In any case, she's a brave human. Even if I'm still shocked to know that Master Amon has given up his title. I'm sure the human gave him a good wipe on the tail, otherwise I can't think of any other reason for it. Maybe she even got down on all fours for him. Humans will stop at nothing to satisfy their desires. They are sinful creatures, capable of bringing any male, human or demon, to his knees. Their bodies are simply indecent and they know how to use them to their advantage. All the same, I wonder what it's like to bang the undisputed and invincible king of the dungeon. Haaa that must be an epic feeling.
- And you say that to a human? And for your information, I didn't sleep with Amon, we just made a contract!
- What? Whatiiiiiii? What do you mean ... you're the woman everyone's talking about?
- Yes, I'm the mistress of Amon's dungeon.
- Incredibly, I thought it was strange that you were so powerful, but I can't sense your mana. It's probably because you're far too strong. Yes, so powerful that you're not even going to bother punishing a poor succubus like me, who'll never be so tongue-tied again hahaha
Pronounced lust with an expression of fear, as if to convince hella not to punish her for what she had just said. But hella paid little attention to her words and quickly moved on to other things.
- So Assu is on the third floor of this landing? That's fine. All I have to do now is get there.
With this information, hella left Assu's room before heading for the third floor of the landing. Despite having refused several times, Hella was obliged to let Lust come with her as a guide. She insisted so much that she finally gave in. To get to the third floor, hella decided to use the door to which she alone had the key. She opened the door to the third floor and allowed lust to go through and accompany her.
The existence of this key and the door confirmed to lust that Hella was indeed the new mistress of the dungeon. They passed through the door together and found themselves in another long, wide and poorly lit corridor in the dungeon. Without delay, Hella asked lust to guide her towards Assu. To which she replied
- Immediately! This way.
- Go on, I'll follow you.
- Good! Follow me.
On the third floor on the way to Assu, Hella found Lust annoying, talking non-stop. She couldn't stop and tried at all costs to make conversation with her travelling companion. She took advantage of the situation to tell Hella her story, a very long story, when Hella finally interrupted her by saying
- Don't bother! It's bad enough that I'm not interested, but you'd better not take the wrong road.
- That's mean. I'm telling you about my sad and tragic life as a succubus. A racism without equal in history. OK, I'll make it short. I was saying that succubi were once the servants of the demon king sins. Back then, they all lived on the fourth floor and were part of the demon parade. But after incurring the wrath of the demon king, they were all chased from the fourth to the first floor. They thought they could live quietly and peacefully on this floor, far from all this suffering, but they didn't count on the help of Assu, the master of the landing. Assu and his subordinates set themselves the task of hunting down and annihilating all the succubi present on this floor, and it was a real carnage in our ranks - and what's more, they weren't the only ones. The adventurers who visited this landing also took on the task of exterminating all the succubi. It even happened that monsters from this level teamed up with adventurers to attack us. They had no reason or anything to hunt us down with such anger and hatred, and yet they did it. Have you ever seen such a level of racism? Just because we were succubi. Today, I am the last succubus in Amon's dungeon. The last representative of an endangered species and it's well known that endangered species should be protected and helped, isn't it?
Lust had been telling her story for several minutes, but Hella was more preoccupied with other things than the story she was being told. She didn't even pay any attention to what Lust was saying because her mind was elsewhere, on a much more serious matter for her.
- Why the hell is she wearing ultra sexy lingerie when I have to make do with granny panties? I feel like punching her now.
- Here we come!
Lust said. Straight ahead of them was a light, as if the immense corridor were coming to an end. Without further ado, they headed for the light at the end of the corridor. When they arrived, they discovered a combat arena in which two ogres were fighting. The other ogres were watching and enjoying the show while Assu himself sat on his throne enjoying the spectacle. There must have been a hundred ogres there, forming a large circle around the two fighters and armed with various weapons.
Hella watched the duel to the end, using her cursed eye. It was a barbaric duel based purely and simply on a show of strength. The two fighters exchanged blows so violently that, by the end of the fight, it was difficult to tell who had won unless the loser was on the ground bleeding to death to the laughter and delight of the other ogres.
At the end of the duel, hella turned to lust and said
- Tell me lust, have you mastered a diversionary spell? Something that can capture all their attention?
- Yes, why?
- Good! Hide well and on my signal, I want you to create a diversion. You said they wiped out your people, right? So that means we have a common enemy, right?
- A common enemy...right. I'll do as you say.
Lust immediately transformed into a small imp that could easily be held in her palm, before flying high into the room. As for Hella, she walked to the centre of the ring, crossing the boundaries formed by the bodies of the spectating ogres. She stopped dead in the centre, startling all the ogres, before saying aloud, looking at Assu, seated at the back of his throne
- Assu, master of the first level, I order you to come and explain yourself.
Assu himself was very surprised to see Hella here. The mere sight of her sent him into a black rage. He rose from his throne and walked to the centre of the ring. He got quite close to Hella before violently planting his Massu on the ground. His imposing silhouette and the strength that emanated from it totally eclipsed hella's, who seemed very small in front of him and his monster-like build.
- Well, if it isn't our master humn (human).
- I seem to have asked a question. I ordered a troop of goblins and grey wolves from your level to go on a mission, so I want you to tell me why my order hasn't been carried out yet.
- I think you're rash to come all the way up here to ask me that. Yes, I said that no one would leave without my permission, so what's the problem?
- I'm your mistress and you owe me obedience, so why? Is this rebellion on your part, Assu?
- That seems obvious enough to me. I don't obey a weakling, not a female, not a humn (human). So why should I obey you who is weak, a female and a human. Only strength gives order and I am the strongest. I am the great Assu.
The ogres present shouted loudly, showing their support, joy and pride in their leader and his words. Hella bit her lips before adding
- You have no choice, Assu, you owe me obedience. You swore to me.
- When did I do that? When did I bow to a weak humn, me the great Assu, when? Stupid humn Ghaghaghaghaghaghaghaghagha
Assu's words awoke several feelings in Hella, but the most obvious was concern. As Assu laughed out loud, Hella wondered about the words he had just spoken. She thought in her head
- When did I do that? "But of course, when did he do that?
Hella then recalled the scene where Assu had come to swear his loyalty and something seemed to bother her. But she didn't have time to put her finger on the problem, because after she'd finished laughing, Assu lifted his enormous club before adding
- Poor humn, at least you saved me the effort of going looking for you. I'm a proud warrior. I'd never obey a female, especially not a humn. Now you're going to die.
Assu raised his club to the sky, looking down at Hella. As he gathered his strength, Hella looked at him expressionlessly. She was totally lost in thought and didn't even react to Assu's act. It was as if she had just realised something so shocking and important that she could no longer see what was happening around her.
Assu gathered his strength in his club before preparing to bring it down on hella. But just as Assu was bringing down his giant hammer on Hella, another ogre rushed into the ring and prevented him from doing so, carrying Hella out of reach of the attack which shattered the ground several metres around them.
The act of rescue had surprised everyone. Assu himself was surprised and wondered why this ogre, who must have been totally loyal to him, had committed such a folly as to save the life of his enemy. The veil was quickly lifted on the mystery of such an act when the ogre began to disappear little by little like a mirage, to be replaced by a young dark-haired man, wearing red armour and a beautiful sword on his back with a smile on his lips, holding Hella in his arms like a princess. He then said
- Well, I didn't expect to run into another adventurer here. I don't know what you were planning to do, but you should know that this fat man is the boss of this landing. A beginner like you will never be able to beat him. Leave it to me, pretty lady.
Assu, filled with anger at such a statement, said
- Another humn. Who are you?
- Me? I'm Ralf, a true hero and A-rank adventurer to serve all these ladies.
The man carried Hella in his arms with a confident smile. At the same time, footsteps could be heard from the other side of the room. Everyone turned towards the door, staring intently, when four more ogres appeared at the entrance. The four of them stood in front of the crowd, staring at him, then at each other, before the first one spoke up
- It's not true, he's doing it again. Pronounced 1
- What do we do now that the surprise effect is no longer possible? 2
- Who cares, we'll do as we said. 3
- In that case, can I cut it all off? 4
- Yes, and we don't need his hideous disguises any more. 1
These four ogres also turned out to be humans transformed into ogres. The first was an archer, the second was a young boy priest wearing silver armour, the third was an old mage with a long beard and the fourth was a blonde swordsman with curly hair. When they appeared in the room, the other ogres flew into a rage. They all pounced on the small group that had just arrived.
- Divine patience!!!
uttered the young priest of the group as he cast a spell that slowed down the opponent, making them slower than chameleons. He then added
- The spell won't last long, take advantage of it!
The others didn't waste any time before attacking. The archer in turn used an arrow multiplication spell that allowed him to kill six or seven ogres easily by aiming for the head with one blow. The warrior charged into the crowd with her rapiers, severing the limbs of any ogres within range, and the old mage raised his staff to the sky, quoting an incantation before shouting
- Slaughter! Lightning bolt!
As the name suggests, a very powerful lightning bolt struck the enemy from his staff, striking all the ogres within range. This is how they managed to counter the ogres' offensive.
Meanwhile, Ralf, who was carrying Hella, made a leap and approached his comrades.
- You guys are lagging behind.
- Idiot, we were right behind you and what possessed you to rush off like that? Replies the archer
- There's no need to get angry, Linale. replied Ralph.
- By the way, Ralph, who is that young girl? asked the old mage
- Ah, she was in trouble with the boss when I arrived, and seeing the danger, I decided to rescue her! Ralph replied
- What's your name?
Linale asked Hella, but she didn't answer.
- ... ... ...
- It's all right, just leave her, given the state of things her team must surely have been wiped out. She may even be the only survivor. She's probably in shock, so it's best not to rush her. Pronounced the warrior
- In that case, I'll bless her.
Pronounced the young priest as he approached Hella and Ralph. He held out his hand and a magic circle appeared before he said
- Support of the angel.
A purification technique used by priests to provide psychological support for their allies. In this way, they can keep their minds calm and cool despite danger and fear. But when the young priest cast his spell on hella, he noticed a small problem
- What's going on?
- A problem, Ander? asked the warrior
- Well, the spell isn't working on her.
The discussion was interrupted when a terrifying scream filled the room. It was Assu's cry of anger. He raised his club and struck it against the ground again, causing a tremor that calmed everyone in the room. He ordered his ogre troop to stand back and not get involved.
- The false mistress, the reckless humns, I'm going to beat them all to a pulp.
declared Assu. The troop of adventurers immediately got into a combat situation when the old mage said
- Go on Ander, it's time!
Ander, the priest took out a magic parchment from his bag and summoned an artefact. The artefact resembled a chess rook almost two metres long. The priest then uttered an incantation
- Veil of hope and despair, let light and shadow mingle in the cage of the wingless bird: Activation!
In reaction to the incantation, the artefact began to glow, creating a dome of mana in the room from its extremities. The few ogres inside all collapsed from exhaustion immediately. Assu himself fell to his knees, putting one hand on the ground. The old mage resumed
- This artefact is truly incredible and exceptional. As the saint told us, it can divide the strength of monsters by ten with no effect on humans. It's terrifying!
- It's a gift from a saint, so let's do her proud by bringing her what we promised in exchange for this artefact. Added Ander
- So we'll do as we said, Ralph, Célestine and I will take care of the big monster. Ander, concentrate on the artefact and the old man, collect as much pure Mana as you can, in short, let's go!
Pronounced Linale as she gave the go-ahead. The whole troop immediately moved into position to attack Assu, who stood up as best he could before letting out a loud cry of anger and rage.