The air within the rift felt heavier, charged with a strange, lingering tension as Yomi trailed behind Aeloria and Lirien. In his arms, the beast girl remained asleep, her shallow breaths the only sound beyond the faint echoes of their steps. The jagged walls seemed to hum faintly, the aftermath of chaos still clinging to the atmosphere.
As they passed the lifeless Abyssal Ravagers strewn across the floor, Yomi heard a familiar voice intruding into his thoughts.
"[Subspace has been created. Collection has begun.]"
His jaw clenched as the words reverberated through his mind. "Whatever you are," he muttered under his breath, "shut up already."
Both Aeloria and Lirien turned abruptly, their eyes locking on Yomi with equal parts concern and confusion.
"Drakesh?" Lirien asked, her voice soft but cautious. "Is everything... alright?"
He forced a grin, adjusting the beast girl in his arms as he gestured dismissively. "Don't mind me. Just keep moving," he said, waving them forward.
As the two women turned back, he sighed heavily, his breath visible in the cold, oppressive air. I probably look like a madman, he mused, shaking his head.
The system's incessant commentary gnawed at his nerves, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the path ahead.
They passed the enormous, shimmering water body that seemed to ripple faintly despite no visible disturbances.
"Collection complete."
Yomi ignored the system entirely, his focus narrowing as they approached the far side of the chamber. There, a massive door loomed, its intricate carvings of chaotic beasts and flowing waters etched with glowing runes. Unlike the previous one, this door was slightly ajar, an ominous invitation to whatever lay beyond.
He knelt down and gently placed the beast girl on the cold stone floor, ensuring she was comfortable. Standing, he flexed his arms, stretching his thin but wiry muscles as he strode past Aeloria and Lirien, his intent clear.
"Dr-a'kesh," Lirien stuttered, her voice catching as she spoke. "Do you need to... um, do something to... me?"
Yomi stopped mid-step, raising an eyebrow. Then, realization dawned on him, and he couldn't help but let out a low chuckle, his lips curling into a sly smile.
"There's no need. I can manage," he said, his tone teasing but calm.
Lirien's face turned an instant shade of crimson, and she looked down, embarrassed beyond words. Aeloria, on the other hand, stared at her companion in utter disbelief. "Lirien," she hissed, "what exactly are you suggesting?"
"N-nothing! I just—" Lirien stammered, burying her face in her hands as Aeloria rolled her eyes.
Yomi, still smirking, gestured toward the door. "Let's move. Stay close," he instructed, his tone shifting to one of seriousness.
The three stepped cautiously into the next chamber, its vastness swallowing them as darkness curled around the edges. The faint glow of runes etched into the floor provided the only light, their patterns twisting into an ominous spiral that seemed to pulse faintly as if alive.
The trio stepped cautiously into the vast chamber, the air thick with a sense of ancient power and mystery. As their feet crossed the threshold, the walls began to hum softly, and suddenly, torches mounted along the walls ignited one by one, their flames flaring to life in synchronized bursts. The glow spread rapidly, illuminating the chamber and causing all four of them to freeze in awe.
The room was a treasure hoard beyond imagination. Mountains of gold coins shimmered under the flickering light, casting a dazzling glow. Jewels of every color spilled over ornate chests, while gleaming relics and weapons lay scattered among the riches. But what caught their eyes most was the pedestal in the center of the room. Hovering above it were two slim swords, their blades glowing faintly, as if imbued with some mystical energy.
Aeloria, Lirien, and even the beast girl, who had only just regained some awareness, gasped audibly. None of them had ever seen such vast wealth in their lives.
"This… this is unreal," Aeloria murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Lirien remained silent for a moment, her wide eyes darting between the treasure and the swords. "We actually conquered a high-tier dungeon…" she blurted out suddenly, her voice breaking the silence.
The realization hit Aeloria like a tidal wave. "A red dungeon," she repeated, her tone laced with astonishment and dread. Her mind raced with the implications, but one thought lingered. She glanced at Yomi, whose face remained unreadable. Deep down, both women knew the truth: without Yomi, they wouldn't have made it past the first chamber.
Who is this Dra'kesh, really? Aeloria thought, her wariness returning despite her gratitude. If he could defeat the boss alone, why wait until now to show his strength?
Yomi, oblivious to their thoughts, casually picked up a gold coin, inspecting it under the torchlight before tossing it back onto the pile. The clang echoed through the chamber. 'My coffers were larger than this,' he thought to himself, the memory of his past life flashing in his mind.
Walking toward the pedestal, Yomi's focus shifted to the twin swords hovering above it. Their design was sleek, their blades perfectly balanced and humming with latent power. He reached out, grasping one of the swords and inspecting it with a critical eye.
"Decent enough," he said to himself. "Durable, but not my style." Without hesitation, he grabbed the second sword and turned toward Lirien.
"Here," he said, tossing the swords to her.
Lirien scrambled to catch them, her eyes wide with shock. She stared at the twin swords in her hands, marveling at their exquisite craftsmanship. They felt almost alive, perfectly balanced and fitting as if crafted just for her. "These… what rank are they?" she whispered, awe-struck.
"They're yours," Yomi said simply.
"What?" Lirien's head snapped up, her expression incredulous. "No, you conquered this dungeon. The spoils belong to you."
Yomi shrugged, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I can't use them. Might as well go to someone who can."
Before Lirien could argue further, the chamber began to quake violently. Dust fell from the ceiling as the walls groaned under the strain of some unseen force.
"What's happening?" Yomi demanded, glancing around sharply.
"The rift… it's resetting!" Aeloria shouted, panic lacing her voice.
"How do we get out of here?" Yomi yelled back.
As if answering his question, a shimmering blue portal began to materialize at the far end of the chamber. The glowing vortex pulsed with energy, drawing their attention immediately.
"There!" Lirien pointed. "Grab what you can! We need to move!"
Everyone scrambled to collect as many coins and treasures as they could carry. Yomi, in a hurry, ripped his torn tunic and used it as a makeshift sack, piling in gold coins with efficiency.
"[Collection commencing,]" the system suddenly echoed in Yomi's mind.
"What now?" Yomi muttered, irritated. "Fine, do whatever!"
The system hummed in response, but Yomi ignored it, focusing on the task at hand. With their arms full of treasure, the group sprinted toward the portal, the chamber quaking more violently with every passing second.
As they reached the portal, Yomi glanced back one last time at the shimmering treasure hoard before stepping through, leaving the collapsing rift behind.