Chapter 264: Invaders III
"By the way, Leon, can I drink some of your blood?" Milim suddenly asked, her voice cheerful as always, but her eyes glinting with mischief.
Leon rolled his eyes in response. "And why's that?" he asked as she leaned closer.
"I want to taste what the blood of someone with a ??? Rank feels like," she said, her vampiric fangs briefly flashing into view.
Leon sighed. "I have two ??? Rank abilities, one ??? Rank class, and one Mythical Class now."
"So you've already tasted the blood of someone with ??? Rank something," Leon added dryly.
Milim held his hand, eyes sparkling. "Yes, but now you have three ??? Rank abilities and two ??? Rank classes—so please?" she pleaded with an exaggerated pout.
Leon groaned, giving in. "Fine."
Milim beamed and hugged him excitedly. She gently pushed aside the collar of his shirt and, with a kind of reverence, sank her fangs into his neck—drinking slowly, savoring every drop of the potent, reality-bending energy that flowed within him.
Leon didn't even flinch. He just stood still, arms crossed, muttering, "You better not get addicted to this…"
Milim pulled back a moment later, eyes glowing faintly. "Too late~" she teased, licking her lips.
Leon sighed again, rubbing the spot on his neck where Millim had bitten him. "Great. Just what I need. A hyperactive vampire addicted to my blood."
Millim just giggled, spinning in place like a child on sugar. "You don't understand, Leon! It's so rich. It's like... if chaos and divinity had a child and then infused it with raw destiny!"
Naval raised a brow, arms crossed. "That sounds… incredibly concerning."
Roselia narrowed her eyes at Millim. "If you start getting stronger just from drinking his blood, we're going to have to set some rules."
"Too late for that too~" Millim said, twirling and then cracking her knuckles. "I feel amazing! Not just in power, but like... I could punch fate in the face!"
Leon stared blankly. "That's not... a good thing."
Roman shook his head, muttering under his breath, "We've gone from Voidbreakers to vampire buff parties."
"Focus," Liliana cut in, serious as always. "We've dealt with one Harbinger. There will be more. And if their strength scales like this..."
"We just have to commit to growing stronger and getting better," Leon said as they nodded. After a short rest, they returned to the Association and reported on the Harbinger. The receptionist thanked them and processed their contribution points.
As they stepped out of the Association building, Leon stretched and said, "Well, now we're free to go as we please. There are no more invaders on this floor."
"So, how about doing a dungeon dive and farming some resources to level up?" Roselia suggested, and the others nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I need to get some materials. I want to upgrade my gear," Navala added, stretching her arms.
"Alright then, let's go," Leon said, and the rest nodded enthusiastically as rain started to lightly drizzle over the tower floor.
The rain pattered softly around them, casting a thin mist across the stone roads as the group made their way toward the nearest dungeon gate. The atmosphere was calm—eerily calm—after the chaos of the Harbinger.
Roselia adjusted her cloak, glancing up at the gray sky. "It's been a while since we had a peaceful walk like this. No ambush, no corrupted monsters… Feels strange."
Leon smirked slightly. "Don't jinx it."
Millim, still grinning and energized from earlier, bounced beside Leon. "I hope the dungeon's got something fun this time. Maybe a big dragon! Or a cursed temple!"
Roman raised an eyebrow. "I'd prefer no curses. Or dragons. Just a clean run with decent loot."
Navala let out a soft chuckle. "You're no fun. I say bring on the chaos. Let's see what the Voidbreaker's luck attracts today."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly as they approached the gate. It shimmered with a violet hue, older and more arcane than the standard dungeon entries. An inscription hovered just above the portal:
[Floor-Synced Special Dungeon: Trial of Echoes – Danger Level: Unknown]
"Not marked on the standard dungeon list," Roman noted. "And 'Unknown' danger level? Should we…?"
Leon stepped forward without hesitation. "We're not weaklings. We've taken down a Harbinger. Whatever's inside, we adapt and win."
Roselia smirked. "That's the spirit."
They all placed a hand on the gate's sigil, and the light pulled them through.
As the world twisted around them and the Trial of Echoes accepted its new challengers, far above—in the realms where ancient eyes watched—one more thread of fate was pulled taut.
And the voice that once whispered across the stars returned once more.
"So the Voidbreaker chooses to walk deeper. Very well… Let the next veil fall."
The light of the portal faded, and the group landed on ancient, cracked marble—its surface whispering with distant echoes of battles long past.
They stood at the entrance of a vast coliseum-like structure built into the side of a mountain, the sky above them painted in shifting shades of violet and obsidian. The wind carried faint chants—unintelligible, yet heavy with sorrow and pride.
Millim blinked. "Okay... this place feels different."
Navala drew her sword slightly, sensing the lingering energy. "No monsters nearby… but something's watching us. I can feel it."
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the mist ahead—armored in ceremonial silver, face hidden behind a mask of stone and starlight.
A deep, echoing voice followed:
"Welcome to the Trial of Echoes. Here, only those who seek to surpass themselves may proceed. You do not fight monsters here... you fight what you could have been."
Roman stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "What does that even mean?"
The armored figure raised its hand. A surge of energy enveloped the party—splitting the space around each of them, until six glowing gates formed in a circle.
From each gate stepped out a version of themselves, but changed—twisted by choices never made.
Roselia stared at her mirror-self: clad in black and wearing the crown of a fallen empire.
Roman faced a version of himself wielding voidfire, eyes cold, a mercenary who had abandoned everything for power.