The Dreamer's POV

[00 Months: 15 Days: 14 Hours]

'Let's see what we have here…'

As I surveyed the room, my gaze fell upon the remnants of Endo's once proud form, now a collection of dismembered parts.

Amongst the grotesque scene, two items glinted - a necklace and a pair of boots.

The sight of them ignited a spark of recognition within me. I had seen similar items in the System interface.

They weren't just ordinary objects, they were Special Items from the System.

But how could a Native of Mage'Earth like Endo possess them? Enjoy more content from M-V-L

'Could it be…? Even the Butcher Knife he used to attack me was also from the System?'

I had used my <Absolute Appraisal> Skill on the Captain in my fight with him, but back then I didn't pay much mind to the fact that he had three Items displaying 'equipped'.

'Come to think of it, when I used <Absolute Appraisal> on the Duke, I was told he was equipping nothing recognized by the System.'

The fact that Endo had three Items with him as a Native meant he had access to a Survivor somewhat.

'If I consider it, there are two major possibilities here…'

The first possibility that came to my mind was that a Survivor from Earth had given them to Endo. Perhaps in an act of desperation or barter.

But as I mused over this theory, I found it hard to believe. Endo had shown no sign of betraying the Alliance, and for him to risk such a valuable trade seemed unlikely.

'Besides, if a Survivor had these Items, I doubt Endo would be a match for them. They would most likely be the ones to dominate Endo.'

A darker thought crept into my mind at that moment.

What if the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance had given the items to him? It was a disturbing possibility, implying that a Survivor had willingly aligned themselves with the criminal underworld.

The implications were unsettling.

An alliance between a Survivor and the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance could spell a shift in the power balance.

If other Survivors had done the same, choosing to side with the various powers of Mage'Earth, the consequences could be disastrous.

'Especially if they're Rankers…'

Someone capable of providing Endo with these sets of Items would most likely have a lot more on their sleeve.

'That's worrisome.'

Going forward, It would not just be a fight for survival anymore, it would turn into a brutal war for dominance.

'It's a good thing I'm also allied with an influential figure in the Southern Kingdom. Whew!'

As I pondered over these possibilities, a wave of uncertainty washed over me. I had to uncover the truth.

If there were indeed Survivors aligned with the enemy, I had to prepare myself for a battle on a whole new scale.

'I already have my suspects. If I was to guess… I'll say The Alliance is involved.'

They were the only organized group comprised of Survivors that I knew. Plus, their leader would have an excessive amount of funds since all the members I fought didn't have any Currency to give me when they died.

Looking at it that way, it all added up.

I had a sense of foreboding, but also an odd feeling of anticipation.

"Heh… those bastards."

The road ahead was undoubtedly treacherous, but I had grown stronger, and my resolve had never been firmer. I was ready to face any challenge that came my way.

'I still haven't forgotten what they did to The Outpost.'

But first, I needed more information.

'I can't conclusively analyze anything yet.'

With a deep breath, I began to investigate the base further. Every clue, no matter how insignificant, could lead me closer to the truth.

Of course, I harvested the Essence of my fallen Foes while I was at it.

'Not just the Captain… even Shadows could end up being useful.'

***********

Outside the cavern, it was a waiting game for Theo.

His gaze flitted between the entrance where Luke had disappeared and the two monsters that their leader had left behind as protectors.

An hour had ticked by in tense silence, marked only by the occasional snarl or grunt from one of the monsters.

Theo leaned against the rough stone wall of the cavern, his brows knitted together in thought. He'd heard tales of Summoners and their magical creatures. It was common knowledge that if the Summoner died, their creatures would vanish, too.

As he regarded the hulking, yet passive monsters, their continued presence was the only assurance that Luke was still alive.

The heavy tension was a palpable entity in the cavern. He glanced around, noting the anxious expressions on the faces of the troops.

The monsters' intimidating appearances were enough to unnerve anyone, and their unfamiliarity with such creatures only exacerbated their fear.

Theo understood their fear. The situation was far from normal, and they were all pushed far out of their comfort zones. But fear wasn't an option. Not in this life or death scenario.

'I have to remain calm…' He reminded himself.

Casting a last glance at the cavern entrance, he let out a sigh.

'It's going to take a long time before he's done, especially when considering the nature of the enemies he's facing…'

A sudden echo of footsteps drew everyone's attention towards the cavern.

'What's that? Someone's coming?'

The rhythmic sound echoed through the silence, sparking a fresh wave of tension amongst the group. All eyes turned towards the darkness, squinting into the shadows as they braced themselves for a potential threat.

'There's no way that's Luke. He couldn't have killed them all so quickly.'

The footsteps most likely belonged to the enemies, probably ones that escaped from their leader's clutches.

In that case, it was up to them to eliminate the incoming threat.

Drius, standing at the forefront of the group, silently motioned for everyone to take position.

His face hardened with determination, his hand on the hilt of his sword. His low, authoritative voice cut through the tense silence.

"Be ready," he instructed, casting a quick, concerned glance at the two monstrous creatures by their side.

'Why aren't the monsters moving? Aren't they supposed to be on our side?' Theo found himself asking.

However, considering the circumstances, he didn't have the luxury of dwelling on those thoughts.

Theo fell into a defensive stance, his heart pounding in his chest. The footsteps were growing louder, closer.

He watched the entrance to the cavern, his muscles coiling with anticipation as the footsteps got louder.

And then, a figure emerged from the darkness.

'W-what?!'

At first, the sight was surprising. The person was not a bandit attempting an escape, but rather, Luke, walking confidently out of the cavern.

He had a grin on his face, and despite the situation they'd been in, he seemed...relaxed.

For a moment, Theo stood there, stunned. Relief washed over him, his heart rate slowing.

Luke was alive, and he had walked out of that cavern seemingly unscathed. Theo let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

The tension in his body slowly ebbed away, replaced with an overwhelming sense of relief and a hint of confusion.

'He's out already? Does that mean it's all over?' It was unbelievable if he was being honest with himself.

What exactly happened inside that cavern? That was a question Theo couldn't get his head around.

"What are you all spacing out for?" Luke's voice echoed amidst the surprised and confused faces of everyone present.

"The mission is complete."

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[A/N]

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