The air on the seventh floor hung heavy with the scent of damp stone and faint mana residue. Elis sat cross-legged on the cold floor, her back against a jagged wall etched with ancient runes. Her eyes were closed, her artificial breathing slow and deliberate, as she was drawing mana from the dungeon itself.
The silence was absolute, until it wasnât.
*Click-Click-Click.*
The sound sliced through the stillness like a blade, sharp and unmistakable. The dungeonâs main gates were opening. Elisâs lips curved into a soft, knowing smile.
"Master..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath. In an instant, her blue form dissolved into shadow.
....
First floor...
Leon stepped through the gates, snowflakes clinging to his dark cloak like frost on midnight steel. The chill of the outside world still clung to him, but the dungeonâs warmth began to melt it away.
*Swish.*
A ripple in the air, and Elis materialized before him. She dropped into a deep, graceful bow, her blue hair spilling over her shoulders like liquid moonlight.
"I greet my master," she said, voice smooth and reverent.
"Where are Fruela and Dusk?" Leon asked, his tone clipped, eyes already scanning the room.
"They are sparring on the fifth floor, Master," Elis replied, her expression unreadable. "To decide who is better suited to accompany you."
"What?" Leonâs brow furrowed. Then, without another word, he vanished.
*Swish.*
....
Fifth floor.
*Tang-Tang-Tang-Tang-Tang.*
The clash of steel on claw echoed through the chamber like a storm of sparks. Two figures blurred across the stone floorâappearing, vanishing, reappearingâleaving trails of light and shadow in their wake.
*Swish.*
Leon appeared just outside the doorway, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold.
*Tang-Tang-Tang-Tang-Tang.*
Duskâs claws flashed like streaks of blue lightning, unpredictable and wild. The furnace in his chest glowed a fierce sapphire, pulsing with magic that fueled his impossible speed.
Fruela moved like water around stoneâcalm, precise, lethal. Her twin blades danced in her grip, eyes locked on Duskâs every twitch, every feint.
"I am the only one suited to protect Master, cat," Fruela said, her voice as steady as her stance.
"Well, you arenât proving it right now," Dusk shot back, grinning through the blur. "I havenât seen a protector who speaks more than she fights."
"I will cut off your claws right now," Fruela replied as her form vanished.
Dusk blurred into blue streak of light.
They charged at each other with full power.
Just as their weapons crossed the midpoint, two pitch-black blades tore through the air from the leftâsilent, deadly, inevitable.
*Clang-Clang.*
Both combatants twisted mid-motion, deflecting the blades with perfect synchronicity. Without hesitation, they dropped to their knees, heads bowed low, weapons lowered immediately.
"Master, we greet you," they said in perfect unison.
Nyxterâs blades arced through the air and slid back into the sheaths at Leonâs hips with a soft
*shink*.
"When I leave you in the dungeon to protect it..." Leon stepped into the room, boots echoing against stone, "...you arenât supposed to fight each other and get yourself exhausted."
"IâI apologize, Master," Fruela said, voice steady but laced with shame. "I was merely testing my strength against the cat."
"If you want to test your strength next time," Leon said, eyes narrowing, "do it when I am in the dungeon. You understand?"
"Yes, Master," they answered together, voices firm.
"Good." Leon spoke, his cloak flaring slightly. "Nowâthe Royal Party that was supposed to happen tomorrow is actually tonight. We leave in ten minutes."
<Sixth Sense>
Suddenly, Leon felt a prickle at the back of his neck. Instinct screamed at him to dodge.
Leon shifted rightâjust as a pale hand sliced through the air where his throat had been.
He turned.
Enid stood there, frozen, eyes wide with shock and confusion.
"Hello, Enid," Leon said, voice calm as death.
"H-How didâ!? I was using a very special stealth skill to hide my presenceâhow did you knew I was coming?" Her voice cracked with disbelief.
"Never ever try that again, darling," Leon said, his gaze cold and unblinking.
"Okay..." Enid stepped closer, her shock melting into a sultry smile. "But I want to have sex. And you reek of so many other girls. Why donât you fuck my pussy, Master? Iâll get rid of their smell for you."
"I donât have time for you now, Enid," Leon said. "I have to go to a fucking party."
"Take me with you," she pleaded, grabbing his hands. "Please, please, please..."
"Give me one reason I should take you with me," Leon said, unmoved.
Enidâs eyes gleamed. "I am a demon. I can make myself look more human than that elf maid. I have a perfect figure. But most importantlyâIâve been to countless royal parties in the demon kingdom. If you go without a female companion, youâll look odd. Now please... take me. I beg you."
Leon regarded her for a long moment.
"Well," he said finally, "I was planning to take that white elf maid. But youâve given me enough reasons. If you misbehave thereâ"
"I promise," Enid cut in, smiling sweetly. "You can slit my throat if I do."
Leon opened his inventory. A red gown materialized in his handâdeep crimson silk with subtle golden borders. It wasnât flashy, but it carried the weight of royalty.
"Here. Wear this. Get ready. We leave in five minutes."
"Hmm... itâll be hard to move in this," Enid began. "What if I have to kill someone andâ"
Leonâs gaze sharpened like a blade.
Her lips sealed instantly.
"I-Iâll get ready immediately, Master," she said. Without hesitation, she stripped naked and slipped into the gown, the fabric hugging her curves easily.
Leon changed as wellâblack shirt, black vest, long black coat with golden buttons glinting like stars in a void. He donned a pure white mask: two narrow rectangles for eyes, one small slot near the mouthâjust enough to sip wine.
"Master," Dusk said, tilting his head. "Wouldnât you need a grand carriage for this Royal Party?"
"No," Leon said, a faint smile curling beneath the mask. "Iâll be riding you. I want to see how the king reacts to my ride. Fruela will run behind us. We will enter the castle together."
Enid spun once. The gown flared open like a blooming rose.
"How do I look?" she asked, voice soft and teasing.
"A very deadly flower, darling," Leon said, his smile sharp.
"Oh my, what a gentlemen you are sir." Enid murmured, bowing low with impossible grace. In a shimmer of dark magic, her demonic features melted awayâreplaced by the face of a breathtakingly beautiful human noblewoman.