Chapter 1019 Welcome
Chapter 1019 Welcome
After the incident with the succubi in the third room, no one would dare complain like Nixie did. In fact, everyone seemed in high spirits because they no longer feared for their lives, which took its toll on their energy. The group realized that with Arthur in their midst, they were the real monsters in this place.
The fifth room, marking the halfway point through this demonic palace, was a little unusual. It had five giant paintings of demonic monsters, and once the timer started, nothing happened. Unlike before, no monsters rushed to face them.
"Have you seen this room before, Dal?" asked Arthur while standing in the middle of the paintings. The timer was ticking, but how would they advance without monsters to kill?
"A lot has changed since I was here, but I remembered a similar creature to these paintings," said Dal with a frown. "It could draw demonic creatures and turn them into real ones, as if summoning them from another world. However, I don't see it here."
"These images of the demonic creatures are very lifelike, so be careful," suggested Joey as he knocked his knuckle dusters together, letting sparks fly. "We can expect any of them to jump forward."
"…I think it's quite the opposite," said Arthur with a frown as he advanced toward one of the paintings. "There is an entrance in this painting. I think that we have to go inside the paintings and kill the creatures before they allow us to move forward."
"Hah! That makes it easier, since they have divided themselves," said Joey with a grin as he walked toward the painting with a giant demonic eel drawn in it. Its red eyes stared at them with thirsty killing intent. It was at that moment that Dal shouted.
"Don't touch it!" shouted the headless creature, making Joey flinch as he backed away from the painting. "There is no way that the dungeon is this easy. I think that… this is to divide us, not to divide themselves."
"That makes more sense, as there are five paintings, with five of us," said Arthur with a frown. "It is also possible that we cannot enter every painting, making it impossible for a single person to enter all of them."
"…do we have to go into the paintings alone?" muttered Nixie with a pale face, while her twin sister maintained a stoic expression. Arthur knew what the two felt, but did not blame them for the fear in their hearts. After all, they were mainly support characters.
"How about I go into this painting, and we can see what happens then?" said Joey while tilting his head. His large frame seemed giddy for a fight. "After I go inside, let someone else try to enter too. Then, I can come out and see if I can enter other paintings."
"I should be the one to go in," said Arthur with genuine concern that the monster inside would be too strong for the man, who seemed offended by the notion but grateful for his suggestion. However, he refused without any hesitation.
"I know that you are the strongest among us; that's why I want you to stay here," said Joey with a shake of his head before he untied the head from around his neck. "If something happens, I trust you to take care of it."
Before Arthur could argue further, the man jumped into the painting without any hesitation. As if he jumped into a vertical pond, he sank into the painting before appearing on the other side. Joey landed in front of the monster, which began to move.
Arthur walked toward the painting while the two stared at each other. As he touched the painting, he found it impossible to go inside. Dal was right. The paintings limited entry to a single person and had turned to glass after Joey went inside.
"It seems that we have to split up here," said Arthur as he turned toward the rest. "If any of us loses… we cannot go forward."
"I feel like I can handle a demonic creature," said Koby with newfound confidence, making Arthur smile. "I won't disappoint you, master."
"…master?" repeated Arthur with a disgusted frown. However, the young man gave him a bow before rushing toward another painting with a giant demonic snake inside. Then, he dove straight into it, leaving the twin sisters and Arthur.
"I cannot promise you a victory, but I can promise that I will try," said Fae with determination. "If I die… please take care of my sister."
"Wait!" shouted Nixie as she grabbed onto her sister, who started walking toward the painting of a large demonic bird. "Maybe you can… help us?"
The meaning was obvious. Arthur had transformed the weak Koby into a fire mage, which meant he could do the same for them. The sisters had not asked him for such a thing before because he had no benefit from it here. However, Nixie knew that if they failed to kill the monster, none of them would advance.
"Nixie," said Fae with a stern look. "We cannot ask him for such a thing."
"If we fail, so be it," said Nixie as she let go of her twin sister. "However, he wants to reach the end. To do so, we need to be strong enough to kill the monsters inside the paintings."
A slight smile hung around Arthur's lips while he stared at the twin sisters. Nixie had chosen the perfect timing to ask for what she had been craving for a while now. However, he was not offended.
It was at that moment the room shook a little, making Arthur turn toward the painting which Joey had entered. Behind the glass was the tall man fighting against the giant eel, while Koby was still hurling fire at the snake.
"You are right, Nixie," said Arthur without turning toward the two. "I can help you grow stronger, but you cannot force me to do it," his tone dropped as he turned toward her. "I can burn this entire dungeon to the ground without your help."
Nixie looked a little shaken and scared by his gaze, but Arthur did not want to give her a hard time. Instead, he walked toward the twin sisters and asked for their bows, which they gave him with confusion. Then, he infused the golden mana of creation into them.
"These weapons will be more destructive than before, but it will be a limited boost," said Arthur and watched disappointment fill Nixie's face. "You can defeat the monsters with this."
"I thank you," said Fae with a small bow of gratitude before taking her weapon and heading toward a certain painting. "I shall do my absolute best."
"Don't enter that painting," said Arthur to the archer, making her pause with confusion. "Of all the five, that painting is the most dangerous. The other two are quite weak, so you would not have a problem with them."
Fae nodded again and entered a different painting, before Nixie followed her with the enhanced bow. Everyone was fighting in a painting now, leaving Arthur alone with Dal. However, he was in no rush to enter the painting in the middle, with a cloaked figure standing inside it.
"Tell me, bodiless head," called Arthur with interest. "There are five paintings… but there are, in fact, six of us. How come the dungeon did not consider you to be an invader?"
"I am but a head, and I have killed none so far," answered Dal with what he believed to be the most logical explanation. "Another reason is that my body is elsewhere, which forms the greatest part of me."
Arthur was silent as he stared at the painting before he turned toward the head on the ground with a smile. His expression made the head start sweating and his lips trembled as Arthur made his way over toward him.
"That is a good answer," said Arthur as he picked up the head and walked toward the far table on the other side of the room. "However, the best answers are usually lies," he whispered with a smile as he placed the head on the table.
"I am… not lying…" said Dal with a sweaty face as he watched Arthur turn around and walk toward the painting. "What would I gain from fooling you?"
"I don't know, but it does not matter," said Arthur as he strolled toward the painting. "I just want you to know who you are trying to deceive."
His foot struck the ground, and his aura exploded without restraint. The ground began to peel away from him in a submissive retreat. Dal's hair blew in the wind as his eyes witnessed the majestic aura that made the table beneath him shake.
Golden mana flowed without restraint, and black lightning crackled within it. Arthur walked straight into the large painting without stopping, making cracks appear on its frame. As the aura disappeared once he was gone, Dal could breathe again.
Inside the painting, Arthur stared at the figure in a cloak. He was standing in a desolate land with no life whatsoever. Beneath the hood was a man smiling at him before his lips parted.
"Welcome, Arthur Silvera."