Kingsland Arc Chapter:34 - The Heart of the Abyss
Beneath the surface, the Whispering Abyss pulsed with lingering echoes. The stillness was deceptive—every breath of wind through hollow stone whispered of long-forgotten secrets
The air in the Whispering Abyss Dungeon was thick with cold dread, a palpable weight that settled over the combined parties. Freya, at the head of the group, was a picture of grim determination. "Everyone, be cautious and stay alert," she said, her voice echoing in the gloom. Her gaze fell on the younger adventurers. "Chou, Yue Xin, and Rafaela, you stay behind us. Do not engage in fights alone." With that final, firm command, they entered the dungeon.
The sounds of combat soon filled the upper levels. Lamus's arrows flew true, Miya's spells glittered, and Sir Kaelen's golden armor became a blur of motion as he clashed with the monsters. The younger party fought alongside them, their teamwork a well-oiled machine, their movements more confident than ever. But with every step they took downwards, the monsters grew stronger, the shadows longer, and the silence between fights more oppressive. They were making good time, but the dungeon was vast, and the way down was perilous.
At the very bottom of the dungeon, on the floor where Ronin had fallen, he slowly began to stir. His clothes were torn and bloodstained, a testament to his recent brutal battles, and a cold ache throbbed from the poisoned wound on his stomach. He blinked, the faint, ethereal glow of the mana stones around him casting long, dancing shadows. He felt a profound sense of stillness, a quiet unlike anything he had ever experienced.
His instincts, honed by Baelish, flared. He drew his blades Sei and Kuro, his muscles coiling, as two massive figures lumbered into view. A Direwang Wolf and a StoneClaw Boar, the floor bosses he had seen before, approached him. Their eyes, once glowing with an unnatural green, were now a soft, intelligent amber.
The Direwang Wolf stopped a few feet away, its head lowered in a gesture of peace. "Do not be afraid, child," a voice, ancient and telepathic, resonated in Ronin's mind. "We will not harm you. You freed us from the controller's magic." (Leomord)
Ronin, though surprised, lowered his blades slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You saved us from a terrible fate," the wolf continued, its voice filled with a quiet gratitude. "You are hurt and injured, and so is the Great Dragon (Saber). There is a magical place of healing on this floor. It will mend your injuries and rejuvenate your mana. Please, come with us."
Ronin, with no other choice and a deep sense of trust in their sincerity, sheathed his blades and nodded. The Direwang Wolf and the StoneClaw Boar turned, their massive forms moving with a quiet purpose, and Ronin followed them.
They led him to a vast, echoing cavern. Within, two luminous pools of water glowed with an otherworldly light. One pulsed with a vibrant emerald green, while the other radiated a gentle, golden-yellow hue, steam rising from its surface.
"There are two ponds," Ronin noted.
The Direwang Wolf explained. "The green pond is the Pond of Verdure. Its waters can only be consumed, and they heal all injuries. The yellow pond is the Pond of Radiance. Its waters are hot and healing, and you must bathe in them to restore your mana. Its magic is too potent to drink."
Ronin's priority was Saber. He took his now-empty healing potion vial and carefully collected some of the glowing green liquid from the Pond of Verdure. He then hurried back to where the two Shadow Wolves lay unconscious, still breathing but gravely wounded. With a steady hand, he poured the potion into each wolf's mouth. The glowing liquid went down, and their bodies shuddered, their torn fur and wounds mending before his very eyes. The wolves stirred, their amber eyes soft with thanks.
Ronin then repeated the process for Saber. He collected the liquid three more times, carefully pouring it into the dragon's massive maw. With each bottle, the dragon's immense body shuddered, its ancient wounds slowly closing, its dull scales regaining a faint sheen. After the third dose, the ancient dragon's eyes, filled with weariness, slowly opened, now filled with a vibrant, ancient light. Saber let out a low, content sigh, its immense form no longer wracked by pain.
With his allies mended, Ronin finally turned to himself. He took off his old, torn clothes, placing them on a smooth rock a short distance from the pond. He then eased his body into the Pond of Radiance. The hot, golden-yellow water instantly soothed his battered muscles. He felt the cold, lingering poison from his stab wounds being purged, and a warm, invigorating energy began to flow through him, replenishing his spent mana. He stayed in the pond for a long time, the tension of the last several hours slowly melting away.
A tremor shook the cavern, and Saber's colossal form slid into the pond beside him. The water level rose dramatically, spilling over the edges. Ronin looked up at the dragon's immense, silent form, a sense of profound peace washing over him. The Shadow Wolves also approached, and Ronin watched as they, too, waded into the warm, yellow waters to recover.
After freshening up, Ronin put on his now-clean but still torn clothes. As he prepared to leave, Saber's massive head lowered to his level, its ancient eyes holding a deep gaze.
"Kid," the dragon's telepathic voice rumbled.
"Yes?" Ronin replied, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"What is your name?"
"Ronin."
Saber was silent for a moment, then spoke again, its voice filled with a newfound reverence. "Ronin. You are like Julius. You are a true leader, a protector. You healed me when you could have simply left me to die. I owe you my life. I would like you to be my new master."
Ronin was completely taken aback. "What?"
"I will happily serve you," Saber continued, bowing its head slightly. "As my new master, my life is yours. Let us form a pact."
Intrigued by the weight of the offer and the sincerity in the dragon's voice, Ronin agreed. The pact was a simple yet powerful ritual, a joining of wills and a transfer of loyalty. A single, A soft golden sigil flared briefly between them like a brand of ancient magic, flickering between Ronin's chest and Saber's scales before fading into silence, sealing their newfound alliance.
"Would you like to give me a name, my master?" Saber asked.
"Your name will stay the same," Ronin answered. "Saber." The dragon let out a low, pleased rumble.
Just then, the two Shadow Wolves approached him, their amber eyes filled with a quiet loyalty. Saber explained, "They, too, have chosen to serve you as their master. They wish to follow you."
Ronin looked down at the two wolves. "Would you like to come with me as my companions?" he asked, his voice soft.
The two wolves shook their heads eagerly, their tails wagging. Ronin smiled. He knelt down, stroking the head of each wolf. He chose a name for each of them. "You," he said, touching the female wolf's head. "You will be Luna." He then touched the male wolf. "And you will be Leo." The two wolves let out happy, excited whimpers.
With his new companions by his side, Ronin asked the Direwang Wolf and StoneClaw Boar for directions to the teleportation circle. They gratefully guided him, and as the monstrous party moved, other dungeon monsters sensed their overwhelming combined power and steered clear, a clear path forming before them.
As they reached the teleportation circle, the Direwang Wolf gave Ronin a final piece of advice. "Thank you again for saving us, Be careful as you go back up. There are some strong monsters on the upper floors, but I believe you will be able to defeat them."
Ronin thanked them and, with his new companions Saber, Luna, and Leo, activated the teleportation circle. With a flash of violet light, they were transported to the 34th floor, one step closer to the surface.
Meanwhile, on the 10th floor, the combined parties of the Blades of Dawn and the Shadows of Wrath were still fighting their way downwards, their rescue mission moving slowly but steadily into the darkness.
[To Be Continued]