STEP. STEP. STEP.
'Neverdie Elixir. Finally!'
Gray cleaved through the city like hot butter through one's throat. And with every step he shed a layer of weakling. He was done playing the fool, done following, done behaving.
And as he carved a path through the city, IT REACTED!
Bystanders instinctively moving out of the way.
Adventurers turning back with gasps.
Nobles almost bowing only to freeze.
…..
A poor bloke.
Or was he? Why did he feel like a monster?! And just as they were hesitating, they saw HER. Aura Stormveil. The pride of the Stormveil Family, reduced to a mere follower.
She was the genius no more…
No, it was even worse than that. She wasn't just a follower. Why did it seem like she was trying to ingratiate herself with him? In fact the power dynamics had completely reversed.
"Aura, get ready. We'll be sweeping."
"YES! I won't let you down!"
"Good girl."
Good girl?! Who was he to say something so atrociously insane?! Luckily, the streets themselves were already chaos incarnate. The masses flowed like a raging tide.
'Did you hear?! They dropped a Neverdie Elixir!'
'Crazy! The Stormveil Family bought it too!'
'The city's about to RISE!'
…
Gray didn't even have to listen to know what they were thinking about. That event was THAT significant. The Dying Dungeon? It wouldn't be dead after today.
Adventurers would be flocking from all over. Everyone knew, and now they wanted to be part of it. So the streets were a sea of squirming people, except for bubble-like pockets.
A powerful merchant with an entire entourage armed to the teeth.
A lancer with a spear of blood and the smile of a devil.
A hooded girl, a poisonous cloud oozing out.
…..
And Gray.
Not Aura, GRAY.
But even as more and more gasped at the peculiarity, their duo kept walking faster than anyone. Because they weren't just here to spectate, but on a mission.
And it didn't take them long to reach the Stormveil Manor, one that looked straight-out carved from the Dungeon. Why? It had been. Which was utterly insane.
Indestructible stones oozing purple Mana.
A towering fortress-like Manor.
The original WONDER.
…
It stood invincible against all, even as it was sieged by so many that it looked like a Zombie Apocalypse. The Elixir was in THERE! If only they could get a glance they'd be content.
But facing them was a rabid guard dog, a white-haired butler.
'None shall pass'.
He had the intensity that said he'd slaughter the entire city before letting anyone disturb his lord. Or so it was supposed to go. Gray knew more, thanks to Aura.
The Duke of Stormveil wasn't there.
He was in a secret meeting atm.
The Elixir absolutely was.
…
For the first time since leaving the workshop, Aura took the lead. She stepped forth, cleaving the crowd in two with her presence as her family guards came alive.
"Make way for the young lady! Move, all of you! Don't you dare bother her!"
Calling it once was enough. None was crazy enough to lack respect now. And in a matter of seconds, she and Gray were standing before the energy-like Manor gates.
But just as they were about to enter…
"Not you. You stay out."
Gray suddenly felt a powerful thug on his arm, the kind that screamed 'I'd tear your arm out if we weren't in public'. And the eyes too sent the same message, a deadly one.
He could already feel the crazed butler's Mana about to devour him.
Any youngster would have shat themselves. Anyone else would have either recoiled away or left. Gray didn't. Instead he turned toward the Manor and bowed deeply.
"Gray Bright pays respect to Senior Stormveil!"
"Miss Aura asked for my assistance!"
"Please speak if I should leave!"
…
'…..'
'…..'
'…..'
Wind seemed to turn.
The balls on this fucking kid. He dared completely ignore the Butler and had instead turned to address the Master directly? So what if he had been polite. Was he even qualified?!
They glanced at the Manor, half in expectation, half in fright. What if a lightning bolt just came out of nowhere to smite him dead. Wouldn't it be too late by then?!
Gray didn't even sweat it one bit. They didn't know, but he did.
This was already Game Over for the butler.
'Can't reveal your lord is away…'
He could already picture it. If the people assembled here knew the dragon was away, wouldn't they try to steal the hoard? Assuredly. And if that happened, it would be BAD.
No amount of guards, or Old Butler, or even Manor magical defenses would be enough to stop them. And once that happened, absolutely everything would crumble instantly.
"Thanks for your understanding Senior!"
Gray barely waited a few seconds before bowing once again. Then he went in. At first, it was Aura acting the master, but as soon as they were in, the atmosphere changed once more.
"Follow me, it will be right over there!"
Aura was the perfect guide.
With her leading the way, the few guards they encountered were nothing. With her leading the way, the many magical barriers failed to activate. With her, everything was easy.
None of this would have worked had she been under a spell or even threatened, but it absolutely worked now. The long con was finally showing all its magnificence.
And before long they had already reached their destination…
The Stormveil Treasury, a place that punched way above its class as far as anyone was concerned. The Stormveils were a declining family, but they had lots of history.
And in the middle of it all was the objective…
A tiny bottle worth half the entire city.
A tiny bottle glowing like a small sun.
A tiny bottle of purple miracle.
….
And as he grabbed it…
[Obtained SSS-Tier Grade Neverdie Elixir!]
[Small Miracle Upon Consumption!]
[Immune to Death for 10 Seconds!]
…
That was it. Or rather it was IT.
How many powerhouses would kill to have that single item? What made it the greatest was that it was even effective for those who had broken free from mortality.
As to everything in this world there was a limit to its power, but to a Dungeon City like Stormveil it was basically omnipotent. No, even better than omnipotent.
It made one invincible for 10 seconds.
He almost laughed out loud. Finally. Fucking finally.
This was perfect. The greater the forbidden ritual, the higher the cost it required. But what if one could cheat the cost out entirely? He was about to find out if the madness worked.
Still chuckling, he turned to the girl next to him. Aura Stormveil. Definitely a fool, but HIS fool. Worried, but worried for him. Even now, she was beaming at him with adoring eyes.
He gently patted her head before powerfully ordering…
"It's time. Start the ritual. I'm counting on you."
"YESSSSS!"