The journey back that Spark and his women took through the labyrinth was swift.
Melody's accurate maps allowed them to take the most direct route. And Serenade's Treasure Radar confirmed the absence of any treasure. They passed through the outer layers of the dungeon.
To avoid taking too much attention and to minimize problems, Spark again placed Melody, Serenade, and Ivy within the static space of his Slave Grimoire.
Spark, Lilith, and Scarlett moved to the labyrinth's entrance.
They noticed the change. The air was growing fresher. The light was more natural. The familiar stone archway of the Labyrinth's entrance loomed ahead. Etched with ancient runes of prosperity and warding.
However, the strange thing was... they hadn't encountered anyone yet. It was weird because many adventurers should have been exploring the shallower parts of the Labyrinth.
...
Finally, Spark and his two women stepped out. Blinking in the bright sunlight weather of Canarine Floating Island.
The crisp high elevation air filled their lungs. A welcome change from the stale, enclosed atmosphere of the dungeon.
Spark stretched. Feeling the immense power within his muscles. A satisfied hum was resonating in his chest.
His satisfaction, however, lasted for no longer two seconds.
The view beyond the Labyrinth entrance was not the bustling, vibrant Canarine Town they had left. The usually lively market square was a scene of devastation.
Buildings, once quaint and sturdy, were now crumbling husks. Their roofs caved in. Walls blackened and scarred. Smoke still curled lazily from a few smoldering ruins.
The cobbled streets were choked with rubble and debris. And a chilling silence hung over everything. Broken only by the mournful creak of a shattered sign. And the distant, despairing cries of what sounded like an injured animal.
There were no vendors. No citizens. No guard patrols. Just silence and destruction.
Spark's eyes narrowed. His inner joy replaced by a cold, calculating fury. This was not a natural disaster. This was an attack.
Lilith spoke first. Her voice was tight with concern. "Master… What happened here? It looks like a warzone."
Scarlett frowned. Pointing her finger at a massive scorch mark that encompassed an entire collapsed tavern. "That… that looks like dragon fire. Or great alchemy bomb."
Spark silently swore. He also recognized the sign of devastation. Two very likely reasons. Each meant big trouble. Dragon fire meant it had been caused by dragon's attack. Great alchemy bomb meant... war.
Scarlett had released her gu-insects. Letting them scouted the surrounding. Meanwhile, her eyes were darting. Searching for any sign of life. Or threat.
"No lingering threats, Master." She reported. "But the devastation… it's fresh. It is no older than three days."
Lilith had taken out her [Life Observing Spyglass] and checked the surrounding.
"Survivor, Master! A living human. Over there!" She exclaimed. Pointing to a direction.
Spark immediately moved to the direction. They found a lone, terrified survivor. A grizzled middle aged man sitting beside the rubble. Injured. Forlorn. And despaired.
He looked up weakly. And caught Spark's eye. "Go... Run away..." He painfully said.
Spark ignored his words. Instead, he activated his second crestmagic spell. [Celestial Healing]!
Golden light covered the middle aged man's whole body. His injury was healed. Not perfectly. But significantly.
Spark casted it once more. Again golden light covered the man's body.
"Scarlett! Soft bread! Water!" He instructed. Scarlet picked some pieces of white bread and a flask of fresh water from her Spatial Bag. And gave it to the middle aged man.
As the middle aged man consume the bread and drink the water, Spark cast the [Celestial Healing] once more.
"Thank... thank you! Thank you!"
"What happened here, man?" Spark asked him. "We were just a bit deep in the Labyrinth for a few days. And when we came out... this..."
"Dragons!" The middle aged man replied. His voice was hoarse with rage and terror. "Two of them! Came down from the sky… two days ago! They just… they destroyed everything!"
"Dragons?" Spark narrowed his eyes. Lilith and Scarlett exchanged a worried look.
"I thought Avianest Kingdom has non-aggression treaty with dragons." Lilith hesitatingly commented.
"They do." Scarlett responded. Recalling the royal knowledge she had learned when she was still Princess Kissara. "Er... they should do."
The middle aged man coughed and said. "It was the Brilliant Horizon. Those crazy bastards stole a dragon egg and hid in town..."
Spark internally swore. He had heard of the Brilliant Horizon. A criminal organization responsible for many terrorism acts, illegal slavery, and the distribution of illegal drugs.
Spark's gaze hardened. "What about the Brilliant Horizon members? Where are they now?"
The middle-aged man clenched his fists. A tremor running through his body. "They… they just left the egg. Right there, in the main square."
He took a deep breath and continued. "Then they ran, into the Labyrinth. Three of them. Cowards. All of them." His voice cracked. "The dragons just picked up their egg and left after that. Didn't even look back. But by then… by then it was too late for the town."
Lilith sighed. Her eyes scanning the devastation.
"It almost seems too deliberate." She said. "Leaving the egg in the open. Knowing the dragons would retaliate against the town. It sounds less like an escape after stealing and more like… a planned attack."
The man nodded. A bitter expression on his face. "She's right. The Brilliant Horizon openly hated Mayor Hilldove. He stood against them again and again. Blocked their operations. And even had a few of their bigger drug stashes burned. This town… this was his pride. Destroying it means destroying him."
Spark's jaw tightened. He had little patience for grand schemes of vengeance when innocent lives paid the price.
"Do you have anywhere to go? Any remaining family or friends in the area?" He asked. His tone was gruff but not unkind.
He had his bottom line. Harming innocents was off-limits. And seeing the aftermath of such an act grated on his nerves.
The man shook his head slowly. "My home's gone. My family… I don't know. But there are emergency bunkers. Hidden around the town. I need to check them. See if anyone else made it out. I can't just… sit here."
Defiance flickered in his eyes. Replacing some of the despair.
Spark nodded. "Good. Check them. And while at it, try to get as much potions and food as you can. The survivors might need it." He pulled out a small pouch of first aid medicine from his Spatial Belt. Tossing it to the man. "For emergency. Don't waste it."
The man caught the pouch with surprising agility. "Thank you. Thank you, truly."
"One more thing." Spark said. His voice was flat. "The men from Brilliant Horizon. Describe them."
The man quickly complied. "There were three. All men."
He closed his eyes to recall the memory. "One was tall and gaunt, with an ugly scar running down his left cheek. Wore a dark hooded cloak, moved like a shadow."
After a few seconds break, he continued. "Second was stout, bald, and had a nasty cough. Always seemed to be fiddling with something in his hands. The third… He was younger. Maybe early twenties. With bright orange hair and a cocky grin. He looked like the leader, always giving orders."
Scarlett had been listening intently. She repeated the descriptions under her breath. Committing them to memory. Lilith likewise noted them mentally.
"Alright!" Spark said. Rising to his full height. His imposing figure cast a long shadow over the ruined town.
"You do what you need to do." He gave the man a final, curt nod. He had used up enough time here. Sentiment was a luxury he couldn't afford. Not right now. With ruthless criminals on the loose.
The man was now healed. And carried a renewed sense of purpose. He staggered to his feet. "And you?" He asked.
Spark offered a chillingly amiable smile. One that didn't quite reach his dark-grey eyes. "Us? We're going hunting."
Without another word, Spark turned. Lilith and Scarlett were already stepping back. Their eyes were fixed on him. Awaiting orders.
The destruction of Canarine Town. The sheer, senseless violence had ignited a cold rage within Spark. He wouldn't let it pass.
"Back inside." Spark commanded. His voice was a low rumble. "Let's go! There were a few targets we needed to hunt."
He turned towards the gateway to the dungeon. His massive frame radiating an almost palpable intent. The Labyrinth was once a source of treasure and challenge.
It was now a hunting ground. And Spark Nighthawk was the predator.
Lilith and Scarlett exchanged glances. A shared understanding was passing between them. Their master was moving from discovery to retribution. They immediately followed him.
"Lilith. Try to track anything strange inside." Jack instructed. "We'll find those bastards and delivered quick justice for them."
"As you command, My Lord." Lilith said. Her hand was already drifting. Ready to summon her arcane handgun.
Scarlett's lips curved into an enthusiastic, yet faint, predatory smile. "It will be a pleasure to hunt them down."
Her gu-insects sensed her intent. They began to hum faintly within their hidden pouches.