Cris sat lifeless against the wall as a shadow rummaged through his bag.
"Nothing special... Wait, why would someone bring oil to a dungeon?"
He tossed it aside and suddenly began taking on Cris's appearance.
"Better hide the body."
After concealing it, he started moving toward the other students and ran into two who seemed to recognize him. He was already preparing to kill them—but they didn't know him. Apparently, the only one who truly knew Cris was this Enrico.
They passed through the hole, and once they were far enough, he activated his magic, which created a floor on just the third level—right where the hole began.
As he led them to the boss room, he thought,
"If they surprise me, maybe I can start my plan now."
After escaping, he was certain it was time to begin, especially after sensing Crimson's death.
He waited and eventually encountered Enrico.
"Did you bring the other oil I asked for, Cris?"
He immediately realized Enrico was impossible to fool—the moment he smiled, Enrico noticed something was wrong. Apparently, Cris wasn't the type to smile. So, since Enrico was standing right on top of his trap, he made the floor vanish.
His plan worked, and now he was close to achieving it.
"Just the boss left."
He flicked his hand, watching the three in front of him as Tolen's death unfolded.
"How childish—letting emotion get the better of you."
He glanced at the blue core in Enrico's hand.
"Well, I got lucky. I only needed one and the boss's"
Enrico placed Tolen's body to the side and stood. Cris readied himself.
"I'll take advantage of his emotional state and grab the core."
Still looking down, Enrico suddenly tossed the core to Elian.
"Elian, that core's good for boosting your speed. He seemed pretty interested in it, so absorb it quickly."
Cores were more useful for Nartheis than humans, as humans couldn't fully absorb them—only gaining minor physical enhancements, and even that was limited.
Surprised by Enrico's self-control, the imposter paid closer attention. Enrico pointed to the doors, and Serenya appeared, using debris to block the exit.
"Kai, Cris is an enemy."
Kai appeared behind with his sword raised and slashed without hesitation. Cris stepped back, a cut opening across his chest.
"Almo—"
He turned just in time to see Enrico's eyes, cold with fury, as he punched with a flaming fist. Cris blocked the attack but was pushed back.
"Interesting"
Cris said, looking at the four. He noticed Elian finishing his absorption.
"You're interesting. But unfortunately for you, I've already started my plan."
Suddenly, they all felt a powerful pressure pinning them to the ground—Rirus had appeared behind them.
---
Enrico struggled to stand, his face contorted in rage.
"Get up… I have to destroy him."
"So, Jago, is this how it's going to be? Are you really throwing away everything we built for your mother?"
Rirus stared at the figure now revealed as Jago.
Jago scratched his head, unfazed.
"Oh, come on. Don't give me that. You're obsessed with her. If you'd just absorbed her core, you'd already be a Faizes. But instead of evolving, you've stayed stuck in this trash heap."
A tear ran down Rirus's face. He raised his hand, summoning a hand from a teleportation circle.
"I never thought my own son would say that."
Suddenly, Rirus stopped moving. Jago tilted his head with a small smile.
"So, tell me, Dad… how was the meal I prepared for you today? I hope it was to your liking."
Inside his own mind, Rirus was focusing—until a woman's hand grasped his and began pulling him forward. When he saw her face, he followed.
Enrico saw Rirus frozen.
"Hey, if you free us, we'll help you."
"Sorry, but he can't hear you."
A magic circle appeared in Jago's hand, and from it emerged a core that pulsed like a heart.
He pressed it against Rirus's chest, where his own core was, forcing the two together. Rirus began to scream.
"AAAAAAAAH!"
It was the first time they had ever heard a Nartheis scream.
Rirus began to grow, transforming into a giant skeletal figure with a massive bone sword.
Jago moved his hands, forming a circle that surrounded everyone—except himself—and they began sinking into the ground.
"Goodbye. If you manage to beat him, I'll be thankful. If you die, I'll wait for someone else to come and kill him."
He watched them being swallowed, then turned to walk away. But he paused as a hand emerged—trying to rise.
A finger pointed at him, and Enrico's face appeared, twisted with rage.
"I'm going to kill you, Jago."
The circle forced Enrico inside—and disappeared.
"Hm…"
Jago looked at the ground and began walking.
"Better head to the portal and wait. Everything is going just as I imagined."
Far below, in the same place where Enrico and Serenya had fought Azure, the group was thrown alongside the giant skeleton onto a platform.
Some, like Vanessa and Sílvia, woke up. Others remained unconscious. Everyone who could move immediately got into a battle stance as they stared at the creature.
[Boss: Rirus – Hidden Form – Faizes Level 1]
[Berserk Necromancer of the Lost City]
The first to attack is Kai.
"Hero's Magic: Crescent Slash!"
A magic-slicing strike flew toward Rirus, who merely moved a finger to stop the attack. His level was far too high for Kai to affect him.
The skeletal sword swung down in a slash, which Kai managed to block—only to be hurled into the wall, instantly losing consciousness and joining Caelan and Valença, who were still unconscious.
Vanessa charged in alongside Sílvia, but was sliced in half by a swift cut that killed her instantly, shocking Sílvia beside her. Sílvia clasped her hands to her face and screamed in despair.
"Noooooooo!"
The sword came down toward her, but she was saved by Serenya, who pulled her to the side. However, skeletal zombie-like creatures rose from the ground and began striking at Serenya, launching her away.
Elian and Enrico rescued the two, but Enrico was struck in the arm, breaking it. The blow continued into his ribs, sending him crashing into the right wall. He began to lose consciousness, watching as Elian was caught in Rirus's hand and crushed. Elian tried to resist, but couldn't.
"System, I have a deal to make. I want more power, in exchange I—"
[That is currently impossible. The only deal capable of overcoming this would require sacrificing your life—it would not kill him, but would buy the others time.]
Enrico felt himself growing dizzy.
"This is all my fault. If only I'd been better prepared… if only I'd taken more risks…"
He tried to pull himself out of the crater but could only hear Elian's screams.
"Aaaaah!"
Suddenly, the creature's hand was sliced off, and Elian dropped to the ground, unconscious. Enrico felt a wave of relief—apparently, the letter he had left for her had worked. He closed his eyes, for Virelle had arrived.
Virelle looked around with complex emotions, then turned empty eyes toward Rirus, who slashed with his sword.
Upon touching Virelle, the sword shattered.
"You know… I hate when someone touches what I'm responsible for."
Virelle's eyes blazed with fury.