THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

"Are we sure this is the right way?" Kairos materialized from the shadows beside Salomonis, his voice carrying barely concealed doubt. "The main path was back there."

"Scared of the dark?" Aria teased, sparks dancing between her fingers as she illuminated their path. The narrow corridor they followed seemed to twist impossibly, defying normal geometry.

"Says the one lighting up our position like a festival lantern."

Salomonis chuckled at their bickering. "If you two are done flirting—"

"We're not flirting!" they snapped in unison, then glared at each other.

Ahead of them, Luna moved with unwavering certainty, her steps precise as if following an invisible map. The small figure of Yue hurried to keep pace with her, curiosity practically radiating from beneath her hood.

"The tower's architecture," Yue mused, her scholar's mind racing, "it's unlike anything in the records. The way the energy flows through these veins..."

She gestured at the glowing lines in the walls. "From what David shared before his... rest, this place shouldn't even exist in this configuration."

Luna's step faltered slightly at the mention of David. "What exactly did he tell you?"

"Oh!" Yue's eyes lit up with academic enthusiasm. "He mentioned the tower's original purpose as a seal, its connection to the old powers, the theoretical placement of the boss room—though half of what he said contradicts established research. It's fascinating really, how he knows—"

"Mother," Litty interrupted gently, "you're rambling again."

"Let her ramble," Salomonis called from behind. "It's more entertaining than these two's lover's quarrel."

"We're not lovers!"

The group's banter died as Luna suddenly stopped, placing her hand against what appeared to be a solid wall. The veins of energy pulsed in response, and the wall simply... ceased to exist, revealing a hidden passage.

"How did you—" Yue began.

"This way," Luna cut her off, leading them through.

The passage opened into a massive circular chamber. Two enormous merman statues flanked an ornate door, their tridents crossed to bar the way. As the group approached, the statues' eyes began to glow.

"HALT!" the left statue's voice boomed. "TO PASS BEYOND THIS POINT—"

"The answer is 'eternal current,'" Luna stated flatly.

The statues blinked. "But... we haven't even given the riddle yet."

"It's about the flow of time and space, represented by the ocean's currents. The answer is 'eternal current.' Can we proceed?"

The right statue looked utterly dejected. "We had this whole thing prepared... with verses and everything..."

"I spent three centuries composing that riddle," the left statue muttered.

Aria failed to suppress a snort of laughter. Kairos was practically shaking with contained mirth. Even Salomonis had to turn away to hide his grin.

"If it helps," Yue offered sympathetically, "I'd love to hear the full riddle later. For academic purposes, of course."

The statues brightened slightly. "Really?"

"No," Luna cut in. "We don't have time. The door, please."

With what could only be described as a stone pout, the statues lifted their tridents. The door began to open, revealing a passage that seemed to pulse with increasing power.

"That was cold," Litty whispered to Luna. "Clever, but cold."

"Master's instructions were clear," Luna replied. "We have a narrow window of opportunity."@@novelbin@@

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"About that," Salomonis moved closer, his golden eyes studying Luna carefully. "You seem awfully certain about all of this. Almost as if—"

"The path ahead will be dangerous," Luna interrupted. "The boss room's defenses are unlike anything you've encountered. Master gave specific instructions about how to handle them."

"Which are?" Kairos prompted.

Luna's hand moved to a pouch at her belt. "When we enter, drink the potions I give you. Immediately. No questions."

"That's... not ominous at all," Aria muttered.

As they proceeded deeper, the tower's atmosphere changed. The ancient stone gave way to something more... advanced. The energy veins grew more numerous, their pulse more urgent.

"We're close," Luna announced. "Whatever happens next, follow my lead. Master's plan depends on perfect timing."

"And if something goes wrong?" Salomonis asked.

Luna's response was chillingly simple: "Then we all die."

The group fell silent as they approached their destination, each lost in their own thoughts about what awaited them—and just how their unconscious source had known so much about this supposedly unexplored domain.

The group moved with uncanny precision through the tower's defenses, Luna guiding them past lethal traps that should have been unavoidable. Each perfect step, each precise timing, only deepened her companions' wonder at the accuracy of David's instructions.

Behind her, Yue kept pace despite her condition, hope driving her forward. For her, this raid meant more than glory or wealth—the boss's reward could finally cure her mana condition. Beside them, Salomonis concealed his own anticipation; the chance to reclaim his ancestor Solomon's artifact was almost within reach.

Kairos watched Luna's movements with growing suspicion. No seer's visions could be this precise. Meanwhile, Aria's mind raced with possibilities—if David's knowledge was this valuable, securing an alliance with him would be worth any price.

Suddenly, Luna stopped.

"What is it?" Yue asked, her scholarly curiosity breaking the silence.

Luna didn't respond immediately, diving instead into memories that weren't originally hers. As David's Aetenus, she shared more than just a bond with her master—she had access to fragments of his knowledge, his memories. They'd spent countless nights experimenting with this connection, deepening it far beyond what was possible with Draven, who lacked the ability to speak.

Her hand moved with certainty through what appeared to be solid wall, finding the lever hidden behind the illusion. As she pulled it, an inhuman scream echoed through the dungeon.

"Damn it," Luna cursed, memories flooding back. "The fiends—they weren't supposed to wake yet. We've triggered the dungeon's phase shift too early."

"What's happening?" Salomonis demanded as more screams joined the first.

"Undead sea mermen," Luna explained, her voice tight. "They're supposed to be suppressed by the Heroes, not regular adventurers. The gates—"

"Don't worry," Salomonis cut in, already casting a communication spell. "My squad can handle—"

"They're undead," Luna insisted, but Salomonis shook his head.

"Then we press forward. Defeating the boss is our best option now. If we can clear the dungeon—"

The floor beneath them erupted in malevolent red light, ancient runes burning themselves into reality.

"Run!" Salomonis shouted, recognizing the pattern. "It's a teleportation trap!"

But it was too late. The light engulfed them, and their voices faded into nothingness as the Dungeon took its prey.