Chapter 154: Calm Before The Storm

Asher and Juliana blinked, staring at the written words, both completely stunned into silence:

​["All creatures within an SSS-Rank structure possess advanced intelligence. While any standard elite monster functions as a Normal Boss, the Final Boss resting at the core is invariably a Primordial Boss."]

​Asher blinked, his mind racing. ’What the hell?’

The Priestess he had fought in the corrupted lair was categorized as a Special Boss, yet she didn’t possess any official title.

​’I shouldn’t forget that dungeon was originally just an A-Rank before I altered it... What absolute catastrophe will happen if I try to mutate an SSS-Rank Dungeon?’ Asher thought, his jaw tightening as he stood up to his feet.

​Demons were already monstrously powerful entities, but what if he encountered a Primordial Boss that was also a fully titled Demon? No matter how he evaluated the situation, an SSS-Rank Dungeon was definitely not a playground for the unprepared. Even with the absolute advantage of his unique System, without sufficient raw strength, he might never walk back out alive.

​He turned his gaze toward Juliana, a sudden hesitation gnawing at his mind. Was it truly wise to bring her along into such a chaotic death trap?

​He exhaled a long, heavy breath: "Alright. Tomorrow morning, I will solo an SSS-Rank Dungeon."

".....?!!"

​The two women stared at him, utterly stunned.

​"Are you stupid, husband?! It’s far too dangerous!" Juliana yelled, instantly leaping to her feet as her eyes flashed with frantic panic. Beside her, Sara nodded her head vigorously in firm agreement.

​Asher could only give her a small, reassuring smile. He desperately needed to clear an SSS-Rank Dungeon before he could unlock the key to the Mental Destruction Dungeon and secure Juliana’s and Sara’s permanent cure; he simply couldn’t afford any further delay.

​"Nothing bad will happen to me." Asher said softly. He raised his right hand and casually snapped his fingers.

​WHOOSH!

​The pitch-black shadows blanketing the floor behind him suddenly wrickled and shifted, rising smoothly into the air. They solidified into ten massive, towering Black Knights clad in abyssal plate armor, each wielding a massive broadsword and a tower shield.

​THUD!

​All ten shadows dropped heavily to their knees in perfect unison, bowing their armored heads in absolute obedience.

​"Not when I have them at my side." Asher said, a confident smirk touching his lips. "These guys possess one hundred percent of my baseline stats. In short, any enemy I face isn’t just fighting me—they’re fighting eleven Ashers who deal the exact same terrifying amount of damage."

​"....?!!!"

​The two women stared at the kneeling shadow army, completely speechbound. They turned to look at one another, both of them at a total loss for words.

​"Alright, you two should get some proper rest." He said, turning toward the bedroom exit as the ten knights shattered back into shadows, seeping seamlessly into the floorboards. "There are a lot of pressing matters to handle tomorrow morning..."

​"Let me come with you!" Juliana yelled after him, her voice laced with desperation.

​Asher exhaled softly. He had initially planned to bring Juliana along so he could help her clear high-level monsters and unlock her dormant physique, but now, with the confirmation of sentient Demons and terrifying Primordial Bosses, there was no chance he would risk her life.

​He didn’t yet know if his current power could effortlessly crush such abyssal entities. All his life, he had survived by being meticulously careful, taking every single step only after deep, deliberate calculation. Asher would never allow himself to drag any of his wives into an unknown hellscape that might get them killed.

​"When I go after standard S-Rank dungeons, I will definitely bring you with me. Don’t worry, I will bring back a grand gift for you..." He said, taking a few steps forward before stopping right in front of the door frame.

​"I will leave before sunrise, but don’t worry—I will prepare enough food to last you three for two days at most. As for the Ten Great Demons arriving tomorrow alongside the Guild Leaders, I am placing you completely in charge... Handle the guilds while I am away." He said, glancing over his shoulder at the bewildered Juliana.

​"I won’t die. Not yet."

​With those final words, he turned the handle and opened the door: "Goodnight, you two."

Asher walked out into the dimly lit hallway, closing the heavy wooden door behind him with a silent, subtle click.

​"Is he... Crazy?" Juliana finally found her voice again, staring blankly at the door.

​’Don’t worry. If he says he will be completely safe, he will be,’ Sara’s telepathic voice resonated softly within Juliana’s mind.

​"Aren’t you worried at all?" Juliana turned to Sara, her brow furrowed in disbelief.

​’In my entire life as an Awakened, I have entered a total of five SSS-Rank Dungeons, and my raid team only managed to clear one after the agonizing death of seventy percent of our entire vanguard squad... He will be back.’ Sara conveyed, her eyes shining with absolute, unwavering trust in the man who had just saved her soul.

​Juliana blinked, staring at Sara’s serene expression, before letting out a helpless sigh: "I truly hope so." She looked back over her shoulder at the closed door, her heart still heavy with worry.

___

​[Asher’s Bedroom.]

​Asher walked out of his private bathroom, clad in a simple set of comfortable pajamas. He stretched his broad arms over his head, letting out a tired sigh as he lay down across his pristine bed.

​’I just hope my current strength is enough to breeze through an SSS-Rank dungeon...’ He thought, staring up at the grand ceiling.

​KNOCK. KNOCK.

​"Can I come in?" A soft voice echoed from the doorway.

​"You are already inside." Asher said, sitting up as he turned to see Juliana standing by the entrance in a sleek nightgown, fidgeting nervously.

​"Can’t sleep?" He asked gently.

​She gave a small, quiet nod. "I want to sleep with you tonight."

​"....?!"

Asher blinked in surprise.

​Instantly realizing how her words might have sounded, Juliana’s face flushed crimson, and she shook her head vigorously: "I didn’t mean it like that! I mean... Just sleeping--"

​"--There’s no need to explain, I understand completely. Come here," Asher said with a warm, gentle smile, patting the space beside him.

​Juliana’s face instantly brightened with relief. She rushed toward the king-sized bed, quickly sliding beneath the covers. She snuggled close against his chest, wrapping her arms around him, and closed her eyes with a soft sigh.

​Asher smiled, wrapping his large arm securely around her. Just a short time ago, this same woman had stood over his bed with a lethal blade pressed against his throat; now, she was sleeping peacefully in his arms, trusting him with her life. Asher exhaled softly, tightening his embrace to let her know she was completely safe.

​’Tomorrow will mark the absolute start of our brand new lives... Three more weeks until everything changes.’ He thought, closing his eyes as sleep finally took him.

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​[Congratulations my beautiful and handsome Readers! This marks the end of Volume One.]

[Get ready as we continue our journey into Volume Two: Rise Of Aetheldawn.]