[Chapter 274. Gifts of War]

Within a few minutes, he found the group he was looking for and made his way over. He ran across the hard, cracked ground, leaving a trail of dust in his wake—his footsteps pounding against the arid wasteland like the heartbeat of a predator closing in on its prey. The air shimmered with heat, distorting the distant horizon as his enhanced agility carried him effortlessly over the treacherous terrain. His boots came to a grinding stop right beside Iris, sending a small cloud of dust swirling around their legs.

"How is it looking?"

Iris turned toward him, already knowing he was there before he had even spoken. Her ears had twitched at the sound of his approach, her senses attuned to his presence as if they were extensions of herself.

"The silver teams are having slight problems taking them down," she reported, her voice calm but threaded with underlying tension. Her silver eyes tracked the battle, analyzing every movement and calculating probabilities with the precision only she possessed. "Their coordination is acceptable, but their power output is insufficient. That said, they are only at most level seven. They should gain a good amount of experience in here, especially with the regeneration rate of this floor ensuring a constant supply of opponents."

"Are you not asking why I'm here?" he asked, while his gauntlet vanished with a soft shimmer of blue light, revealing his pale hand and the dark veins that pulsed beneath his skin. His fingers combed through her mane, the silver-white strands soft against his fingertips, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the ambient temperature.

She nuzzled into his touch, her rough cheek rubbing against his palm in an instinctual gesture of affection and submission. "I believe you have a reason for it," she responded, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she leaned into his caress. Her tail swished slowly behind her, a clear indication of her pleasure at his presence. "You rarely act without purpose."

"I got you something. Would you dump all your items out from your storage ring?" His voice was matter-of-fact, but there was an edge of anticipation beneath the surface.

Without hesitation, the entire contents of her ring landed before her as she leaned closer into his touch, her movements fluid and trusting. A small pile of miscellaneous items materialized on the cracked earth: a few potions, a Lantern, her simple armor set but mostly meat. Her eyes never left his face as she waited for his next words, her posture one of complete deference. He held out his hand. Within it lay the Superior Ring of Spatial Storage, its silver surface gleaming under the harsh sunlight of the Labyrinth.

Iris took off her Storm-Weaver's Gauntlet with deliberate slowness and replaced the ring on her finger. The cool metal sent a jolt of energy through her as it bonded with her essence. Then, she stored everything that lay on the ground, the items vanishing one by one into the expanded space of her new ring. Her eyes went wide as she realized the full implications of what he had given her. She jumped into his arms, nipping at his skin between kisses. Her fangs grazed his neck gently—a display of both affection and primal instinct that was uniquely hers.

"You bought me armor?" Her voice was filled with disbelief and gratitude, her tail wagging furiously behind her as she clung to him.

"Not just that, dear." He held out his hand, and in a flash of blue light, his palm was full of jewelry. Two intermediate earrings, seven intermediate rings—four for MP and three for HP—a Ring of Minor Poison Resistance, a Ring of Minor Elemental Resistance, and a thin necklace adorned with a silver wing. The items shimmered with magical energy, their intricate designs speaking of craftsmanship far beyond anything she owned. His fingers closed around the necklace. The silver wing was cool against his palm as he fastened it around her neck, the metal settling against her fur like a promise of protection.

She stored them all inside her new ring, her fingers trembling slightly with anticipation as each item vanished into the expanded pocket dimension. Her tail began to thump against the dusty ground in an increasingly rapid rhythm, a clear indication of her mounting excitement. She read through the information with focused intensity, her silver eyes scanning the glowing System text with analytical precision, absorbing every detail.

"It will prevent a lethal attack once a day?" she muttered as she read the information about the Angel's Grace, her voice filled with disbelief and awe. The implications of such protection were staggering—a lifeline that could turn certain death into a second chance.

"And I got something else for you."

In his hand lay three stone bricks, each possessing a differently colored marble texture: deep crimson, midnight black, and arctic white. They were surprisingly warm to the touch despite their mineral appearance, pulsing with a subtle energy that seemed to resonate with the very air around them. She stored them with practiced efficiency, but the moment they disappeared into her ring, her tail began to thrash wildly behind her, a blur of dark fur against the barren landscape. In one fluid motion, she brought her Zweihänder up from the hard ground, the massive blade seeming impossibly light in her hands, and ran the white marbled stone along its edge.

As the stone ground over the edge, the dark blade began to frost over, the enchantment activating with a visible surge of power. Steam began to rise from it in a thick fog as the entire blade laced with frost. The black metal shimmered with an ethereal turquoise light that intensified as the magical cold took hold. Iris swung her sword in a wide arc, leaving a trail of frost in its wake, the frozen air crackling with untamed energy.

"Use it well, dear. Now show me your armor," Searanox said, his hand sliding to her nape before pulling back, his fingers briefly tangling in the thick fur.

In a soft flash of blue light, her body glowed for a moment, the magical energy cocooning her form as the new armor materialized around her frame. Then, Iris stood before him in pitch-black armor with silver details. The metal seemed to absorb the harsh light of the Labyrinth, while the silver tracings caught and reflected it in elegant patterns. Her entire body was covered in dark metal, hugging her lean figure with precision-fitted plates that moved with her as if they were part of her very skin. The only visible patch of fur was the lower part of her muzzle—a stark contrast to the formidable, armored visage she now presented. The armor was designed for both protection and mobility, with articulated joints and reinforced plating at vital points, making her appear deadly and invincible.

"You look very good in this armor. Now, call over the girls."

Iris simply looked toward the four women who were fighting, her enhanced vision tracking their movements with calculated interest. "They will come over when they are done with their current fight," she said, her voice even and composed despite the clear approval in her eyes as she assessed her new appearance. The four women were locked in combat with another Stonehide Strider, their coordinated attacks gradually wearing down the creature's formidable defenses.

Moments later, the four of them came over. Their movements slowed as they approached, their expressions shifting from battle-weary focus to curiosity at the sight of the new items in Searanox's hands. The air crackled with residual mana from the recent fight, the scent of ozone and earth clinging to their old gear. Sarah, her face smudged with sweat, froze mid-step as her eyes widened, recognizing the gleam of silver in Searanox's palm. A high-pitched squeal burst from her lips, echoing across the barren landscape like a child discovering gifts on Christmas morning.

"Iris!" she gasped, her voice filled with almost childlike glee, her gaze shifting rapidly between Iris's imposing figure and the rings in Searanox's hand.

Searanox held out his hand, palm up, where four silver rings rested, each catching the dim light of the labyrinth with a soft glow. They were identical in design, their surfaces etched with faint, shimmering runes.

"Each of you gets your own," he said, his tone low and commanding, yet devoid of any warmth. "Carmen, the one you currently have—empty it out and hand it over. As well as all the other rings on your fingers. The same goes for all of you," he added, his gaze sweeping over the other three women. "Hand over your rings."

Without hesitation, they complied. They removed the simple rings they had been wearing and placed them in Searanox's outstretched hand. The exchange was swift, the atmosphere charged with anticipation as they awaited what came next. Then, with deliberate slowness, he handed out the remaining items, each piece gleaming with enchantments far beyond anything they had ever owned. They each took a ring, their fingers brushing against the cool metal as they slipped them on, the sensation a jolt of unfamiliar energy.

Sarah, her eyes wide with excitement, immediately began fumbling with her tunic as soon as the ring settled on her finger. The other three women looked over at her, their brows furrowed in confusion, not understanding why she was stripping off her clothes right there in the middle of the Labyrinth.

"What are you doing?" Lana asked, her voice a mix of concern and amusement as she reached out to grab Sarah's arm. "He said the rings, not your clothes."

"There's armor in the ring!" Sarah yelled, her voice high and breathless, her fingers working frantically at the ties of her tunic. "I can feel it—like it's calling to me!"

They all paused for a moment, their curiosity overriding their confusion, and looked into their own rings. Sarah had already discarded her simple tunic and boots, her skin glistening in the dim light as she stood half-undressed in the Labyrinth's eerie glow. Then, as if on cue, Carmen flashed in a sudden burst of blue light. The energy washed over her in a wave as her simple gear vanished, replaced by something far more elaborate.

When the light subsided, she stood before them in polished silver armor. Its surface gleamed like liquid moonlight, adorned with crisp white linen and large, elegant feather accents that cascaded from her shoulders, hips and helmet. The armor hugged her form perfectly, each plate and strap fitted with precision. The fabric flowed around her hips in graceful, sweeping lines that pooled down to her knees, swaying with each subtle movement.

"That looks so cool!" Sarah squeaked, her voice rising with excitement. "How did you do that?"

"I just did as one would do with the items inside the ring," Carmen explained, her voice calm and measured as she looked down at herself, her fingers tracing the intricate silver patterns on her breastplate. "But instead of wanting them out, I concentrated on wanting to wear them."

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her hips moving in a slow, deliberate motion. The fabric around her hips swayed, and the feathers on her armor rustled softly in the still air. The other women watched, mesmerized, before they began to access their own armor. The dungeon was suddenly filled with flashes of blue light and the soft clink of metal as they transformed from weary survivors into formidable warriors.

Moments later, all four of them stood before him in the same Valkyrie armor, their transformed figures casting elongated shadows across the floor as the light of the Labyrinth glinted off their newly acquired silver plate. Each of them wore it slightly differently. Lana had the most armor of them all; it somehow looked thicker and more protective. Her shoulders and torso were encased in heavier plate that seemed to shimmer with a subtle protective aura, her movements slightly more deliberate as she adjusted to the additional weight.

Vanessa and Carmen mostly looked the same, their armor emphasizing elegance over brute force; just the placement and orientation of the feathers were different, with fewer heavily armored parts. Their forms were framed by flowing white fabric that danced with each movement. Sarah had a mix of both; her armor was plated and flowing, and both of her arms were covered in silver plating that gleamed in the eerie light, the plates fitted snugly against her skin and polished to a mirror sheen that reflected the jagged rock formations around them.

Searanox walked around them, his boots crunching softly on the sunbaked floor, his eyes tracing the lines of their armor with a critical yet appreciative gaze. He paused behind each woman, his fingers briefly touching the cool metal, testing the craftsmanship. He stopped in front of them, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"You look good, very pleasing. I especially like the skirt... cape... the feathers that come out of your lower backs and flow down behind you." His voice was low, almost a whisper, his gaze lingering on the cascade of feathers that swept from their shoulders, their tips brushing against the ground with each movement.

"Why are you giving us all this?" Vanessa asked. Her voice was soft as she turned slightly, her fingers tracing the intricate silver patterns on her breastplate, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and confusion, her reflection distorted in the polished metal. She looked up at him, her question hanging in the air, her posture relaxed yet expectant, her body angled slightly toward him as if drawn by an invisible force.

Searanox stopped and pulled her slightly against him, his hand resting on her hip, his fingers pressing gently against the silver plate. "Because I don't want to lose you inside this Labyrinth."

His voice was barely audible, his breath warm against her ear. He nudged her chin softly with his fingers before slowly leaning in to kiss her, his lips brushing against hers with a tenderness that seemed out of place in the harsh environment of the Labyrinth—a stark contrast to the brutal reality of their existence.

Instead of pulling away, she leaned in and kissed him, her lips parting slightly as she responded. Her body melted against his, her armor clinking softly as she pressed closer. The moment stretched, the air thick with unspoken emotions, the distant sounds of the Labyrinth fading into the background. Then he pulled away, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned, his movements fluid and confident.

He brought out four earrings with translucent green stones on them. The stones glowed with a faint, pulsating light, and the silver settings caught the ambient light as he held them out.

"These are Earrings of Communication. I'm not sure exactly how they work, but you can all talk telepathically with them." He paused, his eyes scanning their faces, his expression serious. He turned his head toward Iris, who stood nearby, her silver eyes watching them with a calm intensity. "You give one of them the Earring of Distant Communication and keep in touch with them on the second floor. As I said, you stay away from the ruins."

His voice was firm, the command clear, his gaze unwavering as he emphasized the last part, his fingers tightening slightly on the jewelry.