Chapter 71: Back to the Village

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Back to the Village

The way back to the elven settlement was quiet.

No one in the group felt particularly chatty after the mission within the dungeon. Arin walked near the front of the group, though his pace was slower than normal. Dungeon Master Rage was already gone, but his body still paid the price for using it. His clothes were in tatters, his body bore the evidence of several old wounds and dried up streaks of blood marred parts of his skin.

He swayed weakly as he walked.

Adnan was the first to notice. "You should slow down" Arin shot him a look. "I’m fine"

Adnan frowned. "You keep saying that" "Because I am walking" Mira, who was walking next to him shook her head. "That doesn’t prove anything" Arin shot her a look. "You, too?" "Yes." Saira crossed her arms as she walked next to them. "He is correct, you know. You’re injured."

Arin sighed

"I know."

Ayan, who was walking a bit behind them kept a wary eye on the woods. Despite his injuries, the dragon maintained his vigilance. Eldran walked beside the several surviving elves. The Elf Chief looked exhausted. His wounds were bandaged enough for him to walk, but the effort clearly took a toll on him. Arin turned around. Zarl and Garul were walking at the back of the group. Arin shot a glance at Zarl.

The man immediately turned to face him.

"What?" "Nothing." Zarl smiled "You’ve been staring at me for a while" "Making sure you don’t try anything" Zarl looked at the magical restraint around his neck. "I’d have to be an idiot to"

Garul let out a weary sigh "Master Zarl" "What?" "Please don’t make things worse"

Zarl shot him a sidelong glance "You worry too much" "Someone has to" Saira looked back at the two men "Keep talking and I’ll agree with him" Zarl chuckled "I never knew you cared so much" "I don’t" The group continued walking. One of the guards at the gates spotted Eldran. His eyes widened at the sight of the Elf Chief. "Chief Eldran!"

The group of guards at the gates hurried to meet them. Numerous elves flocked out to meet the returning party.

"Chief!"

"They’re back!"

"What happened?"

"Why are they injured?"

"Where are the others?"

The questioning quickly turned into an interrogation. Eldran raised a hand. "Everyone, please." The gathered elves fell silent. Eldran looked at the group that had walked in with him. "We survived" His voice was tired, but firm. The other elves sighed in relief. A few hurried forward to embrace the surviving elves. One of the elves nearly collapsed on the spot, but another elf caught him. "Get the healers!" A group of elves hurried towards the main buildings of the settlement. They wasted no time in tending to the needs of the injured.

Mira was the first one that the healers came to. "Sit down" "I’m fine" The healer looked at her like she was crazy. Mira let out a tired sigh and sat. Arin nearly burst out laughing. Mira shot him a warning glance. "Don’t" "I didn’t say anything" "You were about to" Arin smiled. Saira was helped over towards a healer. Adnan was made to sit while another elf tended to the wound on his shoulder. Ayan allowed another elf to take a look at his injuries. Eldran refused to sit.

The healers swarmed around him regardless.

"I can walk"

"You can also bleed"

Ayan shot him a concerned look. "Listen to them" Eldran let out a tired sigh "Fine" Arin looked around. Apart from the injuries, everyone was still alive. That was a relief in and of itself.

Neva.

Arin’s face darkened The image of the ancient Dungeon Master flashed in his mind. After breaking the hold of Caelan over him, he had bestowed upon Arin a great number of skills.

Defeat him boy, do not let the previous dungeon masters die in vain.

Neva had used his powers to heal everyone around him, save for the dead. The latter’s body had turned to dust with his death.

The other authorities had also turned to dust. Arin looked away. He would not forget him.

Ayan noticed the change in expression, but said nothing. The group was slowly brought further into the settlement. Zarl and Garul were still guarded, though the guards took them through the streets to the main building, weapons at the ready.

Eventually the healers finished up their examination of the survivors. "Arin" Arin turned around. An elven healer pointed towards a building. "Inside." "I can rest here."."No" "I’m really fine." The healer looked at the injury on his chest "No." Arin let out a tired sigh. "Fine" Saira smiled "You lost" "I wasn’t fighting" "Still lost" Arin shot her a tired look before heading into the healer’s building.

The others were left to be examined nearby.

The building was quiet in comparison to the rest of the elven settlement. Several floating crystals provided dim lighting as teams of elves worked together to tend to the injured. Arin sat on one of the beds. A healer immediately began working on the injuries on his chest. A warm feeling spread throughout his body as the pain slowly subsided. Arin let out a sigh. The System then appeared before him

[Dungeon Master Authority stabilizing.]

Arin opened his eyes.

[Skills granted by Authority Ten have been integrated.]

Arin looked at the message in surprise

"Neva." Arene’s voice replied in his mind

[Yes.]

Arin looked at his hand. "The abilities he gave me."

[They are now part of your available Dungeon Master Authority.]

"Can I use them?"

[Their effectiveness is limited by your current Dungeon Authority.]

Arin nodded. That wasn’t a problem. Neva hadn’t given him his power. He had given him the tools to understand it. Arin furrowed his brows.

[Unique Ability: Dungeon Sovereign.]

[Current state: Incomplete.]

Arin frowned

"Incomplete?"

[Dungeon Sovereign was formed from the analysis of multiple Dungeon Master Authorities experienced during combat.]

[Its current abilities are limited by your understanding, Dungeon Authority and physical condition.]

Arin recalled his duel with Zerf. Dungeon King’s Domain was unfathomably strong, but it wasn’t impossible to overcome.

Dungeon Sovereign hadn’t made him stronger than his opponent. It had allowed him to learn the structure of the Domain and predict its weakness. That wasn’t the case with Neva. Arin looked at the message again "So I still have to grow"

[Correct.]

Arin nodded

"Good"

Arene paused.

[Good?]

"I’d rather know the truth."

He lay back

"If Dungeon Sovereign could just give me every ability I see, there wouldn’t be any point in learning anything." Arene didn’t respond straight away. Then her voice reached his mind again

[Your conclusion is correct.]

Arin smiled slightly. "That’s enough for me."

Outside, he could hear the elven settlement stirring back to life. The surviving elves were being reunited with their families. Adnan was still being treated. Mira was chatting with one of the healers. Saira was grumbling about her treatment. Ayan had finally been convinced to sit down. Eldran was talking with several elves outside the building. Even Zarl and Garul were somewhere inside the settlement, still under guard.

For a place that had lost nearly everyone, it was oddly peaceful. Arin closed his eyes.

They had entered the dungeon looking for answers. Answers that they hadn’t gotten.

Instead, they found ten former Dungeon Masters. They learned that the said Dungeon Masters had all been blessed with the System. They discovered that someone had captured them. They met Caelan. And now, Neva and the others were gone. Arin’s fingers tightened against the bed.

Caelan had referred to him as the eleventh Dungeon Master. He had sounded almost disappointed that Arin hadn’t been broken.

That would not happen. Arene’s voice interrupted his thoughts

[Arin.]

"Yes?"

[Your body requires rest.]

"I know."

[Dungeon Master Rage caused severe strain.]

Arin let out a tired sigh "How long?"

[Several days of recovery are recommended.]

Arin stared at the ceiling. "Several days?"

[Yes.]

He groaned. "I hate resting." Ayan’s voice echoed from the other side of the room. "You need it." Arin turned his head. "Are you listening to me?" "I can hear you." Mira looked over from her bed. "So can I." Adnan chuckled "Everyone can." Saira smiled. "You’re not escaping this one." Arin looked at everyone. "You people are terrible." Ayan’s expression didn’t change. "We are alive." Arin paused. Then he smiled "Yeah."

That was more important. They had survived.

Arin looked out the window. The sun was already setting over the Elf Lands. Tomorrow, there were questions that needed answering. Questions about Caelan The Ten Authorities. The Dungeon Masters.

The System. And the unknown force behind it all. But not tonight. Tonight, Arin allowed himself to rest. Outside, the forest grew darker.

And deep within the Elf Lands, Caelan stirred in the shadows. Arin would not know about it. All he knew was that the dungeon had not given him the answers he wanted.

It had only opened another door.