A thunderous sound echoed, freezing all three of them in place.
Kyran stiffened. "Wait… could it be that the password was actually what you just said, Aria?"
Aria hesitated, then recalled it. "I think… you're right! Beneath the painting, there was an inscription that read 'The God of Love and Sincerity'… and just now I mentioned the word 'love'. That must have been the key!"
The three exchanged looks, realization dawning on them all at once.
Beyond the gate, a frozen path stretched out, bathed in cold light that extended all the way into the distance.
Inside lay countless golden chests, stacked high with jewels, diamonds, and treasures reaching nearly to the ceiling. Everything glittered like a dream.
"Treasure… gods, it really is a treasure vault!" Soren cried out, his eyes shining.
"Don't be greedy." Aria said sternly: "None of this belongs to us."
Before Kyran could respond, Aria suddenly pointed ahead.
"Look… that sword!"
Atop one of the chests, a radiant sword was embedded deep into the wooden lid. Its light was clear and holy, its aura so overwhelming that all three instinctively held their breath.
Aria's voice trembled. "That's the Holy Sword… it once belonged to the first Hero of Lumerious!"
Kyran was stunned. "The Holy Sword of Lumerious? Why is it here?"
"I don't know," Aria replied softly.
"But if this is real… then there must be a terrifying secret hidden behind all of this."
Kyran stepped forward and grasped the hilt but it wouldn't budge.
"It won't move at all!"
Soren and Aria tried in turn, with the same result.
"This makes no sense…" Aria murmured.
Kyran thought for a moment. "The secret might be inside these chests. If we can open them, we'll find the truth."
While they struggled…
Elsewhere, within another space inside the same cavern…
A naked woman leaned languidly against a massive, transparent block of ice.
Her lips trembled as she let out soft, blissful moans.
"Ah… ah… hnng…"
Her affectionate gaze and delicate face rubbed gently against the icy surface, as though caressing the person sealed within.
"My husband… my beloved husband… I… love… you…"
"Do you… remember me…?"
Inside the ice was the faint silhouette of someone, the one she called her "husband."
Moments later, an elderly man entered and dropped to his knees. "Lady Mirathiel, please forgive this intrusion…"
"INSOLENT WRETCH! HOW DARE YOU DISTURB ME?!"
A vase flew through the air, smashing into his head. Blood streamed down his forehead.
The woman was none other than Mirathiel, the Saint Maiden of Illusions, the deity who represented love and sincerity. She gazed at the old man with open contempt.
Despite the brutal treatment, the servant remained kneeling respectfully. "There are intruders in the cavern. Shall I eliminate them for you?"
Mirathiel rested her chin on her hand, lips curling upward in amusement.
"Intruders…? Ha… how interesting."
"Then please allow me…"
"No need. I'll go greet them myself. After all… it's been a long time since this place last had guests."
She snapped her fingers. A high-slit black dress wrapped itself around her body. In an instant, the deranged figure transformed into a dangerously seductive lady.
"Let's go, Edris."
—
On Kyran's side, the three were still desperately trying to pull the Holy Sword free without success.
The scene was clearly reflected in the crystal orb held in Mirathiel's hand. She laughed with delight.
"Ahahaha… how adorable. Trying to draw my husband's sword? How foolish… that blade was never meant to be drawn so easily."
The servant bowed. "What do you intend to do with them, my lady?"
Mirathiel glanced sideways, smiling faintly. "They need a little motivation, don't they? Very well… I'll give them some."
In an instant, the space trembled violently. A wave of black energy surged forth, enveloping the entire vault.
A creature appeared in midair two sharp horns, tattered wings, its entire body shrouded in dark radiance. Aria, Soren, and Kyran all froze.
"Greetings… uninvited guests of mine…"
Its hoarse voice stretched out amid manic laughter.
"Ahahaha… how delightful that you've delivered your lives to me yourselves. My feast… can finally begin!"
A massive shadow suddenly manifested in the depths of the cavern, towering and grotesque beyond words. Its body was pitch-black, twisted as if coated in ash.
Two jagged horns rose skyward, and its blazing red eyes burned like embers as they fixed upon them.
It bared razor-sharp teeth in a vile grin, sending chills down their spines.
"Is that… a demon? No…" Soren muttered blankly, standing frozen.
"Wait…" Aria whispered, her gaze wavering: "The Saint Maiden of Illusions… could it be…?"
But by the time they realized the truth, it was already too late.
The demon burst into laughter, its echo reverberating through the underground chamber, bouncing off the stone walls. It licked its lips, eyes glowing crimson as it pointed at its prey.
"That's right… you finally figured it out, didn't you? Hahaha! My lord has noticed you foolish humans daring to trespass into her sacred domain. And out of her 'generosity,' I was granted a reward delicious prey. That would be you."
Its blood-stained grin caused the air to grow heavy.
Kyran and his companions immediately retreated, taking defensive stances. Facing a creature whose rank they couldn't even estimate, they held their breath, tensed to the extreme.
"What's wrong? Shaking already?" The demon mocked, deliberately dragging out each word.
Kyran narrowed his eyes, focusing on the demonic aura surrounding it. After a few seconds, he smirked slightly.
"Seems like… this demon isn't as strong as the one before. I'd say… it's just a lesser demon."
"A lesser demon?" Aria asked doubtfully.
The words enraged the creature. Veins bulged on its forehead as it roared and pointed at them.
"You ignorant humans! You dare look down on me!? Who gave you permission to call me a lesser demon?!"
Aria replied coldly, deliberately provoking it: "Then who are you? Just a loud-mouthed lesser demon, aren't you?"
"Tch…" The demon ground its teeth.
"Let me enlighten you. I am Rias, a loyal guardian under the mighty Lady Mirathiel! Filth like you aren't even worthy of being mentioned in my presence. If you don't want to be torn apart, keep your mouths shut!"
All three were shaken.
"A guardian…?" Kyran frowned: "That can't be… then his rank would be…"
Aria's face went pale, her voice trembling. "This is bad… If he truly serves one of the Seven Ancient Demons, then he's… he's an upper demon!"
Soren and Kyran froze.
"You're serious, Princess!? An upper demon!?"
Aria nodded frantically, shaking all over. "Yes… Guardians of demon dukes are already upper demons. But he said he serves an ancient demon that means he's even above that!"
A suffocating dread enveloped them. Seeing their fear, Rias laughed in delight.
"As expected… you finally understand who I am. I should have treated you more kindly but unfortunately, you've squandered that chance. Therefore, I will…"
Slash!
A flash of light cut through the darkness.
In an instant, Rias's right arm was severed, black blood spraying like a fountain. His eyes went wide as he stared at the dismembered limb—and the one who struck him was none other than Kyran.
He couldn't comprehend how a lowly human had slipped past his awareness and struck from behind.
"Kyran!" Aria and Soren shouted at once.
"He's lost his mind! Attacking a being above an upper demon!?"
"Are you hurt?!" Aria gasped, fear and concern flooding her eyes.
Kyran didn't answer. Blood dripped from his blade as the demon howled, its face twisted with rage.
"You worthless scum…! You've driven me mad! I'LL CRUSH YOU INTO DUST!"
Rias went berserk unable to understand how he had lost track of that insignificant human.
Power erupted from him. Killing intent surged so violently that the very air distorted.
All three were blown away, slamming into the cavern walls. The cave shook violently as chunks of stone rained down.
"We can't… end here!" Soren screamed in pain. He knew all too well how difficult it was to defeat a creature like this.
"Are we… going to die?" Aria whispered, trembling as despair consumed her.
Kyran's body was scraped and bloodied by falling rocks. He forced himself to stand, eyes burning red. Even facing an enemy beyond an upper demon, the spirit of a warrior would never allow him to retreat.
"There's no way I'll ever give up… I'm the one who will kill you!"
The demon burst into mocking laughter, its hoarse voice tearing through the darkness.
Elsewhere, the Saint Maiden of Illusions, Mirathiel, watched through her crystal orb. Her eyes gleamed brightly in the dim chamber.
"How interesting…" she murmured.
"Can you withstand even one of my weakest subordinates, I wonder… you tiny little human?"