Piers exhaled sharply, lowering his hands. His shoulders slumped as the adrenaline drained out of him.
"Oof… I feel so much lighter after unloading that much mana," he muttered, stretching his arms in lazy arcs, voice dry. The rush left him hollow, fatigue gnawing at his bones.
And then—
BING!
His consciousness flickered.
A message flowed into his vision.
You have completed Maze 1: The Green Fang Labyrinth of Goblins.
Collect your reward and proceed to the exit.
Unique Skill Unlocked!
Piers blinked. lips twitching into a crooked grin.
"…Huh. About time."
Lien led the group, rags torn, hair sticking up like he'd fought a typhoon.
Mutou followed close behind.
Luci drifted in their wake, crimson eyes glowing faintly.
Thog lumbered up the rear, Liel slumped unconscious on his back—pale, exhausted, limp from mana drain.
"Master!!" Gyuunyuu shrieked as she zipped toward him like a panicked firefly.
"Liel did it! She made this huge green bubble and squished all the goblins into goo! It was like—SPLAT!!"
Her hands flew outward in a dramatic burst, spinning herself half-sideways.
Lien's gaze drifted to the Titan's mangled corpse—the still-smoking stump where its head used to be.
He grimaced.
"Ugh… Master, you really blew its head clean off."
He waved vaguely at the carnage.
"That's just… nasty."
"Efficient," Mutou corrected calmly. His flame lingered on the Titan before turning back to Piers, quiet respect behind it.
Luci didn't speak. But her crimson gaze softened; the corner of her lips lifted in the faintest smallest smile. A silent nod of pride.
And then—
FWUMP.
"Something stirred overhead—a small chest settling onto the labyrinth floor with a muted thud.
Every head turned.
"Whoa! What is that?!" Lien blurted, eyes going comically wide.
"It's gotta be treasure, right? Definitely treasure!"
"No, you dolt!" Gyuunyuu squealed, spinning dizzy laps around his head.
"It's a reward box! And I bet it's got some super-duper rare item. Maybe even a divine-grade one!"
"Pfft—nah. It's definitely a weapon," Lien shot back, puffing up.
"Or gold! Maybe it's full of gold!"
"Or maybe it's a monster, you big oaf!" Gyuunyuu retorted, sticking out her tongue.
"Both of you. Enough."
Luci's voice sliced through their squabbling like a blade of ice. Both froze instantly.
Mutou's flame pivoted toward Piers.
"Young Master. Shall we open it now? Or would you prefer to examine the contents first?"
Piers tilted his head, gaze lingered on the chest—too calm, Too knowing.
"If I'm right…" he murmured, eyes narrowing.
"…This treasure is a little too convenient."
The way he stared at it made everyone tense. Luci, Mutou, even Thog shared the same silent thought, sweatdropping in unison:
He's definitely planning something again.
Before anyone could press him further, a small shift stirred against Thog's back.
"...Nngh…"
Liel shifted on Thog's back. Her lashes fluttered—dazed, unfocused—until recognition dawned.
She gasped.
In a blink she scrambled down, stumbling forward until she reached Piers.
Then she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.
Her tattered rags slipped at the shoulder, but she didn't notice.
"Piers-sama…!" Her voice trembled as she buried her face into him.
"I—I was so scared…"
She clung to him, crying softly—raw, unfiltered, the fragile sobs of a child pushed to her limit.
Piers didn't speak at first.
His hand simply rose, resting atop her head.
"I know," he murmured, voice low. "I know you were…"
A silence lingered—soft, heavy, fragile.
Then, his tone shifted suddenly,
flat. Cold. Bored.
"Lien. Open the box."
"Okay, Master!"
Lien practically dove at it, throwing the lid wide open.
FWOOOOOOSH!
A blast of light erupted outward, flooding the space in blinding brilliance. Everyone shielded their eyes.
When the glare finally subsided—
Piers's grin stretched wide, feral, almost gleeful.
"Yes! I knew it!" he declared, eyes glittering with dangerous excitement.
"Totally a mimic monster!"
"Master, this is so cool!" Lien called, face flaring in the fading light
"It's… it's glowing like crazy!"
But as the radiance thinned, Piers's grin faltered. He stepped forward, head tilting.
"Huh. That's… not what I expected."
When the last of the glow disappeared, five items lay neatly arranged, glittering in the drifting dust like fate had dropped them by hand.
Piers lifted a hand, mana pulsing faintly.
[Appraisal]
First: a pair of delicate, dark silvery rings.
Solace Rings (Pair)
Type: Accessory (Finger)
Effect: Provides significant nullification of physical and magical pain, allowing the wearer to endure grievous injuries with reduced sensory input. Rarity: Abyssal
Piers's lip twitched.
"…That's morbidly convenient."
Next, an elegantly wrought silver bangle, etched with ancient patterns.
Bangle of Mithra
Type: Accessory (Wrist)
Effect: Automatically deploys an emergency shield around the wearer, even when caught completely off guard, providing instantaneous defense against unexpected threats.
Rarity: Mythical
His brow lifted.
"Ridiculously helpful. Emergency defense with zero reaction time? That's borderline cheating."
Map of the Abyss of Kokonei
Type: Navigational Aid
Description: A detailed, albeit unsettling, map outlining the treacherous Abyss of Kokonei.
Details: Reveals the Abyss is composed of four distinct mazes, each presenting unique challenges.
Rarity: Unique (Quest Item)
He smirked.
"Huh. So this hellhole has levels."
A dull iron key rested in the center of the box.
Key (Unappraisable)
Type: Unidentified
Description: Appraisal failed. Cannot determine properties or purpose.
His expression sharpened. "Oh? It's new."
Finally, his eyes fell on the sword.
He reached out, fingers trailing the dark, ancient blade.
Black-Saor
Type: One-Handed Sword
Material: Forged from the bones and essence of the ancient dragon Neosaor.
Properties: Possesses immense durability and sharpness. Whispers suggest it carries the dragon's innate power, though its full capabilities require further awakening.
Rarity: Legendary
"Now that," Piers breathed, lifting it reverently, "is a proper reward."
Behind him,
The crew stood in silence,
Not one person dared interrupt as Piers sifted through the loot.
Even Gyuunyuu—normally a flying loudspeaker—hovered in tense restraint.
Just as he turned back toward the mysterious key—
BING!
A bold blue alert slammed into his vision.
He groaned.
"…Damn it. Not now."
His eyes narrowed at the obnoxious message, as if glaring could erase it
Why now, when I'm finally getting to the good part?
The notification didn't budge. It buzzed at the edge of his vision, nagging like an insect.
"Fine." He jabbed the confirm mark like it owed him money.
The air burst in light
His companions ignited in brilliant glow, bodies blazing like stars. Mana currents warped, the ground quivering.
Piers didn't flinch. deadpan.
"Yup. Same feeling as always."
The glow intensified. Muscles stretched, bones shifted, limbs lengthened.
"…ah. Clothes," he muttered flatly. "Forgot about that again."
Whatever. I'll fix it later with skill.
"MAS—TER!!" Gyuunyuu shrieked.
Spiraling like a panicked firework.
"They're glowing!! They're glowing!, Thog, Liel, Lien, Luci—THEY'RE TURNING INTO LIGHTBALLS!"
"Relax, Gyuunyuu." he didn't even look up. "They're just evolving."
"O-oh…" She hovered, oversized eyes sparkling with awe.
"So that's what it is? It's kinda… pretty.
And a little scary…"
Mutou remained still, though his flame flared brighter, betraying rare interest.
The glow deepened.
Liel, Lien, and Luci lengthened, bodies growing lean and sharp. Childlike softness shed like old skin, replaced with the defined lines of teenagers.
Thog's change was far more monstrous. His hulking frame broadened further.
"Fabric split with sharp snaps,
Shirts tearing as shoulders and chests burst through,
Ragged strips clinging desperately to new forms.
But Piers's eyes weren't on the ruined clothes.
It was their aura.
Each one burned hotter, stronger, fiercer—maturity blazing in their gazes.
The air thickened around them, heavy with awakened instinct with raw strength.
"…That," Piers murmured, raising a brow, "wasn't what I expected."
A beat.
"They evolved. Completely."
* * *