Vaelis stood before the fallen Minotaur's remains, her breath still uneven.
She reached down and carefully extracted the boss core, its surface glowing faintly with condensed mana. Around it lay rare materials—horn fragments, enchanted hide, and crystallized blood. She stored everything away before turning back toward the exit.
The dungeon had been cleared.
Her trial was over.
Back at the guild, the atmosphere was tense.
Vaelis placed the boss gem on the counter.
The receptionist's eyes widened.
— Solo clear… Fifteen floors… Boss defeated.
She swallowed.
— The guild hereby recognizes your success.
— Vaelis, you are promoted to Rank B.
Applause erupted.
Vaelis clenched her fists, her heart racing.
— I did it… I finally did it!
At that exact moment—
The air behind her 裂裂ed open.
A dark rift formed, silent and unnatural.
From it stepped a familiar figure.
— Congratulations.
Vaelis turned sharply.
— Talis…!
He stood there calmly, hands in his pockets, as if he had always belonged in the human world.
— I told you, he said softly. You were close.
She smiled—wide, bright, almost childish.
— I reached Rank B.
— Which means… you have to tell me everything.
Talis nodded.
— Then come with me.
They returned to the manor in the Silent Forest.
The atmosphere was different this time—heavier.
They sat across from each other.
Talis exhaled slowly.
— I am, indeed… the Demon King.
Vaelis stiffened—but didn't interrupt.
— My kingdom fell a hundred years ago during a great catastrophe.
— The demon world was destroyed, and we were sealed inside the Mirror Dimension by the Supreme Deity.
Vaelis's eyes hardened.
— That's because demons ravaged the world.
— You brought destruction upon yourselves.
Talis shook his head.
— That's what history says.
— But it isn't the truth.
She frowned.
— Then what is?
— A misunderstanding, he replied simply.
— Since I took the throne, demons have not attacked humans or other races.
Vaelis hesitated.
— Since when… have you ruled?
— One thousand years.
Her eyes widened.
— That's impossible…
— I killed the former Demon King, Lucifero, and claimed the throne.
Vaelis burst out laughing.
— Lucifero?
— His recorded power exceeded 500,000.
She pointed at him.
— And you? Thirty-eight thousand?
— You couldn't possibly defeat him. You must have cheated.
Talis stopped smiling.
— That number… is not my true power.
Silence fell.
— Because of the cataclysm a hundred years ago, my power is sealed when I exist in the human world.
He stood up and turned toward her.
— But you, Vaelis…
His gaze sharpened.
— You have awakened something unusual.
— And you reached Rank B far faster than expected.
He bowed his head slightly.
— Well done.
She felt her chest tighten.
— You said… you needed me?
— Yes, he replied.
— For what comes next.
Suddenly—
The ground shook violently.
A shockwave rippled through the land.
Far in the distance, a massive dungeon emerged, its gate radiating a crimson light that dyed the sky red.
An alarm echoed across Venti.
— All adventurers, report immediately!
— Rank B and Rank A units are to investigate the newly appeared dungeon!
Talis looked toward the horizon.
— It's begun.
He turned to Vaelis.
— This is the moment.
She tightened her grip on her sword.
— Then let's go.
Side by side, they stepped forward—
Facing the dungeon bathed in red light.