"Damn it! Damn it!!""What kind of power is this?!"
Count Vras writhed in agony, struggling desperately to break free of the golden chains binding him. Yet no matter how violently he resisted, escape was impossible.
Those chains were clearly reinforced by divine power. They didn't merely restrain his flesh—his soul itself had been shackled by invisible restraints.
"No—!""NO!!!"
Amid his ear-splitting screams, Count Vras's body was slowly dragged toward the mysterious holy gate by the two golden "angels."
Moments later, a shrill, miserable wail erupted from within the gate, echoing across the sky.
Several minutes passed.
Then, as the holy gate vanished, the screams were abruptly cut off.
Silence.
An absolute, deathly silence fell over the battlefield.
Players and adventurers stared blankly at the spot where the holy gate had appeared, utterly unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
What… had just happened?
What was that golden holy gate?
How could it so effortlessly defeat a monster as powerful as Count Vras?
And beyond that gate… where had he been taken?
"What just happened?""I—I don't know! I was still running for my life!""That vampire count who was completely unstoppable… just got erased like that?""I think I heard… a woman's voice…"
They looked at one another, shock and confusion written clearly in every pair of eyes.
Yet when everyone tried to focus on the one responsible—
Luciya had already returned quietly to Kurose Akira's side, once again lowering the white veil over her eyes.
And the moment that veil was in place, it became strangely difficult for anyone to notice her.
It was as if the veil itself carried some kind of magic, dulling her presence to an uncanny degree. This effect didn't seem limited to Luciya alone—Ivsha and the other female adventurers also appeared slightly less noticeable.
Those who did observe them would at most think, They're beautiful, and nothing more.
No excessive attention.No deeper thoughts.
Of course—
This effect did not apply to their guildmaster.
"Sister Luciya, that was amazing!"Fuli and Flora exclaimed in unison, eyes shining with pure admiration.
"T-That was… a forbidden spell?"Red Lotus and the others stared in disbelief. They had never seen magic so terrifying in their lives.
The Prison of the God of Light left an overwhelming impression on them.
Even far away, within the guild headquarters, the Immortal Consort Guildmaster, who had been observing the battle through a viewing screen, felt her slender body tremble.
Her amber eyes locked tightly onto the image of Luciya.
Her interest—and vigilance—deepened significantly.
As for the skill Luciya had just used, Kurose Akira understood it perfectly.
That was one of her three Ultra-Rare Trait Skills:
[Prison of the God of Light]
A divine prison designed to suppress and execute the most irredeemably evil beings.
Luciya's eyes were the key that activated it.
The moment Count Vras was sealed inside the Prison of the God of Light, death was instantaneous.
As for the two "angels" that had emerged from the gate—
They were likely wardens of the divine prison itself.
"Good work,"Akira said softly.
"Hm."
Luciya glanced at him coolly, but Akira could clearly feel that the fury in her eyes had completely dissipated.
There was even the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.
Then—
The moment Count Vras perished, reward notifications flooded Akira's vision.
[Count Vras defeated. Contribution +100 ×5! Experience +10000 ×5!][Obtained: Blue Recruitment Scroll!]
Seeing such generous rewards, Akira couldn't help but smile.
This meant he could finally recruit that being which symbolized destruction—
The crimson dragon.
At the same time, the core of the Demon Cavern fell from the blood-red sun overhead.
"The Demon Cavern Core appeared!""That's mine!""Get lost! I lost three adventurers—this belongs to me!""..."
Players snapped out of their shock and immediately commanded their adventurers to rush forward and destroy the core.
After all—
That was 300 contribution points.
And with the Demon Cavern's High-Risk bonus of 50%, that meant 450 contribution points!
However—
Just as they were about to reach it—
The Demon Cavern Core suddenly shattered, dissolving into blood mist and dispersing into the air.
"…Huh?""What the hell?""Where did it go?""Did it disappear?!"
Everyone froze, stunned.
Only Akira received a system prompt.
[Demon Cavern Core destroyed. Contribution +300!]
It seemed Luciya's spell had not only annihilated Count Vras—it had also destroyed the Demon Cavern Core itself.
That blood-red sun had likely been one with Vras, much like how the Undead Lord had once stored the core within his own body.
This sparked a thought in Akira's mind.
Could Demon Cavern Cores be used to enhance my strength?And how are they even created?
He pondered the idea repeatedly, silently deciding—
Next time, perhaps he wouldn't rush to destroy the core.
Just then, a man interrupted his thoughts.
The man wore glasses and a black trench coat, walking briskly toward Akira.
"Friend," he said, "may I have a word with you in private?"
He was the C+-rank player ranked second in contribution.
Akira looked at him calmly."Say what you need to say here."
After a brief hesitation, the man spoke.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Chen Feng, and I—"
"Hey! Hey! HEY!"
Lu Bo immediately stepped forward, visibly annoyed.
"Chen Feng! He's with us!"
At the same time, Shen Siqi and the others closed in around Akira, their gazes openly hostile.
"Our people?"Chen Feng smiled faintly, then continued calmly,
"I'll be straightforward. I want to cooperate with you—to compete for the top three rankings in this event. Are you interested?"
"Chen Feng, are you pretending we don't exist?"Lu Bo snapped."You're poaching right in front of us!"
Chen Feng ignored him entirely and continued addressing Akira.
"My guild is strong. We're currently ranked second in contribution. Your adventurers are no slouches either. Together, we could easily monopolize the top three."
"Sorry,"Akira replied flatly."Not interested."
"May I ask why?"Chen Feng frowned slightly.
"There's no special reason," Akira said casually."But if I had to name one…"
"I already have teammates."
Chen Feng paused, then smiled.
"My oversight. Until we meet again."
He turned and left.
"Tch. Trying to poach right in front of us—what the hell does he take us for?"Lu Bo grumbled, then turned to Akira with a grin.
"Don't mind him. Top three, huh? We can help push you there too."
As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward Fu Bin.
Fu Bin frowned and pulled his cap lower.
"…Help me climb?"Akira looked puzzled."Don't you want the top-three rewards yourselves?"
Lu Bo laughed.
"We don't have that kind of strength. And honestly—we were hired from the start. Never planned to fight for top three."
"…."
Akira fell silent.
That Immortal Consort Guildmaster really was extravagant—directly hiring multiple C+-rank guild players to work for her.
"Kneeling Knights—clean up the battlefield!"
At that moment, Lord Rupert of Sunset City arrived with his enforcement knights and began clearing the area.
The bodies of adventurers and vampire servants were carried away on stretchers, apparently to be transported elsewhere.
"Brave adventurers,"Rupert said, bowing deeply,"thank you. You have saved Sunset City. Please return with us—we have prepared a grand feast to celebrate this victory!"
"Ohhh~ free food? I love freeloading!"Lu Bo rubbed his beard happily.
The other players brightened as well, preparing to return to Sunset City for the victory banquet.
Akira, however, wasn't interested.
"Let's go."
He turned to Luciya and the others.
"Mr. Akira, you're not attending the celebration?"Roxia asked curiously.
"No. I'll pass."
"…Alright."
Roxia said no more, watching as Akira and his adventurers departed.
Soon, Akira returned to his guild.
Checking the time, he realized it was only 4:00 PM—yet after the Demon Cavern battle, everyone was utterly exhausted.
The elven sisters and Ivsha rested in the guild hall.Loserine headed to the training room.Alice reverted into her doll form to recover mana.
Luciya alone moved toward the hot spring, likely seeking relief.
Akira wanted to join her—but he had more important matters.
[High-Risk Demon Cavern conquered! 50% bonus contribution applied!][Contribution +650!]
Akira smiled.
This run had earned him 1950 contribution points. Combined with his previous 2630, his total contribution now stood at 4580.
That pushed his ranking up to fifth place.
"…?"
Then he noticed something else.
The Immortal Consort Guild had quietly risen to second place, with 5200 contribution points.
Did she command Red Lotus's team while simultaneously sending others to clear additional high-risk Demon Caverns?
"So this is the power of a B+-rank guild…"Akira muttered.
Still, he wasn't worried.
Surpassing her was only a matter of time.
"Come out."
He summoned Nadta, the red dragon mother, from the Soul Crystal.
"Mr. Akira~ did you call for me?"
"Nadta," Akira asked carefully,"that egg of yours… may I give it life?"
After all, the egg belonged to her. Using it for Trait Fusion required her consent.
Nadta's eyes sparkled.
"Really? You mean it?!"
She leapt forward and hugged Akira tightly, radiant with joy.
"Y-Yeah…"Akira nodded, startled by her reaction.
"That's wonderful! If you're the one giving it life, I'm sure my egg will hatch the strongest red dragon baby!"
Her dragon tail swayed excitedly.
"…?"
Akira felt like she might have misunderstood something.
But then again—She wasn't wrong.
He was planning to hatch the crimson dragon that symbolized destruction.
With Nadta's consent secured, Akira initiated Trait Fusion.
Dragon Egg.[Corpse] Trait.Crimson Dragon of Destruction.
What kind of result would this produce?
"Fuse!"
[Current materials: Lifeless Dragon Egg, Rare Trait 'Corpse', Crimson Dragon of Destruction!][Fusing…]
At that moment, within Akira's soul space—
The crimson dragon Maray Rhine suddenly felt her soul pulled by an unseen force.
"Hmm? What's happening?""Human! What are you doing to my soul?!""Wait—""This feeling—""???""Ah—!"
Her voice vanished.
So did her presence.
At the same time, Nadta's dragon egg erupted in dazzling light.
[Fusion successful!][Congratulations! You have obtained the Ultra-Rare Trait — Dragon Egg of Destruction*][Note: Dragon Egg of Destruction* can be fused with other existing traits!]
"Can be fused further…?"Akira's eyes lit up.
Among all traits—
The one that had given him the biggest surprise was [Corpse].
"Next…"
He took a deep breath.
Everything was ready.
He removed the Blue Recruitment Scroll and tossed it into the air.
The scroll burst into radiant light, streaking like a meteor.
Traits appeared before his eyes:
[Red Dragon][Undying Flame][Valkyrie][Dragon Egg of Destruction]*
Trait Fusion!
[Valkyrie Red Dragon Egg of Destruction with Undying Flame]!
Please choose three of the following eight traits:
[Valkyrie Red Dragon Egg of Destruction with Undying Flame][Breastfeeding Phase][Newbie][Unknown Later Years][Multiple Combat Forms][Baby Face][Poker Face][Bratty Loli]