Chapter 121: You’re so Clueless "You should be careful," Midnight Duchess told Rever with her signature chilling tone.
The recent skirmish with the menacing skeletons had narrowly spared him from an untimely demise thanks to Midnight Duchess’s timely intervention.
But instead of offering gratitude, Rever was ecstatic. He couldn’t contain his awe as he exclaimed, "Whoa! You’re alive?! You’re truly immortal!"
A subtle arch of Midnight Duchess’s brow conveyed her bemusement. "Of course, I’m alive. To whom do you think you speak?"
Even without the help of the mysterious woman, she could still get out from there alive with her life-saving item. But she thanks her nevertheless.
With her intervention she got to keep her precious items.
Victor, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his disdain and disappointment. His frustration found an outlet as he vigorously dispatched the approaching horde of skeletons. "Seems the saying holds true . . . tough bitches aren’t easily killed," he muttered under his breath.
"You should keep that cloak on if you’d prefer to avoid any trouble and won’t drag us into it," he said aloud.
Midnight Duchess only gave him a sarcastic smirk, but she did put on her cloak nevertheless. She didn’t want to implicate Lord Schrodinger in her problems. She didn’t care about the rest.
Yuzuro chimed in, her concern tempered by the ongoing battle. "We’re glad you’re safe, but I’m afraid that this isn’t the best time for welcomes."
The skeletons continued their relentless assault, even though the party had secured the coveted key.
The battlefield afforded ample space for everyone to maneuver, so they didn’t have to worry about bumping into each other while they fought. It was also to make sure that the horde of skeletons could come as they wanted.
At the side, Xin acknowledged Midnight Duchess with a nod, his typically stoic expression unchanged.
In his silence, he conveyed gratitude to Elysia, whether she had truly aided Midnight Duchess or not.
Rever rallied the group. "Let’s make our escape! Now that we have the key, we can finally reach that coffin."
With a flourish of his blade, Victor carved through the skeletons in his path. "Actually, we have a choice here. We can either continue exploring the first map or return to retrieve the coffin. Moving forward will reveal more of the map’s secrets, but retrieving the coffin will transport us back to the Earl’s mansion."
Within the protective circle of golems, Yuzuro turned to Xin. "What would it be then, Lord Schrodinger?"
Xin weighed the options and then responded, "If it’s acceptable to everyone, let’s explore this area further."
Rever embraced the decision. "Now we’re talking!" With a fierce swing, he shattered a skeleton’s skull. "Where should we head next? I’ve had my fill of these things."
Victor’s gaze settled on another door as he pointed. "That way."
Midnight Duchess appeared near Lord Schrodinger. "I’ll clear the path."
Before Xin could voice a word, Midnight Duchess melded seamlessly with the shadows, vanishing from view like a wisp of smoke.
In the blink of an eye, she became a specter of a lethal blade, a living embodiment of grace in motion.
With an almost otherworldly fluidity, she flowed forward, her movements swift as the whispered breath of a night breeze. It was as though the very fabric of the dungeon bent to her will, offering no resistance to her passage.
Midnight Duchess charted a straight and unerring course through the maze of skeletal horde. Like a comet streaking through the heavens, she was a blur of darkness.
The skeletons, frozen in their ceaseless aggression, seemed almost sluggish in comparison to her blazing speed. She weaved through their ranks like a blade through silk, leaving a wake of shattered bones and disarrayed remains.
While the other player, oblivious to her advance, those who had been diligently engaged in combat with the relentless horde of skeletons were abruptly and unceremoniously tossed aside as if by some invisible, irresistible force.
The unsuspecting players, previously engrossed in their grim struggle for the key, were suddenly thrust aside like leaves caught in a tempest.
Those who had been absorbed in the frantic melee were now sent sprawling, their weapons clattering to the ground as they became unintended casualties of her relentless advance.
With a heartbeat, she closed the distance to the door, an unstoppable force carving a path through the very heart of the skeletons.
Xin stood in quiet awe, his mind racing with questions as he beheld Midnight Duchess’s formidable display of power. Her skills left him pondering the depths of her abilities. She was, undeniably, a singular force to be reckoned with, an entity that brooked no challenge.
Turning to face Xin and the rest of their party, Midnight Duchess’s demeanor was a curious mix of confidence and mischief. "Let’s proceed," she declared, sending a sly smirk in Victor’s direction.
Victor’s irritation simmering beneath the surface, couldn’t resist a muttered quip. "Show off. It’s no wonder you’ve earned the title of Eternia’s most wanted player."
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Victor couldn’t deny the undeniable truth of Midnight Duchess’s skill. His resentment for her was thinly veiled, a sentiment born of a history Xin could only guess at.
Rever, eager to escape the relentless skeleton horde, urged the group forward. "Enough of these skeletons. Let’s get moving!"
As they made their way towards the next area, Xin seized the opportunity to inquire about Victor’s uncharacteristic hostility. His tone was probing but not intrusive.
"It’s unusual to see you so hostile towards someone. What’s the story behind your dislike for Midnight Duchess? Did she perhaps steal something from you as well?" Xin jape, hoping to uncover the source of Victor’s animosity because he really find it odd that he was hostile to Midnight Duchess.
Victor’s response was swift, his words tinged with defensiveness. "No, nothing like that. I just don’t trust her."
Sensing that Victor wasn’t willing to divulge more, Xin respected his privacy. He redirected his focus ahead, determined to leave the matter be.
Victor, meanwhile, stole a momentary glance at Xin, his expression inscrutable.
"You’re quite oblivious, aren’t you?" Victor whispered under his breath as they continued down the dimly lit hallway.
In the end, the reasons behind Victor’s disdain for Midnight Duchess remained shrouded in mystery, a puzzle that Xin could only wonder about as they ventured deeper into the uncharted territory of the game.