Alden quietly followed the group.
He was actually quite curious about how they would try to eliminate him.
He wasn't a fool, who'd think they were genuinely nice people?
He quietly analysed their strength.
Although their rank was suppressed, Alden could guess the combat power of someone just from their movement.
It was something most close combatants could do.
That Mira girl seems the most troublesome.
Alden felt a dangerous aura from her.
The others were strong too… But that girl was in a different league from them.
If I took care of her first, then others wouldn't be much difficulty.
His mind raced, trying to find a way to neutralise her.
The next one on the list was Zelle.
She was definitely dangerous as well.
The forest quieted around them as they walked.
The sky was a little too purple, like the world was trying too hard to seem normal.
The others moved like trained wolves—spaced apart but always within striking distance.
"So, Damien," Lin said, drifting beside him. "Which clan did you come from?"
Alden had to praise the geeky guy.
He was probing if Alden had some backing.
They didn't want future trouble if they ever got out of the dungeon.
"Sorry but I can't share my clan name." Alden lowered his head. "I was exiled from my clan."
Well, it's technically true.
Lin paused for a moment.
Just for a second a smirk appeared on his face before vanishing quickly. "Oh… that sounds tough."
"What about you guys?" Alden asked.
He was actually curious.
How did these guys enter the dungeon, and from where?
Lin smiled softly… But before he could say anything, Lira interrupted him.
"We're from a Pyrellan Clan on Solaris IX."
She seemed proud as she mentioned her clan's name.
The rest of the walk was mostly uneventful.
Through some small talk, Alden had actually found quite a few things.
First of all, Lira was actually an heir of the Pyrellan Clan on the Solara planet.
Honestly, Alden didn't know what or where it was.
The next thing he found was that they had entered this dungeon through a portal on an abandoned planet while they were carrying on a clan mission.
They had thought it was just a secret realm and entered it.
Although they claimed to be elites of their clan, Alden couldn't be more doubtful.
They seemed too dumb to be elites.
Their plan was something even a four-year-old could see through.
It didn't take long before they found a cave within a mountain wall.
It looked like a perfect place for a "safe rest".
"We'll set up here for the night," Lira announced. "Mira, you're on your first watch. Also, second. Damien, you're third."
Alden nodded. "No problem."
Zelle had already begun skinning one of the smaller beasts she had taken out of her storage ring.
The meat looked... questionably edible.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Alden asked.
"It is if you know how to cook it," Zelle said. "Plus, we've got spices."
She held up a pouch and showed it to him. "Never go into a dungeon without seasoning. It's the only luxury we get."
That got a laugh out of Lin. "Zelle takes more pride in seasoning meat than stabbing monsters."
"Stabbing is easier," she said with a wink.
Even Mira let out a smile—barely.
Just a slight twitch in the corner of her mouth.
Lira pulled out a battered old pot from her bag. "Okay, a stew it is. Damien, you'll love it."
"I'm sure I will," Alden replied.
As the stew bubbled, the air warmed with a faint spicy aroma.
They actually made it smell decent.
Someone passed around the water.
Someone else pulled out dried roots.
Alden watched carefully.
Zelle handed him a bowl with a grin. "Welcome to the group."
He accepted it, his eyes tracking every twitch of her fingers.
She handed everyone else bowls in a slightly different order.
No visible difference in ingredients.
Alden stirred his stew lazily.
He could already guess their plan.
It was to poison him.
But poison had no effect on him. His [Voidheart] gave him resistance to all poisons.
He took a spoonful from the stew.
It's actually tasty, if we ignore the poison.
[Voidheart Has Nullified Sleeping Potion]
Oh, so it's sleeping potion.
He didn't act immediately.
He acted like it affected him slowly.
He let his body pretend to slow.
Lira watched him the entire time over her own bowl.
Zelle hid a little smirk behind her spoon.
Lin sipped carefully, eyes gleaming behind his glasses.
Mira didn't eat. Alos didn't blink.
They were all waiting for something.
Alden gave them what they wanted—he relaxed, shifted a little, and blinked slower.
"Man, this stuff hits hard after a long day."
"Right?" Zelle leaned in slightly. "Warms you right up."
Her hands held her dagger. She was closing in for the kill.
But Alden moved first.
Before her dagger could slice his neck, his sword of chaos was already in his hands.
It elongated into a spear and pierced through the neck of Zelle.
"H–how—?" She choked on her blood.
Her eyes were wide with disbelief.
Blood splattered across Alden's face. But he didn't care.
This was the law of the world.
If the poison had affected him, this same girl would have killed him with a smile on her face.
So why should he hesitate?
"Zelle". Lin yelled, stumbling backward.
Lin's shocked shout echoed through the clearing as the others drew their weapons instantly.
Mira's eyes burnt with fury, and Alos stepped forward with a spear, his expression unreadable but deadly.
Alden steadied his grip on his spear, ready for the inevitable.
But a smirk was present on his face.
"Oops", Alden said. "Guess dinner didn't sit well with her."
The dance of life and death had begun—no one here was walking away unscathed.
Comments = fuel for my soul.
Seriously, even a random "LOL" or a dancing cat GIF helps me stay motivated.
So spam away — your chaos is my caffeine