Chapter 80: Throne of Red

After clearing out a small army of monsters, Vell and his group finally arrived at the entrance of a large cave set into the side of a mountain.

’Strange. After all those monsters, none of them came close to that big one from before,’ he thought, referring to the monstrous creature that had almost killed Yenna. ’This is a big dungeon, so I am sure there are other areas to explore, but for now, we will deal with Mother.’

The cave was unguarded, and the air around it seemed to suck them in, a new and unsettling experience for them. If they went in, it could be the last time they were seen alive. ’This is dangerous. I cannot risk their lives like that.’ He turned towards them with a smile.

Yenna’s eyebrows shot up. “What? Are you serious?”

“Yeah. This place… the energy I am sensing is way too twisted. I do not want you guys getting caught in the middle of it.”

“But we have been through worse together,” Yenna argued, stepping forward. “We can handle it. We have leveled up, we are stronger now.”

“It is not enough,” he said, shaking his head. “I can handle myself. I cannot risk you guys getting hurt.”

Wren, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. “He is right. This place feels wrong.” Her eyes narrowed, scanning the dark cave entrance. “It is like it is alive, and it is hungry.”

“But daddy,” Sia said, her voice small. “We do not want to leave you.”

“Yeah,” Mia chimed in, clutching her sister’s hand. “We are a team. We stick together.”

He knelt, putting a hand on each of their heads. “I know, and I appreciate that. But sometimes, being a team means knowing when to split up. I can move faster alone, and I can handle whatever this place throws at me. You guys need to get stronger, and there are plenty of monsters out there that need killing.”

“But what if something happens to you?” Yenna asked, her voice laced with worry. “What if you need our help?”

“Do I look like I need help?” he smirked at her.

She was not convinced. “That is not the point. We are supposed to be a team. We face things together.”

“And we will,” he said, standing up. “Just not this time. I need you guys to trust me on this. Go level up, get stronger. When this is over, we will meet up again.”

“But-” Yenna started, but he cut her off.

“No buts. This is not a debate. It is what is best for all of us. Please,” he added, his voice softening. “Just do this for me.”

They looked at each other, a silent conversation passing between them. They were worried, scared, but they also trusted him. They had seen what he could do, how powerful he had become.

“Promise us you will be careful,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“I promise. Now go. And do not come back until you have cleared at least another area. I want you guys to be strong enough to handle anything.”

Reluctantly, they agreed. They hugged him, one by one, their bodies clinging to him for a moment longer than usual. “Be safe, daddy,” Sia whispered, her voice choked with tears.

“You too, little one,” he said, kissing her forehead. “All of you.”

He watched them as they walked away, their figures disappearing into the forest. He felt a pang of guilt, a knot of worry in his stomach. But he knew this was the right decision. He turned back to the cave, the darkness within seeming to beckon him. Now that he was alone, he could let out his excitement as much as he wanted. He disappeared and reappeared at the entrance.

“Knock knock, your child is hoooome!” He walked through the opening, and a strange light enveloped him, transporting him to a massive throne room. The walls were a pure, deep red, with countless lights all over the room. At the far end of the room was a grand throne made of what looked like shimmering glass. And on the throne was Mother. Vell could not believe his eyes.

She was beautiful.

Her skin was a pure, flawless white, like freshly fallen snow. Her hair was long, reaching down to her waist, and it was the same pristine color as her skin. She wore a simple red dress that flowed around her, making her look almost angelic. Her eyes were a deep, captivating red that seemed to draw him in, but not in a menacing way; they felt warm. Beside her, two large, elegant fan-like weapons rested on the floor, their surfaces polished and gleaming.

She looked nothing like the twisted monster he had imagined. She was beautiful, and the sweet scent that filled the room was… captivating, to say the least. The way she looked at him with her warm, red eyes, devoid of any bloodlust, made him wonder if this was truly her.

“You have finally arrived,” she said, her voice soft and gentle. “I knew you would. Welcome.”

He blinked, his mind trying to reconcile this image with the monstrous form he had expected. “Yeah… you are not what I was expecting.”

She smiled, a small, almost sad smile. “I am beautiful, right? Nothing like the puppet I used before. Well, you could always ask me out.” She rested her head on her hand, looking at him with an amused expression.

“Hmm, I will think about it after our fight.”

“What a shame. Very well then. But before we start, I want to ask, why do you keep resisting? Why can not you simply become a part of me?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Become part of you? Like what, a puppet again? Yeah, no thanks. You tried that before and ended up killing me. It was not fun.”

She sighed. “You could be so much more than you are now, you know? But, I also understand. You simply lack vision. What a shame. I wanted you to see what I am trying to do here.”

He shrugged. “I am happy with how I am. Now, let’s just get this over with. I am not here to chat, I am here to beat you.”

Mother tilted her head, her red eyes watching him with a strange intensity. “Such a waste. You could have been my perfect puppet, a being of immense power. But fine, if that is your wish.”

She gestured with a delicate hand, and the two fan-like weapons rose into the air, spinning slowly. “I must say that you did well to reach this place. I am impressed. You are far stronger than I expected. I can see why you were able to beat my special puppet. It is so sad that I will have to end you here.” She stood up, her dress flowing around her, her red eyes burning bright.

He cracked his neck, his body feeling light and ready. “Yeah yeah, enough talking. Let’s get to the fight.”

He knew this was going to be tough, maybe even tougher than the last boss. But he was not going to back down. He was going to win, no matter what. He had a promise to keep.

“Very well then,” she said, her voice hardening. “Let us begin.”

The room grew silent, the only sound the soft humming of the fan weapons. And then, with a sudden burst of speed, Mother launched herself at him.

[Mission: Defeat Mother]

[Rank: ???]

[Reward: Special Skill]

[Time Limit: 4 Hours]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep