The Dark Extra: Awakening of SSS-Skill Demon Emperor Legacy-Chapter 62: The Hunt to Pursue Agares

[DING! Congratulations, Agares! You have defeated a floor boss]

[Name: Widow Verdant Matron]

[Type: Tree Monster]

[Level: 6]

[+1000 EXP]

[EXP: 47750/66150] [+1000]

[DING! Congratulations, Agares! You have obtained dropped items]

[Items:]

[+50 Silver Coins]

[1x Widowbite Fangblade]

[1x Thornweave Mantle]

[1x Widow Core]

[7x Monster Cores]

Agares stepped forward to collect the dropped items. There were several differences between this floor boss and the previous ones, especially compared to those in the area before the Timberdeep Dungeon.

The number of silver coins had significantly increased, from 30 to 50. Not only that, but the number of monster cores rose from five to seven.

To Agares, the drops felt worth the effort. Even though it had been a tough fight, getting items like this made him feel relieved and satisfied.

Aoi looked ahead, her nose twitching as if she was sniffing something inside the boss’s corpse. Her strange movements attracted Agares’ curiosity.

"What’s wrong?"

"I think I smell something familiar," Aoi said.

Quickly, Aoi jumped from Agares’ shoulder and darted forward, leaping over piles of tree trunks and burying herself inside the remains of the Widow Verdant Matron. Agares was shocked.

"Aoi!"

Her swift move made it hard for Agares to keep up, but he tried to prevent the fox from getting lost in this place.

"I found it!"

Agares pushed aside the branches blocking his way and saw Aoi returning with something in her mouth—a blue-and-white gem that hadn’t been listed among the boss’s dropped items.

He crouched and held out his hand to receive the gem from Aoi. Squinting, Agares immediately recognized it as an Augment Core gem.

"An Augment Core gem? Did you bring this for me?" Agares asked.

Aoi shook her head, then leapt back onto his shoulder, signaling for him to keep it. She began to explain how she knew the gem.

"My father once showed me a gem like that. He said it could help enhance my abilities," Aoi replied.

"So this gem was specially made for you?"

"I don’t know. I don’t really understand it. But I’m sure it’s valuable."

"I should ask Nyx."

"Nyx."

[Standby Mode Deactivated]

[Do you need something, Master?]

"Identify this gem and tell me what it is. And what’s its relation to the Kitsune race?"

[Kitsune Mirage Gem is an Augment Core gem for pets. It increases magic power by 25%.]

[This item isn’t exclusive to the Kitsune race—it’s usable by all pet races. The name comes from the gem’s origin, which was formed from the soul core of a Kitsune.]

"So pets also have their own Augment Cores?"

[Correct, Master.]

[Not only that, they can also equip weapons that suit their bodies—like claws—and even upgrade their weapons through enhancement.]

"Still, I’ll need to reach Stage 4 before I can officially obtain a pet."

"I’d better save it for later."

Agares glanced to the side and gently stroked Aoi’s head, praising her for her sharp eyes and nose. Aoi blushed and closed her eyes, enjoying the gentle touch.

"I’ll keep it safe. When the time comes, I’ll give it to you."

"Okay. I’ll help you, Master."

With nothing else to do, Agares decided to leave the 11th floor boss room and head toward the next corridor.

The Timberdeep Dungeon revealed a different side compared to most dungeons. The 11th floors had a forest and nature theme.

Agares had no idea what lay ahead on the 12th floor and beyond.

The most important thing now was staying alert and taking advantage of every opportunity. He couldn’t die here—he had a purpose to fulfill, a grudge to settle.

Inside the dungeon, Agares had a chance to grow stronger—stronger than anyone else!

***

Six months later.

Outside the S-Level Dungeon

Security had tightened. City troops were no longer in charge—the kingdom army had taken over. This decision came after reviewing the disappointing results from three months ago.

"This is insane! Searching for one person in the hardest dungeon? It’s madness!"

"He might already be dead, eaten by monsters. No one knows for sure."

"You’re right. Even the noble family’s elite adventurer team gave up on this dungeon. What chance does Agares have?"

"Shh!"

"Don’t say his name! The Archmage said it brings bad luck!"

"Ah, right. I forgot."

Doubt filled the hearts of the hundreds of kingdom soldiers placed there. They stood guard day and night without leaving their posts. Occasionally, adventurers would show up to try their luck.

That’s right—they weren’t just ordinary adventurers. Most of the teams taking on the emergency quest delivered by the kingdom court were A to S rank adventurers.

King Caer Vireth had declared an emergency quest to all guilds across the kingdom, with rewards far greater than ever before. They knew the challenge had grown even tougher.

Some adventurer teams had tried. But the deepest they reached was the 42nd floor.

As for the soldiers, they were no match for the dungeon’s monsters. They had only made it as far as the 38th floors.

Within those floors, neither the adventurers nor the kingdom troops had found any signs that Agares was still alive—not even a trace.

"An adventurer team is returning!" shouted one of the guards stationed at the dungeon entrance.

The kingdom army’s commander stepped out of the military tent and approached the dungeon entrance to meet the adventurers. His name was Arnold.

He wasn’t alone—he was accompanied by two aides, both women ranked higher than regular soldiers.

From the dungeon’s corridor, Arnold saw a five-member adventuring team returning, though two of them were injured and needed medical attention.

"Well?" Arnold asked.

"We made it to the 27th floor, but there was no trace of Agares."

"Did you ask the dungeon merchant?"

"I did, but he refused to say anything—said it was out of respect for adventurer privacy."

Arnold clicked his tongue, annoyed by the lack of progress after all these months. He was close to giving up, but doing so would mean the Grand Empire would step in and ruin Caer Vireth’s reputation.

"We’re leaving now."

The adventurer team leader went to the medical tent to accompany his injured teammates. Arnold returned to his tent and slammed his desk, knocking everything off.

Other soldiers heard it—proof that Commander Arnold had reached his breaking point. Continuing this mission would only drain more funds and cost more lives.

"What should I do?!" Arnold shouted, frustrated.

In the midst of his despair, he heard noise outside the tent. Annoyed, he stepped out to see what was going on—only to be shocked by the arrival of mages from the Mage Hall.

Mireola arrived with several others, including Silva. Their purpose: to try their luck inside the dungeon. Maybe they could succeed where the soldiers and adventurers failed.

"Tch! Mage Hall..."

Arnold stepped up to Mireola and respectfully bowed like a knight. He welcomed the Mage Hall leader and asked about her purpose here.

"News of your failure to arrest the fugitive Agares has spread across the entire Grand Empire," Mireola said.

"Even the knight halls have begun discussing how to handle this issue."

"What?!" Arnold was stunned.

"Soon, the Grand Empire will take over this place—and possibly evaluate all of you."

"How can you defend your kingdom when you can’t even arrest a single man trapped inside a dungeon?!"

"Did you come here just to mock us?" Arnold asked bitterly.

Mireola laughed and walked forward gracefully, her mage gown flowing as she approached Arnold.

"The Mage Hall team will enter the dungeon to search for Agares! You’re not going to stop us, are you?"

Arnold was speechless.

"I already guess that—you look desperate."

"Go ahead, then! Not that you’ll succeed," Arnold challenged.

Mireola smiled and called Silva forward. Silva stepped up beside her. Mireola explained that Silva would lead the Mage Hall team into the dungeon.

"With her power as the Hero of Lux, I doubt she’ll have any trouble reaching the deepest floors."

"Silva," Mireola called.

"I’m here, Master," Silva replied.

"I’ll help you meet him. Use the magic I taught you if you’re in a tough situation."

"Understood, Master."

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶