The Healing Solaris Cleric-Chapter 457 (Side Story): End of the Labyrinth (4)

Dantel, the master of the Carmelo Family, wandered on the fourth basement floor, lost in thought because of a message that just arrived from a subordinate on the lower floor. The content was simple. Someone had entered the fifth floor and raised a pillar of light.

He couldn’t understand it. He had no memory of sending even a single person down to the lower floor.

That would mean they also defeated the Gatekeeper.

That made even less sense. Dantel eventually stopped walking and snapped his fingers. At the same time, the 256 Eyes of the Sage he had scattered across the entire fourth basement floor displayed their respective screens.

Then he issued several commands. “Mark the movements of everyone who came down to the fourth floor since yesterday. Exclude the ones who ran back up. Too slow. Double the playback speed.”

His cold gaze drifted ghost-like over the small 256 screens that could make an ordinary person dizzy just by staring at them.

“Number 17, number 49.”

Except for the numbers he called out, the remaining 254 screens vanished like smoke.

It’s certain.

They were the ones who came down to the fourth basement but hadn’t fled upstairs, and at the same time, they weren’t ones he had killed. Dantel observed them for a moment.

Among the suspects, group 49 does seem the most likely.

It was a party of twelve people. Their balance of classes was well arranged, making them seem like a team that professionally hunted in this labyrinth.

At that moment, he heard the sound of a phone ringing in reality. When linked to the capsule, one could answer calls just by briefly closing their eyes, so he closed his eyes.

—Hello? Master, Master?

—I’m listening.

—You’ve probably realized since I’m calling from outside, but... we got wiped. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

—What about Jane and Gillian? Weren’t you moving together?

—Uh... they got taken out first. I held out until the end but died too.

Dantel furrowed his eyebrows.

—So you were all wiped out? Were they really that strong?

—They? I don’t know who you mean, but we were taken out by a single person.

—One person?

He almost opened his eyes and disconnected the call without realizing it. Curious, Dantel urged the Wizard to continue.

—More details.

—Don’t be shocked. Jane said that guy was the one who wrecked the Heart of Butifon.

—Didn’t you say the opponent was a newbie who caught you off guard?

—We were fooled. But do you know what’s even crazier? That guy is actually...

The call ended. When Dantel slowly opened his eyes, a group of players approached from the other side of the path.

“People? Why in a place like this...?”

“Don’t bother talking to them. There are enough weird chaotic players here already.”

“Scared? Look how many we’ve got here.”

They were the ones who appeared on monitor number 49. However, Dantel’s attention had already shifted away from them.

Kai.

He had just realized that the player who secretly captured the Gatekeeper, descended to the fifth basement, and annihilated his subordinates was none other than Kai of MID Online.

“This works out perfectly.”

Once he took care of the twelve in front of him, there would be nothing left to deal with on the fourth basement floor.

***

There was one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.

First, it’s certain that the summoning ritual is being held in the east.

Kai hadn’t ruled out the possibility that the Knight Commander had engaged in psychological warfare and leaked false information. But in the end, he hadn’t lied. The thicker the dark energy became as he headed east, the more it proved that its source was in that direction. The problem was with the bad news.

Phew...

Hiding behind a tree, Kai cautiously peeked his head out.

I didn’t think it would be here when they said east.

In the center of the vast and expansive forest terrain where the temple area was, the priests and knights of the Betix Order had all gathered there. Naturally, the location of the ritual would also be at the heart of the temple.

The problem is that there’s no way to reach it.

No matter where he turned his gaze, he saw priests or knights of the Betix Order. Now that he faced the situation in reality, he realized just how reckless it would be to try breaking through them head-on.

It also seems impossible to infiltrate unnoticed.

He had been observing for several minutes already, but there didn’t seem to be any blind spots at all. That was only natural, considering the sheer number of them. Unable to come up with a reasonable solution, Kai bit his poor lips in frustration.

If only there were a way to disguise myself as one of them... Hm? Wait a second.

Kai instinctively touched his own cheek.

Come to think of it, I had this, didn’t I?

It was the Ring of Many Faces, which he had painstakingly obtained to comfortably go on dates with Ha-Rin, allowing him to change his appearance into another form.

If I use this well...

Kai’s eyes gleamed. It was as if his instincts were screaming that this was the way to break through that path.

***

As someone stepped out of the forest, the dark knights immediately gripped their weapons.

“Who are you?!”

However, they immediately lowered their weapons after seeing his face.

“What? Dantel, what are you doing here? We didn’t hear you were coming down.”

“Weren’t you supposed to be hunting the rats upstairs?”

“Yes, but I heard some rat came down here.”

At this, the dark knights nodded in understanding.

“Right. I heard that damn bastard even defeated our Dark Knight Commander.”

“That’s right. I came down to make up for the main force’s power that was reduced.”

“Hm. If that’s the case, then go ahead.”

Dantel gave a slight nod and walked past them. However, faced with the labyrinth-like passages of the temple ahead, he didn’t move any more forward.

As time passed, the dark knights began giving suspicious glances.

“What are you doing? Not going?”

“Don’t tell me... You didn’t forget the way to the altar, did you?”

“Of course not.” Dantel shook his head, let out a faint sigh, then quickly took a look at his surroundings before gesturing for them to come closer. “Come here.”

Two dark knights approached and leaned in to listen. “What is it?”

Then Dantel said, “This is something I’m telling only you. The truth is, there’s another reason I came down without notice.”

“What? What reason?”

“There are traitors aiming for the High Priest’s life among my subordinates.”

“What!?”

“Is that true!?”

As they loudly shouted upon hearing the unexpected news, Dantel hurriedly covered their mouths.

“Shhh. The fewer people who know, the better. Nod if you understand.”

When the knights nodded, Dantel withdrew his hand and continued, “I’ve identified four so far. But I don’t know exactly how many more there might be.”

“Then why were you upstairs instead of guarding the High Priest’s side?”

“That’s... because I only found out about this recently.”

“What?”

“One of my subordinates who died alongside your Knight Commander learned the truth just before his death.”

“So that’s what happened.”

Fully immersed in the situation, the two dark knights grew determined.

“If that’s true, you should separate your subordinates from the High Priest immediately instead of standing around here.”

“I think so too. But if I openly approach the altar, the traitors will become suspicious.”

“Hm!”

Only then did the dark knights understand why Dantel had been lingering instead of moving forward.

“I see now. You were thinking about how to reach the High Priest without drawing their attention.”

“Exactly. Even I don’t know which parts of the temple my subordinates are guarding.”

“Hmm.”

The dark knights nodded firmly and spoke in deep voices.

“You’ve been honest with us.”

“Fortunately, it seems we can help with that part.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. We’ll personally guide you along a path to the High Priest that avoids their eyes.”

“Can you really do that?”

“Of course.”

“There’s a secret passage known only to the devoted followers of Betix, one even kept hidden from the rest of you.”

At their confident claim, Dantel smiled.

“So you can make that kind of face too.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you smile in all these months... Haha! You look like a different person!”

Startled, Dantel, or rather, Kai, slightly tilted his head forward and whispered, “For the resurrection of Betix.”

“Yes, for the resurrection of Betix.”

***

“This way.”

Kai carefully followed behind the dark knight. His heart was still pounding, but his hypothesis had been correct.

As I thought, the effect of the Ring of Many Faces must not work on players inside a dungeon.

It was probably intended to prevent crimes like disguising oneself as a party member to stab others in the back. Since this was his first time entering a dungeon while wearing the ring, it was understandable he hadn’t known.

Thinking about it now... thank goodness I’ve been wearing the hood.

The thought made him sweat. If he had relied solely on the ring and walked around showing his face, his identity would have been exposed the moment he entered the labyrinth.

“We’re here.”

Snapping out of his thoughts at the dark knight’s words, Kai looked straight ahead. A massive temple lit by numerous purple torches stood before him. In front of the grand altar, a towering man knelt, murmuring a prayer.

“We’ll take the four subordinates at the High Priest’s side elsewhere.”

“Use that chance to move the high priest somewhere safe.”

“You guys...”

For some reason, Kai’s nose stung, and his gaze softened warmly. He extended his fist toward them.

“Let me quickly show my gratitude.”

“Hmph, it seems you’re more sentimental than you look.”

“Take good care of our high priest.”

The dark knights grinned, baring their teeth, and bumped fists with him before preparing to leave through the hidden path. Then suddenly...

“Is there any issue near the altar?”

“Come on, Master. There’s no way even that guy could break through all the way here.”

“With how many guards we’ve stationed here? Impossible.”

Members of the Carmelo Family approached, walking alongside Dantel toward the High Priest.

“What the hell is going on...?”

“Two Dantels...?”

Unable to grasp the situation, the dark knights turned around.

“Hey! What’s happening here?”

“There’s someone who looks exactly like you over there...”

“Sorry about this, guys.” A blade swept through like a ray of light, instantly severing their throats. “See? You should’ve tried living as nicely as you did today. Don’t you agree?”

[You have defeated the wicked and merciless dark knights of Betix.]

[+1 Benevolence.]

[+1 Benevolence.]

“See? Even Helik agrees,” Kai shrugged.

***

“Dantel, what brings you here?” The High Priest slightly asked, his gaze still fixed on the altar.

Dantel glanced around and answered, “I came because I suspected a rat might sneak in.”

“Hm... You mean the rat that supposedly killed the Knight Commander?”

“Yes.”

“You worry too much. Do you even know how many order members surround this temple?”

He didn’t know the exact number himself, but it was close to a thousand.

“I know that as well. However... the enemy isn’t one to be underestimated.”

“Oh? You speak as if you know who it is.”

“I do. Of course I do. Because of that bastard...” Dantel stopped mid-sentence, his gaze shifting toward one of the walls. “Sir, is there perhaps a hidden chamber behind that wall?”

“Ahem. I don’t know what you are talking about...”

“Answer the question. Is there or isn’t there?”

“Well, if you insist... yes, there is...”

Just as the High Priest’s words reached his ears, Dantel snapped his fingers, activating four magic circles.

“Flame Baptism.”

Fwoooosh!

A massive blaze demon swept across the temple floor and charged into the wall. When the smoke that had instantly filled the temple cleared away, Dantel’s eyes narrowed.

Two bodies?

It wasn’t Kai as they were wearing the armor of dark knights.

In that case...

At that moment, the High Priest stammered, “D-Dantel!”

“Be quiet. I’m busy thinking.”

“Good heavens! Were you behind me? Then who was that?”

“What?”

What kind of stupid question was that in a situation like this? Annoyed, Dantel turned his body and checked. A man with his exact same face was running toward them. At that moment, the puzzle pieces in his mind clicked perfectly into place.

So he disguised himself as me and sneaked in here.

A method truly befitting a rat. Dantel smirked. The reason Kai was charging toward this place was obvious.

“Holy Blessing!”

He infused his tightly gripped sword with divine power and fiercely swung it. With that single strike, the massive altar collapsed mercilessly.

“Hah.”

That had to be the bastard’s goal from the very start. Rather than killing everyone here, he aimed to disrupt Betix’s resurrection ritual.

“Cough, cough!”

Having forced the attack through, Kai’s body was pierced by dozens of weapons and magical arrows.

Watching him naturally fall to his knees, Dantel sneered. “That’s why that altar was fake. Unfortunately for you, it’s not the one used for the resurrection ritual.”

Kai slowly raised his head. How deep would the despair on his face be right now?

Dantel prepared himself to fully savor the pleasure and exhilaration that would soon follow.

“I already knew that.”

Kai’s blank expression seemed to ask who even bothered to ask. His tone was indifferent, light-years away from despair.

Instead, it was Dantel who stupidly asked back, “What?”

Kai knocked on the floor a few times with his fist as he said, “I said I knew. The real altar for the resurrection ritual is hidden underneath.”

It was only natural since the source of the dark energy was flowing up from below.

“You knew that...?” Dantel’s expression twisted.

For someone who had supposedly retired years ago, his senses were astonishing. But right now, Dantel was more curious about his motive.

“Then why destroy the altar at the risk of your life?”

“That’s because...”

The altar was protected by nearly a thousand devotees. Among the structures inside the altar emitting powerful energy, there were only two.

Of those, the one releasing dark energy was underground, and the one releasing mana was right out in the open.

There was only one reason Kai hadn’t recklessly targeted the underground structure.

“If I’m right, this one was probably emitting the barrier magic.”

Dantel kept silent. It was because Kai’s answer was correct. The structure he had just destroyed was the giant device maintaining the barrier magic surrounding the entire labyrinth.

“But destroying that changes nothing...”

“It does. Of course it does.” Kai brushed his stomach with his hand drenched in holy power as he slowly rose to his feet. “I never planned on facing you all alone in the first place. I know my limits.”

A single player couldn’t possibly pull off something like that in the first place.

Unless I had an NPC army like back in the MID Online days.

But since he didn’t have that kind of force now, he had no choice but to go with the next best option. Kai snapped his fingers.

“Alright, I’ve opened the path. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

A blue light streak fell to the ground, and from within it, a man stepped out, responding curtly, “Phew... So this is how the Ha-Rin was dragged into things too, huh.”

Seeing his face, Dantel’s eyebrow twitched. “Boyd?”

“Yeah. You escaped last time, but this time, you’ve got nowhere to run.”

“Who would run away from just two people...?”

“Who said it’s just the two of us?” Boyd smirked as he spread two massive magic circles from his hands. “We should match your numbers at the very least, don’t you think?”

And to prove his words, players began arriving one after another, teleporting in by following the coordinates Boyd had transmitted.

“Master, is it them?”

“The bastards who set out to ruin our livelihood game.”

“Tsk, what a bunch of arrogant bastards.”

A Thousand Blossoms. The full force of one of Fantasia Online’s top-ranking guilds had descended upon the underground labyrinth.