King Of Limbo

"Wait!"

Just as Aron was about to leave with Juliet's group, Brutas clenched his fists and called out to him. Aron paused and turned his head before looking at him with a raised brow. "What?" He replied nonchalantly which made Brutas even more angry.

"You need to share whatever you found so far and what you know about the ruin. Taking any treasure out would be considered stealing from the Galos Academy would it not?" Brutas protested and the others nodded their heads. Aron saw no point in wasting more time so he ended the conversation quickly with one sentence. "I was only an escort, if you want the knowledge then feel free to demand it from Lady Rose."

As Aron said this, Lady Rose turned her head and gave Brutas a cold gaze that he couldn't bare to meet. In the end he lowered his head and said no more.

"Pathetic." Aron snickered and continued walking out, once again leaving Brutas utterly humiliated in front of everyone present.

"Brutas, don't pay mind to him and let's focus on the task at hand. Lady Belle put you in charge and you must bring results lest you wish to disappoint her and lose support." The inquisitor who also held a great hate for Aron could only watch as he left and focus on the task at hand.

Brutas looked at Henry, Esmeralda and Emilia who nodded that they indeed should focus on the ruin. "You're right Inquisitor Passil, we should carry on, but what about Anastasia and Juliet?" He asked whilst looking at the two leave.

They had initially only allowed those from great to enter alongside them, hence Anastasia and Juliet had to leave the majority of their commoner crew.

"With those two keeping an eye on Aron we can rest easy. Now let us proceed." Inquisitor Passil quickly spoke and the group began to investigate the hall.

Meanwhile Aron, Lady Rose and Evanora all walked in silence with Juliet and Anastasia standing on either side like guards keeping them in check.

"This... what happened to the highlands, was it your doing?" Juliet suddenly asked while glancing at Aron who only chuckled and shook his head. "What makes you think I have such ability?"Aron replied with a question of his own.

"You wouldn't do something so careless as to admit, it isn't in your nature." She retorted but Aron kept to his initial answer.

After that Juliet didn't ask anything more, it was clear she wouldn't learn what part Aron played in all this that easily.

The group soon reached the exit where another group of people had set up camp. Among the people were some familiar faces to Aron. Mirai, Scarlett, Sharla and Lucas were presently gathered with other members of the Galos Academy that had come on this expedition. Above the camp the two large airships hovered in wait, ready to make a quick escape should anything occur.

"Make yourself comfortable, Lady Belle has already sent reinforcements to assist in the expedition of this ruin. Once they arrive a group will send you back to the academy." Anastasia spoke quickly and with arrogance towards Aron before walking away.

.....

"He's here..." Aron's arrival didn't go unnoticed and it especially caught the eye of Lucas who couldn't help but narrow his eyes at him.

To him, Aron was a bloodthirsty and arrogant young man who used his power to step over others and looked down on all those weaker than him.

Aron soon noticed them staring his way and he turned to approach them. "It's been awhile." He said in a casual tone that brought a smile to Mirai's face.

"This voice and aura... indeed it has." She smiled gently and gave a small nod towards Aron.

"So mean, made me lead you across the Journey and you can't even say hello." Scarlett crossed her arms and feigned anger before showing him a grin. "I literally cannot afford to remember you." Aron replied and caused the greedy treasure loving woman to laugh heartily.

"For someone who just got caught for treachery and failed to get any treasure you seem awfully happy." Lucas finally spoke but did so in a non friendly tone which left Aron unfazed.

But before he could answer, Juliet came over and intervened. "We are yet to know if there is any treasure, it could just be a ruin of knowledge..."

As Juliet continued talk, Aron's senses suddenly sharpened on their own. Everyone's voices now seemed like hollow echoes and his gaze could only focus on the passage leading into the ruin. His mana began to churn and his beast wills began to go off madly.

[ Danger! Danger! Danger! ]

"Aron!" Aron was only brought back to his senses when Evanora called out his name while tugging at his shirt. When he looked at her she pointed towards the passage and shook her head. "Monster."

Boom!

Before Aron could fully make sense of the distortion he just faced and Evanora's words, the peak began to tremble madly as it finally erupted.

Fear spread through the camp and everyone immediately became alert but the worst was yet to come.

[ SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH! ]

A loud roar echoed from the peak and was sent out in all directions. "Protect us!" Evanora commanded and a large dome covered them all.

When the sound wave hit the camp, everyone who heard it had their bodies tremble viciously as their organs were destroyed from within and blood oozed out from their orfices.

In an instant, everyone had been wiped out. This scene was too hard to believe but Aron knew it would only get worse from here. 'They couldn't have opened the gate already, so how?' Aron questioned himself and clicked his tongue in irritation before looking up at one of airships.

"We need to leave now." He turned to Juliet who had been shielded from the sound wave along with Anastasia thanks to Lady Rose creating a dome with her scouters.

"Henry...." Anastasia thought before rushing out of the dome and towards the passage. However before she could even get far she felt a sharp pain on her neck before collapsing.

Juliet had prevented her from advancing in an instant and quickly put her over her shoulder. "Quickly let's go..." She said in a serious tone but still looked completely unworried.

As everyone began to leave, Aron paused to look at the passage one more time with a narrowed gaze. 'Fucking curiosity…'

…

Meanwhile within hall the passage lead to, rubble could be seen everywhere and lava had even began to seep into the room along with a dense aura of mana.

"Is everyone okay?!" Henry who was crouching down stood up weakly while holding onto his right shoulder.

Bang!

Bang!

Suddenly loud banging began to resound from the metallic gate and dents could be seen appearing on it. His face looked absolutely grim as he saw this.

"H-Henry! You're okay." Emilia's voice reached his ear and she soon appeared from the dust with blood dripping down her head.

"Emilia is that you?!" Before the two could exchange any more words, Esmeralda's voice called out to them from nearby.

They quickly rushed towards it and found her laying down in an awkward position, she had been on the 2nd floor when the hall began to collapse.

"Ez! Get up we need to leave." Emilia let out tears of joy seeing that her sister didn't have many visible injuries but Esmeralda shook her head and tears began to run down her eyes as well. "I can't feel my legs..." She muttered helplessly.

"...don't worry, let's get out of here and we'll get you checked. Everything will be okay." Emilia said with teary eyes and reached out to try and help her arm but almost immediately felt a sharp pain hit her body.

"... I can't lift her, Henry help me." Emilia looked to Henry worriedly but he only showed a weak smile and held his shoulder more tightly. She knew he couldn't lift her either.

The density of the mana had already began to shift drastically and any techniques cast at the moment, especially with their minds in disarray would only lead to self harm.

"Emi...please go. You can get help outside. We can't both stay trapped here." Esmeralda said with a weak smile while looking at her teary eyed sister. Emilia said no words and only hugged Esmeralda tightly. "We should hurry and get help, we can still save her.." Henry tried to lift their spirits and caused them to part the hug.

"You're right... lets hurry." Emilia said with a look of determination as tears continued to run down her eyes.

.....

*cough*

*cough*

"Help! I'm here! Can anyone here me?" Brutas called out in a weak voice and looked at his right leg which had been completely buried under rubble.

*tap* *tap* *tap*

"Henry? Inquisitor Passil? Is that you?" The hall had suddenly become silent and only a few heavy footsteps could be heard by Brutas. His heart felt slightly more at ease now that the banging had stopped.

However what appeared near his head wasn't a foot but a large paw and some heavy panting...

"No, no, Nooooo?!"

*crunch*

.....

The loud scream echoed through the hall and caused Esmeralda who was leaning against a wall to look even more worried. However she only showed a pitiful smile as if she had come to terms with her fate.

Soon, she too heard footsteps and she closed her eyes. A moment later she felt heavy breathing against her face and she opened her eyes, only to see a large pair of jaws ready to rip apart her entire upper body.

*crack!*

However no such scene occurred as in the next moment the the creature to which the jaws belonged fell to the ground with lifeless eyes. Beside it stood Aron's towering figure who soon turned his gaze to Esmeralda.

"You..." They said in unison.