Chapter 17 : I Love You

  Rank S dungeons consist of 100 floors. The monsters on the first levels are ranked E, but as you descend, their power increases until they reach rank S. And at that point... well... that's a whole different challenge.

  We climb up the side of the Aqualida dungeon tower, running vertically along its walls. Below us, adventurers who were patiently waiting for the staircase to be rebuilt watch us, wide-eyed, astonished by our speed and control. It’s a bit embarrassing to be stared at like this.

  'We’re almost there, Aley! Get ready to jump once we reach the top. We’ll rush straight through the first floors. Our goal is the deepest floor: defeat the boss and retrieve the divine artifact that serves as the key!' Elvaria exclaims, excitement clear in her voice as she continues running along the tower.

  Indeed, we’re nearing the top.

  Once at the summit, the view is breathtaking. From this high point, we can see the city being rebuilt, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun. The fiery horizon gives the impression of a peaceful and infinite world, a beauty that seems almost unreal. I find myself admiring this sight, a rare sensation of calm washing over me.

  I glance at Elvaria. She too is taking in the landscape, her face glowing in the golden light of the sun. A moment frozen in time.

  But quickly, our attention shifts to the dungeon’s entrance. A spiral staircase descends into the depths. Entering it will transport us to a different dimension, just as it had in our last dungeon.

  'Let’s go,' I say calmly.

  However, just as we are about to descend, an unfamiliar memory hits me like a flash, a story I don’t recall. A blur from the past or another life… A hazy image, a distant voice… But as quickly as it appears, it vanishes.

  ...

  'Ugh…' A throbbing headache strikes me. Where am I? My eyes struggle to open.

  'Aleystria, finally awake?' A voice I don’t recognize reaches my ears. Forcing my eyelids open, I see him. It’s a dwarf, carrying two swords on his back, wearing a white cape and light armor. His brown beard almost hides his entire face.

  'He really is a heavy sleeper, isn’t he...' sighs another voice, this one from a man with blue hair and deep marine eyes. He’s dressed in a long mage’s robe, entirely blue, covered in runes I can’t read.

  'Aley, you okay?' Suddenly, I hear Elvaria’s voice. Instinctively, I turn to the direction it came from, but instead, I see a young girl who looks a lot like her: red hair, green eyes, and breathtaking beauty.

  As I regain full awareness of my surroundings, I notice that we’re in a moving carriage, in the back, where supplies are usually stored.

  'Where am I...?' I ask, my voice tinged with worry. But instead of a direct answer, the dwarf bursts out laughing, and the mage struggles to hold back a chuckle. As for the girl, she looks at me with a worried expression.

  'I told you not to drink with Oscar and Veron… It’s your fault for never listening to me, Aley,' she pouts, crossing her arms.

  'Well well, Aleystria, a lover’s spat? How adorable!' the mage sneers before laughing loudly.

  'To think they call you the Nightmare of the Divine… Pff, you haven’t even fought a divine creature yet! We’ve only just begun adventuring, and the old-timers are already slapping titles on you!' adds the dwarf, exploding with laughter again.

  The mood is light and friendly. Even though they’re mocking me, deep down I feel like I cherish them as very close friends. And yet, I don’t understand… Who are they? Who am I…?

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  ...

  Suddenly, I snap back to reality. We’re once again standing at the entrance of the dungeon.

  'Last one down has to pay for the trip back to Iveralmn!' shouts Elvaria before rushing into the dungeon tower.

  'I’ll give you a head start; you’re going to lose anyway!' I yell back with a small laugh, loud enough for her to hear me. Nevertheless, that strange memory, that unexpected flash at the dungeon’s entrance, troubles me. Maybe to learn more about myself, I should visit all the entrances to rank S dungeons… It’s a lead I’ll keep in mind.

  For now...

  'Quick Step!' I dash into the dungeon at full speed, my footsteps echoing with sharp, ringing sounds.

  Floor 1: The monsters are swept away by the shockwaves caused by my speed. No need to fight.

  Floor 15: If I bump into a monster, it’s sent flying against a wall. Still no need for combat.

  Floor 20: I spot Elvaria, playing around by casting explosions at monsters to improve her skill. As soon as she sees me, she starts running again.

  Floor 30: Elvie and I are now running at the same pace. The monsters here are sometimes ranked B, so we unsheathe our swords from time to time to slice them as we pass.

  'Aaah, huff… These floors are way too big, this is exhausting,' I say, out of breath.

  'It’s fine, we’ve reached floor 50. There’s a mini-boss here, ranked A. We’ll take it down quickly and keep going,' replies Elvaria. Indeed, in the midst of rank S floors, there are dungeon bosses ranked A. They’re there to separate those who can continue from those who must give up.

  'Let’s take a lunch break first; I can’t fight on an empty stomach,' I say as my stomach growls.

  We sit on the dungeon floor. I hadn’t mentioned it before, but every floor so far consisted of maze-like corridors. From the 50th floor onward, we’ll be thrown into a giant forest-like area with a lake. Rank A and S monsters lurk there, and on each floor, one of them holds a key. We’ll need to defeat them to open the door to the next floor. It’s going to take time. So for now, we rest.

  After a few minutes, we’re ready to enter. The mini-boss’s room is guarded by an iron door so heavy that it requires a certain level of physical strength to open.

  Bam!

  'I’ve opened it, Aley!' says Elvaria with a charming smile. The problem? She had just shattered the metal door with a single kick.

  'I have something to tell you, but right now, I’m not ready. Let me handle this boss, I’ll take care of it alone. I want to take my revenge on the rank A boss from last time.' Her tone is firm. Something to tell me? Not ready? She’s not going to… confess, is she? No, impossible… Our relationship has certainly evolved, but it remains perfectly healthy. Just two members of the same adventurer group. Yes, that’s all it is. Nothing strange.

  Suddenly, Elvaria rushes into the boss room at full speed. I follow closely behind.

  'No need to worry, I’ll handle it!' she says, reassuring me. The room is square, with a knight in full black armor standing at its center, his entire body concealed. But don’t be fooled: beneath the armor is an undead. Dungeon bosses are never human. His sword, as black as jet, is motionless, just like him.

  Elvaria moves in to strike, but the knight parries with a sudden swing of his sword before disappearing in a flash, reappearing at her side. He tries to attack her, but Elvaria is too agile. With a fluid movement, she dodges with ease.

  Frustrated, the knight launches himself at her, attacking relentlessly. But Elvaria blocks, dodges, and eventually leaps over him, bringing her blade down precisely on the boss’s arm, cutting it clean off. Landing smoothly on her feet behind him, she smiles. She’s savoring the moment. Taking revenge on a rank A boss must feel incredibly satisfying.

  Suddenly, her speed increases dramatically.

  'This is my new skill, Flash Step. The longer the fight goes on, the faster I get. There’s no limit as long as I keep control of my body!' she says, moving at a blinding speed. Every time the knight loses sight of Elvaria, she pounces, striking with precision. In just a few quick hits, she slices off the other arm, then the legs.

  To finish, she charges straight at him, her blade engulfed in green flames, launching a magical explosive attack. The boss of the 50th floor is defeated. Entirely by Elvaria. An impressive fight. She’s really grown stronger. She deserves her rank S title.

  'Aley, I’m done! How did I do?' she asks, running toward me, a smile on her face, her red hair flowing in the dungeon’s underground breeze.

  'You were wonderful, Elvie,' I say, smiling.

  'Was I really wonderful, Aley?' Her cheeks take on a slight pink hue.

  'Of course you were!' I say with conviction, raising my voice and puffing out my chest with pride. I’m proud to have her as an ally.

  'In that case... will you grant me one request, Aley?' she says in a somewhat shy tone. I have a bad feeling about this… but after that fight, she deserves it.

  'Go ahead,' I reply, ready to hear anything.

  She remains silent for a moment, her cheeks turning redder and redder. She lowers her head before lifting it again, her eyes locking onto mine.

  'I… I love you. Will you go out with me, officially?'

  What?!