Infinite Skill Devourer

Chapter 30: End Of The End II

The group advanced into the forest, their weapons at the ready and their guard raised.

The forest grew thicker with every step.

The deeper they ventured, the less sunlight they could see, as the thick canopy overhead blocked out most of it.

After several encounters with smaller, less challenging beasts, they finally reached their destination.

The mountain they had seen from afar now loomed before them.

With a massive blue gate, pulsing with energy that they had never come across before.

Without hesitating, they walked through the gate, only to be confronted by another gate.

This gate looked ordinary, like a regular door, but gave off a strange scary energy.

It was made of stone and stood twice as tall as the palace gates.

The door was slightly open, revealing a dimly lit chamber inside it.

Ryuen stepped forward first, tightening his grip on his dagger as he passed through the door.

Yuta and Erina followed behind.

However, instead of finding a chamber filled with beasts of various kinds, the room was empty.

"It's too quiet," Erina said, she scanned the room with her glowing red eyes.

Her gaze lingered on the massive torches that lined the walls, the towering pillars, and the throne at the far end of the room.

However, it was not empty.

A skeleton sat on the throne, still, but it faced the door.

Like whatever was there died facing the doors, for a long time.

Ryuen nodded silently in agreement, though unease churned in his gut.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this dungeon was very different.

The moment he spotted a throne he was certain it wasn't.

Probably the Beast King's throne room.

As they moved deeper into the chamber, the space seemed to expand.

The closer they got to the throne, the more the feeling that the skeleton was watching them increased.

"I have a very bad feeling about this," Ryuen said, turning to face the others.

His back facing the throne.

Which, was somewhat seen an disrespect, but who cares

Yuta and Erina exchanged glances.

Ryuen's eyes immediately caught Erina's hesitation as she quickly averted her gaze from Yuta.

But Before he could question her, the screech of metal hinges echoed through the chamber.

BAM!

The massive door slammed shut with a loud clang, and the torches lining the walls flared brighter.

"What the—" Ryuen started, but he didn't get the chance to finish.

A sharp pain exploded in his side, spreading through his body and making him loose his balance and stagger.

He turned, clutching the wound, just in time to see Jun pulling his sword from his side, his face filled with contempt.

"What...?" Ryuen gasped, pressing his hand against the spot where the blade had been.

"I'm sorry, Ryuen," Jun said, although his tone lacked any sincerity.

Not that Ryuen cared.

He had no strength to focus on Jun's hollow apology.

But still...

"We can't let you leave this dungeon alive."

Erina's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

Aika scoffed as she stepped out from behind one of the pillars.

"Don't play dumb, Erina. You know exactly what this is about—and you know he's responsible for killing Mother."

Erina lowered her head slowly. "I didn't agree to this," she whispered.

Ryuen's expression darkened as he straightened himself, gripping his dagger more tighter.

"You really believe that?"

"It doesn't matter what we believe," Althea's voice came up as she materialized beside him.

Her cold, emotionless eyes bored into Ryuen. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"You're too dangerous," she said, crossing her arms.

"The Queen's death... the rumors... everything points to you."

"What rumors?" Ryuen growled.

"About you having skills. You think we're that dumb?" Aika snapped.

"Tell me, how could a mere mortal who's only been here a few days survive a raid and even take down a beast?"

Althea added, her tone sharp and unyielding.

Ryuen bit his lip and lowered his head.

He knew he should have hidden his abilities better, but he had trusted them... and that trust had now betrayed him.

Aika sighed and stepped closer.

"I knew the moment you moved so fast that you might have reincarnated and lied about it."

"The energy inside you is also proof," she continued, "and I confirmed it that day at the stream."

Ryuen's eyes dilated as he slowly shifted his gaze to Erina, who stood in silence.

"You were in on this too."

She shook her head slowly.

"I tried to make them see that you were a good person, I really did. I even wanted to warn you the night before Mother died."

Ryuen lowered his head, chuckling softly. "She was actually right."

"Don't make us the villains here," Jun interrupted "Your student gave up the information we needed."

Yuta's dagger fell from his hand as Jun's words sank in. "It can't be..."

"Haruka," Ryuen murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aika scoffed and turned her back to him.

"You didn't think I'd let myself be touched by a mortal like you for no reason, did you?"

Ryuen sighed. "No, you wouldn't."

"Because your hatred for humans wouldn't even let you look at me twice."

"How dare you?!"

"Aika, relax. Let's get out of here before they sense us," Jun said as he turned to leave.

Erina stepped forward, "This is insane! He didn't kill her!" She yelled but paused, trying to catch her breath. "You can't just—"

Her sentence was cut short as Althea struck the back of her head with the hilt of her sword.

Jun caught her as she collapsed and put her over his shoulder.

As the group turned to leave, Yuta hurried to Ryuen's side and gently lowered him to sit.

Tearing a strip of fabric from his coat, he pressed it against Ryuen's bleeding wound.

What surprised him most was that Ryuen showed no signs of pain.

In fact, he looked almost normal, except for the pale hue of his eyes.

"Yuta," Ryuen called weakly, chuckling softly.

"You should go with them and get help."

Yuta shook his head. "If I leave, the gate might close and..."

"I'm still inside—it won't."

Ryuen knew the gate would close, but he didn't care.

He would rather be stuck inside alone than with Yuta.

Who had only recently started speaking again. And it hadn't even been a week.

"But—"

"That's an order."

Yuta hesitated, tears formed in his eyes, and he didn't bother to hide it.

Finally, he nodded, picked up his dagger, and stood. "I'll be back in no time."

"Sure."

Ryuen gave him a faint smile and watched as Yuta sprinted toward the hidden exit.

The door vanished the moment Yuta stepped out.

Leaving just Ryuen alone at the mercy of whatever was in the scarily silent throne room.

Ryuen let out a soft, bitter laugh. "So this is what it feels like to be literally stabbed in the back."