Chapter 116: The Grand Game
"First of all, you should learn how you speak to my wives in the future. If you use such a tone, I will wipe the floor with your face." Asher said coldly, his voice dripping with unmistakable threat. He paused, then continued smoothly:
"Second: What is this forbidden rank called?" he asked.
He wanted to confirm if what the system showed was the same; if it was, he could perhaps inquire with the system later about its full properties.
Astrid simply nodded gracefully at his harsh warning, entirely unfazed, and answered his second question: "EX-Rank, also known as Exceptional Rank."
Asher nodded, absorbing the confirmation, and stood up from Grayson’s broad back. "Alright then, I will get going!" he said, turning back toward his wives.
"Lord Aetheldawn, I would like to invite you to visit Sylvanguard in the future," she said, staring intently at Asher’s retreating back.
’Huh? I haven’t even visited all five major cities in Vaeloria, and you’re already asking me to visit another country?’ He started to turn around to refuse her offer, but before he could utter a word, Astrid continued:
"The ancient families are now coming together to deal with the Doomsday Dungeon. We will gladly accept help from you."
Asher froze in his tracks. The Doomsday Dungeon? Wasn’t that the high-risk rift that held Sara’s and Kelly’s cure—the Soul Cleansing Potion? Although Juliana possessed the capability to brew the cure if she had the rare ingredients, her base success rate was only 40% at most.
But...
He stared at her in silence for a long while, his sharp eyes evaluating her intentions.
The ancient families were actually teaming up to clear that cursed rift? Was the dungeon boss truly that monstrously powerful? If it was really that lethal, then why did those same ancient families permit Sara and the other top-tier SSS-RANK Awakened to be sent inside as a force three years ago?
Were the ancient families simply testing the waters back then with the lives of ordinary people?
Why now? Why stage an all-out assault on the dungeon after three years of silence?
"Is there any specific reason behind this suddenly?" Asher asked, narrowing his gaze.
"This isn’t the right place or time to discuss the intricate details, but yes, there is a reason. And that reason is peace; our families simply want peace to return to the world, and this Dungeon is clearly a sharp knife positioned at our doorstep." She said smoothly, her gray eyes unwavering.
’When you speak of peace, you could deceive anyone else, but I have seen what average noble families like Starfire do behind closed doors, let alone a primordial power as grand as yours... Everything in this world has a hidden price; there is no such thing as free food. There must be a deeper reason why these ancient bloodlines want to attack this dungeon, but what is it?’
He smiled softly, hiding his deep suspicion:
’I might be overthinking things, but I just can’t help it; I have seen too much darkness already.’ He slowly nodded his head.
"When are you moving?"
"At the start of next month." She answered promptly.
’Start of next month... That should be roughly two and a half weeks from now. One more week, and it will be exactly one month since I promised to cure my wives.’ He glanced over at Kelly, then at Sara. If he needed the absolute cure, he had no choice but to enter that rift.
He lowered his gaze to the cracked earth, lost in calculated thought. Asher would much rather raid that dangerous dungeon alone and secure what he was after on his own terms than march alongside an ancient expedition party that could lead to unpredictable backstabbing.
"Alright then. If by that time I am in a good mood, I will assist," Asher said casually. He turned and began walking away. Kelly quickly trotted behind him, followed closely by Sara.
Juliana, on the other hand, glared sharply at Astrid one last time before joining the group. She had already unequipped all her armor and gear, returning to her elegant banquet dress as if nothing had happened.
"Um..."
Grayson scrambled up from the dirt, glanced nervously at everyone’s stunned, terrified expressions, and ran frantically after Asher’s party, desperate to get away from the high-tier monsters in the area.
’Um... Very strange; so this is the Lord of the Aetheldawn Family. I should report back to my father immediately... But first.’ Astrid looked over her armored shoulder at the still kneeling Daniel and his trembling entourage.
"You knew the Aetheldawn family had resurfaced and didn’t send any immediate word?" she asked, her voice dropping to a frigid tone.
"No! The moment he was revealed to be an Aetheldawn, we dispatched high-speed couriers to Vaeloria’s ancient family branch! But even with our fastest speed, the secure message will take a week to arrive!" Daniel quickly explained, bowing his head to the dirt.
She stared at him coldly, then slid her heavy helmet back over her head, sealing her face. "Alright... What I said before, forget it. I will personally take this news back to my father in Sylvanguard."
The space behind her horse violently tore open, revealing a swirling dimensional rift. Her mount turned around and stepped smoothly inside, and before the kneeling Awakened, the rift snapped shut, leaving no trace behind.
BAM!
"Ahh! My goodness!"
"I thought I was going to die right there!"
"Asher actually reached such a terrifying rank? And even the daughter of an Ancient Family was respectful to him?!"
"What did you just call him?" Marianne turned to Eren in shock, her eyes wide with cold disbelief.
Even an elite descendant from the supreme ancient families referred to him as ’Lord’, and here this fool was, casually throwing around his given name.
"You all heard and saw what transpired here today... Even Grayson, the king of the underground, is now beneath Asher’s boots. If any of you need to apologize for past grievances, you had better get on with it immediately; because..." Daniel stood up slowly, dusting the dirt off his bruised knees.
"If he decides to kill any of you later on, the Association will be completely powerless to convict or restrain him... For now, do not make an enemy out of him. Just focus on getting stronger, because in the coming future, the ancient families will need more entertainment." He stared up at the pale moon with a weary, shadowed expression.
"Only by getting stronger can you hope to survive the coming game." He added heavily.
"....?"
The remaining Awakened elites sat on the cracked ground, staring up at the cold night sky, their faces pale and drained of color.
The grand board had been reset, the game had officially begun, and they were nothing more than the sacrificial pawns.