CHAPTER - 068 - WHERE GREED BEGETS GOLD - II

As soon as Armis and Alan stepped inside the room, their enchanted eyes filled with even more gleam from the stacks of gold coins, artifacts, and other jewels littered on the floor. The withered paint of the wall and the ruined structure of the room were drowned out by the blinding brightness shining within. Their eyes became further enchanted by the only reflection of the light, shining and struggling to maintain its green hue.

"Alan…look…" Armis muttered slowly, pointing towards the wall at the end of the room. 

Alan turned, tearing his eyes from the grotesque creatures scattered on the floor, each carrying a speck of the almost infinite treasure. The disgusting darkness of the creatures faded into the shine of the gold and the green hue that Alan saw when he followed Armis's gaze. 

From the wall, a marbled pedestal protruded, behind it a giant mirror, and inside the mirror was the enchanting and alluring reflection of an emerald. Intricate and held together by a crown-like structure made of gold, the shine of the gold paled before the mystifying light the giant emerald embedded at the top emitted.

"It's magnificent…." Armis mumbled, his eyes shining with the glow of the gem. He began to walk toward it, but Alan quickly grabbed his hand, attempting to pull him back. Alan's urgent voice echoed among the treasure.

"Armis, wait!! This could be some trap. We have to move cautio—-"

"What are you talking about, Alan?" Armis's mystified voice cut through Alan's warning. Armis, locking his gaze on the jewel, replied to Alan's cautiousness.

"Look at it, it's so big, green, and beautiful! Have you ever seen anything like this in your life? Its beauty is so mystical and otherworldly. Think about it—how beautiful it would look on Aurelia… she would want it, right?"

Armis's mystified words made Alan loosen his grip on Armis's arm. As Armis continued onward, Alan locked his eyes on the gem, its shining reflection diving deep into his heart.

A rare desire surfaced, clutching his heart and taking control of his eyes. Alan imagined how beautiful and happy Relecta would be when the crown adorned her head. She would forget all her sadness, and her enchanting smile would return when she saw the crown he had brought for her. The attire of her blue would match heavenly with the emerald shine of the crown. Enveloped in this vision, Alan also began walking toward the gem.

As Alan and Armis neared the alluring treasure, their reflections in the mirror showed the greed and enchantment veiling their eyes. They never let the silhouette of the crown falter from their gaze. 

Armis leaned in to touch the crown, but his eyes landed on the mirror, where another hand was reaching for it. Desperation filled him; he wanted it so badly that he let his desire consume his cautiousness. He lunged forward and, with a swift snatch, grabbed the crown, backing away a few steps.

Alan gritted his teeth, turning toward Armis with an excited yet disappointed expression. He watched as Armis grinned while looking at the emerald crown, feeling its structure in his hand, and taking in its enchanting beauty.

"Let me see it, too," Alan said, moving his hand to take the crown from Armis's grasp. But Armis swiftly backed away, holding a glare at Alan, and exclaimed, "NO!!! I found it, it's mine!"

"But I w—-"

Before Alan could finish his retort, their attention was drawn to sudden tremors beneath their feet. After two or three shivers, the ground returned to stillness. Alan and Armis exchanged confused glances before the air in the room filled with the sound of coins falling, growing louder with each passing moment. Startled, Armis and Alan began looking around, but then suddenly the stones beneath their feet began shifting.

Alan widened his eyes in shock, glaring at Armis with frustration evident in his expression. Armis, puzzled, met Alan's gaze. Alan muttered through gritted teeth, "I told you…"

Before Alan's words could fully register in Armis's mind, the ground beneath them caved in, engulfing them in a dark abyss illuminated dimly by the shower of gold coins and treasure falling alongside them.

The chamber echoed with the shuffling of feet as Leotrus and Arian crossed the threshold, their eyes widening at the sight that greeted them. Gold coins carpeted the floor, adorned with glimmering artifacts and chests filled with unimaginable treasures. Unlike the decayed chests of the lower floors, these gleamed with pristine opulence, casting a blinding light that filled the chamber.

Longiseus and Lady Roartad, too, were ensnared by the allure of the riches, their eyes sparkling with enchantment as they entered. But their fascination was abruptly interrupted by the resounding thud of the gate slamming shut behind them.

"Huh?!!" Longiseus gasped in shock, turning along with Lady Roartad. Both placed their hands on the gate, trying to feel for any opening to protrude through it. But their tension and dread of being locked inside the chamber had no effect on the mystified hearts of Arian and Leotrus.

Stammering, unable to see, Leotrus felt the glorified presence the treasure exuded. "Arian… tell me, what is it that I am feeling? Is it… is it trea—"

"Treasure…" Arian interrupted, picking up from Leotrus's stammering. He described the enchanting view his eyes were absorbing, believing that if he blinked even for a second, the treasure would disappear. Looking around, Arian continued, "It's gold, jewels, ornaments—each inch of this place is riddled with riches, Leotrus!! There's so much… such an unimaginable quantity. It could fill every street of Pompeii. It's so much it c—"

Arian's words halted in the gleaming air, as his enchanted eyes landed on the beauty and shine that pleaded the treasure surrounding it. An emerald crown, placed upon a marbled pedestal, emerging out of a wall on their side, a giant mirror placed behind the jewel, reflected its allure to Arian's gleaming with greed eyes as he muttered-

"It truly is a treasury." His words guided his steps and he made a run towards the emerald ornament. Shuffling of his feet startled stunned Leotrus and attracted the attention of wrestling with the door, Longiseus and Lady Roartad. Seeing Arian rushing to grab the alluring jewel, Longiseus's eyes widened with dread, apprehension filling his voice, he yelled out, attempting to halt Arian-

"ARIAN NO!!!!"

The allure of the jewel had ensnared Arian's heart, drowning him in a sea of worldly desire and blinding greed. Ignoring any semblance of caution, he lunged towards the jewel, his fingers outstretched to claim its radiant beauty. But as his reflection appeared in the mirror behind it, his expression mirrored shock and dread.

Arian's attempt to touch the jewel was thwarted as it vanished into thin air, leaving him stumbling and grasping at empty space. Rising to his feet with panic and desperation gripping his heart, Arian's frustration boiled over as he cried out in anguish:

"Where is it?!! Where did it go?!!!"

Leotrus approached Arian in confusion, but before he could respond, Arian seized his collar, his rage-filled eyes boring into Leotrus's blindfold. 

"Did you take it?!! Tell me wh—"

As Lady Roartad swiftly intervened, pushing Arian aside and freeing Leotrus from his grasp, Arian's blinded rage persisted. Ignoring Lady Roartad's intervention, he attempted to lunge back at her, but before he could, a sudden green glow illuminated the chamber. Arian froze as he beheld Longiseus's sword, mere inches from his face, the glint of steel reflecting in his widened eyes. Longiseus's voice cut through the tension like a knife, tight with warning and authority.

"Stand down, Arian. Cease this animalistic behavior. I won't ask again."

The air, once shimmering with golden allure, now hung heavy with the threat of Longiseus's words. Yet, despite the warning, Arian's eyes still gleamed with the possessed fervor of greed.

"What's gotten into you, Commander?!" Leotrus interjected, his grip firm on Longiseus's shoulder as he pleaded for reason amidst the chaos.

"No! What on earth are you two thinking?!" Lady Roartad's voice reverberated through the chamber, her gaze piercing as she locked eyes with Leotrus, her words laden with disbelief. "What has gotten into you both? Why are you behaving like this?"

"Behaving like what?!" Leotrus shot back, his tone matching Lady Roartad's intensity. "Why do you think we're here? For the treasure! It's the first rule of raiding! So why all the fuss?!"

"Because you're both acting like fools!" Lady Roartad's words sliced through Leotrus's argument, her voice tinged with desperation as she tried to shake them from their enchanted stupor. "Does this seem like a simple raid to you? We're fighting for our lives here! Every inch of this place seeks to devour us! And yet you're worried about treasure?! Leotrus, we've lost three of our comrades since we set foot in this cursed place, and you want to talk about treasure?!"

"Yeah, I'm well aware of that!" Leotrus retorted, his voice edged with frustration as he struggled to contain his emotions. Despite the rising tide of despair, he pushed forward, attempting to justify their actions to Lady Roartad. "That's precisely why I'm eager to reach the 100th floor as quickly as possible! And when our friends return to us, imagine the joy they'll feel at the sight of all this treasure. Master Roartad, think about it! With all this wealth, we could fulfill our dreams of establishing the institute we've always talked about."

Leotrus's heartfelt plea hung in the air, leaving Lady Roartad stunned and speechless. Disbelief and disappointment clouded her eyes as she took a step back, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. 

Suddenly, a jewel slipped under her foot, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground with an audible thud. But her impact on the ground seemed to reverberate louder than expected, sending tremors through the chamber. As the ground quaked beneath them, the wall holding the pedestal crumbled, unveiling a yawning darkness that filled them with a sudden sense of foreboding.

With a sense of apprehension clouding his gaze, Arian cautiously stepped back from Longiseus's sword, his heart pounding with desperation. 

Beside him, Leotrus approached the newly revealed darkness, the glow from the treasure within the room failing to penetrate its depths. Moving cautiously, they peered into the abyss, their vision swallowed by its inky blackness. 

Suddenly, Arian's eyes caught a glimmer of green shining from the depths below. As the echoes of crumbling stone faded from the air, Arian's voice pierced the silence. "I found it," he exclaimed.

Longiseus and Lady Roartad stared in shock at Arian's sudden declaration, his words followed by a reckless leap into the abyss.

Longiseus lunged forward, but his steps fell short, and Arian began his descent into the darkness before he could reach him. 

Leotrus, guided not only by Arian's voice but also by another sound that stirred his heart, he felt a surge of determination welling up within him. With unwavering resolve, he leaped into the abyss, his voice echoing with determination, "Wait for me, my love! I'm coming!"

Longiseus clenched his teeth as he managed to grasp Leotrus's arm, preventing his fall into the abyss. But his grip faltered when from the sudden commotion, one of the grotesque creature leaping onto Longiseus's face, startling him with disgust. With a gasp, he released Leotrus's arm, struggling to remove the creature from his face as he too fell into the darkness below.

Meanwhile, Lady Roartad hurried to the edge, her panicked gaze fixed on the abyss. The screams of her companions echoed loudly, urging her to act. With a determined sigh, she closed her eyes and leaped into the unknown depths behind them.

In the depths of the abyss, Alan and Armis plummeted, surrounded by an overwhelming darkness that seemed to swallow even the light from their eyes. Panicked and desperate, Alan fought against the resistance of the air, seeking something solid to grasp onto before they met their plumetting demise. Suddenly, his hand found purchase on something soft yet firm, and he wrapped his body tightly around this newfound anchor, hoping it would break their fall.

A burst of green light momentarily illuminated their surroundings, revealing a sight that sent shivers down Alan's spine. More grotesque creatures, clutching onto gems and coins, filled his vision before darkness swallowed them once more. Then, in the blink of an eye, illumination emerged from below, dispelling the darkness as they hurtled towards the ground.

With a deafening crash, debris sprayed into the air as Armis landed heavily, his armor absorbing the impact as he planted his feet firmly on the ground. The force of their descent, so powerful that it created a large crater beneath them, the ground trembling beneath their weight.

With a resounding cry, Armis expelled every ounce of energy from his body, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. As the rush of blood coursed through him, he straightened up, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Alan, still wrapped around him, felt the disorienting shock of the fall before slumping to the ground, his body going limp as he closed his eyes for a brief moment of respite.

Alan's eyes fluttered, his vision clouded with haze as his head throbbed with pain. Blinking repeatedly, he struggled to focus, and as the scene before him slowly cleared, he found himself staring at thick, dark legs looming in front of him. With a deep breath, Alan closed his eyes momentarily before opening them again, attempting to stand up but only managing to stagger. Irritation laced his voice as he muttered, "What in the hell have you brought us into, Armis…"

As Alan's words trailed off, he turned his gaze to the side, his hearing returning amidst the cacophony of demon grunts and clanging metal. His eyes widened as he spotted Armis, not the legs he initially mistook, wrestling with dark figures. These monstrous beings, resembling the creatures from above, stood on two humanoid legs. Giant bug-like horns replaced their pincers, while their hands gripped weapons made of gold. Their bodies were adorned with shimmering gems and glowing ornaments, a sight both mesmerizing and terrifying.

Alan blinked once again, slowly regaining his senses as Armis turned and noticed him. Passing a smile, Armis called out, though his voice sounded faint to Alan's recovering ears, "Hey, Alan!! More treasure!!"

As the scene around Alan began to settle in his mind, his eyes widened in apprehension. Quickly turning his head, still on his knees, Alan saw one of the monsters standing before him, its golden sword raised above its head, poised for a strike that could result in Alan's decapitation. 

Blood surged through Alan's veins as he sprang into action, jumping into the air with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding the sword's deadly swing. 

With a deafening crash, the creature's sword shattered the floor upon impact, sending shards of debris flying. Vaulting through the air, Alan instinctively clenched his fist, unknowingly activating the murky ring on his finger, which began emitting tendrils of black smoke that enveloped him in a shroud of darkness.

As Alan landed gracefully on the ground, smoke around him dissipated leaving Alan standing tall with a crimson long blade, its hilt wrapped in dark threads, clutched in his fist. Facing the grotesque dark monster, which pulled back its broken sword, shrieking at Alan with its gaping maw filled with darkness, its scarlet tongue coiled inside it, Alan stood ready, the blade pulsating with power in his hand.

The monster wasted no moment as it lunged at Alan, its shattered sword spinning and swinging with full force, tearing through the air as it neared Alan's head. 

Time seemed to slow, and Alan's gaze tightened into a glare as he focused on the slow-moving monster. In a blur of speed, he slid across the monster, and as time resumed, the glint of Alan's sword flashed near the creature, followed by the sound of a slashing motion that split the monster's body in two.

With a deep breath, Alan watched as the lifeless halves of the creature fell to the ground, the thud of its body echoing in the chamber, followed by the clatter of its sword hitting the ground.

Blinking once again and catching his breath, Alan turned, only to be met with an empty sack colliding with his face. Armis's urgent voice followed, "Here, fill them in quickly."

Alan removed the sack from his face and found Armis holding a creature's head, its tongue hanging out lifelessly. Armis wore a smirk that initially confused Alan, but his following action shocked him. Armis, without hesitation, tore off the gold necklace from the creature's neck, threw the head on the ground, and hastily put the necklace into a similar sack as Alan's.

Seeing Alan standing still, Armis turned towards 

him, his expression a mix of confusion and urgency. Armis asked, "What's wrong, Alan? Hurry up."

His words broke through Alan's shock, momentarily seizing control of his actions. Alan moved with haste, picking up the golden sword of the monster he had just killed from the ground. Just as he began to put it inside the sack, he snapped back to his senses, turning towards the corpse-robbing Armis and exclaiming, "Wait. Why are we doing this, exactly?!"

Armis continued tearing off jewels and ornaments from the fallen carcasses of the creatures, his actions a blend of confusion and nonchalance. He replied, "Why? You don't want it?"

"That… that's not what I meant…" Alan stumbled over his words, growing more perplexed by Armis's question.

As Armis filled his sack with almost all the jewels he could find, he moved towards the bewildered Alan, handing him the bag. After taking a deep breath, Armis remarked, "Huff… I think that's all of it. I wonder what else we can find here. Just imagine, Alan, how happy Aurelia will be when she sees all this. She loves her jewels so much. I can't wait to show her all this."

Alan's confusion morphed into dread as he looked at Armis, who was smiling with excitement. Furrowing his brow, Alan frowned, his concern mounting. He released the treasure-filled sack, prompting a puzzled gaze from Armis. 

Alan opened his mouth to voice his dread and concern when suddenly, the still air was shattered by a piercing shriek, causing Alan to squint in pain.

But Armis reacted differently to the sudden commotion. When Alan opened his eyes, he saw Armis wearing a large smirk. Turning away, Armis remarked, "Wait, there's more…"

Alan peeked out from behind Armis and saw a horde of the same creatures, adorned with even more treasure, emerging from a gate in the distance. The sight made Alan's heart race with apprehension.

As Armis planted his feet firmly on the ground, Alan instinctively took a step back. He watched in disbelief as Armis, with an eerie joy in his voice, yelled out before lunging at the approaching horde with blinding speed, "GIVE ME MORE!!!"