The dust cloud covered both sides of the portal, having split into two parts, one on the second floor: The Valley of the Dragons. And another on the third floor: The Arena.
When the dust began to settle, everyone on level three was holding their breath.
For a moment, there was only silence...
Then the sound of footsteps. Soft but resonant, as if each one echoed through forgotten eras.
A figure emerged from the smoke screen, but it wasn't the Saint.
She walked with the elegance of a priestess, but with the menacing presence of a legendary creature.
Her hair fell in dark green waves, rippling as if it had a life of its own. At the ends, the strands turned black, as if the night itself had consumed them. A pair of curved horns emerged from her forehead, dark as obsidian, glistening in the dim torchlight.
The woman's eyes were red and alive, but at the same time immobile. They carried a sadness that belonged to no era, as if they had already witnessed the end of many worlds.
Her body was wrapped in a deep gray kimono with a dark red lining that swayed with every step, revealing details in golden runes. Inscriptions that none of those present could read.
The beautiful woman's arms and legs were protected by black, scaled armor. Each piece seemed to have been molded directly from the body of a draconic creature.
The first of the group to react was Arisa, reaching for her bow. Renji swallowed, but then drew his dagger. Toru, though wounded, straightened up with an effort.
The woman stopped in front of the necromancer and gently plunged a gleaming sword into his chest. But there was no pain, only a strange warmth, as if it were filling his mana reserves.
"So, Master..." she said, with an enigmatic half-smile. "What did you think?"
The word echoed: Master.
Arisa stepped forward, confused and on guard. "Master...?"
Toru gasped, his eyes wide. And then, as if on cue, he muttered:
"You are... the Queen of Dragons."
The woman turned slightly, the fabric of her kimono following her like a ritualistic dance.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement and... something deeper.
"I don't think that name suits me anymore. The previous form was limited, primitive. Just call me... Queen."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Toru looked at her for long seconds. His fingers trembled slightly on her shoulders.
"Do you... know where the Saint is?"
Queen looked at him sideways. The expression on her face was almost offended.
"Are you really worried about him?! After everything we've been through together...?!"
She turned her face away, her eyes half-closed.
"He stayed behind. He blew up the portal to stop the Maestro from coming after you."
Toru stood up with effort, his injured leg making any action a challenge.
"But... we needed him..."
Queen crossed her arms, the black claws of her armor gleaming.
"He gave me the mission of guiding you to the Kingdom of the Elves." Said the queen, rolling her eyes. "That's why he gave me the Sword of Mana. So that you can keep me active for a long time."
Renji, who had been silent until then, slowly turned around. Observing their surroundings.
They were in a cage, much like the ones the Romans used to keep warriors and tigers in. The walls, although carved from light stone, were worn, covered in battle marks and ancient symbols.
There was a smell in the air, a mixture of damp and aged iron.
This was no ordinary arena...
On the other side of the bars, carved into one of the corridor walls, a golden inscription greeted them:
Welcome to Level 3 - The Arena
Renji frowned.
It was then... that a voice echoed through the corridors.
"Well, well! It seems the Maestro has let his little toys slip."
The rogue took a step back, drawing the attention of his companions. "Guys... we've got a bigger problem now."
Everyone turned around.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, accompanied by the sound of clanging metal.
The group raised their weapons. Toru and Yui were standing further back, as they were physically weak.
The necromancer had an injured leg, the result of his previous battle with the group. While the girl of the four suits was unconscious due to the exhaustion of her mana.
Only Renji, Arisa and Queen were on the front line.
However... all that desperation was in vain.
On the other side of the iron bars, a man appeared.
He was wearing a red cloak, which covered his entire body. It was ornamented with black and gold details, and its ends and collars were covered in white animal fur.
His skin was old and wrinkled, making him look around eighty years old. Several rings accompanied him on his hands, both gold and silver. On his wrists he carried bracelets, which from the marks and wear must have belonged to a warrior long ago.
His hair was long and gray, surrounded by a golden crown that rested on his head.
He extended his hand towards the group. "Welcome... My gladiators!"
○
Meanwhile, still in the Valley of the Dragons, the Saint lay at the Maestro's feet, panting, his face bloodied and his body covered in wounds.
The Maestro in front of him was different.
Darker.
An emptiness dwelt in his gaze.
"You destroyed my city..." He kicked the rubble aside. "You killed my best warrior... and stole the only chance I had of using that boy as a portal."
"Haha, you seem calm... even after losing so much." His voice came out low, hoarse, like a dying breeze.
"Because now... I have something better."
The Maestro approached and knelt down, touching the Saint's chest with two fingers. He then drew a strange symbol, something between an ancient rune and a war mark.
"You're not the only one with new tricks."
The Saint shuddered and a system screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[New Passive Detected! - Slave of the Strongest].
[Do you wish to accept?]
[Yes] or [Yes]
What came next wasn't a gift.
It was an imposition.
A forced bond.
A passivity that seeped like poison into her veins.
Unlike the concession made to Renji and Arisa, this one could not be refused.
"Now tell me... where you were taking them!"
The Saint's body trembled.
His tongue moved without his permission.
"I ordered... I ordered the Queen to take them... to level 10..."
"What?"
"The Kingdom of the Elves..."
The Maestro fell silent. Then he let out a dry laugh.
"The Elven Empress... so she's with you?"
The Saint tried to move his fingers. Aiming to conjure up a new sword. However, the invisible chains of the new passive stopped him, blocking his way from the hero like needles piercing nerves.
"Give up. This skill is much more powerful than the one used against those two..."
The Maestro trailed off.
"The difference is that it only works on people I've actually considered. Be flattered!"
He raised his foot, aiming it towards the Saint.
"You're my dog now!"
He kicked him, throwing his old friend against the wreckage of the arena.
Then he placed his hand on his chin.
Talking more to himself than to the Saint.
"Come to think of it... nothing's making any sense!"
He started walking in circles.
"You can't observe several floors at once, like I do... And strangely... My connection with the upper levels has been cut off."
His eyes sparkled.
"There's no way you could have discovered the arrival of those students...!" A smile appeared on his face. "Unless more players had appeared at the other entrances!"
The Saint closed his eyes.
His silence confirmed everything.
"Haha, pathetic! You decided to check all the entrances, didn't you? That's why you came here, your aim was to check level zero."
The Maestro smiled.
"Yes, that makes sense." He returned his hand to his chin. "Renji told me that you were in a classroom when you were dragged here...! The rest of the class must be scattered around too!"
He turned to the Saint.
"I must thank you, old friend! If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have come to this reasoning!"
He grabbed the Saint by the rags.
"Let's get going! I have new warriors to recruit, and since it's under my control, you'll accompany me."
The Saint tried to struggle, but he had no strength left.
"Oh, don't be like that."
He looked at the horizon.
"Now let's go...! We have all the entry points to the labyrinth to investigate."
The Maestro started walking, leaving the ruined arena.
"We can take advantage of this and catch up, you know? It'll be just like old times!"