Chapter 31: Return to the Dungeon & a Familiar Face
You know, yesterday was pretty nice, a bit of warmth, some love, some good business…And now, I'm back in the dungeon.
With a drain of mind, a Magic Arrow was notched into my bow and launched into a Bad Bat.
I was currently on the 11th floor making my way towards the 12th. Today was my first run utilizing the bow, and while I could have bought normal arrows for this absolute beast of a bow, but then I thought, maybe I could utilize my Magic Arrow ability. And would you look at that? It works beautifully.
As the Bad Bat fell onto the misty ground, my…'supporter' was already making his way to the downed corpse. My Mimic (who was still in his human form…Hikigaya Hachiman) had been practicing his stone harvesting technique, while he could easily switch his forms back into its chest form, it was alright to switch things up, and I didn't really mind, profits are the furthest thing from my mind at the moment.
Right now my mind was just…busy. I had some plans in the works, some business plans involving my consumables, keeping up stock with the restock timers, and thoughts of just how everything is going. Like my progression in the dungeon.
I feel like I've been taking things a little too easy…I mean, there's just nothing I've faced that has really pushed me to my limits, well…recently that is. Christ…it's been over 2 weeks since I killed that Minotaur, and a week and a half since Monsterpheria. Feels like things have slowed down too much…well in the dungeon that is.
"Heh-heh…" I couldn't even help but let a chuckle slip. I mean…I'm going to be a dad. A father. And the mother of my child is a Goddess, my Goddess. The idea in itself is insanity. I mean…we broke the natural law…and thinking on it now? Fucking hell…
"Things are definitely going to get out of hand." I mean, this has literally never happened, it shouldn't even be possible. Yet here I am…an anomaly…
When shit hits the fan…I'll have to be ready. Stronger.
But I believe I have time…though perhaps not enough.
I had to shake my head of those thoughts. I just have to keep going forward, and wherever that leads me. The dungeon or elsewhere, I will become stronger.
But for now…I just kept sniping some Bad Bats, Needle Rabbits, and Imps, and I kept on. Let's see if something happens on the 12th floor. Hopefully something exciting.
——————————————————————
"You know…I think you need a name."
"…"
The 2 of us were now just chilling at the end of the 12th floor, fairly close to the steps for the 13th floor.
Nothing too interesting has happened during this trip, the only thing worth mentioning was me taking out multiple Silverbacks, didn't even try too hard, just activated Overdrive Core and went to town. I've already proven I could best a Silverback with just my skills and stats, so now there was no need to hold back.
Besides that, the 2 of us have just been killing monsters and gathering their stones…or I was killing the monsters, while the Mimic had harvested the stones
"I don't want to just call you Mimic…and I definitely don't want to call you Hikigaya Hachiman, only cause you're not him exactly. So…any suggestions?"
"…"
"…Right…Haah, if only you could talk."
"…"
"Anyway! Names hmm…? I'll be completely honest, I am absolutely terrible at picking names. I remember when I was a kid I suggested to name our new dog Megatron. I was then promptly banned from naming any pets."
"…" The Mimic was obviously unamused. More than usual…considering the face of Hikigaya Hachiman was unamused 24/7.
"I bet Demeter would be great at naming things…but she's not here, so the naming falls to me. Hmmmmm…"
He's a Mimic, a Mimic…mimics things…yeah that line of thought isn't going anywhere. Maybe shorten Mimic into something? Mim…no that doesn't work. Mic…Mike, Michael…no he doesn't look like a Michael…
"Haaaah…why am I so bad at naming things." This is just embarrassing…
"Imic…Mim…Mime…Mimir…wait. Mimir? Why does that sound familiar?" Mimir…Oh! That's the name of a god, a Norse god of Knowledge if I recall correctly. Hmmm I like that name, but it's taken.
The Mimic was still staring at me with his trademark dead fish eyes.
That was one impatient look…Gotta think of something…
"Mmmmmm…Mimi…" One blink. Two blinks.
"Yep! Your name is gonna be Mimi! Mimi the Mimic!"
Mimi just…sighed, shook his head…but there was a tiny smile on his face.
"Oi. I see you smiling. I'm glad that you seem to like the name. I thought really, really hard about that name."
Well that was out of the way. Now what's next…besides chilling in the dungeon.
*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK*
Oh?
Both Mimi and I turned around, and at the far side of the floor's area 4 loud cracks appeared in the wall. And I think we know what that entails.
The cracks began to grow even larger. And with a group roar. 4 Silverbacks entered the fray.
"Heh. Nice timing." Though I was a bit disappointed. I was really hoping for an Infant Dragon or something. Something that could give me a tough challenge.
'Well, let's finish this quickly.' Perhaps 1 shot should do?
I pulled the bow from over my chest, and drew quickly. And inward, I called upon a synergy I just thought of.
Holy Flames
Lightning Spear
Magic Arrow
Holy Lightning Arrow
Rarity: Elite
Base Abilities: Holy Flames, Lightning Spear, Magic Arrow
An Arrow that holds the condensed light of Holy Flames and Lightning. When an Arrow connects to a target, a searing explosion of Holy Light erupts, leaving any that is unholy extremely vulnerable to this strike. All evil beware of the light.
'Hell yeah.'
Light began to grow, coming from his drawn bow. A golden arrow that let out lightning had manifested. He's used the lightning spear a couple of times, but something like this? This was far more powerful.
The sound of energy echoed across the walls, and the floor began to glow.
The Silverbacks stumbled a step, but they were just beasts recently born, acting upon instinct. And that instinct told them to be wary, but it was also telling them to killing anything standing in front of it. And so the Silverbacks charged.
I couldn't help but smirk. But now it was time for a cheesy (read badass) line.
"Let there be light." The arrow flew.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
There was light. A golden light that shined so bright, it was like the sun had appeared within the dungeon. Even the temperature rose, but only a bit.
I had to shield my eyes, for even with the same light that was a part of me, could be too bright for my eyes at times.
It only took some seconds for the light to die down. And all that was left was ash, and a large crater.
And then…a low growl could be heard…across every direction.
…
Ok…that was a bit unsettling…
I took a small breath and was about to go over to see the damage…but then.
"THAT WAS SO COOL!"
"AH-WHATTHEHELL!!" I jumped at the extremely loud, energetic, and frankly, very familiar voice.
I turned my head quickly, and there she was…An extremely bubbly Amazon jumping on her toes in excitement. Tiona.
"Hhaa, Tiona-san, you scared-"
"Chi~co-kun!!" I couldn't even finish my sentence before she could jump on me.
"Woah-!"
"What was that! Was that a magic sword?! But you shot it out of a bow! Wait! Wait! A Magic arrow?! That's so cool! Ooh ooh! Did you level up yet?! It's been like a month since we last saw each other! C'mon, Tell me, Tell me!"
"Hahaha…Tiona please…It's good to see you too, and to answer your questions, yes it was a magic arrow, but it's a part of my magic, so it's not like a magic sword. And no I have not leveled up yet, and it's only been a week and half since Monsteferia!"
"Oh…Well it felt like it's been forever! Especially with what we went through in the dungeon…"
"'We'?" Before she could answer that inquiry, another voice rang from behind, one that, again, was familiar.
"Yep, 'we', but Tiona. Don't go around sharing classified information." Before I turned around, I heard quite a hard bonk, followed by a yelp that came from Tiona. And there was another familiar Amazon. Tione.
"Tione-san," I said with a small bow of my head.
"Chico," she returned curtly, but I caught the faintest smirk tugging at her lips.
Before I could say more, another voice joined. Calm, measured, and carrying weight.
"So this is Chico Sol-san. I've heard quite a bit about you."
Finn Deimne, The Braver, approached with Lefiya at his side, along with an unfamiliar face. His gaze studied me sharply.
I straightened. "Chico Sol. It's an honor to meet you, Braver."
Finn nodded lightly. "The honor is mine."
The air settled for a moment, then Finn continued. "The matters Tione mentioned will soon be widespread anyway once we return to the surface."
I tilted my chin. "Does this have to do with the new plant monsters?"
His eyes sharpened. "Perhaps you have some information?" His tone was almost interrogative.
I blinked, then shook my head. "Not much. Just that they're tough as hell, and they hit pretty hard. I was there when they swarmed a plaza during Monsterferia."
Finn's expression softened slightly. "Yes, I've heard of that. In fact, Tiona was quite thorough in her report."
I glanced at Tiona, she grinned and threw me a thumbs-up. I chuckled.
"Was there anything else?" I asked.
Finn rested a thumb under his chin. After a pause, he said, "This will be public soon anyway. A high-ranking executive of the Ganesha Familia has been murdered."
I froze. "…That's concerning."
Everyone nodded grimly. I sighed, staring toward the staircase to the 13th floor. "Too much is happening too quickly…" My eyes shifted to him. "You know it too, don't you? Dangerous times are coming."
Finn lowered his hand, nodding firmly. "Yes. Something is in motion. And it falls to us, Orario's protectors, to stop it."
I nodded back in respect. "Then…if you are in need of assistance, I wouldn't be opposed to assisting."
Finn gave a small smile. "Your spirit is appreciated. But for now, more investigation is needed before action."
"Fair enough," I said. "Though maybe there's another way I can help." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a few jagged candies. I handed one to Tiona and tossed another to Finn.
He caught it, examining the dull metallic piece. "And this is?"
I smirked. "A magic consumable that bolsters defense."
Before I could explain further, Tiona popped hers into her mouth.
"Bleh!!" she gagged. "This tastes worse than that apple you gave me!"
I burst out laughing. "I was getting to that part."
Finn turned the candy over with interest. "If this works as you say, they could be invaluable in the dungeon."
"Ooh! Ooh! Tione, hit me!" Tiona cried, bouncing with excitement.
"Gladly," Tione muttered, swinging a sharp punch into her sister's arm.
"…Ow," Tiona winced, rubbing the spot. "That still hurt. How hard was that?"
"Pretty hard," Tione replied, shaking her wrist. "Felt like punching Adamantite. It definitely made you tougher."
Finn's curiosity sharpened. "And how long do they last?"
"Thirty minutes. I don't know percentages or what happens if you consume more than one, but I've used plenty. And they've never failed me."
Finn hummed, clearly impressed. "Such an item could change dungeon exploration. Perhaps…you would consider an exclusive sale to us?"
That caught me off guard. But I shook my head. "No. I plan to sell them, but not for massive profit. These should help Orario, not sit behind a price wall."
Finn studied me, surprised, then smiled faintly. "A rare answer. And a respectable one. I won't press further."
He tucked the candy away and glanced back at his group. "We've lingered long enough. Time to return and sell our haul."
"Captain! Can I stay with Chico-kun?" Tiona asked suddenly, smiling wide.
Finn's cadence shifted oddly. "If you wish. Though I expect you back later."
Tiona saluted playfully. "Yes, Captain!"
The group began to move, Tione giving me a small nod, Lefiya offering a polite farewell. I returned both with a wave and a small bow.
Then they were gone, footsteps fading up the path.
And just like that, it was me and Tiona. Alone on the 12th floor.
——————————————————————
~Finn POV~
The group of Finn, Tione, Lefiya, and Rakta were now heading up to the surface. Finn hung back a little, letting the others walk ahead while his mind worked. Tione, like always, stuck right by his side.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, her tone curious but soft.
Finn turned the small piece of iron scrap candy in his hand, inspecting it with sharp eyes. "An item like this could be invaluable. Easily worth tens of thousands, maybe even a hundred thousand valis." He paused, his thumb brushing the edge of the candy before he pocketed it. "And yet…the man who has them doesn't sell them with greed in mind. That's rare in Orario. And I'm quite interested in those Gold Apples Tiona mentioned."
Tione hummed in agreement, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "You might be right. Chico doesn't seem like the type to hoard or profit just for himself. Regarding the apples, if she asked him straight up, I bet he'd tell her exactly what they are."
Finn chuckled at that. "That openness of his…it's a trait worth paying attention to. I like his character. And I'm glad Tiona seems to have grown so friendly with him."
Tione pursed her lips, though she kept her voice even. "I still don't like how she ditched us with all the drop items and magic stones. But…yeah, Chico's decent."
Finn just smiled, his sharp eyes glinting with thought. "Perhaps it's not such a bad thing. Tiona could learn something from him. He has immense potential. If nurtured properly, Chico Sol could become a valuable ally to us."
Tione nodded slowly, not entirely convinced but not disagreeing either. She stayed quiet for a moment, fidgeting with her fingers. Then, in a surprisingly shy tone, she spoke up. "Hey…when we're done turning in the loot…maybe we could go out. To the Hostess?"
Finn thought for a moment, not catching the full intent behind her words. "Not a bad idea. A hearty meal sounds right after today. We've all earned it."
Tione's expression brightened, though there was a flicker of disappointment that he didn't quite catch her meaning. Still, she took what she could get and smiled wide. "Then let's hurry up already!"
Before anyone could react, she rushed ahead, scooping Lefiya up by the waist as if she weighed nothing.
"H-hey! Tione, what are you—?! Put me down!" Lefiya squealed, her voice echoing through the corridor as the Amazon sprinted off toward the surface.
Finn laughed under his breath at the sight. Rakta blinked, shaking her head in disbelief before following at a steady pace.
The Pallum adjusted his grip on his spear and started jogging lightly after them. Dinner at the Hostess, a report for Loki, and maybe…a closer look at Chico Sol.
Yes, it was shaping up to be a good evening.
——————————————————————
The dungeon mist was quite thin, and the two had been moving in a steady rhythm for a while now, both have just been killing monsters, harvesting them, and just chilling. Conversation flowed just as easily as their teamwork.
"Man, it's been a while since I've been in the dungeon as just a pair," Tiona said cheerfully, crouched down to pry loose the drop item. "No squad formations, just hunting with a friend."
Chico chuckled. "I can't really see you as the formation type anyway. You're more of the…run in and break everything type."
She puffed her cheeks and pouted. "Hey, I can follow orders! Sometimes. If I feel like it."
That earned a short laugh from Chico, and he drove his blade through the skull of a blitzing Needle Rabbit. The corpse dropped, now he had to harvest. He crouched and stuck the blade into its chest, removing the stone, and picking up yet another drop item.
Tiona blinked, looking at the pouch. Then her eyes narrowed. "Wait a sec…" She pointed at him, her expression a mix of suspicion and awe. "Every single one you've killed has dropped something. Every. Single. One."
Chico shrugged, slinging his blade over his shoulder. "Well, besides imps. But it's basically a skill. I'm just extremely lucky."
Tiona whistled low. "That's…broken. Do you know how much of a pain it is for normal adventurers to grind for items? If anyone else knew something like that? That's…probably dangerous."
He smirked. "Oh definitely, but only a few people know. And if it gets dangerous? I'll just get nuts."
Tiona just giggled.
The two carried on, moving through another chamber and dispatching the monsters without breaking stride. Their banter carried across the stone halls as they harvested materials. Eventually, Chico glanced at her while tucking away a monster stone.
"So…what are you planning after this?"
Tiona tilted her head, with her hands behind her head. "Hmm, right now I just wanna hang out. Afterwards I'm craving something fried, definitely some Jugamarukun, maybe some fried skewers. After that? Chill for a while. And honestly, I'll be glad to be back home." She finished with her hands clasped behind her back now, swaying lightly as she walked.
Chico smiled at her answer. "Sounds like a good plan." He let a pause stretch before asking, "Will you be open the next couple of days?"
She blinked, tilting her head again with that same innocent look. "Yeah, I'll be free. What's up?"
Chico's smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Remember that sparring offer?"
Her eyes widened, then lit up like fireworks. She clenched her fist and slammed it into her open palm. "Oh yeah! I'm still down for that!"
"Good," Chico said, rolling his shoulders with confidence. "Make sure not to hold back. I've gotten a bit stronger."
Tiona grinned wide, then playfully punched his shoulder. "You're on."
The two shared a laugh, their voices echoing off the cavern walls, before diving back into the rhythm of the dungeon once again. They were just chilling, planning, and growing their friendship.
——————————————————————
The two of us decided to call it after clearing another stretch, heading back up toward the surface. Our steps echoed lightly against the stone, voices carrying in the still air between monster encounters. We kept the talk casual, little things like the dungeon itself, some encounters, and some of her past trips.
Somewhere along the 5th floor, though, her stomach growled loud enough for me to hear. I blinked, then couldn't hold back a chuckle.
"When was the last time you ate?" I asked.
Tiona tilted her head, thinking hard. "Hmm…I think somewhere around the 18th floor, after we rested for the night."
I shook my head with a smile. "Want something now?"
"Yeah, sure," she said, then cringed slightly. "As long as it's not those terrible-tasting candies…"
I just grinned and reached out. With a simple motion, I pulled a Golden Apple out of thin air. Her eyes lit up instantly, her smile just as bright.
"No way!" she said, practically bouncing.
I held it up and, since my armor was off, split it clean in half with my bare hands. I offered her one side, keeping the other for myself.
Her eyes sparkled like stars as she accepted it. "Thanks!"
She took a bite, and the way her shoulders melted while she groaned in pure satisfaction was almost comical. She chewed slowly, savoring every bit, and I couldn't help but laugh quietly. I took a few bites of my half, nodding in approval. I could eat one of these anytime, and I doubted I'd ever get sick of the taste.
After a few minutes, we both finished, smiling like idiots. The little snack seemed to put more spring in her step as we continued upward.
Then, out of nowhere, Tiona asked, "Neh…where do you even get stuff like this?"
I smiled and shook my head. "That's a secret."
"Fair enough," she said with a smirk. After a beat, she leaned closer. "You ever think about selling them?"
I raised a brow at her, walking in silence for a moment before answering. "I've thought about it. But for now, I'll just keep a stock for myself. Maybe later I'll sell some. Why do you ask? You fishing for info?"
She laughed and rubbed the back of her head. "Kinda, yeah. But I was also interested."
That made me blink. I hadn't expected her to admit it outright. "Well…thanks for being honest."
She grinned, then tilted her head. "Y'know, the Captain has actually been really curious about you."
I stopped for half a second, caught off guard. "…I'm just a level 1 rookie."
"That may be so," Tiona said with a knowing smile, "but the Captain sees a lot of potential in you. I mean, you beat a Minotaur at level 1. That's absurd. And now with these magic consumables of yours? You'd be a strong ally."
I looked down at the floor as we walked, a small, shy smile pulling at my lips. "That does sound nice… I'll keep it in mind. But for now, I'll just keep at my own pace."
Tiona nodded simply, satisfied with that answer. The pair of us carried on up, our conversation settling into a comfortable quiet.
——————————————————————
Chico and Tiona eventually found themselves at the middle section of the fifth floor. It was the same place where they had first met.
Tiona looked around before speaking up with a smile. "This is where we first met…and where we shared our first lap pillow."
Chico couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yeah…guess it is."
As his eyes wandered over the chamber, something caught his attention. A crater marked one of the walls, jagged and deep. Running through it were strange vein-like patterns etched into the stone. Chico frowned, walking over to it. He raised a hand and pressed it against the surface.
It was warm. Not hot like fire, but warm…like coals cooling down after a blaze.
Tiona stepped up beside him, placing her hand against the wall as well. "Huh. It's really warm. That's weird…usually magic fades away from the walls pretty quickly. But whatever did this…stuck around."
Chico narrowed his eyes at the strange veins. That warmth…it felt almost familiar. But no way, right? It's been two weeks.
He summoned a holy flame in his palm, letting it coat his hand before pressing it against the wall.
The vein-like patterns pulsed, faint at first, then brighter, golden light spreading across the wall. The glow grew stronger with every passing second until the ground beneath their feet gave a subtle rumble.
The dungeon was trembling.
Tiona stepped back, glancing around. She could feel it too. "Chico…" she called out cautiously.
He cut the flame immediately, and the glowing veins dimmed, the trembling fading until it was gone.
"…What the hell?" Chico muttered, pulling his hand back.
Tiona's expression was a mix of surprise and concern. "Whatever your magic did…the dungeon didn't like it. It's like your fire stopped the wall from healing."
She gave him a more serious look than usual. "You should be really careful with this."
Chico nodded slowly, though his thoughts lingered. That warmth. That strange familiarity. And the way the dungeon reacted…
What would've happened if he hadn't stopped?
——————————————————————
The climb back up was quiet. Neither of us said anything, and honestly, I was fine with that. My head was spinning from what we had just witnessed. The Dungeon was already bizarre, but that? That was something else entirely.
I glanced at the dark, stone walls as we ascended. The silence was heavy, broken only by our footsteps. Monsters were scarce, likely due to Tiona's aura, they didn't dare approach. Good for us. Gave me time to think.
What just happened was…odd. I mean…what could something like this even mean? People always said the Dungeon was alive, but it always sounded more like a scary story to keep greenhorns on their toes. But when I really thought about it…
It heals.
It gets angry.
It gives birth to life.
And now…this.
Yeah, no, I couldn't really dismiss it anymore. The idea of the Dungeon being alive wasn't far-fetched, it was starting to feel like fact.
As that thought passed, Tiona tilted her head toward me, her usual lively expression softened with curiosity.
"What are you thinking about?"
I shrugged, but I decided to answer honestly. "…About the Dungeon. I always thought calling it alive was kinda ridiculous, but…the way it heals, the way it reacts, the way it keeps spawning new monsters. It's…fascinating. There's just so much we don't know about it. The mysteries of this place are awesome."
Her smile returned, warm and bright. She clasped her hands behind her back as she walked. "Heh…you sound like Lefiya when she's studying. But yeah, it's amazing, isn't it? Did you know Orario has a huge library? I go to read there whenever I can. There's so much history."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Uh-huh!" She nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Like, did you know the Tower of Babel had once fallen? They rebuilt it, and that was when the golden age of heroes began. Heroes like Argonaut, Fianna, and so many others…"
She started rambling, her steps light as her voice bubbled with excitement. I couldn't help but smile. She was shining, this was clearly a subject close to her heart. I remembered then…Tiona loved heroes. Stories. She basically lived for them.
So I asked, "Is it true that you adore stories?"
Her eyes widened a little, then she lit up like I'd flipped a switch. "I do! I love them!" She practically bounced in her stride. "The Argonaut, the tale of Fulland of Water and Light, and so many others. They're amazing, you know? The way they make you feel like you're right there with the hero…"
"How many do you think you've read?" I asked.
She paused, tilting her head. "Hundreds…probably closer to a thousand. I've been reading ever since my…"
She stopped. Her tone dropped, her expression faltered. For the first time since I'd met her, she actually looked…sad. "…ever since my childhood."
I caught it immediately. The way her smile faltered, the heaviness in her voice. Something about her past weighed her down, and I wasn't about to push. If she wanted to talk about it someday, I would listen.
So to lift her spirits, perhaps I could tell her a story. "I like stories too. Though the ones I loved most were a little different. The way they were told was…like a play, but with a bit of magic added in to make them come alive. It's hard to explain, but it made the whole thing feel real."
That seemed to perk her up. Her eyes flickered with curiosity again. "Oh? That sounds fun! Did you have a favorite?"
I chuckled, thinking back. "Yeah…a few, actually. But there's one in particular that I absolutely loved."
Her eyes were on me now, eager and waiting.
"Let me tell you about the first installment," he began, his voice carrying a weight that immediately drew her in. "In a world of Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, Monsters, Humans…and the smallest of all, Hobbits. This is a story of how the smallest people were able to save the entirety of Middle Earth."
Tiona tilted her head, curious, and Chico continued.
He spoke of the creation of the Rings of Power. 3 rings for the Elven kings under the sky. 7 for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone. 9 for Mortal Men, doomed to die. And one more, one that towered above them all. Forged by a dark lord, a servant of an even darker master. The One Ring. The ring that ruled them all. If left unchallenged, Middle Earth would be swallowed in darkness.
Tiona's eyes widened, her attention sharp and unblinking. Seeing that, Chico smiled faintly and went on.
"It was only thanks to an alliance that Middle Earth was able to be saved. The armies of man and the elves gathered for one final assault. And it was the prince of men who struck the dark lord down. Sauron, the Dark Lord, was vanquished. All that remained was the One Ring, the most dangerous weapon in all Middle Earth. It had to be destroyed…otherwise peace would remain only a dream."
They were climbing the stairs to the second floor now. Chico glanced back at her. She was still listening with her whole heart, so he pressed forward.
He told her how two leaders carried the Ring into enemy lands. How they climbed the treacherous slopes of Mount Doom, the very place where the Ring was forged. The heat of the lava chamber. The silence of the moment. And the choice.
"Isildur, the prince of men, held the Ring in his hand. His palm open. Nothing but whispers filled his mind…seductive whispers that promised power, order, and domination. Elrond, the elven lord beside him, called out. 'Cast it into the fire.'" Chico's voice deepened, echoing the weight of those words. "But Isildur didn't move. The whispers grew louder. Stronger. He lifted the ring between his fingers. 'Destroy it!' Elrond pleaded."
Chico paused, his tone dropping low. "And then Isildur spoke… 'No.' He turned his back. He left Mount Doom. The Ring had corrupted his heart. And with that choice…evil was allowed to endure."
By the time Chico's words faded, Tiona's face was lit with a storm of emotions, confusion, awe, and excitement all tangled together.
She blinked and asked, "But…why? Why didn't he destroy it? If the ring was so dangerous, why keep it?"
"Because the Ring seduced him," Chico answered quietly. "It promised him everything. And the hearts of men can be easily corrupted. But…" He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Not all men's hearts are so weak."
She thought for a second, then pressed further. "Were the dwarves there too? Did they fight in the battle?"
"They weren't part of that final stand," Chico explained. "That was men and elves alone. The dwarves had their own battles, but this was not theirs to finish."
"And how did Isildur even kill the dark lord?" she asked.
Chico chuckled softly. "With courage…and luck. Sauron's power was unmatched, but sometimes even the greatest fall when struck at the right moment. Isildur cut the Ring from his hand. And that was enough to bring him down."
Tiona's eyes gleamed with amazement. "That's…that's incredible. And this is just the beginning, right?"
Chico nodded, amused at her eagerness. "That's just the beginning."
——————————————————————
Chico's voice carried them all the way up the staircase. He now spoke of the river, of how the Ring lay buried in silence for years, centuries, a millennium, forgotten…That was until it was found by a Hobbit. He told of betrayal, of murder, and of a creature twisted into something far less than human, clinging to the Ring like a lifeline. He painted Gollum in their minds, describing the way the Ring deformed him, stretched his life unnaturally, and bound him to its call until fate itself tore it away.
And when he spoke of Bilbo, Tiona's eyes shone with curiosity. The story shifted into the return of Sauron's shadow, of a Dark Lord's will pressing against the world again, and of the Ring beginning to call to its master.
By then, the pair had stepped out into the cool evening air. The sun was setting over Orario, the orange glow painting the sky and spilling across the city's rooftops. The long day in the Dungeon had ended, but Tiona's energy hadn't dimmed at all.
She clapped her hands together and leaned close. "No way! You can't just stop there! What happens next? What about Bilbo? And this Sauron guy? What's he planning? You gotta tell me!"
Chico smirked at her persistence. "If I tell you everything now, we'll be here for days… Tell you what, I'll continue telling the story, but only if you beat me in sparring."
Her grin widened immediately. "You're on! Tomorrow I'm taking a day to laze around, but the day after? Get readyl, 'cause I won't be holding back!"
"Good. I'll be on top the wall, near the staircase off the main road, just before noon," he replied.
"Perfect! Don't be late," she said, already bouncing on her heels like she couldn't wait.
Before they split, Tiona handed over the pouch of magic stones she'd collected. Chico raised a brow, about to refuse, but she pressed them into his hands.
"Take them. I made more than enough earlier. And hey, consider it payment for the story," she winked.
He sighed, pocketing the stones. "Fine. Thanks."
With a carefree wave, Tiona dashed toward the nearest Jugamaru-kun. Chico turned in the opposite direction, heading toward the Guild. The sky was darkening fast, and he hoped Ariel was still there. It was late, but knowing her…she probably was.
Chapter 31 End