Chapter 77

"You're chasing me?"

"You? Why?"

"Because I'm the Snake Princess."

"The Queen's daughter? But isn't there a huge difference between our species?"

"......We don't have time."

Isabella seemed to have made up her mind and spoke.

"Let's split up here. I'll buy some time."

"Don't talk nonsense. There's no way you can buy time against those things alone!"

It's a death sentence. Isaac recalled the desert queen pursuing them from behind.

......She was definitely not human.

Something that transcended humanity, perhaps even monsters.

A truly terrifying sight.

He wanted to retreat, but the saint was a problem.

If he left Seo behind, she would be torn to pieces by that monster.

And he still didn't know what state Randolph was in.

He needed to confirm if Randolph, who had disappeared through a golden warp, was still alive.

Once he retreated, he wouldn't be able to reach this place again. The fragments of the Golden Rule were too scarce. He couldn't abandon Randolph and retreat.

"You're injured."

Isabella looked at Isaac's waist.

During the sudden attack by the queen, Isaac's waist had been pierced.

Although no major organs or bones were damaged, he was still bleeding.

However, the situation was not favorable enough to treat the wound.

"Snake Princess! Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Hmm. So you really are the Snake Princess. The traitor of Faisalmere!"

......Barbarians.

They appeared, blocking the way, and all of them showed murderous intent as they mentioned the Snake Princess.

Isaac was speechless.

'You were chased in your hometown?'

Considering that even the queen was chasing her, he wondered what she had done.

It seemed to be more than just a simple theft.

Anyway, it seemed that Isabella had also lived a life full of hardships, much like himself.

He felt a sense of kinship, but it was a dilemma.

"Damn bald perverts. Alright! Let's settle this today! Come on, bastards!"

Isaac put down the unconscious saint and picked up his sword.

Isabella also watched the opposite side, on guard.

After a while.

-My dear child. You will always be mine.

......The Desert Queen appeared.

The last time he saw her, she was in human form, but now she had a shape that could not be called human.

Her skin had split open, spreading like wings.

Her face was torn in half, revealing numerous thorns.

Could this still be called human?

A monster that devoured countless children, a demon that craved blood.

All the princesses called by that name were killed by the queen.

The reason the queen could reign over the city eternally.

And he himself was destined to be devoured by the queen.

-Are you afraid? Come here, Isabella. Weren't you a good girl?

If you obeyed, you could live longer.

If you seemed capable, your life would be extended a bit.

You followed orders and died when told to.

But Isabella, upon meeting a holy angle, dreamed of escaping again.

She could dream of escaping the tiresome queen.

She did not regret disobeying the orders.

She was prepared to accept her choice calmly, even if it failed.

And yet, she had clearly succeeded.

She had finally escaped.

......Why is my body still trembling?

-This labyrinth is interesting. It reminds me of old memories. So I must take it. And for that, I need you, Isabella. My dear child.

"Why... why me?"

-Your mystery. The mystery of the snake has hidden effects. And Isabella, you have a very special talent. You are outstanding, even compared to all the children who stay with me forever.

Isabella trembled.

In the end, it means she will eat her.

The queen has no intention of letting her go.

Forever. As long as she lives, she will continue to chase her.

The monster and the barbarians. Everything in the desert.

It was terrifying, but there was no way out.

"Then, let these two go. I'll behave."

-Of course. I only need you. With you, I can become the master of this labyrinth. I can even kill the annoying Four Kings.

......The Four Kings?

Are the Four Kings in the labyrinth?

Then, is this form due to the Four Kings?

The Desert Queen never reveals her true form, even in dangerous situations. The fact that she did so means she faced a powerful enemy.

If she faced the Four Kings and ended up like this.

......The Desert Queen might not be in good condition.

-Come here. My dear child.

She spread her wing-like skin even more.

A grotesque sight.

Her body trembled, and her feet wouldn't move.

She had seen this monster devour children from a distance many times.

It was terrifying. She was afraid.

But to save Isaac and the saint, this was the only way.

Just as Isabella was about to take a step.

"There's a huge ray in the labyrinth."

"......Ah."

A familiar voice rang out.

But a ray?

From behind, the Desert Queen looked somewhat similar, but not to the point where her liver was outside!

Was he mistaken? But then, the Desert Queen's back revealed him.

"Talking ray, get out of the way. How long do you plan to block the path?"

Isaac's eyes widened in disbelief.

......Randolph.

He appeared on the head of a giant golden goblin, with the same contemptuous expression as always.

Too dazzling.

'Why didn't he escape?'

Using the tracking device, Isaac and Isabella's positions appeared.

Not too far away.

But it was strange.

If he had escaped the attack, he should have fled immediately.

The point on the tracking device moved continuously.

But Greed knew the geography of the labyrinth well, so it wasn't a problem.

He quickly caught up with them and nodded at the sight of a giant ray.

'Barbarians. The Desert Queen, then.'

If it was a monster followed by barbarians, it must be the Desert Queen.

The Desert Queen was chasing them with all her might after spotting Isabella.

'Ma Bloodline... '

A monster that disguised itself as a human, with skin that split open to look like wings.

That thing, resembling a ray, was undoubtedly a 'Ma Bloodline,' a rare type of vampire.

The Ma Bloodline is a race that strengthens its power by taking special blood and is known for its perverse habit of laying eggs in the empty shells left after taking life.

【Lv.12】

As proof, her level was 12.

Red text. A Super Elite Raid Boss Monster!

Greed's skin rippled slightly, meeting a worthy opponent. The master of the desert and the master of the Overlapping Abyss.

He was curious who would win, but defeat was not an option.

He spoke as calmly as possible.

"Get out of the way. How long do you plan to block the path?"

-......Did you call me that? A ray?

Ray. One of the words the Ma Bloodline hates the most. It's as if you're equating a primitive sea creature with the great Ma Bloodline.

The Desert Queen, turning to face him, was truly grotesque. It was rare to encounter a monster that gave such a chilling feeling just by looking at it.

"I made a mistake. I apologize."

There are no mistakes like this.

He laughed lightly and continued.

"I should have called you a talking, mysterious ray."

-You're relying on a mere golden goblin, child.

The Desert Queen's whole body twitched.

Reacting strongly to just a word, she seemed very human.

At that moment.

"Run... It's dangerous."

Isabella, who managed to speak, was still trembling all over.

She was afraid.

Terrified.

Of the Desert Queen.

That monster.

The Ma Bloodline, who would devour her.

Yet, she told him to run.

Her body was trembling, but her eyes were determined.

She was willing to sacrifice herself to save the others.

-Ah, I see. You're the man who ran away with my dear child.

The Desert Queen, realizing his identity, giggled.

-A holy angle? Ho ho! It must have been fun to deceive a naive girl. But I've never seen a holy angle like you. A holy angle without the 'Mark of the Holy Angle'? That's impossible.

The Mark of the Holy Angle?

He had never heard of it.

Some holy angles had tattoos, but that didn't seem to be what she meant.

It was undoubtedly one of the characteristics of holy angles known only to the Desert Queen, who had lived for a long time.

-You must have lured a naive girl with the voice of a star. I'm curious about how you broke the curse, but I can't let you live.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a purple aura, resembling the depths, began to ripple around the Desert Queen's body.

A mystery created by condensed magic.

Greed also emitted a golden mystery.

To monsters, a mystery is like a mane or horns.

It makes them larger and more lethal.

Unlike human abilities, it was also extraordinary.

It could suppress the opponent, attack, and even lead to death.

This was probably the most powerful mystery the Desert Queen could produce.

But he couldn't be sure.

He shouldn't be sure.

As a Ma Bloodline, she might possess other mysteries.

-So, who wants to die first? I'll specially show you your insides. Seeing your heart beat will be a new experience.

"Quite a mystery you have. Is this your best one?"

-I do my best with my prey. Are you afraid now?

"Is this the best mystery you have?"

-Yes. A mystery that a mere human like you can't even dream of. Now, let's end this. If you plan to stall...

He laughed lightly.

Snap!

He flicked his thumb and forefinger.

At that moment.

-......What?

The mystery was destroyed.

At the same time.

【Lv.11】

The Desert Queen's level dropped.

The mystery she possessed was a crucial element of her rank.

If humans transcend by eating stars, monsters sometimes increase their level through mysteries, like the one in front of him.

-Wh... What did you do...?

The Desert Queen, in a panic, searched for the missing mystery.

But a destroyed mystery could not return.

Eternal Randolph. Because of him, he could destroy one of the opponent's mysteries.

However, destroying a mystery required careful consideration.

He had to destroy the opponent's best mystery.

He was grateful that the Desert Queen had told him the answer.

-What did you do to my mystery? Did you take it? Huh? Ahh!!

She was in despair.

A mystery she had honed for a lifetime was gone in the blink of an eye.

If it caused a level drop, it must have been a significant part of her rank.

Tap tap.

He tapped Greed's head twice.