Originally, Kiara had intended to deliver Kristof Drake to the Desmont bandits as a diplomatic "gift," a neatly wrapped complication that would stir unrest within House Drake while keeping her hands technically clean.
However, the battle tank's fuel capacity forced practicality over theatrics.
The machine could not afford detours, and the valley dungeon ahead demanded focus.
So Kristof remained bound, and inconveniently useful, at least until she cleared the next dungeon and returned by helicopter.
The dungeon they approached was unlike the others.
It was small in scale, deceptively so, containing only five monsters.
In structure, it resembled less a rank of chaos and more a reinforced prison cell designed to contain something monstrous. Four guardians in the seven-star rank. And one overlord.
A legendary rank beast king.
A decade earlier, waves of adventurers had marched toward it, greed gleaming brighter than caution.
