The strange silence stretched like a thick, suffocating fog, enveloping the entrance to the dungeon. The aftermath of the dragon's thunderous death still hung heavy in the air, shards of scales and blood scattered across the stone floor. The shock of the impossible moment held everyone in place. No one dared speak, no one dared move. It felt as though time had stopped.
André remained still, his golden eyes fixed on the system screen before him. His heartbeat was slow and steady, but there was a faint tension in the air, the weight of the situation. His expression didn't change, as though he were digesting something that couldn't yet be fully understood. Despite his newfound strength, his demeanor was emotionless, cold, detached. Like a puppet, as Darleen had said.
Lucas, the first to break the silence, took a deep breath. His hand clenched into a fist by his side before he exhaled slowly.
"Alright, alright," he muttered, his voice cutting through the stillness with its practical calmness. "Congratulations, let's get out of the dungeon. Kyle, carry the dragon egg."
The team responded in unison, their voices filled with doubt but following their unspoken leader. "Yes, yes, let's go."
And so, they began their journey toward the dungeon's exit. The air outside had grown cooler, the scent of destruction fading into the background. But André remained motionless, each movement of his deliberate and unsettling. He followed them at a distance, as if in his own world.
Beside Lucas, Darleen walked in silence. Her mind raced, but her lips remained sealed. After a moment of contemplation, she finally spoke, her voice breaking the monotony.
"Tell me about Simon," she said, her eyes watching the tall figure of the man in question, his long black hair swaying with each step. "His hair is long, his eyes are dark... and he's incredibly strong, yet he's only rank A. What's his story?"
Lucas glanced at her quickly, his expression unreadable. His mouth opened and closed again, as if weighing his words carefully. When he spoke, there was a note of warning in his voice.
"Trust me," he began, his voice calm, "you don't want to know. There's more to him than meets the eye. He's not rank A—he's stronger, much stronger. But... I can't tell you more. Hmm... you can ask him yourself if you really want to."
Darleen furrowed her brow, clearly puzzled but hesitant to press further.
"Alright," she muttered, letting the conversation fall into an uncomfortable silence.
She then turned her attention to André, who walked a few steps ahead of them. "And what about André?" Her words were soft, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity. "He doesn't talk to anyone. He's like a puppet."
Lucas laughed, a quiet sound that felt strange without humor. He let the words linger for a moment before responding, his eyes turning toward André's calm figure, which seemed completely detached from everything around him.
"I don't know what to say," Lucas replied. "He's not like anyone else. He... is what he is."
Darleen's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
Lucas shook his head slightly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "It's better if you don't ask. Some things are better left unknown."
As they continued on their way, the sounds of their footsteps echoed through the vast halls of the dungeon. The familiar rhythm of their steps only paused when an unexpected system window appeared in front of Lucas. It glowed with a cold, mechanical message.
[Mission: There is someone who can become your subordinate.]
An image of Darleen appeared on the screen, with details of her rank B healing status. The requirement was clear: "Convince her to become your subordinate, and if she agrees, you will control her, and she will become your puppet."
Lucas suddenly stopped, taken aback by the sudden notification. His lips curled into a smile, his eyes gleaming with something dark and dangerous.
"Alright, alright," he muttered, almost to himself, before turning to Simon, who was walking a few steps ahead. "I can take another subordinate."
Simon turned around, raising an eyebrow, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Who?" he asked, looking amused.
Lucas glanced quickly at Darleen, then back to Simon. "That's a secret."
Simon's laughter echoed through the hall. "You're strange, Lucas."
But before they could continue their conversation, Lucas's eyes returned to Darleen, who was walking beside him. Her fiery red hair caught the faint light, and for a moment, she seemed to glow with an inner energy. His gaze sharpened, and a thought crossed his mind. He spoke in a low, serious voice.
"Alright," he began, addressing Darleen. "I'll explain everything. I'm really strong, and also... do you see Simon? He's rank SSS."
Darleen's eyes widened, and she let out a small laugh. "Ha ha, don't joke with me."
Lucas didn't laugh. He was as serious as always. "That's the truth."
Darleen hesitated, her smile fading. She stared at Simon for a long while, trying to process what Lucas had just said. Rank SSS? Impossible... but she'd seen enough strange things in this world to know that this wasn't entirely impossible.
Lucas continued, his gaze shifting to André. "And André here, he's my puppet. I can develop him, and that's why he's progressing so quickly."
Darleen stared at André, who seemed oblivious to their conversation. Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke. "What... do you mean by puppet?"
Lucas didn't blink. "It's simple. I control him. I can make him stronger faster than anyone else. That's why he's already advanced this much."
Darleen's thoughts raced, Lucas's words settling like a heavy stone in her stomach. This was more than she could bear.
Lucas smiled a wicked grin. "I can make you develop too. You can reach rank A. But there's more. If you want... I can make you rank S."
The offer hung in the air like a thread waiting to be pulled. Darleen's eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding faster. "In just a month?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lucas nodded slowly, his eyes taking in everything. "Yes, in a month."
Darleen remained silent, her mind racing. Rank S. It was the highest rank anyone could attain. The promise was tempting, but something in her gut told her the price might be more than she was willing to pay.
"Alright..." she said, a nervous sigh escaping her lips. "Alright, I'll do it." But before she could say more, another system window appeared in front of Lucas, interrupting her words.
[Congratulations on your second subordinate, reward: Host Status Window, second reward: 10% of Darleen's power.]
Lucas stood still, feeling a rush of power surge through him. His chest expanded with the sudden influx of energy, and he felt something deeper stirring inside him. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he realized the game had changed. He was no longer just a player—he had become a force in this world.
"Thanks," he said, his voice smooth with satisfaction.
Darleen's expression was blank, her eyes distant. "No thanks necessary, sir," she muttered, as if the words were mechanical. There was something hollow in her tone, a trace of hesitation buried beneath the surface.
Simon laughed, as always the observer, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. "Hmm, I'm friends with the devil," he said jokingly, his voice full of mockery.