Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 128: [Core Dungeon] [15]

Viros mumbled uncertainly. "Is this blood?"

Akamir stared at the blood then at the chamber in front of them.

The light once again was barely enough for them to see a few metres away.

He glanced at Zaina, who immediately understood.

Raising her staff, she formed a spell and it illuminated the place immediately.

Everyone tensed at the sight in front of them.

The chamber was far larger than they’d guessed, stretching beyond where the spell’s light could even reach.

Tall, crumbling pillars stood half-submerged in the thick blood, some leaning as if ready to collapse.

There were skeletons too, floating in the pool or stuck to the base of the walls.

Most were humanoid, but some weren’t.

Akamir’s eyes swept the area carefully, his crimson narrowing.

"There," he said quietly, pointing at the far end.

Far across the chamber, just barely visible through the mist, was a structure.

It looked like a platform or maybe a staircase leading upward, half-sunken but still intact.

"That’s the way out," he said, unsure if that’s the truth.

Viros frowned. "And the blood?"

"We walk through it," Akamir replied.

Luca grimaced. "Figures."

Zaina looked down, nudging a stone into the liquid.

It sank slowly, bubbles rising to the surface.

"I don’t like this," she whispered. "It feels wrong."

"Just hope there isn’t anything that bites in there." Akamir said, dropping inside the chamber.

The blood soaking his boots instantly, it was warm, almost hot and thicker than he expected.

The others followed, still tensed by the situation.

Zaina held Lyselle’s hand tightly as they moved in together, one foot at a time.

Viros and Luca flanked the sides, weapons drawn even if there was nothing in sight.

Time kept on ticking as they covered half distance.

The further they walked, the higher the blood reached—past their ankles, up to their knees.

Every so often, a ripple passed through the surface, but no one said anything.

The platform was closer now.

"W-Wait, what was that!?" Luca said, as he frantically looked around. "I felt something!?"

Akamir looked down and immediately noticed a hand.

He blinked and now dozens of corpses were drifting just beneath the surface.

"Go!" Akamir shouted.

They began to run.

The blood fought their movements, thick and heavy like it didn’t want them to leave.

Akamir turned and grabbed Lyselle’s other arm, pulling her along with Zaina.

The blood churned behind them as they reached the platform.

One of the corpses rose higher than the others and screeched.

But they didn’t stop.

Akamir reached the base of the staircase and shoved Lyselle and Zaina ahead.

"Go, up now!"

Viros and Luca followed, panting, drenched in blood, swinging wildly at anything that moved.

Once all of them reached the platform, Akamir turned around to have a clear look.

’What the fuck?’

Those corpses...

They don’t seem like they belonged to the people of this world.

’Why the hell are they so tall?’

Akamir wondered as he turned again and took the steps two at a time.

By the time he caught up, the others had reached a corridor that branched out from the top of the platform.

The air was drier here, the smell of blood still present, but faint.

Everyone collapsed for a moment, breathing heavily.

"I hate this floor," Luca groaned.

Akamir wiped the blood from his face as he looked in front of him.

The walls were made of dark stone, cracked and uneven. The ceiling dipped low in places.

"You should walk alone from here." Nayomi suggested, looking at him. "The others will be nothing but dead weights."

Akamir looked at her for a while before he let out a sigh. "I will scout the area, you guys should rest—."

"Wait." Zaina quickly interrupted him. "You aren’t going alone."

Akamir shrugged. "Don’t worry, I will be fine."

"But still—."

"It’s fine." He cut in her words. "I will be back in a few minutes."

"And if you don’t?" Luca asked, staring at him. "What do we do then?"

"Well, hope that I come back."

Akamir said, before he turned and walked further inside the chamber.

The corridor was tight, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

"Explain." Akamir said, looking at Nayomi. "What am I up against?"

"You don’t have to fight—."

"Just tell me." Akamir interrupted as he took out his sword. "What is it?"

Nayomi stared into his eyes before she let out a sigh. "It’s the same creature that you fought before but bigger."

"And how is that creature related to Starburn flower?" Akamir asked, looking at her.

The Starburn flower is the item that is needed to create a new body for her.

It was the reason why he came into the dungeon in the first place.

’Otherwise, I could have just ignored the place and stopped Zaina from entering inside as well.’

"You seem to misunderstand something." Nayomi said, floating close to his face. "The creature is the Starburn flower."

Akamir blinked in confusion. "Pardon?"

"It’s as I said." She replied, moving a little back. "The Starburn flower is on the forehead of the creature, it’s what keeps the thing alive."

"So, if I take the flower the thing will die?" Akamir asked, finding it a little too good to be true.

"Exactly." Nayomi replied, nodding her head. "You just need to make sure, it doesn’t wake up."

"And if that thing wakes up?"

She looked dead into his eyes. "You die."

Akamir nodded silently, rubbing the back of his neck. "Why does it feel like only you are benefiting from our deal?"

"Because you aren’t strong enough." She scoffed, folding her hands. "If you were then you would understand how important I am."

"You sound narcissistic."

"I am not." She replied as they reached the end of the place. "Be ready."

The corridor slowly widened, opening into another area.

Two different paths stretched infront of him.

"Take left." Nayomi said. "Take right when you come with the others."

"Hmm."

He kept on walking until he arrived into another chamber.

This one wasn’t as tall as the last, but the air was heavier.

The chamber was circular, with a dome-like ceiling that dipped slightly in the center.

In the middle of the room lay a massive creature, curled in on itself like a sleeping beast.

Its body was black and glossy, almost like obsidian, but pulsing faintly beneath the surface as if it were breathing.

And right at the center of its forehead...

Akamir’s eyes narrowed.

There it was.

The Starburn flower.

Glowing with soft white-blue light, almost ethereal, petals folded like a lotus but slightly translucent.

It didn’t look like it belonged on something so monstrous.

It was... beautiful.

"That’s it," Nayomi said, her voice soft now, more serious than usual. "That flower is older than your kingdom."

Akamir didn’t answer.

He took one slow step forward.

The creature twitched, just slightly.

He froze in his place, making sure not to even let his muscles twitch.

"I just have to cut it off?" he whispered.

"Yes," Nayomi replied. "But don’t touch the petals. If it senses direct skin contact, it might wake up."

Akamir nodded as he slid his sword out slowly.

He drew in a deep breath as he whispered softly. "Float."

A translucent form began to cover his body as he began to levitate in the air.

Akamir used the nearby rocks to slowly push himself towards the creature.

The flower pulsed softly, rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

The sound of his own breathing filled his ears.

Three more pushes, and he was right next to the creature.

The stench hit him fully now, old blood, rotting meat, something unnatural.

’Urgh, I hate the smell.’

Akamir raised his body just a little as he aligned himself with the flower.

But....

Just as he moved his sword, he noticed it.

The eyes of the creature staring at him.

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