Harem Sync: Divine Edition-Chapter 52: Escape from the Dungeon

An earthquake began to echo throughout the dungeon, a deep vibration rising from below, climbing the walls and ceiling; stones began to loosen and fall.

Haru was still crouched inside the tree, slightly feeling the residual pain of having consumed the Core, his stomach burning, his chest tight, his whole body trembling from the mana overload.

His right eye ached terribly, throbbing with the gray veins glowing brighter. He closed it tightly and opened only the other, trying to relieve the pressure.

He staggered to his feet and wanted to leave, picking up Vorath’s sword from the ground, but it was too heavy now; he could lift it, but barely, his muscles trembling with the effort.

```

[MANA CORE: Side Effects]

◊ Temporary weakness (Duration: 2 hours)

◊ Physical capacity reduced by 60%

◊ Mana circulation unstable

◊ Recovery in progress...

```

He remembered Yukihime fainting after almost blowing up the guards, her small body unable to withstand the massive energy expenditure.

"Ohh..." he murmured, understanding. It was the same principle; he had pushed his body beyond its limit and now he was paying the price.

He looked at the sword. He could carry it, but it would greatly delay his escape, and he had really put it away; he didn’t want to leave it behind.

"Damn, what do I do..."

Then he remembered something.

[Inventory Tab.]

The interface appeared in front of him, a simple grid showing empty spaces glowing faintly.

```

[INVENTORY]

◊ Available Slots: /15

◊ Weight Limit: None

```

He looked at the sword; the inventory automatically scanned it and notified him that it only occupied one space despite its size.

Haru immediately grabbed the sword with both hands and stored it in the inventory. It was possible to see the weapon being pulled into the empty space as if it had been sucked in, entering and never leaving, simply disappearing from physical reality.

```

[ITEM STORED]

◊ Vorath’s Greatsword

◊ Slot: 1/15

◊ Condition: Excellent

```

"Damn it!"

Wooden planks from the tree began to fall from the ceiling, craters opening in the walls.

Outside... Kira and Isabela waited anxiously for Haru, looking at the entrance of the tree while everything around them crumbled, the dome cracking, stones falling, grass dying completely, turning into dry earth.

Nothing.

And then he appeared, running through the entrance, staggering but moving quickly.

They waved for Haru to hurry up.

He reached them breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face.

"Where were you!?" Kira asked, still being held by Isabela.

"I’ll explain later, we need to get out of here!" he replied, looking around at the accelerating collapse.

"And Core?" Isabela thought aloud, adjusting Kira better on her back.

"Well, I don’t know..." Haru lied naturally, "...I looked and didn’t see anything but empty roots. Let’s just get out of here!"

She picked Aldric up, the guy still unconscious, his severed arm hastily bandaged with scraps of clothing.

"How do we get out!?" Isabela asked, looking at the tunnels in the distance, not recognizing any path.

"Come with me!" "Haru said, already running without looking back.

Giant chunks of rock crumbled from the ceiling, crashing into the lake which began to consume everything, water rapidly filling the lower levels, rising towards the center where they were.

And then the creatures* began to come towards the center as well, fleeing the collapse.

"Shit!" Kira said, seeing creatures emerging from all the surrounding tunnels, tree-creatures staggering, and especially the Xius who ran fast in multiple arms, coming straight for them.

"What the hell are those!?" Isabela shouted, increasing her speed, carrying Kira who screamed nonstop:

"Run! Run, redhead!"

The Xius came running, shouting in chorus with that distorted voice: "XIU! XIU! XIU!"

They entered the giant tree; around the inner wall was a spiral staircase that climbed, turning it to the top where the exit to the tunnels they had originally used to descend was located.

They began to climb, the ladder creaking and breaking in places, pieces falling down.

It was gigantic, it must have been several meters high, but they didn’t stop for a second, their legs burning, their lungs pounding, because the Xius were right behind them, climbing just as fast.

They finally reached the end where the ladder connected to the opening to the labyrinth’s tunnels. They ran inside.

The Xius were right behind them, multiple eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"To the left!" Kira shouted, and they followed without hesitation, trusting her sense of smell completely.

Moments later they were in the tunnels, guided solely by Kira’s keen sense of smell, who was trying her best to sniff out the laboratory’s scent even as everything trembled. She indicated directions ("Right!", "Straight!", "Down!") and they blindly obeyed.

And moments later they were outside, exiting through the blocked passage they had opened earlier, arriving at Vandris’s laboratory, which was also shaking violently, vials falling and exploding, shelves collapsing.

The entire mansion was shaking. They had to hurry, running through the destroyed corridors, climbing stairs that cracked beneath their feet, until they finally reached the main exit.

And even out of the courtyard.

The Vandris mansion collapsed a little more, entire walls falling, the ceiling giving way, the echo of the collapse traveling to the village below on the hill.

It was dawn, the sun rising on the horizon, tinging everything with a soft orange.

Out of the danger zone, they finally stopped.

Haru, Isabela carrying Kira, and Aldric still unconscious on the ground where they had left him.

Haru narrowed her eyes at the two of them, looking at them with that "seriously?" expression that made her thoughts clear.

As if to say: "Did you see the mess you got us into?"

Isabela wanted to say something, opening her mouth...

"We saved you the other day, all messed up and broken, and naked too!"

"Yeah! We’re even..." Kira agreed.

"Saved nothing!" Haru interrupted. "I’m the one who got screwed sending the airship to Kaelthar! If it weren’t for me, everyone would have been gone!"

"You only sent that airship because Kira and I saved you first!" Isabela retorted, pointing back.

"Oh, come on! I could always run!" Haru replied with completely flawed logic.

"The redhead’s right..." Kira murmured.

And they stayed there arguing for a long time, voices rising, gestures exaggerated, ridiculous accusations flying in both directions, while the sun continued to rise slowly on the horizon and the Vandris mansion finished collapsing behind them.

Aldric remained unconscious, oblivious to everything, probably the luckiest of the four at that moment.

Morning....

Yukihime woke up early, went outside the inn, and stopped in front of the door looking at the roads, hopeful, her little fox ears erect and alert.

The guards who saw this were somewhat hesitant, unsure whether to say something or let her stay there.

The innkeeper was also already packing the last glasses to take to his carriage, preparing to leave like everyone else. He saw Yukihime standing there and sighed.

One of the guards approached her, about to try to say something.

She suddenly ran off.

"Where are you going?!" the guard shouted.

Yukihime opened her hands running towards the road, and...

Haru, who was dismounting his horse, caught her in mid-air, her small body clinging to him tightly.

She cried loudly, sobs shaking her body. "Papa! I knew you would come back!"

Isabela and Kira dismounted their horses right behind, Isabela helping Kira, who was still injured.

Haru approached Kira and carefully handed Yukihime to her. "Hold her for a bit."

She left the three of them there chatting and hugging, and went straight to the innkeeper who was still tidying things up.

"My heroes! I knew you could do it!" the innkeeper said, opening his arms for a celebratory hug.

"Money."

"...What!?"

"Money. I just want a little money." Haru held out her hand, palm up, waiting.

"But I don’t have any money, you were supposed to be heroes, heroes don’t charge."

"Shhhh."

Haru stared at him with a look that made it very clear that it wasn’t a request, it was a demand, and that he had absolutely no patience to discuss the philosophy of heroism.

Moments later — Mayor’s Office

"Mr. Mayor, you have a visitor..." the assistant announced nervously at the door.

"It’s Aldric!?" the mayor rose from his chair hopefully.

"Well, Aldric is..."

Haru entered the office without asking permission, slamming the door shut behind him so hard that the picture on the wall trembled.

"Aldric is fine... he only lost an arm." He said directly, without beating around the bush.

The mayor, a fat man of about fifty with a gray beard and somewhat expensive clothes, widened his eyes. "What the hell are you!?"

Haru approached the desk, planted both hands on the polished wooden surface, and leaned forward, looking directly into the mayor’s eyes.

"I’m the damn guy who, if I’m not paid, will burn the village down."

Tense silence.

"The dungeon is destroyed. The core has been consumed. The monsters won’t attack anymore." Haru continued, his voice calm but firm. "Aldric is alive. The village is saved. Now pay me or I’ll finish the job the monsters started."

The mayor looked at him, then at the assistant who had stood in the doorway unsure what to do, then back at Haru.

"What guarantees me that you cleared the dungeon... you don’t even have the Core? Only those who have the Core of the dungeon in front of me will pay."

"Aye, so that’s how Mr. Perfect wants to play!?"