Chapter 200: Be Ready.
....Eros’s expression remained unreadable as Sayuri’s words echoed through the cavern, the weight of her warning hanging in the air.
The others exchanged uneasy glances — Violet’s brows creased, Alexis’s lips parted as though she were about to protest, and even Belamorte’s gaze hardened into something wary. After all, the three guards were no joking matter.
But Eros only chuckled, a deep, calm sound that carried a strange certainty.
"No outside help?" he asked quietly, his tone carrying a flicker of amusement. "Then that’s even better. We’ll move faster without distractions."
The corners of Sayuri’s lips curved, her purple like crimson eyes narrowing in a subtle mixture of admiration and intrigue. Amanda, watching from behind, felt that familiar twinge in her chest — that blend of pride and irritation that came whenever her ’man’ spoke like that. Violet exhaled, half in disbelief, half in resignation.
There was something in his voice — that unshakable calm, that quiet confidence that seemed to bend the air around him. It made even the word impossible feel negotiable.
And so it was decided and they moved immediately.
They advanced deeper into the dungeon.
Lady Sayuri led the way, her silken robes whispering against the cold stone, accompanied by two of her personal maids. Like her, they were pale fox women with silver tails and silent eyes that shimmered faintly in the darkness. Each carried a small lantern that emitted a pinkish glow, and their steps were so graceful it seemed they floated rather than walked.
Behind her walked Eros, his presence steady and commanding — and to the great irritation of his women, Sayuri’s arms were wrapped around his.
Her delicate fingers rested possessively on his forearm, her head leaned softly against his shoulder. Every now and then, her four fox tails swayed in lazy arcs, brushing lightly against him as though teasingly claiming him with each movement.
Ngozi’s hand twitched by her hip. Twice she reached for the hilt of her blade, and twice Amanda had to stop her — once by a silent shake of the head, and another time by gripping her wrist with force.
"Don’t," Amanda whispered sharply. "Now’s not the time."
Ngozi’s jaw tightened under her mask. "If she keeps it up, I’ll make it THE TIME."
Sayuri, from the corner of her cunning eyes, saw everything — and smiled. Her expression remained serene and sweet, but the gleam behind her crimson irises was unmistakable. She was enjoying this — them. The subtle tension, the jealousy, the fire that sparked every time she brushed against Eros’s arm.
After all, after tasting Eros, she could not help but have the wild ambition of stealing him all to herself.
And yet, Eros walked on, completely unbothered, his eyes scanning the path ahead as though unaware of the storm quietly building behind him.
---
Eventually, the narrow tunnels opened into a massive expanse — a breathtaking world hidden beneath the earth.
The air was warm and fragrant, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and moss. Ancient trees rose from the cavern floor, their leaves glowing faintly with green soul energy. Rivers of light-blue water ran between stones shaped like sleeping beasts. Small, luminous insects fluttered in the air like drifting stars, and soul beasts of various kinds — deer with crystalline horns, birds with silver feathers — moved about peacefully, unafraid.
Above, embedded high in the cavern ceiling, countless Soul Stones of different colors glimmered softly, illuminating everything in a serene, dreamlike glow.
Amanda exhaled softly. "This place... feels alive."
Indeed, it did. It was not the cold, oppressive dungeon they were used to. This chamber pulsed with life — calm, gentle, almost sacred.
Even Eros felt the difference. He closed his eyes briefly, inhaling deeply. For the first time since entering this labyrinth, he could feel a subtle peace washing over his spirit — the air here hummed with harmony, balance, and something ancient.
Sayuri stopped, her tails swaying slowly as she turned to face the group. Her voice was low but clear, echoing softly in the vast chamber.
"This is the central region of the dungeon," she said. "The heart of its soul. Beyond this place..." — she pointed ahead — "lies the final chamber."
Far in the distance, half-shrouded by mist and light, rose a massive castle of stone. Its spires pierced the glowing sky of the cavern, and from its heart emanated a pillar of radiant gold, stretching high above until it touched the roof of the world — and perhaps even beyond it.
The light was pure, divine — it burned like sunlight through crystal, strong enough to illuminate every corner of the underground realm.
Even from this distance, they could all feel it. A warmth that was both soothing and commanding. The energy of something eternal.
"The Golden Anchor Stone of Healing..." whispered Violet, awe softening her tone for the first time.
No one needed to say anything else. They all knew. That golden light — that pulse of divinity — could only mean one thing:
They had finally found it.
At such a time, as the group advanced cautiously through the cavern’s lush undergrowth, Eros suddenly narrowed his eyes. His steps slowed, the air around him shifting slightly as his Soul Sense spread outward.
"...Wait," he muttered. "There’s movement ahead."
Everyone halted. The soft hum of soul beasts in the distance faded under the sudden pressure of tension. Amanda’s hand went instinctively to the hilt of her blades, while Sayuri’s tails stopped swaying, the fourth one flicking in quiet anticipation.
Eros stepped ahead, his dark eyes glowing faintly as his pupils contracted. "It’s... the army," he said at last.
His voice was calm, but beneath it was the gravity of someone who already knew what awaited them.
When they all peered forward through the faint mist and shafts of golden light, the truth became clear. Rows upon rows of armored soldiers filled the forest-like expanse—dark silhouettes outlined by the soft glow of soul lamps. Standards and banners fluttered faintly in the still air.
Eros exhaled. "So, Christiana and the others arrived before us."
Ngozi’s gaze sharpened behind her mask as she studied the ranks. "Yes..." she whispered, voice almost drowned by the distant clatter of metal. "But they haven’t taken the anchor stone yet."
Amanda frowned, her hand now tightening on the grip of her blade. "Which means they’re waiting—or something’s holding them back."
Eros glanced around the group, then nodded once. The faint smile that crossed his lips carried confidence, but also a sense of readiness—he’d been expecting something like this, after all, they had spent a longer period in other parts of the dungeon. They even spent a night at Lady Sayuri’s abode. While the army was ever matching.
"Be ready," he spoke firmly.