249 THE INTERROGATION OF ETHENE
Ethene, visibly shaken after he was unwillingly taken into custody without committing a crime. His hands were trembling, and he took a deep breath before speaking.
His voice was unsteady, but his words carried the weight of someone who had witnessed unspeakable terrors.
"We..we.. entered the dungeon," he began, his voice cracking, "about a hundred of us—the strongest mages from Sodom and other cities, all determined to conquer the Black Cock dungeon."
He paused, coughing weakly before continuing. "But the dungeon… it wasn't what we expected. It was a field of roses, beautiful yet sinister."
"Yes, it's the Rose Dungeon", Lord Aseran murmured to himself as he stood on the side of the Koresh empire interrogation team.
Lord Graehm, the representative of the Hunter Association of Luxor, overheard him, his expressions were one of familiarity. Even he believes the dungeon in question was the Rose Dungeon of lore.
He leaned forward, his piercing eyes fixed on Ethene. "Did you encounter the dungeon's boss?" he asked.
Ethene's body shuddered as he nodded.
"Yes," he whispered. "She's a monster… her body is fused with enormous, tentacle-like phalluses—the Black Cocks, as we called them. They writhed and lashed out, devouring anyone who came too close."
The crowd murmured among themselves as nobody there was familiar with such a boss before.
"This boss does not fit the description of the Rose Demon", Lord Graehm muttered.
Lord Aseran, a nobleman from one of Sodom's most powerful families, the Deghad family, interjected. "Who is this monster? Did you see her face?"
Ethene's eyes widened with fear as he recalled the memory. "Her face… it was twisted, like a demon's. But I heard her minions call her lady Dassa."
The name sent a ripple of murmurs through the room.
"Lady Dassa?" Lord Aseran repeated, his brow furrowed. The woman seated beside him, cloaked in a veil of mystery, nodded subtly.
"What kind of minions does she command?" Graehm pressed, his tone calm but insistent.
"Hellhounds," Ethene replied, his voice trembling. "Massive, vicious beasts from the depths of hell. They chased me, their claws tearing into my flesh. I barely escaped with my life."
He lifted his tunic slightly, revealing deep, jagged scars that crisscrossed his body.
"Hellhounds? Aren't those the minions of the Rose Demon?" Lord Aseran asked as he looked at his esteemed guest. She didn't say a word in reply.
Grammers leaned forward. "How did you manage to escape?"
Ethene's hands clenched into fists as he recounted the moment. "The peak-tier mages were battling the Black Cock, and for a brief moment, the dungeon trembled. The entrance cracked open slightly, and I seized the chance to run. As soon as I escaped, the entrance sealed shut behind me."
The veiled woman beside Lord Aseran stood abruptly, her presence commanding the room's attention with a powerful aura.
"Are we leaving now my lady?" Lord Aseran asked, his tone deferential to the woman.
"I've heard enough," she replied curtly, her voice low and measured.
Without another word, she turned and strode toward the exit, Lord Aseran following closely behind. They've heard all they needed to hear and would not waste time on the remainder of the interrogation.
But the hearing continued without them. However, Ethene had no further useful information to offer. His account painted a grim picture: the Black Cock dungeon was a deathtrap, its horrors was beyond anything the assembled powers had anticipated.
"This Black Cock dungeon is too great a threat for most players", someone shouted.
"We don't know how to deal with the dungeon and her boss", someone seconded.
"It's a waste of life and money to even attempt it", another added.
Even as the crowd was discussing about the menace and danger of the Black Cock dungeon, Graehm rose to address the assembly.
"This Black Cock dungeon is a hazard to all adventurers, we need time to study it and find a better solution to defeat her boss," he declared, his voice firm and authoritative.
"What should we do now about the dungeon, many adventurers are still trying to raid the dungeon?" General Nahum asked.
"Until you receive further instructions from our association, the dungeon shall be sealed. No one is to enter, lest they meet a fate worse than death," Lord Graehm pronounced.
The room erupted into murmurs of agreement and even dissent, but the decision was final.
The Black Cock dungeon, with its monstrous boss and hellish minions, would remain off-limits—it was a forbidden mystery shrouded in blood and roses.
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[The Inn of Travellers]
"My lady, it's true—your shadow minion has captured the Rose Dungeon, just as we planned," Unna said, her voice brimming with satisfaction.
"Then our plans have succeeded," Lord Aseran added, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Lady Dassa, however, remained silent, her expression darkening and thoughtful. She paced around the room, thinking and strategizing.
When she finally spoke, her voice was laced with a mixture of anger and dread.
"The bitch has betrayed me."
"What!!", Unna exclaimed.
Lord Aseran frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Why do you say that milady?"
"She was supposed to take control of the Rose dungeon, uproot it, and leave immediately. That was the plan. Instead, she stayed behind, transforming into the Black Cock and fortifying the dungeon with its magic," Dassa spat, her tone venomous.
Unna nodded in agreement, her lips tightening. "Yes, she even turned the former unicorns who surrendered to us into Hellhounds to guard her domain. We never authorized that. The unicorns belong to us, not her."
Lord Aseran's eyes widened in surprise. "Is it possible for a shadow minion to betray her host?"
Lady Dassa paused, her gaze distant as she considered the question.
"It's highly unlikely, but she possesses all my attributes, my magic, and even my mind. She's independent of me, and I have no permanent control over her. Unless she dies, there's no guarantee she'll return to me."
"So, technically its possible?" Lord Aseran asked to confirm.
"Yes," Lady Dassa replied.
Unna's face paled. "Why would she betray you now?"