Chapter 42 : Rewards
Aurelia slowly stirred awake, her body aching from the overwhelming intensity of the past few months. As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself nestled in Grim's arms, his presence a heavy and unyielding warmth.
They were lying under a massive, ancient tree within the depths of the SSS-ranked dungeon. Its sprawling branches shielded them from the harsh surroundings, and long leaves had been draped over them, providing some semblance of cover.
She took a moment to observe him, his once handsome face now exuding something beyond mere mortal beauty. His features had grown sharper, more refined, with an air of raw power etched into every line. His hair, once short, now cascaded down his back like a silken waterfall, white and glossy as if belonging to some mythical being. And it wasn't just him.
Aurelia's own body had transformed, becoming stronger, more resilient. Her hair had grown longer, her beauty elevated to a near-supernatural level. They were no longer just humans. They had become something... more. Something far beyond their previous selves.
She gently brushed her fingers through Grim's silky white hair, her touch soft and weary. As much as she hated to admit it, his sleeping face held a certain calmness she rarely saw when he was awake. It was almost peaceful. And somehow, that comforted her.
Eventually, Grim's eyes opened, sharp and piercing, but there was a relaxed ease within them as he looked at her. He reached up and patted her head with an unusual gentleness.
"Shall we continue?" he asked, his voice deep and unfazed.
Aurelia shot him an annoyed look. "I'm not going to allow you to touch me for a whole year."
Grim smirked, eyes glinting with a challenge. "Bet."
She clenched her jaw, already realizing her mistake. "No. I'm just... not allowing you to do that to me until I'm fully rested. Completely rested."
He smirked, the sound low and taunting. "Alright, fine. I'm quite satisfied for now, so I'll allow you to rest."
She narrowed her eyes at him, her expression caught between frustration and exhaustion. "You're a beast... a monster."
He met her gaze with that same confident smirk. "Ah, and what does that make you, darling? You endured everything with me for three whole months. You've already surpassed human limits. We both have. And this..." his eyes gleamed with ambition, "this is just the beginning. I'm going to climb even higher."
Aurelia stared at him, his words sinking deep within her. Despite everything, a part of her resonated with that drive. The hunger for power, the desire to transcend all limitations.
"Okay..." she finally said, her voice soft yet resolute. "I will come with you. I will also climb higher."
For once, there was a peaceful silence between them. Both of them resting, their bodies healing.
---
They both woke up, their bodies finally feeling some semblance of rest. As they stirred, a bright, glowing screen appeared before them.
DUNGEON CLEARED
CLAIM YOUR REWARDS
Aurelia glanced at the screen and swiftly collected her rewards. Her eyes widened with delight as she inspected the gifts. The first was a powerful ability — Time Manipulation, a skill that held immeasurable potential. Alongside it, she received several pills of unknown but likely extraordinary power and a ring.
The ring was unlike anything she had ever seen. It looked otherworldly, crafted from a deep, glimmering black diamond that seemed to absorb all light. Its surface was flawless, and her name was elegantly engraved on it: AURELIA. The ring wasn't just beautiful; it felt dangerous, like it held a hidden power waiting to be unleashed. She slipped it onto her finger, feeling a strange warmth pulse through her.
Satisfied, she turned her gaze to Grim, who seemed just as pleased with his own rewards. He was holding a ring as well — a perfect counterpart to hers. His was brilliant and gleaming, like a diamond forged from pure, ethereal light. It shimmered with a deadly beauty, and the name GRIM was engraved on its smooth surface.
Aurelia stepped forward, holding out her hand. "Give me your hand," she said softly.
Grim raised a brow but complied, extending his hand toward her. She took his hand and slid her ring onto his finger. Her eyes met his, a slight smile tugging at her lips. Then she offered her hand to him. "Now, put yours on me."
A dangerous smirk appeared on Grim's face as he grasped her hand, his touch firm yet oddly gentle. He slid his ring onto her finger, the contrast of their rings a clear symbol of their bond. The rings seemed to complement each other perfectly, as if made to fit only them — two opposites that somehow completed one another.
Aurelia looked at their hands intertwined, the rings glinting in the dim light. "Now, we're officially husband and wife," she said with a hint of amusement.
Grim's gaze was dark and intense as he looked at her. "Why don't we seal it with a kiss?"
Before she could respond, he gripped her hair and pulled her close, his lips claiming hers in a fierce, possessive kiss that left her breathless. When he finally released her, his eyes still burned with that dangerous glint.
"Now," Grim continued, his voice low and commanding, "we focus only on training for the next month. We have to grow stronger. I still need to absorb the dragon's body, so I'll be busy."
Aurelia nodded, her fingers absently tracing her new ring. "I also need to research and test my new ability and strengthen myself further. There's a lot to prepare."
With their newfound powers and determination, they both knew what had to be done. For the next month, they would dedicate themselves to training — pushing their limits and striving to grow even stronger.
---
Grim had fully absorbed the dragon's body, his strength now beyond anything mortal. Power surged through him, wild and untamed, making it difficult to suppress the primal rage within. His body felt different—stronger, heavier, yet frighteningly fast.
He had also gained a terrifying new ability: Dragon's Fear, a presence so overwhelming that it could paralyze enemies just by his aura alone.
Meanwhile, Aurelia was making her own progress. She successfully opened her third mana channel, allowing her to store mana in her abdomen, heart, and mind. With this, she could now circulate mana through her entire body at will—an ability only true geniuses could achieve.
She also spent time studying her Time Manipulation ability. It allowed her to delay an opponent's speed within a set area, slowing everything around her. She could also make time slow for everything except herself, granting her a massive advantage in battle.
Time passed quickly, and 25 days had already gone by. Only five days remained before their training in the dungeon would end.
Feeling confident in her growth, Aurelia had an idea. She needed a real challenge to test her abilities. Her gaze landed on Grim, and though she loved him, she knew she couldn't even put a scratch on him. That in itself frustrated her.
"Why don't we have a spar?" she suggested, approaching him.
Grim chuckled darkly, grabbing a fistful of her hair and pulling her closer. His voice was low and amused. "Did you lose your fear?"
Aurelia met his gaze fearlessly. "No, I just want to test my abilities. If you remain completely unharmed, I'll do whatever you want."
Grim's smirk deepened. "You already have to do whatever I want, even without this bet. But fine, I'll humor you." He leaned in closer, his voice teasing. "Try your best to kill me, because if not—you won't even touch me."
Aurelia exhaled, knowing he wasn't joking. "Fine. But you're only allowed to defend. If you even touch me, I'll get angry."
Grim chuckled, stepping back. "Alright, darling. I'll be gentle."
---
The Battle Begins
They stood apart, locking eyes, their auras clashing in the silent tension.
Grim smirked. "If I move a single step, I'll grant you one wish."
"Bet." Aurelia responded instantly.
She attacked first, unleashing a barrage of fire bullets and ice shards, but Grim didn't even flinch. With a simple flick of his ability, Void, every spell was devoured before it could reach him.
She expected that.
Realizing magic alone wouldn't work, Aurelia slowly began closing the distance, disguising her approach by keeping up the spell bombardment. Grim remained still, his dangerous smirk unwavering.
Then, she activated Time Manipulation.
The air slowed around Grim, his movements slightly hindered. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
She lunged forward, using Essence Drain, but just like before, his ability devoured it whole.
Growing frustrated, Aurelia froze the entire battlefield, locking everything—including Grim—in a layer of unbreakable ice. But within seconds, the ice melted into nothing, absorbed by Grim's Void.
Still, it gave her the opportunity she needed.
Aurelia dashed in close and activated Time Stop.
The world froze, and she had ten seconds.
She poured every ounce of mana she had into a single spell: Ice Spear, reinforcing it with wind magic to increase its speed to the absolute limit.
The moment time resumed, she launched the spear.
It ripped through the air like a comet, piercing straight toward Grim's chest.
For the first time, Grim was caught off guard.
The impact sent him flying at an impossible speed, his body crashing through an entire mountain, shattering it into dust.
Aurelia stood still, breathless, watching the destruction unfold. A massive cloud of smoke and debris filled the air, obscuring Grim's figure.
Her heart pounded. Did she actually hurt him?
As the dust settled, Grim emerged from the ruins—completely unharmed.
The only sign of impact was a single red mark on his chest where the spear had landed.
Aurelia's eyes widened. That attack was strong enough to destroy an entire city, and yet… he barely felt it.
Grim tilted his head, examining the faint mark on his skin. His dangerous smirk returned. "Wow. Scary. Are you trying to kill your new husband?"
Aurelia crossed her arms. "You told me not to hold back."
Grim chuckled. "If it were anyone else, they'd be dead. You really are something, aren't you?"
Aurelia smirked, suddenly remembering something. "Wait a second…"
Grim raised an eyebrow as she placed her hands on her hips. "You lost the bet."
Grim blinked. "What?"
Aurelia grinned. "The bet was that if you moved even a single step, I get to make you do one thing for me. But not only did you move—you were sent flying across a whole mountain."
Grim narrowed his eyes before sighing in amusement. "Tch. Clever little thing."
Aurelia smirked. "So… you can't deny it. Now, you owe me a favor, and I get to decide what it is."
Grim stepped closer, tilting her chin up with a smirk. "Alright, darling. I'm all yours. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it… as long as it doesn't exceed the limit."
Aurelia's smirk widened. "Oh, but I won't tell you right now. I'll let you know later. And when I do, even if it does exceed the limit—you can't refuse."
Grim gave her a knowing look before chuckling. "Fine. I'll be waiting."
Turning away, he added, "We should leave. The six days outside are almost up. It's time to return home."
Aurelia watched his back as he walked away, determination burning in her eyes. "Our family must be waiting."
She took a deep breath, then followed him.