The Sky Grimoire continued its voyage. It was a resolute vessel cutting through the endless sky. Kranecurry Sky Island was still their destination.
Several days afterward...
Spark walked to the edge of the deck. Looking ahead. A distant, shimmering landmass floating in the sky was visible on the horizon.
"Kranecurry." He murmured with a grin. "The promise of delicacy... and power."
The Sky Grimoire hummed. Regaining altitude. Moving toward the sky island. The air grew slightly warmer. Infused with the scent of sub-tropical plants and something distinctly appetizing... spices, grilled meat, and exotic fruits.
The distant landmass grew larger. Resolving into a vibrant, verdant island floating majestically in the sky. It wasn't a barren rock like some other sky islands. It was lush, teeming with life.
As they drew closer, a bustling town emerged from the island's heart. Nestled amidst green hills and terraced farms. Gourmeville Town.
Its buildings were a riot of color. With smoke rising from numerous chimneys. Carrying the fragrant promise of delectable meals. Airships of all sizes docked at various platforms. A testament to the town's popularity.
"Gourmeville, at last." Spark said. His stomach rumbling in anticipation. After weeks of travel rations. And the rough-and-tumble of battle and adventuring... The idea of a truly magnificent meal was a potent lure.
"Prepare for docking, Arrow." He commanded the golem handling the navigation. "Alright, girls. Let's see if their culinary reputation holds up."
Lilith and the other women nodded. Smiling in anticipation. Gourmeville, the only human settlement in Kranecurry Island was extremely famous for its food and culinary festival. They couldn't wait to experience the taste of the food here.
The sky-sloop, Sky Grimoire, began its descent. Gracefully maneuvering towards an open berth at the main skyport.
The sounds of Gourmeville drifted up to them. Laughter, chatter, the sizzle of frying oil. And the distant, melodic strains of street musicians. It was a world away from the chaos and danger they had faced on the way. A welcome respite.
Spark took a deep breath. Savoring the rich, complex aroma that permeated the air.
He was a wealthy man. A powerful Jackmaster. With loyal and capable women at his side. He had faced many different types of dangers. Gained fortune. And acquired immense power.
Now, it was time for a different kind of conquest. The culinary delights of Kranecurry. He deserved several days of break. And he would truly enjoy it. Before they started a brand new exploration for the Labyrinth Gate in the same island.
...
The scent and taste of Gourmeville were indeed a symphony of indulgence. For three days, Spark Nighthawk had allowed himself and his women to drown in it.
Roasted meats, candied fruits, sizzling noodles, and exotic spices were normal sights to be encountered there. A constant reminder of the town's singular obsession.
Food festivals erupted daily. So did spontaneous celebrations of a new dish discovered or an ancient recipe perfected. Spark, towering over most of the townsfolk, moved through the bustling streets like a cheerful giant.
His dark-grey eyes missing nothing, even as he sampled everything. For these days, he ignored balanced nutrition and calories intakes.
Spark ate until his powerful stomach was completely full. Drank until the local brews warmed him from within. And laughed with a booming voice that turned heads.
He let his women indulge too. Even encouraged it. He watched them try new things. Their expressions of delight satisfied a part of him that appreciated owning their pleasure.
In private, behind the locked doors of their rented villa, their submissive natures came to the fore. A stark contrast to their professional demeanor outside.
He reveled in their devotion. Their singular focus on him. He was their world, and they, in turn, were his. He was a man who took what he wanted. And right now, he wanted relaxation.
But the break had an expiration date. On the morning of the fourth day, they stopped the 'feast'. And were ready for action.
After breakfast was over, Spark stood from his chair. His powerful frame filling the room. He wiped a trace of the stew from his mouth.
"Alright!" He said seriously. His deep voice cut through the soft morning chatter. "That's enough feasting. Time to earn our next meal."
His women immediately ceased their activities. Their gazes locking onto him, expectant.
"The Palace Ruins of Gluttony." Spark stated. His voice was now devoid of its previous joviality. Replaced by a blunt practicality. "Lilith, confirm the directions. Ivy, confirm our protective gear and antidotes. Melody, Serenade, prepare the Witch Dolls. Scarlett, use your gu-insects to scout the perimeter. Let's move."
Unlike the Labyrinth of Fortune, whose gateway sat conveniently in the bustling heart of Canarine Town, the Palace Ruins of Gluttony was a different beast entirely. Its entrance lay not in civilization. But deep within Kranecurry's vast, untamed jungle.
This was a wilderness that seemed to actively resist intrusion. The trees here grew thick. Their roots were like gnarled serpents underfoot. Their canopies were so dense that they choked out the sun.
Insects buzzed with aggressive intent. And unseen creatures rustled in the undergrowth. None were dangerous monsters though. The main problem there was never what was outside the labyrinth gateway. But what was inside.
The trek through the jungle was arduous. The path, if it could even be called that, was overgrown with weeds and bushes.
Lilith used her [Blackhole Blink] to scout ahead and clear obstacles. Her movements were almost too fast for the eye to track.
Scarlett, with her inherent connection to her scattered gu-insects, provided further security to the journey.
Melody and Serenade walked with an almost ethereal grace. Their low, melodic hums subtly bolstering the group's stamina and focus. Warding off the creeping exhaustion.
Hours passed. The jungle deepened. Becoming less vibrant and more menacing. Strange, sickly-colored fungi clung to trees.
And the air grew thick with a cloying, sweet-sour smell. It felt heavy, humid, and increasingly… wrong. A faint, acrid tang began to prickle the back of Spark's throat. Subtle at first. Then growing more pronounced.
He glanced at Ivy, who nodded grimly. The poison was already beginning to permeate the natural environment around the ruins.
"Masks on!" Spark ordered.
Ivy distributed the [Anti-poison Masks]. They were ingenious contraptions. Not bulky gas masks. But sleek, form-fitting respirators that covered the nose and mouth. A small, glowing gem embedded in the filter indicating its operational status.
Ivy's alchemy had packed immense purification power into them. Added with Spark's rune inscriptions, they became one of the most effective products against poison in the air.
The light, airy material felt cool against the skin. And as Spark fastened his, the acrid tang in the air vanished. Replaced by the clean, almost sterile scent of purified oxygen. The relief was immediate.
Only Ivy did not don a mask. Her [Poison Immunity] talent allowed her to breathe freely. Despite the poison on air. A slight, almost imperceptible green aura shimmering around her as she inhaled the tainted air.
She checked her spatial bag. Ensuring that the vials of antidotes and purification tools were safe within. Her face was set with practiced determination.
"Ahead, Master!" Lilith reported. Her voice was slightly muffled by the mask. But it was still clear. "The gateway."
Spark pushed through a final curtain of thorny vines and stopped. Before them stood the entrance to the Palace Ruins of Gluttony. Nestled in a small, eerily silent clearing.
It was an arched stone gateway. Huge in scale. About eight meters high and four meters wide. Moss clung to every surface. Thick and unnaturally dark. Resembling a decaying shroud.
Ivies wound around the ancient stones like parasitic snakes. Their leaves were a sickly, pale green. Their tendrils were reaching into the dimensional portal's shimmering, purple-black void.
The air around the gateway pulsed with a nauseating aura. A concentrated miasma that even Spark felt a primal instinct to recoil from.
"Looks inviting!" Spark commented sarcastically. His voice was dry.
He felt no fear. Only a pragmatic assessment of the danger. This place was notoriously deadly. And rarely explored by adventurers. Unlike the other labyrinths. That meant it was likely full of valuable things.
"The reports seem accurate, Master." Ivy stated. Her voice was calm despite the danger. "The level of environmental poison is extreme. Our masks provide full protection for now, but direct contact with any substance in there, animate or otherwise, should be avoided without direct purification or antidote."
Spark nodded. "Understood. Everyone, stay sharp. This isn't a leisure stroll."
He led the way. His massive form seemed like a bulwark against the unknown. He stepped through the shimmering portal. His women followed close behind.
The transition was instantaneous. The humid, living jungle vanished. Replaced by a scene of sprawling desolation.
They stood on what looked like a wide, cracked platform. Part of the ruined exterior of a single, colossal stone building. It stretched out for what seemed like tens of kilometers in every direction.
A silent, stony behemoth that could have once been a town. Spark could see crumbling walls of stone masonry. Carved with grotesque, bloated figures. And scenes of decadent feasting.
Pillars, thick as ancient trees, stood askew. Or lay shattered like broken bones. All the stones there were discolored. Stained with greenish-black residues that seemed to weep from its pores.
The sky above seemed like a permanent, muted grey. Filtered through a perpetual haze of the same sickly color that coated everything.
The air inside was thicker. Heavier. The smell of rot and decay was overwhelming. Despite the masks. It was the scent of something that had gorged itself to death. And festered for centuries.
"This… this was a palace?" Melody whispered. Her voice was tinged with a mixture of awe and revulsion. "It's like an entire city."
"The Palace of Gluttony." Ivy confirmed. "Legend says its inhabitants consumed everything. Including themselves. Until only this husk remained. And the poison is its lingering curse."
Spark took a step forward. His heavy boots were crunching on what might have once been a beautifully paved courtyard. Now, it was nothing but rubble and toxic grime.