The first to arrive 20 minutes later were Celeste, Achlys and Cimon — Achlys and Cimon whom had managed to make a breakthrough to Mid-Chaotic rank; and Celeste.
'They're trying to leave me in the dust,' Corven thought, amused. 'That's fine, though. I could've broken through multiple ranks already by now — All the way to Mid, maybe even High Chaotic rank by now — I just haven't. I do intend to do so before the Shadow Conclave, though.'
Upon arrival, Celeste smiled warmly at Corven, who offered a soft smile in return. Cimon exchanged a grin while Achlys even , ever the anti-social, merely nodded, though her facial expression was her equivalent of a small smile—barely upturned lips. From her, though, Corven would say that's progress.
"You called us here?" Celeste asked, curious. "May I ask why?"
"All will be revealed shortly, my darling," Corven said cryptically. "Patience, after all, is key."
Celeste rolled her eyes in response, though Corven couldn't help but notice her grin she had infectiously adorning her face in the process. It was beautiful, capable of lighting a chamber of the darkest night. Just seeing it made Corven feel a bubble of emotions swell deep within…Emotions that he forcefully stomped down deeper of course, but emotions nonetheless.
Next to arrive was Jabari, J.C and Marxes Ilmari—Jabari, whom managed to breakthrough to Mid Demigod rank and Marxes who had also recently broken through—also to Mid Demigod rank.
As the last of the 7 arrived, Corven turned to address them. "As you well know, there are 3 ways to increase Cultivation," he began. "From natural cultivation to utilization of resources—the third is to have a breakthrough through battle.
"If this last attack has taught us anything, it is that we need to get stronger—and fast. And we can't just rely on the resources given to us. We must take it ourselves."
"What are you saying, Corven?" Achlys raised a brow, clearly intrigued.
"We need power. Real power. And we need the experience to wield that power. I have a way to get both—I need your assurances that what you see, stays here," Corven started, causing a murmur to spread amongst the others, before they, starting with Celeste, began to nod ahead, ending with J.C. "Good."
Nodding to himself, Corven opened a swirling violet blue and black vortex before him, taking a breath before gesturing the way inside. "Let's go then. Ladies first, of course."
Celeste and Achlys looked at the portal, then at one another in contemplation, their hearts racing. Anyone else opened such a gateway and expected them to go first and they would have been suspicious. But this was Corven, they both thought to themselves, then shrugged, choosing to enter the gateway. They were followed by everyone else, with Corven making up the rear.
[Marxes Ilmari]:
The gateway dropped him off in complete darkness—or, at least, that was what Marxes had immediately assumed anyways. And, even as he willed his eyes to adjust to the darkness, that was all he could see to the four cardinal points.
Above, 3 large moons illuminated the land in an eerie glow, highlighting the forest around him. Marxes had to do a double take when he noticed the castle built in the mountains of three and the resulting valley, but it was just as majestic. The rush of a waterfall running off into a large lake further out caught Marxes attention and, even with his limited vision, Marxes could see the light the three moons reflecting its surface.
The architecture was breathtaking and surprisingly advanced — Nothing like anything Marxes had ever seen. Even as a child to a House famous for building pretty much any and everything under the sun, he could tell — This place was no ordinary place. Very few civilizations could construct a palace this grand, this vast and in pure darkness environments.
'I'm still having trouble seeing, despite the glow of the 3 moons,' Marxes thought, noting the forms of the others already moving ahead. 'They don't. Then again, they're all of Underworld descent. Darkness is their element—The chances of them all having a passive night vision ability is nigh-definite.'
With a sigh, Marxes reached into his spatial bracelet and pulled out his forge goggles—bronze rimmed with smart interactive lensing that has Sun Mode against glare, Forge Mood to protect the eyes, Sensory Mode for inquiries and sensing nearby, approaching and far off energies and Night Mode, which was basically clear night vision with advanced detailing in multiple modes. It could also appraise objects and items, offering stats and wisdom on various items with one scan. It was one of Marxes' favored items—A gift from his great-great-great-grandfather— a great-randson of the primordial god, Ilmarinen, who gifted it unto Marxes for his 6th birthday, before he had ascended to godhood the week after. Marxes would later learn that Ilmarinen was behind the giftingof the goggles when he'd turn 9, in a letter passed down from ancestor about the family line's Progenitor, but that's a story for another day.
In the Ilmari Clan, it wasn't unusual for their divine progenitor or direct descendants of him who's ascended to favor different individuals of the blood, however, it is rare that any of them would gift their descendants with things—Least of all a Legendary ranked, multi-purpose Forge Goggles, but Marxes guessed he was just lucky. Others favored of Ilmarinen might get a minor ability, or a dream meeting with the god—But Marxes got a literal gift from him. Both his parents and members of the family and clan believe him to be the god's most favored. Marxes just wants to forge and learn new things. It was an unpopular desire of his from others who would kill to be favored by a god, Marxes knows. Still, he does love his goggles.
As he dawned them, and the world around him cleared in detail, he could finally see. He saw the trees and the mountains 1,000x more clearly than when he could barely see three feet ahead of him. He saw the others, how they were much further ahead of him now; he decided to rush to catch up with the others, properly taking in his immediate environment in the process.
[Celeste Luminaris]:
"This place is beautiful," Celeste was in awe of her surroundings, especially the three moons in the sky. Then seemed to frown as she looked at the stars twinkling above. "Might I ask, where are we? I don't recognize those constellations."
"My Shadow Space," Corven answered as they walked. "It was a real place before, I think. Now, it survives as my private dimension."
Corven's white eyes seemed to have an almost iridescent violet hue to it in the glow of the three moons above, Celeste noted. 'They're beautiful…' she found herself thinking, briefly, before beating the urge and shaking her head. 'Focus, Celeste.'
They continued onward, amid Celeste noticed a few monsters up ahead—Specifically, a winged cat flying through the air playing with 2 savage griffins—One was definitely a cub; the other was adolescent.
''Were there other monsters hidden in the forests around them,' She could feel the moon's gaze on the general directions—But she also knew somehow that they were not wild monsters. They were Corven's. She was safe.
So she didn't flinch when the winged cat—the sphinx named "Eclipse", if Celeste remembered right—landed right on top of Corven, shrinking to the size of a kitten, its wings vanishing somehow, as it rubbed its head across Corven's neck. "Mreow."
"Eclipse," Corven rubbed the cat's head affectionately, as he lead them from the forest, across the drawbridge and into the castle. "This way, guys."
As Corven led them down a flight of steps, Celeste couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to just have a taste—Just one. Her betrothed was so handsome, she honestly might've folded if he seduced her right then and there. She unconsciously licked her lips at his broad back. Before realizing what she did, shaking her head internally before regaining control of herself.
As she externally shook her head from her daze, Celeste failed to notice Achlys smirking knowingly beside her — Or, if she did, she said no word of it.
But her willpower was stronger than that. She needed to get stronger, fast, and whatever way Corven had to help her achieve that she'd go down alongside him. She would never be humiliated like that again, all things be damned. No, her love life can wait. Vegence is a blade and she intended to be the whetstone meant to sharpen such a blade and bring that evil bitch down personally.
Her conviction was ever strong and her belief was unbreakable. She would get her vengeance and make Demon Worshipper Number 6 of the Infernal Guild wish she had killed her in the forest.
That was her silent promise to herself.
[Corven Umbrovante]:
Corven led them to the Chamber with a red Dungeon gate, much to their surprise.
Though they were all geared up, Corven didn't think they were expecting a red Dungeon gate.
"Last time I was forced to enter a red gate, I was unprepared," Corven stated, addressing his allies. "This time, I have you. We need to get stronger, and the best way to do that right now is battle experience—Real battle experience. If we go through this gate, we are making a promise—A promise to ourselves, that we are to get stronger, whatever the cost."
As Corven outstretched his hands, Celeste and Achlys were the first to grab hold of it. Cimon grabbed Achlys' hand and Jabari grabbed Celeste's other hand—Marxes grabbed Jabari hand.
Together, they crossed the Dungeon threshold, just as a crow landed on Corven's shoulder. They entered the Dungeon but failed to notice that, gradually, the Dungeon was turning a reddish black...