The three of us stepped through the narrow entrance, the dimly lit halls stretching before us.


    Earl instinctively hid behind Kuro, clearly unsettled by the eerie atmosphere.


    As expected, the walls were adorned with skulls and bones, but to my surprise, not all of them seemed human.


    Some skulls bore horns, while others had three eye sockets.


    Among the bones were remains with six fingers and sharp claws.


    The unsettling sight sent a shiver down my spine, especially with the walls stained a deep crimson, making it appear as if blood oozed from within.


    "Are these demon bones?" Kuro asked, her voice wary.


    "I''m not sure... maybe," I replied.


    "They''re definitely not human," Earl added, pointing at a skeleton embedded in the wall, its lamb-like horns and pierced body impaled by a spear.


    "This place is seriously creepy," Earl muttered as we passed more unsettling remains.


    "The survivor mentioned that they found Malacy after walking for several minutes and stumbling into a large hall with an inverted cross," Kuro said.


    "Then I guess we should keep moving," I suggested.


    With Durandal already drawn in my right hand, I remained on guard, ready for any undead that might lunge at us.


    Our footsteps echoed through the passage, the flickering flames of skull torches casting restless shadows against the stone walls.


    The further we went, the stronger the feeling that something lurked beyond the dim corridors.


    After several minutes, we arrived at a vast chamber filled with coffins.


    "One of the survivors warned that this room is riddled with traps," Kuro cautioned, stopping me with a light touch of her arm. "Let me handle it."


    "Alright, I''ll leave it to you," I nodded.


    Kuro began chanting,


    "Ab abyssis, surgite cranii maledicti—marcescite, tabescite, frangite carnem, et in lapidem vertite, Mourning Misfortune."


    Dozens of floating skulls swarmed the room.


    Moments later, the traps activated, spears shot out in every direction, and spikes erupted from the floor.


    Earl’s face paled as the deadly mechanisms sprang to life.


    "Big Sister... are you sure we can handle this?" he asked nervously as the coffins creaked open.


    "Even if those spears hit us, Stone Skin will absorb most of the damage.


    Plus, I already cast Voodoo Ritual on all three of us before we entered," Kuro reassured him.


    "That skill blocks three instances of fatal damage," she added.


    "And besides, we have the strongest bodyguard with us right now."


    "You’re right! We have Big Brother Asriel!" Earl exclaimed, looking more confident.


    A dozen Headless Soldiers emerged from their coffins, their hollow stares filled with malice.


    "Wait, Big Brother, let me freeze the floor and wall first," Earl said.


    Instantly, ice spears erupted across the chamber, coating the ground, walls, and even the undead soldiers in thick frost.


    "Nice work, Earl. Stay back while I finish them off," I said, stepping forward with Durandal in hand.


    Fortunately, all the Headless Soldiers were perfectly aligned in three straight rows.


    Completely immobilized by the ice, they were sitting ducks for my Half-Moon Slash.


    With three swift, arcing slashes, all twelve Headless Soldiers fell, their bodies cleaved cleanly in half.


    Earl’s Ice Lance had also frozen the remaining traps that Kuro’s Mourning Misfortune had missed, though the air had become noticeably colder.


    "Good thing we didn''t get hit.


    These spears are embedded with a Bleed ailment, which causes continuous blood loss and drains health over time,"


    Kuro noted as she examined a spear lodged into one of the coffins.


    Thanks to her Witch-class skill, Ailment Detection, she could sense status effects not only on weapons and abilities but even on players.


    "Don''t worry about it. If needed, we can always summon Tear," I reassured her.


    "Still, next time, we should bring a Healer with an ailment removal skill," Earl suggested.


    "Earl has a point," Kuro admitted with a sigh.


    "But in Alcoria, we barely have any high-level healers.


    Most of them refuse to leave the town’s walls."


    "If only Claire were here," Earl mused.


    "Who''s Claire?" Kuro immediately asked.


    "She''s Big Brother’s friend and classmate.


    She’s already learned Holy Sanctuary," Earl explained.


    "Really? That sounds interesting," Kuro said, intrigued.


    Then, I caught a glimpse of something ahead.


    "Is that the room you''re talking about?" I pointed toward a large, inverted black cross at the end of the hallway.


    "That’s the one," Kuro confirmed.


    The moment we stepped into the boss room, a wave of malice washed over me.


    Beneath the massive inverted cross sat a throne.


    And on it, someone was waiting.


    Seated upon the dark throne was a long-eared elf with crimson eyes and pale, porcelain skin.


    A chilling smile stretched across her lips as she observed us.


    As I read the name above her head, recognition struck me.


    Malady the Death Whisperer.


    Kuro stiffened beside me.


    "Malady... the Daywalker. The Sixth Progenitor. " she muttered, her voice tinged with unease.


    I could sense the fear in Kuro and Earl’s eyes.


    This wasn’t an opponent we could handle right now.


    The listed level was a deception.


    In Arcadia Online, there were seven known Progenitors, ancient beings that ruled the night, each with their own distinct nature.


    They weren’t strictly allies or enemies; they were observers, beings that either appeared randomly in the world or were hidden within dungeons and labyrinths.


    Hunters sought them out for their power.


    They were among the strongest entities in Arcadia.


    But Malady was different.


    The vampire elf who had forsaken her throne just to walk beneath the sun, a Daywalker who, unlike the others, occasionally aided players instead of opposing them.


    "It seems I have more visitors," Malady spoke, her voice like ice.


    And just like that, I knew this encounter would be unlike any other.


    No wonder there were so many demon bones scattered throughout these catacombs.


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    It all made sense, after all, she was known as the NPC who appeared whenever a horde of powerful monsters overwhelmed players.


    Claiming some of the spoils, in exchange for her assistance, namely the corpses.


    Malady was infamous in Arcadia Online, recognized as one of the strongest necromancers in the game.


    "So, what brings you here, little children?" Malady asked, her voice smooth yet chilling.


    "We’ve come to challenge Malacy, the Death Whisperer," I declared.


    "How unfortunate," she said with a faint smile. "I already ate her quite some time ago."


    "A-Ate her?" Earl stammered, his voice laced with fear.


    "Don’t worry, little ones. I can still entertain you," Malady assured us.


    And in an instant,she was beside Kuro.


    I barely caught her movement, but my body refused to react.


    "I see… such a poor lonely soul," Malady murmured, gently stroking Kuro’s face.


    "Relax, Lost One," she said, her crimson gaze locking onto mine. "I would never harm these little children."


    A cold shiver ran through all three of us.


    "Defeat one of my Eternal Guards, and I shall grant your heart’s desire,"


    Malady whispered to Kuro before, in the blink of an eye, she was back on her silver throne.


    Then, with a simple command…


    "Wake up, Bel."


    "Luna gemina, ferre duos gladios, astrum danza Lunar Blade Dance!", I instantly chanted as I heard Malady’s command.


    Allowing me to equip the Kaleidoscope on my left hand.


    One of the demon skeletons embedded in the walls began to tremble.


    Its ancient bones knit together, and within seconds, flesh enveloped them.


    Standing beside Malady’s throne was now a towering, ten-foot horror of a demon.


    Its name appeared in bold red letters:


    Belphegor – LVL ???


    Gripping a massive greatsword in its right hand, its very presence radiated overwhelming power.


    My stomach dropped.


    If its level was unreadable, it meant that the gap between us was so vast that I couldn''t even begin to comprehend its true strength.


    The only silver lining was Kaleidoscope''s unique trait, Disparity.


    The skill amplified the level gap between me and my opponent, doubling the difference and converting it into raw strength.


    The wider the gap, the stronger I became.


    Before I could strategize, Earl instinctively launched a barrage of Lightning Lances and Ice Lances, targeting both Malady and Belphegor.


    The spells struck their targets, but in the next instant, one of Earl’s Voodoo Dolls shattered.


    His HP plummeted straight into the critical zone.


    "S-Sorry, Big Brother… I didn’t think she had Magic Reflection active," Earl gasped as Kuro hurriedly handed him an HP potion.


    I couldn''t blame him.


    Typically, the best way to defeat a summoner was to strike the summoner directly, since their summons were often tougher than they were.


    "Guild Master, Belphegor is affected by Paralysis!" Kuro announced.


    As she saw Belphegor status using her Ailment Detection..


    Paralysis, a debuff triggered by lightning-based attacks slowed movement and attack speed.


    "Nice work, Little Bro! Leave the rest to me!" I said as I dashed forward, intercepting Belphegor’s downward vertical slash.


    After executing Flash Step, I immediately used Dual Blade Parry, mitigating 90% of Belphegor’s attack.


    Still, the attack was so heavy that it staggered my footing and took a fifth of my Health Points.


    However, in an instant, a second greatsword materialized in its left hand.


    “Look out, Guildmaster!” Kuro shouted seeing the second attack.


    “Ethereal,” I whispered just as Belphegor unleashed a powerful horizontal slash.


    The blade phased harmlessly through my body.


    I quickly stepped back a few feet before deactivating Ethereal.


    “Interesting,” Malady mused, her voice laced with amusement.


    The moment I rematerialized, Belphegor shifted into a stance, Cross Flame Slash.


    I clenched my blades. Both Dual Blade Parry and Ethereal were on cooldown.


    There was no time to dodge.


    "Obscurum Circum Nocturnus Artes Saltandi Ferrarius, Moonless Night Parade!" I chanted without hesitation.


    With Kuro and Earl behind me, I couldn''t use Shadow Step to evade.


    Then I have to unleash an attack and hope it nullifies Belphegor''s skill.


    "Big Bro use your Shadow Step!" Earl suddenly shouted.


    Instinctively, I activated the skill, trusting my cousin, vanishing into the shadows.


    I reappeared behind Belphegor just as Earl raised two stacking Stone Wall beneath him and Kuro, launching them high into the air allowing them to evade the attack.


    Luckily, the ceiling was high enough to keep them out of harm’s way.


    Belphegor’s gaze followed them, momentarily distracted.


    That was my opening.


    Before the demon could react, I unleashed one of my strongest attacks, Devouring Nightshade.


    The dark attribute counterpart of Devouring Moonflower, this skill could only be activated during Moonless Night Parade, releasing 32 mid-range pitch-black slashes.


    Belphegor attempted to cast a defensive spell…


    “Not on my watch,” Kuro declared as she chanted,


    "Per aerem immobilem et vacuum mutum, omnis sonus cesset—Silence!"


    The demon’s spell failed to activate.


    All 32 obsidian slashes struck, carving through its body and rapidly depleting its health.


    But it wasn’t enough.


    Belphegor, now barely standing, prepared to unleash a relentless barrage of greatsword slashes.


    Before it could strike.


    Hundreds of black needles rained down, piercing its body from every angle.


    Kuro had cast Needle Rain while airborne with Earl.


    Belphegor let out a final, guttural growl before its body crumbled, reverting to a pile of lifeless bones.


    “Hmm… quite entertaining,” Malady remarked with a satisfied smile.


    She turned to Kuro.


    “I cannot grant you the ability to resurrect the dead… but I can at least let you see them once more,” Malady said softly.


    Then, with a simple command…


    “Wake up, and see your little princess.”


    Two skeletal figures near the throne trembled.


    Flesh returned to their bones, and life flickered in their eyes.


    “Kuroko?” The man and woman spoke in unison.


    “Mom! Dad!” Kuro cried as she ran toward them.


    Malady watched, her smile unreadable.


    “I saw these two little children being eaten by monsters,” she said.


    “Children shouldn’t be devoured like that. So I took their corpses and left only a few of their belongings behind.”


    Tears streamed down Kuro’s mother’s face as she held her daughter close.


    "I''m so glad you''re okay, Kuroko," she sobbed.


    “Did your little brother survive?” her father asked, his voice filled with concern.


    “Yes, Shiro is with me. We live together in our home,” Kuro replied.


    Her father smiled softly. “Then everything will be fine, Kuroko.”


    “But… I wanted to watch more movies with you, Dad. And eat more of Mom’s cooking,” Kuro sobbed.


    Her mother gently wiped away her own tears. “We wanted to spend more time with you too, Kuroko.”


    “I’m sorry I couldn’t cook more meals for you and Shiro,” her mother added with a sorrowful smile.


    Kuro shook her head, sniffling. “It’s okay, Mom. I can cook now, thanks to your recipes.”


    “I wish I could taste my daughter’s cooking,” her father said wistfully.


    “Big Sister Kuro’s curry is amazing!” Earl interjected.


    Kuro’s mother chuckled before glancing at him. “Are these your friends, Kuroko?”


    “Yes, they are,” Kuro confirmed.


    Her mother’s eyes softened.


    “Thank you for taking care of our little princess. I hope you’ll continue to be by her side.”


    “We will,” I assured her. “Besides, she always takes care of us too.”


    Both parents smiled at me warmly.


    “Kuroko, take care of yourself,” her father said.


    “And make sure Shiro stays out of trouble.”


    “I will,” Kuro promised, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Her mother sighed. “We’ve been gone for a while now, but at least we got to see our little Kuroko one last time.”


    They turned toward Malady. “Thank you,” they both said.


    Then, looking back at their daughter, her mother whispered,


    “We’ll be going now, Kuroko.


    Take care of yourself and your little brother.


    We always love you both.”


    “I love you too, Mom, Dad,” Kuro cried, wrapping them in a final embrace.


    Moments later, their bodies turned to dust, vanishing into the air.


    Left standing in silence, Kuro wept.


    Without hesitation, Earl rushed to her side and hugged his big sister tightly.


    Malady’s voice echoed through the room.


    “Move fast, Lost One, or you’ll lose more.”


    Before I could even respond, she disappeared into thin air.


    A portal flickered into existence just a few meters ahead of us, a sign that the dungeon was closing.


    “We need to go. Earl, Kuro,” I said firmly.


    Sniffling, Kuro wiped her tears and joined Earl and me as we stepped through the portal.


    As expected, we were thrown back into the abandoned cabin.


    When I turned around, the entrance to the Silent Catacombs had vanished completely.


    Realizing we were finally out, Kuro exhaled deeply.


    “I’m sorry for putting you both in danger.”


    Earl frowned. “Big Sister, isn’t there a better way to say that?”


    Kuro hesitated, then took a deep breath.


    “I mean… Thank you. Both of you. For coming with me.”


    She pulled us into a tight hug, crying for a little while longer.


    Once she calmed down, she looked at us.


    “Are you two heading home now?”


    “Yeah, we should. There are people who’d worry if we stayed away any longer,” I said.


    Kuro hesitated before asking, “Can I come with you? That way, I can use the Transport Gate whenever I want to visit.”


    “Of course,” I replied. “Actually, I wanted to ask, where is the Transport Gate in Alcoria?”


    “It’s by the northern gate, hidden among a cluster of Whitewood trees,” Kuro explained.


    “No wonder we never found it before, Big Bro,” Earl muttered.


    Kuro wiped the last of her tears and stepped back.


    “Wait here for a few minutes. I just need to inform my brother.” Kuro said as she dashed away.