"Sir Pen… Do you mind me asking a question?"
"[What is it, Sera?]"
"The Alpha earlier, she sounded like she was mourning. Did she really understand what we were talking about?"
Elian remained silent. It was Ryner who answered instead.
"There have long been papers proposing that a social hierarchy exists among the monsters. The lowest being little more than beasts. But at some point, they begin to manifest some sort of sentience. I belong to those who believe said possibility is tied to the INT stat."
As a former student, Elian knew a bit of what Ryner spoke of. It was an entire branch of study dedicated solely to dungeons and their denizens. But knowing what he knew now, he wasn't sure what to believe anymore.
Humans still see them as monsters. I did too—until today. They think. They feel. They remember. So how are they any different from us?
The screams of the Red Swarm Tyrant echoed in Elian's mind.
"Black Demon, you picked the wrong opponent! I am not a maggot who has yet to learn how to fight! I will kill you and eat your core! Then I will grow stronger!"
"ALL GONE! SILENT! MY FAMILY, MY WORLD ALL GONE. UNFORGIVABLE! I DIE, YOU TOO!"
"How? I... suppose to rule... the Celestial Crucible. I... chosen. Yet... I... die... in..."
The Red Swarm Tyrant knew pride, loss and regret. Set aside the monstrous shape—and they might be more human than most. In truth, he and Bianca had more in common with Tyrants than with anyone walking beside him right now.
How ironic.
This line of reasoning was why Elian could piece together the truth about the Edict. When you included Fluffy's words, it became clear what had happened.
"My parents joined one of those expeditions… and never came back. I thought they died in glory. But now…They died as livestock."
This Dungeon's tyrant chose to subordinate their members for survival. Although it was hard and pitiful, Elian could see why the one leading them would choose such an option.
The only other option was annihilation.
The Red Swarm Tyrant chose not to submit and went extinct. The wolves chose to bow and live at the expense of some of their members. It was the classic needs of the many over the few. But the boy couldn't help but clench his fist. His entire armor began to ripple.
"Sir Pen?"
"Oy! Get away from him!"
"Ryner! Come over here!"
"Tsk. What is going on!"
I was a Defect. Bianca was a villainess.
We were the sacrifices.
And now they say our existence is unforgivable?
Heat bloomed in his chest. Even with Adamant suppressing his emotion, Elian's soul cracked.
He couldn't accept this world. Not as it was.
Even if he lorded over the humans, what if a stronger dungeon monster comes?
Who gets to decide what life is worth saving?
The Guilds? The same bastards who hunted Bianca all her life?
Bianca and Sera's voices echoed in the boy's mind. Like hallucinations, the words sound like clattering metal, as if Living Metal was remembering with him.
"They are the Noble Ascendancy, Bloodright of Conquest, And the Truthsong Church."
"It was quite a shock, but the one who made the Edict is the Truthsong Church. The rest of the big three agreed so smaller guilds can't actually say much."
"Pen, there is an Edict against this dungeon. Hunting its dungeon boss is something that will get your breaker license revoked."
[Talent: Driven – activated. Elian Reed will never lose consciousness in the face of an enemy.]
"Ah," Elian said quietly. "I see now."
The rippling stopped. The metal fell silent.
If earlier, it was as if the voices of thousands echoed.
Now, it had only one.
Killing just them is not enough. The cycle will simply repeat. To ensure Bianca gets to live free, I need power. Just being stronger than humans is not enough. I need to be stronger than any and all Tyrants that exist.
Elian raised his head, surprised at the breaker party. They all drew weapons and were on guard not against monsters—but against him.
The black knight nodded in understanding. Taking out the phone he began to type on it.
"[Everyone, this is where we part ways.]"
At the abrupt declaration the breakers all lowered their weapons.
"What? Why? Sir Pen! Did we do something wrong?" the priestess asked frantically.
Elian shook his head and smiled, "[No, but I think you will only get in trouble by joining me.]"
Bridget put her bow away as she asked in a tense voice, "Pen, you aren't seriously going to go against the church, are you?"
"[I am]."
Ryner fixed his eyes and clarified in a low voice, "Sir Pen, is it because it is related to you know what?"
Nod.
"I see. It seems the world will be in for quite a shock. You aren't a registered Breaker, are you?"
Nod.
Ryner said no more and turned to Charlie, "Everyone, I advise leaving at once. Staying here will only incriminate us further." He then pulled out a pouch of black syringes.
Charlie who saw shouted in surprise, "Woah! Are you serious? Aren't these Nanomachine blockers! These are illegal! What if we get caught!"
However, the mage simply took one of the devices and injected himself with it. He then offered the others to Sera and Bridget, who both took the syringes in silence.
The shielder grabbed his ally by the shoulder and screamed, "Ryner, what the hell are you thinking? Using these wipes all logs from our nanomachines! The Breaker's Hunter unit will notice!"
"I am aware. But the alternative would be to knowingly implicate ourselves in a rebellion." Ryner answered curtly.
"Rebellion? But…" Charlie looked at Elian then back at his party.
"Charlie, it is going to be okay." Sera said as she took his hand in hers, "We got the Snow wolf, we even have three of them! We are still alive, getting a fine and house arrest is light compared to dying. It will be alright."
"AH! Screw this!" with a shout, Charlie stabbed the blocker into his neck. A quiet hiss resounded as gray liquid flowed into his bloodstream.
He then looked at Elian and stomped until just inches away from his face.
"We heard nothing about this Pen. Whatever we owe you is now paid. Understand?"
Despite Charlie's attempts to appear malicious, Elian couldn't see him as anything but pure. All he wanted was to keep his party—his family safe. And it showed.
He is a good guy.
Elian nodded as he typed, "[Thank you. When the time comes, let's fight together again.]"
"Ha! Fight together he says. You my friend, are insane! Going against the big three is like suicide. But sure, if you really come to the point that you can live in Crestfall, give us a call. We can share a beer and all that."
"[Understood. It will come soon enough.]"
Charlie grinned, then tapped Elian's armor with a mock punch. A goodbye only another fighter would understand. The rest of his party groaned in disbelief.
"I was like you once… back when I idolized Breakers believing they were heroes. Seeing you, again reminded me of what Breakers were supposed to be. Thanks. Watch out, the next time we meet— I will be stronger than you."
"Shut up, Charlie. You're full of hot air."
"Uhm, Charlie, that seems impossible."
"Statistically speaking, even if you die, that is highly unlikely."
Although his allies all disparaged his words, Elian didn't. He saw a fire burning inside the Shielder's eyes. Something similar to his own.
"[I look forward to it.]"
He chuckled. "Don't die, Pen. I'll be seeing you,"
The rest of his party made their farewells.
"Please stay safe Sir Pen. I will search for you when I become an Exorcist."
"You're weird and rabid, Pen—but you're kind. I hope we meet again."
"Sir Pen, I hope you don't end up like... you know who. Be careful."
Nod
Then they all left. Elian waited till he could no longer see them. He belatedly forgot that he still had Sera's pink phone. Gripping the phone in hand, Elian felt acknowledged.
"Until we meet again huh? That reminds me, I don't know what their party's name is. System, do you know?"
[Sera Dale is publicly registered as the sub commander of the party, "Beacon". ]
"Beacon, huh? How apt."
With a newfound sense of camaraderie, Elian turned around and made his way deeper into the dungeon.