Finally, even Sophia herself failed to hold onto the water rope.

The girl’s body slowly plunged into The Abyss, swallowed by endless darkness and biting cold.

Sophia watched the cliff recede. The Abyss’s wind stung her skin—but the warm smear on her cheek burned with unbearable pain.

Windsor’s blood…

Right before Sophia’s eyes, Windsor was crushed to death by the stone giant—alive until the very end.

Blood splattered across Sophia’s face.

The image of the girl’s shattered body seared into her mind, along with Windsor’s final gaze:

Despair. Coldness. Silence. Agony…

So like her father’s last look…

She had watched his chest split open by a giant sword. Until he fell, his eyes held hers—

Just like this.

Why…?

Her heart screamed the question. Only weightlessness and bone-chilling wind answered.

Below, monsters spotted the falling “delicacy.” Low growls rumbled. Cruel, greedy eyes tracked Sophia’s descent.

Imagining the impact—flesh torn loose from indigestible bones, tender and ripe.

Sophia’s eyelids fluttered shut. Blood dripped from cuts on her palms.

As her body sank deeper into darkness, her heart drifted closer to the void.

Until—

“Little princess, you seem a bit disheveled, hehe…”

The Brown Bear Warband had guarded the first floor for hours. Shrill screams from below echoed in every ear.

Behind them lay corpses—including Raging Lion Leon’s.

Some glanced toward the entrance with pity. Most eyes gleamed with cruelty and greed.

Wiping out a warband meant far more than a high-level quest reward.

With a little scheming, they could claim the Lion Warband’s entire “inheritance.”

Soon, Brown Bear would dominate Nexar City. Each man would pocket nearly twenty gold coins.

As the last scream faded, fervor lit the adventurers’ eyes.

“Hold on,” the Brown Bear captain grinned. “The Lions might be dead—but don’t forget the two stone giants.”

They swallowed their impatience.

Everyone wanted to be first inside.

Dead or not, every Lion carried silver. Enough for drunken nights at the tavern.

Looting corpses?

Worthless next to gold.

After a long wait, the captain smirked and waved. “Go.”

No one moved.

Only the captain could—and would—lead.

His broad frame squeezed through the narrow passage. The others followed.

The second floor was dimmer. After a moment’s adjustment, the scene revealed itself:

Scattered limbs. Pools of blood gathering in craters.

The coppery stench of blood overpowered the dungeon’s rot.

“Captain, look…” A robed figure reeking of decay approached and whispered.

The captain shot the Necromancer a dismissive glance. “Take it. A few dirty silvers. Heh.”

The Necromancer didn’t flinch. Insults meant nothing beside coin.

To them, corpses were treasure.

They scrambled over broken bodies, plucking bloodstained coins into pouches.

Even after the last copper vanished, hunger remained.

Mages’ staves. Warriors’ greatswords. Archers’ bows.

Low-grade gear—but each worth half a gold.

“Captain, a huge haul!” The dwarf deputy’s shrewd eyes glinted.

The captain pulled a small seal and massive ox horns from his bag. “Lions got lucky with this contract. Pity they were too dumb to spend it.”

He blew lightly on the seal. A faint *ching*—just like clinking gold.

“Wait… where’s the high-level mage? I don’t see her body.”

The dwarf froze, scanned the area, then squinted at a water rope clinging to the cliff edge. “I think she jumped across.”

The captain followed his gaze, silent, then shook his head. “Monsters worse than stone giants live there. She’s dead.”

He clapped his hands before the looters. “You did well. I’ll reward you. But remember—know what to say… and what *not* to say.”

Nods answered under his sharp stare.

Even if Nexar City silently blamed Brown Bear, silence meant safety.

Who argues with gold?

“Good. Pack up. We’re leaving.”

“Yes, sir!”

Smiles spread as they fingered coins in their pouches—some who’d pitied the Lions moments ago.

Then—

A pillar of fire erupted from the cliff below.

Heat blasted outward. Robes ignited mid-scream.

“What the hell is that!?”