The Last Ruler: The Return of the Goddess
Someone precious

Outside the labyrinth, moments after the explosion.

Everyone was completely blown away by the huge explosion that suddenly occurred, at the same time, the monitor also lost connection with the projection crystal. People immediately wondered what was going on inside, some were also worried because when the explosion happened.

" How is this..??"

" What happened to them inside?"

" Is that explosion because of one of the teams?"

" No way, they all got to be there. It's definitely not them."

" So who?"

People assumed in confusion, making the place very noisy. While behind them, exactly on the podium, those who know what happened immediately panic.

Especially Israhi and Derrick.

" Israhi, Derrick! Stop that!."

The two of them immediately dashed into the direction of the labyrinth, not even heeding Yi's cry that stopped them. When something else came out of the labyrinth first and made the two stop, a purple-colored smoke.

" Everyone back out of the labyrinth!!" Mira instantly moved with it, it was poison smoke.

At the same time the purple smoke was getting thickened and moving towards the crowd. The people who saw it immediately ran away and shouted in panic, the commotion was inevitable.

People push each other, they bump into each other and try to save themselves in panic.

Because of this, to slow down the poison, Mira and Yi came forward and put up a fire barrier. Smoke that runs close can also be temporarily held by a protective wall with a temperature so hot made by two people with the main element of fire together.

They're trying to buy time for people to go back there...

" Ugh, it's true that this has to happen at a time like this." Yi really did not expect that such a thing would happen.

Mira who was next to him then replied, "I'm not either. I thought everything would be fine even if I felt awkward... It's khoo!"

" Your mother?!!"

Yi was surprised by that. Mira had just vomited a mouthful of blood from her mouth, even so she did not reduce her strength at all.

" That's okay.don't say anything about this." he then said so while wiping the blood from his mouth.

It was also a confusing thing for Yi, her condition showed that she was not good, but the energy in her showed that she was fine. So why did he spit blood??

" My nails..."

Before long, their attention there was turned to the sound of laughter. And someone came out of the labyrinth...

" Ahahaha! Look at those helpless faces, really funny!" a man laughed with excitement from the entrance.

" You..." Mira was really serious face to face with that person, in view of her expression she looked like a person who had a grudge against her.

And the person who just came out was smiling looking interested, "Ho... Do you recognize me??" he said arrogantly.

The others were also curious and nervous about it, they wondered what was going on between them. When Mira was serious there then said...

" .....Who're you?"

Everyone was immediately flabbergasted by it, he wore such an expression when he had no idea who it was. It managed to surprise him at first, but apparently it was just a joke.

Not only were they shocked by his response, even that person was the same. He looked quite offended by his words...

" What do you mean 'who are you'?! So do you know or don't know?!" he shouted with an annoyed expression.

But Mira just waved her hand casually and said, "No, no. I don't remember ever meeting an anchovy like you" he said with a flat expression.

" Do you really not know?! It´s me! The best poison concocter in the world, the genius alchemist, Riol!!"

Mira did not respond too much, she just stared with an unconvincing expression.

" How dare you!!" while the person is getting annoyed with Mira's behavior.

While behind him, it was unexpected that Derrick appeared there with such a dark expression, and directly swung his great black sword towards that person.

Unfortunately, the person who claimed that his name was Riol realized his sudden attack and immediately avoided, Derrick's great sword fell to the ground with considerable force even to the point of destroying the ground around him.

Yuck...!!

" Wow, wow. It was a good strength.." it was not finished yet, this time Israhi who appeared and intended to cut off her head with a smooth sword movement. "...Nice attack."

But Riol was apparently more sensitive and nimble, he just turned his body into the air and jumped dodging Israhi's attack by turning to his back.

The two of them looked hardened their facial expressions so angrily.

" What did you do to Remilia and Aksa??"

" Where's Altair?"

And the two of them asked about them. On the other hand, Riol thought about that...

" Altair?? Which one is one? There were five women in there" he said with a puzzled expression.

" Black-haired child with blue eyes!."

Riol thought back to that, when then he remembered the person fighting him impressively within the labyrinth.

" Ah, so his name is Altair. Well, I don't know. He's a strong kid, do you guys have a relationship? That explains why he is so strong" he said casually.

But unlike that guy, Derrick has nothing he wants to hear about what Altair looks like, except... " What did you do to him..?"

Except where.

" Hm, I don't know. I gave him poison, if lucky he might still be alive. But if it's not..." Riol raised her hand then covered her mouth, as she whispered softly there. ".... He's probably dead."

Derrick who heard that made it stiff, those were words he never wanted to hear in his life.

In that short moment, Derrick's head felt empty, his body heat increased by leaps and bounds but his fingers felt extremely cold. He grasped the sword in his hand tightly, when something inside of him whispered something to him. And instantly, his expression immediately hardened.

{"Kill him"}

The voice appeared within his head, prompting Derrick to attack Riol directly.

It was a clear attack, but the speed was incredible. Derrick moved faster than ever before and continued to mount barrage. Derrick couldn't just let it go after hearing that.

Altair... The girl he cared about, the child he had been looking for for 5 years, the one who became his joy that he found. Though they had just met, but did the two have to be separated this quickly?? Derrick can't accept that.

Riol who was attacked by him certainly did not stay still, he shot out the same poison needles and arrows several times that he had used to attack Altair before.

But Israhi who was behind him fended off all that for Derrick.

They have a pretty good combination of attacks, probably because they already know each other. Both can work well together.

But there are things to keep in mind who Riol really is. He was not a great fighter, but someone who worked in the shadows. His skill was also not a direct attack, but rather a sudden attack.

" Because of you" he said as Derrick stepped on the ground he had prepared, rather.

A magic circle instantly appeared and shone there, and tendrils emerged from the magic circle and bound it.

" What the fuck is this.?!!" Derrick tried to pull all the tendrils away, but unfortunately, it only made him more tightly bound. " Damn it!!."

" Derrick, stop revolting." said Israhi who rushed to him.

At the same time, Riol pointed an arrow at them.

" Now try this one" he said as he pulled the arrow, seconds later.

It was directed at Derrick's heart, but now it's targeting Israhi who is standing by to protect him. The arrow will soon pierce his chest a few inches longer, however...

The clingk... Swosh..

Pakks...

A sword darted faster and instantly destroyed the arrow, the arrow fell on the ground along with the sword that stuck not far from him. Everyone could only look at it in surprise...

" W-what..?" even Israhi lost being speechless about it.

" Who did that?!" while Riol immediately turned his attention towards the labyrinth, the place where the sword came from.

Something walked closer out of there, it could be felt by everyone who was there. He who exuded an aura that was so great and could not be ignored just like that.

" ha... This is the one you shouldn't miss." said Mira as everyone focused only on the doorway, confusing those who heard her. " ....You should make sure whether he's really dead or not" he continued with a small mutter.

At his side, Yi threw a rope that he made with his magic, and immediately pulled Derrick and Israhi who were there after being tied. Mira asked him to do this before.

And when they reached the barrier they had made, something moved its feet out of the labyrinth.

That's... Altair.

" Haha... It's quite troublesome because Lumine has to rest" Altair said shortly after he came out of over.

While Riol was wondering why he could be there right now, "Ka-Kau... You're.. How come??" he must be very confused right now.

He was a reliable poison maker, no one had ever simply survived his poison. And the poison he gave Altair was a poison strong enough to paralyze a monster. So how could Altair who was just an ordinary human look alright now?

But in contrast to Riol who was confused, Derrick who saw her was fine so he felt relieved. At least Altair didn't go anywhere he couldn't reach.