章 38: Chapter 38: Strange Dungeon Exploration (7)
[Third Person's PoV]
Stephen's heart raced with excitement as he gazed at the glowing red ruby in his hand. 'I'm kinda geeking out... It's the Scarlet Witch!' he thought, the fanboy in him momentarily taking over. He stepped off to the side and began punching and kicking the air, completely starstruck by what he had just uncovered.
He stopped mid-punch, suddenly aware of a familiar gaze. He turned his head slowly, only to find the Cloak of Levitation hovering nearby, floating quietly but unmistakably facing him.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Stephen straightened his posture, trying to save face. "You didn't see anything," he muttered defensively, though a part of him knew it was no use. The cloak might not have eyes, but its judgmental presence was undeniable. He could feel it.
With a long sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "How did you know this was even here?"
The Cloak's fabric shifted as if to shrug, then pointed at him repeatedly with its tattered end.
"Me? You're saying this is related to me?" Stephen frowned, his curiosity piqued as he stared at the ruby, tilting his head in confusion.
The Cloak nodded, its movements deliberate.
"Wait—" Stephen blinked, realization hitting him. "Is it related to my family? Some cliche secret, mystical, hidden clan thing?" he asked, half-joking, though his mind raced at the implications.
Again, the Cloak bobbed in confirmation.
Stephen rubbed his chin thoughtfully, processing this revelation. "I see… But this only raises more questions than answers," he mumbled to himself, before casting his gaze back at the ruby.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "First things first... I'm bringing you home with me," he announced confidently, but then paused, his eyes widening with realization. "Wait—no, that came out wrong. I didn't mean it like that." He awkwardly retracted his statement, scratching the back of his neck.
Regaining his composure, Stephen had his hand on the ruby, closing his eyes. "I'll find a way to free you. It might blow up in my face, but there must be a reason I found you."
The ruby began to levitate from his pedestal. The air around it shimmered as the environment itself shifted, warping the space into a glass-like form. Stephen used his magic to transfer the ruby into the Mirror Dimension, allowing it to follow him just like his grimoire always did.
"Let's go," Stephen said with a glance at the Cloak.
Without hesitation, the Cloak swooped toward him, draping itself over his shoulders. Together, they flew out through a hidden doorway, which seamlessly sealed behind them, leaving no trace of its existence.
Stephen floated down into a massive treasure chamber, where he spotted Yuno poring over an ancient scroll. Yuno's grimoire glowed as the scroll's words vanished, being absorbed into its pages. Before Stephen could say anything, Asta's voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"GUYS! GUYS! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!" Asta burst from an opening in the wall, proudly wielding a sword that was much slimmer than his usual weapon but still impressively large. A line ran down its center, ending in a cross near the blade's tip.
"How many hidden compartments are in this flipping dungeon?" Stephen muttered in disbelief, shaking his head as he floated down toward Asta.
"Cool sword," Stephen said, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.
"Hehe, thanks!" Asta grinned, immediately demonstrating its power with rapid, blur-like swings. The thinner blade allowed him to handle it with one hand, a feat that clearly delighted him.
Stephen's brow furrowed as he studied the weapon. "Mind if I take a closer look?"
"Sure," Asta said, handing over the sword without hesitation.
The moment Stephen touched the hilt, a sharp jolt coursed through his body as he felt his magic being drained. The line along the blade glowed a fiery orange, siphoning his energy.
"Ugh! This thing's draining my magic. Here, take it back," Stephen said, hastily returning the sword to Asta.
As he let go, Stephen noticed something strange—his magic remained visibly locked within the sword. His eyes widened in surprise. "Asta... your luck is insane."
Asta chuckled smugly, rubbing his cheek against the blade. "Hehehe!"
Stephen scoffed, crossing his arms. "I'm getting a little jealous over here. Now I'm starting to want a sword for myself, who knows maybe there's a sword meant for me in this place after all."
Asta shot him a cocky grin. "Now you know how I feel when everyone else can use magic."
Before Stephen could respond, his Cloak of Levitation suddenly lifted off his shoulders and shot into the air, making a beeline for a nearby pile of treasure upon hearing Stephen's words.
Everyone looked on in confusion as the Cloak dove into the pile, scattering coins and relics. It darted through the room, rummaging through various mounds of treasure, creating a clattering noise that echoed through the chamber.
"What are you doing!?" Klaus exclaimed, eyeing Stephen warily. "I said some of these items are national treasure-class magic tools!"
"It's not me!" Stephen said, exasperated. "I'm not doing that."
Klaus pointed accusingly. "Isn't that your cloak?"
"He's right," Noelle interjected. "It's not Stephen. His cloak acts on its own—it's, like, sentient or something."
Just then, the Cloak emerged triumphantly from a pile of glittering coins, holding a long, black bastard sword in its fabric folds. Coins rained down as the Cloak delivered the weapon to Stephen's hands, once again draping over his shoulders.
Stephen's eyes widened as he examined the long blade. The sword's hilt was intricately carved into the shape of a dragon's head. He ran his fingers along the cool metal, feeling a connection to it. "Dragonfang…" he whispered, almost reverently, instinctively knowing the name.
He and Asta locked eyes, a playful tension rising between them. In an instant, they both jumped back, raising their swords high.
"ON GUARD!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the chamber.
Sparks flew as their swords clashed, each strike a dazzling blur of steel and energy.
Noelle groaned, rolling her eyes at their antics. "Ugh, boys…"
Mimosa giggled softly, covering her mouth. "I think they're cute," she said with a smile. "Don't you think so?"
As Asta and Stephen pressed their swords together in a test of strength, Asta grinned mischievously. "You just couldn't let me have my small victory with my new sword, could you?"
Stephen smirked. "Nope. I can't let you catch up. I'm still ahead."
Suddenly, Stephen's smirk faded, his senses sharpening. He snapped his head toward the door, and Luck, standing nearby, did the same, their eyes narrowing.
"Everyone, step back!" Stephen shouted just as the door to the treasure hall exploded outward, rubble flying everywhere.
From the debris, crystalline structures surged from the ground, trapping most of them where they stood. As the dust settled, Mars appeared, his hulking form covered in gleaming crystal armor, flames dancing around the exposed parts of his body.
[Flame Recovery Magic: Phoenix Robe]
Stephen stared at the armored figure, grimacing. "Well… shit."
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