Chapter 521 – The Old Dungeon Secret.

“Excuse me, but where is the noble Sun Wolf?”

“Oh sorry, there has been a change of plan, the Knight Commander and his tamed wolf won’t be available for a few days.”

“But…”

The priests, clad in the ceremonial garb of the Solarian Church, exchanged frustrated glances. They had arrived earlier than expected, hoping to take the divine beast with them to perform the usual rituals before their believers. It had become a weekly routine for them and Agni the Sun Wolf was supposed to be waiting for them outside. However, it seemed they were being turned away for reasons they hadn’t anticipated.

One of the priests, an elderly man with a long, graying beard, approached the knights standing guard. His face was stern but with a touch of exhaustion, as though he had seen more than enough of this kind of interference in his time.

“I must insist, we have a sacred duty to fulfill. The wolf’s divine blessing is of utmost importance. You cannot simply deny us access without explanation. We were not informed of any change in the schedule.”

The knight at the front, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, crossed his arms over his chest and stood firm.

“The High Knight Commander has issued new orders. Agni won’t be available for your rituals for the next few days, maybe even until next week. You’ll have to make do without him.”

The lead priest’s face tightened, frustration bubbling beneath his composed exterior.

“This is unacceptable!”

He snapped, his voice echoing through the courtyard.

“The faithful await the Sun Wolf’s blessing. Do you realize the kind of uproar this will cause among our followers?”

The scarred knight didn’t flinch, his expression stone cold.

“I follow the orders of my commander, not your schedule. If the faithful have questions, you can take it up with your superiors or the Knight Commander when he returns.”

The elder priest huffed, adjusting his ceremonial robes. His companions murmured in agreement, their voices carrying hints of indignation. However, they could see that they weren’t getting through and they were also aware of the magical turrets pointing their way so they could do nothing more than retreat.

“The high priest will hear of this!”

The knights stood unmoved as the priests shuffled away, their ceremonial robes fluttering in the wind. One of the younger priests muttered under his breath, only to be hushed by a sharp glance from the elder. For a while the knights kept their eyes of the solaria believers, only talking once they had vanished into the forest.

“Was that really fine? What if they go to the Inquisition?”

“Don’t worry, believe in our High Knight Commander, everything will be fine, we just need to follow orders. Now straighten up, if anything happens to Lady Elodia, our heads will roll!”

“Our heads Sir? Would the High Knight Commander do such a thing…”

The leader of the guards glanced at the two younger soldiers standing beside him. For some reason, he began looking around nervously before waving them closer. His voice dropped to a whisper.

“You weren’t there when it happened, but the Commander annihilated an entire knight troop by himself right here. He was ruthless! He even defeated Knight Commander Emmerson – with just his fists, and showed him no mercy!”

“Just his fists?”

The two men exchanged uneasy glances before looking back at their leader. They had heard rumors about the Commander, but they weren’t sure how much of it was true. The man rarely appeared, but when he did, chaos followed. They had even seen him flying on a metallic cart, pursued by the forces of an opposing faction, only for Lord Arthur to intervene and save him.

“Now that you understand, just shut up and keep watch!”

“Uh… Yes, Sir!”

The guards dispersed, passing orders to other men to spread out and secure the area. The entire site was now guarded by over thirty soldiers. Large runic turrets were strategically placed throughout, and a few imposing golems stood as silent sentinels. It was a veritable fortress that no ordinary intruder would dare to challenge. To top it off, tier-3 adventurers were stationed nearby, ready to respond in an instant should anything go awry.

With everyone bustling around, the leader froze, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. Something felt off. Slowly, he turned his head to the side. There, one of the turrets was pointed directly at him. He could swear it hadn’t been aimed his way a moment ago…

******

“I think I’m more feared than respected… but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. What do you think, Agni?”

“Worf?”

“I guess so.”

Roland glanced at the display screen before him, where he monitored the soldiers and knights stationed around his home. His advanced surveillance system provided a comprehensive view of the area. For a brief moment, he noticed one of the guards flinch, clearly spooked after realizing the turret had shifted to track him. The man’s uneasy expression gave Roland pause. It dawned on him just how intimidating he must appear to these people.

“If they knew I was watching them day and night, they might think I was some kind of madman.”

“Awooo?”

“It’s nothing, I’m fine. Let’s move. Just remember, before we enter the dungeon, switch to your ruby form.”

The two companions began their trek through a concealed tunnel leading into the dungeon. The passage had been restored after the Lich incident long ago, its walls widened and reinforced with the help of digging golems. Now, Agni could pass through with ease, even with his larger size.

Agni’s form as a flaming Sun Wolf illuminated the passageway, his radiant golden glow lighting their path. But soon, his appearance began to shift. Shimmering red rubies emerged from his fur, replacing the fiery brilliance. The golden glow dimmed as he transitioned into his ruby form, a transformation that was far more than cosmetic. This form significantly increased his resistance to physical attacks, hardening his defenses like an impenetrable gemstone.

The primary reason for the transformation, however, was subtler. It allowed Agni to move through the dungeon undetected, blending in without alarming the priests who occupied the area. Most of them had no idea of his hybrid nature and would never suspect that the ruby-furred wolf was, in fact, the fabled Sun Wolf blessed by their goddess.

“Now then, let’s see how things are going inside the dungeon.”

With his wife safe and his immediate worries set aside, he turned his focus to the dungeon. This place held a wealth of memories, most of them unpleasant, but it was also where he had achieved tier 3. Returning now, he felt a sense of anticipation. Perhaps during this journey he could discover something to help him with his current leveling problem. Reaching level hundred with Runesmith Overlord was his main goal now but for that to happen, he needed a proper training ground which would probably not be easy to discover.