Frostfire Legacy

Aster was forced to ponder Magnus' offer.

Ignoring the method, Magnus' suggestion was reliable, fast, and safe. It was an undeniably good choice, especially since Aster was in a rush. Time was of the essence, and he needed to level up as quickly as possible.

If he refused, he would have to dive back into the dungeon, racing through floors and risking his life on every level just to reach the higher floors. Worse, he'd have to leave the girls behind on the 20th floor, putting them at risk too. That didn't sit right with him.

'Although we've already discussed it, increasing my level without moving from the 20th floor is still the best option,' Aster reasoned.

With his mind made up, Aster looked at Magnus and said, "Alright, I'll do as you say. I'll kill those death row prisoners to raise my level."

Magnus' face lit up with a smile, his expression brimming with satisfaction. "A wise choice!" he exclaimed. "Now, let's discuss the price, shall we?"

"... Price?" Aster's tone darkened. "What price are you talking about?"

Magnus chuckled, as if Aster had said something naive. His eyes gleamed with mischief, the smile on his face turning cold. "What? Did you think I'd just offer those prisoners to you for free? Of course not." Stay tuned for updates on empire

Leaving his teacup behind, Magnus strolled to a desk and rifled through a pile of papers. He seemed relaxed, almost too relaxed, considering the weight of the conversation.

"In the first place, the reason you want to level up so fast is to save that rabbit girl, Ms. Bright, correct?" He flipped through some files before pulling out a few and skimming them. "But that's putting your life on the line, and as the mayor, I can't exactly support that. So, I've taken precautions."

He handed Aster a stack of papers. The files contained stats and abilities of some of the city's top fighters—members of the Hit Squad. They were highly skilled, with levels exceeding 1000 at the minimum.

"I'd rather send these guys to rescue her. With them, it's a guaranteed success. It's too dangerous for you to go in there alone."

"..."

Aster glanced over the files but remained silent. Magnus had a point—these fighters were more than capable. But it wasn't just about capability. Aster knew that no one could be trusted to handle this mission. Not when Cassy's life was on the line.

Magnus, sensing Aster's hesitation, moved forward with his plan. "Of course, if you insist on doing it your way, I won't stop you. But killing death row prisoners? That comes with a price."

Aster narrowed his eyes. "... Let's hear it, then. What do you want?"

Magnus smiled like a cat playing with a mouse. "Simple! Your current deal with me has you 'working' once a month, right? For every prisoner you kill, you'll need to take on one additional 'partner' for every vacant week on your schedule."

Aster's heart skipped a beat. The price sounded low—almost too low. He could handle that, right? A few extra partners didn't seem like such a big deal in the grand scheme of things. But he had to make sure.

"What level are the prisoners?" he asked, cautiously. If they were too low in level, this deal could spiral into a disaster.

Magnus, seemingly anticipating the question, smiled and waved a hand. "Relax. These are high-level criminals—most of them between levels 500 and 700."

Aster's breath caught in his throat. Those levels were much higher than expected. He calculated quickly. At that range, he would need to kill only three or four prisoners to hit his goal, which meant committing to about four additional partners.

It could've been worse. If the prisoners had been low-level, he might've been forced to kill dozens—perhaps even hundreds! That would translate into a couple of years, locking him into a long-term commitment with Magnus.

But the implications still weighed on him. Accepting this meant setting a precedent. Magnus might use this tactic again in the future, adding more demands. Aster had to be cautious normally.

But now, there were at least two individuals he could think of who would work as his backers as long as he asked them, giving him somewhere to retreat to. He already has a "foothold" in this world, enabling him to take on a bit more risk.

"... Fine. Deal," Aster said with a sharp nod.

Magnus' grin widened. His hand shot out, and Aster found himself shaking it tightly. The deal was sealed, but the tension between them lingered. Aster had his reasons for agreeing, but Magnus was always several steps ahead, and Aster knew it.

---

The Great Prison: Erebus's Vault.

This prison was no ordinary facility. It spanned over four square kilometers and extended 100 floors below ground. The deeper one went, the more hellish it became. Heat, pressure, and discomfort increased with each descending level, making it a living nightmare for anyone sent to its depths.

Security here was unmatched. The prison walls were lined with space-element engravings, making escape by teleportation or physical destruction impossible. From its founding 500 years ago, no prisoner had ever escaped Erebus's Vault.

"How many times are we going to switch elevators?" Aster grumbled as he and Magnus descended further into the prison.

Beside him, Magnus strolled casually, flanked by two guards. Behind them, five more guards followed, their eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. They looked like seasoned fighters, ready to act at a moment's notice.

"We need to switch elevators on every floor to prevent large-scale escapes," Magnus explained, not breaking his stride. "If a riot ever occurred, we can lock down specific floors. The elevators run on a staggered schedule to make it harder for prisoners to organize an escape."

Each elevator only connected two floors at a time, and they moved at uneven intervals to avoid patterns. It was an intricate system designed to thwart even the most clever of criminals. The airtight locks and reinforced barriers added to the complexity, making it a nightmare to navigate.

To reach the 90th underground floor, where the weaker death row inmates were kept, they had a long journey ahead. It would take them 270 minutes just in elevator rides, plus another 450 minutes of walking, adding up to a total of 12 hours to reach their destination.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The deeper they went, the hotter it became. For every floor they descended, the temperature rose by 0.1 °C, a constant reminder of the hellish conditions awaiting them below.

After what felt like an eternity, Magnus finally announced, "We're here. The 90th floor of Erebus's Vault, the Abyss of Unwritten Souls."

Aster stepped out of the elevator and into the dimly lit corridor. The air was thick with heat and the scent of sweat and despair. The prisoners here were the lowest of the low, but their power levels were formidable.

"Let's get this over with," Aster muttered, bracing himself for what was to come.