Less than twenty minutes remained of the hour they had agreed on with Grand Marshal Garkin. It was nowhere near enough time to retrace their route along the Underground River.
They could not wait any longer...
Annan gathered the people they had rescued and asked, "Did any of you see a dungeon?"
The survivors looked at one another. Then a young man carrying a Berserker Demon's head stepped forward.
Annan vaguely remembered him. Rex, was it? A cavalryman from the Guard Legion who had insisted on joining the Villain Legion.
"Lord Annan, my companion and I passed a dungeon while escaping, but there was no one inside..."
"Do you remember the way?"
Rex hesitated, then looked back at his companion, who had hidden behind the others. "Ai Aetheran definitely does!"
"Damn it..." Ai Aetheran muttered. He had no choice but to step out of the crowd. "Lord Annan, I don't remember it very clearly..."
"That's fine. Take me there."
Rex froze. "You're going in person?"
"I'm the only one who remembers the way after that."
In theory, the people hiding deep enough underground should be safe from High Mountain City's attack. But Annan did not dare gamble on it... and Illymoyas still had not come out.
Annan activated the Talisman and summoned a grim-faced Mr. Swaro.
The Skeleton King needed to stay outside to command his Skeleton Army, and the Dark Rift suppressed magic. Only Mr. Swaro, who had embarked on the Legendary Path, could ignore the restriction.
"Mr. Swaro, I need you to escort me into the Black Rift..."
"I am not your bodyguard."
"We rescued a group of innocent women from a dungeon earlier. They're hiding underground right now, desperate for help..."
"...Just this once."
Bringing a group of burly warriors with them, Annan followed Rex and his