Valerian, The Legendary

Chapter 382: Rescue.

Valerian sighed and asked, "What floor are they on?"

Taurus replied, "Thirty-fifth floor, Master."

Valerian gazed at the young man begging him, asking, "How many people are there? Tell me what you exactly know. Come along with me."

The person nodded, and Valerian led them to his home. Shiba and the rest were already there. He was trustworthy if they had learned anything about Valerian in the past few years. He would never betray a person tied to him. So now, they did not even come to the guild building with him.

The trio walked through the crowd and soon came to the house. Shiba raised her brow to ask him what it was about. Because Taurus rarely came to find them. This time Valerian even bought a young man with him. This was unexpected and surprising.

Valerian gestured for the two to sit and asked, "Now, tell me, what is your name?"

The young man replied, "My name is Alan. My sister is called Miril."

Captain fetched a glass of water for the guests, and Alan continued, "Two days ago, she took the task to explore the thirty-fifth floor with her party of five. They found an anomaly. The floor had a lesser number of creatures. Upon investigation, they found a creature was hunting its fellows."

Valerian raised his brows, and the other three opened their eyes wide. They all exchanged glances, and Shiba asked, "Wait, how do you know all this?"

Alan replied, "I was also a party member, but they sent me to inform the guild as I am the youngest. However, when we reached them yesterday, we could not find anything, not even my sister and the rest of the people. The guild assured me they will send a party to check the situation, but I feel it will be too late when they find any clue."

Taurus said, "Alan is my distant cousin. So, when I thought about it, you were the first name that came to my mind. Master Valerian, please help us."

The young man leaned back in a chair and said, "If what you said is correct. If a creature is hunting kin, then we have a wild boss. Suppose this guy is allowed to continue. It will bring disaster for many people, and the thirty-fifth floor will become the new fifteenth."

Taurus and Alan froze. They realized what was going on. The degree of severity increased a hundredfold by this only. Valerian said, "My team has just returned from the exploration. They need rest."

Alan woke from a daze and thought Valerian was also refusing to help. However, the Silver Knight said, "I will enter the dungeon and deal with this issue. Taurus, you will protect Alan if we run into something hard. However, as long as you are close to me, I will protect you."

Shiba was the first to react, "No way you are entering the dungeon alone on that level. Have you gone mad?"

The young man shook his head and said, "Taurus, leave and prepare. I have to deal with my team."

Taurus understood that the people might have something to talk about among themselves. He took Alan with him to prepare for the trip.

...

Valerian told Shiba everything that he learned from Prim. She said, "Why do you have to go in alone?"

The young man sighed and said, "To deal with so many creatures, Prim said we must develop boring habits. However, I have a different idea about approaching this situation. So do not worry; I know what I can and cannot do. I am not going there to defeat that mutation but to rescue the stranded."

Shiba and the rest knew they could not convince him, so they conceded. Valerian took a long sword, a small ax, and a pair of brawling claws with himself. His knives were already there on his armor. He wanted to see if he could still deal with things independently. Ever since he had been fighting beside these people, he sensed his skills getting colder.

He did not wish to enter the deep floors with shackles on his body and mind. The young man prepared his stuff and left the house. He found Taurus and Alan standing with each other outside the main entrance of the villa. The trio quickly walked through the city and came to the dungeon.

They entered the first floor, and a man in charge of holding the bugle asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Valerian said, "Thirty-fifth floor."

This man was one of the people posted here by the guild, and they were responsible for using the bugle and transporting people to the desired floor. However, the guild had also created a policy to stop anyone with fewer capabilities from barging over to the deeper floors.

This was not to be overlooked if they favored the lives of the dungeoneers. After the portal led them to the thirty-fifth floor, Valerian said, "Alan, lead me to where you saw them the last time."

The young man nodded and quickly led the two people through the caverns. Valerian narrowed his eyes as they moved around. The pace was not as quick as his usual routine, but this place was empty as if all the creatures had gone hiding.

The aura of death and gloom was strong too. Valerian was sure that now they were about to face a wild boss. If this mutation stops quickly, this floor will become a deadly trap.

Valerian said, "Pick up the pace."

Alan hesitated, and Valerian said, "This place has no creatures lurking in the dark. Can you not sense it?"

Alan nodded and said, "I can sense it, just that it has become a habit of mine."

Valerian and Taurus followed Alan, and they stopped in their tracks. The latter said, "I saw them here."

Valerian walked over to the pointed spot and held a crystal. He used his physical strength and crushed the crystal into fine powder. The powder glowed, and the scene turned bright. They noticed the tracks left by the humans passing.

Valerian scattered the powder in the void and asked, "You saw them four days ago, right?"

Alan and Taurus were surprised when the tracks on the ground began to glow. Alan nodded and said, "Four days, to be exact."

Valerian said, "Follow me and stay within thirty feet. Do not stop, and do not hesitate. You two will act like puppets, and if you have any thoughts, please stay here and wait."

Alan said, "I will follow you, Master Valerian."

Taurus also nodded, and Valerian dashed. The two people followed him while they were secretly surprised at his quick speed. They were rushing through the dark caverns like a maze, and many times Taurus wanted to ask him where they were even headed when suddenly, they caught a faint whizzing.

Valerian took out his knife and inspected the surroundings. He walked closer to the wall and touched it gently with his palms. Then he said, "Get back."

The young man took a deep breath and punched the wall. With a blunt bang, the wall collapsed, and the people were surprised. Behind the wall, a young lady was lying on the ground. She could have been misunderstood as a corpse if not for her moving abdomen.

Alan dashed forward, but Valerian caught him from the back of his shirt and pulled him back. Alan said, "Sir, that is my sister, Miril."

Valerian said, "Wait for me to check her."

He walked forward and took out his sword to poke the girl. Miril seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. She opened her eyes with a snap and turned around to slash at him. Valerian defended the attack, and Alan said, "Miril, it’s us."

However, Miril did not react, she kept attacking Valerian, and the young man kept deflecting them. Alan wanted to shout more, but Taurus had him in a strong grip. Valerian said, "Her movements are stiff, and her eyes are filled with defiance. She is certainly being controlled, but how and by whom."

The next moment, Valerian took a side-step, and the hilt of his sword hit the back of Miril’s head. The young lady fell to the ground, and she lost consciousness. Valerian crouched down and began to check her body for some clues. Soon he found a bug stuck to the back of Miril’s head.

The young man took out his knife to carefully remove it, but when he checked for any wounds. He shivered. He said, "Taurus, you and Alan, will take her outside the dungeon and take her to Prim. Tell her that a mutated creature has taken over the thirty-fifth floor and this creature is laying eggs inside a human body. Tell her that this thing can control and manipulate humans. We need to act now."

Taurus and Alan shivered in fear, but Valerian gave them clear commands. The young men picked up Miril and Valerian also handed them the bug stuck to Miril to serve as evidence in the guild.