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"Now tell me, Wu, what happened to you? Why were you gone for so long, and why have you returned with all these people?" Yoomyung asked, sipping his wine. "And please, tell me everything. I've invited you to a feast and even welcomed these strangers who threatened the city—so it better be worth it."

"Haha, alright..." Wu nodded. "I apologize for being away so long. It all started when the Vampires we were dealing with invited us to Floor 50—Yggdrasil—to defeat one of their enemies."

"Wait... Yggdrasil?! That powerful yet sealed world?!" Yoomyung exclaimed.

"Yes, that very world," Elder Wu confirmed. "We thought the enemy was someone we could handle. I brought my disciples along so they could learn about Yggdrasil, gather resources, hunt some of the highly valuable magic beasts that roam the world, and more..."

"Wu, you fool! If your father were here, he would have punished you severely for this! I've told you many times not to meddle with the Vampires of the upper floors!" Yoomyung snapped. "They're dangerous—worse than demonic cultivators. Deals with them never go your way! It was because of them that your father—"

"They weren't from Umbralheim, Yoomyung. Calm down," Wu interrupted. "They were a group of Vampires descended from old Umbralheim immigrants to Yggdrasil. They were much less... monstrous than those from Umbralheim. Still, they made a very powerful enemy."

"What? Who? Wait, did you actually come running back with your tail between your legs?" Elder Yoomyung raised an eyebrow in disapproval.

"No, quite the opposite. We discovered our benefactor had already been killed, and we stood before the one who had slain him—someone vastly stronger than us, who had only grown more powerful through the journey."

Elder Wu glanced at Maria, and Yoomyung realized what his old friend meant. Maria released a bit more of her power.

"You mean...?!" Yoomyung gasped. "Her? She killed that Vampire with the Umbralheim bloodline?"

"And she did so very easily, apparently," Elder Wu said with a smile. "Maria, you could share more details."

"Well, not much to say. I killed Hendrick because he had my brother," Maria said. "The bastard had turned my little brother into a monster by infecting him with fragments of an Evil God and highly mutagenic materials from Yggdrasil. I learned skills to help him, and not only managed to separate his soul, but I also created a new body for him—stronger than ever—by imbuing it with Yin and Yang Essence. I obtained that from an item in the Tower Raid Shop after Wu surrendered to me."

"I lost almost all my System Points doing so," Wu sighed. "The tower penalizes you if you lose a Raid. That's how the Raid Shop is created—for the winners."

"So that's why the boy's physique is so sublime..." Elder Yoomyung muttered. "And Maria, you could have killed Wu but didn't? He came after your life... and you forgave him?"

"I did because he surrendered instantly instead of threatening me," Maria said with a smile. "His foolish disciples tried to fight, though, so he had to apologize on their behalf. Now that they've gone through a lot of 'training' inside my Shadow Realm, I assume they'll behave properly now. Right, boys?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"We sincerely apologize for our previous behavior."

"We didn't really mean it..."

"We were foolish."

"Fufu, alright," Maria giggled. "I'll forgive you. You've shown good manners and worked hard for me. Besides, you're all very handsome youngsters who deserve a second chance."

"Ahh, Lady Maria, thank you..."

"H-Handsome?! Why is my heart beating so fast?"

"Our Lady is not only benevolent, she even praises us..."

"We don't deserve your kindness. We'll be loyal to you forever, our great queen."

Maria had won their loyalty not just through fear, but also through charm. These young men, raised as orphans without mothers, were easily drawn to her motherly aura.

"Haha! So cute. Did you hear that? They called me queen!" Maria laughed. "Aw, won't you give me a foot massage now?"

"Of course!"

"Me! I'll do it first!"

"No, me!"

"Fools, you'll have to get past me to earn that privilege."

"Hahahahah!" Maria laughed even louder. "I'm joking, you idiots~"

"A-Ah..."

They looked heartbroken, yet oddly excited. Her cruelty only made them love her more. Maria's dominating, mocking, yet charming and maternal personality may have unknowingly awakened something within them.

"Ahem!" Wu cleared his throat and sighed. "Well, as you can see, my disciples have been reeducated."

"I can tell. Is she some kind of Immortal Fairy using a Seduction Technique?! I haven't seen young men this lovestruck since the Poisonous Heart Demon attacked a nearby sect and took most of the young men into her massive harem," Yoomyung sighed.

"None of the sort," Wu replied. "Maria is simply that powerful. Her large family is a living testament to her strength and charisma. They've already conquered several floors, and every time a problem stood in their way, they rose to the occasion and crushed anyone who dared to spread chaos and injustice."

"Huh... I guess I have no choice but to believe you. Especially after she released her Aura just now. I can tell—she's at least as powerful as... an Immortal?!" Yoomyung gasped.

"Actually, it's much more than that, but let's keep it at that level for now," Maria said, sipping her wine. "Wu surrendered to me and swore loyalty, so I've come to see the sect he was going to let me own."

"...What?" Yoomyung gasped. "Wu, you're giving her your sect?!"

"It's not entirely that. It's more like she's joining and becoming a figure of great authority... and the owner," Wu sighed. "Listen, Yoomyung, it was either that or dying with my disciples over a pointless battle."

"..." Yoomyung sighed. "I understand... but surely that's not all, right?"

"She promised me she would slay the Golden Dragon Emperor," Elder Wu said, sipping his wine.

"...?!"

Yoomyung gasped, staring at Maria in disbelief. He remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking.

"You... plan to go against a monster that can slay Immortals with ease?! What sort of nonsense is this?!" Yoomyung confronted Maria. "I can't believe you've fed so many lies to my friend—and worse, he believed them all like a fool!"

"It's not a lie," Maria sighed. "Listen, I—"

BAAAM!

Before she could continue, the formation Yoomyung had placed shattered as a powerful strike blew the door open. A figure entered the room, followed by three smaller figures, stepping through the smoke.

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