CHAPTER 72: RED RUBY DOOR

The platform came to a halt with a deep, echoing thrum, and glowing runes shimmered briefly beneath their feet before fading back into silence.

Floor 666.

Yet, unlike the countless other levels of the Sanctuary, this place was different. There were no shelves neatly lined with treasures, there were no pedestals glittering with artifacts.

Instead, there was only a single door.

It was massive and ancient, tall enough to swallow three men standing atop each other. Its frame was carved from black stone, etched with winding sigils that pulsed faintly like veins of fire.

Mimi’s paws stilled the moment she saw it. Her fur prickled instinctively. That was it. The source of the pull. The very thing her soul had been screaming for.

They both stepped off the platform and slowly made their way toward the massive door.

But then Emilia stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she noticed the decoration set into its center.

A ruby stone.

Her breath caught. "Wait—Mimi... this is a red ruby door!" she gasped.

Red ruby door...

Before they had even entered the Sanctuary, Zephyrona had warned them clearly:

"Whatever you do, do NOT enter, or even look into, any door marked by enchanted red ruby! The items sealed within them have already been deemed extremely dangerous by the one who placed them there."

...

Mimi froze, her tiny body going stiff as stone.

No way.

This can’t be!

How could something that belonged to the Goddess Necrosia be sealed away here—behind a red ruby door, branded as dangerous?

Her amethyst eyes locked onto the massive door. Her fur bristled, her small frame trembling as her heart pounded wildly in her chest, each thud like a drum urging her to move, to act, to open it.

Because...

On one hand, she was already here. The pull inside her chest, that invisible thread tugging at her soul, was stronger than ever. It wrapped around her like a chain, overwhelming her with the desperate need to step forward, to push that door open, to reclaim whatever was waiting beyond.

But on the other hand...

Dangerous.

She wasn’t reckless enough to ignore the Guardian’s warning. She was just a noctifelis, small and fragile, with no means to protect herself—let alone protect her master. And she couldn’t risk Emilia. She mustn’t drag her into something that could destroy them both.

The thought made Mimi’s chest tighten until it hurt.

So what should she do?

Step forward into the unknown, risking everything for a pull she barely understood?

Or turn back, retreat to the safety of the Arcane Blood Art skill stone, and abandon the call that stirred her very soul?

Her heart and mind tore at each other, pulling her in two directions, the conflict unbearable—like sharp claws raking across her spirit.

Then—

"Mimi..."

Emilia’s voice broke through the storm inside her. She knelt down, her warm hand gently stroking Mimi’s back, her touch filled with quiet comfort. Her eyes glowed with worry, but also love and trust.

"Is this item... extremely important to you?"

Mimi’s breath caught. She turned to meet Emilia’s gaze, and for an instant, she felt it—if she said yes, Emilia would open that door for her. She would risk it all, just for her.

The pull inside Mimi’s chest screamed yes. Louder than anything she had ever felt before. Yet beneath it, pressing even heavier, was the weight of Emilia’s safety.

Her throat tightened. Her body froze in that painful hesitation

At last...

"Meow..."

A tender, sorrowful mewl, heavy with everything she couldn’t say.

And slowly... she shook her head.

Even as the invisible thread tugged mercilessly at her soul, Mimi chose restraint.

***

Yup.

It was decided.

Mimi’s little heart still ached, still yearned for the pull behind that cursed red door, but she forced herself to stay firm.

She would not go further.

She would not investigate that room.

"But... are you really sure about this?" Emilia asked softly.

"Meow!" Mimi answered, more confidently this time, her tone firm despite the storm raging inside her.

Because even though she desperately wanted to leap forward, even though the thread inside her chest screamed louder with every passing second, she knew she had to think of their safety first. Recklessness would cost not only her life, but Emilia’s as well.

Besides... the item wasn’t going anywhere.

It would remain sealed here, locked away for who knew how long. One day, in the future, she could return—stronger, wiser, powerful enough to face whatever horror was locked beyond that door.

There was no rush.

No need to gamble with their lives.

With resolve firmed, Mimi turned on her paws and looked back at the platform.

"Meow!" she urged, flicking her tail decisively.

It was time to go. Back to floor 216. Back to the Arcane Blood Art Skill Stone.

Emilia gave a shaky nod, relief beginning to soften the tension in her face. She stepped after Mimi...

But then, suddenly—

Creeeeaaaak...

The sound sliced through the silence like a knife.

Both of them froze.

Mimi’s ears shot upright, her fur bristling in horror. Her head snapped around, eyes wide.

"MEOW??!"

The door.

The massive red door.

It was opening!

Oh shit...

Did Master—?!

She whipped her gaze up at Emilia, panic flaring through her chest. But Emilia stood there just as stunned, her face pale with terror, her hands raised in protest.

"I... I didn’t even touch it!" Emilia cried, her voice trembling. "It—it opened on its own!"

And before either of them could move, a wave of thick, suffocating black smoke poured out from the widening gap, spilling into space like a living shadow.

It rushed toward them with terrifying speed, curling, twisting, wrapping around their bodies until all they could see was darkness.

"MEOWWW!!!" Mimi meowed, her tiny voice high with fear. She couldn’t even see her Master anymore!

"Mimi!!!" Emilia shouted, lunging forward and luckily, was able to scoop her into her arms, clutching her tightly to her chest. She tried to shield the little cat with her own body, her protective instinct flaring brighter than her fear.

But the smoke wasn’t just smoke.

It moved with intent.

A powerful suction pulled at them, dragging them backward toward the door, toward the abyss that yawned beyond it. The force was merciless, like a great vortex determined to swallow them whole.

"AAARRRGGHHHH!" Emilia screamed, digging her heels into the ground, fighting with all her strength against the invisible pull. Her arms trembled as she clutched Mimi tighter, refusing to let her go.

For a fleeting second, she managed to raise her head above the swirling smoke, her body almost able to escape!

But then—

Out of the smoke, a black, mist-like arm shot forward, latching onto Emilia’s head with a vice-like grip. She gasped, choking back a cry.

And after that, more came.

One by one, more arms burst from the smoke, writhing and grasping, shooting out of the door like a nest of serpents unleashed. Dozens of shadowy limbs coiled around her arms, her legs, her waist—every part of her body—pulling, dragging her inch by inch toward the abyss.

Emilia fought with everything she had, twisting, thrashing, her teeth clenched as she struggled against their relentless strength. But no matter how hard she resisted, the shadows refused to let her go.

"NO! Let me go!" she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of both rage and fear.

Mimi clung to her chest, eyes wide with terror, her tiny claws digging desperately into Emilia’s clothes as if trying to anchor them both.

And then, with one last, merciless pull, the smoke swallowed them whole.

The platform, the Sanctuary—all of it vanished.

Only the darkness remained.

***

Moments later, Emilia and Mimi found themselves trapped inside a chamber drowned in pitch-black darkness. The air was heavy, suffocating, and reeked. They couldn’t see, couldn’t orient themselves—only feel.

And what they felt were the countless arms restraining them.

The shadowy limbs coiled tightly around their bodies, cold as death itself. That chill seeped into their bones, deeper and deeper, until it felt like their very souls were being frozen. Every touch carried not only coldness but pain—an ache that gnawed at their nerves like needles stabbing from within.

"MMMMN!! MMMMNNN!!!" Emilia tried to thrash, kicking, twisting, but every movement only made the arms tighten more. One hand clamped down over her mouth, muffling her cries, while others pinned her wrists and ankles, suspending her helplessly in midair like a doll caught in a spider’s web.

Meanwhile, Mimi was the same. The little noctifelis was caught in a massive, clawed hand that wrapped around her tiny body like an iron cage. She tried to claw and bite, but the grip only squeezed harder, crushing her chest until each breath became shallower, weaker.

AAAAHHHH!!!

Panic surged through her mind. Her thoughts screamed in desperation, her small heart hammered faster and faster as terror consumed her.

What is going on?!

Please!

Please!

Someone help us!!!

But no help came. Only the suffocating dark, pressing in tighter with every breath.

And then, suddenly, two eyes opened in the void. They burned, ablazed with a crimson glow.

And as those red eyes being the only light source that faintly illuminated the room, Emilia and Mimi could see it now... the creature that captured them...

A demon... literally...

Massive, looming, and grotesque.

Its body was made of smoke, its form shifting and writhing as though it could barely hold itself together.