NOVEL NEXT Chapter 124: Back!
The night after the sanctum's conquest was a strange blend of eerie calm and simmering energy. Fires crackled in braziers throughout the wide courtyards, casting flickering shadows against the massive stone walls of the Dragonkin Sanctum. Though it was now under new leadership, the air still carried the scent of battle and ancient pride.
Ethan stood at one of the raised balconies, arms crossed, overlooking the heart of the sanctum. From this vantage point, he could see everything—Kaeryx curled on the side like a sleeping mountain of scales, the troops settling, and members of different races interacting in cautious silence.
Behind him, David approached, the heavy thud of his boots echoing faintly against the stone.
"They're still in shock," David said quietly.
"They should be," Ethan murmured, not looking away. "They thought they'd fight. Instead, their gods bowed."
David gave a small chuckle. "Kaeryx really shattered their pride."
Ethan didn't respond. His gaze was sharp, thoughtful. This wasn't just about victory anymore. This was about consolidation.
"I need to talk to their leaders," he said finally.
"You're thinking of integration?"
"I'm thinking of survival. A Sanctum only matters if the people in it follow my command. And right now? I'm still just an invader."
David gave a nod and stepped back. Ethan descended into the main sanctum hall, where the draconic architecture still loomed proud—pillars carved like clawed limbs, murals of dragons reigning above lesser races. It was ostentatious, but undeniably powerful.
He called for an assembly.
Kaeryx remained behind, knowing his presence would overwhelm the discussion. The moment Ethan stepped into the central gathering ring, a hush fell over the crowd. At the front stood a handful of Dragonkin elders—horned, scaled, and still bearing faint burns of humiliation from Kaeryx's aura.
Ethan stepped forward.
"I'm not here to rule with fear," he began. "But make no mistake—fear brought me here. You all bowed to Kaeryx. I saw it. You felt it. There's no denying his bloodline is older, stronger, and higher than yours."
A few Dragonkin looked away in shame. Others clenched their fists.
"But," Ethan continued, "a sanctum doesn't survive on pride. It survives on unity. Order. Vision."
He let that hang for a moment.
"You can hate me. That's fine. But if you wish to live, to grow stronger, to one day rise above what you are now... then follow me. You've seen what I've built in Grosh'ka. That was just the beginning."
One of the Dragonkin elders stepped forward. "And if we refuse? If we say we will not kneel, even if your dragon's blood crushes ours?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed, but he didn't raise his voice.
"Then you'll be left behind. The Labyrinth does not wait for the proud. It devours them."
There was silence.
Then, unexpectedly, one of the younger Dragonkin dropped to one knee.
"I submit," he said.
One by one, more followed. By the end, only a handful of proud elders stood—and even they looked uncertain.
Ethan turned and walked away.
---
Later that evening, he gathered with David and the original scouting party in one of the sanctum's old war rooms. A massive stone table filled with old charts and labyrinth maps dominated the space.
"We need to reassign personnel," Ethan said, his tone focused. "Grosh'ka is too far to manage both sanctums manually. I'll leave a proxy here—someone they respect. You'll remain at Grosh'ka."
David nodded. "You trust them here already?"
Ethan glanced toward the door. "No. But I trust Kaeryx."
He paused, then added, "And I'll set a teleportation circuit between the two sanctums. The sooner we can travel between them, the easier coordination will be."
"What about the long term?" Nelda asked, arms folded. "We can't keep conquering and holding with just a skeleton crew."
Ethan smiled faintly. "That's the beauty of the Sanctum system. Once it's claimed, it's hard to take back without destroying the rune stone. And no one wants that."
There was a shared silence. They were on the verge of something bigger—something unprecedented.
"Rest up," Ethan finally said. "Tomorrow, we start solidifying our control here."
And as the flames dimmed that night, a new power began to rise within the twisting halls of the Great Labyrinth.
Ethan stood at the edge of the sanctum's inner terrace, overlooking the dense, mist-drenched forest that surrounded the Dragonkin Sanctum. The fresh mark of conquest still pulsed in the rune stone behind him—subdued now, loyal. His aura had already been registered, the territory bent to his will. But something tugged at him.
It was time to return.
Just for a few hours… he needed to check on things back in Nexa. And Mia.
Turning away from the edge, he walked with long strides into the central courtyard where David was overseeing the transfer of supplies and drawing up a roster for basic patrols. The scouts were assembling new shifts and the dragonkin who had submitted were currently being grouped under watch. A structured calm now lay where chaos had once reigned.
Ethan approached.
"David."
David turned, straightening immediately. "Yeah?"
Ethan passed him a small palm-sized rune crystal. Its surface shimmered with encoded commands—clearances, territory data, access keys.
"I'll be gone for a few hours. I've set the runestone to respond to you second. Just keep the place running, make sure nothing escalates while I'm out."
David's brows lifted. "You trust me with that much?"
Ethan gave a small smirk. "If I didn't, I wouldn't have handed it to you."
David chuckled, tucking the rune away carefully. "Alright. We'll hold the fort. And hey—don't take too long. If something goes crazy, I'll send you a signal through the core."
"Good. Let's hope you won't have to." He nodded once more, then closed his eyes.
<Connect: Dungeon Core [Return]>
The air trembled.
Mana surged around him like liquid threads of light. The very fabric of space distorted, wrapping around his presence as a swirling gateway carved itself into the sanctum air.
Then—with a silent shimmer—Ethan vanished.
---
A warm breeze blew against his cheek as his boots touched familiar ground.
The air smelled like Nexa.
He opened his eyes, finding himself standing just outside the small property he had secured in the Ironroot Sector—Unit #314. The portal behind him blinked out of existence.
"…Finally," he muttered, exhaling.
Before he could even knock, the door burst open.
"Ethan!"
Mia's voice rang out like a melody.
She stood at the threshold, barefoot, dressed in a loose sky-blue blouse and shorts. Her hair was a little messy—evidence she'd been pacing or perhaps staring out the window waiting for him. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward him and threw her arms around his chest.
He staggered a bit, surprised, but wrapped his arms around her in return. The scent of her hair, familiar and sweet, calmed something restless in him.
"You're back…!" she whispered into his chest, holding on tightly.
"I said I'd only be gone a few hours." He smiled softly, resting his chin against the top of her head.
"I know, but… it felt longer." She pulled back slightly, eyes studying him. "You look different."
"Do I?"
"You feel different. Stronger. Like… bigger somehow." She poked his chest lightly. "You've been leveling again, haven't you?"
Ethan just chuckled.
"Come inside," Mia tugged at his arm. "I made something."
Inside, the house felt lived in—clean but cozy. A soft aroma of simmering broth floated from the small kitchen area.
On the table were two bowls of stew, a loaf of thick bread, and freshly cut fruit on a platter. Mia practically bounced as she placed a spoon into his hand.
"You did all this?"
"I wasn't sure when you'd come back but I had a feeling…" she trailed off with a small smile.
Ethan took a seat, letting the chair sigh under his weight as he finally relaxed. Mia sat opposite him, watching him closely as he took his first bite.
"Mmm…"
She grinned. "Right? I'm improving."
"You're not improving," Ethan said, voice teasing as he reached for more. "You're already good."
They ate slowly, savoring the warmth and silence. At one point, Mia got up and walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind.
"…You're really okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah." His voice was quiet now. "The Great Labyrinth… It's insane. But I'm handling it."
"Don't get cocky."
"I'm not." He reached up and squeezed her hand gently. "I'm just doing what I have to."
They stayed like that for a while, the soft sounds of evening drifting in through the windows, the hum of city life contrasting the quiet intensity of the Labyrinth.
But for now, Ethan allowed himself this moment.
Peace.
A few hours to breathe.
Because soon… he would return.
And the war for the Great Labyrinth would continue.
***
A\\N:
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