Chapter 58 – Betrayal and Dragon Egg
**[CAVERN – ALTAR CHAMBER ]**
**Julia** — processing the impossible sight.
**Garrett** — standing five meters ahead, axe resting on his right shoulder, habitual expression of superior disdain curling his lips, dark-brown eyes fixed on her with predatory intensity that didn't match the bored tone of his voice, posture far too relaxed for the situation (altar, bodies, horror) suggesting disturbing familiarity with the scene.
**Cassandra** — three meters to the left, black staff faintly glowing with pulsing red runes running along twisted wood, **cruel** smile unhidden stretching her angular face, long fingers drumming the staff's handle in an irregular anxious rhythm, artificial violet eyes (magical lenses?) sweeping the trio, assessing threats.
**Marcus** — right side, bloodied mace **dragging** across the basaltic floor creating a continuous irritating metallic **SCRAAAAPE**, expression blank and emotionless as always, scars crisscrossing his face faintly illuminated by torchlight making him look like a broken mask.
---
A thought fragmented through Julia's mind — **confused**:
*Why did he save me?*
*The spider was about to kill.*
*Garrett cut it perfectly.*
*But why?*
*And why were they hidden this whole time?*
*Watching?*
*Waiting?*
*Trap?*
---
**San** — twenty meters away examining the altar symbols, saw the veteran trio emerge from the shadows, instantly processed the potential threat.
**Ran** — maximum speed despite his throbbing wounded shoulder, ten meters in three seconds, positioning his body between Julia and the veterans, hands **grabbing** her shoulders checking for injuries:
"Are you **okay**?!" — Voice **urgent**, genuine concern unhidden. — "Did the spider hurt you? Poison? Anything broken?"
But Julia **didn't** answer.
Eyes **locked** on Garrett — unblinking, processing, calculating.
---
**Garrett** — noticing the intense stare, smile **widening** to show teeth:
"What's **wrong** exactly, brat?" — Provocative, superior tone. — "Why are you staring at me so intensely like you're trying to pierce my soul with your pathetic little gaze?"
Pause — casual axe gesture:
"You should be **eternally grateful** that I saved your insignificant life from being devoured by a level B spider."
---
**Julia** — swallowed, forced her voice through a **tight** throat:
"I… thank you for the intervention." — Formal, cautious tone. — "But I need to ask: where were you **this entire time** since we arrived in Kend two days ago?"
---
**Garrett** — laughed, a **harsh** humorless sound:
**Watching** you from afar like birds watching fledglings out of the nest. And also **investigating** this area extensively while you played heroes fighting pathetic bat-humans." — Pointed the axe toward the deeper tunnel. — "We eventually discovered there's a massive **magical crystal** ahead in the chamber before the dragon's lair. The crystal is **sucking** massive magical energy from deep layers below the surface and **dispersing** all that concentrated energy into the surrounding area in a ten-kilometer radius. Clearly an artificial process. Someone **did** this on purpose with specific intent."
---
**Julia** — processing the information:
"So you were just doing your **assigned** job of investigating the cause of the infestation?"
---
**Garrett**, **Cassandra**, **Marcus** — smiled simultaneously.
Not joyful.
**Predatory**.
---
**San** — instincts **screaming** danger, violently **pushed** Julia five meters backward.
---
**Garrett's FIST** — not where Julia had been, but exactly where **San** ended up after the push.
**IMPACT** — direct punch to San's left jaw.
Not refined technique.
Absolute **brute** force amplified by Warrior class skill *Crushing Blow*.
---
**SOUND** — bone **cracking** audibly **CRACK**, jaw **dislocated** partially, two upper molars **shattered**, blood **exploding** from his mouth splattering the floor.
**San** — body **hurled** — not falling but **flying** horizontally ten meters across the chamber, back **slamming** into the basaltic wall with enough force to crack stone (fissures radiating from the impact point), collapsing completely **limp** and temporarily unconscious.
---
San's **HUD** — visible only to him but Julia could imagine it:
```
╔════════════════════════════════╗
║ SAN ║
║ HP: 340/1200 [-610] ║
║ STATUS: ║
║ • Fractured Jaw ║
║ • Severe Concussion ║
║ • Minor Internal Hemorrhage ║
║ • INCAPACITATED (3 min) ║
╚════════════════════════════════╝
```
---
**Cassandra** — didn't waste a second.
**San** — surprising speed for a mage, reached the still-dazed Jessica processing the betrayal in five meters in three seconds.
Staff **glowed** — red runes pulsing, voice **reciting** rapidly:
**VINCULUM… NULLUS… CAPTIVA**!
---
**Magical shackles** materialized — not metal but solid purple energy, glowing rings **binding** Jessica's wrists behind her back, ankles together, throat (collar preventing speech/incantation), invisible weight **forcing** her body downward into a kneeling position.
And worse — symbols engraved on the shackles **draining** mana continuously.
**Jessica** — tried to scream but the collar **tightened** choking the sound, mana she had just begun recovering (250/600) **draining** again (0/600) in ten seconds.
---
**Garrett** — walked slowly toward the still **paralyzed** Julia processing the speed of events, crouched in front of her until their faces were five centimeters apart, cruel smile **widening**:
"It's finally **time** for you to do exactly what all the other rookies who have been under our direct supervision for the past three years did obediently." — Dramatic pause. — "**Serve** us as disposable tools."
---
**Twenty minutes later.**
---
The **trio** — bound with magical ropes (stronger than steel, impossible to cut without specific magic), forcibly walking through the main tunnel toward the dragon's chamber.
**Julia** — wrists bound in front (allowing walking but not fighting), ankles with loose rope (short steps), mouth **free** (Garrett apparently wanted to hear pleas).
**San** — half-conscious, being **dragged** by Marcus gripping his tunic collar, feet dragging on the floor, blood **dripping** from his mouth leaving a red trail, low pained moans.
**Jessica** — magical shackles still active, walking alone but collar **pulled** by a chain held by Cassandra like a dog, silent **tears** streaming down her face (not dramatically but constant flow), breathing **irregular** trying not to panic.
---
**Julia** — voice emerging **controlled** despite trembling hands:
"Why are you doing this to us specifically?" — Not pleading but genuinely **confused**. — "What tactical gain?"
---
**Garrett** — without turning his head, continuing to walk:
"It's nothing **personal** against any of you individually." — Cold, pragmatic tone. — "We're fulfilling the final **mission** that will finally free us from a debt we've carried for twenty years. And simultaneously… we'll cause irreparable damage to the **hypocritical** Church of Nellis that we supposedly serve."
---
**Julia** — processing, voice gaining **strength**:
"Debt? What debt exactly? And why the hatred toward the Church that trained you?"
---
**Garrett** — stopped **abruptly**.
Turned — face showing a complex expression: **bitterness**, resignation, barely contained deep hatred.
Voice emerging **low**, controlled but vibrating with rage:
"When I was **six** years old… my village was attacked by a massive monster horde during seasonal migration. Coordinated invasion. Three hundred people." — Pause. — "Soldiers of **King Killvis V** were passing through the region returning from a northern campaign. They intervened. Saved twenty-three survivors including me, Cassandra, and Marcus — we were children lost among the burned ruins."
Hand **tightening** on the axe handle:
"The King **took us in** at the castle. Fed us. Clothed us. Trained us as knights. And then… when we turned twelve… he presented a **formal contract**." — Tone growing **bitter**. — "Life debt. The rescue cost kingdom resources. Soldiers risked their lives. Training consumed gold. Food. Armor. Everything **meticulously recorded** by royal scribes. Total: **fifty thousand** gold coins per person. One hundred fifty thousand for the three of us together."
**Julia** — eyes **widening**:
"Fifty **thousand**?! That's… that's enough fortune to buy an entire noble estate!"
---
**Garrett** — harsh humorless laugh:
**Exactly**. An impossible amount for orphans with no family or possessions. So the King offered a **generous** alternative: serve the kingdom within the Sacred Church of Nellis as his infiltrators. Twenty years of **loyal** flawless service and the debt would be completely forgiven. Contracts ceremonially burned. Full freedom restored.
Eyes **locking** on Julia:
"We are in the **exact twentieth** year. This specific mission is supposedly the last before final freedom. If we refuse… the contracts automatically extend another ten years. Or worse… lifelong imprisonment for unpaid debt considered treason against the throne."
---
**Julia** — processing the horror of the situation:
"So you are… **slaves** disguised as Church knights?"
---
**Cassandra** — cold voice entering the conversation:
"We are not **slaves** technically. Slaves don't have the illusion of choice. We **chose** service over prison or death for unpayable debt." — Defensive tone. — "And during twenty years of forced service… we learned the bitter truth: the Church of Nellis is **absolute hypocrisy**. It preaches compassion but ignores suffering. Preaches justice but protects the corrupt. Preaches salvation but **uses** people as disposable tools exactly like King Killvis uses us."
Bitter pause:
"So when the King offered this specific mission… we saw a **golden opportunity**. Fulfill his order to gain freedom **and** simultaneously destroy the reputation of the Church we've always hated. Two birds killed with one stone."
---
**Julia** — voice **trembling** not from fear but from growing rage:
"And why does **Kend** specifically need to be destroyed?! Governor Heldfin is a **good** man! A prosperous city! Innocent people! Children playing with fire balloons we saw yesterday!"
---
**Garrett** — while they continued walking:
"Because Kend is **secretly negotiating** a commercial and military alliance with the Kingdom of **Zordis**." — Pragmatic, unemotional tone. — "King Killvis sees this as unacceptable political treason. A province under his protection conspiring with a potentially hostile rival kingdom? Unacceptable."
Pause:
"And the situation worsened dramatically just a few **days** ago. Zordis had an old indecisive king for decades keeping the kingdom weak and isolated. But recently… a sudden change of power occurred. A new ruler assumed control through strategic political marriage. A young man named **Kuto** — previously unknown but apparently competent — married a noble mage from Zordis named Raimi, consolidating legitimacy to rule."
---
**Julia** — hearing the name for the first time in her life, no recognition:
*Kuto? Never heard of him. Must be a local noble from Zordis who seized the political moment.*
---
**Garrett** continued:
"And this Kuto… according to intelligence reports King Killvis received… apparently achieved some **recent success** that caught attention. He managed to pass through a Class **A** dungeon along with a small group of partners. They faced a Boss creature called **Thegg** in a coordinated ambush and won against all expectations."
Voice growing **tense**:
"King Killvis doesn't usually concern himself with minor nobles from rival kingdoms. But the report mentioned that Kuto may represent an **emerging threat** if he consolidates power in Zordis and begins expansionism. So eliminating the alliance between Kend and Zordis **now**… prevents a future problem before it grows."
---
**Julia** — processing:
*Boss Thegg? Class A dungeon? That's impressive for a political beginner. But it doesn't change the fact that all of Kend doesn't deserve destruction for normal diplomatic negotiations.*
---
**Garrett** — tone growing **darker**:
"But the real reason King Killvis is **paranoid** about the Kend-Zordis alliance isn't this unknown Kuto." — Heavy pause. — "It's **Zenk**."
Voice dropping almost reverent:
**Zenk** — the mage who lives isolated in the northern mountains between the Killvis-Zordis border. The one who created an entire three-hundred-kilometer perfectly straight mountain range in **three** days twenty years ago during a territorial dispute. Absolute power that transcends normal understanding. Classification never officially confirmed but estimated as… probably **SSS** rank.
**Julia** — breath **catching**:
*SSS rank?! Only legends reach that!*
---
**Garrett** continued:
"Zenk has always been **politically neutral**. Never involved in wars or kingdom disputes. Lived isolated studying magic in the mountains he himself created. But recently… actually for **years** now… Zenk began regularly communicating with Governor Heldfin of Kend through long-range magical communication crystals. Gradually building trust. Establishing diplomatic relations."
Voice growing **tense**:
"And when this Kuto assumed Zordis a few days ago through marriage… Zenk **emerged** from isolation and is now actively **coordinating** a formal alliance between Kend and Zordis. Not just trade but a defensive military pact. And if Zenk is personally involved… it means he **finally chose** a side after twenty years of neutrality."
Pause — tone almost fearful:
"King Killvis has **genuine terror** of Zenk. He personally witnessed mountains being created twenty years ago. He knows that if Zenk decides hostility… the Kingdom of Kelvis can be **erased** from the map in weeks. So desperate solution: destroy **Kend** using the dragon as a natural weapon before the alliance is formalized. Blame the Church for protection failure. Eliminate the rebellious province **and** sabotage Zenk's plans simultaneously **and** weaken the Church's political influence."
---
They walked — ten more minutes through winding tunnels.
And reached — a smaller side chamber.
---
**Crystal**.
Not small.
**Massive** — five meters tall, three meters diameter at the base tapering to a point, floating two meters above the ground without visible support, deep **purple** coloration translucent with electric-blue veins pulsing through the internal structure in a rhythmic pattern coordinated with a heartbeat (alive?), emitting enough light to illuminate the entire chamber without torches needed, **vibrating** slightly producing a deep subsonic sound felt more than heard, making bones **resonate** uncomfortably.
And **around** it — dense magical mist flowing like water through the air, being **sucked** into the crystal through the base then **expelled** through the tip in concentrated jets directed toward the main tunnel (toward the outer forest).
---
**Cassandra** — stopped abruptly, free hand (not holding Jessica's chain) **raising** to her temple:
"Hey, **Garrett**." — Tense voice. — "I'm sensing an **active** magical link coming from the crystal. Someone established a remote communication channel."
---
**Garrett** — turning:
"Is it **him**?" — Tone not specifying but both knowing.
---
**Cassandra** — nodding:
**Yes**. The magical frequency matches the royal seal perfectly.
---
Staff **glowed** — runes shifting from red to blue, pointed at Garrett, voice **reciting**:
**COMMUNIS… MENTIS… APERIO**!
---
**Blue beam** fired — struck Garrett's forehead, absorbed without visible pain.
**Garrett's eyes** **glowed** — not reflection but internal purple light emanating from pupils, expression **freezing** into emptiness like Marcus usually wore.
Mouth **moving** — but the voice that emerged wasn't his.
Deeper tone, authoritative, echoing slightly as though speaking through a long tunnel:
---
**Voice** — male, middle-aged, refined noble accent but edged with **instability**:
"Sir **Garrett**." — Formal but impatient tone. — "How much longer until the mission is completed? Reports indicate that an emissary from **Zenk** will arrive in Kend within three days to formalize the alliance terms with Zordis's new ruler. I cannot allow the treaty to be signed."
---
**Garrett** — responding with his own voice but eyes still glowing:
"Everything is proceeding exactly as **planned**, Your Highness. We are now walking toward the dragon's nest. We will steal the egg and use it as **bait** to enrage the creature, directing its fury toward Kend and completely destroying the city."
---
**Voice** — King Killvis V, audible satisfaction but still tense:
**Excellent**. Kend must be made an **example** for other provinces. A **clear** message: conspiracy with Zordis and that damned Zenk = annihilation. Not one stone left upon another.
Tone shifting to almost **paternal** but disturbingly false:
"And you three… my faithful **servants** whom I saved twenty years ago… will finally receive your well-deserved reward. Debt contracts will be **burned** before the entire court. Fifty thousand coins **forgiven**. Complete freedom. You may go wherever you wish."
Pause — tone returning **cold**:
"As long as you perform **perfectly**. Failure… well… there is always the option of contract extension. Or prison. Or perhaps execution for treason. So many creative possibilities."
Disconnected — abruptly.
---
**Garrett's eyes** stopped glowing, returning to normal brown, expression returning, body **swaying** slightly.
He shook his head.
**Didn't** look at Julia.
Only:
**Let's go**. The dragon won't deceive itself.
---
But Julia had seen — for a **fraction** of a second before Garrett turned.
The expression wasn't **cruel** satisfaction.
It was **deep exhaustion** mixed with hatred.
Resignation of a man without choices.
And **rage** — not against her but against the Church, against the King, against twenty years of slavery.
---
They continued — main tunnel, descending.
**Temperature** rising — dry heat, sweat appearing.
And **light** ahead — **golden** glow.
---
They emerged into — the dragon's **central chamber**.
**Underground CATHEDRAL** — fifty meters in diameter, ceiling twenty meters high, floor covered in **solid gold** three centimeters thick, massive treasure (coins, weapons, jewels, artifacts) piled everywhere.
And in the **center** — black stone platform.
And on the platform — the **dragon** lying asleep, twenty meters long, dual white/black scales, tail coiled, wings folded.
And between its **front paws** — an **egg** the size of an adult human, white with black patterns, pulsing with heat.
---
**Jessica** — seeing the dragon, **froze**.
**Tears** **resumed** — audible sobs, body **trembling** uncontrollably, knees buckling, **absolute** primordial terror — prey seeing apex predator.
---
**Garrett** — gritting teeth:
"It's going to be **complicated** to snatch the egg without waking the protective father."
Turned — facing the trio:
**San** and **Julia** will distract the dragon when it wakes. **Cassandra** and **Jessica** will levitate the egg and flee. Marcus and I will cover the rear. Simple."
---
**Jessica** — trembling voice:
"Forget about me… without mana… I can't do anything…"
---
**Garrett** — sighed, withdrew an **electric-blue potion**:
**Take it**. Rank A Arcane Restoration. Instantly recovers mana.
**Threw it**.
---
**Jessica** — caught it, hands trembling.
Didn't move.
---
**Garrett** — shouted:
**DRINK** it or burn to death!
---
**Jessica** — drank, face **contorting** in disgust.
Jessica's HUD glowed:
```
╔════════════════════════════════╗
║ JÉSSICA ║
║ MANA: 0/600 → 600/600 [FULL] ║
╚════════════════════════════════╝
```
Weak voice:
"Horrible taste…"
**Garrett** — sarcastic:
"Sorry we didn't have strawberry flavor. You think this is a restaurant?!"
He cut the magical ropes binding San and Julia — wrists now free but no weapons returned:
"Go. No funny business. Twenty years waiting for freedom and hating the hypocritical Church… I won't let rookies ruin it now."
Julia and San exchanged a glance.
They began walking — toward the platform, gold coins clinking under their boots.
**San** — whispering:
"How do we draw attention without weapons and half-dead?"
**Julia** — whispering:
"I don't know and—"
The dragon's **left eye** opened.
**INSTANTANEOUS**.
Electric-blue iris locking directly onto San and Julia.
**Garrett** — whispering:
"Shit…"
Shouted:
"Get ready!"
The dragon rose to its full height — twenty meters of rippling muscle, head ten meters off the ground, tail whipping, wings partially unfurling, throat glowing blue.
Absolute hostility — protective parental fury.
Mouth opened — sword-sized teeth, blue flames forming.
**San** — looked at Julia, voice calm and resigned:
"I guess I won't be going back to hamster Pudim after all."
**Julia** — confused:
"Hamster?"
**San** — sad smile:
"Yeah. The only thing waiting for me in the real world. A hamster named Pudim. Bought him a week before I got transported. He's probably starved to death or adopted by the neighbor by now."
Pause:
"But… dying here isn't so bad. I made real friends for the first time. Had real adventures. And most importantly… dying by your side, Julia. That's not a bad ending."
**Julia** — throat tightening, a thought flashing through her mind:
*Children in Kend playing with fire balloons.*
*Clean, organized streets.*
*Kind Governor Heldfin.*
*Heldfin: "Joy in the Heights — the best city I've ever lived in."*
*More than a thousand innocent people.*
*They don't deserve to die for politics.*
*For Garrett's slavery.*
*For a mad king's paranoia.*
She **shouted** — voice echoing:
**HEY DRAGON! Look at the people stealing your egg!**
Pointed — at Cassandra and Jessica (the egg beginning to float).
**Jessica** — eyes widening:
"I always knew I was a terrible CEO without ethics!"
The dragon's eyes shifted to the egg.
Processed — its child in danger.
Short explosive roar, then charged — galloping at forty km/h, completely ignoring San and Julia, pursuing the thieves.
**Garrett** — cursed:
**DAMN IT!**
Shouted:
**RUN!**
Cassandra and Jessica — egg floating, flew at maximum speed down a side tunnel, egg trailing three meters behind.
Garrett and Marcus — ran after them.
Leaving San and Julia alone.
**San**:
"Didn't you just condemn them to death?"
**Julia** — shook her head:
"No. The dragon won't use fire because it would damage the egg. It'll use claws. Garrett has a chance if he's smart."
She pulled two red potions from her inventory — Rank S Full Restoration:
"Here. Instant full recovery."
They drank — sweet taste, heat exploding through their bodies.
HUDs flashed:
```
╔════════════════════════════════╗
║ JULIA: HP/MANA/STAMINA → FULL ║
║ SAN: HP/MANA/STAMINA → FULL ║
╚════════════════════════════════╝
```
Wounds closed, energy returned.
**San** — confused:
"If you had those… why didn't you use them earlier after the bat-humans?!"
**Julia** — already running:
"Long story! I'll explain later!"
Shouted:
"Run! We need to catch up before the dragon kills them all!"
**San** — running behind:
"Why save them after they betrayed us?!"
**Julia** — voice echoing as she ran:
"Because Kend doesn't deserve destruction! Children with fire balloons! Kind governor! Innocent people! Three hundred lives! I can't let them be massacred for a mad king's paranoia and Garrett's slavery! And also…"
Heavy breathing:
"Garrett isn't a villain! He's a victim! Twenty years of slavery! He deserves real freedom — not through the genocide of innocents! I have to stop this!"
**San** — smile forming:
"Saving slaves who betrayed us… to protect the beautiful city we saw yesterday?"
**Julia**:
"Exactly!"
**San**:
"You're crazy… but the kind of crazy worth leaving Pudim for!"
They ran — at maximum speed, the sound of roars and explosions echoing ahead.
The dragon had already reached the thieves.