Looking around some more, Sin found Ince and everyone else heading towards a completely opposite direction.
However, from a far-away bird's-eye view, all paths seemed to lead to either dead ends or a single place in the center--the 'portal' to the underwater world.
In the map, it was depicted as a portal. But Sin imagined it more to be like a small cove where there was an underwater lake.
'As long as everyone makes it there, it should be fine.' Sin thought, at least happy that no one could get lost since the paths eventually realigned.
Finally, he took note of the situation of Ince and the others.
Everyone's clothes looked fairly tattered. Not torn up or anything like that, but as if they had been running or moving a lot.
Clearly, there were a lot more dangerous beasts down there than up here. And even if they weren't that strong, strength in numbers was sometimes overwhelming.
After all, a man could never defeat a gorilla. The gorilla's raw strength and speed would be far too explosive and overpowering.
However, the best way to beat an overpowering opponent is to overwhelm them by that same thing that they can overpower. A hundred men will always beat one gorilla, no?
Right now, Roby was getting a few wounds on his back patched up by Scarlet. He was Ace's tank, so he would naturally take the most damage.
Still, Sin didn't expect Roby to look so down and upset as if he was about to cry or something.
'Huh... I always imagined Roby to be loud and obnoxious, but a powerful guy.'
Roby's face said something completely different right now though. Curious, Sin listened into their conversation some more.
"O-ow! Okay that's enough! Get away from me..." Roby yelled in a small fit of anger. Scarlet shook her head, taking a step back.
Ince was standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and a furrow in her eyebrows. She was looking in the other direction with her eyes closed.
"I am the one trying to help you. Don't lose your grips just because it turned out to be a Corrupted Dungeon." Scarlet replied, a bit of sassiness in her tone.
"What did you just say? Don't lose your grips? Because of you, I nearly died. We don't have Kael... we don't have any actual attackers in right now. So much for that fucking bullshit plan..." Roby's tone was loud, but suddenly turned low when he saw that last part.
When he said it, Sin noticed that Ince's eyes suddenly opened. Still, she remained silent and unmoving.
Scarlet scoffed at Roby's words, "You sound like a coward. And that plan... don't mention it until it's over. Don't you know that?"
"Shut up, woman! Until it's over? It looks like we won't even get out of this dungeon alive, let alone finish that fucking plan." Roby rebutted harshly.
As Sin began to listen closely to all of this, he began to question more and more about what plan they were talking about which couldn't be spoken of.
Scarlet had a look of slight disbelief on her face, "I can't believe you are giving up right now. We have been through things much more difficult than this. Our plans have always worked. Don't worry about Kael... that stupid straight arrow. He wasn't aligned with the plan from the start. He was actually against it."
Roby looked up at Scarlet--both silently understanding the same message.
Roby then said, "You're right... screw that asshole. All he cares about is righteousness and justice. Why care for others? The world only fucks you up. All of us inside of Ace made this Hunter group because it was a mix of shared experiences. Harsh pasts which made us trust no one but each other. And Kael... he has the worst background of us all, and yet, he decides to choose to help others and not us."
"We will complete this plan with or without his help. He doesn't need to know what we do from now on until we leave this dungeon." Scarlet replied, a slight smirk on her face which quickly transferred over to Roby's face as well.
At this moment, Ince finally straightened her hands and slowly turned around.
"We are inside of a Spirit Energy array right now." Ince said with a very straight and serious face.
Scarlet and Roby had equally stoic looks, "What do you mean?" Scarlet said, slightly worried.
"This entire dungeon... something--no, someone very powerful must have put an array across the entire dungeon. And if I'm not mistaken, it's a surveillance type of array."
Scarlet's brows immediately furrowed with shock, "Seriously!?" She looked at Roby, who had turned slightly pale.
Ince walked closer, Roby gulping with slight fear.
Scarlet faced the ground, her hands swinging at her sides.
Sin narrowed his gaze, 'They usually don't act so brash. Above that though, it seems what they were saying isn't something they are comfortable sharing. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so taken aback by the fact that there is a surveillance system.'
Sin could smell something fishy here. It was similar to the ominous feeling he had been feeling since the very start of all of this.
Ince walked in between Scarlet and Roby. She paused, Sin looking closer at the reflective panel as he anticipated Ince's next move.
'She looks angry. Looks like even that short girl can put her teammates into their places. I guess that's the benefit of having a team. Rank or power doesn't matter--the purpose of the group supersedes all of that.'
Sin was expecting Ince to reprimand them through words, but not much more.
Ince suddenly turned, grabbing Scarlet by the hair at the top of her head before aggressively thrusting her into the ground.
Scarlet landed with a slam and choked slightly, letting out wheezes of breath and exclaiming slightly in pain.
Ince then picked Scarlet up, throwing her straight into the belly of Roby.
Roby fell onto his back, reopening his scars and screaming in excruciating pain.
"ARGH!"
Sin's narrow eyes turned into scrunched eyebrows of shock as a slight frown showed on his face, 'What... is she doing?'
"Didn't I tell you two? Do... NOT speak about our 'plan' when we are still in the dungeon." Ince said out of nowhere in a very angry, violent tone. She sounded nothing like she used to.
Her kind, caring self now seemed to only be a mirage considering how vile her new tone was.
Even her face was contorted by rage and an almost seething disdain.
Sin didn't know what to make of all of this for now.
Scarlet spoke from the ground, rustling off of Roby and crawling around on the floor: "B-but... even if there is a surveillance system, the chance that anything is listening to us is low. And the chance that it's anyone who actually matters is even lower. There would only be a problem if someone like Sin or--" Scarlet was speaking in a soft but broken voice hinting at silent sobbing. She was cut off by Ince, who angrily replied:
"Sin!? That weakling isn't an issue either. What is, is Angiel. God forbid he learns of this. If he does through Sin, the surveillance system, or any other way, you two will be the ones to pay the ultimate price."
Ince spoke with wide eyes--like an abusive owner talking to a pup.
Sin's brows remained scrunched, but this time with anger, not shock.
'Oh...' He realized just now--like a eureka moment--that these people... weren't on his side from the very beginning. Obviously, he didn't know all the details yet.
But... he didn't need to.
'These motherfuckers...' Rage was beginning to swell up within Sin, his fists squeezing tightly. 'These motherfuckers have been planning on my downfall, it seems. They've been plotting against me... cunning bastards. And to think, I fully trusted them. Even enough to reveal my vulnerability.'
Sin was nearly pissed off at himself just as much as he was at Ince and the others for letting this happen in the first place.
But, he didn't make a move now. He was going to wait. Wait until he had everything he wanted and needed to go after these bastards with all of his heart.
Ince exhaled, closing her eyes again, "Well... it's out in the open now. The plan to kill Angiel for his spoils and blame it all on that weakling we lured in with us. Now don't mention it again. Get ready to go... we have to find Angiel and kill him as soon as possible."
Sin smirked as he heard this, 'Oh... that weakling would be me then right? I see... too bad you revealed it to me so damn openly. But thank you.'
He felt exhilarated. Fucking pissed, but exhilarated. The feeling he had in his bones right now was one that he knew he had to follow through with.
After all, he was going to get betrayed in this dungeon soon enough. But before that would happen...
"I swear... even if I have to keep them locked in this dungeon with me... I won't leave this place until I'm strong enough to hunt down each and every one of them."
***
AUTHOR NOTE:
.
.
.
Thank you all for reading up until this point! This extra long chapter and onwards will be the turning point in this story, if you haven't already clocked on. Sin will begin to gain power and change his ways of thinking along with how he moves from now on, and finally, the main storyline will begin baring its teeth. To rank up into the 40+ chapter range, you will now have to pay in order to read. To those who are willing to pay and put their trust in me, I won't let you down and I appreciate any and all help. To those who decide to not continue reading further, I respect your decision and I thank you for reading this far.
Mass Release dates:
May 5th: 2 Chapter Mass Release.
June 1st: 15 Chapter Mass Release.
(:
(THE OFFICIAL LOCK WILL OCCUR MAY 20th. USE THIS TIME TO READ PAST 40+ CHAPS!)