However, the goblin smirked.

Its crooked lips curled into an ugly smirk before raising its mace and smashing the ground. Ryuji didn''t believe he would lose.

Or that anything could happen from such a clumsy move, yet an unexpected feeling erupted. The next moment, it tossed the huge mace at the bunker, protecting Alicia, causing Ryuji to look back and start to rush towards her.

Then his demon blood almost felt like it screamed inside him.

''Akari and Ryo!''

Yes, the goblin didn''t choose to fight; instead, it created a powerful earthquake to disturb Ryuji before running towards Ryo and Akari!

''Damn, goblin!''

Ryuji bit his bloody lips; droplets flew before he stepped forward. Each step required considerable strength, his soles sinking before he leapt. He could feel it, something or someone inside the dungeon. Maybe the mastermind who kept calling him the betrayer or that weird prophecy was fucking with him!

Using almost all his strength to chase the hobgoblin running and hopping towards the unconscious two while his chest and lungs burned with the pain from both mana exhaustion and the tight sensation from the dungeon''s oppressive weight. It had only been five minutes, but his magic reserves felt dried, almost tapped like an oil tanker.

''Shit!''

Though Ryuji ran, no matter how desperate his expression, he wouldn''t make it in time as the hobgoblin grew closer.

''Almost!'' Ryuji flicked his left wrist while gritting his teeth, firing several fire arrows towards the retreating hobgoblin, and every time one materialised, the next one became smaller, flimsier and less powerful.

Yet they shot out faster.

However, not a single hit connected.

Ryuji''s glare became increasingly savage, and then he felt his veins popping, his chest like it was going to explode.

''What the fuck is this!?''

It was painful; his demon blood almost started raging, boiling over. Suddenly, his entire vision tinted red, becoming crimson before he threw his axe while he was running, the huge black weapon twirling through the air, its spinning end rushing towards the hobgoblin.

Ryuji''s breath got heavier; the heavy feeling weighed down more. Still, his blood never stopped screaming, and he refused to let the dungeon defeat him as he used the last of his magic to alter the course of his axe, the bloody blade now aiming to chop the hobgoblin in half as his hand reached for Akari.

"Hang on, Ryuji, please... don''t leave us. I can help you... take the elixir!" Alicia fumbled and grasped the half-filled bottle before trying to pour it into his mouth, but the blood was too thick, and Ryuji was too weak. Ryuji shook his head; he couldn''t swallow anything.

''Shit... This Goblin coward... attacking after the boss fight... Fuck, it''s so frustrating... Why wouldn''t a goblin be a coward....!'' Ryuji thought as he looked down at the smiling Akari and Ryo, wrapped safely in his arms.

"You''re such a fool, always trying to do things alone, only letting yourself get hurt..."

The next moment, she took the bottle of elixir and pressed it to her lips.

"If you refuse to drink it..." The clear, transparent pink fluid glided and vanished within her lips; Alicia then pressed her soft, silky, and dewy lips to Ryuji''s.

"Then I''ll give it to you another way...."

*Slurp* Read today at mvl _emp _y,r.

Her tongue danced in Ryuji''s mouth, forcing the magical medicine down his throat. Ryuji, with little strength, swallowed while the dungeon seemed to become more restless.

His heart trembled; the stab wound stung. Yet he could only feel the warm, soft tongue of Alicia moving through his mouth, wrapping around his tongue as she scooped the syrup-like potion and forced him to swallow... the sweet taste mixed with his tangy blood and her saliva.

''Hmm...''

His lungs filled with Alicia''s sweet scent, his eyes gazing back at Alicia with her eyes wide like green emeralds. She held Ryuji and refused to let him go... the taste of the elixir disappeared, and Alicia, for a moment, leaned back, revealing her lip moist with drool mixed with a small trace of Ryuji''s blood.

[The Betrayal Shall Awaken!]

"Haa.... what a strange taste, but it wasn''t bad...." She muttered while stroking her lip with her index finger, watching as Ryuji''s eyes closed, his wounds healed... but then she noticed.

"Where did the blade go?"

The black dagger vanished... or did it melt into Ryuji''s body?

When Alicia leaned forward, she started to examine his chest, the horrible wound still open, slowly healing thanks to the elixir, but the dagger couldn''t be found. However, as she tried to pull away, Ryuji''s hands wrapped around her neck.

His eyes were black, with glowing ocean-blue pupils.

"Wha.... what''s wrong, Ryuji---" Before she could speak more, his lips closed her mouth, and like a thirsty man in the desert he began to suck on her tongue, likely for traces of the elixir, or maybe her sweet saliva...