Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 97: Conquering The Hollow Salt Forest Layer - Facing The Hollow Queen [2]

Chapter 97: Conquering The Hollow Salt Forest Layer - Facing The Hollow Queen [2]

"Uh... I didn’t think about giving them wings..." Zorba rubbed his chin. "They’re too big and heavy for normal wings, huh. This is a predicament."

"Haaa... I guess you’re still an amateur then," Louis sighed. He extended his shadows—now vastly enlarged from his increased Fantasium Reserves—and swallowed all the knights instantly. "I’ll bring them along."

"Aren’t they heavy?!" Zorba asked.

"The Shadow Storage is similar to a separate dimension. I’ve strengthened it by infusing Fantasium and my own Soul Essence," Louis explained. "Their weight doesn’t matter inside, and since they aren’t living beings, it’s fine."

"I see!" Zorba nodded. "Then—"

Before he could finish, Louis grabbed him and soared higher using his Flying Sword Technique. They reached the White Salt Castle. Louis swung Gungnir, shattering the gates to the interior. Zorba tumbled to the ground as Louis scanned the surroundings, admiring the fine white tapestry of the castle’s interior—everything gleaming as if carved from marble, though it was all pure white salt rock.

"Oh, what a beautiful castle..." Zorba murmured, taking in the sight.

"They’re here." Louis expanded his shadows. All eight Knights of the Round Table emerged one by one, clashing against heavily armored Salt Statues and powerful Salt Termite Warriors.

As before, the Knights decimated the army of Entities with ease. Louis swept the remains with his shadows, storing anything valuable as they pressed forward.

"Are there no treasures here?" Zorba wondered.

"Usually treasure chests spawn from time to time with Relics," Louis said. "I know where they are. Follow me."

Louis and the Knights advanced through the vast corridors, fighting Entities as they appeared. They reached an empty room containing a glowing white chest.

"Oh, a treasure chest!"

Zorba foolishly rushed toward it. The chest responded by transforming into a giant mimic—fleshy interior, long tentacles, and sharp fangs ready to swallow him whole.

Louis clicked his tongue and swung his sword, splitting the creature in half before it could devour Zorba.

"You idiot! I told you to be careful!" Louis slapped Zorba, who looked shocked.

"I-I apologize, my dear lord... thank you for saving me." Zorba lowered his head in shame but rubbed his face happily where Louis had touched him.

"Now..." Louis ignored him and approached the destroyed Mimic Entity. He reached into its belly and retrieved the Relic. "I see. So it’s this one this time."

Thanks to William’s information, Louis easily located the Treasure Chests. The castle could spawn one to three per cycle. He had yet to check the other two possible spots, but he had started with a fine Relic.

"A white cup?" Zorba leaned closer to inspect it.

"It is called Cup of Salt," Louis said. "It is a Healing and Disrupting Item—usually three to five uses."

"And what does it do?" Zorba asked.

"It produces white salt. Consuming it heals wounds and enhances thinking, but it dehydrates you very quickly," Louis explained. "If used on an enemy that isn’t a Salt Entity, their skin burns and they weaken. Against those especially vulnerable to the Salt Element, they could die instantly."

"Hm!" Zorba rubbed his chin while nodding. "Most impressive, my lord."

"Hm, it’s a fine Relic," Louis said. "I’ll keep it. I will use it for my Ritual of Descent. I need at least a couple more, though. This one is too weak and won’t do."

"Ritual of Descent? Are you planning on reaching a higher tier as a Spiralwalker already?" Zorba asked.

"Something like that," Louis replied. "I am not completely sure if it will work..."

After pondering during the battles, Louis had concluded that his Spiral fulfilled its Descent conditions to Tier 7 because a large number of people who loved him mourned his death. When he died, the entire Kingdom of Frostbane, Mirai, Zorba, his father, Anastasia, Agustina, and everyone else must have grieved deeply for days.

All that sorrow fed his Spiral—now glowing with azure energy resembling tears. The conditions appeared to be: for Tier 7, he had to die and receive the grief of those who loved him.

Perhaps he did not need to truly die—only convincingly fake it—but even then, how could he have ever guessed such a ridiculous condition?

Regardless, he now required at least five Relics to attempt the Ritual of Descent. By sacrificing them, his Spiral of Madness would grow even stronger, allowing him to descend further through its spirals.

At Tier 7, Louis would experience a massive leap in power—one that might finally let him survive better in this world and begin making a real difference in the coming events.

"Tisha cannot die, and I have to make sure we don’t lose as many soldiers..." Louis murmured. "Is there even a way to stop Soma without so many casualties? A way to stop him before he unleashes any horrors.

Even if I rush to the capital, he has already settled in. I cannot stop him before he arrives. I could devise countless strategies, but against his overwhelming power, few would work without sacrifices... but he does have a weakness—his Faith.

If he loses faith in his goddess—by seeing her suffer, for example—his power will temporarily weaken. That would open a chance for my father and Aunt Helena to finish him...

I could also probably call upon Celestina, the Celestial Vessel, for aid. And maybe bring back Uncle Eduard if I find him down there."

Louis planned as he walked through the white corridors of the White Salt Palace. They reached the second destination—no treasure chest. They moved to the third and final spot, right beside the Throne Room where the Hollow Queen patiently awaited them, seated upon her throne.

Louis and Zorba approached the room next to the Throne Room. Two Salt Statue Knights in heavy armor guarded it. Gawain and Percival crushed them into dust with ease. Louis opened the last treasure chest.

Inside lay a white mask. "The White Salt Mask... It’s fine, I suppose, but it’s a pity I didn’t get the only strong Relic here—the Salt Sword."

The Salt Sword was a powerful Relic Louis had wanted to refine into his Soul Gear, but it had not appeared. The White Salt Mask would have to suffice. Its power was mild, like the Salt Cup. Zorba, as always, was curious.

"Master Louis, what is that mask?" he asked.

"This is the White Salt Mask," Louis explained. "It erases your worst memories when worn, granting more confidence by removing traumas that hold you back."

"...Oh," Zorba said, surprised. "What a mysterious relic..."

"It is good, but it can also become addictive," Louis warned. "Once removed, all sealed memories return even stronger, causing severe emotional pain and even breakdowns if the traumas are deep enough. It also brings heavy headaches and nosebleeds."

"Then why not keep it equipped forever?" Zorba suggested.

"Forever?" Louis laughed. "The longer you wear it, the more you grow accustomed to having no fears. You become increasingly daring and reckless—to the point of self-destruction. If you somehow endure all of that, eventually you mutate into some kind of Entity. The mask becomes part of you, transforming you into something else. Scary, right?"

"Hah, it’s fascinating," Zorba said. "Although it’s tempting to try, what you said has taken away all my interest. It seems much more dangerous than the Salt Cup..."

"Indeed. While the Salt Cup is a Level 1 Relic, this is Level 2—so beware," Louis said. "Relics can have amazing effects but also terrible side effects. The proper way to wield them is with moderation and full knowledge of their defects and flaws. I will use it for my ritual."

"So are we done here then, Master Louis?" Zorba asked. "It’s strange how the Area Boss doesn’t move from the Throne Room at all..."

"She can’t," Louis said. "Area Bosses are anchored to their specific area—confined and unable to move beyond their limits. She is trapped inside her Throne Room and cannot come to slay us personally. She must wait for us to come to her."

"I see..." Zorba nodded. "Then shall we get going? We mustn’t waste precious time."

"Indeed, let’s move," Louis said.

The Prince and Zorba approached the Throne Room’s white gate, which shimmered brightly. Louis knocked with his bare hands, unleashing his Sword Aura. The gate shattered into dozens of pieces.

As dust rose, he, Zorba, and their knights advanced without fear. A wave of his hand dispersed the dust, revealing the large throne of red salt stone and ancient kingdom banners hanging from the ceiling.

At the center sat a giantess—entirely of brittle white salt—with an extremely beautiful human-like face and bright white eyes framed by long red crystalline eyelashes.

She had long white hair of red-and-white crystal, wore a shimmering salt-crystal dress, and bore a red crown. She stood twenty meters tall—the Area Boss of the Dimensional Labyrinth’s First Layer.

The Hollow Queen.