FFF Class Auto Hero: The Weakest Class Turned Out To Be The Strongest?-Chapter 31: Echoes of the Abyss

The ground trembled beneath them, a deep, resounding roar echoing through the underground chamber. The very air seemed to vibrate with the force of it, and the foundation of the cavern itself groaned in protest, as if the earth were alive and shaking in fear.

Lilith's eyes, though hidden beneath her blindfold, seemed to narrow as she picked up on something. She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, amused smile.

"A realm-eater?"

"It seems we can no longer overstay our welcome here."

With that, Lilith raised her voice. "Priestesses!" she called out. "Prepare to evacuate the slaves. We leave now."

The priestesses, those who still stood nearby, acknowledged her order, their voices reverberating through the cavernous space. "As you will it, Head Priestess." They moved swiftly, heading towards the panicked throngs of slaves. Some of the priestesses continued their gruesome work, stabbing the men and women in black with red.

The screams that followed were muffled by the hum of arcane arts as they extracted dreams, sealing them into jars.

Lilith turned her back and began to walk toward the exit, but before she could make her way out, Tobin, desperate and seething with frustration, called out to her.

"Wait! You're just going to leave us here?" His voice cracked. "We've been captured, too! Don't we deserve your help getting out of here?"

Lilith stopped in her tracks. She turned slowly to face him, the weight of her gaze seemingly pressing down on him despite the blindfold obscuring her eyes.

"Oh my," she cooed, the mock sympathy particularly palpable in her words. "How unfortunate."

She sighed theatrically, as if weighed down by a sorrow only she could truly understand.

"It saddens me to say..."

"All of these people have already chosen to give themselves to our Lord. They are now members of our faith. It is our responsibility to ensure their safety."

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Her gaze swept over the group of adventurers once more, and she paused to gaze at each of them, lingering just long enough for her amusement to sink in.

"As for you lot..."

"I wish you the best of luck."

With a flick of her tail and a final, lingering look, Lilith turned away, vanishing into the depths of the caverns.

Panic spread like wildfire through the group. The tremors beneath them seemed to grow stronger with each passing second. Gareth's eyes widened as another low rumble echoed through the cavern, and in a frantic moment, he yelled.

"Shit!"

His hands gripped the nearest wall for support, but the foundation beneath them felt like it was crumbling away with every passing second.

Elira, trembling but desperate to escape, shot a glance at the others. Her voice rang out sharply. "I accept!" she cried as she raised her hands in surrender. "Come save me!"

A loud crack split the air as a loose ridge of stone fell from above, landing with a heavy thud on Brann's already injured leg.

The fighter gasped in pain, his face twisted with agony. His grip tightened on his leg, and he looked up at the others, his breath ragged. "I accept," he muttered through clenched teeth, the words forced out as the realization hit him.

His survival was no longer a choice but a matter of desperate necessity.

Gareth didn't hesitate. "I accept," he said quickly.

Tobin, in shock, spun around at the sudden turn of events. "Are you guys serious?" he yelled. "You're just going to... give in like that?!" His hands were thrown up in exasperation, and he could feel the weight of the situation pressing in from all sides.

Gareth, his patience now running thin, snapped back at him. "Stop being a fool, Tobin, and look around!"

"This place is coming down. We won't be strong or fast enough to survive this. These priestesses are our only hope." His words cut through Tobin's defiance like a blade through the fog of panic.

Tobin's face twisted as the undeniable truth sank in. He clenched his jaw, his pride fighting against his survival instincts. Finally, he yelled, "Fuck!"

"I accept too."

For a moment, silence... well, except for the rumbling.

Then, Lilith's voice echoed around them, the sound winding through the crumbling chamber like a ghost's whisper.

"It's always fascinating to watch lost lambs plead for salvation."

Suddenly, priestesses emerged from the shadows to lift all of them from their feet.

...

...

Meanwhile...

Lunareio stood beneath the pale glow of the moon, his silver hair cascading down his back like a waterfall of stardust.

The cold night air bit at his skin, but it was a welcome sensation—it grounded him, reminded him that he was still somewhat human... or whatever version of "human" he now was.

Then his gaze shifted.

Approaching him in the courtyard were Navria and a man.

Broad shoulders, a crisp buttoned-up dark blue and white uniform, black gloves, platinum blond hair tousled just enough to look like he didn't try (he definitely did), and eyes the color of storm clouds deciding whether or not to ruin someone's day.

If this were a dating sim, this guy would be the first love interest introduced. Probably the "cold but secretly soft" type.

Navria gestured toward him with a look of motherly pride, which was a bit unsettling considering the man's aura screamed "kiss me or kill me, I'm fine with either."

"My lord," she said brightly, "this is Gregor, a lower demon. He is fairly skilled in darkness magic and is at Level Ten."

Level Ten, huh? Lunareio barely kept himself from raising an eyebrow.

Gregor, to his credit, didn't miss a beat. He dropped to one knee with grace, like he had rehearsed this a thousand times before now.

"It is my greatest pleasure to serve by the Luminous One's side," he said with a smile. "You may use me as you see fit. I am trained by High Priestess Lilith in torture, hypnosis, and mind control. And of course, should you grow weary, you may use me as a chair."