MTLNOVEL Chapter 81: Dead?
"Let me see." Beatrice urged, gently pushing Hades down to sit.
"I'm fine—" he started to protest.
"There are still things we need to face," she cut in, her tone steady but her gaze soft. "And considering my condition, I'll be relying on you." She looked up at him. "So… please, stay in good shape."
Hades fell silent. She was right. Even that last attack had left her breathless.
Without another word, he slid his fingers under his shirt and pulled it off, revealing the hardened frame of a man who had walked through fire and blood more times than he could count.
Beatrice felt her cheeks warm. His torso bore the story of his life—scars etched like battle marks, muscles shaped by years of struggle and survival.
Why am I… She shook the thought from her mind and made him turn. That's when her eyes landed on the injury.
The skin at his side was charred black. He must have taken the Golem's beam head-on, without time to shield himself.
Beatrice raised her hand and gently touched the burn.
Hades winced, but then a gentle warmth began to seep into his skin—not sharp, not burning, but soothing.
"You can use healing magic?" he asked, clearly surprised.
First, she had created that lantern. Then came her flame magic. Now, healing as well.
"Your mana reserve decides how many kinds of magic you can wield," she explained. "That's why dwarves focus on their creations instead of spells. Humans usually master one skill. But elves like me… and dragons like you… can learn several."
Hades tensed for a moment, glancing at her. "So, you figured it out, huh?"
Her lips curved in a faint smile. "So many years of experience, and you think I wouldn't notice the Dragon's Gaze?"
He hadn't tried too hard to hide it, but still—it was unsettling how effortlessly she had seen through him.
"I assume you are a very known and infamous entity in their world that even the most ancient dragon knows about you?" Beatrice asked, making Hades tilt his head,
"I thought she was calling you?"
Beatrice shook her head, "Those words were for you. She is waiting for you."
Hades's expression turned grim…so this was actually related to him.
'Are you going to tell me about it now or not?' He asked his inner self. But again, no response.
Hades was growing frustrated now. The ancient dragon knows him and because of him she possibly pulled a source of mana inside the temple so she could awake.
Hades had all the right to know how this all was connected to him.
'Guess, I have no choice but to hear it from Samarella…'
"We should continue," Hades spoke as he got up and wore his shirt.
Beatrice never got the chance to suggest to him to rest some more time. He was already a few steps ahead, heading toward the narrow gallery which would lead them deeper into the temple.
….
"Thank you," Luna said softly to the lady who had helped her set up camp.
The female elf smiled as she spread the blankets inside the tent. Lifting a thermos, she asked, "Would you like some tea?"
Luna gave a faint nod and accepted the cup.
Outside, rain tapped steadily against the tent. The sun had long slipped beneath the horizon, and the temperature had dropped sharply. Without shelter, the cold would have been unbearable.
She took her first sip of the aromatic tea, its warmth spreading through her chest, when the elf spoke again. "Your hair is really pretty. Is it natural?"
"Yes," Luna replied with a small smile. When she had awakened her phoenix core, her hair had turned a striking platinum silver. At first, she hated how much it made her stand out. But over the years—alongside her growing strength—people began to admire it.
Still, the one whose opinion mattered most was Hades. And he loved her hair.
"The man who went into the temple with the Queen… is your husband?" the elf asked.
Luna's cheeks warmed. "He is my husband, but… we haven't gotten the official documents yet."
The elf's smile brightened. "You really love him, don't you? The passion you showed… the desperation to get him out of the temple… it was admirable."
Luna met her gaze. "That's something anyone would do when they're in love."
The elf's expression softened with quiet admiration. "Get some rest. I'll let you know if anything happens."
….
No words passed between them as they moved through the dark gallery, their footsteps echoing softly against the ancient stone.
If there had been even a flicker of doubt in Hades's mind about this sudden journey into the temple, it vanished the moment he heard the ancient one's voice.
Now, more than anything, he wanted to know—how did the Primordial Dragon know about him?
It was time he uncovered at least part of the mystery behind his own existence.
"Wait," Beatrice said suddenly, her hand closing around his wrist before he could take another step.
Hades turned to her. The flicker of torchlight revealed the worry etched across her face.
"What is it?" he asked.
"The mana concentration ahead… it's unusually strong," she warned, her tone low and cautious. "We should tread carefully."
Hades nodded before he told her, "I will go ahead first. If I find any danger, I will back off instantly."
Beatrice thought for a moment, before saying, "Be careful."
Hades nodded before he handed his bag to her and slowly advanced forward.
The corridor spread into a wider space.
He could feel mana rising in the air.
The whole place was illuminated with a bluish glow.
The ceiling was high and several rocky pillars were rising high.
There was moving water, a few meters ahead of Hades.
The redhead roamed his eyes around, before his eyes caught something shocking.
"B-Beatrice…" he called out and instantly, the Queen marched out of the shadow and took his side.
"What happened?"
Hades slowly raised his hand and while pointing at a certain levitating being, he asked, "Is…that your daughter?"
Beatrice spun her head and looked at where he was pointing, before her mind went blank.
Her face became pale as she saw her Peri levitating mid-air.
The reason for their shock was the gaping hole in her chest.
Her heart was missing.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading