Chapter 51：The Dark Queen (2/2)
The group advanced through the room, and another shadow monster appeared. This time it was shaped like a quadruped monster. Again, the group defeated it using the dagger Arthur got from Solomon, and advanced again.
The last monster was a shadow knight, a peak-mid-tier monster that was famed for its strength and unparalleled skill. It was at this time that Arthur and his group started facing difficulty in beating it.
Hazel summoned the Witch of Annabel to help them in the fight, Miko teleported and sent a penetrating strike at the monster, Jin used his summoned monsters to distract it allowing it no time to rest, and Arthur was the main attacker with his well rounded physical body, protection runes, force boots, and dagger. He was over-geared unlike the rest of them.
With a scream, the shadow knight fell to the ground scattering away, leaving only the panting group in his place. Even though they were tired, no one was injured. This was a good sign that they could kill the Dark Queen if they advanced at this rate.
They remained in the chamber for a while to rest, eat, and strategize. After that, they went ahead and opened the giant door.
They were inside a giant hall, lined with many black engravings. The hall had windows that revealed nothing but dirt behind them, suggesting the hall to be built elsewhere before being moved here. The group walked in and noticed a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, with a figure hanging from it upside down.
It was a beautiful woman, who had her eyes closed, hanging from the ceiling. Her long dark hair swayed under the force of gravity, revealing her neck and her face.
There were two horns on her forehead, and she had the lower body of a bird, and wings for arms. Her feathers were matt black, taking in all the light in the room without reflecting it.
As soon as they entered the hall, the Dark Queen, a species of dark harpies, opened her eyes that had no white in them, only infinite darkness.
Being stared at silently by the Dark Queen made the group feel chills travel down their spines. The black-feathered harpy studied them with curiosity, but her expression soon morphed into that of extreme pain. She howled in agony as a wound festered in her chest, oozing blackish substance.
After a short moment, the Dark Queen calmed down and started heaving heavily, her body recovering slowly on its own. Arthur looked at her and remembered what the old man he met before told him.
'Please, I beg you, don't let the person I love suffer any longer.'
Solomon's words rang in Arthur's ears as he watched the Dark Queen suffer in agony. He realized that this creature was previously a human, someone Solomon loved and has turned into this somehow. Solomon talked about defying the heavens, but Arthur never thought about such religious thoughts before.
”Arthur, is this the one you talked about?” Jin asked with worry in his voice, the monster looked a lot stronger than they anticipated.
”Yes, but it's wounded. Look at its chest,” Arthur pointed with his chin, and Jin looked at the harpy's chest where a huge hole was still bleeding dark liquid.
”If that's the case, then we might manage.” Jin nodded his head and the team began spreading out.
'I'm sorry,' Arthur voiced in his heart as he looked at the agonized monster. 'I'll free you of your curse,' He took out the golden dagger.