Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System
Chapter 36: The Gatekeeper

Chapter 36: The Gatekeeper

They waited, the hall’s silence broken only by the occasional creak of armor or muffled conversation. Kael’s senses stayed sharp, tracking every movement and every new arrival.

A cheerful voice suddenly cut through the quiet. "Sera! You made it!" Kael turned, his hand resting on his dagger.

Two familiar figures approached them—Reiner, broad-shouldered with a scarred face, and Luthen, lean and sharp-eyed, his staff glowing faintly.

Their steps slowed as they neared, their smiles fading. Reiner’s eyes flicked to Sera, then to Kael, searching. "Where’s Mira?" he asked, his voice tight.

Sera’s hands trembled, her bow creaking under her grip. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling silently down her cheeks. She didn’t speak nor did she look at them.

Reiner’s face fell, understanding dawning on him. Luthen’s jaw tightened, his staff dimming.

Reiner’s gaze snapped to Kael, his finger jabbing forward. "This is your fault," he growled, his voice rising. "You dragged them into this mess! If they hadn’t followed you, Mira would still be alive!"

Luthen stepped forward too, his eyes narrowing. "He’s right. You led them straight to a death trap. Her blood’s on your hands."

Kael’s expression didn’t change nor did he acknowledge their accusations, but his silver eyes grew colder. Their words grated, each one stoking his annoyance. He let them ramble on, their accusations echoing in the hall, drawing glances from other adventurers.

Sera’s face twitched, her tears drying, replaced by a flicker of anger. They continued spewing out accusations, oblivious to the change in her expression.

Having had enough of their nonsense, Kael pointed across the hall, where Dorian and Evelyne had just emerged from a portal.

Dorian’s golden armor was scorched, his face twisted with barely concealed rage. Evelyne limped slightly, her runes dim, and her sword sheathed but her hand ready.

"They killed Mira, the cause of her death," Kael said, his voice flat, cutting through Reiner’s tirade. "There they are. Go get your vengeance if you care so much."

Reiner and Luthen froze, their words dying in their throats. Their eyes followed Kael’s finger, landing on Dorian Valcroft.

The noble’s Lvl 16 aura pulsed faintly, a silent warning to everyone present in the hall. Evelyne’s cold stare met theirs, her hand twitching toward her sword.

Reiner’s face paled, his hand dropping to his side, and he let loose an obsequious smile. Luthen swallowed hard, his staff trembling slightly.

The hall grew quieter, the tension thick. Reiner cleared his throat, his voice low and unsteady. "Sera... we’re sorry about Mira. She was... she didn’t deserve that." Luthen nodded, his eyes avoiding hers. "We’ll... we’ll honor her memory."

Sera didn’t respond. Her gaze stayed fixed on her bow, her fingers tracing the scorched wood. Disgust flickered across her face, her lips tightening. She turned slightly, angling her body away from them, dismissing their presence entirely.

Reiner and Luthen exchanged a glance, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Without another word, they backed away, their steps quick as they melted into the crowd of adventurers.

Kael shook his head, a faint sneer tugging at his lips. "Cowards. All talk, no spine."

He turned back to the hall, his eyes locking with Dorian’s across the chamber. The noble’s smirk was gone, replaced by a hard, calculating stare. Evelyne stood at his side with her hand on her sword, her runes glowing faintly.

For a moment, the air between them crackled, memories of their blood-soaked fight flashing through Kael’s mind—Dorian’s sword at his heart, Sera’s flaming arrow, the royals’ deaths.

But neither of them made a move.

Dorian’s lips twitched as if suppressing a comment, and then he turned away, speaking quietly to Evelyne. Kael’s hand rested on Abyssal Fang, but he stayed still, his face unreadable.

Sera shifted uncomfortably upon seeing them, her voice barely a whisper. "They’re still breathing." Her hate-filled eyes flicked to Dorian and Evelyne, and her fingers subconsciously tightened on her bow.

Kael glanced at her, seeing the raw pain in her eyes, the fire waiting to reignite. "They’ll get fair share soon enough," he said, his voice low. "But not here. Not now."

Sera didn’t respond, but her grip loosened slightly, her shoulders sagging pitifully.

~Rumble~

The hall’s heavy silence shattered as the ground quaked beneath their feet. A deep, resonant chime echoed, like a bell forged from the bones of the earth itself.

The adventurers froze, their weapons half-drawn and eyes darting to the center of the chamber. A familiar figure materialized in a swirl of shadow and light—it was tall and clad in ancient, battle-scarred armor that seemed to drink in the faint glow of the runes lining the walls.

The Dungeon Gatekeeper’s presence pressed down, its spear pulsing with spectral light, its voice a low rumble that vibrated in Kael’s chest.

"The Trial of Morality is complete," it announced neither in a human nor beast tone, its words slicing through the tension. "One among you has shaped fate’s course by clearing the trial in an...unnatural way."

A green orb, no larger than a fist, shimmered into existence, floating toward Kael with deliberate grace. Whispers rippled through the hall as the adventurers’ eyes narrowed with greed, their fingers twitching toward weapons.

Kael’s hand shot out, snatching the orb and tucking it swiftly into his tattered cloak, his silver eyes daring anyone to challenge him. None did.

The Gatekeeper’s armored head turned, ignoring the feverish stares. "The final challenge awaits: The Trial of Dominion." Its voice deepened, each word heavy with intent. "To ascend, you must not only survive but prove dominion over fate, will, and power. Choose a door. Beyond lies an illusion-crafted foe, five levels above your own strength. This enemy is no stranger—it is a reflection of your darkness, your fear, or your flaw. Conquer it, or be consumed."

The hall buzzed with unease, adventurers glanced at the iron doors, their cryptic runes glowing brighter.

Kael’s pulse quickened, his mind racing. An opponent five levels higher—Lvl 12 against his Lvl 7. Against a random opponent wouldn’t be much of a problem but this was someone sharing similar capabilities to him and maybe even more.