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"Congratulations, everyone!"
"Lord Drakogon is imnsely proud of your remarkable feat today!"
"Hm?"
Maria looked skyward, noticing two massive Zodiacrons who had been observing the entire ti. They were Drakogon’s trusted lieutenants, the Tiger Zodiacron, Stryphex, and the Ox Zodiacron, Gravox.
"Wow! It’s Stryphex and Gravox! They ca to congratulate us, Vyperion! Ahh! Where’s Gallotron at?" Quick Hare exclaid. "Well, I’m sure he’s fine. He’s the strongest."
"He probably ran back to the city... I don’t see his body anywhere," Vyperion said. "Yeah."
"Lord Drakogon has invited all of you to a grand feast where high-quality oil and precious tal ores will be served as food for everyone! Please, co to the Palace with us. Our God King awaits you," Stryphex announced.
For now, Maria decided to play along and soared through the skies with Quick Hare and Vyperion, arriving at the Palace where they had been before. It had been cleared of Players for the day, and a lavish feast was already underway.
The Zodiacrons were thrilled and animated, chatting with one another, enjoying their al, and crowding around Maria and her party, giving them no mont of respite. It seed they had beco the stars of the day.
"That was just amazing!"
"How strong are you guys?"
"Quick Hare, I had no idea you had such powerful friends!"
"Well, didn’t she fight pretty well too?"
"Yeah, it was incredible. Well done, kid!"
"Uwaahh! Everyone! Thank you so much! You don’t know how much it ans to be praised by all of you!" Quick Hare was nearly in tears from joy as the Zodiacrons lauded her.
"Well done, Quick Hare," Stryphex said. "You have not disappointed us. Perhaps we were wrong to deem Rabbits weaker. You’ve proven you have the cunning to stand among the Fighters on the frontlines."
"Really?!" Quick Hare gasped.
"Indeed!" Gravox nodded, laughing heartily. "Lord Drakogon wishes to speak with you and your party, to congratulate you, bestow rewards, and grant a title for your exceptional efforts!"
"Really? Amazing, Quick Hare! You truly did it!" Vyperion exclaid, beaming with pride. "I couldn’t be prouder of you! I wish Gallotron were here too... I wonder where he is? Have you two seen him, my Lords?"
"No, we have not," Stryphex replied.
"Co now, follow us. We shouldn’t keep the God King waiting too long! Haha!" Gravox chuckled, leading them through the corridors.
As they walked alongside Stryphex and Gravox, Quick Hare and Vyperion couldn’t stop talking to their revered seniors. The two Zodiacrons were living legends to them, so their excitent was understandable.
"Hey, Maria, are you sure this is fine? It feels kind of strange," Alma whispered. "Everything happened... way too fast, no?"
If even Alma was growing suspicious, then perhaps things were indeed unusual.
However, Maria withheld judgnt for now. Perhaps Drakogon was genuinely a good leader, and her doubts were excessive for soone of his stature and authority in this society.
She hoped for a peaceful resolution so they could move forward...
"Welco! I have been awaiting you, my heroes."
Drakogon’s voice resonated through the grand hall as Quick Hare smiled, gazing around before admiring her King. He was magnificent.
"Uwaaah! King Drakogon! It’s an honor to finally see you for a second ti! Rember ? The first ti, you spoke to when I was just a few months old?" Quick Hare asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"Of course I rember you! Yes, you, Quick Hare. I always knew there was sothing special in those small, adorable eyes. To think you would reveal the true strength of the Rabbit Zodiacrons. Perhaps we were mistaken in judging your kind."
"I agree, my King. I believe... perhaps everyone possesses talent and potential. I also heard about Evolution from Maria. Is it true? I had no idea we could evolve past Level 100!" Vyperion said.
"Evolution! Remarkable. I was unaware as well! We will eagerly investigate this together and uncover the true potential of all Zodiacrons! Now, will you co closer? I wish to present your rewards right here," Drakogon replied.
Drakogon smiled, revealing three floating golden cubes: two for Quick Hare and Vyperion, and one for Maria and her party.
"Are those Golden Transformation Cores?!" Quick Hare gasped.
"We are deeply honored!" Vyperion exclaid.
"What are those?" Maria asked.
"They are special Cores we can place in the empty socket of our chests to transform into Golden Zodiac Beasts, drawing the ancient power of our gods!" Quick Hare explained. "Only Heroes of Legend have ever wielded them! It is said they can even grant Divine Power, like that of King Drakogon, Stryphex, and Gravox."
"Huh... Well, I suppose I could examine their properties," Maria said, rubbing her chin. "Maybe I could use one on my armor or weapon..."
As they approached, Lucifer glanced around, sensing sothing amiss.
Yet he couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.
Was it his imagination?
"You are one of us now. Co, claim your prize!"
Drakogon extended his hand as Quick Hare’s small hand reached for the golden core, her eyes brimming with hope and innocence.
This was her mont, her chance to shine among the Zodiacrons and prove Rabbits were not weak.
"Thank you, thank you so much, King Drakogon! I won’t ever dissa—"
"Now."
TRUUUM!
The space beneath them warped, and a black hole suddenly engulfed them. Maria did nothing to intervene as everyone plumted through the massive gate that appeared out of nowhere.
Drakogon smirked, snatching the cores from Quick Hare’s grasp as he gazed down at her.
"As if I would ever give these valuable Divine Cores to puny Rabbits... Don’t make laugh."
"Eh?"
Quick Hare was swallowed by the darkness. Maria, the last to fall through the gate, glanced back at Drakogon in a split second, sighing with disappointnt.
"I really wanted this to end nicely. War it is then, Drakogon."
"...?!"
FLASH!
Then she vanished with the others.
Space twisted, vibrant colors flashing everywhere. The void distorted their bodies and minds, attempting to pull them elsewhere.
Maria swiftly used her powers to encase everyone in a Void Bubble, shielding them from the spatial turbulence.
Until...
BAAAM!
The bubble crashed onto a hard, solid floor, dissipating as everyone tumbled onto a slightly wet, slimy surface. The stench of sulfur filled the air.
"Where are we? What...! What happened?" Quick Hare asked, looking around in confusion.
"Haaa... This is...?" Vyperion’s eyes widened, scanning their surroundings. "No way! Why are we here?!"
They were in a vast, enclosed chamber. The walls and floor were coated with slimy red substances and pulsating black veins. Hundreds of capsules hung from the walls, containing insect-like silhouettes.
"We’re inside a Hive Spaceship?!" Vyperion exclaid. "But why! Why would we end up here? That Gate that opened below... it teleported us here? Was it a mistake?"
"It had to be a mistake!" Quick Hare insisted. "There’s no way this would happen normally!"
Both Zodiacrons were in such shock that they couldn’t believe what had occurred and attributed it to an error on Drakogon’s part.
"Enough, you two," Maria said. "This wasn’t a mistake. That bastard set us up with that Gate beneath us and sent us straight to hell... We’re in the depths of a Hive Spaceship. He sent us here so they could deal with us without getting his hands dirty."
"What?!" Quick Hare gasped.
"So he was truly evil!" Alma exclaid. "I knew sothing was off about them!"
"Hmm, but why let this happen, Maria?" Lucifer asked. "I know we could have— Oh."
"It was a convenient way to teleport to one of the spaceships," Maria said, smiling. "And, well, I wanted to see the worst they had planned. Quite honestly, this isn’t half as intimidating as I imagined."
Maria looked up, spotting a massive insectoid figure approaching. It had long, spider-like legs, a slender humanoid upper body, a large insect head, and multiple arms.
"Krakekeke! Krieekeh! Krakeeh!"
It was an unfamiliar Hive Alien, speaking in an alien tongue before retreating, sealing the ceiling completely.
Then, the walls began to warm, and the insects within the over two hundred eggs suspended on the walls...
They twitched, slowly breaking through their eggs, hatching.
"Wait a second! This is wrong! Drakogon would never do this! He is a good person!" Quick Hare scread.
"Can’t you see...?" Lucifer asked angrily. "Your precious leader sent us here to die and beco bug food!"
"KRIEEEEEHH!"
The furious, hungry screeches of the monstrous insects echoed through the chamber, sending shivers down Quick Hare’s tallic spine.
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