Published at 16th of October 2026 8:12 am

Chapter 2113: Monstrously Strong

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The Rabbit Hole was bustling as ever.

It was already sunset by the time Adam entered the walls of Davos and made his way through the crowded Trade Borough.

The tavern was his first stop. It was no different from his home. It had taken him a little less than six months on his return journey. He was traveling solo, after all.

He could have arrived sooner, but he took several detours on the way, locating bandit camps and orc stranglers near the Trade Road so that he could get used to the Viper.

The familiar smell of the tavern washed his nostrils as he stepped through the doors. Then came the sound, the chatter, the arguments, the drunken brawls. He couldn’t help but smile.

"My sweet magpie!"

A familiar voice echoed in his ear.

Adam turned to see Ira, followed by some maids and servants, descend from the stairs leading to the upper floors just as he arrived.

"Ira!" Adam smiled.

"Oh, I’ve missed you, love." The sweet and beautiful proprietress of the tavern pulled him into an embrace, then kissed him on the cheeks. "How was the Citadel?"

Adam let her guide him to the bar counter where his teacher waited.

"It was great," he said. "Never seen so many books in one place."

"Good. Good." Ira patted his shoulder. "Come, sit. I’ll catch up with you in a bit. I have some errands to run."

Then she left like the wind.

Hannibal looked the same as always. Standing behind the bar counter, he wiped a glass mug while staring back at Adam with appraising eyes.

"You look... different," he said.

"Nice to see you again too, Hannibal." Adam grinned. He did miss the man in his travels.

"Why do you look so clean?" Hannibal set the mug down and took a seat behind the counter. Then he lit a smoker.

"Oh," Adam began, touching his forearms. "I had some help."

Even he didn’t know how most of his scars had disappeared. After all, he didn’t remember being healed by those strange jellyfish-like creatures, courtesy of Lord White.

Hannibal hummed, blowing smoke to the side. His eyes settled on the tattoo on Adam’s right hand. "Some journey you had."

"Wanna see?" Adam was excited to show the Viper to his teacher.

"If it’s a weapon like I think it is," Hannibal said, "don’t draw it."

He quirked a brow again. "Or have you forgotten the rules of the tavern already?"

"Ah, yes." Adam sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Apologies."

Hannibal pointed at the tattoo and curiously asked, "The Coil give you that?"

"Aye." Adam nodded. He had sparred with his teacher countless times. There were hardly any secrets of his that Hannibal did not know. Except for maybe a couple of them.

Hannibal hummed, not asking anything further. He then glanced at the auburn band on Adam’s ring finger, and couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile. Though he did not comment on it.

Instead, he said, "Your friend has returned from the north."

"North?" Adam frowned. "Who?"

But in the next moment, his eyes lit up. "Luca! He’s here?"

"Came back last week," Hannibal said. "Was looking for you."

"Is he still here?"

Hannibal nodded. "Yes. But not for long. And neither will you."

"What do you mean?" Adam frowned. "I just came back."

"The girl is gone off-world," Hannibal said frankly. "There’s no reason for you to stay here. You’ve trained enough. Now, go explore the world."

Adam blushed in embarrassment when Hannibal pointed out the only reason he had not been going out on adventures was because of Genevieve. Now that she had gone to Providentia, there really was no reason for him to remain in the city.

"So you’re finally giving me permission to journey to the Mountain Down Under," he said.

"Gave you permission years ago," Hannibal said. "It was you who refused to go because you were so in love."

Adam coughed loudly. "No need to point it out!"

Many years ago, when Adam was still new to the city, Hannibal had told him that he needed to be at least a Mana Seed Magus to venture into the dungeons of the Mountain Down Under.

Of course, Mana Core Magi could also enter the dungeons. But they could only venture to the first level. Even then, it was highly likely for them to die. A Mana Seed Magus—or a Paladin equivalent—could venture up to the second level.

The Mountain Down Under had nine levels, each one more dangerous than the last.

They said level nine was a myth. But Hannibal had once told Adam it wasn’t. Adam believed him. Because he knew exactly how monstrously strong his teacher was.

"Do you have anyone in mind to form a party with?" Hannibal asked.

Adam shrugged. "I only trust Luca with my back."

Hannibal nodded. After a moment, he said, "I’ll arrange a party for you. A five-man party. Are you confident in traversing the third level?"

The third level was home to Transcendent monsters.

Adam casually nodded. "No problem."

Hannibal hummed in response. Adam was his student. So he knew better than most about his true fighting prowess.

At his current level, Adam could go toe-to-toe with a Transcendent Magus. He could also hold his own against a Transcendent Paladin.

"Very well," he said after a while. "I’ll find a Transcendent team leader for you. You will leave for the dungeons in a week."

"Great!" Adam truly was excited to visit the legendary dungeons beneath Davos. "Oh, by the way, do you want me to help out with some chores?"

Hannibal shook his head and rose to his feet. "No need. Go home and rest."

"Alright then. I’ll go say bye to Ira." Adam waved and turned to leave. "I’ll see you in a we—"

"You will resume your training tomorrow," Hannibal interrupted him.

Adam’s lips twitched. He turned back to his teacher and said meekly, "But... didn’t you just tell me to rest?"

"Yes." Hannibal looked him dead in the eye. "A night is enough to rest your weary muscles. Besides..."

His brows furrowed ever so slightly as he studied Adam’s body.

"Your body bears too few scars. You have grown soft. I can smell the complacency in your very bones. Starting tomorrow, your training will become far more severe. Pray that your body can endure what your mind has forgotten in the past year."

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