SSS Unknown: Dark Knight's Legacy

'I should keep this secret from that group.'

Unknown's thoughts turned inward as he weighed the consequences of his next move. He had already obtained 2/3 of the key fragments, a significant accomplishment, but the path ahead was murky. 

According to the map, two areas were circled in red—possible locations for the final fragment. Yet, his instincts told him that one, or perhaps both, of those areas were traps, designed to lure him into a deadly snare.

The group he had aligned with—if one could even call it that—was unreliable, at best.

Their desires drove them, and Unknown wasn't sure he could trust them. They would undoubtedly want the fragments, and his mind raced with the possibilities of what would happen if they tried to take them by force.

'What if I obtain all three fragments? Should I give them up if asked?'

His lips curled into a tight, humorless smile. The question lingered, but he already knew the answer.

'The issue is the terms of the exchange. If they try to take it by force, I'll treat them as enemies. Otherwise, I'll think it over.'

For the moment, Unknown wasn't sure what kind of deal he could strike. If it was a fair exchange, he might consider it—but that was a big 'if.'

The problem with Unknown was that he didn't even know what he truly wanted. He had never been one to chase after trivial desires like most people did.

'Money? I don't need it.' He had more than enough of that from various ventures.

'Women? I don't need a fake relationship.' He had no interest in shallow ties or manipulative entanglements.

'Power? For what? It only adds more trouble.' Power was a double-edged sword. It corrupted others and brought nothing but chaos. It was a dangerous temptation and one he had no need for at this moment.

'Strength? Maybe. But it's better to claim that sword as my own rather than agree to some deal.' The [Sword of Desire- Eclipse] was tantalizing, its legendary status promising unmatched power. 

But Unknown wasn't sure if he wanted it just for the sake of possessing it, or if there was something more profound beneath his desire to claim it.

In the end, he didn't know what he truly lacked. And perhaps that was the greatest puzzle of all. 

'Forget it, the day of the deal is coming. Let's get this over with.' His focus shifted back to the present. 

He continued on his way, unaware of the fact that a time-space rift had opened. Perhaps it was because he had become the catalyst for the very time-space rift that twisted the reality around him.

After a while, he saw it—the remnants of the beautiful stream, now a distant memory, lingered in his mind. 

The monster-sucking trap was still active, its influence evident in the swarming monsters that had gathered around it.

Coldly sheathing the pitch-black sword, Unknown channeled his mana into the blade. The crimson energy swirled around the scabbard, and a faint sensation of tightness gripped his chest. In a single fluid motion, he unsheathed the sword, feeling the raw power surge through his body as the blade came free.

[Calamity Slash]

The devastating sword aura erupted from the edge of the blade, slicing through the air with such force that the wind created by the slash blew away the debris in front of him. The monsters that had been swarming the area were obliterated in an instant, their bodies either cut to pieces or blown away entirely. The feeling of strength and mastery was undeniable, and a small, satisfied grin tugged at Unknown's lips.

'Seems much stronger than before. I'll admit, fighting isn't pointless.'

He walked through the path strewn with the rotting bodies of the fallen monsters, barely acknowledging them as he stepped over their remains. 

The stench of decay filled the air, but he was unfazed, his focus unwavering. His goal was clear, and nothing would distract him now.

With his current strength, conquering the Goblin Fortress on his own would no longer be an impossible task. He had grown exponentially in power. But there was still a lingering sense of duty—a promise he had made that he intended to fulfill.

'A promise is a promise. Once I've made a vow, I won't break it.'

Unknown's eyes locked onto the stone and wood-reinforced entrance of the Goblin Fortress. Without hesitation, he cleaved the debris blocking the entrance with a single strike, his sword cutting through the material like butter. The entrance was now clear, and he walked inside, prepared to finish what he had set out to do.

"Hey, get ready, we're going to conquer the fortress."

As he entered, his gaze landed on a trio of figures standing near the entrance. The first was an old Lizardman, his scaly skin weathered by age but still exuding strength. The other two were young Ogres, their muscular forms towering over most humanoids, with tusks protruding from their lower jaws. They looked powerful, and yet something felt off.

They didn't acknowledge him with any enthusiasm. In fact, they seemed unusually cautious. Their eyes were fixed on him, filled with suspicion. Unknown raised an eyebrow, recognizing the wariness in their gazes.

'Whatever, what was I expecting?'

But there was something strange about the way they were acting. Normally, they would either say something or even question his arrival. 

 But these three were frozen, not making a move, and most importantly—not saying a word.

'Wait, these guys are acting a bit strange, aren't they? Why is no one saying anything?'

His instincts kicked in, and his hand reflexively hovered over the hilt of his sword, preparing for whatever danger might be lurking. The silence stretched on, uncomfortable and tense.

"Hey, what's going on?" Unknown finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was low and guarded, filled with an underlying sense of caution.

Seeing that Unknown was becoming increasingly cautious, Steel realized that further secrecy would only escalate the tension in the air. The situation needed to be addressed head-on.

"The rift in space-time we were talking about has opened," Steel said, his voice steady despite the underlying tension.

Unknown remained silent for a moment, his sharp gaze scanning the faces of the others. His mind was already processing the implications of this new information. The rift was no small matter. Whatever lay on the other side could change everything.

"Hm…" he muttered in acknowledgment, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

"Then it's time to fulfill the deal between us. Get ready," Unknown added, his tone commanding and no longer waiting for a response. Without another word, he turned and left, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he moved away.

As he departed, the air was thick with uncertainty, and the tension within the group mounted. The quiet lingered, until one of the others finally spoke.

"…He's calmer than I expected," said Meat, his voice laced with suspicion. "I still don't trust him. There's too much we don't know about him, especially with everything that's happened lately." Boar added.

"I agree," Steel's voice chimed in. "Boar's right. We should prepare ourselves for what comes next." He continued to say.

"Right," Meat's voice added. "We'll decide what to do once the scouting team arrives. The issue right now is time; I don't know how long it will take for them to find us."

"And we haven't even considered whether there will be a general arriving." Steel spoke up.

Their voices began to meld together, speaking of uncertainty and careful preparation. Unknown stood just outside the room, concealed in the shadows, listening intently. He had overheard every word.

'A space-time rift, huh?' The realization hit him. This could be his opportunity to escape. The rift was a potential doorway, a way to get away from this cursed dungeon. 

But the more he thought about it, the more doubts crept into his mind.

'But is it a good idea? I'm not sure it's safe to show up in a crumbling kingdom,' he thought, grimacing as he considered the risks.

The destination on the other side of the rift could be dangerous, and unknown. He didn't know what kind of place it would lead him to, and whether he'd even survive stepping into it.

'Not to mention, I don't know what they plan to do with the sword. Could it be linked to whatever chaos is brewing around the rift? They might want to use it in ways I can't anticipate.'

Not that he gave a shit anyway, they could do whatever with the sword. But A gnawing sense of unease still gripped him.

The world and this dungeon are very unpredictable. He couldn't predict the impact of his decision.

'They probably know I'm eavesdropping by now,' Continued to watch, he thought.

 His instincts were telling him, Steel was aware. That man, he had always been perceptive, and he doubted the conversation had escaped notice. 'They might be pretending to act like they don't know. It could be a trap.'

The complexities of the situation were mounting, and Unknown found himself standing at a crossroads. There were so many factors at play, each one carrying its own set of dangers. 

One wrong move could easily make him an enemy of a nation, and he knew that the consequences of failure here could be fatal.

He took a deep breath, making his decision. 

Patience. He would bide his time, learn more, and find the safest way to navigate this perilous situation. His next steps would require careful consideration, and rushing into anything without more information would only put him in greater danger.

But then, a grim realization clawed at him: time was his worst enemy. Waiting too long would cede control of the situation to them. 

And the fact that he didn't know what kind of situation he was in made the fact even more weary.

If they acted before he did, he could find himself cornered, outmaneuvered, or worse—eliminated. Being in a passive state was tantamount to inviting death.

His jaw tightened as the weight of the situation pressed on him. Patience might have been the wiser choice, but he didn't have the luxury of time. 

A more direct approach might be the only way forward. Something bold, something that would put him back in control.

Then, a dark thought crept into his mind, one he couldn't easily dismiss: threatening them.

'An easier way,' he mused, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. If he couldn't wait, then he needed to push them into a corner before they had the chance to do the same to him.

A clear, undeniable display of his power would remind them who they were dealing with—and force them to think twice before making any moves against him.

'They're wary of me already. Let's use that to my advantage,' he thought, his lips curling into a smirk.