Peter had a smile on his face. Despite coming all the way here, his life was going surprisingly well. Ever since he joined one of the many task forces created to go after the Last Line of Defense, he had been going up the guild ranks quickly. He started off as just a grunt, doing leg work to chase after the terrorist network. Then, a lucky break let him be in the right spot when someone found one of their bases, allowing him to help capture some people and get his first promotion. What followed was a stream of other situations where he knew people who found the right thing but needed backup. Or small wins used by the guild as propaganda to show how they were already dismantling that organization.

Then came his first big job. The first time, he was in charge of a large operation. He was supposed to interrogate the people of Boothudurn in hopes of finding something about Hera Kingsley. She was the only human who was confirmed to be working with the Last Line of Defense. There were other suspects, of course, but no one whom the guild was able to identify so far. Doing this job well would surely get him another promotion, and that almost happened. The video of Hera Kingsley being killed by her friends spread like wildfire through the task forces. They couldn't actually use it for a report since it showed someone's death, but internally, it was a different story. People were using that tale of friends who found out one of them was a terrorist and took care of her to boost morale to an incredible degree.

Unfortunately, before they could process the paperwork, the upper brass decided that Peter's mission wasn't over. They became aware that the dwarves from Boothudurn ran from their home, which only proved how fickle people like that were. After some digging, they also found out that they had discovered a city from an ancient civilization. Historically, finding that kind of thing could not only bring a lot of powerful items, but it was likely that the Naga had a legacy hidden somewhere. And, of course, the guild wanted to be the ones who found it. Giving it to the dwarves or any other species was too much of a risk. Peter understood that they could only trust other humans. Elves, Dwarves, Beastman, Triton, Children of the Sky, and whatever else was hidden in the MAZE were all potential allies to the Last Line of Defense. Peter wasn't even sure they should be considered people. After all, only monsters lived inside the MAZE. Maybe that's all these creatures were, intelligent monsters.

Currently, he was in the Old City of Zaxalam, in one of the houses inside the actual city, with a couple of other guild members. They were all waiting for Rutigan. After all, he and his people were permitted to live in Boothudurn despite its proximity to the MAZE's exit. That room was their birthplace, and the guild wasn't going to kick people out of their ancestor home. However, they left voluntarily and now were squatting in a new place they had no right to claim. If this was up to Peter, he would just come with a large group of powerful explorers and kick them all out, but there was a room they had to cross to come here that could become a problem. The Shtylla Archipelago could change around, and the dwarves seemed to know how to control that change. If they tried to just push forward with a large group, there was a chance that the people from Boothudurn would lock them out of the room. By itself, that wasn't a problem, but giving them the opportunity to find whatever this city was hiding and creating some defenses in this place could cause some trouble.

That's why he was here, along with a couple of other guild members under his command. One of them was even level 62, almost 30 levels higher than Peter himself. However, this was just a safety measure, not an attacking force. The main issue here was the guard captain. She was level 73, which by itself was already a problem. Adding her age to that meant that her skills should be considerably polished. If things got physical, she could likely take care of the three members of Peter's team by herself. Not that they would go down without a fight, but if they were going to force the dwarves to leave this place, the guild would have to send in more personnel for it to work. Peter heard footsteps approaching and put his tablet away. His small team was waiting for Rutigan, the self-proclaimed dwarf king, so they could discuss this room.

The door opened, and the dark-haired dwarf walked inside; each step filled with intention, "Peter. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" despite his patience, Rutigan wasn't able to hide his displeasure on meeting the man. Ogryn and Naka were right behind him, but neither of them spoke anything.

"Well, Rutigan. We heard rumors about this place being discovered and how your dwarves already started to claim it as your own. Now, I understand that you are new to these kinds of politics, but this is not how things work. You can't just see a new room and say it's yours."

"We hardly had a choice in the matter. The guild was very uncomfortable with our presence in our own home," Rutigan scoffed. Being this far from the main force of the guild made him less worried about appearing non-confrontational.

"Now, this is just not true. We were happy to have you as neighbors as long as you didn't cause any trouble," Peter replied with a smile.

"To you, trouble means disagreeing with what you or the guild wants. Even if you wanted us to give you everything we had for free," Rutigan crossed his arms, still refusing to sit down during this conversation.

"You need to understand, Rutigan. These are hard times. We are at war with a terrorist group who seems keen on destroying the peace in the MAZE. When a circumstance arrives where we need certain supplies, we have to ask whoever is close by for them."

Rutigan frowned, "Cut the crap, Peter. You forced us out of our home, and you know it. After that witch hunt you started, every member of the guild who came to Boothudurn treated us like we were the terrorists. Fine, we found a new place and left almost everything we had behind. Houses, the gold in our coffers, our blacksmiths, everything. Why are you still chasing us? Just to harass us?"

"No. This has nothing to do with you personally. But you came here and discovered a place that might have hidden secrets, powers that could help us fight the Last Line of Defense. You already harbored one of its members. We can't risk anything powerful getting into their hands. From what I heard, your people already started changing how this city is supposed to look. And who knows what kind of historically important article you are destroying to make those changes."

"Really? This is what this is about? The possibility of a powerful item hidden in this place? Fine, if we find anything, I'll let you know. Now, just let us live in peace. And those changes you are talking about were here when we arrived. Our people were split before we arrived in Boothudurn, and it seems like part of them tried to live here."

Peter chuckled, "That's very convenient. Am I supposed to take your word for it? You already hid a terrorist for years. Who knows how much you supported her while she lived in Boothudurn. No, no. We will set up a checkpoint here, and the guild will start exploring the room. When we clear a place out, you can stay there. Until then, you all will leave this city."

"And where are we supposed to stay?" Rutigan snarled.

"That's not my problem. Stay in the jungle or in the trees for all I care. There is only one path to the rest of the MAZE from here, and if you want to have any contact with anyone, you will obey our orders. This is the only time we will offer you a chance to stay here."

Rutigan stepped forward, clenching his fists, "You can shove that offer up your ass, you piece-"

Naka held the King's shoulder to stop him from doing anything crazy. At the same time, one of the guards appeared at the door, stopping all the conversation.

"Captain!" Totrak called.

"We are in the middle of something here. Can you wait?" Naka didn't take her eyes away from the king.

"I can't. Ma'am."

"What is it?"

"The door. The snake door leading… somewhere. The one that we couldn't open."

"What about it?"

"Someone opened it."

Hearing that, Peter smiled. The guild was aware of that door, and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that if there was a legacy to be found, it would be beyond those doors, "Well. I suppose we can discuss more about this later. After all, we need to see what is on the other side," the man got up and turned to Totrak, "Take us to whoever managed to unlock that door."

Totrak ignored the human, but Rutigan said almost the same thing, "Thank you for letting us know. Can you take us to who managed to open the door? I don't think any of us were able to."

"My king. That's the problem. It wasn't us. The door was opened from the other side," Totrak explained.

Everyone quickly moved outside and to the giant hole in the ground. Coming out of it was a group of three figures. One was very large, and the other two were smaller, but one of them seemed to have wings as well as two arms and legs. When getting closer, Peter frowned. There was someone familiar with that group. A face with blond hair and chestnut eyes, but this person, or whatever they were, had scales and a large tail. Out of curiosity, he used his observe

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Hera Quetzaveth - Level 38

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"Hera?" he mumbled as the three figures turned towards him.

The Empress frowned, flanked by Nimbus and Livy, and asked, "Yes?"

"You are supposed to be dead," Peter replied.

"The MAZE is trying, believe me. But I'm much sturdier than I look," Hera waved him off and turned back to Nimbus, talking about the area around them.

"Your friends killed you! I have a video of it!" Peter yelled.

Hera sighed, "Look. I have no idea what you are talking about. But as you can see, I'm alive."

"Fine! I'll kill you myself. I'm not letting a terrorist like you get away!" Peter started walking towards her, but Naka stepped in front of him.

"Stop that. That doesn't look like Hera," Naka looked back, "Well, she does. But Hera was human. She… doesn't look like it."

"It could be a transformation skill!" Peter yelled.

"Oh really? This shit again?" Hera groaned, "Look, people asked if I was that terrorist or whatever. I'm not her. From what I know, the only thing that bitch had going for her was my looks. Also, she is a human. I'm not."

"And what are you?!" Peter yelled.

"An Ophidianite. A descendant of the old Naga people. My family has been looking for the home of my people for a very long time. That's the only reason I'm here," Hera replied.

"I don't believe you!" Peter roared.

"I don't give two shits if you believe in me or not. You have the Inspect skill, right? Use it on me."

"Fine!" Peter snarled and used the [Inspect] skill.

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Hera Quetzaveth - Level 38

Ophidianite

A species descended from the Naga. Their bodies have been covered in scales since birth.

Being descendants of one of the oldest species in the MAZE, their appearance is closer to the animals from which they evolved.

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"Happy now?" Hera asked.

"No... This is… It can still be a trick!" Peter reached out to his bag, and after a few awkward moments, he pulled out a small black orb about the size of an apple, "Here. This is a canceling orb. If you willingly take this, all the skills or spells you currently have will be deactivated."

Hera sighed and glanced at Nimbus and Livy, "Fine," She walked over and grabbed the orb, but nothing changed, "Are we done here?"

Peter glanced at the orb and then at Hera, using [Inspect] once more, "You… you still can't be here! This is not your room!"

"Article 43 of the sobering room agreement. Any intelligent species that lost its home can reclaim it as long as their claim can be proven. Once that is done, no one can argue their right of ownership to the room," a voice came from the large hole where the Naga door was now open. Flying from it, a harpy with long silver feathers and a ruby-encrusted necklace emerged, "Also, article 18, a civilization formed by an intelligent species has ownership of all rooms that can be reached within a day's journey from their current capital, as long as the journey follows the three crossing rule. And that the room in question does not contain the capital of another species. Considering that my kingdom's capital is just 2 rooms away, even if Hera didn't have a claim on this place, which she does, I would have mine."

"Queen Typhera…" Peter didn't know what to say. Dealing with the queen of the Children of the Sky was leagues above his pay grade. He wasn't stupid enough to think he had any power in this situation anymore. Especially when he saw the harpy royal guard following their queen.

"And just in case you still have any doubts about my right to be here," Hera looked towards the city, "All mechanisms in here can only be activated by a Naga or a descendant," she snapped her fingers while telling Lurize and Daskka who sneaked into the control room of the city to activate the fountain. There was a pause followed by a low rumbling as the snake heads at the entrance of Zaxalam started spewing dried mud like a dam closed for a very long time. After a few minutes, all the residue blocking the canals was gone, letting only crystal clear water come out, framing the city's entrance.

Hera smiled and turned to Peter, "Now, fuck off. I don't like you and don't want you in my room."

"What the… If you do that, the guild won't let it slide!"

"Don't care. I lived my entire life without the help of that guild, and I'll be just fine without it. Besides, Queen Typhera already said she's going to help me out since we live so close to each other. Not fuck off before I trigger the city defenses."

"Oh? This city has defenses, too?" Typhera smiled at Hera.

"Yep. They are not as strong as the ones in Deakoshara, but they are more than enough to deal with," she gestured to Peter with her head, "That."

Peter and the other two humans didn't know what to say, but they understood that they had to get away. Fighting against Naka here would already be a mistake. Adding the elite force of the Children of the Sky in the equation dropped their chances of winning to almost 0%. Moving back to Gartinet Hollow, they crossed as soon as they could to tell the guild what was going on. Hera continued pretending that she was someone else until the dwarves took her inside the city to a more private place for them to talk. Only then did she reveal everything that happened to her and how she had turned into an Ophidianite.