Jin stared at the old parchment, eyes narrowing as the flickering inn light cast long shadows across its creased surface.
- "Shrine of Descension…" he murmured.
A moment later, in the common dining room downstairs, he spread the map across the table. Serenya and Lyrderu leaned in from either side, examining it closely.
- "This forest path," Jin pointed, "is northwest of Solaria. Judging from the scale and the landmarks, it'd take us a couple of hours on horseback, maybe less if we move fast."
Serenya crossed her arms, frowning.
- "A mysterious map slipped under your door, no name, no seal, no sender—and we're considering riding into the woods because of it?"
- "She's right. That's a perfect way to spring an ambush. And I've traveled the northern region before. There's no 'Shrine of Descension' recorded anywhere." - Lyr nodded in agreement.
- "And yet… it's here. Drawn in detail. The topography is accurate, and the roads are real." - Jin said while didn't look away from the map.
- "Jin… what if this is the Empire? A way to lure you out of Solaria before the duel?" - Serenya leaned closer, her voice even lower.
- "It crossed my mind," Jin replied. "But something's bugging me. Whoever left this—they didn't want attention. It wasn't delivered publicly. Just slipped in like a secret passed between old friends."
- "Or assassins." - Lyr added
- "...Also valid." Jin gave a small smile. "Still… we need to know. If there really is something hidden out there, tied to the name 'Descension'... then we can't ignore it."
A long silence passed. Then Serenya sighed, shoulders dropping.
- "We'll go. But carefully. And together."
- "Agreed," said Lyr. "No one goes in alone."
The next morning, the three rode out early—leaving through Solaria's northwestern gate just as dawn broke across the sky. Pale sunlight bathed the land in gold as they passed through farmlands and then into gradually thickening woods.
By mid-morning, they reached the edge of the dense forest indicated on the map.
Jin dismounted and tied his horse to a low-hanging branch. The others did the same.
- "Feels like no one's been here in years." - Serenya looked around.
- "No sounds. No scents. Even the animals are avoiding this place."Lyr scanned the area.
They pushed forward on foot, following the crude path inked on the parchment—now weathered from years of age and intent.
The forest thickened.
What little light broke through the canopy cast long, angled shafts across mossy roots and silent glades. Birds didn't sing. No insects buzzed. Every step felt heavier the deeper they went.
Then, nearly an hour in, Jin slowed.
- "It should be right here…"
He scanned the surrounding terrain—then knelt by a moss-covered boulder.
- "Appraisal (EX)," he whispered.
A soft hum of mana surged through his vision, pulling his attention toward a nearby crevice, hidden beneath a web of vines and twisted roots.
[Appraisal (EX) Activated]
Location Identified: Shrine of Descension – Tier II Dungeon (Sealed Entrance)
His heart skipped.
- "…So, it's real," he muttered.
Serenya moved to his side. "You found it?"
- "Yeah. It's hidden, but definitely here. The entrance is sealed with magic." Jin looked up at the others. "A dungeon shrine… and nobody knows about it."
Lyr bent low, tracing his clawed fingers along the worn stone that marked the entrance's frame.
- "Whatever this is… it's old. I've never seen architecture like this."
Serenya stepped closer to the engraved archway, fingers brushing ancient runes half-buried in moss. She pulled back; voice low.
- "There's something sacred here... The energy is strong but it's quite deep. This isn't just a dungeon—it's a place tied to something… else."
Jin stepped forward, hand still gripping the ancient letter, his eyes fixed on the worn stone floor where Serenya had just brushed away some dirt.
The marking beneath them glowed.
At that very moment, both the seal on the ground and the letter itself flared to life, radiant with golden light. The earth trembled softly, then cracked open beneath their feet.
- "Watch out!"
Jin grabbed Serenya and leapt backward just as the ground split apart. Lyrderu reacted a breath later, landing beside them with practiced ease.
The stone gave way to a gaping hole, and from its depths, a spiraling staircase slowly began to rise—smooth, wide, carved with glowing glyphs that hummed softly.
[Appraisal (EX): Seal Unlocked. Access Granted.]
- "So, the letter was a key," Jin murmured. "Not just a clue—an actual key."
The trio exchanged cautious glances, then nodded in silent agreement. With weapons at the ready and nerves braced, they descended.
Despite being underground, the air was breathable and surprisingly fresh. The spiraling stairwell gave way to a stone room lit by faint glowing fragments embedded in the walls. The glow was gentle, natural—like a soft morning mist made of stardust. The room was small, with only one doorway ahead.
They exchanged a glance. Jin stepped forward and pushed the door open.
What greeted them beyond defied expectations.
Beyond the door stretched a vast, cavernous field—an entire underground world sprawled before them. Meadow-like terrain sprawled in soft, uneven waves, dotted with the crumbled remains of stone houses, fractured columns, and broken walls. Strange flora bloomed in clusters, glowing faintly.
More importantly, humanoid figures roamed the area—goblins and kobolds, walking in uneven patrols or loitering near ruined structures.
The moment stretched, broken only by a shimmer in the air. A translucent figure materialized before them.
- "Welcome, adventurers," it intoned. "You have entered Shrine of the Descension. You will now be tested by facing 4 trials to see if you are worthy. First you will face the Path of Curiosity. Your task is to seek and ignite four hidden altars scattered throughout these ruins. Only then will the path to the next floor reveal itself. The end of staircase lies before each floor will be the safe room; you can rest."
Then, it vanished.
- "Wow, what or who is that?" Jin exclaimed.
- "Maybe some spirits which belong to this place and it has been taking care of it for a long time" – Serenya replied.
- "Well then, looks like it just gave us a quest to do if it was so" – Jin said
- "That house looks isolated," Serenya said, pointing to a simple wooden building nearby. "should we check it first?"
- "Let's go," Lyr agreed.
The trio moved in. Five minutes later, the house came in full view. The structure was humble—wooden beams, empty walls, only a table and a bed. Jin stepped inside cautiously and activated Appraisal.
[Appraisal: Error. Cannot Identify.]
- "Weird," Jin whispered.
He approached the table. The moment his fingers grazed its surface, the wood shifted and shimmered, transforming into a stone altar. A flame burst atop it.
The surrounding goblins twitched, suddenly agitated. Their movements became more erratic, their patrols tighter.
- "The monsters… they're reacting," Serenya murmured.
- "Stay alert," Lyr muttered.
- "We'll need to be careful from now on," Jin said.
They fanned out. Some ruins bore strange symbols, others had layered stone unlike anything they'd seen. They passed shattered towers, half-sunken homes, ancient stone structures stood, etched with unfamiliar symbols and flowing runes. Traps triggered more than once—Jin and Lyr fell into quick skirmishes when large groups of goblins surged from the shadows.
Through all futile searching and skirmishes, the center of the ruins came to view with an old square and a small fountain. Serenya, ever curious, sat on its edge, only for the stone to tremble. The central statue shimmered to life and lit a flame.
The second altar ignited atop the fountain's centerpiece.
- "So, two down, two more to go... I guess historic or unique places seem to house them," Jin mused.
- "West of here," Lyr said, pointing. "Broken tower. Lyr'll check it."
- "Then, I'll go with you," Serenya offered.
- "Alright, I'll head north," Jin added. "That cluster we haven't searched, if there's nothing let's regroup up back here and we continue."
- "Got it" – Lyr and Serenya both agreed.
They split. Jin's path was quiet. There's less monsters and fewer traps here than the place they were before. He moved methodically, scanning each structure with care. Then he found it, the last walled courtyard with a single wooden gate. Judging from the structure of the ruins so far, if the place they entered was the front, then this area appeared to be deep in the back—perhaps even the farthest point within.
Just as his hand touched the gate, light sparked in the corner of his vision. A distant tower flared to life.
- "They found it," he smiled. "So, that would mean this place could very well be our last place"
Pushing the gate and passing through, he found a spacious yard. And there it is a sole altar right in the middle of all. There was no monster, no sign of traps nearby. Still, he wouldn't careless, he scanned his surrounding once more, nothing found. He carefully approached, reached out his hand toward it. The last fire lit up and flared to life. Then…
Roar
The ground trembled. All the monsters across the field howled in unison. Afraid that something wrong would occur if he stayed for long, he rushed out the yard. All the monsters were charging in one direction…towards him.
Beneath his feet, the earth trembled, not from the flood of the monster but from the column of light erupted near the fountain, shot skyward.
Not a moment to lose, Jin immediately sprinted towards the fountain while fought back the monster's chase. He shot Blazing Shot at the back, slashing at the front, dodged on the right, slit down below. After a while, he glimpsed Serenya and Lyr also dashing through the buildings on his right side.
- "To the fountain!" he yelled. "The light—it's a gate!"
- "On it" – Lyr confirmed
Dodging arrows, slashing claws, deflecting crude weapons, the trio fought their way back to the center. Finally, together, they leapt into the beam of light.
The moment they passed through, the floor behind them sealed shut.
Another stair leading down, another room. However, they collapsed on the stairs, panting.
After an hour or two of rest, they stood up and approached the door leading to the second trial. Yet, through the door, there's only darkness and a single bright lit narrowed bridge connect to the other side. Jin crept toward the bridge, tried to see beyond the darkness with his Night Vision and Farsight, nothing but darkness.
Once again, the space before the bridge started to shine, twisted as the spirit appeared.
- "Congratulation adventurers. You all have pass the Path of Curiosity. You'll now face the second trials: the Path of Discipline. Your task is very simple, passing this bridge to the other side, safely. I wish for your success and await at third floor."
Same as first floor, the spirit disappeared after convey his message.
- "Simple, isn't it? Yeah right!" – Jin retorted.
- "There might be traps or enemy ambush somewhere from the dark, we need to be careful" – Serenya said while observe the surrounding of the bridge.
- "This bridge is narrow, only one at a time, we need a lead. Jin, strong, good eye, will lead. Lyr big hard skin at rear. Serenya best spellcaster in middle, Lyr and Jin protect." – Lyr proposed.
- "Sound like a good strategy from our best leader, Lyr" – Jin nodded
- "This team, Lyr no leader. Lyr old. Jin best leader" – Lyr shaked his head.
- "Me too. I think Jin is best choice as our leader. Wow, I'm in an Adventurer party. This is so exciting, isn't it?" – Serenya excited.
- "Alright alright. Let's follow Lyr's suggestion and proceed." – Jin gave up.
Arranged the formation as Jin at front, Serenya in middle and Lyr at the rear. The trio slowly approached the bridge.
One step, two step. The first part seems to passed smoothly. However, a few minutes later…
Psh….whushh…Ping
An arrow just flew pass through Jin's face from his right side and made a sound like it pinned into a distant wall on his left side.
Jin's instincts flared, and crouched down pulling Serenya with him.
- "Traps! Projectile" – Jin yelled.
Lyrderu activated his Harden Skin, caught one arrow while defect another with his tail. Calming from sudden attacked, Serenya put up a barrier spell surround them.
Knowing there would be more type of traps, they move even more cautiously. Arrows, javelins and sometime even blades were thrown at them. However, it was all either defect by Serenya's barrier, Lyr's Harden Skin or burned and destroyed by Jin's fire.
Soon, they have reached half of the bridge. The path shimmered, twisted. Shadows danced at the edge of vision. Distant voices whispered in their minds.
- "I feel... dizzy," Serenya gasped.
- "illusion. Close your eyes!" Lyr barked. "Focus on your mana!"
On the other hand, with his passive skill Transquil Mind, Jin was affected by the Illusion at all.
- "Calm down, move closer and hold on to me. Somehow it doesn't affect me" – Jin reached his hand out to Lyr and Serenya
Step by agonizing step, they pressed forward—until solid ground met their feet once more.
Exhausted but alive. They finally reached the other side of the bridge.
- "Not easy and simple at all," Serenya exhaled. "I'm mentally draining."
Jin and Lyr nodded in agreement while proceed to the stair leading down.