Chapter 236: Strange Appearance [2]

[A New Quest Has Been Generated!]

[Quest: The Forgotten Gate]

[Description: Explore the first dungeon, uncover the secrets hidden within its walls, and discover the purpose behind its mysterious appearance.]

[Rewards: Depends on the performance.]

[Failure Penalty: None]

----

Amon raised an eyebrow as he read the quest, particularly the part of the rewards.

’Interesting. Either these dungeons are hiding something valuable, or the system itself doesn’t know enough about them.’

He dismissed the notification and turned toward Marielle, who was busy arranging several tools inside a leather bag.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What does it look like? I’m preparing to enter an ancient dungeon with an idiot who thinks rushing into dangerous places is a sensible way to conduct research."

Amon placed a hand against his chest, pretending to be wounded by her words.

"That hurts, Marielle. I thought you knew me better than that."

"Unfortunately, I do."

Despite her response, the corners of her lips twitched slightly before she turned away.

Amon glanced at the equipment she had gathered.

Besides several notebooks and writing tools, she carried a small mana lamp, a measuring device, and a handful of thin metal instruments used for examining inscriptions.

"You’ve prepared quite a lot."

"I prefer to think before putting myself in danger." Marielle secured the bag over her shoulder before giving him a serious look.

"Listen carefully. We don’t know what these dungeons contain, and the Bureau hasn’t approved an expedition yet. If we encounter something we cannot handle, we’re leaving immediately."

"Agreed. I’m not interested in dying for the sake of satisfying your curiosity."

"Good. At least you’re capable of understanding simple instructions."

"Are you always this charming when you’re worried about someone?"

Marielle’s fingers paused briefly against the strap of her bag.

"Who said I was worried about you? I’m worried about having to explain your death to Seraphina."

"Aye, ma’am, though I hope I have the special dinner tonight."

Marielle blushed deeply understanding the underlying meaning before she turned around.

Amon chuckled before turning toward the nearest entrance.

Up close, the carvings were even more intricate than they had appeared from a distance.

Marielle reached into her bag and removed a small instrument, holding it near the entrance while observing its readings.

"The mana concentration is fluctuating," she murmured. "It’s not particularly dangerous right now, but something inside is interfering with the readings."

"Could the dungeon have been hidden underground before appearing here?"

"It’s possible, but unlikely."

"Then it was transported here?"

"Perhaps. Or these structures might have existed somewhere else entirely before appearing in this location." She frowned at her instrument. "We don’t have enough information to determine which explanation is correct."

Amon studied the entrance for another moment before stepping forward. "Well, there’s only one way to find out."

Marielle sighed and followed him inside.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the temperature dropped noticeably.

A broad stone passage stretched ahead of them, its walls illuminated by faint blue crystals embedded at regular intervals.

Their light reflected across the polished floor, revealing an architecture that seemed remarkably well preserved despite the ancient appearance of the entrance.

Amon glanced at the walls as he walked. "Strange. There isn’t any dust here."

Marielle stopped beside one of the crystals and examined the surrounding stone.

"You’re right. Even the crystals are functioning perfectly."

"Maybe something is maintaining the structure."

"...."

She took out her notebook and began sketching the inscriptions carved into the walls.

Amon walked over the crystal and used his divine merchent eyes.

----

[Fango Blue Crystal.]

[Actual Value: 20,000 Gold Coins]

[Discription: A crystal used to create unlimited light from nearby mana.]

-----

’Hm, that’s some useful item.’ Amon thought staring at it. He planned to take some of them on his way back.

After several minutes, Marielle finally stepped back.

"I can’t translate the entire text, but these symbols appear repeatedly." She pointed toward three different markings.

"Do you need more information?"

"Yes."

"Shall we go deeper?"

"...Yes."

"Alright, I will take the lead and protect you."

"I don’t need your protection!"

"Sure, you don’t."

Still Amon walked forward to protect her from any incoming attack.

Marielle gave him a flat look before returning to her notes, though there was a faint redness creeping across her cheeks.

They continued deeper into the passage, and the carvings gradually changed.

The walls began displaying faint patterns resembling star maps, with countless points connected by thin lines that stretched across the stone.

Marielle immediately stopped walking. "Wait. These arrangements..."

She brought her mana lamp closer, comparing the carvings with a chart in her notebook.

"Some of these constellations are recognizable, but others don’t match the modern sky. I’ve never seen these arrangements in any astronomical record."

Amon examined the strange patterns, wondering whether the dungeon had been constructed by a civilization that existed before the current kingdoms.

If so, the sudden appearance of these structures might reveal something about the world’s forgotten history.

Before he could voice his thoughts, the passage opened into an enormous chamber.

Stone figures stood around a circular platform at its center, arranged in a formation that reminded Amon of soldiers guarding a throne.

Each figure wore ancient armor, and their faces were hidden behind featureless helmets.

Marielle cautiously approached the nearest statue. "These figures might represent--"

Amon stepped onto the circular platform.

A deep vibration suddenly travelled through the floor.

The blue crystals flickered, and glowing symbols spread across the platform beneath his feet.

The stone figures began moving, their joints producing a grinding sound as they turned their helmets toward the intruders.

"Marielle, get back!"

The nearest guardian lunged forward with surprising speed, swinging a heavy stone weapon toward Amon’s head.

Amon used Spatial Steps to disappear from its path, reappearing several meters away as the weapon struck the floor and sent fragments of stone scattering across the chamber.

"So much for being decorations," he muttered.

Three more guardians advanced simultaneously, forcing him to move before they could surround him.

Amon used the bursts of ice and fire to disrupt their movements without damaging the chamber unnecessarily.

However, the guardians barely reacted to his spells.

The ice shattered against their armor, while the flames spread across their bodies without leaving so much as a scorch mark.

’Their bodies are resisting ordinary magic.’

He narrowly avoided another strike before noticing a faint glow beneath the armor covering one guardian’s chest.

Similar markings shone beneath the others’ armor, pulsing whenever they attacked.

Amon immediately changed his approach, using Spatial Steps to evade their weapons while directing precise strikes toward the glowing marks.

His attacks finally produced a reaction. One guardian staggered as its glowing mark flickered, giving Amon enough time to destroy the mechanism beneath its armor.

The figure collapsed, breaking into pieces across the floor. "Marielle! Find out what activates them!"

"I’m trying!"

She had retreated to the edge of the chamber, where she was studying the symbols surrounding the circular platform.

Rather than simply watching Amon fight, she compared the glowing markings.

"The symbols on the platform correspond to their movements!" she shouted. "They are like codes on how to move!"

"Do you know a way to stop them all?"

"I think so, but I need a little more time!"

"Take all the time you need," Amon replied, narrowly avoiding another heavy swing. "It’s not as though these things are trying to crush me into the floor!"

Marielle ignored his sarcasm and hurried toward a section of the platform where several symbols were glowing simultaneously.

She recognized the repeating pattern from the inscriptions outside and pressed her mana lamp against one of the markings, breaking the connection.

The symbols flickered. "Now, Amon!"

Amon immediately seized the opportunity.

He moved between the remaining guardians, destroying their glowing marks before they could adjust to his movements.

One after another, the ancient figures collapsed until the final guardian struck the floor with a deafening crash.

Marielle approached him, brushing dust from her sleeve.

She crouched beside the circular platform and examined its outer edge, where the broken stone had exposed another layer of inscriptions.

She suddenly stopped. "Amon, look at this."

He walked over and followed her gaze toward a symbol carved beneath the platform.

It resembled a circle divided by several intersecting lines, with smaller markings arranged around its edges.

Marielle quickly opened her notebook and compared it with the sketches she had made outside.

"This symbol appears on the exterior of every dungeon entrance we examined. I thought it was merely decorative, but it’s clearly connected to the mechanism here."

Amon’s expression grew serious. "You’re saying these dungeons share the same origin?"

"....They might be parts of a much larger structure rather than separate dungeons."

Before Amon could respond, a deep rumble travelled through the chamber.

He turned toward the opposite wall, where a previously hidden doorway had begun to emerge from the stone.

Its surface slowly separated, revealing a narrow staircase descending into absolute darkness.

"Marielle," he said quietly, "I don’t think we’ve reached the best part yet."