Chapter 492: The Hidden Entrance

The western corridor was considerably narrower than the enormous chamber they had left behind, but that wasn’t what caught Rowan’s attention.

Unlike the other passages, whose walls had been worn down by centuries of erosion, the stonework here appeared unusually precise. Each block fitted perfectly against the next, and faint markings ran along the lower portions of the walls.

Most were barely visible beneath accumulated dust, but their arrangement suggested deliberate craftsmanship rather than ordinary decoration.

"Someone went to considerable trouble building this passage," Rowan observed, crouching beside one of the markings.

He brushed away the dust and examined the shallow grooves beneath it. "These aren’t ordinary carvings. They resemble directional markers, although I can’t recognize the symbols."

Iris approached the wall and studied the markings. "There are traces of mana inside them. Very faint, but they’re still present. Whatever purpose they originally served, I don’t think this passage was intended to be an ordinary corridor."

Sage folded his arms, looking between them with considerable satisfaction. His decision to let the two investigate was already producing results, and more importantly, neither had questioned why he had suggested searching for hidden passages in the first place.

"Then I suppose we should follow the mysterious markings," Sage remarked. "Although if they lead us into a room filled with traps, I’m officially blaming the architect."

Mina stepped closer, peering into the darkness ahead. "What if there’s a powerful monster guarding something valuable, Uncle Sage?"

"Then you can complain to the architect after Captain Leon deals with it," Sage replied, earning an amused chuckle from Lucan.

Leon raised his sword slightly and resumed leading the expedition. "Whatever lies ahead, we should proceed carefully. Rowan, keep watching those markings. Iris, let us know if the mana changes."

The group advanced through the passage, following the faint symbols as they curved around several corners.

Before long, the corridor opened into an abandoned chamber containing broken stone tables, overturned shelves, and fragments of pottery scattered across the floor. Several alcoves lined the walls, although whatever had once occupied them had disappeared long ago.

Rowan examined the dust covering the floor and frowned. "Something’s been moving through here recently. These tracks aren’t old."

He pointed toward several claw marks near a collapsed shelf. Before anyone could examine them more closely, a scraping sound emerged from the adjoining passage.

Three armored creatures crawled into view, their bodies resembling oversized lizards covered in overlapping black plates. Their jaws were unusually broad, and sharp claws scraped against the stone as they spread apart.

"Guard-Class, judging by their size and mana," Leon assessed, positioning himself between the creatures and the others. "Mina, take the left. Lucan, protect Iris and Rowan."

Mina grinned as golden mana gathered around her sword. "Leave it to me, Captain Leon!"

The creatures attacked almost simultaneously. Leon intercepted the largest with a powerful downward strike, his blade splitting several armored plates and forcing it backward.

Mina slipped around the second creature’s snapping jaws before striking its exposed neck, while Lucan blocked the third as it attempted to circle toward Iris.

The battle lasted less than a minute. Leon finished his opponent with another decisive blow, and Mina dispatched hers after breaking through its armor.

Lucan’s creature attempted to retreat, only for Iris to raise a jagged section of stone beneath its hind legs, allowing him to deliver the finishing strike.

Sage watched the fallen monsters with a thoughtful expression. Even relatively ordinary creatures in Greyfen possessed respectable strength. If the initial region already contained Guard-Class monsters, the deeper floors would undoubtedly be considerably more dangerous.

"Everyone unharmed?" Sage asked, glancing around the group. After receiving their assurances, he nodded toward the adjoining passage. "Good. Let’s continue before their relatives arrive looking for compensation."

Rowan returned to examining the markings, eventually discovering another symbol beneath a broken shelf. Unlike the previous carvings, this one pointed toward a narrow doorway concealed behind a partially collapsed section of wall.

"Guildmaster, there’s something here," Rowan announced, moving several fragments of stone aside. "The passage continues beyond this chamber, but someone deliberately blocked the entrance."

Lucan joined him and helped clear the obstruction. After several minutes, they uncovered a narrow opening leading into another corridor.

Iris approached the entrance and immediately stopped. "The mana is stronger here. More importantly, it’s flowing toward us rather than deeper into the dungeon."

Sage’s interest sharpened.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

He privately recalled the Guild System’s explanation of the hidden claiming route. The entrance was supposed to exist somewhere within the initial region, and everything they had discovered suggested that this passage was different from the ordinary dungeon corridors.

"Can you determine where it’s coming from?" Sage asked, maintaining a curious expression.

Iris shook her head. "Not precisely, Guildmaster. But there’s definitely a magical formation somewhere ahead. I can feel the mana circulating through the walls."

"Then let’s investigate," Sage decided. "We’ve already come this far, and I’d hate to discover that we ignored something important because a few stones were blocking the way."

They continued through the newly uncovered passage, eventually reaching a dead end dominated by an enormous stone wall. Unlike the surrounding surfaces, this wall was completely smooth, with a circular arrangement of ancient symbols carved into its center.

Rowan examined the floor before turning toward the others. "There’s no sign of another passage, but look at these grooves. Something heavy used to move across this section of the floor."

Leon stepped closer and pressed his palm against the wall. "A hidden door?"

"Possibly," Rowan answered. "The grooves suggest that the wall itself might move, but I can’t find any mechanism."

Iris studied the circular symbols, her expression growing increasingly focused. "These aren’t merely decorations. They’re part of a magical formation. The mana is gathering behind the wall, but the formation appears dormant."

Sage approached the carvings, pretending to examine them while privately wondering whether the System would provide additional information. Nothing appeared.

Of course. Why make things convenient when you can watch me struggle?

He glanced toward Iris. "Can you activate it?"

"I might be able to," Iris replied cautiously. "But I need to understand how the formation works first. Forcing mana into an unfamiliar array could damage it, or trigger something dangerous."

"Then take your time," Sage answered. "I’d prefer not to explain to the Guild staff that we accidentally blew ourselves up while opening a door."

Iris spent several minutes examining the symbols, occasionally tracing their arrangement with her fingers. Rowan assisted by clearing dust from the lower carvings, revealing several additional lines connecting the central circle to smaller symbols near the floor.

Eventually, Iris’s expression brightened.

"I think I understand," she announced. "The formation requires mana to flow through these four smaller symbols before reaching the central array. The problem is that the channels have become blocked."

Sage glanced toward the carvings. "Can they be repaired?"

"Yes, Guildmaster. I believe so," Iris replied. "But I’ll need to restore the flow carefully."

She placed her palm against the first symbol and released a controlled stream of mana. A faint blue glow spread through the carved lines, gradually illuminating the surrounding markings. She repeated the process with the remaining symbols until all four shone brightly.

The central circle suddenly began rotating.

A deep rumbling sound echoed through the corridor as the enormous stone wall slowly withdrew into the floor, revealing a chamber beyond.

Mina stared at the opening with undisguised excitement. "You did it, Iris!"

Iris lowered her hand, looking relieved. "Fortunately, the formation was still intact. I only needed to restore its mana circulation."

"Excellent work," Sage praised, genuinely impressed. "Remind me to increase your salary before you discover how much money professional treasure hunters would pay for someone with your talents."

Iris smiled at the compliment, while Leon moved forward to inspect the newly revealed chamber.

Inside stood an enormous circular platform surrounded by eight stone pillars. Ancient runes covered the floor, forming several interconnected rings that converged around a symbol at the platform’s center. The chamber was remarkably well preserved, and unlike the passages outside, not a single monster track disturbed the dust.

Iris stepped inside and immediately widened her eyes. "A teleportation formation."

Rowan looked toward her. "You’re certain?"

"Almost certainly," Iris answered, approaching the platform. "The arrangement of the runes is consistent with ancient spatial formations I’ve studied. But I’ve never seen one this large, especially inside a dungeon."

Sage felt a surge of excitement.

Found you.

A familiar notification appeared before his eyes.

[Ding!]

[Hidden Claiming Route Discovered!]

[Teleportation Formation: Inactive]

[Destination: Five-Trial Claiming Area]

[Clear all five special trials to unlock the Dungeon Core Chamber.]

[Defeat the Dungeon Core Guardian to obtain access to the Dungeon Core.]

Sage suppressed a smile and turned his attention toward the platform. Finding the entrance had been the difficult part. Now they only needed to determine how to activate it without revealing that he already knew its purpose.

Leon examined the formation with a serious expression. "If this truly is a teleportation formation, we should consider the risks before activating it. We have no way of knowing where it leads."

"That’s true," Iris admitted. "The formation is old, and I can’t determine its destination from these symbols alone. It might transport us somewhere deeper inside the dungeon, or even into a dangerous chamber."

Lucan frowned. "And if something goes wrong, we might not be able to return."

Sage nodded thoughtfully. "All reasonable concerns. But consider where we found it. Someone concealed this chamber behind a magical door, and the passage leading here was deliberately separated from the ordinary routes. Whatever this formation connects to, it must have been important."

Rowan glanced around the chamber. "There are no signs of monsters entering this place. If the formation still works, we might be the first people to use it since the dungeon appeared."

"Which means we have an opportunity," Sage replied. "We’re searching for a way to reach the Dungeon Core, and this formation might lead toward something connected to it. I can’t guarantee that, but ignoring it would be foolish."

Leon considered his words before nodding. "Then we’ll proceed together. However, everyone must understand that we may be entering an area far more dangerous than the passages we’ve explored."

Mina tightened her grip on her sword. "I’m ready, Captain Leon!"

Sage looked down at her. "You were ready before we even entered the dungeon, Mina. At this point, I’m more concerned about whether the monsters are ready for you."

Lucan laughed, while Iris returned her attention to the formation.

After examining the eight surrounding pillars, she discovered that each contained a small indentation designed to receive mana. With Sage assisting her in supplying the necessary power, the ancient runes gradually awakened.

Blue light spread across the platform, illuminating the entire chamber.

The eight pillars began humming as mana surged through their carvings.

"Everyone onto the platform!" Iris called, stepping toward its center. "The formation is activating!"

Leon moved first, followed by Rowan and Lucan. Mina hurried after them, while Sage remained beside Iris until she confirmed that the mana flow had stabilized.

The moment all six stood within the circular array, the runes blazed with brilliant light.

Sage felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.

Then the entire chamber disappeared.

For an instant, there was nothing but overwhelming radiance.

When the light finally faded, the six companions found themselves standing inside an unfamiliar stone hall.

Five enormous gates stood before them, each bearing a different ancient symbol.

And above the gates, a single inscription glowed with golden light.