199 - The Western Route

By the time Subin's expedition returned to Crossroads, the city had already changed.

The western district was crowded with merchants, guards, explorers, and representatives from several Earth guilds. A new road had appeared beyond the western gate three days earlier, cutting through terrain that had previously been considered impassable. Unlike the unstable routes they had encountered elsewhere, this one had formed as a physical road of dark stone, stretching toward the horizon between two mountain ranges.

Sel was waiting near the western gate.

"You came quickly."

"We were already on our way back," Subin replied. "What happened?"

Sel handed Ara a thin metal tablet containing the latest survey.

"The road appeared overnight. It wasn't there when our patrol passed the area the previous evening. Since then, three groups have tried following it."

"Results?"

"The first turned back after thirty kilometers because the terrain became too steep. The second encountered A+ monsters and retreated. The third hasn't returned."

Jae-hyun glanced toward the road.

"How long?"

"Almost two days."

That changed the atmosphere.

Subin looked at the western mountains.

"Any signs of combat?"

"None."

"Then we shouldn't assume they're dead."

Sel nodded. "That's why we haven't sent a large force. The route is new, and we don't know whether the road itself is stable."

Ara studied the map.

"The road doesn't connect to any known region."

"Correct."

"Does it follow a mana route?"

"Possibly. The scanners show a weak underground flow beneath it."

Subin looked toward the road.

"Then we'll follow it."

A Crossroads team prepared to accompany them, but Subin limited the group to those with enough experience to handle an unknown environment. Sel assigned four Wardens, while Yerin, Jae-hyun, Liu Wei, Rafael, Ara, and Ethan joined Subin.

They left before noon.

The first thirty kilometers were uneventful. The dark stone road remained remarkably intact despite the surrounding landscape becoming increasingly rugged. On either side, tall black grass covered the slopes, bending even when there was little wind. The mountains ahead grew larger with every kilometer until the road entered a narrow valley between them.

Ara stopped beside the road.

"The mana flow is stronger here."

Subin looked down.

Thin silver veins were visible beneath the dark stone.

"The road was built over the channel."

"Exactly."

Jae-hyun crouched and touched the surface.

"Someone deliberately constructed this."

"Probably," Ara said. "But the road itself may be much older than the current route."

They continued.

Around the forty-kilometer mark, they found the first sign of the missing expedition.

A broken shield lay beside the road.

Rafael picked it up.

"Fresh."

Ara scanned the area.

"No bodies."

Subin examined the surrounding ground. There were deep claw marks across the stone, but they didn't continue along the road. Instead, they disappeared toward the western slope.

"They left the road."

Sel looked toward the mountain.

"Why?"

Subin followed the marks with his eyes.

"Something drove them off it."

The group climbed the slope.

The trail led into a narrow ravine where several large stones had been pushed aside. Beyond them was a cave entrance.

Inside, they found two Earth Awakeners.

Both were alive.

One had a broken arm; the other was unconscious but breathing.

Yerin immediately treated the injured one while Rafael carried the unconscious man outside.

The conscious Awakener slowly opened his eyes.

"You came..."

"What happened?" Sel asked.

"We followed the road. About ten kilometers farther, we found a settlement."

Ara frowned.

"A settlement?"

The man nodded.

"They weren't hostile. They were... frightened."

"Of what?"

He swallowed.

"Something beneath the mountain."

Subin looked toward the cave.

"Did you see it?"

"No. But the people told us to leave before sunset."

"Why?"

The Awakener hesitated.

"Because that's when the western road changes."

The group fell silent.

Subin looked at Ara.

"Changes how?"

"We'll find out."

They waited until the injured Awakeners were transferred to a Crossroads patrol returning toward the city. Then the expedition continued.

The road descended into the valley beyond the mountain.

And there, exactly as the injured Awakener had described, stood a settlement.

It was smaller than Veyra or Eastwatch, consisting of stone houses built against the mountain walls. Several watchtowers overlooked the road, while fields occupied the lower slopes.

The settlement's inhabitants gathered as the expedition approached.

A gray-haired man stepped forward.

"I am Edrin, elder of Westfall."

Sel introduced the expedition.

Edrin's eyes lingered on Subin.

"You came through the new road."

"Yes."

The old man looked uneasy.

"Then you should leave before sunset."

"Why?"

Edrin pointed toward the western mountains.

"The road does not always lead to the same place."

Ara immediately became interested.

"Explain."

"During daylight, it crosses the valley and reaches the western pass. At night, parts of it move."

Jae-hyun raised an eyebrow.

"The road moves?"

"Not the stones themselves. The land around it."

Edrin led them to the settlement's watchtower.

From there, the western road was clearly visible.

It ran through the valley and disappeared between two cliffs.

"We've watched it for generations," Edrin said. "Most nights nothing happens. But when the mountain mana rises, the western pass shifts."

Ara scanned the landscape.

"There is a natural mana pressure difference between the two mountains."

"Yes."

Subin studied the road.

"If the pressure changes, the terrain changes with it."

Edrin nodded.

"We've lost travelers because they followed the road after sunset."

That explained the missing expedition.

Subin looked at the sun.

"How long until sunset?"

"Less than an hour."

Sel frowned.

"We should return."

Subin shook his head.

"Not yet."

He pointed toward the western pass.

"There are people beyond it."

Edrin's expression tightened.

"Our scouts haven't crossed that pass in months."

"Then we'll see what's there."

The expedition entered the pass.

The mountains closed around them as the sun descended.

For the first several minutes, nothing happened.

Then the ground vibrated.

The stone road shifted.

Not dramatically, but enough to change its angle.

The cliffs on either side groaned as enormous sections of rock slowly moved inward.

Ara immediately checked her scanner.

"Mana pressure is rising."

Subin looked ahead.

The original path was closing.

A second route was opening farther north.

"That's the road changing."

The expedition moved quickly before the passage closed completely.

They crossed onto the new route just as the previous section disappeared beneath a landslide.

The altered road continued through a much narrower canyon.

At its end stood a massive stone wall.

No settlement.

No ruins.

Just a gate carved into the mountain.

Ara approached.

"There is mana beneath it."

Subin examined the stone.

"This isn't a gate to another region."

"No," Ara agreed. "It's an old mountain passage."

Ethan looked at the markings.

"They resemble the structures we've seen in the volcanic region."

Subin nodded.

The same construction philosophy.

Ancient infrastructure adapted to local geography.

But this one was still active.

A deep vibration came from behind the wall.

Then the stone gate opened.

Beyond it was a vast underground valley illuminated by pale blue crystals.

The expedition stopped.

There were roads.

Buildings.

And thousands of lights stretching into the distance.

A settlement much larger than Westfall existed beneath the mountain.

Ara stared at the readings.

"This entire valley is underground."

A voice came from behind them.

"You shouldn't be here."

The expedition turned.

A group of armed warriors stood on the road behind them.

Their armor was made from dark metal, and each carried a curved blade.

Their leader stepped forward.

"I am Commander Varik, guardian of the Underpass."

Sel moved forward.

"We are explorers from Crossroads."

Varik's expression remained cold.

"We know."

He looked at Subin.

"And we know about Earth."

Subin didn't reach for his sword.

"Then you know we're not here to claim your territory."

Varik studied him for several seconds.

Finally, he lowered his weapon.

"Good."

He turned toward the underground valley.

"Because if you had come for territory, you would have found an enemy."

Subin looked beyond him.

The valley was enormous.

Its ceiling disappeared into darkness, and multiple roads extended toward different sections of the underground settlement.

Ara's scanner began filling with data.

"There are three major mana channels."

Varik nodded.

"Three roads. Three routes."

"Where do they lead?"

Varik pointed toward the far end of the valley.

"One returns toward the western mountains."

He pointed north.

"One reaches the northern territories."

Then he pointed deeper underground.

"And the third leads below the Great Passage."

Subin's eyes narrowed.

"How deep?"

Varik gave him a measured look.

"Deep enough that no one from our settlement has reached the end."

Subin didn't ask anything further.

The important thing was that the route existed.

The expedition had found a large underground civilization and three functioning routes beneath the western mountains.

But before they could continue, the ground shook.

The inhabitants immediately reacted.

Varik's expression changed.

"Everyone inside."

A low rumble rolled through the valley.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Then another impact struck.

This time, the entire underground settlement trembled.

Ara looked at her scanner.

"Something is moving through the western channel."

Varik drew his sword.

"Not something."

He looked toward the dark tunnel.

"Something enormous."

Subin stepped forward.

The sword at his waist remained sheathed.

For now.

From the darkness came the sound of stone breaking.

And the western road began to shake.