Chapter 25: The Temple
Three days had passed since I killed the Goblin King.
The rain had stopped. The air was clearer. The corpses were gone.
And the fortress?
Looking solid.
The applicants that joined us had reinforced the walls with salvaged wood and stone. The north gate now had an actual barricade. Watch shifts rotated every four hours. Scouting parties mapped the jungle nearby.
We weren't just surviving anymore.
We were preparing.
I stood on the second floor of the longhouse, looking over the main plaza—new tents, drying weapons, and nearly a hundred pairs of boots moving with purpose.
GTP. Headcount?
[Current mber count: 86.]
And strength level?
[Average combat capability ranks between mid-C to high-B tier. We have 5 mages, 3 knights, 2 assassins, and one alchemist. The rest are general support and fighters.]
Decent.
We could defend.
But could we win?
Any word on the other applicants?
[Analyzing mana displacent patterns left behind by the teleportation array...]
[Results: Participants were split into three zones.]
[Zone A: Jungle territory — current location.]
[Zone B: Desert territory — southwest quadrant.]
[Zone C: Glacial territory — northern frostlands.]
I crossed my arms.
What's the distribution like?
[Estimated split:]
• Jungle — 30%
• Desert — 50%
• Ice — 20%
That ant nearly half the remaining applicants were sent to the desert.
Let guess. They've already grouped up.
[Confird. Based on mana pulse feedback, large clusters have ford in the desert. A dominant force is rising.]
Great. So the place with the sandworms and psychopaths is winning.
[The current trajectory suggests a future scenario in which the three lands collide in direct confrontation.]
So... a war.
[Yes. And if the desert coalition continues to grow, they will be the strongest faction by far.]
I narrowed my eyes.
Makes sense. The fastest way to survive Stage One... isn't to run. It's to eliminate competition.
[Which is why our current course must change.]
Go on.
[We must begin rallying the remaining unaligned examinees scattered throughout the jungle.]
[The objective: convert this region into the strongest land before the inevitable clash.]
I looked down at the people below.
Building. Training. Preparing.
A storm was coming.
And I'd need every blade I could find.
"...Let's get to work."
* * *
The rain had stopped soti in the early morning.
Clouds still rolled overhead, but the skies were calm now. Quiet.
I was reviewing our periter patrol routes when one of the guards called down from the watchtower.
"Sir! You might want to see this—"
I stepped out onto the balcony.
And froze.
There, standing tall and composed just outside the closed gate, was a force easily twice our size.
Nearly two hundred examinees—armored, ard, and lined in clean formation—stood behind a single figure.
At the front, with golden hair shining under the gray sky and a long crimson cloak swaying behind her, was a girl with striking red eyes.
Princess Serenia Elmarelle.
Her gaze t mine across the gate.
No panic. No emotion.
Only calm, regal certainty.
She raised her voice—steady, clear, and loud enough for everyone on our side to hear.
"We co in peace."
Her people didn't move.
They waited.
Well damn.
GTP.
[No aggressive mana signatures detected. Their posture is defensive. Diplomatic.]
I let out a breath.
"...Open the gate."
The guards hesitated for just a second.
Then the heavy wooden doors groaned open, the hinges creaking as the main gates slowly parted.
Her group didn't move until she did.
With a nod, Princess Serenia took her first step forward—silent, smooth, and unwavering.
The procession followed behind her like a moving wall of polished steel.
They didn't gawk. They didn't speak.
Just followed in disciplined silence as they entered the fortress grounds.
I stepped down to et her at the base of the stairs.
"Princess," I said casually.
She paused a few steps away.
Her red eyes studied with unnerving calm.
"...And you are?"
"Sam Avencroft," I replied, crossing my arms.
A flicker. Barely visible.
But I caught it.
She blinked once.
Then nodded. "I see."
Still composed.
She turned her head slightly. "Would it be possible to speak inside? Sowhere private."
"...Sure."
I gestured toward the longhouse.
Inside, the door closed behind us with a soft click.
Only then—when no one else could see—did the shift happen.
"...Wait."
Serenia turned to face again. And this ti—
Her eyes lit up.
Her voice lost its royal rhythm and ca out way too fast.
"You're the Sam Avencroft?!"
I blinked.
"...Yeah?"
"The one who wrote Titanheart Chronicles?! And Your mories?!"
"Still ."
She stepped forward like a kid who just walked into her favorite bookstore.
"I read every Chapter. I cried at Chapter 25. I scread at Chapter 30. Chapter 38 gave actual chills—like, real, magical ones."
Her crimson eyes practically sparkled. The princess mask? Gone.
"I've been wanting to et you for so long. And when I got the first copy of Your mories... I couldn't sleep. I read it three tis—every panel, every line. The art, the emotions—how do you even draw like that?!"
I stared.
"...You're the princess, right?"
She snapped back into posture for a second. Cleared her throat.
"...Yes."
Then muttered, "Still your biggest fan, though."
* * *
I stood at the balcony of the longhouse—highest point in the fortress.
The jungle wind brushed past, carrying the scent of moss and ash.
Below, nearly two hundred people moved like clockwork: patrolling, sharpening blades, reinforcing the barricades.
It had only been a few days since the battle with the goblin king... and now?
We were a proper army.
Beside stood Princess Serenia Elmarelle, her crimson cloak swaying softly behind her.
Golden hair. Red eyes. Calm, cold nobility radiating from every inch of her.
And yet... sothing about her felt less distant than before.
I glanced down at the camp.
"Eighty-seven," I muttered.
"Hm?"
"That's how many people I had before you showed up," I said. "With your one-sixty added in, we're up to two hundred and forty-seven."
Serenia nodded slowly, scanning the treetops.
"Still not enough to beat the Desert."
"Not even close," I said.
She turned to . "You seem strangely confident about the other zones you told about."
I raised a brow. "Wanna know why?"
She waited.
"There are three lands," I said. "I figured it out based on how the teleportation magic worked. The flow split into three. We were scattered."
Her eyes narrowed just slightly.
"...So you believe the remaining applicants were divided between three distinct regions?"
"I know it."
A long silence followed.
Then she exhaled.
"Then this... is going to beco a war."
My gaze didn't leave the horizon.
"Yeah."
She folded her arms. "Jungle, Desert, and Ice. Each developing its own faction. Each preparing to fight."
"Desert has the biggest share. Probably close to half of the applicants. We're second with about 30%, and the Ice territory... maybe 20%."
"Ice will be scattered," she said. "Cold terrain. Fewer resources. But if we bring them to our side..."
"We'll even the playing field."
She nodded slowly. "But first, we finish uniting the Jungle."
I turned to her. "Any resistance on your way here?"
"Plenty." Her tone didn't change. "We fought creatures I've never seen in any bestiary. So were intelligent. A few were coordinated."
I whistled. "You sure know how to make an entrance."
"And..." she added, eyes flicking to the north, "we found sothing else."
"...Yeah?"
"A temple. Hidden in the overgrowth. Carved with runes I couldn't decipher."
That caught my attention.
GTP. What are we dealing with?
[Likely an ancient trial-temple. Constructed in the pre-Empire era. Highly dangerous. Expect traps, guardian monsters, possibly layered magic zones.]
[Risk: High.]
[Reward: Potentially ga-changing.]
I humd under my breath.
"A temple in a death-ga jungle. What could go wrong?"
Serenia glanced at . "Interested?"
"If it gives us an edge over the Desert zone, I'm more than interested."
She turned fully to face , arms behind her back.
"I'll gather my top forces. We can leave at dawn."
I gave her a half-smile. "Let's raid a temple, Princess."
* * *
The fortress was dry. Cracked. Weather-worn.
Half-buried in dunes. Shielded by rock. And secured by blood.
Noel stood at the top of the outer wall, her white cloak fluttering behind her in the blistering wind.
Below her, dozens of warriors were still tending to the last of the sandworm corpses.
The biggest one had taken three mages and a coordinated effort from twenty sword-users to bring down.
Noel had taken down four.
Alone.
She wiped the sand off her cheek with the back of her arm and narrowed her eyes toward the horizon.
From where she stood, the desert stretched endlessly.
No sound but wind. No shade. No trees. No Sam.
Sam...
Her mind drifted again.
Where was he now? Was he okay? Had he found allies?
He always looked so reckless, but... she knew better than anyone—he always had a plan.
She wanted to see that stupid smug smirk of his again.
Her hand touched her chest, right over her heartbeat.
"...You better not be doing anything dangerous," she muttered.
"Thinking about your boyfriend again?"
A voice behind her.
She didn't even turn.
"Leon," she said flatly.
The golden-haired, dark-skinned swordsman leaned casually against the wall, a flask of water in hand.
He had a smirk on his lips and that usual cocky glint in his eye.
"You're not exactly subtle, y'know," he said. "You get that faraway look in your eyes like you're writing love poems."
"...It's none of your business."
"True," he said with a shrug. "Still. I've never seen a girl crush sandworms into paste and then stare longingly into the sky like she's starring in a romantic ballad."
She didn't reply.
He stepped a little closer.
"You could just forget him, y'know," Leon said. "You're here. He's not. We're building sothing big."
Noel's eyes remained fixed on the sun-scorched dunes.
"I'm not interested."
"Oh, I know," Leon chuckled. "But... doesn't an I'll stop trying."
She finally turned her head slightly—red eyes sharp.
"If you keep pushing, I will make you regret it."
Leon smirked again.
"Scary. But cute."
Then he stepped back with a stretch.
"Relax. I'm just saying... the desert might not be so dry if you gave soone else a shot."
Noel said nothing.
But as Leon walked away, her hand stayed on her chest—fingers curling slightly.
And sowhere, in the back of her mind...
She still heard Sam's voice.
* * *
Only three of us stood in front of the temple entrance.
Just as planned.
"Only three?" Mira had asked earlier.
"Fewer ans faster," I said. "And fewer ans less people triggering traps."
Now it was , Mira, and Princess Serenia standing before an overgrown ruin.
The structure rose out of the earth like a cracked fang—its archways swallowed in vines, stone carvings faded with ti. The air was thick with old mana, and the breeze whispered like sothing watching.
"This is it," I said.
Serenia's crimson cloak shifted behind her as she stared up at the structure. Her rapier glead at her hip, slender and deadly.
"No going back," she said.
Mira twirled a dagger in her fingers. "This thing's not haunted, right?"
"...We'll find out soon."
We stepped in.
And the light vanished behind us.
Click.
The door slamd shut the mont we passed the threshold.
"Of course," I muttered. "Would've been too easy."
We pressed forward, lanterns floating beside us—magical lights conjured by Serenia.
The air was thick. Dust. Magic. Sothing else.
The walls were covered in faded murals, ancient scripts, and broken reliefs of beasts long extinct.
Then—
Whirrrrrrrk—!
"MOVE!"
I grabbed Serenia's wrist and pulled her back just as a blade swept out from the wall—an ancient trap, still functional.
Her body hit mine. I steadied her.
"Careful," I muttered.
She didn't pull away imdiately. Just looked up at for a brief mont... then nodded silently.
"...Thanks."
Subtle.
But noted.
We pressed deeper.
The first chamber was circular—and full of stone golems.
Their eyes glowed with orange light as they activated, grinding forward with earth-cracking steps.
"I'll handle the left!" Mira shouted, vanishing in a blur of movent.
"Princess, cover right!"
Serenia moved with fluid grace—her rapier slicing between the cracks in the stone like a needle through silk. Her posture was flawless. Clean footwork. Cold precision.
I launched forward, dodging a heavy fist and slamming my sword into the back of a golem's neck joint.
CRACK!
Dust exploded. Rock scattered. Magic humd in the walls.
GTP, how many more?!
[Six active golems remaining. Target weak points near chest cores or neck plates.]
Got it.
The three of us moved in rhythm—blades flashing, light dancing across the old walls.
And as we cut down the last of the golems, Serenia flicked her rapier clean with one graceful motion.
"...Not bad," she said quietly.
I smirked. "Not bad yourself."
* * *
We fought our way down.
One room after another—stone halls echoing with the groan of ancient machinery and the clash of steel on stone.
More golems. Stronger. Smarter.
So threw boulders. Others launched spears made of crystalized mana.
My sword was chipped. Mira's breathing had gotten heavier. Even Serenia's rapier—flawless as her technique—was stained with dust and cracks.
Finally, we reached the bottom.
A massive circular door stood before us—ten ters tall, engraved with glowing runes. Mana pulsed from its fra like a heartbeat.
GTP.
[Beyond this door lies the temple guardian. Warning: High magic density. Prepare for combat.]
I tightened my grip.
Serenia took her position beside . "Ready?"
Mira flipped her dagger. "I was born ready."
We pushed the doors open.
SHHHHHHHHH—KRRRRRRR
The room inside was pitch black.
Then—
THOOM—
Green light surged to life across the floor, illuminating an enormous chamber.
A massive golem, covered in erald armor plating and standing nearly twenty feet tall, rose from a kneeling position.
Eyes burned with core-fire. Magic pulsed through its limbs like steam through ancient pipes.
Mira's voice shook.
"T-That's...!"
"A Golem Juggernaut," Serenia said, eyes narrowing. "Upper Hero-Class."
"...Perfect," I muttered.
CRACK—
The golem launched forward.
We scattered instantly—stone fists smashing the floor into rubble.
Mira dashed in first, slashing at the golem's ankle joint.
CLANG!
Her blade barely left a scratch.
I moved in, boosting with GTP's motor control, striking the back plate.
Nothing.
"Eyes and core!" I shouted. "That's our target!"
But the golem responded faster than expected—its fist slamd into Mira mid-dash, sending her flying into the wall.
"MIRA!" I yelled.
Serenia gritted her teeth, mana flaring around her. "Cover her—I'll distract it!"
She moved like lightning—rapier flashing, redirecting the golem's strikes away from Mira.
I pulled Mira back behind a collapsed pillar.
"You okay?"
She coughed. "Felt worse. Not often, but still..."
I stood.
Serenia was going toe-to-toe with the beast—but it was too much.
One heavy strike landed—
BOOM!!
She crashed into the far wall, her blade flying from her hand.
"Serenia!"
My heart stopped.
The golem turned to .
One-on-one.
I clenched my fists.
"There's no choice," I muttered. "GTP... Crank it up to 40%"
[Warning: 40% output is beyond stable threshold. Physical damage is likely.]
"...Do it."
[Activating Overclock. Motor Control sync: 40%. Targeting protocols optimized.]
Let's end this.
I surged forward—dodging the first swing, spinning into a low slide, then leaping upward along the arm.
Its head turned.
Too late.
With all my strength—I brought my sword down straight into the glowing green eye.
CRACKKKK—KRRRSHH!!
Magic exploded.
The golem twitched violently—cracks racing through its body.
Then—
BOOOOOOMMM!!
It collapsed in a burst of green light and rubble.
Silence.
The room dimd again, only faint flickers of residual magic still pulsing.
I dropped to my knees, breathing hard.
Behind , Mira stirred. Serenia slowly sat up, dazed.
I looked up at the fading golem core.
"...That was one hell of a warm-up."
My vision blurred.
Oh...
My arms felt heavy. My legs shook.
My heartbeat pounded against my ears.
[Motor Control disengaged. Warning: system overload. Consciousness drop imminent.]
"...Hah. You think?"
The last thing I saw—
—were Serenia's red eyes going wide.
"Sam!!"
Darkness swallowed everything.
* * *
"...Ugh."
My eyes cracked open.
Ceiling.
Wooden ceiling.
"...Where the hell..."
GTP...?
[You're awake. That took longer than expected.]
How long's it been...?
[Five days.]
My eyes widened.
FIVE?!
I tried to sit up—and instantly regretted it.
Pain jolted through my arms, my ribs, even my eyelids.
"...Nnngh..."
[Healing magic was applied, but your body had exceeded its limit. The damage couldn't be fully restored.]
"Note to self..." I muttered, wincing. "Let's not do that ever again."
Just then, the door creaked open.
A familiar voice.
"You're up!"
Serenia stepped inside, looking surprisingly relieved. Her usual regal posture relaxed just a little.
"Update ," I croaked.
She walked over, arms crossed. "While you were out, we were attacked by another jungle faction."
"...Damn. I missed a whole war?"
"We held the fort. Thanks to you."
I blinked.
"...?"
She nodded once. "That item we retrieved from the temple. We used it."
"The boss drop?"
"The Scythe of Hades."
"...That sounds tal."
She smiled faintly. "It's ridiculously strong, but no one could use it properly. None of our soldiers trained with scythes."
GTP.
[Possible. I have combat data from every Earth-standard and historical weapon. Scythe proficiency included.]
I grinned.
"I'll use it."
Serenia raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you use a sword?"
"I trained with everything," I said casually, stretching one arm with a groan. "Just didn't have a reason to bust out the cooler toys."
She rolled her eyes slightly. "Of course."
I finally stood—legs still wobbly, but working.
"Let's go outside."
She followed out.
And I froze.
The goblin town I rembered... was gone.
This place was a damn fortress now.
Dozens of new tents. Structures. Barracks. Training squares. At least four tis the people.
"Woah..." I muttered. "We multiplied."
"We had to relocate so units already," Serenia said. "Space was getting tight."
I glanced around. So many soldiers. So much activity.
And the temple just sat there. Big. Empty. Secure.
"...Why not the temple?"
Serenia looked over her shoulder at it.
"That's... not a bad idea."
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