{Rel's POV}
[The Abyssal Dungeon - Front Entrance]
I studied the three entryways, my gaze remaining on the rightmost path.
"This should be the best route," I muttered to myself.
Given that the right path started with a puzzle, followed by monsters, and ended with traps, it seed the most logical choice.
Traps were sothing to be wary of, but if I could recognize their patterns and chanics, I could navigate them safely.
The monsters were likely tougher than usual, given this dungeon's special nature.
Since I couldn't detect their presence visually, they were probably beyond my current strength.
I was still too weak to defeat them outright.
But I'd figure sothing out along the way.
So...
The decision is...
You got it!
The right path it was.
Fighting a monster at the start wasn't the best option, and facing one at the end, exhausted from navigating traps and puzzles, was even less appealing.
Let's see what this puzzle has for .
...
...
...
Entering the room, I realized how truly round the chamber was. Its walls were built of massive stone slabs etched with glowing blue lines that pulsed with energy. These lines seed to thrum with a power I could feel deep in my bones, a resonance similar to the mana that flows through all living things.
In the center of the chamber stood a circular altar carved from a dark, glassy stone. The altar was etched with symbols that shimred and shifted as if alive, mirroring the pulsing energy of the lines on the walls.
To my right, I spotted a skeleton lying on the ground with a massive wooden stick. Given the dimness, I decided to make use of my fire attribute.
SHAAH...
As I lit the torch, the view around beca clearer.
Eight towering stained glass windows encircled the room, each depicting a scene of chaos and destruction.
I assud these windows were more than just decoration, given this was a puzzle.
As I looked around, I noticed mana flowing around each stained glass window, each with a different, unique color.
Stepping closer, a tingling sensation washed over .
The strange feeling I'd gotten around this place intensified.
It felt like the mana within was being disturbed by sothing I couldn't identify.
Looking up ahead, I saw the altar flashing with a mix of black and red aura.
When I got closer, symbols flashed in a specific order that corresponded to one of the stained glass windows.
So, even simple pattern recognition was this easy.
There was definitely a connection between the symbols on the altar and the stained glass windows.
Looking closer, I noticed each window depicted a different elent: fire, water, air, earth, light, darkness, life, and death.
These were the core elents of this world.
A closer inspection of the walls revealed faint markings etched into the stone, barely visible even with my torch. These markings seed to form a pattern, a language I didn't understand.
"Hmm... the ancient runic trope is sothing I'm familiar with, but I could cheat this with the system..."
Actually, I'll try using my own knowledge first.
Within the interplay of light, shadow, and the raw mana that courses through the air, the question is: can I decipher the clues and harness this flow to open the massive stone gate that blocks my path?
The air crackles with energy. I reach out and touch one of the glowing lines etched into the wall, feeling a slight resistance, like pushing against a current.
Experintally, I press harder, and the symbol under my fingertip changes shape. As it does, I notice a change in one of the stained glass windows. The fiery scene dims, the flas flickering lower.
Curious, I move to the next symbol on the altar, pressing and fiddling with it until another window responds. This ti, the image of a flood recedes, the water calming as if it's being drained.
I get it now. Each symbol on the altar controls one of the windows, allowing to change the power flow in each scene.
I work my way around the altar, carefully dimming each scene until the windows are almost dark, the power inside them seemingly asleep.
As the last window flickers, the markings on the walls begin to glow. The lines and shapes, once barely visible, now light up, forming a path that winds around the room, connecting the altar to each window in turn.
I follow the path, touching each window in the order shown by the glowing lines. I feel a surge of power as I complete the circuit.
RUMBLE...RUMBLE...RUMBLE...
The air crackles with even more energy, and the stone floor under my feet starts to rumble.
CLANK...
With a grinding sound, the massive gate at the far end of the room shudders and slowly opens.
Well, it was a little complicated at the start, but now that it's done, I guess I should be prepared for what's next.
As I ventured deeper into the dungeon, the torchlight flickered against the smooth stone walls, illuminating strange symbols of a bishop's hat, horns, and wings.
The next stage should involve monsters. The principle behind each room is usually either a pack of them or a singular mini-boss.
But I've never written a thed dungeon like this before, so why are these symbols here?
Despite my calm mind, I could feel my body shaking.
As I moved closer, the symbols grew larger with each step, and a sense of impending doom washed over .
And before I knew it.
I had assud these rooms led in straight lines because I expected to be heading into a single chamber.
Not three.
...
...
...
The three towering archways dominated the space, each leading to a swirling vortex of impenetrable darkness—a portal entry into what I assu were the mini-bosses of this dungeon.
Above each gate, a familiar symbol was etched into the stone.
The left archway bore the bishop's hat, the middle displayed horns, and the right was marked with wings.
The sa symbols I'd seen earlier on the walls, were now marking the paths ahead.
A sense of unease washed over as I took in the scene.
These symbols, imbued with an ominous aura, seed to warn of the trials that awaited within.
But more than that, a nagging doubt crept into my mind.
My vision, enhanced by Deadeye and Sensory Aura, should have pierced through the darkness of those portals.
Yet, they remained impenetrable, as if sothing was actively interfering with my abilities.
Which ant everything I had seen earlier was nothing but a deception.
So... there's soone powerful enough to block and deceive my sight?
I wondered, a shiver running down my spine.
The dungeon held more secrets than I had anticipated, and I was about to face them head-on.
___________
Authors Notes:
- Rel's carrying his silver bow on his back and Axel to his side.
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