Bab 24: 24: Stumbling Upon a conspiracy!

What he observed was reminiscent of a scene from a demonic rite – a pentagram, carved with precision into the corner of the wall at the end of the cave. Although it was shrouded in utter darkness, he was able to perceive it clearly, courtesy of his Nocturnal Vision Trait.

His gaze, brimming with a keen intensity, fell upon it.

'I am able to understand it?'

Although the inscriptions ensnared within the confines of the pentagram were of an unfamiliar language, he was somehow able to understand what was written.

'Maybe it's because of my bloodline that made me half a devil.'

Val concluded that this pentagram was something only those with devilish origins could interpret, and with the blood of the Blood Devil coursing through his veins, he fell into this unique category.

'Let's see what it says.'

Deciphering the pentagram, he found out that it was a hidden mechanism that hid a great secret that would cause great harm to the IronSpire Stronghold and that it required a devil's blood to be triggered.

'I am a half-devil himself. Would my blood suffice?'

'Well, It doesn't hurt to check.'

Val deftly sliced his skin open with a blade forged from his own blood and smeared the vivid liquid leaking out of his wound onto the pentagram on the wall.

Immediately, it pulsed with life, prompting the entire cave to tremble in resonance.

Hiss!

The wall before Val receded with a barely audible hiss.

A concealed chamber was unveiled, and his attention was magnetically drawn to an altar situated at its center.

It exuded an aura of antiquity and was adorned with intricate symbols. It seemed to be crafted from a smooth, ebony-hued stone, and it radiated an unearthly glow that cut through the shroud of darkness, illuminating the inside of the cave.

The Roman numeral – I – was inscribed on its base.

It signified that the altar would only respond to the touch of level 1 Bloodline Users. Anyone above that level wouldn't be able to interact with it.

"This is an entrance to a dungeon!"

Surprise flashed in Val's eyes as he discerned its purpose.

Dungeons, having surfaced globally over recent decades, all bore distinct commonalities. They were only accessible via a teleporter, with a Roman numeral carved onto it determining the level of bloodline users permitted entry.

The altar before Val was precisely one such teleporter. And the Roman numerical written on it showcased that it would only teleport level 1 Bloodline to the dungeon.

Each dungeon housed a distinct quest that the dungeon explorers had to uncover themselves. Successful completion of the quest would result in the dungeon vanishing, and the triumphant dungeon explorer being transported back to the entry point.

An unattended dungeon would trigger a 'dungeon break', causing a swarm of monsters to invade Eldrich.

This event would typically spell disaster for any nearby strongholds.

Dungeons also represented a lucrative source of resources. Monsters within differed from beasts in that they dropped cores upon defeat. Absorption of these cores enhanced one's attributes. Furthermore, each dungeon housed a boss, the vanquishing of which might yield materials useful for evolution.

The devil had woven a cunning spell of concealment around the dungeon for similar reasons.

Firstly, the devil desired the dungeon for its exclusive use, hoarding the bountiful resources that resided within. Every dungeon was a treasure trove of rare and unique materials, beneficial for humans, devils, and also beasts. By sealing the dungeon in a way that only a wise devil like itself would be able open it, the devil ensured that it alone would reap these benefits.

Secondly, sealing the dungeon served as an excellent camouflage. The seal masked the dungeon's presence, making it undetectable to any creature wandering through the Evernight Forest.

Through this, the devil meant to incite a dungeon break, a catastrophic event that would unleash terrifying adversaries upon the IronSpire Stronghold, intensifying the peril faced by its inhabitants. If this were to happen, devils like it would find it easier to invade the stronghold and prey on its inhabitants!

Even if one was fortunate enough to stumble upon this devilish seal, the ordeal of deciphering its enigmatic mechanics to unseal it would likely be a herculean task. There was no telling how long it would take before the seal could be broken, effectively ensuring the devil's plan went uninterrupted.

However, the devil hadn't accounted for one variable - Val.

He had managed to break the seal and discover the entrance to the dungeon, and he might even complete the dungeon, effectively ruining the plan of the devil.

Val wasn't worried about encountering the devil that was behind this. The devil was most likely only as strong as a level 1 bloodline user or even weaker than one in terms of combat. After all, only such a devil would want to horde a level 1 dungeon for itself. He was confident about crushing such a lowly devil with his fists alone!

Val ran his tongue over his lips, his mind abuzz with thoughts.

'I must prepare before I tackle it.'

Dungeons were inherently fraught with danger. Typically, a trio of bloodline users would dare to venture within - a warrior for defense, an offensive type for damage, and a healer for sustenance.

However, Val was a unique case. His physical prowess surpassed that of a Level 1 Warrior-type bloodline user. His Blood Absorption skill afforded him superior healing capabilities, and his ability to control blood gave him an offensive edge over many at the same level as him.

Basically, he possessed the capability to conquer a dungeon solo.

Yet, he held back for the time being.

The Blood Purifying Herbs he'd collected were still on his person, and a heated battle might damage them.

Thus, in order to sort them out, he returned to the safety of the IronSpire stronghold.

He set one herb aside for his personal use. Once he awakened the Whitemore Bloodline, he planned to use it to directly upgrade his Whitemore Bloodline to Level 2.

As for the remaining two herbs, he intended to trade them.

He could opt to vend them at the open market, but this would yield merely gold in return. Furthermore, it would also necessitate the bothersome task of actively seeking commodities that could be bartered for gold.

Thus, trading the herbs for an item from his father presented a far more appealing and convenient alternative!

'Let's go see Joshua.'