บท 46: 46. The Dark Magic Formation

In a split second, the water mixed with dragon serpent blood and arrows that filled the pool abruptly cascaded and was forcefully drawn into the ground all at once, leaving only the royal-clad woman's statue standing tall in place.

Everyone immediately leaned forward, peering downward. There, instead of the pool's bottom, a series of stone steps descended into a vast, eerie darkness underground.

A few of them turned on their flashlights, trying to illuminate the underground chamber, which they believed was one of the terraces of the stepped pyramid hidden inside the mountain. Yet even their beams couldn't penetrate the full depth of the darkness, and none of them could see the bottommost step.

"I can't see a thing," muttered Kairav.

Without a word, the nameless young man created a fireball in his palm and tossed it below. Within moments, the suspended fireball grew, shedding its amber light through the darkness like a small sun.

By the light of Sunfire Gaze, they estimated around 300 steep stone steps connected the entrance above to a spacious chamber below, in the center of which a tranquil underground river flowed.

One by one, they began their descent, stepping cautiously on the slick, moss-covered stone stairs in the thick, humid air. They kept one hand on the cold stone walls as their only support—a towering wall built from massive stone blocks, unmarked by any carvings or reliefs.

Their breaths grew heavier as they neared the final step, where a simple wooden boat awaited them.

"Do you think it's still usable?" Trisha asked, eyeing the boat with doubt.

Prince Arkana stepped forward, crouching to inspect it. "The wood doesn't seem too bad," he said, running his hand over the mossy parts of the boat.

"It looks like it isn't that old," Kairav remarked from behind.

"Considering the high humidity, temperature, damage from organisms, the boat's position in the water, and time, this should be severely degraded by now, even if made from the highest-quality, water-resistant wood," he explained.

"If it's not that old, then it means someone was here not too long ago, right?" Arkana concluded, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Could it have been Ardika? Maybe around the time of the Danyang incident and the inscription placed in the blood pool ten years ago," he guessed.

"Could there be other clues hidden here like before?" Kairav asked.

Right next to him, a long sigh escaped Casildo. "No need to overthink it. I'd say they've welcomed guests generously—right down to preparing us a ride like this," he said dryly.

"Let's go," said the nameless young man, stepping ahead of the others and climbing into the boat.

One by one, the others followed, a sense of unease lingering. The water rippled as the wooden paddles sliced through the river's surface, creating small waves. The bats hanging from the ceiling flapped and scattered, disturbed by the echoing sounds of the intruders.

The river's current flowed steadily, carrying the boat into what seemed like endless darkness.

The little sun of Sunfire Gaze lit the way, allowing them to see the surroundings—two high walls on either side that formed a large tunnel throughout the journey, with stone stairs connecting the walls directly to the underground river.

"Nothing here but bat droppings," Casildo complained, continuing to paddle.

"What terrace do you think we're on?" Gavin asked, glancing around.

Without looking at his friend, Kairav replied indifferently, "The third terrace was above ground, so we're either on the first or second. We should see steps with an entrance connecting the terraces." He frowned. "But so far, all we've seen are stairs and walls..."

Following his words, only the sound of splashing water echoed around them as they paddled.

In the quiet, the nameless young man slowly dipped his hand into the cold river, his sharp eyes catching a glimpse of something drifting along with the now-swifter current.

"What's going on?" Kairav asked, noticing his movement.

Slowly, the nameless young man lifted what he'd found from the water. "A skull," he replied, his face impassive.

Everyone who saw the human skull in his hand gasped. Zacky immediately jumped back, yelling in alarm, "Is this place some kind of mass grave?!"

"Damn it, you bald fool! You want me to smack you? I'll really bury your skull here if you make us tip over!" Casildo snapped as the boat rocked from the commotion.

"Could it be one of Dwarapala's victims? Like the ones the Danyang of the pine tree mentioned?" Kairav speculated.

"Danyang of what?" Trisha interjected, confused, not following the conversation.

But Kairav ignored her, turning his head to the side.

Then he suddenly called out, noticing something several feet ahead on the right wall—a golden ornament shaped like a dragon serpent's head. "There!"

Everyone turned to look where he pointed. "Sir, is that a regular decoration or something else?" Andi finally spoke up.

"So far, we haven't seen any ornaments or reliefs, and now one appears out of nowhere. I'm pretty sure this isn't just any decoration," Arkana replied, and Kairav nodded in agreement.

"Casildo, bring the boat closer," the young prince instructed.

Casildo maneuvered the oars, guiding the boat toward their destination. Once they reached it, they began climbing the few stone steps leading to the wall.

"Another crowned dragon serpent?" Baron remarked, his eyes on the gold-encrusted carving of a crowned dragon serpent etched into a protruding rectangular stone.

"Please, no more cursed mechanisms," Casildo muttered, shaking his head with a weary look.

"What's this ornament for?" Kairav asked, intrigued.

"It's a mechanism to open a door—I've seen something like this before," said the nameless young man, staring straight ahead.

Slowly, he stepped forward and stretched out his hand, pressing the protruding stone.

Grind...

The wall in front of them split in two. The heavy stone blocks shifted aside like a pair of modern elevator doors, revealing a long corridor lined with steps leading upward—long and seemingly endless from the doorway.

"It's really an entrance!" Kairav exclaimed, impressed.

Without another word, he stepped in behind the nameless young man, moving cautiously as they entered.

His eyes darted around until a sudden flash of bright white light appeared from behind, followed by an unfamiliar noise that echoed in his ears.

Bzzttt...

"Damn! A dark magic formation!" Casildo's frustrated voice jolted him, and he whipped around in shock.