As Bane stood silently, contemplating everything that had been said, two doors suddenly appeared before him. Out stepped Sylvie and Haruto, their expressions a stark contrast to each other. "You passed the trials!" Bane exclaimed, his voice filled with relief and excitement. But his joy was tempered by a gnawing concern—Haruto seemed distant, while Sylvie was practically glowing with elation.
"Kage, is everything okay?" Bane asked, his voice tinged with worry. He couldn't shake the feeling that this might be another test, some final trial meant to challenge him.
Haruto looked up and forced a smile. "Yeah, just feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders." He then turned to Sylvie, his smile becoming a bit more genuine. "Sylvie, it's good to see you're okay too."
Sylvie returned the smile, though hers was more sheepish, as if acknowledging that Haruto's statement was the understatement of the year. As the trio began to share their relief, the figure who had guided them appeared once more, starting a slow, deliberate clap that echoed ominously through the space. Immediately, the three of them tensed, dropping into defensive stances.
The figure chuckled softly, shaking his head. "If I wanted to harm you, I would have done so already. Surely you can feel it—I could wipe you out with a mere snap of my fingers."
The statement did nothing to ease their tension. In fact, it only made them more wary. The figure's power was palpable, an ever-present threat that loomed over them.
"Relax," the figure said, his tone almost patronizing. "You have one more room to complete."
Sylvie stepped forward, agitation flaring in her eyes. "That's not what you said!"
The figure tilted his head, as if puzzled by her outburst. "Dear girl, I never said you would leave after the trials—only that you needed to pass them if you expected to get out of here. But you can attempt to leave now if you wish. Although, why go through all of this without claiming your rewards?"
The trio exchanged stunned glances. 'Of course! It is a dungeon after all,' they realized in unison.
The figure gestured toward a door that materialized before them. "Since you three are the first to complete the trials in centuries, I have been directed to allow you to pick from Kahl's treasure room. But be warned—while some items may be tempting, do not let your greed outpace your wisdom."
The warning was clear. If they chose something beyond their capabilities, they would have no one to blame but themselves for the consequences.
As they followed the guide through the winding corridors, Bane couldn't shake the thoughts from his earlier conversation with the figure. He decided to voice the question that had been lingering in the back of his mind—one he suspected was on everyone's mind. "So, what kind of person was Kahl? I take it, since you willingly serve him and this is his dungeon, he must have attempted something similar in the past?"
The guide paused for a moment, considering his words. "Kahl was a dreamer. He was a fortunate soul, with luck that fell around him like snowflakes in winter. But for all his fortune, Kahl was also cursed."
"Cursed?" Sylvie echoed, the confusion evident in her voice. How could one be both lucky and cursed? It seemed like a contradiction, and yet there was something in the guide's tone that made it clear he wasn't speaking lightly.
The guide, noting their bewilderment, continued. "My master was an orphan, and his extraordinary luck gained him a significant following. I'm sure you've all heard the rumors of black magic and dark rituals being performed here, yes?"
The trio tensed at the mention, hesitant to acknowledge what they had heard. The looks on their faces said it all, and the guide chuckled, not the least bit surprised.
"Many followed Kahl, hoping to share in his fortune. But Kahl was not like other Warlords. No matter how much luck he had, no matter how much wealth he accumulated, he was never content. It wasn't the riches he despised—it was the gnawing resentment he felt toward his birth parents, the source of his unhappiness. One day, he stumbled upon an awakening stone, but this was no ordinary stone. Perhaps his mysterious abilities played a role in this discovery. Can you guess what type of stone it was?"
The trio leaned in, caught up in the tale. Sylvie's mind raced, trying to imagine what could possibly have held such power. "Some type of rare domain magic?" she guessed.
The guide raised an eyebrow, impressed by her insight. "You're not far off. Domain magic, as rare as it is, is but a cheap imitation compared to what Kahl found. He discovered an Origin Stone—Space Magic."
The trio froze in their tracks, stunned by the revelation. Sylvie nearly fainted from the shock. "But that can't be right! No Warlord has ever found an Origin Stone! It would make them one of the most powerful beings in existence," she stammered, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what she had just heard. Haruto and Bane were equally incredulous. Why would someone with such power hide it? What could they possibly fear?
"Contrary to popular belief, there are more Origin Stones than just the four most commonly known. All magical abilities are merely branches stemming from the power of Origin Stones. Kahl found one, and when he absorbed it, he gained all the knowledge that came with it. But someone with that level of power, still holding onto deep resentment, could never truly understand or control it. So, he used his magic to create a trial for himself, a trial to conquer his inner demons. He set a condition—if he failed, he would ensure that such power would never exist in the world, and he would trap himself within the dungeon forever. After a year, Kahl emerged, having passed the trial. He then tried to guide his followers toward the same enlightenment."
The guide's voice grew somber. "He created this dungeon, and every one of his followers took the trials. Only one returned."
The weight of the guide's words hung heavily in the air. Years of lore had just been rewritten before their eyes. What was once believed to be the result of dark magic gone haywire was, in truth, the result of a test no one could pass. Sylvie was nearly vibrating with excitement, desperate for more information, while Haruto and Bane began to grasp Kahl's mindset. Haruto, in particular, reflected on his own trial, understanding how easily one could become lost in the temptations it presented. If one had nothing to live for, the trial could easily consume them.
"Kahl was an extraordinary Warlord," the guide continued. "Absorbing that stone did something else as well. After achieving his enlightened state and passing the trial, Kahl gained full mastery over his stone's abilities, inadvertently elevating himself to the status of a Plane Ascender—a hidden level above even the Mythical Grade."