[A/N: Hi, first of all, I apologize for not uploading chapters these days. I've been swamped, plus I've been very distracted reading "Lord of Mysteries"]
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Once they defeated the monster, they continued down the long stone corridor illuminated in crimson red with a slow and very cautious step, paying attention to all their surroundings and avoiding any fortuitous attack from a monster hidden in the shadows.
Finally, after walking for eighty minutes, they saw the end of the long corridor; on their way, they encountered some monsters, but it was much weaker than the Arachnid and Darkbeast Parl. In addition, they found more rooms, but there was nothing, only old, worn-out beds and skeletal corpses.
During this long walk along the stone corridor, Kleint noticed that Alice did not seem familiar with this place; it was as if she had heard of it because all along the way, he found her abnormally cautious, very different from the calm and indifferent attitude she usually has.
Most likely, I heard about this place from someone from the first round. Besides, there must be some good items in this place to come as fast as possible... Kleint deduced the reason why Alice is so cautious in this place.
At this thought, he tensed quickly, and all his senses went on high alert, remembering why the warning that this place was dangerous. And at that moment, he remembered the monsters he had just faced.
The monsters in this place are much scarier and more robust than the ones we faced in the "Starting point" that looked like they were taken out of a fantasy novel... But these are nothing like the ones in fantasy novels, a spider with the head of a human face and an aberration with multiple faces and arms... Kleint shivered, and a cold sweat ran down his back.
Because it was not typical for a place like this to be in the tutorial where supposedly everyone is in a stage of adaptation and growth.
Earlier, when Alice mentioned this place, he thought it was some kind of dungeon-like in online games, where you kill monsters and then get a juicy reward for clearing the place.
But, remembering the warning of danger, the monsters out of a horror novel, Alice's caution, Kleint realized that this place was not what he thought and seemed much more dangerous than Alice had said. Realized this place was not what he thought it was and seemed much more dangerous than Alice had said.
"Finally, we've reached the end of this long hallway," Liana exclaimed with a relieved sigh, snapping Kleint out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, I was starting to get tired of always looking at the same thing," Lee Joon agreed, but he was still entirely on his toes.
Alice, hearing the relieved voices of Lee Joon and Liana, looked back, expecting the two of them to be relaxed and as if they were in the safe zone, but unexpectedly, even though they had sighed in relief, they had not let their guard down.
Well, I don't have to warn them again not to let their guard down... She thought, slightly satisfied.
"Speak a little quieter and brace yourselves. We no longer know what awaits us ahead," she said thoughtfully, tightening her grip on the swords' handles as she moved forward.
Kleint, Lee Joon, and Liana followed Alice wholly on alert, nervous, and a little afraid, not knowing what awaited them ahead.
But the one who was most nervous and worried was Kleint.
He had noticed that Lee Joon and Liana had not seen this place's anomaly and that no summoned people could survive without making tremendous sacrifices.
Everyone froze once they exited the long stone corridor, including Alice, who also froze, staring at the sight before her.
"What the hell is this place?!" Lee Joon couldn't help but let out a curse.
Liana couldn't produce a word and attended with her mouth wide open.
In front of them is a vast room illuminated by a crimson veil that casts eerie shadows over every corner.
There were also tall, dark pillars rising majestically in space. Still, instead of mere architectural supports, they were adorned with grotesque figures of humanoid-shaped monsters suspended in a macabre depiction of the crucifixion.
Crimson blood overflows from the gaping mouths of these creatures, flowing in a steady, sinister drip into a fountain on the floor, tinged with the same crimson color, creating a disturbing reflection of the scene.
Standing out among the shadows in the heart of the room is an imposing altar. On it rests the figure of what appeared to be a crucified god, but the particularity lies in its inverted position, with his face covered by a veil that hides his features, adding an air of enigma and concealment to his presence.
From his bandaged eyes, tears of crimson blood slowly escape, falling with chilling solemnity. The figure seems suspended between the divine and the profane, enveloped in a mystery that spreads throughout the space.
Beside the altar, a dark veil unfurls, swaying with an almost unearthly stillness. Woven into its dark fabric are interwoven flashes of crimson stars, as if they were points of light in the darkness, adding a touch of celestiality to the scene amidst the gloom.
When they all saw what looked like a room, a strong shiver ran through their bodies, and their expressions were grim and pale, as if they had seen something a human should not see.
"I-it's... T-to... what-the hell is it?" Kleint exclaimed, stuttering. His body was shaking with pure fear and terror, and he unconsciously took a step backward.
All his senses were screaming at him to run away from this place before something terrible happened, but despite that, his body felt very heavy, as if a lot of weight had been put on him.
This shouldn't be in the tutorial! Where the hell did you bring us?! Kleint looked at Alice, who was also surprised looking at him.
And this confirmed his earlier thought that she had never been to this place. Otherwise, Alice wouldn't be so surprised by what she looked at.
And at that moment, Lee Joon's faint and fear-filled voice was heard saying a single sentence.
"Mystery era..."
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