Ena and Haruo's eyes widened, their expressions tightening with shock as they stared at the rank. Haruo's brows knitted together in disbelief, while Ena stood frozen, her lips slightly parted in surprise.
"L-Legendary!?" Ena exclaimed, gripping the artifact tightly as excitement coursed through her, unable to contain the rush of emotions bubbling up.
"Are you sure this is a decoy? I mean, this is a rare find! I don't know anything about tombs, but I do know this shit is hard to come by!" Ena's voice wavered as her hands trembled, swaying with the artifact as she paced the room.
'This doesn't make sense. No one's ever found anything above an A-grade artifact in a mechanical tomb, let alone an SS, legendary rank.' Haruo's thoughts raced as confusion settled across his face, his brow furrowed in disbelief.
'There's still a chance this isn't even the real artifact. Just how valuable is the true artifact if they had to sacrifice a legendary?' Haruo's unease deepened as he rubbed his thumb against his chin. He glanced at the artifact again before scanning the room, searching for any clues that might explain the situation.
"Why do you look so uneasy? We found a legendary! We should be celebrating!" Ena asked, her voice brimming with smug excitement as she swung the artifact overhead, a wide grin plastered on her face.
Suddenly, the room began to rotate, and dust cascaded from the ceiling as the structure shifted and morphed. Haruo and Ena exchanged startled glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern as the situation rapidly escalated around them.
"Quick, give me the artifact! I'll put it in my mana storage!!" Haruo shouted, urgency lacing his voice as debris began to fall around them. The gravity of the room felt distorted, intensifying the chaos as he reached out for Ena to hand over the precious object.
"I thought Kilian said using mana storage wasn't allowed when keeping artifacts!" Ena exclaimed, her voice shaking as the ground trembled violently beneath them. The force of the tremors made it difficult for her to stand steady, heightening her anxiety.
"That logic only applies to Closed raids! Wait, why am I even explaining this to you right now? We don't have time!" Haruo shouted, urgency in his tone as the room continued to shift around them. The walls seemed to pulse with energy, further complicating their already tense situation.
The once spacious room, illuminated by the warm glow of four orange pillars that supported the structure, began to transform. The circular ceiling twisted above them, and the pedestal in the center shifted shape as the entire room slowly descended while rotating. Dust swirled in the air, creating a surreal atmosphere as the surroundings morphed into something unrecognizable.
Ena quickly hurled the artifact to Haruo, who instinctively reached out and caught it. With swift determination, he opened his mana storage and carefully placed the artifact inside, ensuring it was secure as the room continued to change around them.
After a few minutes, the room finally halted its descent. The warm orange tones of the structure were replaced by vibrant shades of blue and purple, mirroring the colors from outside. Where there had once been only one door, now four stood before them, one in each direction, adding an air of mystery to their surroundings.
The runes on the walls glowed, shifting into intricate symbols that pulsed with energy. The pedestal remained, now accompanied by stairs leading up to it. Everything had changed in an instant, triggered by their retrieval of the orb, enveloping them in an atmosphere thick with anticipation.
Pipes and gears became visible, interlocking and clanking along the walls. The pillars transformed into statues: a knight in armor, a regal king, an elegant woman, and a musician holding a flute, poised to play. The atmosphere shifted, blending awe with tension as they absorbed their new surroundings.
"This tomb just keeps getting more troublesome, doesn't it?!" Haruo exclaimed, clearly frustrated.
"Hey, at least we have the legendary rank, right?" Ena grinned, tugging at his arm playfully.
"Anyway, what did you mean by 'official raid' earlier?" Ena asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Is asking questions all you ever do?" he sighed, exasperation creeping into his voice as Ena posed yet another inquiry.
"But what i meant by 'Closed raid' is that, this isn't an official raid" Haruo explained.
"Yeah, I get that part. I'm asking why an Closed raid and a regular raid are so different." Ena added, shrugging her shoulders with her palm up.
"You see, tombs are usually preserved to ensure they're ready for exploration, and most people do it that way. In raids, there are specific rules. For instance, the Marion Kingdom only allows storage using this ring." Haruo explained, gesturing to the ring on his finger.
"But wait, we didn't preserve this tomb, did we? Does that mean we're illegally exploring it?" Ena asked, her eyes widening with realization.
"No. Since this tomb isn't preserved, it means it's open to everyone. Anyone can enter and take all the loot with no consequences." Haruo answered, clarifying her concern.
"Then why don't you just put it in the ring?" Ena questioned him, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm really getting tired of your questions." Haruo said, irritation evident on his face from her constant inquiries.
"But the reason I'm using my mana storage is that only I can access it. If I die, it's practically lost forever. Trust me, this is for the best right now, especially since we're in an open raid." Haruo explained, his tone firm.
"Greedy much?" Ena said, her arms crossed and a sassy grin on her face.
"Shut up. Let's just find a way out of here now. We can look for the true artifact later, if there is one." Haruo said, continuing to walk as he scanned the newly formed area.
"There are four entrances in each direction, and each one seems to be based on the statues. Which one do you want to go into first? It doesn't really matter which we pick since they're probably all connected." Haruo said, gesturing toward the doors.
Suddenly, loud gears echoed throughout the room, the sound reverberating off the walls as the space began to rotate once more. After about thirty seconds, the room came to a halt, accompanied by a loud clicking sound that indicated it had finished moving.
"Ah right, I forgot. The tomb is self-changing, so it really doesn't matter which way we go; we'll end up somewhere lost anyway. So let's just go, no time for being picky," Haruo said, urgency in his voice as he motioned for Ena to follow him.
"You just said that, though." Ena pointed out, hurrying to his side as they approached the musician's entrance. Together, they decided to take that route.
As they walked through the halls, the blue-colored walls gradually transitioned into a light green. The gears echoed once more, shifting the layout around them as the tomb continued to change.
Haruo raised the Monarch-13 and aimed it at the walls, activating its scanning function. A soft blue light illuminated the surface, analyzing the intricate patterns as they walked. The device flickered, revealing details while assessing the structure's integrity and potential threats.
[Translating...]
A loud ding from the Monarch-13 echoed through the halls, reverberating off the walls and breaking the tense silence. The sound caught Haruo and Ena's attention, heightening their senses as they exchanged a wary glance, wondering what the device had detected.
[Analyzation Complete]
Description: The essence of mana flows through the body and fills the air, once energizing the vibrant city of Galeris. This city was powered by a core that not only sustained its magnificent architecture but also fostered a thriving community where magic and innovation flourished. However, after the devastating attack by Kilrum, Galeris fell into ruin, its streets now silent and shrouded in despair.
In hopes of revival, a sanctuary has been created, dedicated to the memory of those who sacrificed everything. This place stands as a beacon of hope, inviting brave souls to rediscover the ancient knowledge and secrets needed to restore the fallen city. The spirits of Galeris linger here, waiting for someone to take up the mantle and breathe new life into the city of artifacts.
'This artifact might not be a decoy, but if that's the case, then why set up traps to deter anyone who might want to revive the city? It just doesn't make sense. Surely, they wouldn't want to keep potential saviors out... or am I missing something?' Haruo thought, his brow furrowing with confusion.
'There are two possibilities: either the runes are a clever ruse to lead us away from the real artifact, or this truly is the artifact itself. Those are the only explanations I can consider right now', Haruo mused, his mind racing with uncertainty.
As they continued walking, the halls shifted around them, gears clanking and rotating within the ever-changing labyrinth. Each turn brought new surprises, revealing traps or puzzles that tested their wits. Yet, despite the intrigue, no rooms emerged from the twisting passages.
They walked for what felt like an eternity until a bright light appeared ahead. Both shocked and determined, they hoped it led to the true artifact or the exit. However, to their surprise, they found themselves back in the room where they had started.
"What the hell?!" Ena exclaimed, frustration evident on her face. After walking for so long, only to end up back where they started, she couldn't contain her annoyance.
"Calm down; this is normal in tombs, especially mechanical ones. Did you really expect this to be over so quickly? We probably haven't even explored a quarter of the place" Haruo reassured her, trying to maintain a level head amidst her frustration.
"The layout keeps changing every five minutes! Not a single room in sight!" Ena exclaimed, her voice echoing through the chamber, frustration evident in her tone.
'Not only that, but all the runic texts are just enchantments or the same repetitive information the Monarch-13 scanned. It feels like we're just running in circles', Ena thought, frustration mounting as she surveyed the endless corridor.
"Let's head down the king's route next, there might be something interesting there." Haruo suggested, his curiosity piqued.
Ena and Haruo walked toward the king's route, but before they committed to the path, Haruo paused to glance back at the room. He narrowed his eyes at the statues, his suspicion growing as he considered what they might be hiding.
"What are you doing? Let's go!" Ena urged Haruo, her impatience evident as she beckoned him to follow.
He then stepped into the king's route, beginning to explore its depths. As time passed, they meticulously inspected the walls, solved puzzles, avoided traps, and scanned for hidden passages. With each path they took, new challenges emerged, keeping them on their toes.
Each time they approached a new route, Haruo took a moment to inspect the main room before proceeding. He scanned the area carefully, sensing an unsettling tension in the air that hinted at hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered.
After exploring every route, Ena grew tired and sat down on the stairs leading to the pedestal. Meanwhile, Haruo remained standing, carefully inspecting the room, his gaze sweeping over every detail in search of anything that might reveal the tomb's secrets.
"What exactly are you thinking? You've been mostly quiet the entire time. Wouldn't it be faster if you just shared what's on your mind?" Ena asked, looking up at Haruo with a mix of curiosity and frustration.
"Tell me what you've noticed in the last hour as we explored." Haruo said, focusing intently on Ena.
"The tomb keeps changing layout, there are no monsters or golems, and we solved some puzzles." Ena replied, summarizing her observations.
"That's all correct, but you're missing something important. Look at the statues, do you see anything different?" Haruo said, gesturing toward the figures with a thoughtful expression.
Ena then looked up at the statues circling the pedestal, searching for any changes. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto their eyes, they now had pupils, a detail that hadn't been there before.
"After we completed each route, the statues revealed their pupils one by one. It's like they became aware with each path we took, suggesting they guard something important," Haruo explained
"Y'know those puzzles we solved? I'm talking about the ones with the gems stuck in the wall." Haruo said.
"So, the puzzles are what made those pupils appear?" Ena asked.
"Exactly, and I believe I finally get how it works." Haruo said, his brow furrowing in concentration.
"The room with the real artifact moves every time the tomb changes, so we need to follow the direction the pupils point to find the right route." Haruo explained.
Just then, the tomb shifted its layout again, causing the statues to move in a circle, their pupils scattering in every direction, each statue now focused on a different route. The atmosphere grew tense, as if the statues were choreographed guardians, silently guiding them toward the paths they should explore next.
"Where do we go now?" Ena asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she glanced around at the statues, their pupils pointing in different directions.
"We have to wait until all of them point to the same route, that's when we can move forward." Haruo said, his eyes fixed on the statues as they swiveled in their circle, anticipating the moment they would converge on a single path.
"But there's another problem: the statues move in a circle, making it hard to tell which route is correct. Their shifting gaze might mislead us into choosing the wrong path." Haruo explained, watching the statues rotate and wondering how to interpret their ever-changing focus.
"But what if they aren't looking at the routes but at each other? Since each route is based on the statues." Ena suggested, trying to make sense of it.
"Let's hope our theory holds true. The next rotation is about to start, and we only have five minutes to find the room before it changes again." Haruo said, glancing at the shifting statues.
"If we happen to find the exit first, we need to leave immediately, no questions asked. Understand? We can't afford to waste any time once we spot it." Haruo ordered, his voice firm as he prepared for the next rotation.
"Ugh! Fine." Ena said, clearly exasperated but willing to follow his lead. Haruo nodded, knowing they needed to stay focused and ready for the upcoming challenges.
The rotation began, and all the pupils pointed at the musician, the first route they had entered. With urgency, they dashed toward the musician's path at top speed, ready to uncover what awaited them.
[2 hours left till the verification test...]