"Is this a grave?"
Eryx stood motionless in front of an ominous structure. This was supposed to be a grave, however, it was not like any grave Eryx had ever seen.
"Hey, system, I think you misunderstood something. This isn't a grave, it is a fucking tomb!"
Instead of the usual stone slab or modest tombstone, the structure in front of him was a crumbling archway made of jagged black stones. The archway was covered in a thin layer of moss that looked sickly and damp.
Eryx felt a chill run down his spine. He can swear if anyone from Earth saw this, they'd be terrified.
The stones making up the archway didn't seem normal at all. They looked… almost alive. Every few moments, they would shift slightly, like they were moving or breathing on their own.
Seeing that the system didn't give him any response, Eryx started hesitating.
"Perhaps, it is wiser not to enter this tomb. Who knows what kind of dangers lie hidden within this place that seems to breathe on its own? I'm just an ordinary person; I could be dead before I even realize the danger. No… it's far safer to turn back while I still can."
Ding!
When Eryx spoke, a loud ding sound echoed in his ears, and a screen appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light.
[A Guide to System Missions]
﹂ Warning: Once issued, all missions assigned by the System are mandatory. Failure to complete the assigned mission will result in severe consequences, including but not limited to:
► Loss of Abilities - Your cultivation and acquired skills may be revoked.
► Severe Penalties - Your physical or mental strength could be reduced.
► Termination - In extreme cases, the System may enforce complete termination to protect the mission's integrity.
﹂ Note: This is for the host's development. The System's objective is to make the host renowned as a legendary treasure hunter. Only by completing missions can the host achieve true strength and fame.
---
Eryx's face immediately paled.
"What do you mean by complete termination?"
Eryx waited but the System never gave him a reply. Instead, Eryx did feel a chill running down his spine.
It didn't take long for him to understand that the System meant he would be terminated (meaning killed) in extreme cases.
What are those extreme cases?
Eryx doesn't know. But what he now knows is that he has to complete all the missions given by the system. There is no option for rejection.
"No way, this shit is happening to me," he muttered and felt like his heart shattered into several pieces.
He was truly happy when the System made its appearance, but now, it seems the System's existence might not be a good thing for him.
In any case, he could do nothing but think of how to complete the mission given by the System.
Eryx took a deep breath and looked closer at the tomb. The whole structure was bigger than he thought.
The entrance was almost pitch-black. It was a narrow doorway, just wide enough for one person to walk through. Strange symbols were carved around the doorway. These symbols were glowing faintly. The light from them was weak and flickered, as if it could go out at any moment.
On each side of the doorway, there were two stone statues. They were creatures Eryx had never seen before. They looked like a mix of a lion and a serpent, with fierce eyes and sharp teeth. The statues looked so real, it felt like they might jump to life at any second.
As he looked up, he saw that the top of the tomb had broken parts, and pieces of stone had fallen to the ground. Vines and dark green plants grew in the cracks.
The air around the tomb felt heavy like it was pressing down on him. It was cold, and Eryx could feel a strange chill on his skin.
One point to note is that this was only the outer structure of the tomb.
The outer structure alone looked so strange and frightening. Eryx couldn't even imagine what he would find deeper within.
"I should enter." Eryx breathed deeply and walked down the archway step by step.
Eryx's heart pounded in his chest like a drum. With each step he took down the archway, the sound of his heartbeat grew louder. His hands felt cold, and he clenched them into fists to stop the slight tremble.
As he moved closer, he could feel the air grow colder.
One step… then another… and another.
Finally, Eryx stopped in front of the tomb's entrance.
Although nothing happened as he walked, his heart was still racing.
Eryx looked at the glowing strange symbols for a few seconds before immediately shifting his eyes. He also didn't look at the statues placed in front of the doorway.
Taking a shaky breath, he directly stepped through the doorway.
As soon as he entered, a chill wrapped around him like icy hands, making him shiver. His legs immediately felt heavy, almost as if they didn't want to move. But he forced himself to keep going.
Inside, the air was thick and cold.
Unlike Eryx's guess, the tomb was not completely dark. Glowing stones embedded into the wall were the source of light inside.
In front of Eryx was a long corridor. It was stretching far ahead.
On each side of the corridor, there was a stone chamber. Each chamber had a wooden door blocking the entrance. The wood looked old and worn, as if it could break with just one push. Faint symbols were carved into the wooden doors, and these symbols matched the ones Eryx had seen outside.
At the end of the corridor, Eryx can see an open, spacious hall.
Even though he was at the start of the corridor, he could still see that the hall was huge. The arrow on the map given by the system was pointing at the hall.
Clearly, the grave he is supposed to rob is located somewhere in the hall.
Completely opposite of the ominous outer structure, the interior was simple.