The next day.
Our team formed up and prepared to march. Kagali-san unsealed the gate for us. A pulse of blue light shimmered, then the great door slid open soundlessly.
"Looks like it held," someone breathed.
A ripple of cheers ran through the ranks.
"Good work," I said, and stepped through first.
The middle floor greeted us with a different kind of light than the upper level. Stone sconces dotted the walls, each holding a pale, steady glow that could not be blown out—illumination born of old magics, not wax or flame. The effect was eerie and beautiful, the kind of craftsmanship that leaves a person respectful and wary at once.
Milim fell into step at my side. "There's a heavy pressure here," she murmured.
"It's real," I answered. "The ceiling is low, the corridors are tight—this level was made to feel oppressive. It narrows the field of view and channels movement. Traps and ambushes would benefit from this design."
The passage ceiling barely reached two meters. Taller folk would have to stoop; the corridor was barely two meters across—tight for two abreast, cramped for the pack-bearing members behind us.
Not that Milim or I had an issue with space. Our teammates carrying large backpacks might find it awkward.
"Atem-sama, how do things look ahead?" Kagali asked.
"If the floor is a labyrinth, we'll face choices at every fork—and likely traps," I said. "But we can manage. Lead on if you wish; my team will sense threats."
"Can you handle it?" Kagali pressed.
"Count on me. With my presence, there is nothing to fear," Milim said, the conviction in her voice ringing out.
If she volunteers, then so be it—we would take point together.
Kagali-san and her vice-captain followed. Shion and Gobta took the rear and guarded the column. Ranga shadowed me, but stayed tight to my cloak. The chief remained on watch at the rear, ensuring our lines.
I looked forward to tonight's supper more than I cared to admit.
I used my perception to sweep the route—threads of ambient magic, pressure differentials in the air, faint signatures of ancient wards. The walls bore murals—delicate paintings worked into stone.
"They're exquisite," Milim whispered. "These murals… they tell a story of everyday life from long ago."
"Indeed," I said. "They're a record of civilization—priceless for anyone who studies antiquity. Preserve them; we must tread lightly."
Milim inhaled the history like a nostalgia I hadn't expected from her—little bits of memory and wonder passing in her eyes. I nodded; the directives were clear: careful handling, no vandalism. This site was as much a relic as a tomb.
We advanced without triggering traps. The team moved with guarded curiosity. Noon came, and I called a halt.
"Let's set up lunch," I announced.
"Wait—Chief prepared bentō for us. We should eat that," Kagali offered.
I signaled the stop and produced bentō for everyone. They looked as if the food had come from nowhere. In truth, I keep provisions stored in a pocket-space. Efficient. Warmed and ready—perfect for fieldwork.
"You can do that?" murmurs spread through the line.
I ignored the astonishment. The team appreciated the meal—simple sandwiches this time: eggs, bacon, fresh harvest vegetables. The dark elves' sauce elevated the rough bread into something tender; the soup, rich with a bone broth savor, warmed everyone.
"No need to be shy. There's soup for all," Kagali added, a reluctant smile on her face despite the seriousness in her eyes.
I hadn't wanted fires started underground—no open flames in sealed corridors—so I'd arranged the bentō. Better safe than sorry. Narrow passageways, no water nearby—any small slip could escalade badly.
"And people will need the latrine," I added. "I'll open a portal to the entrance. Use the break to relieve yourselves."
A chorus of "This is insane" rippled, but practicality prevailed. I opened the gate and the portal shimmered—clean, private, and quick. No one needed to desecrate a tomb's sanctity on a whim.
As the team took their breaks, a voice piped up. "I want to try something—may I?"
"Try what?" I asked.
"We've been using spirit-based navigation. 'Spirit Communication'—it's a shamanic spell. It will guide us through the labyrinth."
Kagali blinked—she hadn't heard of it. No surprise; specialists rarely do outside fields.
A young woman offered herself: shaman of wind affinity, practiced in spirit rites. Perfect. I explained the method and gave the caster permission.
She called to the spirits; her connection was steady. "We won't get lost," she reported after a beat, eyes focused. "If we go further we'll hit a dead end; on return, go back to the triple-cross and take the eastern passage. Mapping will be extensive."
Spirit guidance wore the caster thin. Continuous communication is draining—mapping must be drafted to preserve the path.
Solarys would handle the precise charting—his power could render the map with flawless, inhuman clarity. Still, a warded, paper map was practical for the team.
"Is there a spell to print your thoughts?" someone asked idly.
"Yes. Illusion magic can record images in paper," I said. "There's a minor grimoire—'Sketch Thought.'"
«Report. Search complete. Equivalent known as illusion magic 'Sketch Thought' and its networked variant 'Share Thought.'»
Perfect. I asked a novice sorcerer nearby to learn them. He practiced quickly; the spells were not complex for those with magical talent and Solarys' assistance.
"Now we can draft a map in minutes," the apprentice exclaimed.
"Sketch thought" and "Share thought" turned the spirit directions into a usable map. The team cheered—tools had turned the intangible into the tangible.
"Do not grow careless," Kagali warned. "A map won't neutralize traps or ancient triggers."
Her caution trimmed their enthusiasm. Good. Never let excitement override vigilance.
We pressed on, and by day's end we descended to the gate guarding the lowest level. The team's morale was high, their discipline solid. We closed camp at the threshold.
We reached our destination before dusk—ready, fed, and mapped. We would sleep under the watch of Jistav's guardians and begin the true descent at first light.
Day three.
We began immediately from the gate leading into the lowest floor of the ruins—Amalita's final threshold.
Our forces split in two.
One group focused on decoding the complex magic seals on the gate.
The other team, led by Milim with Gobta and Ranga accompanying her, began exploring the remaining sectors of the middle floor.
Today, I would not take the lead. I had already demonstrated the decoding method yesterday.
Now I observed—as a king should—calmly evaluating my people's growth.
Shion approached me with a small frown.
"There's nothing to do, Atem-sama."
"Then make tea for those working. Keep morale steady."
"Understood!"
Shion practically sprinted to set up a table, lining up cups before pouring fresh coffee from a magic flask.
Watching her movement stirred a faint nostalgia within me.
Not long ago, I wouldn't allow Shion to prepare anything edible.
Now she radiated confidence.
"Here it is! Who wants a drink!?"
Her bright voice invited a brief break.
Hot coffee was a luxury here, and the warmth lifted everyone's spirits.
Yet even as I accepted a cup and raised it to my lips, my senses never left alert mode.
My guard stayed high—silent, unshakable.
The conspirators hunting me would choose a moment like this.
A quiet place.
A sealed ruin.
No Veldora at my side.
Only my subordinates and the shadows of danger.
My gaze lingered on Kagali and her team.
I invoked Analyze and Assess, enhanced by Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, to scrutinize every soul present.
No corruption.
No tampering.
No manipulation.
If anyone here had been brainwashed, then Solarys itself would have had to be deceived—an impossibility.
Still… willing betrayal remained possible.
So I watched quietly, calmly, without missing a breath.
I continued sipping my coffee when Milim suddenly burst back in, riding atop Ranga, a mountain of equipment being dragged helplessly by Gobta and several sweating explorers.
"Atem! Look! I brought so many trophies!"
To be precise—Milim brought nothing.
Everyone else carried her loot like pack animals.
Dozens of items radiated dense magicules—magisteel gear, weapons crafted by ancient master smiths.
After centuries of resting in this place, the metal had matured to terrifying levels.
"That gear… it's all unique-grade," I noted, examining the pieces.
"Right? Look at this one—it's insane!"
The weapons were no joke.
No one could ignore treasure like this.
"Where did you get these?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Clayman wouldn't leave valuables lying around."
"Ahaha! Funny story!" Milim scratched her cheek. "I triggered a trap and—BOOM! Golems everywhere! They were wearing all this!"
My voice sharpened.
"You triggered a trap?"
"N-No! Not like that! The trap activated the moment I stepped into that hallway! Even you wouldn't dodge that!"
Gobta nodded anxiously.
"We detected magic in every corridor! We weren't being careless!"
Their testimonies aligned.
The hallway activated based on specific registered life signatures.
Anyone outside the original parameters triggered the guardians.
"You could not have avoided that," I concluded.
"This floor was designed to repel intruders. The tomb's defenders programmed it well."
Kagali nodded.
"In other words, many more golems wield similar weapons. For equipment to evolve like this over time—unbelievable…"
We were lucky Milim and Gobta were with the scouts, or the explorers might have died.
"Nothing happened yesterday," Kagali continued. "But this proves more traps exist. Starting tomorrow, we must proceed more cautiously."
"You're right. The gate will need more time to decode. Tomorrow—"
A violent tremor cut Kagali off.
The entire ruin shook.
Energy blasted through the stone corridors.
Dust and fragments rained from the ceiling.
"What—what is happening?!"
"Is the floor collapsing!?"
Panic erupted instantly.
"QUIET!" Kagali yelled, regaining command.
"It wasn't a natural earthquake! The tremor was short. This structure won't collapse easily. Find shelter and remain calm!"
Her composure stabilized the group. Good.
Gobta ran to my side.
"Atem-sama! What was that?!"
"An external shock wave. Strong enough to reach even down here. The surface may also be affected."
We had Portals, so escape was always possible.
There was no need to panic.
But a deeper concern gnawed at me.
The timing was too perfect.
Then—
A cold intuition settled in my chest.
Solarys whispered:
«Report. Hostile intent detected. Ruins' defense systems fully activated. Multiple golems now mobilizing. Unknown invaders confirmed.»
And then the voice echoed.
A mechanical roar shook the halls:
"AMALITA HAS BEEN INFILTRATED. EXTERMINATE INVADERS."
"AMALITA HAS BEEN INFILTRATED. EXTERMINATE INVADERS."
An icy dread crept through the explorers.
Even Kagali paled.
"What!? All of Amalita's defense mechanisms—activated on their own!?"
"Invaders triggered the traps," I said.
"They won't listen if we tell them it wasn't us."
For a moment, I reconsidered Kagali.
She was near the gate.
Could she have triggered it while we were distracted?
The timing felt scripted.
Too perfect.
But Milim sensed no hidden communications.
"If there were secret 'Telepathy Net' messages," she said, "I'd notice."
So Kagali seemed innocent.
But Solarys whispered again:
«Answer. Cannot be confirmed. If a Soul Corridor exists, they may use secret channels beyond normal detection.»
Meaning… it wasn't impossible.
So I remained wary.
I did not want to battle my enemies with a traitor at my back—but abandoning these people was not my way.
Members of Kagali's team trembled.
"This is bad! It must be the same organization targeting Atem-sama!"
"T-They even caused that shock wave—!"
"They're insane! Targeting the King of Eterna?!"
Their fear sounded genuine.
So I stepped forward.
My voice cut through the panic like a blade.
"You are under my protection. I will not allow a single one of you to die here."
Shock and disbelief washed across their faces.
Some had clearly assumed I would abandon them.
They underestimated me.
Milim leaned toward me with a grin.
"Atem—is this what you expected?"
"Yes," I answered calmly.
"This was a bait. And they swallowed it whole."
Just as Solarys calculated.
Amalita had been infiltrated.
The enemy had come.
And now their fate was sealed.
I had prepared for this from the beginning.
This would be the day we exposed them.
This would be the day we decides the victor.