The next morning, pale sunlight filtered through the forest canopy and shone on the small camp. Strange bird calls echoed like bizarre instruments striking against the eardrums. The adventurers woke after a long, restless night.
"It's time. We have to move toward the tallest mountain on the island." – Sill took a deep breath, his gaze firm though a flicker of worry lingered in his eyes.
The group quickly packed up. Layla, the frail little girl with messy hair, once again led the way. Her eyes revealed no emotion, yet her steps were more resolute than anyone else's.
"This kid… there's definitely something unusual about her." – Senki whispered, her shoulders trembling from yesterday's exhaustion.
Senmi sighed, clutching her stomach as she complained:
"At this rate, we sisters will collapse. Aren't adventurers supposed to be dignified and strong? Now we look like a bunch of amateur climbers."
Kael chuckled, turning back to encourage them:
"Come on, you two are teammates. The road is long, but thinking about the treasure… doesn't that give you some extra motivation?"
Renar chimed in, his childish voice brimming with excitement:
"Yeah! I'm tired too, but when I think about becoming a strong adventurer like you, Kael, I feel like going on."
Hearing that, Senki and Senmi exchanged glances and laughed.
"This boy… he sure knows how to cheer people up." – Senmi patted Renar's head.
Meanwhile, Sill and Sivall walked silently at the front. They didn't bother to complain, just trudged forward. No one noticed, but their eyes betrayed a faint tension – as if plotting something deep inside.
The group climbed steep slopes and trudged along winding mountain trails. Time passed, sweat soaking their backs.
Suddenly, Layla halted. Her lips moved, uttering strange words.
"@#₫%^&…"
Everyone froze. Sill quickly translated:
"She said… 'We're here.'"
"Really?" – Senki and Senmi rushed forward, their fatigue instantly vanishing.
Kael and Renar followed close behind. When they reached Sill and Sivall, the sight before them left them all gaping.
A gigantic hole yawned open at the mountain's peak. It was so vast it would take two or three large cities to cover it. Cold wind blew upward from the depths, carrying a musty, earthy odor.
A golden glow flickered from below, as if an eternal lamp burned in the darkness. Far beneath, a colossal forest stretched out, trees towering as if to pierce the heavens.
"My god… this thing…" – Senmi clutched her chest, her heart racing.
Senki swallowed hard, whispering: "It's so deep… I can't even see the bottom."
Kael squinted, muttering:
"It's like… another world hidden underground."
Renar's eyes widened as he stepped dangerously close to the edge. Kael quickly pulled him back:
"Don't stand too close! If you slip… there's no coming back."
Sill and Sivall remained silent, their cold eyes observing. No one knew what they were thinking.
Layla started moving again, this time leading them along a narrow trail winding around the abyss. The path was steep, sometimes only wide enough for one person. Beneath their feet stretched the endless void.
After hours of descent, the group reached the edge of the underground forest. The trees were so massive it would take thirty or forty people holding hands to encircle one trunk. Thick mist curled among the leaves, as if this place had its own climate.
"Creepy…" – Senki shuddered.
Senmi gripped her sister's hand tightly: "I… I don't like this place one bit."
Kael drew his sword, wary:
"Be careful. This forest is not normal."
Renar clutched the wooden sword Kael had crafted for him, his eyes shining with both fear and anticipation.
After only a few dozen steps, Sivall stopped. His eyes gleamed as he drew his blade and whispered a spell. Lightning wrapped around the sword, crackling.
"Something's ahead." – Sivall's voice was grim.
He lunged, slashing into a bush. A metallic clang rang out – his sword had struck another blade.
From the thicket, a middle-aged man emerged. He staggered back a few steps from the impact, smirking. Flames licked the bushes behind him, scorched by the remnants of Sivall's strike.
"Ha… sharp senses, kid. I didn't even move, yet you still noticed me." – his voice was hoarse, tinged with admiration.
Sivall angled his sword toward him:
"How long have you been following us? What's your purpose?"
The man sneered, then bowed lightly:
"My name is Laki. A professional treasure hunter. And you lot… I assume you came here for the same reason?"
"Treasure hunter?" – Sill's eyes widened, her expression shifting.
Senki blurted:
"How could there be a treasure hunter here?"
Laki raised his brows, looking at the sisters as if at naïve children:
"You two as well? Such a foolish question…"
"What?!" – Senmi snapped, hands on her hips: "We're adventurers! High-ranking ones at that!"
"Oh? Then why venture into this abyss? Changing careers, perhaps?" – Laki burst out laughing.
Senki's face flushed:
"We're just… just on a mission!"
Kael stepped in to mediate:
"Mr. Laki, what exactly does 'treasure hunter' mean here? And why do you speak as if we know nothing?"
Laki smirked, his eyes flashing with suspicion:
"Don't tell me you truly know nothing about this island…"
The group turned to Sill. She lowered her head in silence. Tension thickened in the air.
Finally, Laki waved his hand:
"Night's falling. If you don't find shelter soon, *they* will come. Follow me."
"*They*?" – Renar asked, puzzled.
"You'll see. Move!" – Laki barked.
They followed him through rough terrain until reaching a makeshift campsite with a few shabby tents. The people inside eyed them warily, far from welcoming.
"This is a temporary shelter. Sit and rest." – Laki pointed to the logs around the fire.
He left to deal with his own business. The group sat, but Senki and Senmi immediately confronted Sill:
"Hey, what exactly are you hiding from us?!"
Sill bit her lip, then bowed her head:
"I'm sorry… I lied to you."
Silence fell. Kael frowned:
"Sill, tell us the truth. Why did you bring us here?"
For a long moment she said nothing, until Sivall urged her to speak. Finally, Sill inhaled deeply, her voice trembling:
"My mother… she's afflicted with a strange disease. Her body swells with pus, then hardens into crystals of many colors. No doctor, no mage can cure her. Until I heard of something that could… turn nothing into something. I clung to that faint hope."
The group froze. Senmi murmured gently:
"So… it was for family…"
Kael placed a hand on her shoulder, speaking firmly:
"You should have told us earlier."
Before Sill could answer, Laki's voice rang behind them:
"So, you're after the golden city at the bottom of the abyss, aren't you?"
All eyes turned to him.
"The golden city?" – Renar blinked.
"That's right. This is the Bottomless Abyss, one of the most dangerous places in existence. Only madmen dare descend. The depths are endless, and none who ventured too far ever returned intact." – Laki's words cut like knives.
He continued, tone calm as if lecturing:
"From the rim down to 1,500 meters, you'll find a peaceful forest, like where you now stand. From 1,500 to 4,000 meters lies a dark forest, filled with inexplicable horrors that make warriors and mages alike tremble. Beyond that… I do not know. For all are stopped by an immense underground river."
Sill gasped:
"A river… down here?"
"Yes." – Laki nodded firmly – "And within that river… something hides."
A shiver rippled through the group.
"The danger isn't only the creatures. The abyss is cursed. Those who stare into its depths too long will bleed from their eyes, ears, and nose. Those who try to climb back up… will fall into despair and turn back. Here, the human mind whispers: 'Go deeper, always deeper.' And then… vanish."
The fire crackled, the only sound in the heavy silence.
Kael quietly pulled Renar closer, whispering:
"Don't believe everything he says. But remember – this place truly is dangerous."
Renar nodded hard, his small hand gripping Kael's cloak tightly.
That night, the group rested in the camp. The next morning, Laki saw them off with a smile, handing over some dried rations.
But once their figures disappeared, another man approached Laki, asking softly:
"You really intend to let them go?"
Laki licked his lips, his mouth curling into a grin:
"Let them descend deeper. Prey this fine… must be caught with the perfect net."
In his eyes flickered a ravenous hunger, matched only by the cold smile he could no longer suppress.