The moment Kaelin’s palm touched the bizarre vertical pupil, something unexpected happened.
BUZZ—
The surface of the console, which had appeared extremely hard, suddenly became like a viscous liquid. Ripples spread outward as it rapidly "swallowed" her entire hand and wrist.
She felt a piercing chill creep up her arm. The Crystal’s glow around the console’s edge instantly shifted from deep blue to a blinding crimson, bathing the entire cave in blood-red light.
This sudden turn of events momentarily stunned Raine, but a flash of realization quickly crossed his eyes. He realized that since this fortress was built by Kaelin’s ancestors, the ancestral blood flowing in her veins was likely the "key" to opening this underground stronghold. Given her personality and the heavy burden she shouldered, she would never take such a risky action without some level of certainty.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Raine decisively stopped Sodden, who was about to yank Kaelin out, and Winnie, who was preparing a Casting.
Under their watchful eyes, Kaelin stood as if paralyzed, her forehead already beaded with fine sweat. She could feel her body resonating with the console in some inexplicable way.
WOOO—
An ancient horn suddenly blasted within her skull, followed closely by the thunder of iron hooves and the roars of Magical Beasts. She heard the ear-piercing screech of sharp claws tearing through Armor, the fierce snapping of war banners in the gale, and the final battle cries of countless Warriors’ souls in the blood-red dusk. The sound was so soul-shaking that it seemed to crush every inch of her flesh and bone, suffocating her.
Just as she was about to be swallowed by the torrent of voices, the viscous sensation abruptly vanished. The blood-red glow surrounding the console reverted to deep blue, as if nothing had ever happened.
Kaelin jerked her hand back, feeling her fingertips still trembling slightly. She stared at her palm, recalling the maxim written in her mother’s elegant handwriting on the Parchment: "The blood of my daughter is the key to unseal it."
She wondered if, after centuries of weathering, this lock would still recognize the blood of a descendant.
RUMBLE—
The entire cave began to shake violently without any warning. Under everyone’s astonished gazes, countless radial cracks bloomed across the massive rock wall ahead. Intense blue light shot out from the fissures, illuminating the entire cave like a world of ice and snow.
"Get back!" Raine’s roar was quickly drowned out by a deafening crash.
Just as the group retreated to a safe distance, the thick rock wall collapsed like a shattered eggshell. Tons of rock crumbled into fine powder, sending waves of dust sweeping outward in all directions.
As the thick dust slowly settled within the cave, the sight before them made everyone’s eyes widen. A mottled metallic Giant Gate towered before them.
Branded right in the center of the gate was a massive wolf’s head, drawn with bold, forceful lines. Its fangs were bared, and every strand of fur seemed to flow in the eerie glow. Its eyes flashed with blood-red light—it was the exact totem of the Fenglang Clan.
HISS—CRASH—
Accompanied by the low sound of releasing air pressure, the Giant Gate slowly slid inward along the midline of the wolf’s head, revealing a passageway wide enough for ten people to walk side by side. A rush of ancient, decaying air, sealed away for ages, howled out from the depths. The passage was pitch-black, silently gaping open toward them like the maw of a colossal beast.
Kaelin stood at the entrance, gazing into the pitch-black depths of the fortress, her eyes filled with solemnity.
She had grown up listening to the Legend of Garson Ice Trace. This great ancestor had led the warriors of the Clan to establish immortal merits in protecting the Human Race. This fortress was a monument to her Clan’s glory and the very source of her bloodline. Her ancestor had shed his last drop of blood here. Today, she had come to retrieve his relic not to disturb his eternal rest, but for the sake of another cause to protect.
Turning around, she nodded solemnly to Raine and the others. Illuminated by the Magic’s glow, her gaze was clear and resolute, as if to say, "I’m ready."
Raine, Sodden, and even the usually quiet Winnie put away their casual expressions, adopting a graver demeanor. This was, after all, the fallen bastion that had defended against the Black Tide. Regardless of their respective backgrounds, they all held a well-deserved respect for this steadfast defense that spanned five hundred years.
Without a word, the group tacitly formed their exploration formation once more and ventured together into the fortress’s depths.
The exact moment Raine stepped into the fortress passageway, the Exploration Chapter in his mind turned to a new page.
[Demon Shadow Forest • Outskirts • Crown of Grey Rock]
[Introduction: The Crown of Grey Rock is not a physical crown, but a massive tombstone.
Five hundred years ago, Duke Fenglang, Garson Ice Trace, personally led three thousand elites of the Fenglang Clan to build this underground fortress on the outskirts of the Demon Shadow Forest.
Behind them was the main force of the Alliance Army, still assembling, as well as countless Human Race compatriots who needed protection.
Before them was annihilation, surging forward like a black tide.
During the battle of the fall, when the frenzied beast horde was about to devour everything, the Path of the Last Breath leading to survival lay right behind them. Yet, from the Duke to the lowest soldier, not a single person turned around. Not a single person retreated.
They fought a bloody battle to the bitter end, using their lives to fulfill the oath that echoed across the battlefield:
"Here—we swear—!"
"Fenglang will fight to the death and never retreat!"]
The introduction carried a heavy sense of Power. Just as it faded from his consciousness, a new map shrouded in dense white fog slowly unfurled in Raine’s mind.
[You have activated the core landmark of the Crown of Grey Rock: Path of the Last Breath. Core landmarks activated in this area: (1/6).]
With the emergence of this new prompt, the fog instantly receded from the area beneath Raine’s feet on the map. It revealed a straight, ancient passageway leading directly into the depths of the fortress.
He thought, "No wonder there are no traces of the beast horde’s attacks here. This is the escape route at the rear of the fortress."
Feeling the tragedy conveyed in the Crown of Grey Rock’s introduction, Raine couldn’t help but sigh internally. He could almost see the blood and fire of those final moments. The escape route was right behind them, yet no one used it; there was only the endless cacophony of battle cries and clashing weapons.
But he quickly reined in his thoughts and focused his attention back on reality. The wars of the past were beyond reach. Right now, they were making new history, helping Kaelin retrieve the Wolf’s Oath to stop an impending war. Their objective was very clear: find the remains of Duke Garson.
Illuminated by the glow of the coin Magic, the interior of the passageway gradually became clear.
The walls on both sides were built from massive gray rocks. Spiderweb-like cracks had appeared in many places, and combined with the damp erosion, they looked incredibly mottled. Beneath their feet were polished stone slabs covered in a thick layer of dust. Every step left a clear footprint, kicking up a cloud of dust that danced in the light. The air was cold and stifling, permeated with the ancient scent of stone and dust that made their noses itch.
This Path of the Last Breath extended underground for quite a distance. The group moved forward in alert silence. Aside from their footsteps and breathing, the only sound was the occasional DRIP DROP of water falling from the rock crevices overhead.
Finally, they reached the end of the passage, which was also the clear boundary displayed on the map in Raine’s mind.
Before them stood an ancient stone door that looked exceptionally heavy. It fit seamlessly into the rock wall, appearing as if it were a natural part of it. There were no visible handles, keyholes, or switches.
"Let me!"
Sodden volunteered as he stepped forward. Leaning his Shield against his leg, he pressed his thick palms against the surface of the stone door. He suddenly exerted his whole body, applying a tremendous amount of Power to the door.
However, the stone door didn’t budge an inch. Not even a single speck of dust was shaken loose.
"Damn it! Is this door welded shut?" Sodden didn’t give up. He pushed with all his might until his forehead was covered in sweat.
RUMBLE...
The stone door was finally forced open just a crack. But right when everyone thought they were about to succeed, two hidden doors suddenly slid open silently on the seemingly solid rock walls on either side.
Immediately after, two massive figures, over three meters tall, stepped out from the Shadow behind the hidden doors, bringing with them a suffocating sense of oppression!