CHAPTER 401: ENTERING THE RUINS

Orion inwardly shook his head at Lumi’s remark, a soft smile playing upon his lips as he silently refrained from responding.

He quietly enjoyed the warmth of the campfire and the gentle chatter of his friends around him, their faces glowing softly in the flickering firelight.

As the night slowly deepened, the group gradually quieted down, their conversations slowly turning into silence.

Orion watched as Arya leaned sleepily against Emilia, murmuring softly about tomorrow’s adventure, while Kale and Elias discussed strategies quietly, each voicing confident expectations of the challenges awaiting them.

Eventually, one by one, everyone rose from their places, exchanging goodnights before heading to their respective tents.

Orion lingered a little longer beside the dying embers of the fire, eyes thoughtful, reflecting on the path that had brought him here and the friends that surrounded him now.

***

The next morning dawned clear and bright, sunlight filtering softly through the dense trees around the campsite.

The group swiftly dismantled their tents, packed their belongings, and once again set off southwest, toward the distant edge of the kingdom.

Time blurred softly as their carriages traveled onward. Dense greenery began to replace the cultivated landscapes, sprawling fields of tall, lush grass rippling gently under the breeze.

The specialized mana beasts pulling their carriages navigated the thick undergrowth relatively easily, their powerful steps undeterred by the rough terrain.

Eventually, the party reached an open flatland, sprawling out beneath an endless sky of pale blue, bordered by jagged, moss-covered mountainsides.

In the distance, nestled against the mountains, they could see the faint outlines of a few hastily set up scout camps, small, rudimentary, and filled by visibly low-tier adventurers.

Orion’s group had clearly arrived ahead of the major forces that would undoubtedly soon follow.

The carriages halted carefully, their mana beasts letting out contented huffs as they stretched.

Lucan quickly descended from the front carriage, calmly scanning their surroundings, his expression composed yet vigilant.

"Looks good, no other force seems to have arrived yet."

The rest of the group stepped down as well, hearing his words, anticipation flashing clearly within each of their eyes. They wasted no time, quickly donning their carefully prepared armors, each piece meticulously checked and secured tightly.

Orion calmly stepped aside, his gaze slightly serious as he retrieved a specially forged Black-Gold Dragon Armor from his storage ring.

The armor gleamed darkly, reflecting a subtle metallic luster under the warm sun, intricate runic engravings shimmering faintly across its surface.

Selene had personally crafted this armor for him, imbued with unique properties specifically tailored for Orion’s needs.

Although it couldn’t remain intact during his Draconian transformation, the armor had a specialized self-disassembling mechanism.

It would seamlessly break apart, the pieces securely retracting into Orion’s storage ring whenever his body expanded into his draconic form, ensuring he would not be hindered in battle.

Orion quickly donned the armor piece by piece, the reinforced metal plates fitting snugly against his physique, giving him substantial protection without compromising his agility or strength.

Completing the set, he calmly fastened the pauldrons and adjusted the light gauntlets, feeling fully prepared for whatever might await them in the depths of the mysterious ruins.

Nearby, Fiora and Rina carefully secured their own armor, each exchanging determined glances and nods.

Arya, Emilia, and Sylvia tightened leather straps, adjusted metal plating, and confidently readied their weapons, while Elias, Felira, Nyss, and Kale meticulously checked their individual gear, a solemn determination visible in each of their expressions.

Magi, on the other hand, came fully prepared with light armor so he could run away at the first sight of trouble, with a katana-type blade strapped to his waist.

Arya curiously approached Orion, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she lightly touched his armor, "Brother Orion, this armor looks amazing! Grandma Selene really knows how to forge incredible things."

Orion chuckled softly, nodding with pride clear on his face, "Indeed, whose Grandma do you think she is?"

Arya stuck her tongue out, "Stop showing off, you didn’t make it."

Orion chuckled as Kale glanced around, carefully taking in the other scout camps in the distance, and said with a slightly serious voice, "Looks like we’re still ahead. But that won’t last for long. It’s best we move quickly."

Orion agreed, turning towards the mountain looming ahead, "Right. Let’s move carefully and keep our eyes open. We’re the first to arrive, but we mustn’t underestimate the dangers we might encounter."

Sylvia nodded in agreement, her sword resting confidently at her side as her crimson hair swayed gently in the wind, "We need to stay vigilant as well."

Emilia adjusted her spear, her grip tightening, "We’re ready, Orion."

Edgar stepped forward, handing a small communication orb to everyone, "You can send a message via this once outside of the ruin, it won’t work inside though. So you need to be careful, Young Master."

Orion took the small orb from Edgar and asked with slight confusion, "Won’t you be here though?"

Edgar softly nodded, "Yes, Young Master. But there are always some unforeseen circumstances, nothing wrong with being careful."

Orion nodded his head in understanding, turning around, he spoke to the group with slight anticipation, "Let’s go then. We are closer to the Desolate Wilderness so there must be many mana beasts inside. We need to be careful of them."

The rest of the group nodded and began walking towards the entrance of the ruin, which was a large crack on the mountainside.

Magi shamelessly walked in the middle of the group, being completely at ease as he strolled like a young master.

Orion turned to look at him only to feel speechless at his smug expression. Shaking his head, he turned to walk at the front as the group soon entered the large crack.

***

As the group cautiously stepped into the darkened passageway, the gentle slope beneath their feet slowly began to tilt downward, gradually descending beneath the earth.

The warmth and light from the outside faded behind them, replaced instead by the cool, damp air that seemed to carry a smell of decay.

Orion led the group carefully, his enhanced senses alert to every minor shift in the environment.

The walls, rough and uneven at first, grew progressively smoother and more moist, small droplets of water trickling down their surfaces, glistening faintly under the subtle illumination of the group’s mana-powered lamps.

The further they descended, the cooler and denser the air became as it seemed to press upon the group.

Finally, after several tense minutes of navigating the narrowing passageway, they reached a branching intersection deep beneath the mountain.

Two dark tunnels stretched before them, each identical in appearance and equally foreboding, shadows flickering ominously upon their dampened walls.

Orion paused, his eyes flickering between both options with mild uncertainty. Turning slightly, he glanced over his shoulder at the others, speaking softly, "It seems we have two paths here. Anyone have suggestions?"

Just as Kale opened his mouth to speak, Magi stepped boldly forward, clearing his throat with exaggerated confidence. Everyone turned to stare curiously at him, puzzled expressions evident upon their faces.

Magi proudly took out a simple wooden stick from his storage ring and placed it carefully upright upon the moist ground.

He dramatically released the stick, and it slowly teetered before tipping definitively toward the path on the right.