Shadows manifested on the distant periphery, and David, with no other course of action, was compelled to prepare himself. He adopted a combative stance, watching as the ominous figures appeared to close in, only for the silence to be abruptly broken by the emergence of a voice.

"Has the true essence of your criminal self finally emerged? I cannot help but note with concern the noticeable absence of the others."

It was Captain Zack who had made his return with the group, after they had parted ways earlier in the day.

But that was no reason to abandon his fighting stance. Conspicuous as it was, his hatred for Zack was unmistakable.

"Boy, have you killed others?" Zack asked, his voice laden with intimidation.

David remained silent.

"It seems your silence speaks volumes," Zack said, as he unsheathed his sword. At this point, he only needed a reason.

Thud!

"Where in the world am I? Oh, I’m in a Rift."

Arnold muttered as he fell, disoriented, from the tall, ruined stone. His voice was crackling and diminished, and he remained unaware of his surroundings.

Soon after, Elena followed, emerging from the shadows.

"‘Boss, we were waiting for you before heading below. Or at least, that’s what this lean boy insisted,’ Arnold said, pointing toward David."

Zack sheathed his sword, his demeanor reflecting a sense of regret, as though he had let a significant opportunity slip by.

David maintained his silence throughout the entire sequence of events.

He hesitated for a moment, stepping back, before pressing forward toward the passage below, with the group trailing closely behind him.

A member of the RiftWalker group kindled a light to dispel the darkness of the passage, then proceeded ahead of David, descending the dilapidated staircase with cautious steps.

As he reached the final step, the arcane symbols etched along both sides of the passage, inscribed on the inner sections of the walls, gradually came to life, glowing with an ethereal light.

In a matter of moments, the entire passage was bathed in light; the fire was no longer needed.

▪ ▪ ▪ AN ANCIENT LANGUAGE

HAS BEEN DETECTED ▪ ▪ ▪

▪ ▪ ▪ WOULD YOU LIKE A TRANSLATION ▪ ▪ ▪

▪ ▪ ▪ YES / NO ▪ ▪ ▪

David was taken aback by the system’s notifications and, with hesitation, proceeded to select "Yes."

If the system is capable of understanding unknown languages, it suggests that the designer had ample knowledge of these languages to facilitate translation.

"I wonder who this designer is and why I was chosen?" David was really concerned.

David moved slowly as he read the text translated by the system.

"The scorpions serve as the chamber's arcane guardians; their purpose is not to protect the artifacts contained within, but to shield you from the perilous mysteries concealed inside."

"If you wish to proceed, the blame is on you; even if you survive, the gains are only few."

He had begun reading out of curiosity but ultimately finished with a profound sense of unease.

Now a thought had taken root in David's mind: was it the right choice to keep moving forward?

Upon further contemplation, he reached a decision.

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"I think it's dangerous to proceed without knowing what we’re getting into. Can’t we just head back out of the Rift?" David stopped, addressing the entire group.

"‘Hahaha, you’re afraid of just this much? You weakling!’ Zack burst into laughter."

People like you lack even basic knowledge. As someone from a family of RiftWalkers, I assure you there is nothing to fear.

The Rifts are indeed dangerous, but currently, we are in a D-Rank Rift. So far, the only entities we have encountered are beasts, and it is likely to remain that way. Higher-level entities cannot be found in such a low-level Rift.

“What do you mean, other high-level entities?” David asked, puzzled by Zack's reference.

"David’s lack of knowledge, on the other hand, only fueled Zack’s ego. He continued with pride, 'In the lowest-level Rifts, one encounters only beasts. However, the threat does not end with beasts; in fact, it begins there.'"

The entities are divided into five levels of threat.

– Beast

– Shapeshifter

– Monster

– Behemoth

– Dragon

When the threat is limited to an individual or a few more, it is classified under the first category, Beast.

Conversely, when a larger group is under threat, the classification transitions to Shapeshifter.

Likewise, when a city or greater region is imperiled, the threat level given is Monster.

As for Behemoth, the threat extends beyond multiple cities.

Finally, when the entirety of humanity faces danger, the threat is elevated to the level of Dragon.

And as for the Rifts, we cannot exit until we’ve secured the Rift’s core. While the core itself is not directly tied to the final entity, obtaining it without defeating the entity is exceedingly difficult.

Although this knowledge is far from basic, it is crucial for anyone daring to venture into the Rifts. Allowing individuals like you, who lack even the faintest understanding, into the Rifts is nothing short of a tragedy.

"I can only wonder what the government was thinking, permitting criminals to enter such a place," Zack concluded with his harsh remarks.

In spite of the stringent and harsh nature of Zack's reality check, David managed to acquire new knowledge from the experience.

After walking for a while through the broad passage, it unfolded into an even more expansive chamber.

As the group cautiously entered the chamber, the air grew dense with ancient energy, resonating beneath their skin like a subtle, vibrating current.

The walls were adorned with intricate arcane symbols, their strange, flowing patterns pulsing with an ethereal glow. This cast a dim yet surreal light, bathing the entire room in hues of sandy brown and reddish-yellow, evoking the warmth and mystique of an ancient desert landscape.

David instinctively attempted to translate the symbols into text, expecting a familiar notification to appear, but none came. The absence of it struck him as strange.

The chamber, vast and sprawling, resembled a labyrinth not designed for human navigation, with stone pathways that twisted and turned in disorienting ways.

Sand trickled steadily from the cracks in the walls, as if the chamber itself were slowly crumbling under the weight of time.

To the group, it felt as though they had entered a maze that harbored more secrets than treasures.

"Spread out and find the Rift core before we encounter the entity. Meanwhile, those of lower rank should focus on gathering valuable artifacts and collecting the crystals," Zack commanded, turning to issue instructions to the group.

Without hesitation, the others broke away from David, fanning out across the room to search for crystals and other valuable artifacts. Their greed overshadowed the sense of impending doom that clung to the chamber.

They moved with purpose, their eyes glittering at the sight of the glistening crystals embedded in the chamber's walls.

Arnold looked as though he had entered heaven, his gaze transfixed on the valuables.

But David felt something different. His mind was elsewhere, preoccupied by Zack’s earlier words about different levels of threats, along with what the system had translated earlier, that the scorpions did not protect the chamber but rather protected those who wished to enter it.

Eerie thoughts kept echoing in David’s mind as his gaze swept over the towering walls, darkened corners, and twisting passages that led deeper into the chamber.

There was no sign of movement, yet David felt something, an ominous presence. It was subtle at first, a vague sense that they were not alone. His unease began to grow.

He felt as if the chamber was not just a maze of stone, but a trap. Somewhere within its dark recesses, hidden in plain sight, something unknown lurked, its presence completely veiled, waiting for the right moment to strike.

David instinctively summoned his Light blade, which he had learned to create earlier, as the prickling sensation of being watched sent a chill up his spine.

He scanned the room, but the only thing that met his gaze was the cold, indifferent glow of the symbols that adorned the walls.

"I would like to save my Light blade to Skills," he thought inwardly.

▪ ▪ ▪ SKILL SAVED ▪ ▪ ▪

POWERS

LIGHT POWER : D Class [ ▴ 30 SU ]

▪ Healing Bursts [ ▴ 1 SU ]

▪ Light Blade [ ▴ 1 SU ]

DARKNESS POWER : D Class [ ▴ 30 SU ]

▪ Swirling Chain [ ▴ 1 SU ]

"Now at least the blade will be more stable and consume less mana," David thought, feeling relieved to have one less thing to worry about.

The others, oblivious to his worry, continued their frantic search, laughing softly to themselves as they pried crystals loose from their rocky beds.

David looked around to locate Zack, only to find him behind.

Zack, for all his bravado, was off near the far end, casually eyeing the artifacts but keeping his guard up, though his stance was relaxed.

"Such irony," David considered with a scathing glance at Captain Zack. "A pretentious display of bravado, deprived of authentic valor."

Suddenly, a sharp, icy breath of air passed over David's neck. He froze. It was as if the room itself had exhaled. His heartbeat quickened.

Was it just his imagination? Or was something really watching them?