Standing before the Magistrate’s residence in person was a truly revealing experience. Besides the ‘System’, which seemed to operate on its surface as a vexingly simple interface yet was capable of effortlessly interfering with the very fabric of reality. But besides that, from what had been revealed to him of the Yushan Sect so far, it seemed to be a surprisingly low-tech civilization.

Had they explored technology to its limits before some sort of cataclysmic event, leaving behind only the system?

Or was the system only his interpretation of the interface designed for the greatest possible familiarity to him, based on his memories? What he initially thought a brain-chip seemed to function as one, so scanning every ounce of his memories shouldn’t be a particularly challenging task for it.

Griffin didn’t know.

But from the lack of an ‘Architect’ calling, which he had personally confirmed from Jun-Ra, who drew a blank when he asked about a ‘calling specific to designing houses’ instead of building them.

Apparently, The Eye of Zenari Shu had been constructed under the command of the previous magistrate, a simple rough-handed drawing the only piece of instruction required for a group of a hundred cultivators on loan from the Yushan Sect to build it in under six months. Shen-Ya was required to study history as part of her cultivation curriculum, so he supposed that not all was lost.

But the fact remained—- the structure that towered above his puny self was not only a majestic sight to take in, but also entirely flawless. Not a single out of place stone or chipped flakes of gold from the walls or damaged silver plating from the breath-taking eaves.

What heights could the martial-artist calling take those who refined it to perfection?

Griffin didn’t know.

But it interested him.

And what interested him…

He had a tendency to get it, one way or the other.

----------------------------------------

“Is that, uh, real gold?” Griffin asked, no longer questioning why the dungeon was bestowed upon the ostentatious title. In fact, he was pretty sure that the pagoda was the one inspired from the dungeon’s design and not the other-way around.

Down a staircase fashioned out of solid blocks of gold, was a vast rectangular room whose every inch was decked out in the precious material, besides the seemingly endless doors that were placed equidistant to each other in a straight line that were crafted out of silver.

“Yes?” Jun-Ra replied, seemingly confused by his line of questioning.

“Huh, wonder if it would be possible for me to borrow a bit. Maybe I could yank out a silver doorknob, that might still be decently valuable.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Shen-Ya gave him a very confused look.

“What, I was joking,” He threw his hands up in the air innocently. Griffin really wasn’t planning on messing with an ancient magic dungeon that could send him wherever it wished to at will.

Shen-Ya shook her head, “Not that. Why would a metal that does nothing useful of note be valuable?” She asked.

“Uh, I dunno,” Griffin replied, barely managing to keep the stutter out of his tone. “Guess I just thought that for some reason.”

“It does look nice,” Jun-Ra remarked noncommittally, not seeming super interested in their conversation.

“Well, I suppose it’s time I get going,” Griffin said with some trepidation in his tone. “Pick a room for me,” He gestured towards Jun-Ra,

“Me?” She asked, taken aback by the abrupt gesture. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Griffin rhetorically asked. “You saved me from dying in the sewers and gave me a place to live when I had none. If you’re not my lucky charm, I don’t know who is.”

It was only for a flickering moment, but Griffin swore that he caught a light blush on Jun-Ra’s face.

Then it was gone, leaving Griffin wondering if he was imagining it.

‘Nah, there’s no way a forty year old woman is blushing at anything I manage after living the rich yet lonely tech bachelor life for the last decade.’

“That one,” Jun-Ra pointed to the door that was second from the left and ninety ninth from the right.

“Right-o,” Griffin let out a false cheer, feigning a fake smile before nodding to Jun-Ra and Shen-Ya.

Just as he was about to pause by Jun-Ra, he stopped.

“If it’s just going to be me in there, can I use… that?” He asked in a hushed whisper, his frivolous expression replaced by one that conveyed utmost seriousness.

“I… I’m not sure. The Elders should not be able to interfere with the dungeon, but can the Yushan Sect monitor it? It seems impossible, but that is not a word cultivators use easily,” Jun-Ra theorized, offering the best guess she could.

“So, the good ol’ fifty-fifty, eh.” Griffin muttered under his breath, before a grin popped up on his face.

He began to walk towards the door Jun-Ra had picked out for him.

“Wait,” Jun-Ra called out softy, not wanting to attract the attention of the guards above-stairs that had granted them permission to enter. “What do you mean by that?”

“Those are gambling odds,” Griffin replied as the adrenaline began to pump through his body. “And I’m a gambling man,” he declared, before pushing the door to the unknown open.

[Welcome to floor one of the Gilded Dungeon- The Prism of Shifting Sands.

Description: The Prism of Shifting Sands contains a pit of fine sand, in which a variety of monsters have been placed. Every fifteen minutes, the Prism of Shifting Sands completes a partial rotation, shifting the sand pit contained within forward and displacing its inhabitants.

To survive in the Prism of Shifting Stands, you must display acute awareness of your surroundings, clear strategy and combat ability.

Clear Condition: Kill any ten beasts within the ascribed time period

Time Remaining: 24 h 00 m 00 s

Difficulty Rank: F

Estimated Difficulty: Very Hard

Reward: Proportional]

‘Of course it fucks me over when it got the chance,’ Griffin thought, as the infinite blackness around him rapidly regained color.

It was time to fight for his life.