They started down the narrow passage, entering one by one. The orange light from Sunfire Gaze followed each of their steps, illuminating the stifling, cold, and damp darkness.

Every step was cautious, as the tunnel’s sharp incline made footing difficult. The soft, muddy ground, mixed with slippery stones, was treacherous underfoot.

“How much farther?” Baron panted, eager to escape this miserable path.

“Almost there. I can see the end of the tunnel,” replied Prince Arkana.

Just behind him, Gavin grimaced. “What’s that smell?” he said, waving a hand in front of his nose as if to dispel the sudden stench.

“Smells like something rotting,” Trisha replied, sniffing the foul air.

“This place is the lair of the Lulun Samak, where it stores its prey,” Baron added. “No wonder we’re smelling decay—this means we’re heading the right way.”

They continued in silence, trying to breathe as little of the foul air as possible. Finally, they reached the tunnel’s end, leading into a large, open room—the source of the stench that had haunted them.

The room looked like any other underground chamber: cold, damp, and nearly empty.

There were no relief carvings on the walls, no dragon serpent statues typically stationed as guardians within the Darkconian Empire. The only exit was a staircase on the far wall that seemed to lead to the second terrace.

Scattered across the muddy floor were human bones, adding to the room’s ominous atmosphere. Among the remains, one body stood out—the lifeless form of Andi.

The unfortunate man lay against the wall, his battered, swollen body slumped, his skull hollowed where his head should have been. Everyone fell silent at the sight of his tragic end, especially Trisha, who slowly walked over to her fallen comrade.

She knelt beside him, pulling a white handkerchief from her jacket pocket and gently laying it over his face.

“You did well. Rest now,” she whispered softly, sorrow veiled in her voice.

“I thought her heart had died long ago—too hardened to feel any sadness,” Casildo whispered to Zacky.

“Boss may seem cruel on the outside, but she carries a heavy guilt deep down,” Zacky replied.

Meanwhile, the quiet man, Juna, suddenly turned to them and spoke up, “She usually acts tough and ruthless, always relying on logic—mostly because she wants to keep everyone around her safe. But in this line of work, danger is hard to avoid. So there’s a reason why she always carries a handkerchief in her pocket…”

“It’s because, as much as possible, she doesn’t want to see the faces of her fallen comrades,” he explained, his expression somber.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Casildo immediately looked at him, curiosity lighting up his face. “Why do you seem to understand her so well?” he asked. “Could it be that you actually have a thing for your little boss?” he teased.

Juna shook his head. “We grew up in the same shelter.”

Casildo raised an eyebrow. “Shelter?”

“An orphanage. But it barely deserved to be called one.”

While Casildo pondered Juna’s words, Prince Arkana’s voice suddenly broke the silence. “There’s something engraved on the floor!”

Everyone immediately turned their attention to him. Arkana was digging through the thick mud with his hands, uncovering a stone floor beneath.

As he cleared away more mud, it revealed engraved reliefs—images of several islands, each marked with different symbols.

“Looks like a map,” Casildo muttered, moving to help clear the mud. “How’d you know something was under all that?”

Arkana smirked. “I have sharp instincts.”

Casildo scoffed. “Just like the Failed Product?”

“Lulun Samak’s lair is what we’ve been searching for, but besides the exit to the second terrace, this room is strangely empty,” Arkana noted. “It’s odd.”

Casildo frowned, puzzled. “What’s strange about that?”

“Based on our experience, Darkconians usually leave at least one clue in each room. If Kairav is right and they intended to help guide us, they wouldn’t leave us entirely empty-handed,” Arkana explained. “So maybe they’re testing our wits by hiding clues where we least expect them. Just like this one.”

Arkana flashed a smug grin and patted Casildo on the back, giving advice that felt more like an insult. “You should work out your brain too, dude. Not just those muscles. No point in being strong if your brain can’t keep up.”

“If growing brain mass was as easy as building muscle, I’d be a genius compared to you,” Casildo replied, forcing down his irritation.

“Isn’t this a map of the Green Crest Archipelago?” Gavin said suddenly, snapping photos of the floor’s map from multiple angles.

Arkana and Casildo looked over, and as they did, Casildo exclaimed, “Hey, it’s your homeland, Bro!”

Arkana’s face grew serious as he recognized the islands depicted on the stone map. The Green Crest Archipelago—renowned for its emerald landscapes and deep blue seas, like lapis lazuli. He pointed out each island. “East Green Crest Island, West Green Crest Island, and Serenity Isle. But why is West Green Crest carved without any symbols?”

Casildo glanced at Arkana. “Bro, isn’t West Green Crest your family’s home? Do you know anything?”

Arkana shook his head. “I don’t know,” he replied thoughtfully. “The symbol here that looks like a house must represent Blue Cloud Traditional Village. A highland village in the southern hills,” he explained, pointing to a mark in the south on East Green Crest Island.

“And what about this water symbol on Serenity Isle?” Casildo asked, pointing to the central part of Serenity Isle where the symbol was engraved.

“I’m not sure,” Arkana admitted. “I know that island is mostly untouched, as it’s considered a dangerous zone.”

“Partly because it’s home to rare wildlife, including the ancient Komodo dragons,” he explained. “But there are rumors of cryptid creatures inhabiting the island too.”

“Maybe those creatures are monsters from the Deepshadow Realm,” Casildo shrugged.

Arkana nodded. “That could be why people avoid it. Besides that, the waters around Serenity Isle are treacherous, with massive waves and frequent storms, making it hard to reach.”

“Turbulent waters?” Trisha mused, furrowing her brow. “Could the water symbol represent those dangerous seas?”

Arkana shook his head. “No, if it represented the sea, the symbol would be outside the island on the map, indicating the surrounding ocean.”

“Then what area is this water symbol marking?” Casildo asked, his gaze fixed on the map in confusion.

“Isn’t it the spot where the Everlasting Three Lakes Mountain is located?” Baron finally spoke up after staying quiet for a while, lost deep in thought.

“Oh, right! Why did I just remember that?” Gavin blurted out, finally realizing, as he slapped his own forehead.