The forest seemed to come alive around them as the companions ventured deeper into its heart. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air hummed with life, the soft rustle of leaves and distant calls of birds creating a serene symphony.

Boreas led the way, his senses attuned to every subtle shift in the environment. "Keep your wits about you, everyone. If the rumors are true, this treasure won't come easy."

Mori, her eyes scanning the underbrush, nodded in agreement. "And if there's a fearsome guardian, we'll need to be prepared."

Neres, his bow at the ready, added with a grin, "I'm looking forward to the challenge. Imagine the tales we'll have to tell."

Midas couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of uncovering something truly extraordinary. "Indeed. Let's proceed with caution but also with confidence. We've faced worse odds before."

As they moved through the forest, their conversation turned to Midas's recent breakthrough in levels. Boreas glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Midas, you mentioned you've reached level 42. That's impressive. Most humans cap at level 50, which is G grade."

Midas nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Yes, but I'm already at E grade."

The statement hung in the air, prompting surprised glances from his companions. Boreas, his tone incredulous, asked, "E grade? How is that possible? That's a level of race that's almost unheard of. You'd need incredibly rare treasures, coveted by royalty and nobility, to achieve that."

Midas chuckled, a mysterious gleam in his eyes. "It's... a unique circumstance. Let's just say my path has been different."

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Mori and Neres exchanged a curious glance. Mori couldn't help but voice the question that lingered in the air. "Midas, you've been a bit of an enigma since we met. Your past, your abilities... there's a lot we don't know."

Neres added with a grin, "It's like you dropped into our lives from another world."

Midas's gaze flickered for a moment, a subtle acknowledgment of a truth he wasn't yet ready to share. "In a way, you could say that."

Boreas chuckled, a note of disbelief in his voice. " You're a walking enigma, Midas. But we respect your privacy. You'll tell us when you're ready."

Midas offered a grateful smile, relieved that his companions were willing to let the matter rest. There were truths he wasn't yet ready to reveal, secrets that held the key to his very existence.

As the conversation shifted, Midas's thoughts returned to the revelation that had come to him during the battle—the nature of his race grade. His copper body, a result of his body cultivation, was the key to his E grade status. It was a secret he would guard carefully, for now.

As they ventured further, the forest began to change. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of wildlife shifted to those more befitting a deeper, untouched wilderness.

Finally, after what felt like hours of steady progress, they arrived at the heart of the forest, a place where the trees seemed to part to reveal a hidden glade. In its center stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested a small, unassuming chest.

Midas's heart quickened. This was it—the treasure they had sought. The chest, while unremarkable in appearance, seemed to hum with a subtle energy, as if it held secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Boreas, his keen eyes assessing the surroundings, cautioned, "Be on your guard, this might be the Forgotten Ruins. The glade feels ancient, and ancient things don't give up their treasures easily."

Mori approached the chest cautiously, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings on its surface. "There's something about this... It's not just a regular chest."

Neres, bow still in hand, surveyed their surroundings. "We need to be ready for anything. Who knows what might be triggered when we open it."

Midas nodded, his senses heightened. He reached for the chest, his fingers curling around its edges. With a deep breath, he gently lifted the lid.