"Is she gone?" one of the grandmasters asked, his voice low and cautious.
Everyone waited for Tyler's response. Only after he gave a small nod did the group finally breathe out in relief. Shoulders relaxed, tension drained from their expressions, and the air inside the bubble felt a little less heavy.
Aside from Tyler, Mathilda, Mana, Astrid, and the four grandmasters, there was one more odd companion among them—something that had caught everyone's attention several times but hadn't said a word: a treasure chest-shaped mimic.
The creature, disguised as a standard ornate chest with gold trimming and gem-studded locks, had been unusually restless ever since they arrived on this Abyss floor.
Tyler squatted down in front of it, furrowing his brow. "You've been acting weird, buddy."
The mimic gave a small twitch, its lid quivering like a nervous jaw. Slowly, it creaked open, revealing rows of sharp teeth and a swirling void inside—its version of a mouth.
