The Eternal Knight stood tall in front of the gate, his giant sword embedded in the ground. Dark energy enveloped his body, and his glowing red eyes were piercing.
Kain swallowed. "Lord, I'm not sure we can win if we fight head-on."
Lazu chuckled. "Of course. That's why we won't fight."
The Eternal Knight raised his sword slowly, pointing it at them. A deep voice echoed from within his helmet:
"Those who are not invited… will be finished."
Kain felt his knees weaken. How could he get past a monster like this without fighting?!
But Lazu remained calm. He crossed his arms and looked at the knight casually.
"Kain, remember the principles I used before?" he asked.
Kain frowned, trying to think. What had Lazu taught him all this time?
1. Use information as a weapon.
2. Find loopholes in the rules.
3. Take advantage of the opponent's desires.
Kain's eyes widened. "Wait… does this creature also have rules that bind it?"
Lazu smiled. "Exactly."
Kain looked at the knight more closely. If he was a tomb guardian, there must be certain conditions that dictate when he would attack.
The knight said, "Those who are not invited will be killed."
Kain repeated the sentence in his mind. Then a thought occurred to him.
"…What if we are invited?"
The Eternal Knight did not attack immediately. He remained still, as if waiting for something.
Lazu nodded in satisfaction. "Now you begin to understand."
Kain swallowed and took a step forward. "I… I am not an intruder. I came here because I was summoned."
The knight remained silent.
Kain continued, "This tomb… holds something waiting to be discovered. I came by the will of the power sealed within."
DING!
[Opponent Analysis: Eternal Knight]
[Status: A guardian locked by an ancient order]
[Weakness: Only attacks those who are truly intruders]
Kain's eyes lit up. That's right! This knight was not a being who acted freely. He was simply following orders. If the order could be reversed…
The knight raised his sword higher. "Proof?"
Kain immediately thought quickly. What could be proof?
Lazu suddenly raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
A faint light gathered in the air, forming an ancient symbol.
The Eternal Knight was instantly stunned. The light was similar to the symbol above the gate.
"…The symbol of the king…" The knight muttered softly.
Lazu grinned. "Of course. Do you think I came unprepared?"
The knight lowered his head, then dropped his sword to the ground.
DING!
[Mission Successful: Passing the Eternal Knight]
[Reward: Access to the Tomb Gate]
The obsidian gate began to vibrate, slowly opening.
Kain let out a sigh of relief. They had made it… without fighting!
Lazu patted his shoulder. "Good. Now let's go in before something else comes."
Kain stared at the dark passage beyond the gate. There was no turning back.
They stepped in... into the darkness that held a great mystery.
As soon as Kain and Lazu stepped through the obsidian gate, the air immediately changed. A chill and an invisible pressure enveloped them, as if this place still held the remnants of an incredibly powerful being.
Kain shivered. "It feels… different from the outside."
Lazu nodded slowly. "Of course. This isn't just an ordinary tomb."
They stood inside a long hallway, with black stone walls covered in ancient carvings. A faint blue light emerged from crystals embedded in the ceiling, illuminating their path.
But what caught Kain's attention the most were the five giant statues lining the hallway.
Each had a different shape—some resembled knights, some looked like robed wizards, some had large wings on their backs.
At the base of each statue, there was an inscription written in an ancient language.
Kain squinted. "What are these?"
Lazu tapped his chin. "Hmm… I think these are the five followers of the Demon King."
Kain was surprised. "They're buried here too?"
Lazu shrugged. "Perhaps not their bodies, but… something related to them."
Kain approached one of the inscriptions and tried to read. Although the language was foreign, some of the letters felt strangely familiar to him.
Then suddenly—
DING!
[New Mission: Choose Your Path]
[Description: Five paths open before you. Each path represents one of the Demon King's followers. Choose wisely, for this will determine your journey within the tomb.]
Kain's eyes widened. "Five paths?"
He looked ahead. Sure enough, at the end of the passage were five stone doors, each with a symbol that matched the statue in front of him.
Kain swallowed. "Gods… which one should we choose?"
Lazu smiled faintly. "That's up to you. Each path will lead us to a different trial."
Kain took a deep breath. He knew this decision could change the course of their adventure.
He stared at the five doors in front of him… then stepped forward.
Where would he go?