When Alex and Sherry were only a few steps away from entering, Alex suddenly stopped.
His attention was focused entirely on the System message that had appeared before his eyes. The timing alone was enough to make him suspicious.
They had just found the entrance to the ancient ruin and were about to step inside, yet the System had suddenly decided to update the Special Quest. Alex quickly read through the new information.
[The Special Quest has been updated!]
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[Special Quest]
[Quest: Explore the Ancient Ruins]
[Description:
1. Enter the sealed vault inside the ancient ruins and search for the Key of ???.
2. Explore the ancient ruins in search of its secrets and treasures.
3. Locate the missing expedition team and escort them safely out of the ruins.]
[Time Limit: 36 hours]
[Reward: ???]
[Penalty: ???]
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The vague description he had received earlier had been replaced with clearly defined objectives. The System now listed what he needed to accomplish inside the ancient ruin, making the purpose of the quest far more apparent.
However, one particular objective immediately caught his attention.
'Find the key... What key?' Alex frowned.
The System had clearly stated that he needed to find some kind of key, but there were no details explaining what it looked like or what it was supposed to unlock.
'Is it another key hidden somewhere inside?'
He glanced at the hexagonal disc still resting in his hand, but that shouldn't be it. After all, they had already used it to open the entrance. Alex couldn't figure out what this other key could be.
"Alex?" Sherry's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She had already taken a few steps toward the entrance before noticing that he had stopped.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing." He gave her a casual smile. "It was nothing important."
Sherry looked at him for a moment longer before turning back toward the entrance.
Aurora appeared beside him. "So?"
Alex glanced toward her before quietly relaying the changes to the Special Quest and its new objectives.
Aurora listened carefully before tilting her head.
"Find a key? What kind of key?"
"It doesn't say."
Aurora frowned. "How troublesome."
"Exactly." Alex looked toward the dark entrance. "Hopefully, we'll find out what it means once we're inside."
There was nothing else they could do for now. Worrying about an objective whose details they didn't even know wouldn't accomplish anything.
Alex turned toward Sherry.
"Let's go."
Together, they stepped toward the entrance.
The moment Alex crossed the threshold, the world before his eyes suddenly blurred.
He instinctively stopped, but for a brief instant, he couldn't see anything clearly. His body felt strangely weightless, followed almost immediately by a sensation of being pulled forward.
There was no sense of direction, no feeling of walking, and yet he knew he was moving.
It was unlike anything he had experienced before. It felt somewhat like passing through a teleportation gate, yet it also carried the strange sensation of entering a dungeon.
Neither comparison was quite accurate. It was as though the two experiences had been combined into something entirely different.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the sensation disappeared.
Alex blinked a few times as his vision gradually returned. The first thing he noticed was a faint light ahead.
It wasn't particularly bright, but after the darkness outside, it was enough to illuminate his surroundings.
Alex slowly looked around.
They appeared to be standing inside a cave.
The walls surrounding them were made of rough stone, stretching upward into darkness. The entrance behind them was still visible, though the barren landscape beyond it seemed strangely distant now.
'So this is the ancient ruin.'
Despite everything he had learned about the place, seeing it with his own eyes still felt strange.
He had expected an ancient structure, perhaps a massive underground complex or some forgotten magical facility. Instead, the first thing they encountered was what looked like an ordinary cave.
Just then, a familiar System notification appeared. This time, however, it wasn't another quest notification.
The message had come from the System's map, and a few options appeared before him, waiting for him to choose.
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[The Host has entered an Ancient Ruin (Independent Space). The Host may select the desired level of map detail:]
-Basic Overview Map: 100000 SP
-Detailed Insight Map: 250000 SP
-Advanced Precision Map: 500000 SP
-Complete Revelation Map: 750000 SP
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The moment Alex focused on the new option, a stream of information was directly transmitted into his mind. He quickly understood what the System was offering.
It wasn't simply a basic map of the ancient ruin. Instead, the System offered several levels of detail, with each level providing more information than the previous one.
The maps could reveal everything from the layout and geography of the ruin to its structures, resources, treasures, points of interest, threats, and even hidden locations.
The difference between the various options was simply the amount of information available and the level of detail provided.
Alex couldn't help but find it surprisingly convenient.
If he chose not to purchase a map, the System would still gradually reveal the surrounding area as they explored, much like the fog-of-war system in a game.
However, that meant they would have to explore the ancient ruin themselves before knowing what lay ahead.
With a detailed map, on the other hand, Alex could understand the layout of the ruin before taking another step.
'So I don't have to go in blind.'
It was certainly useful, especially considering they had absolutely no idea what kind of dangers were waiting for them inside.
Alex shifted his attention toward the list of available maps.
Then his expression slowly stiffened. '...Seriously?' The prices were absurd.
The more detailed the map, the more SP it costed, with the complete version easily being the most expensive option available.
Alex stared at the numbers for several seconds before his eyes twitched.
'Does this System actually enjoy emptying my wallet?'
He always tried to accumulate a decent number of points, only to watch them disappear whenever something genuinely useful appeared.
And somehow, the System always seemed to know exactly what would tempt him into spending them.
Alex silently grumbled at the System before looking at the available options again. There was little point in buying a cheaper map if it meant missing important information.
They were entering an unknown ancient ruin, and Sherry's parents had disappeared somewhere inside. Whatever dangers awaited them, having as much information as possible could make the difference between proceeding safely and walking straight into a trap.
After a moment of hesitation, Alex finally made his decision.
'Fine. I'll take the best one.'
He selected the most complete map option. The System Points were deducted immediately.
Alex's expression twitched again as he watched the notification confirming the purchase.
'There goes another chunk of my saved points.'
Still, the moment the map finished loading, his annoyance was quickly replaced by surprise.
The translucent interface expanded before his eyes, transforming into a complete and highly detailed three-dimensional map. The previously blank representation of the ancient ruin was rapidly filled with information.
For the first time since entering the ancient ruin, Alex had a clear picture of what awaited them.
'This is... much more useful than I expected.'
At the very least, he wouldn't have to blindly wander through the ruin anymore.
After examining their surroundings for a moment, the two of them slowly made their way deeper into the ancient ruin.
At first glance, the place still resembled nothing more than an ordinary cave. Rough stone walls surrounded them, while the faint light ahead provided just enough illumination to make out their surroundings.
Sherry walked carefully, taking small steps as she constantly observed everything around them. Alex, meanwhile, was paying more attention to the map before his eyes.
The detailed information provided by the System Map had completely changed his understanding of the place.
According to the map, the ancient ruin seemed to consist of three distinct sections.
They were currently standing in the entrance area.
Directly ahead of them was the first section, which appeared to be an enormous maze-like structure. Numerous interconnected paths twisted through the area, eventually leading toward a massive door at the far end.
The System had highlighted the entire area beyond that door, indicating that the expedition team could be found somewhere within it.
Beyond the door was the second section, which appeared considerably larger than the first.
The map revealed numerous structures scattered throughout the area. There were even several red markers representing threats.
Unlike the expedition's search area, the location of the key was marked directly on the map with a single, prominent marker. At the deepest part of the ruin, that marker immediately stood out.
Compared to everything else, it was impossible to overlook.
'That must be where the key is.'
Unlike the other markers on the map, this one was far more prominent, making it impossible to overlook.
Alex didn't know exactly what was located there yet, but considering the quest's objective to find the mysterious key, there was little doubt that it was somehow connected.