The deeper the exploration teams ventured into the temple—
The more unnatural the structure became.
Ancient corridors twisted beneath the earth like veins inside a colossal corpse while pale blue inscriptions glowed faintly across black stone walls untouched by time. Cold air drifted endlessly through the ruins carrying scents of dust, ancient mana, and something older humanity no longer possessed words for.
The temple was alive in its own way.
Not physically.
Structurally.
It reacted.
Observed.
Tested.
Kel's team continued descending through the central pathways beneath dim crystal lanterns and scattered magic illumination cast by the accompanying mages. The deeper they moved, the heavier the mana pressure became around them.
Even breathing felt slightly difficult now.
Several members had already stopped speaking entirely.
Not from fear alone.
Instinct.
The deeper sections of the temple felt sacred.
And hostile.
Meanwhile—
Within his mind—
Kel continued analyzing everything.
Team B found treasure.
Gold.
Jewelry.
Ancient ceremonial wealth.
Team D found combat artifacts.
Weapons.
Armor.
Ancient military equipment.
Yet neither team triggered significant resistance after passing earlier traps.
That itself felt wrong.
Ancient temples never rewarded greed so easily.
Especially not structures this old.
Sairen's voice echoed softly through the soul-link.
"…You think the temple already collected its payment elsewhere."
Kel's calm eyes narrowed faintly.
"Most likely."
Because balance existed in nearly every ancient ruin system across Destiny.
Especially sacrificial structures.
Nothing was free.
If treasure routes remained mostly safe…
Then another route usually carried the burden instead.
A central payment mechanism.
Kel's thoughts sharpened further.
Then—
The mana communication crystal activated suddenly.
Team C.
Static crackled softly before Edwin Hale's tense voice echoed through the device.
"…Leader Heral."
Kel immediately stopped walking.
His entire team halted instinctively behind him.
"What happened?"
Several seconds passed before Edwin answered again.
And this time—
His voice sounded disturbed.
"…We discovered another chamber."
A brief pause followed.
"…Full of skulls."
The atmosphere around Kel's team shifted instantly.
Several explorers visibly stiffened.
Kel's expression remained calm.
"Specify."
Silence echoed briefly through the crystal.
Then Edwin answered quietly.
"…Human skulls."
The corridor fell silent afterward.
Only distant dripping water echoed through ancient stone passageways.
Kel slowly closed his eyes for one brief moment.
His assumption had been correct.
The payment system existed.
And Team C found it.
Sairen softly muttered through the soul-link.
"…A sacrificial chamber."
Kel internally answered immediately.
"Offering room."
Ancient temples across many forgotten civilizations often operated through exchange systems.
Offerings.
Sacrifices.
Equivalent balance.
And apparently—
This temple once demanded human lives.
Several members within Kel's own team exchanged uneasy glances.
One mage quietly whispered—
"…Human sacrifices…"
Kel ignored the murmurs entirely.
Instead—
He activated the communication crystal calmly.
"Edwin."
"Yes."
"Do not touch anything in that chamber."
His voice remained calm.
Steady.
Absolute.
"Not even dust."
The communication crystal crackled softly.
Kel continued immediately.
"That room is not storage."
A brief pause followed.
"…It is an offering chamber."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Several members from Team C audibly inhaled sharply through the crystal connection.
Kel's calm voice continued.
"If the temple operates through sacrificial balance…"
His eyes darkened faintly.
"…then that room likely absorbed the payment required for the treasure routes."
Edwin immediately understood.
"…Meaning Team B and D remained safe because this room already paid the price."
"Correct."
The atmosphere grew colder afterward.
Because everyone realized something horrifying.
The people whose skulls filled that chamber—
Were likely previous explorers.
Offerings.
Not worshippers.
Kel calmly continued.
"Leave that room immediately."
"Maintain formation."
"Do not separate."
"And continue forward carefully."
Edwin answered instantly.
"Understood."
The communication ended.
Several members beside Kel remained visibly disturbed afterward.
One younger explorer quietly asked—
"…How did you figure that out?"
Kel resumed walking slowly through the corridor.
"Ancient structures operate logically."
His voice echoed softly against the glowing walls.
"If one path receives reward…"
A faint pause followed.
"…another usually receives consequence."
The explorer fell silent afterward.
Not comforted.
Only more unsettled.
Because Heral spoke about sacrificial systems calmly.
Like discussing weather.
The corridor eventually widened ahead.
Massive stone doors stood partially open beneath thick silver roots glowing faintly with mana.
Ancient symbols covered the entrance.
Not warnings.
Offerings.
Kel immediately understood what kind of chamber this was before entering.
The doors opened slowly with heavy grinding echoes.
And beyond them—
Another treasury appeared.
But unlike Team B and D's discoveries—
This chamber felt different.
Elegant.
Thousands of folded fabrics rested upon ancient black stone platforms beneath dim blue crystal light.
Silks.
Robes.
Ceremonial cloth.
Ancient woven materials preserved impossibly despite centuries passing.
The entire chamber shimmered softly beneath mana illumination.
Silver thread.
Golden embroidery.
Dark fabrics carrying unknown symbols.
One expedition member whispered in disbelief—
"…These fabrics alone are worth noble fortunes…"
Another carefully approached a folded crimson robe.
"This quality…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"…even royal families would kill for materials like this."
Kel quietly observed the chamber.
Then slowly nodded.
"Collect everything."
The team blinked faintly.
"…No traps?"
One mercenary asked cautiously.
Kel calmly shook his head once.
"No."
Because now—
He understood the structure better.
This section belonged to ceremonial offerings.
Not military protection systems.
The payment had already been made elsewhere.
The explorers immediately began gathering the fabrics carefully into preservation containers and enchanted storage packs.
The atmosphere improved quickly afterward.
Excitement returned.
Relief.
Greed.
Hope.
Several members quietly discussed how much wealth these materials alone would bring once returned to civilization.
Yet Kel himself remained silent.
Watching.
Thinking.
Because something still bothered him deeply.
The temple was too organized.
Too structured.
Almost as if it expected visitors eventually.
Sairen's voice echoed softly again.
"…You think this place is still functioning."
Kel answered internally.
"It is functioning."
A slight pause followed.
"That's the problem."
Because ancient ruins should decay.
Collapse.
Die.
Yet this temple still operated through systems.
Balance.
Responses.
Which meant—
Something here still maintained it.
The thought lingered heavily within Kel's mind as his team finished collecting the fabrics.
Then—
Without further delay—
He led them deeper into the temple once more.
The corridors ahead descended further beneath the earth.
Darker.
Colder.
Ancient blue inscriptions pulsing faintly like sleeping veins beneath black stone.
And somewhere deep below—
Something waited patiently in the darkness.
As though aware…
The intruders were finally approaching the heart of the temple itself.