The deeper corridors eventually led toward the same destination.
No matter which path the exploration teams followed—
Treasure halls.
Offering chambers.
Ancient archives.
Combat sanctuaries.
All roads descended toward the heart of the temple.
The atmosphere grew colder with every step.
Not physically alone.
Spiritually.
Ancient blue inscriptions pulsed faintly across the walls like living veins beneath black stone while gigantic roots wrapped around ceilings and pillars like serpents strangling forgotten history. The air had become thick with mana to the point even breathing felt heavy.
And somewhere far below—
A deep rhythmic sound echoed softly through the darkness.
Boom.
Boom.
Like the heartbeat of something sleeping beneath the temple itself.
Team A reached the central hall first.
Kel stepped out from the descending corridor calmly while his eleven team members followed behind him cautiously, crystal lanterns illuminating the massive chamber slowly.
And for the first time since entering the temple—
Even Kel stopped walking for half a second.
The hall was enormous.
Far larger than the structure above should logically allow.
A colossal underground cathedral buried beneath the wilderness.
Gigantic black pillars stretched upward into darkness beyond visible sight while ancient silver-blue flames floated silently along the walls without fuel or heat. Massive inscriptions covered the floor in circular formations resembling ritual arrays older than civilization itself.
And at the very center—
Stood the statue.
A gigantic sculpture carved from black stone.
At least twenty meters tall.
The figure resembled a humanoid entity—
Yet not entirely human.
Long curved horns extended backward from its head like a crown while six folded arms rested against its chest holding ancient ceremonial objects. Its body was wrapped in layered robes covered in symbols impossible to understand while enormous wings spread partially behind it like shadows consuming the hall.
Its face—
Was calm.
Not monstrous.
Not enraged.
Ancient.
Detached.
Yet despite the stillness of the sculpture—
Every member who looked at it instinctively felt fear.
One scout unconsciously stepped backward.
Another whispered a prayer beneath his breath.
"…What the hell is that…"
The remaining teams arrived gradually afterward.
Team B first.
Then Team C.
Finally Team D.
Soon—
All forty-seven expedition members stood gathered within the central hall beneath the enormous black statue looming above them like a forgotten god watching intruders.
The atmosphere became tense immediately.
Several explorers visibly gripped weapons tighter.
Mages instinctively activated defensive mana circulation.
Even experienced mercenaries avoided staring directly at the sculpture too long.
Because the statue felt wrong.
Not evil.
Worse.
Alive.
One younger noble finally spoke what many were already thinking.
"This…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"…this is a demon worshipper temple."
Several members immediately agreed quietly.
"Those skull offerings…"
"The weapons…"
"This place is cursed…"
Another mage stared fearfully toward the giant sculpture.
"…That thing isn't a god."
Kel remained silent for several moments.
His calm eyes studied the statue carefully beneath the pale blue flames illuminating the hall.
Then finally—
He spoke.
"For us perhaps."
The hall quieted instantly.
Kel slowly stepped forward beneath the enormous statue.
"But for those who built this temple…"
A slight pause followed.
"…this was not a demon temple."
Several members frowned faintly hearing that.
Kel continued calmly.
"To its worshippers…"
His gaze lifted toward the ancient sculpture.
"…this entity was likely divine."
The atmosphere grew quieter afterward.
Not because people fully agreed.
But because his reasoning sounded disturbingly rational.
Sairen softly murmured through the soul-link.
"…You really don't fear unknown gods."
Kel answered internally.
"Fear without understanding is useless."
Meanwhile—
Several explorers still looked visibly disturbed.
One mercenary muttered—
"…That thing doesn't look divine."
Kel calmly replied without looking back.
"Divinity depends on perspective."
Silence followed.
Then—
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly as another thought surfaced.
"Or perhaps…"
A faint pause.
"…this temple was not built through worship at all."
The hall shifted subtly.
Several members blinked faintly.
Kel continued slowly.
"If this structure was created through labor rather than faith…"
His calm voice echoed softly through the gigantic chamber.
"…then why does so much wealth remain here?"
The question immediately silenced everyone again.
Gold.
Weapons.
Ancient fabrics.
Treasures untouched for centuries.
Kel slowly looked around the massive hall.
"After the civilization collapsed…"
A slight pause followed.
"…survivors should have retrieved these valuables."
His eyes darkened faintly.
"Unless…"
The atmosphere tightened.
"…everyone died before they could."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Several expedition members visibly swallowed.
Because suddenly—
The temple no longer felt abandoned.
It felt buried.
And at that exact moment—
Laughter echoed through the hall.
Deep.
Distorted.
Mad.
"Hahahahahaha…"
The sound erupted from every direction simultaneously.
The blue flames flickered violently.
Ancient mana surged across the hall.
Several explorers immediately drew weapons while mages activated defensive spells instinctively.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Black mist gathered slowly near the foot of the giant statue while ancient mana condensed unnaturally into humanoid shape.
The figure that emerged resembled an old man wrapped in layered ceremonial robes covered in glowing inscriptions. His skin appeared pale gray like ancient ash while long silver-black hair drifted unnaturally around him despite the lack of wind.
And his eyes—
Burned with pale blue light.
The laughter stopped suddenly.
Then the figure smiled.
Wide.
Almost delighted.
"You…"
His voice echoed unnaturally throughout the hall.
"…are a peculiar human."
The atmosphere became suffocating instantly.
Several expedition members visibly trembled beneath the overwhelming mana pressure radiating from the entity.
"To possess reasoning like that…"
The old figure laughed softly again.
"…after entering this place."
Kel quietly observed the being.
Calm.
Silent.
Then the figure spread his arms slightly beneath the towering statue.
"Indeed."
A faint smile remained upon his face.
"This temple was built by worshippers."
His glowing eyes lifted toward the gigantic sculpture above them.
"And this…"
His voice softened strangely.
"…is the image of our deity."
Several explorers visibly stiffened.
The entity then slowly looked back toward the expedition.
"And I…"
A slight bow followed.
"…am merely the humble guardian of this temple."
The pale blue flames around the chamber intensified faintly.
"My duty…"
The guardian's smile widened slightly.
"…is protecting it from intruders like yourselves."
The atmosphere exploded into tension instantly.
Weapons raised.
Mana surged.
Several mercenaries prepared for combat immediately.
Yet before panic could spread further—
Kel stepped forward calmly.
Then—
To everyone's shock—
He bowed politely.
Not deeply.
Respectfully.
"Oh great guardian of this temple…"
His voice remained calm and elegant beneath the ancient hall.
"…if we are intruders, then we ask forgiveness."
The guardian's glowing eyes narrowed faintly.
Interested.
Kel continued smoothly.
"But…"
A slight pause followed.
"…should a temple truly reject visitors?"
Silence settled across the hall.
Kel slowly lifted his gaze toward the guardian.
"Even non-believers enter temples."
His voice echoed softly.
"To seek knowledge."
"To seek answers."
"Or merely to witness history."
The guardian remained silent now.
Watching him carefully.
Kel continued calmly.
"And if you consider us intruders because we accepted this temple's offerings…"
A slight pause.
"…then we shall return them."
Several expedition members looked toward Kel in shock.
Kel remained composed.
"And more than that…"
His black-gloved hand rested lightly against his chest.
"…we can offer our own tribute in return."
The guardian's smile slowly faded into something more thoughtful.
Because unlike ordinary explorers—
This young human was negotiating.
Not begging.
Not threatening.
Negotiating.
Then Kel finally spoke the words truly on his mind.
"But personally…"
His eyes lifted toward the giant deity statue again.
"…I am more interested in something else."
The hall became completely silent.
Even the blue flames seemed still.
"The history of this temple."
A slight pause followed.
"…and the civilization that built it."
Kel's gaze sharpened faintly.
"The people who died protecting it."