Mission type: Exploration.

So far, everything is going smoothly. However, the main objective was unclear, and there was an additional condition of NPC survival attached. It felt like a typical mission, yet it was strangely twisted.

I brought my hand up to my ear.

“It’s Han from 1st party.”

<>

“Edis, did you check the mission window? It should have just popped up.”

<>

“We’ve already secured the target. No need to search. Inform the other parties and join us immediately.”

<>

Click.

The communication was cut off.

I brushed the sand off my shoulder and continued walking. The temple, obscured by dust, was getting closer.

‘It’s so quiet.’

It had been 10 minutes since we were deployed for this mission.

Usually, something unexpected would have happened by now. But the city remained eerily silent. There was no sign of the enemy’s shadow.

“This is getting annoying.”

Eloka fluttered her sleeves with an uncomfortable expression.

Sand grains fell from inside.

“Just hold on a bit.”

I mumbled as I glanced behind me.

Priasis was walking silently.

“Do you have the exact location of the key? Is that building the right one?”

I pointed to the building ahead, shrouded in dust.

The outline of the building wavered at the tip of my finger. Priasis concentrated her sight and then spoke.

“Yes, that’s the one. The key is inside.”

‘We’re on the right track.’

I nodded.

The unique feature of this city was that building, and it had a goddess statue attached to the top. It meant that it had some role as an object. I asked a question.

“Any other memories? Monsters or traps, anything?”

“Sorry, nothing else comes to mind.”

I closed my mouth.

It seemed like there was no more information to get from Priasis.

The rest would have to be discovered by opening the lid ourselves.

As the path widened, we approached the courtyard.

The temple was right in front of us. It must have been a magnificent building originally, but now, covered in sand and weathered, its original grandeur was hard to discern. The building was in ruins.

“Han!”

I looked to my side.

Edis was waving from the western passage of the square.

Behind her, members of the 2nd party were visible. There were no signs of battle. The three new recruits seemed tense, though.

Other parties started joining one by one.

The 3rd party from the north gate of the square, the 4th party, and the 5th party from the west gate.

A total of twenty-five people. No one had failed the mission so far.

I led Priasis to the front of the temple.

All the party leaders gathered. Four pairs of eyes focused on us.

“Allow me to introduce. This is the escort target for this mission.”

“Nice to meet you, heroes. I am Priasis Al Ragnara.”

Priasis stepped forward hesitantly.

Raiman’s eyebrows shot up.

“When you say Al Ragnara, you don’t mean the Al Ragnara of the imperial family, do you?”

“…”

“Well, we can discuss that later.”

I asked the members of the other parties what they had observed and found, and their answers were consistent. A sand-covered and weathered city with no other unusual features.

‘Is that temple the only thing here?’

I looked up at the building in front.

Columns lined the stairs on both sides. Beyond them, a massive marble door was visible. Everyone’s attention turned to the door.

“It seems to be in there.”

“I agree.”

“Yes.”

I spoke up.

“1st party will enter first. The rest of you wait outside the temple.”

“Are you sure? We don’t know what might come out.”

“We’ll contact you immediately. There could be something happening outside as well.”

We set up a boundary zone between the parties and then dispersed.

Except for the 1st party, which was infiltrating, the rest of the parties are in charge of the East, West, South, and North respectively.

Neryssa had already returned.

I led the members of the 1st party and approached the temple.

Our formation was a circle with Priasis and Eloka in the center.

“There don’t seem to be any traps.”

Neryssa, who had been examining the door, said.

I nodded and pushed open the door.

Creak. With an old sound, the temple revealed its interior.

Sand trickled down from the temple’s ceiling crack.

“There, that’s it!”

Priasis pointed to the altar.

On a small square altar, a small object was floating and emitting light.

“A dagger?”

It was embedded in a golden scabbard with intricate patterns engraved on it.

Priasis approached as if entranced. We followed suit.

“It’s strange. There’s still no sign of enemies.”

“They practically left it here for us to take.”

I chuckled.

It wasn’t a sinister maze, and there were no giant monsters in sight.

Our target was right in front of us as soon as we entered.

“If we take that, is it over?”

“It seems too simple, doesn’t it?”

“Well, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Priasis reached out for the dagger on the altar.

I put my hand on the scabbard, ready to draw it at any moment.

And then…

[First objective achieved.]

[‘Key of The Void’ obtained!]

Priasis gripped the dagger.

Simultaneously, the light on the altar disappeared.

“What is it? Nothing happened…?”

Thud!

The entire temple shook violently.

[Warning!]

“…It seems like it’s happening.”

“What is it?”

I disconnected the communication and said, “Priasis, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. No problems at all. I can move.”

“We’re getting out of here.”

Thud!

Once again,

Sand fell heavily from the ceiling.

I pushed open the door. We immediately exited the temple.

“…”

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung!

The ground beneath our feet shook violently.

“Looks like an earthquake!”

“I know.”

I surveyed the square.

It was clear at a glance that something had happened.

‘The sandstorm.’

Just five minutes ago, the entire city was engulfed in a sandstorm, but now it had disappeared.

Under the scorching sun, with heat radiating down.

And then…

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung!