31 Challenger

"Why did this suddenly open?"

Rama walked into the cave with a frown on his face. He looked back, knowing that as he ventured further, the door would close.

"And I have to accomplish something before that door reopens. Wait, will there be an altar demanding a sacrifice later?"

The thought made him uneasy. The first time he discovered a Holy Tomb was when he was on a mission with Donovan and Alexa, and he almost died then. It had already proven that Holy Tombs were extremely dangerous places.

However, Rama was also certain that inside a Holy Tomb, there were incredible rewards and treasures. Proof of this was his Soul Fusion power.

In theory, Rama should have turned back and reported this to the guild. But his curiosity told him that he should venture deeper and explore this place. Who knows, he might find incredible treasures that could boost his power and wealth.

So, Rama decided to step further into the cave, not out. As he suspected, the door closed behind him, leaving Rama in darkness.

There was no light, so Rama had to feel along the walls to find his way. About ten minutes later, Rama reached a dead-end. He pounded the hard stone surface but couldn't open it.

Being in this darkness made him uncomfortable because he wouldn't know if anything might attack him.

Suddenly, the black stone wall in front of him lit up with red glowing letters. The inscription consisted of ancient letters that Rama didn't understand.

But his power provided him assistance. When he looked at the ancient writing, another set of letters appeared in his vision; a translation of the inscription on the wall.

"Hooh... This is so convenient."

< "Through shadows deep and silence thick,

Where time itself is but a flick,

In darkness bound, secrets keep,

To those who seek, answers reap.

At dawn, the serpent's eye will gleam,

A key to truths, a cryptic dream.

In echoes hushed, the past does sigh,

To solve the riddle, one must try.

Yet heed this warning, bold and clear,

For what you seek, you hold dear.

Beware the chambers, tests untold,

The heart's desires, they may unfold." >

Rama blinked his eyes a few times, then scratched his head. "The heck..."

This was a riddle, and Rama felt somewhat weak when it came to riddles like this. He was never the brightest in school.

However, it turns out he didn't need to solve this riddle to open the door. The stone on which the inscription was etched suddenly slid to the side, revealing a vast room inside.

If he didn't need to solve the riddle to open the door, why was the riddle written there? Or could it be... the riddle was a clue about what he would encounter inside this Holy Tomb?

If that were true, then Rama thought he should solve it as quickly as possible to know what he would face inside.

But for now, he could enter and inspect the first room he saw. Rama stepped in cautiously.

The room he found was very different from what he had seen in the previous Holy Tomb. Instead of a cave, this Holy Tomb's room resembled the interior of an ancient castle.

Black stones formed everything from towering pillars to arcs on the ceiling, which was about ten meters high from where Rama stood. This room was massive, much larger than he had imagined.

There were windows lining the sides, but because this place was buried underground, all that could be seen from the windows was darkness.

'This place is amazing,' Rama thought as he gazed at the surroundings. However, his thoughts were soon interrupted by another inscription warning him of approaching danger.

A writing, not originating from his Soul Fusion, appeared in his vision. The writing was red and bold.

< A Challenger has arrived! >

"Oh, it seems this is the consequence of my curiosity."

Rama gripped his sword tightly. Soon, an enemy – or enemies – would appear and attack him. Of course, he didn't intend to be a challenger, but this Holy Tomb had decided it. And now Rama knew that it was too late to run.

The door had closed without him realizing it, perhaps when he was admiring this room.

The large double doors at the far end of the room creaked open loudly. Rama turned his body. He saw about a dozen creatures clad in silver plate armor emerging after the door opened.

When they all had come out, Rama could finally count them. There were twenty of them, all wielding longswords.

Rama gritted his teeth. The knights looked formidable. Their armor was clearly not ordinary, and whatever creatures wore that armor surely had surprises in store for him.

< The Knights of Dyre have come to test the challenger! >

< Brace yourself, Challenger! >

The red writing appeared again. The last part of it seemed to offer support, but Rama wasn't sure what that support meant.

The knights began to walk toward him with synchronized footsteps echoing throughout the walls.

"All right," Rama said. Then he charged first towards them.

~~~