Chapter 076: Odd…

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This secret realm is called the Cooling Incinerator!

It was clear that the main feature of this dungeon revolved around its namesake—the massive incinerator.

However, the opponent Novak was facing had little to do with the incinerator itself.

If there was any connection at all, it was that it had emerged from the incinerator.

But this wasn't unusual.

It was just another dungeon setting.

Not too strange, considering that in his previous life, he had witnessed even more bizarre scenarios. Some dungeons had ghosts crawling out of toilets, after all.

Still, despite his decades of experience in the post-apocalyptic world, something about this place felt off to Novak.

It wasn't just this incinerator—there were numerous oddities.

From the moment the God of Trade had approached him, something hadn't felt right.

Granted, the God of Trade had been upfront about his reasons for being at De M-anila University—it was because the first dungeon of the secret realm had manifested there.

That part was true.

But it raised questions.

Why would a godly figure of such immense power—at least Level 570 in the God-Demon Trial Grounds—show up for the appearance of a simple dungeon?

A being like that, with a power level beyond 100, who had ignited the divine flame and condensed a godhead, shouldn't need to personally intervene when a low-level dungeon appeared.

The God-Demon Trial Grounds held unimaginable opportunities, treasures so coveted that even gods were willing to fight for them, scheming to gain the upper hand.

Yet, even with such incredible rewards in the trial grounds, gods didn't normally clash over simple S-level or even SS-level items.

So why had the God of Trade descended with a projection on the very first day of the dungeon's opening? Wasn't it overkill?

Novak couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Only after experiencing firsthand encounters with gods in his past life did he truly understand their terrifying presence—their grace vast as the ocean, their might as oppressive as hell.

That lingering sense of strangeness had stayed with him ever since his first meeting with the God of Trade.

While the ultimate investment mission given by the God of Trade was indeed difficult, it was tied to an SSS-level item—a unique and coveted treasure even among gods.

Could such an entrusted task have been handed to him so easily, merely because of his talent and a few exchanged words?

As these accumulated doubts suddenly flooded his mind, Novak realized something deeper was at play.

Logically, everything made sense, yet from his future perspective, none of it seemed quite right.

His eyes narrowed as he gazed at the massive, coffin-like incinerator still looming in the dungeon.

Given that the Cosmic Will had already declared the dungeon completed, there should be no further danger—unless some hidden condition was triggered.

With that in mind, Novak felt there was nothing to fear.

His footsteps, which had been heading toward the exit, suddenly changed direction, taking him back toward the giant incinerator.

The surface of the incinerator was coated with a layer of white steel.

Dark pipes, covered in what looked like hardened soot, disappeared into the depths of the machine, leading to the heart of the incinerator.

Novak reached out and placed his hand on it. The Cosmic Will continued to give the same feedback—completely ordinary.

[Incinerator: A common incinerator found in secret realms. For unknown reasons, the flame within cannot ignite.]

His eyes narrowed further.

Could it really have no significance at all?

Was this incinerator merely a decorative element of the dungeon's setting?

But from his experience, almost every secret realm had a cohesive storyline.

It was rare to see something as abruptly placed as this incinerator.

The nagging sense of strangeness continued to push Novak to explore further.

Staring at the giant incinerator, which now resembled a coffin, Novak gritted his teeth and climbed directly into the corpse transport chute.

The chute was only about 50 centimeters in diameter, barely wide enough for a grown man to fit through, let alone turn around inside.

But Novak's enhanced strength and level gave him confidence. Even if danger lurked within, he was sure he could use the Hourglass of Time to escape before his consciousness was truly lost.

Still, he wouldn't rest easy until his suspicions and curiosity were satisfied.

Taking a deep breath, Novak braced himself. He kicked the pipe beneath him gently with his foot and gripped the edge of the incinerator with his hands, slowly lowering himself into the dark, foreboding abyss—more terrifying than a coffin.

Countless bones and corpses had been burned here.

'Silent Teachers' who had been sewn together, only to be discarded once their usefulness had faded, were sent here to be incinerated, their lives ending in this place.

Even with a zombie mask covering his face, the stench of decaying corpses made Novak frown in disgust.

In that moment, as the rancid smell overwhelmed him, he found himself regretting his decision.

It stank—horribly!

Had no one bothered to clean this place?

De M-anila University's maintenance crew had definitely dropped the ball.

Novak's inner complaints helped ease his tension a bit as he descended deeper into the unknown.

Although darkness no longer impaired Novak's perception, thanks to his significantly enhanced Constitution, it couldn't block his sight. His strengthened body could see clearly even in pitch-black environments.

However, once fully inside the dark, cramped tunnel, the stifling air and narrow confines still pressed in on him, creating a sensation that would make any ordinary person feel extremely uncomfortable.

As Novak ventured deeper, his entire body was swallowed by the incinerator's dark shaft. The passage remained long and confining, without any sign of opening up. It felt endless, a tight and claustrophobic space with no clear destination.

With a deep exhale, Novak stretched out his hand, and after a while, his fingers finally made contact with the cold steel above his head.

He had reached the end of the incinerator.

Turning his head, he peered into the faintly more spacious area at the deepest part of the tunnel. But "spacious" was a relative term—it was only marginally larger, barely enough to allow a small tilt of his head.

At the end of the tunnel, there was a box-like structure. It appeared to be where the ashes of burnt corpses would filter through small holes after being incinerated by flames.

But there were no flames here, no heat—only the cold, lifeless black steel. It was as if the incinerator had long since fallen dormant, a place where nothing happened.

Novak lay there in the tight confines, his eyes scanning the chamber, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Had he overreacted?

Was this really just a simple mission?

A task from a god, yes—but perhaps nothing more?

Frowning, he found himself growing tired of this cramped, stench-filled space. He was just about to summon his strength and force his way out when something caught his eye.

His gaze shifted upward. A small, dark gap had appeared above the incinerator.

Intrigued, Novak pressed himself further into the narrow tunnel, pushing his head against the front wall of the cremator, straining to peer into the hidden crevice.

Then, in an instant, a chilling sensation shot up his spine.

He saw a pair of eyes!

They were looking directly at him.

No more than ten centimeters away!