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As soon as the notification arrived, the intricate glow on the walls returned to its previous white light, and the rest of the guarding drones also stopped functioning. Their celestial shards were left scattered around the chamber, gleaming with the promise of invaluable power.

The gratifying chime in their minds marked not only the culmination of their arduous trial but also a monumental achievement. Each of the 30 members within the group was bestowed with a generous 50-point boost, a substantial reward that promised to enhance their future prospects, inspiring them to reach even greater heights.

Emery couldn't help but glance at his points, thoroughly satisfied with the substantial progress they'd made in just a little over an hour since the inception of the expedition.

[Your current points are: 52 (102)]

Jinkan's casual yet confident demeanor was contagious as she walked toward the remnants of the vanquished celestial Juggernaut. Among the metallic debris and celestial shards lay a single item – a thin golden medal adorned with intricate, ancient runes.

"We've secured five of them," Jinkan announced nonchalantly as she collected all five medals. These medals were the coveted keys that would allow magus to progress into the second layer of the ruins, a necessary step for deeper exploration. With five of them in their possession, the group was well on their way, requiring only another 25 to ensure everyone could advance.

Jinkan briefly showcased the medium-sized celestial shard to the group, giving them a glimpse of the invaluable treasures they had acquired. She then carefully stored it, promising to distribute them among the group at a later time, as they had planned. A sense of anticipation and purpose-filled the chamber as they prepared for their next venture into the heart of the ruins.

The Nephilim princess swiftly produced a device that displayed a visual map of the entire vault, crafted from the information collected by the numerous flying drones she had dispatched upon their entry.

While the drones had only managed to cover about 80% of the vast cavern, they provided enough data to give a comprehensive overview of the situation within. The map showcased various aspects, such as dead ends, the concentration of celestial drones and constructs, and most crucially, the location of the next temple.

Jinkan's eyes sparkled with excitement as she shared her findings, "This is a medium-sized cave with five temples. If we're lucky, clearing this vault may be all we need."

Eeshoo voiced a pertinent question, inquiring about the intruders. By this time, the ten golems stationed at the gates had been destroyed, yet they had managed to transmit a visual of a group of at least 50 magus—a substantial gathering of Neutral Zone magus. While Rouge Magus was typically not a major concern, the fact that they had dared to destroy the Nephilim's marked golem indicated their unwavering confidence in their abilities.

"That audacious magus," Jinkan muttered, a tinge of annoyance evident in her tone at being interrupted by this development.

Neo, with determination in his eyes, inquired, "What's the plan?" He was poised to lead the group, awaiting Jinkan's instructions.

Jinkan, taking a moment to contemplate the map and the locations of the next temples, exhaled deeply. "Let's stay focused on our objective," she declared. She extended her arm to point to two temples that were conveniently positioned close to each other. Afterward, her gaze landed on Emery.

Emery, aware of the group's eagerness to proceed, sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll create a teleportation gate," he said. Positioned near the center of the vault and guided by the visual information provided by Jinkan, Emery felt confident in his ability to execute a longer-range teleportation. With swift precision, he conjured shimmering portals, ready for use.

They gathered around the portals, mentally preparing themselves for what lay ahead. Neo and the others stood ready, their resolve unwavering. With only two portal jumps, they embarked on their journey to the next temple.

To ensure their safety inside the temple and to prevent any unwanted surprises, Jinkan tasked Uria with guarding the entrance. Uria, with his heightened spirit reading abilities, stood as a sentinel at the front door. His watchful presence ensured that no one could infiltrate their position unnoticed, unless maybe to a magus like Emery.

The second temple they encountered was strikingly similar to the first, both in design and the number of drones. Even the behavior of the Avalonian Juggernaut mirrored their previous encounter. Having learned from their previous battle, Neo took on the responsibility of defending against the mirror beams from above. With a more thorough understanding of their adversaries, the group found it easier to navigate the temple's challenges.

As they emerged victorious, the familiar notification chimed in their minds:

[You have destroyed the Avalonian Juggernaut]

[You have cleared the Temple Trial]

In just 16 minutes, they had successfully conquered the temple. This time, their efforts were rewarded with four golden keys, a sign of progress in their quest to unlock the Celestial's vaults.

"Let's waste no time and move on to the next one," Jinkan urged the group, determination in her voice.

Disregarding the celestial drones they encountered on their path, the group pushed forward, sprinting towards the next temple situated a mere 50 miles away. This time, they proved even more efficient, clearing the temple in just 13 minutes. Their swift accomplishment was marked by the retrieval of the third celestial shard and the acquisition of six golden keys.

With the third temple conquered, Uria, ever watchful and perceptive, pointed out, "Those groups seem to be headed toward our next objectives. What would you like to do?"

Jinkan responded, "I don't like surprises. Let's turn the tables and surprise them instead."

Her words underscored the importance of gaining thorough intelligence on the rival groups before taking further action.

They soon discovered that the group of rogue magus was well-prepared for a confrontation.

To be continued