The voice sounded heavy and ancient, like a sound coming from deep underground.
Felix instinctively tightened his grip on his sword.
His body was ready to move if the guardian suddenly attacked.
But Leon did not move.
He simply stared at the giant stone figure.
It's glowing red eyes continued to stare at Leon as if it was carefully observing him.
The cave became very quiet.
Only the faint humming of the magic circle could be heard as the ancient symbols on the ground slowly pulsed with a dim red light.
Felix stood still with one hand on the handle of his sword.
His eyes were fixed on the enormous stone figure standing before them.
The guardian was far taller than any human.
It's body looked heavy and ancient, like a statue that had existed for hundreds of years.
The carved runes on its chest and arms glowed faintly.
Felix swallowed quietly.
He had fought many enemies before, but something about this creature felt different.
It did not feel like a normal enemy.
It felt like something ancient… something that had been guarding this place for a very long time.
Nox floated silently in the air.
His arms slowly crossed as he studied the guardian.
His sharp eyes moved across the glowing runes carved into the stone body.
Those symbols were old.
Very old.
Even he could feel the strange magic inside them.
For several seconds, Leon said nothing.
Felix glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
He was slightly confused.
Nox also looked at Leon.
Then Leon suddenly spoke.
"It's the guardian…"
His voice was low at first, almost like he was confirming something to himself.
Then Leon's eyes widened slightly.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
"It's the guardian!"
Leon exclaimed with clear excitement.
Felix blinked in surprise.
He had never seen Leon react like this before.
Usually, Leon remained calm even in dangerous situations.
But now he looked genuinely happy.
Nox raised one eyebrow while watching him.
Leon looked up at the massive stone guardian with clear satisfaction.
He briefly glanced down at the glowing magic circle on the floor and then looked back at the giant stone figure standing before him.
"Glad it is still here."
Leon truly felt relieved.
Because the guardian appearing here meant something very important.
It meant that this place had not yet been discovered by anyone else.
In the original story, this hidden place was not discovered by him.
It was discovered by someone else.
Princess Elisa von Aeris.
The second princess of the Aeris Empire.
The Aeris Empire was one of the Four Great Empires of the continent, and Princess Elisa herself was known as a very talented and powerful character in the story.
But her true rise in power began here.
In the novel, she had been the one who discovered this hidden cave deep inside Eruk Mountain.
She had awakened the guardian in the same way.
Then she passed the guardian's trial.
After that, she obtained Valkor's Legacy.
That power allowed her to grow much stronger, and later she became one of the most formidable characters in the entire story.
Leon did not remember the exact chapter when she found this place.
He could not remember the exact date either.
But he clearly remembered one important detail.
It happened around this time in the story.
Which meant something very important.
If Leon had arrived even a little later…
Princess Elisa might have already discovered this cave.
Leon slowly looked up at the guardian again.
The red light from its eyes reflected faintly on the stone walls around them.
Inside his mind, Leon quietly thought,
"Good...I came here before her."
"If i can just prevent that event..."
The guardian suddenly lifted its massive head.
The red light in its eyes burned brighter, and its voice burst out like thunder.
I ask you again… state your purpose!
The sound filled the cave and echoed against the stone walls.
Small pieces of dust fell from the ceiling because of the force of its voice.
Leon had been smiling a moment ago because the hidden place had really appeared just like he remembered from the story.
But the loud voice pulled him back to reality.
He blinked and quickly looked up at the giant stone figure.
"I… I came to take the trial," Leon said.
The guardian slowly leaned forward.
Its stone body made a heavy grinding sound as it moved. Its glowing eyes stared directly at Leon.
"Trial…?" the guardian said slowly.
Then it lowered its head even closer and looked carefully at Leon.
"You…?"
Its tone carried clear doubt.
The guardian straightened a little and spoke again.
"You are little."
Its eyes moved over Leon's small figure.
"And weak."
The guardian's voice echoed again.
"You cannot undertake the trial."
Felix frowned when he heard that. He glanced at Leon, wondering what his master would say.
Leon did not hesitate.
"Then let my subordinate take the trial," he said calmly, pointing at Felix.
Felix blinked in surprise.
He did not expect Leon to suddenly point at him.
The guardian slowly turned its glowing eyes toward Felix.
Felix felt a little pressure when the giant creature stared at him, but he still stood straight.
After a moment, the guardian slowly shook its head.
"No."
Its voice was firm.
"Only the one who dropped his blood as offering can undertake the trial."
Leon paused for a second.
"Then Felix will accompany me," Leon said.
Again the guardian shook its heavy stone head.
"No."
"Only one person… is allowed to take the trial."
Leon stared at the guardian for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Huh… I forgot how persistent this guardian was in the novel."
Felix looked slightly confused when he heard that sentence, but Leon was already thinking.
Inside his mind, Leon calmly recalled what he knew.
"But… I know its weakness."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Leon suddenly stepped forward and looked up at the giant guardian.
"Oh, mighty guardian," Leon said politely.
"The protector of Valkor's Legacy."
"The master of wisdom."
His tone suddenly became respectful.
"Please allow us…"
Leon even made a small pleading face as he spoke.
Felix blinked.
Nox blinked too.
Both of them stared at Leon with surprise, because they had never seen him speak like this before.
For a moment the guardian remained silent.
Then its glowing eyes flickered slightly.
If someone looked carefully, its posture seemed to straighten a little.
It almost looked… pleased.
Of course, its face was made of stone, so the expression was hard to notice clearly.
But it was clear that it was blushing.
The guardian spoke again.
"Boy…"
"It seems you know how to respect people."
It slowly nodded its giant head.
"You are indeed worthy to take the trial."
Nox stared at the guardian.
Then he slowly turned his head toward Leon.
Inside his mind, one thought appeared.
"Wait… seriously?."