Chapter 162
The cave was silent.
Shen stood in the dim light, facing a doll holding a sword.
It wasn't just any doll—it was a replica of one of the most powerful god's swordsmanship.
Shen narrowed his eyes.
"So… I'm supposed to train with this?" he muttered.
Nephine's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"I want you to train alone, Shen. This is for your own growth. You accepted this path. No distractions."
Shen nodded slowly, understanding.
But it wasn't until later that he realized—a familiar presence was nearby.
A faint glow. A small bottle.
Inside… Lare.
Shen's heart leapt. "Finally! I found him.
Two days had passed—or at least it felt like it. Time moved differently here.
Lare's tiny voice was sharp, concerned.
"Shen! We have limited food! How are you going to survive in this place?"
Shen stretched his hand toward the bottle.
"Relax," he said calmly. "We can hunt.
Lare's eyebrows furrowed.
"Hunt? How?
Shen scanned the enormous cave.
"Look down," he said simply.
"Down?" Lare echoed, puzzled.
"But… how?"
Shen stepped closer to the edge and examined the ground. The cave seemed endless. But then he noticed a small corner gate at the base of the cavern.
He reached for it. Beneath his hand, a hidden stairway revealed itself.
Lare gasped.
"Shen… is that…?"
Shen didn't answer. He began to descend the steps.
The Cave Unveiled
Floor after floor, the hidden structure unfolded before them.
Floor 1–3: Stone passages, dust, and silence.
Floor 4–6: Ancient storage rooms, long-abandoned tools
Floor 7–10: A library, walls lined with ancient scrolls, manuscripts of forgotten
gods. Shen's eyes widened.
"This… knowledge… it's incredible," he whispered.
Floor 11–15: Training halls, worn by centuries of practice. Dummies, swords, and magical targets scattered across the stone floors.
Floor 16–20: Hidden chambers, small gardens, and fountains—though all dry now.
Finally, Shen reached floor 21, where a dining hall appeared.
It was vast, like a palace's hall, with tables, chairs, and carved stone murals.
Shen looked around, bewildered
"23 floors…" he murmured. "Is this… a palace?"
Lare floated beside him, whispering nervously.
"But… there's no food anywhere," he said. "How will we survive here?"
Shen clenched his fists.
"No matter. If we're trapped here, we make our own way."
He could feel the cave itself watching. Every corner seemed alive, every shadow hiding secrets.
Shen's eyes fell back on the doll with the sword at the top floor.
"Training starts now," he said, determination burning in his voice.
Lare nodded, silently trusting his friend.
Somewhere deep in the cave, a faint glow pulsed, as if marking the beginning of Shen's true trials.
End of Chapter 162