That was a different dungeon. To be qualified to enter it, it was necessary to pass two tests. The first was having compatibility with fire magic. Even if someone possessed fire magic, if they did not have the necessary compatibility, they could not enter. The second test was answering the questions of the hidden boss.
"Is this serious? We entered a dungeon? Was this your idea? What level is this dungeon?"
Valença did not stop asking questions, clearly worried about the situation. If Enrico wanted to evolve inside a dungeon by fighting monsters, he should have asked people from higher circles for help. That dungeon, however, definitely did not seem like a level-two Zara dungeon.
"Enrico, you know that only real dungeons can give a percentage, right?"
"Of course. I also know that this percentage is only received when we obtain the reward for clearing the dungeon."
"Then why?"
Enrico explains that it was indeed impossible to increase the circle percentage simply by fighting inside that dungeon, but there were still dungeons capable of offering rewards that could help someone increase their power.
'I did that myself that week, but that reward was meant for only one person and, to be honest, I didn't want to face that villain. At least, not currently.'
Valença calms down a little and asks how Enrico had found that dungeon and why he had not brought more people. For the first question, he does what he always does and says that his family had ordered him to search for it as a kind of test.
"And regarding the second question, this dungeon can only be done by fire users. Besides, only three people can enter. And, before you ask why I didn't bring someone, it's because this dungeon increases the difficulty by one level for each person who enters."
The name of that dungeon was Fire Sanctuary. For each person who entered, a boss would be added to the one that already existed, making the challenge even more difficult. The bosses were four Nartheis, all classified as Faizes. However, since only the two of them had entered, one of them had been discarded, leaving only three.
It was also possible to ignore the boss that was already present, if they wanted to. They would simply need to defeat two of the others to advance. But that was not what Enrico wanted.
"If we had entered with three people, the hidden boss would have become a level-two Faizes. It would be impossible to do what I want."
"I understand... You must have had quite a lot of work to gather all this information."
The two continue walking down the corridor. Valença begins to think that perhaps Enrico had conducted several tests in that dungeon to discover its rules. After all, some dungeons allowed adventurers to enter and leave whenever they wanted, as long as they had not yet defeated the boss. The zombie dungeon, for example, worked that way.
After some time, the two arrive at a room. Right in front of a black door was a red statue approximately two meters tall, resembling a guard wearing heavy armor.
"Do we have to destroy this to enter?"
"Wait a moment. I'll talk to him."
Valença sees Enrico approach the statue. Suddenly, it moves.
Valença immediately takes a defensive stance, but Enrico raises his hand, signaling that everything was fine.
"If you want to pass, you will have to answer my questions. Who will answer?"
The statue's voice was deep and sent chills down both of them.
Enrico takes a step forward.
"I will answer the questions."
"Very well..."
The statue's eyes glow red. Then, behind it, the door begins to react. Several red circles appear at four different points: three form a triangle, while the last one appears in the center, connecting all of them with white lines.
"First question. What century is this magic circle from?"
"147th century."
"Correct answer."
The statue's eyes glow red, confirming the answer. Those magic circles had been created long ago by the Elves of that dungeon and could only be made by races that had a strong connection with nature.
"Second. Who was the first Elf to be born?"
"Ylrie Marlial."
"Correct answer."
Valença approaches a little, intrigued.
"Why is the name of the first Elf different?"
"I asked who was the first Elf to be born in this dungeon. That name was hidden in the walls we passed through."
Valença is surprised.
"Wait... an Elf was born in this dungeon?"
'They still don't know that normal dungeons are attempts by the gods to create other worlds. So it makes sense that they're confused about this.'
"Third question. How many arcane magic circles exist?"
"Since they are arcane circles, there are only seven. One of them is a secret created by the first Elf."
"Correct answer."
In that dungeon, there were thirty-seven magic circles, seven of them being arcane circles.
Valença looks at Enrico, surprised, beginning to wonder if he knew the Elven language. After all, the walls they had passed through were covered in Elven symbols.
And she was right.
Enrico was learning to speak the languages of the Elves, but he was still far from being fluent.
'For now, I'm only repeating what the Fire Druid said in the original story.'
That dungeon had only been revealed thanks to a Druid who possessed the ability to see the future. Enrico explains this to Valença and tells her that, at that time, since the Elves had been extinct, she revealed the answers to the first three questions and also explained what the reward would be.
The fourth question, however, would be something that Valença would have to decide on her own.
The problem was that she did not know the Elven language.
"Last question. What do you want in this dungeon?"
Now came the most important question. If he answered in a way that the statue did not consider appropriate, part of the dungeon where an important object was hidden would disappear.
"I came here to evolve my level..."
The statue's eyes glow an even darker red. The room begins to react, as if it were about to disappear.
"And free the sealed Elves."
The statue immediately stops.
Valença becomes incredulous upon hearing that. Elves were sealed in that place? The day was already strange enough, but that answer had not been given by the Druid. She had only offered the answers to the first three questions. The fourth answer was for Valença to decide.
Enrico, however, had managed to find it.
'I just put together everything I knew from the story and realized that the Elves of this dungeon wanted to be revealed.'
The Elves, or more precisely, the Dark Elves, were Nartheis. However, they were different from the others, who sought only destruction. They wanted to live.
The statue then kneels, making a loud noise when its enormous body hits the ground and causing the floor to tremble slightly.
"What would your name be, sir?"
"For now, just call me sir. And my friend, miss. I will reveal my full name when we reach where we want to go."
Valença simply nods. After everything that had happened in that place, she no longer wanted to be surprised by anything. She would just let Enrico say whatever he wanted.
"Very well, sir. What is your first request?"
The door opens and, on the other side, a forest of unusual beauty appears. Blue roses grew everywhere, while white trees spread throughout the place. Small rivers ran through the forest, curving around a small mountain.
Valença, who was behind Enrico, becomes enchanted by the sight and immediately feels like entering to observe everything more closely.
"My first request is that I want to take the Asquelia Fruit test."
"Now I understand why you didn't reveal your full name... Good choice, my lord."
The statue bows, apparently quite satisfied with the choice, and begins guiding them toward a region in the center of the forest.
Along the way, various animals begin approaching. They were creatures that normally existed outside that dungeon, but possessed different characteristics. Rabbits, deer, and even bears had white and blue fur, some of them with small horns.
Enrico runs his hand over the head of a deer before continuing to walk. Valença, on the other hand, cannot resist and crouches down to pet the heads of some rabbits, finding them extremely cute. However, upon realizing that she was falling behind, she quickly stands up and runs to catch up with Enrico and the statue.
'If there really are Elves sealed here, it would be good for them to be freed. Such a beautiful place shouldn't continue hiding people who want to live.'
The two ahead of Valença suddenly stop, causing her to stop as well.
In front of them was a tree different from all the others. Its trunk and branches had an extremely intense red color, while several round fruits of the same color grew all over it. Around the fruits, small drawings resembling flames could be seen.
"Prepare yourself. When he reveals his name, tell him your full name."
Enrico creates his bow in one hand, immediately making Valença raise her staff and take a defensive stance.
He then quickly explains that only those who revealed their full names during that test could receive the full reward. If the name were revealed before that, they would receive only half of the reward the dungeon could offer.
"This dungeon has a lot hidden inside it. It's difficult... There are many restrictions. If you do something wrong, you can lose the reward."
Enrico simply nods.
That dungeon had been created for those who respected the Elves. And only someone who truly respected them would have a reason to search for and understand all that hidden information scattered throughout the enormous corridor they had passed through.
A red sword appears in the statue's hand. It places it on the ground and introduces itself, making Valença realize that the statue itself would be responsible for the test.
"Guardian of the Dark Elves, Val'Drakar Ignirun."
"Enrico Solcren Ferreira."
"Valença Bravulha."
Several chains of fire surround the area, preventing anyone from escaping. The statue then picks up its sword again and raises it, preparing to make the first attack.
[Name: Val'Drakar Ignirun]
[Rank: Nartheis Faizes Level 1]
[Magic: Fire and Lava]
[Unique Ability: ???????]