The carriages set off on a journey that would take them a day and a half to complete.
The horses pulling each carriage were reinforced with magic (Spirituality). They were no ordinary horses, belonging to a powerful breed of peculiar horses. Their front was lighter than their rear in a ratio of 1 to 2 and sometimes 1 to 3.
They were astonishingly muscular in the rear, but looked like normal horses in the front, causing contrasts in their build.
Despite that strange build, they had astonishing strength to carry several tons while running at high speeds.
For long-distance travel, they are perfect.
-
After a day and a half of travel, they stopped near the Sunken Mountain. Indeed, the Sunken Mountain was a sunken mountain.
It was partially submerged in a strange lake, hence its name.
Almost nothing was in sight around it, except for some mountains on the other side of the lake, which adorned the landscape.
In the center of the sunken mountain was a massive door made and carved from enormous rocks, strengthened with Spirituality. The door seemed to give off energy, and its origin was unknown.
At this point in the story, no one but Brandon knows what this means. But Ryan knows.
It is a living ruin.
"Let me be clear." Brandon stepped forward to speak as soon as they got out of the carriages. "This dungeon will be dangerous. Much more dangerous than you can imagine. But the resources inside will surely be amazing. We have studied it closely and can be sure it has spirituality."
"Spirituality? A ruin?" Several who did not know looked back at the ruin in amazement.
Finding spirituality in a specific place like this was becoming increasingly complex. Were they really going to enter a ruin with spirituality?
It was a blessing for the Walkers!
"Yes. And it has spirituality in quite an impressive proportion. Do we all agree that the resources inside it are impressive?" he asked.
"Yes, Prince! This is a blessing, there is no reward without danger!"
"True, true, let those afraid turn around and leave!"
A commotion broke out among the crowd, who seemed eager to enter immediately.
Brandon smiled.
"Although the danger is great, so is the reward. So, finish getting ready and we'll go in at once," he declared.
A few minutes later, Arnold approached Ryan again.
"Young Master, I did a few more things for you," he said, handing him more potions. "I'm sure they'll help you." The smile on his face was calm and kind as always.
Although Ryan thought about refusing, he couldn't because a voice stood in his way.
"Arnold, come here for a moment!" Brandon shouted, interrupting Ryan's words of refusal. He also called over the subordinates of his other brothers who had come along.
Arnold nodded quickly. "Give me a moment, young master." He said, and then ran off.
Ryan looked at the things he had been given and frowned. He knew Arnold's story. He was a street kid like Ryan had been in his first life, but he had been adopted by the first prince and had since deeply respected and admired all his relatives.
'I hope none of that has changed now. He seems like a good guy,' he thought.
"Ryan!" Max suddenly greeted him, jumping up to him.
Ryan was a little startled, frightened by the sudden shout, but when he saw it was him, he took a deep breath. He didn't understand how someone who had been completely exhausted a moment ago was suddenly shouting and jumping around.
'What energy he has!' he thought.
"Did you get some rest?" he asked.
"Yes. I was exhausted because I couldn't sleep well, but I'm fine now." He said, looking at Ryan's hands. "What's that?" He asked, curious.
"Healing potions, Arnold gave me. They look pretty good." He said, before putting them away.
Max raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Aren't you afraid?"
"Of what?" Ryan looked at him, confused.
"Of accepting something from someone you haven't seen in a long time. The last time he was here was three or four years ago, right?"
"Oh." Ryan nodded. That might scare someone, but in his memory, Arnold was a nice guy who always gave him gifts. Several of his favorite books (from the previous Ryan) had been bought and given to him as gifts.
He was among the few people who gave him gifts on his birthday, so he had a good impression of him. Not only because he knew his past and future, but also because of what he had done for him.
So he shook his head. "Those who have proven themselves loyal don't need my doubts," he said, hoping he would understand what he meant.
Max simply nodded. "Well, I'm just saying you shouldn't accept things from strangers," he said.
When Ryan thought about responding...
"It's time to go in!" Brandon shouted.
'So soon?' He turned around. Everyone was ready and waiting to go in. Even Arnold was heading toward him again.
They had gotten ready really quickly, so he didn't have time to respond. Max ran ahead, excited, while Ryan followed behind, talking to Arnold and other "acquaintances" nearby.
When they reached the door, it opened by itself.
'Undoubtedly, a living ruin. It didn't look so scary in the novel.' Ryan clenched his fists and stepped inside with everyone else.
Once they passed through the door, it slammed shut behind them.
Welcome.
The voice came from all around them and enveloped them.
Several of them shuddered and drew their weapons. "Who's there?!"
But Brandon quickly spoke up. "Calm down, it's just the ruin talking," he said.
The ruin was talking?
Shit...
Everyone immediately understood how dangerous it was, but they could not act. They tried to keep walking but realized they couldn't move. The voice sounded again.
All of you have been chosen to pass my little tests, humans.
This voice sounded ancient, as if it came from the past—a very distant past. It was hoarse and had many undulations, and it seemed to emanate from every rock around them.
Soon, you will all be divided and go your separate ways. If you are lucky, you will be paired with a companion who will help you. If you are unlucky, you will have to go it alone.
You will have to overcome a series of trials, fighting beasts.
Look inside yourselves. Each of you has just received a Colorful Spirituality Orb, one per person in four different colors: blue, green, yellow, and red.
Those who have received the blue one will have increased intelligence and brain capacity.
Those who have received the green one will have increased strength and agility.
Those who have received the yellow orb will have their ability to create light and electricity increased.
Finally, those who have received the red orb will have their natural regenerative abilities increased.
It doesn't matter if you are a walker or a normal person.
Your mission will be to obtain the Orbs of Spirituality until you have all four. But in the end, only one of you will receive my reward.
Good luck, humans.
At that moment, everyone in the huge initial hall blinked, and when they opened their eyes again, they were in a completely different environment.
Ryan opened his eyes… in a familiar environment.
'My God, have I been so lucky?' He smiled broadly when he realized he had been sent to the hallway that Brandon had traveled back then.
It was a hallway like a castle, quite deep and poorly lit. The patterns on the walls looked like they had been made by a small child, which allowed him to recognize them. The other hallways that were described were not like these.
Brandon passed through it very easily at that time, as he was powerful. But the guy was curious, so he practically showed him all the traps in this place.
Of course, one thing Brandon didn't consider (and didn't care about, since he didn't know Ryan was a reincarnated soul) is that if he changes the plans so much, the chances of Ryan getting a more feasible hallway increase. Before, when fewer than 50 people were coming, Brandon might have gotten this hallway.
But now... Ryan was lucky. He should be grateful for his drastic change of plans.
He was so happy that he immediately began to prepare himself, wearing specialized war alchemist clothing to carry many potions and poisoned weapons.
He hadn't done so before because he didn't want to give Brandon any information about what he would do, but soon he was heavily armed with potions, poisons, and weapons all over his body, wearing black clothing.
The moment he finished preparing, he looked ahead and smiled.
"Little snake... Why don't you show yourself, if you're there?" As he said this, he moved one of his hands holding a poisonous vial and threw it with all his might.
A terrifying force, which he shouldn't have had!
The dungeon had blessed him with the green orb.
The bottle flew at high speed until it hit an area in the air. There seemed to be nothing there, but immediately the glass shattered into pieces and the corrosive poison sprayed over a huge snake's body.
A Red-necked Anaconda. It was about 5 meters long and 1 meter wide, enormous.
"KIII!" The anaconda lunged forward after feeling the pain, writhing on the ground, abandoning its initial plan.
'Oh. It has the Yellow Orb. Good, light amid this darkness is a good thing. It will help me see the traps better.' He thought and immediately joined the fight.