Chapter 7: The Secret Beneath the Ruins
Arceus stared at Prince Kaelan in disbelief, barely noticing the evening breeze brushing against his face. The revelation was difficult to accept, especially when every history book he had ever read told a completely different story.
"Your Highness, the official records clearly state that Emperor Aerondor Arcana was killed by Founder Andre Phoenix on the battlefield," he said. "The chronicles even describe how Andre beheaded him, ending the Arcana Dynasty and bringing peace to the southern lands."
Beside him, Sienna's fan stopped moving. Her usual composure slipped as she looked at Kaelan, silently waiting for him to explain himself.
Lucian's expression turned serious, his sharp eyes studying the Third Prince.
"Are you saying the history recorded by House Phoenix is false?"
Kaelan let out a slow breath before answering.
"It appears that way."
His words settled over the group, leaving everyone uncertain about what to say next. If the founding story of the Phoenix Empire had been altered, then the truth behind its greatest historical events might be very different from what generations of people had been taught. How many other details had been removed, changed, or deliberately buried?
For several moments, only the rustling of leaves could be heard.
Arceus eventually cleared his throat, hoping to ease the uncomfortable silence.
"So, this place holds something valuable, doesn't it? Treasure, perhaps?"
Kaelan nodded, although the excitement he had shown earlier was now mixed with caution.
"There is something here," he replied, offering no further explanation.
He turned and continued into the ruins, leaving the others with little choice but to follow.
The group moved carefully through the remains of the ancient settlement. Broken walls stood on either side of their path, their surfaces covered in thick vines. Fallen stones blocked parts of the old courtyards, while the roots of enormous trees had pushed through the foundations of buildings that had once sheltered people.
After several minutes, the vegetation thinned, revealing a broad stone podium surrounded by towering pillars.
Unlike the ruined structures nearby, the pillars remained remarkably intact. Their surfaces showed little damage from the passage of time, and the carvings covering them were still clear enough to examine.
Atop each pillar stood an identical statue. Each creature had the crowned head of a man, the muscular body of a lion, and a curved scorpion tail raised above its back. Moss covered parts of the statues, but their craftsmanship remained unsettlingly precise, as though their makers had intended them to watch over the place forever.
A wide staircase descended from the center of the podium into complete darkness.
Broken slabs of stone lay scattered around the entrance. Some were cracked into several pieces, while others had been thrown far from their original positions. The damage suggested that something powerful had once broken through a seal protecting the underground passage.
Before anyone could examine the entrance, Arceus noticed three bodies lying near the stairs.
His expression changed immediately.
"Those are royal soldiers!"
Kaelan hurried forward, his boots scraping against the broken stones.
"Your Highness!"
One of the fallen soldiers moved weakly. With considerable effort, he pushed himself up onto one elbow, revealing a pale face and bloodstained armor. His breathing was uneven, and he struggled to remain conscious.
Kaelan crouched beside him.
"What happened here?"
The soldier lowered his head, shame and pain visible in his expression.
"Captain Harold betrayed us, Your Highness."
Kaelan's face hardened.
The injured soldier explained that their squad had discovered the entrance to the underground labyrinth. Captain Harold had initially appeared as calm as usual, but the moment they uncovered the passage, he had turned against his own men and attacked without warning.
The soldiers had been caught completely off guard. Several were struck down before they could even draw their weapons.
"I realized what was happening too late," the soldier continued, his voice trembling. "I pretended to be dead. It was the only way I could survive."
He lowered his head further, unable to hide his shame.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I failed to stop him."
Kaelan's jaw tightened, but he did not waste time blaming an injured man.
"Where is Harold now?"
"He went down the stairs. He hasn't returned."
Anger flashed across Kaelan's face. He rose and looked toward the two remaining royal soldiers.
"Stay here and guard the entrance. The rest of us will go after him."
He then turned toward Lucian and the others.
"Captain Harold is a four-star mage. The underground passages are narrow, and we don't know what he has prepared down there. You should remain here."
Lucian crossed his arms.
"I alone am more than capable of dealing with a four-star mage."
"He knows we're coming," Kaelan interrupted. "A mage who has time to prepare is far more dangerous than one caught off guard. Even a stronger warrior can lose his life by charging blindly into a trap."
His gaze settled on Lucian.
"If anything happens to you while you're under my protection, how am I supposed to face Lord Storm?"
The sincerity in his voice gave Lucian pause. Kaelan had a point, and Lucian knew better than to underestimate a prepared opponent. However, he had never been comfortable standing aside while others faced danger on his behalf.
He stepped toward the stairs.
"Then let the soldiers bear witness to my decision. I choose for myself whether to enter that passage. Either I go with you, or I return to the Imperial City now."
His eyes met Kaelan's without hesitation.
The Third Prince studied him for a moment before giving a reluctant nod.
"Very well. Come with me, brother."
Arceus and his two maids remained above ground, along with Sienna. Although Sienna was a three-star cultivator, fighting a prepared mage in confined corridors would put her at a disadvantage, and Kaelan had no intention of exposing her to unnecessary danger.
The prince and Lucian descended into the darkness, accompanied by the two royal knights.
The remaining soldiers took up positions around the entrance, watching the surrounding ruins for any sign of danger.
Not long after the group disappeared below, a figure dressed in black robes appeared near the entrance. He made no sound as he emerged from the shadows, his presence so sudden that the two royal knights immediately drew their swords.
"Who are you?"
Arceus instinctively stepped in front of Sienna, keeping himself between her and the stranger.
The hooded figure did not answer. Instead, he tossed a medallion toward the knights.
It landed in one man's hand, and the engraved unicorn insignia caught the light.
The knights exchanged a brief glance. Recognition replaced their suspicion, and both stepped aside without asking another question.
The robed man collected the medallion, turned toward the staircase, and vanished into the darkness below.
Arceus frowned as he watched him leave. He had no idea who the stranger was, but the knights' reaction suggested that the man carried authority or belonged to an organization they dared not question.
Rather than ask questions he was unlikely to have answered, Arceus reached into his spatial ring and withdrew two wooden boxes.
"Betty. Esme."
He handed one box to each maid.
"Be ready to defend yourselves if anything happens."
The maids accepted the boxes with nervous expressions, but neither complained. They opened them, took out the pistols, and began loading the bullets exactly as Arceus had taught them.
Sienna glanced at the weapons in their hands.
"When did you acquire those?"
Arceus smiled faintly, his fingers brushing against the grip of his own pistol.
"About a week ago. I've visited that shop several times since then."
He paused, considering how to describe his experience.
"It's strangely enjoyable."
Sienna raised an eyebrow.
"Why? It's only an ungraded weapon."
"Perhaps," Arceus replied lightly. "But it has its own charm."
Sienna looked at him for a moment before glancing toward the entrance to the underground passage.
Is it really the weapon he likes, or the woman who sells it?
She kept the thought to herself, though the faint smile on her face suggested that she had already formed an opinion.
Beneath the Ruins
Prince Kaelan held a sphere of flame in his palm, allowing its light to illuminate the narrow passage ahead. The stone walls pressed close on either side, and the air was cool and stale, carrying the smell of damp earth and ancient stone.
The deeper they went, the more difficult it became to judge how much distance they had covered. The passage twisted through the earth, occasionally dividing into several smaller tunnels before joining together again.
After several minutes, they reached a fork.
Lucian stopped and examined the three paths.
"Which way?"
"We stay together," Kaelan replied. "No one goes off alone."
They chose the middle passage and continued walking.
Nearly an hour passed as they explored the labyrinth, but every path seemed to lead to another empty corridor or a dead end. The prince checked the ancient parchment repeatedly, yet the information it contained offered little help in identifying their exact location.
Lucian's patience gradually wore thin.
"Another dead end?" He struck the stone wall lightly with the back of his hand. "How many tunnels does this place have?"
"There are too many to count," Kaelan replied. "They probably connect to one another."
"I'm aware of that, Your Highness."
Lucian's voice carried a sharp edge.
Kaelan glanced at him but chose not to argue. They had already wasted considerable time, and the deeper they ventured, the harder it would be to retrace their steps.
After another unsuccessful turn, the prince finally stopped.
"Do you want to return to the surface and reconsider our route?"
Lucian answered without hesitation.
"Retreat doesn't suit me."
He chose another passage and continued forward.
This corridor was different from the others. It stretched in a straight line, with no visible branches or turns. The stone floor was relatively even, and the walls bore marks that suggested people had once traveled through it regularly.
They advanced cautiously for nearly half an hour.
Then faint sounds reached them from somewhere ahead.
The first was the sharp clash of metal against stone. The second was a loud hiss that echoed through the tunnel, followed by the rumble of something massive moving across the ground.
Kaelan raised his hand, signaling the others to slow down.
They approached the source of the noise and stopped at the entrance to a large chamber.
Inside, a gigantic cobra coiled around several broken pillars. Its body was thicker than a tree trunk, and its raised hood nearly reached the ceiling. Its scales glistened in the dim light, although deep cuts and blackened patches covered much of its body.
Dark fluid seeped from several wounds.
Opposite the enormous serpent stood a familiar figure, fighting desperately to survive.
Prince Kaelan's eyes narrowed.
Captain Harold.
The cobra hissed, its hood spreading wider as flames flickered between its jaws. Scorch marks covered the surrounding stones, evidence of the fire it had unleashed during the battle.
Despite its injuries, the beast refused to move away from the massive chest behind it. Its coiled body formed a living barrier between the intruder and the treasure it had guarded for centuries.
Harold had been fighting the serpent for three days.
Whenever the battle turned against him, he retreated to the surface to recover his Ether before returning to the chamber. Each time, he managed to inflict a little more damage on the guardian, slowly wearing down its strength.
Today, he believed victory was finally within reach.
Then he saw the people standing at the entrance.
Prince Kaelan Phoenix.
Lucian Storm.
And two royal knights whose presence he had never expected.
Harold's heart lurched.
He had assumed that the soldiers he attacked at the entrance were dead. If even one of them had survived, his betrayal would be exposed, and the consequences would be severe.
For a moment, panic threatened to break through his expression. He forced it down, then turned toward the newcomers with an expression of desperate relief.
"Your Highness!"
He narrowly dodged a burst of flames from the cobra before continuing.
"The treasure is behind this beast! I've been fighting it for days, but it is too strong for me to defeat alone. Please, lend me your strength!"
He turned toward the two knights.
"Aron! Oswin! Assist me!"
The knights looked toward Kaelan, waiting for his command.
The prince studied Harold for a fraction longer than necessary. The man's appearance suggested that he had been fighting continuously, and his wounds were consistent with the damage visible across the chamber.
Yet something about his sudden appeal for help felt wrong.
Kaelan said nothing about his suspicions. Instead, he gave the knights a slight nod.
"Help him bring down the beast."
Aron and Oswin entered the chamber immediately.
Three four-star warriors against a heavily wounded five-star magical beast quickly changed the course of the battle. The knights attacked from opposite sides, forcing the cobra to divide its attention while Harold continued striking at its weakened scales.
Blades flashed beneath the flickering light of Kaelan's fireball.
The cobra thrashed wildly, smashing one of the broken pillars and sending stone fragments flying across the chamber. It spat another burst of flame, forcing the knights to retreat before they resumed their assault.
But the beast was already exhausted.
Its movements had grown slower, and its scales could no longer withstand repeated strikes. Within minutes, the combined attacks overwhelmed its remaining strength.
The gigantic cobra collapsed heavily onto the stone floor.
Dust rose around its massive body.
For a moment, the chamber fell quiet except for the serpent's labored breathing. It was badly injured, but it was still alive.
One of the knights stepped forward, raising his sword to deliver the final blow.
"Stop."
Kaelan's voice cut through the chamber.
The knight froze, turning toward the prince.
Everyone else looked at him as well, including Lucian, who had been observing the fight from the entrance.
Kaelan reached into his storage ring and withdrew an ancient tome. Its cover was worn and dark, etched with faded symbols that seemed to shift faintly beneath the light.
He opened it and turned several pages before finding the section he wanted.
Then he began to chant.
The words were harsh and unfamiliar, unlike any spell Lucian had heard before. As the incantation continued, Ether gathered around the prince, swirling through the chamber in visible streams. His reserves began to drain rapidly, and his expression tightened with the effort of maintaining the spell.
Lucian watched without speaking, his attention fixed on the tome.
At the final word, five crimson chains erupted from Kaelan's back.
Each chain ended in a wicked, anchor-shaped barb. They shot across the chamber before plunging into the fallen cobra's body, piercing its thick scales one after another.
The serpent convulsed violently.
Its enormous body twisted against the stone floor, but the chains held it firmly in place. A strange energy began flowing through them, streaming away from the beast and into Kaelan.
The change was immediate.
The cobra's scales lost their shine, and its movements gradually weakened. Its massive body began to shrink as its life force drained away, leaving it unable to fight or even lift its head.
The process continued for nearly half an hour.
Lucian remained silent, but his eyes never left the crimson chains. Whatever spell Kaelan had used, it was unlike anything he had expected from the Third Prince.
Finally, the cobra's movements stopped.
Its core shattered, and the last traces of its vitality disappeared.
The chains dissolved into tiny motes of red light, which faded before reaching the ground.
Kaelan slowly opened his eyes.
The exhaustion that had weighed on him during the incantation was gone. A stronger and denser flow of Ether moved through his body, and his posture seemed more confident than before.
"Four-star rank at last," he murmured, satisfaction clear in his voice.
He flexed his fingers, sensing the change within his meridians.
"I'm already halfway through this realm. With proper stabilization and enough Ether crystals, I should be able to reach the fifth star before I turn twenty-one."
Lucian glanced at the ancient tome in Kaelan's hand but did not ask about it. The spell had raised questions he would need to consider later, but for now, he had more immediate concerns.
Harold, meanwhile, concealed his disappointment behind a strained smile. The cobra had guarded the chest for centuries, and he had spent three days weakening it. Yet the moment the beast was finally defeated, the prince had used an unknown spell to drain its remaining vitality.
Still, the treasure was within reach.
"Your Highness," Harold said quickly, gesturing toward the chest. "The treasure awaits."
Kaelan turned toward him.
"Yes. But first, we must address your betrayal."
The warmth disappeared from the chamber.
Harold's smile froze.
Kaelan stepped closer, his expression hardening.
"You understand the punishment for killing your fellow soldiers and betraying the Empire, don't you?"
Lucian immediately stepped back. Imperial discipline was not his concern, and he had no desire to interfere in a matter involving the royal family.
Harold's face drained of color.
"I don't know what you mean, Your Highness."
Kaelan's eyes narrowed.
"One of the soldiers you attacked survived. He has already told us what happened. Your crime has been exposed, fool."
He paused before continuing.
"Surrender peacefully and return to the Imperial City. I will petition for your death sentence to be commuted to twenty years of imprisonment."
Harold's gaze darted toward the passage behind them.
There was no easy escape. Two royal knights stood nearby, Lucian was watching him carefully, and Kaelan himself had just demonstrated a power Harold could not understand.
Slowly, Harold lowered himself to his knees.
"I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness. I will submit to judgment."
Kaelan withdrew a length of sturdy rope from his storage ring and bound Harold's arms tightly behind his back.
"Remain still."
Harold lowered his head and said nothing more.
With the traitor secured, Kaelan finally turned toward the massive chest. It was reinforced with dark iron bands, and ancient carvings covered its surface. Despite its age, the structure remained intact, suggesting that whoever had placed it there had intended it to survive for a very long time.
Lucian approached, his curiosity overcoming his caution.
"Is this the treasure we came for?"
Kaelan did not touch the chest.
Instead, he withdrew the aged parchment and examined it again. He compared its markings with the carvings on the surrounding walls before stepping toward the stone surface behind the chest.
He pressed his palm against it.
Nothing happened.
He shifted his hand and tried again.
Still nothing.
Lucian's patience began to fade.
"What exactly are you looking for?"
"The true entrance," Kaelan replied.
Lucian frowned.
"The true entrance? I thought we came here for Emperor Aerondor's treasure. Isn't that the chest?"
"That chest is a trap," Kaelan answered without hesitation. "According to this parchment, opening it will trigger a spell capable of destroying everything in this chamber. It is a fifth-star area-wide spell."
Lucian's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean it would kill anyone standing nearby?"
"Most likely. And anyone who survived the initial blast would still be trapped underground."
Before Lucian could ask another question, a faint click sounded beneath Kaelan's palm.
A section of the wall moved backward with a low rumble, revealing a hidden passage behind it.
Warm light spilled through the opening.
Kaelan stepped aside, allowing Lucian to see what lay beyond.
The chamber behind the wall was filled with glowing Ether crystals. They covered the floor, walls, and ceiling, shining in shades of blue and violet. Their combined light illuminated the hidden chamber so brightly that the surrounding stones appeared almost transparent.
For several seconds, Lucian could only stare.
"A hidden crystal mine..." he whispered.
His eyes widened as he took in the breathtaking sight.
Meanwhile, Above Ground
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Sharp gunshots echoed across the ruined courtyard, startling a flock of birds from the nearby trees. The birds scattered into the sky, their wings beating furiously as they fled the unfamiliar noise.
Arceus lowered his pistol after each shot, adjusting his stance and grip as he practiced. Waiting for the others to return had gradually worn down his patience, so he had decided to use the time to improve his aim.
A four-star royal knight stood several meters away, a round fruit balanced carefully on top of his helmet.
The knight remained completely still.
An ungraded weapon posed little direct threat to someone of his cultivation, particularly with reinforced armor protecting his vital points. Nevertheless, the exercise required considerable trust in Arceus's ability to aim accurately.
He did not blink as Arceus raised the pistol again.
Arceus took a slow breath, steadied his hands, and aligned the barrel with the fruit.
Then he squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet struck the fruit cleanly, bursting it apart in a spray of juice.
The knight remained unharmed.
Arceus lowered the pistol with a satisfied smile.
"That was much better."
Nearby, Captain Ralph, the five-star warrior guarding the staircase, watched the demonstration without changing his expression. However, his attention kept returning to the strange silver weapon in Arceus's hand.
He had seen countless weapons during his years of service, but this one was unlike anything he knew.
The projectile moved too quickly for its small size, and the weapon required almost no physical strength to operate. Within ten meters, even a five-star warrior might struggle to dodge a shot without prior warning.
Ralph's gaze narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Before he could examine the matter further, faint footsteps sounded from the underground passage.
He straightened immediately and turned toward the stairs.
A few moments later, Prince Kaelan emerged, followed by Lucian and the others.
Ralph stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Highness."
Kaelan returned the greeting with a brief nod before issuing his orders.
"Captain Ralph, remain here until General Gregor arrives with reinforcements. Once they arrive, seal the entrance and destroy these pillars. The site must appear untouched."
His expression became cold.
"If anyone attempts to enter before the area is secured, eliminate them without hesitation. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
While Ralph acknowledged the command, a faint glow appeared around Harold's bound wrists.
At first, it was barely noticeable. Then heat gathered between his hands, and the sturdy rope began to smoke.
Kaelan's head snapped toward him.
Before anyone could react, Harold's palms ignited with searing flames.
The rope blackened and disintegrated into ash.
"Argh!"
Harold twisted violently, freeing his hands in a burst of heat. He lunged toward the nearest royal knights and slammed his burning palms against their exposed forearms.
The smell of scorched flesh filled the air as Aron and Oswin cried out in pain.
"Ralph!" Kaelan shouted.
The five-star warrior charged forward, his boots cracking against the stone.
But Harold had no intention of escaping into the forest.
Instead, he rushed straight toward Arceus.
Everything happened in a heartbeat.
Before Arceus could turn fully, Harold seized him from behind and locked one arm across his chest. His other hand, still burning with intense heat, moved dangerously close to Arceus's throat.
"Arceus!"
"Young Master!"
"Dear!"
Several voices rang out at once.
Sienna rushed forward instinctively, her face pale with fear. The two maids raised their pistols, but neither dared to fire while Arceus remained trapped in the traitor's grasp.
Even Lucian's composure cracked for an instant.
Harold tightened his hold and slowly backed away, keeping his burning palm near Arceus's neck.
"Take another step, and he dies!"
Kaelan stopped immediately. His expression turned glacial as he stared at the man who had rejected the mercy offered to him only moments earlier.
"I gave you a chance to surrender," the prince said coldly. "You chose death."
"Spare me your lies!" Harold spat. "You offered me imprisonment, not mercy. Twenty years in a cell would be worse than execution!"
He continued backing toward the edge of the ruins, dragging Arceus with him.
Lucian's hand tightened around his sword hilt, but he did not draw it. Harold was a desperate four-star mage, and with Arceus held so close, even a slight mistake could prove fatal.
The soldiers remained still, waiting for an opening.
Seconds stretched painfully.
Harold watched Kaelan and the approaching guards, his attention fixed on every movement they made. He was desperate to escape, and he clearly intended to use Arceus as a shield until he reached the forest.
Yet Arceus himself remained strangely calm.
He did not struggle or attempt to break free. His body stayed almost limp in Harold's grasp, while his gaze lowered slightly toward his left hand.
The pistol was still there.
And it was loaded.
Arceus understood that he might get only one chance. If he moved too early, Harold could tighten his grip or burn through his throat before anyone could intervene. If he waited too long, the traitor might reach the trees, where the surrounding terrain would make a rescue far more difficult.
He watched carefully, waiting for the smallest mistake.
Step by step, Harold moved toward the edge of the ruins.
Kaelan's jaw tightened. The farther the traitor went, the harder it would become to surround him without putting Arceus in greater danger.
Then Harold shifted his stance, loosening his hold for the briefest moment as he adjusted his footing.
That tiny movement was all Arceus needed.
He twisted his body just enough to raise his left arm. The silver pistol came up between them, its barrel pointing directly at Harold's eye from only a few centimeters away.
For the first time since seizing his hostage, the traitor lost control of his expression.
His pupils contracted as he stared at the unfamiliar metallic barrel.
BANG!