Keyzier reached out, slowly prying open the lid of the wooden chest. Instead of a mountain of gold coins, a gentle silvery light radiated from the depths. Resting there was a set of Silver Light Armor, a lightweight suit crafted from pure silver, incredibly thin yet emitting a potent aura of protection.
But before they could admire their find any further, the wall behind the chest began to vibrate. With a low, heavy rumble, two identical wooden doors suddenly materialized. There were no signs, no clues. Just two mysterious doors standing in the middle of the silent cavern.
Keyzier massaged his throbbing temples. "What the heck was going on here? First a treasure chest, now two doors out of nowhere! Is this cave playing games with us?" he shouted in frustration. His logic was starting to crumble under the weight of the cave's anomalies.
Novalia stepped forward, attempting to calm him. "Instead of getting a headache trying to figure out the theory, why don't we just try the first door? We won't know unless we try, right?"
Having no better ideas, the group agreed. Keyzier pushed the first door open, and they all stepped through.
Zrup!
A momentary cold sensation enveloped their bodies. When they opened their eyes again, Party Noiver fell silent. Instead of a new room, they were standing amidst the lush trees of Treeze Forest, right in front of the very cave entrance they had entered earlier.
"Huh? Why are we outside?" Keyzier looked around with a gaping mouth. "What is wrong with this cave? We were just kicked out like that?"
"Seems like it, Key." Donovan replied while checking his weapon. "But our mission isn't over. We still don't know what's causing that mana surge. Let's head back in, and this time, we try the second door!"
They entered the cave for the second time. However, the sight before them made all four of them flinch. The pack of Black Wolves they had slaughtered to the last man was now wandering the area once more. Every single one of them looked healthy, vibrant, and just as hungry as before.
"Am I seeing things?" Novalia whispered in disbelief.
"What is the deal with this place?! Why are these monsters alive again?!" Keyzier yelled, his annoyance peaking. "This makes absolutely no sense!"
Donovan sighed, dropping into a combat stance. "No point in complaining. We only have two choices: go back outside or carve through these monsters again until we reach that door!"
Keyzier took a deep breath, his gaze turning sharp as he locked onto the wolves.
Inevitably, Party Noiver had to repeat the battle from scratch. Armed with the experience from the previous round, they wiped out the Black Wolf pack even faster this time. Once victorious, they arrived back at the door they had seen before.
As they stepped inside, the torches ignited simultaneously, just like the first time. The four of them were back in the arena, facing the Black Werewolf as it manifested before them, as if its previous death had been nothing but a bad dream.
Clang!
"I'm having some serious like this before!" Donovan groaned as he parried a wind-bladed strike from the werewolf.
"Stop complaining, Novan! Focus!" Keyzier snapped back. "Now we have to—"
Before Keyzier could finish his command, the Black Werewolf launched a ferocious assault.
Clang! Their blades clashed, sending sparks flying as the steel collided.
"You damn monster! I was talking to my friend, you stupid beast!" Keyzier cursed, finally losing his patience. He unleashed a barrage of lightning magic, venting his frustration on the creature until the Black Werewolf collapsed for the second time.
Just like before, a chest appeared. But the contents were different. This time, they found a magic staff. Keyzier picked it up and channeled his mana. Immediately, the staff unleashed fire magic, significantly amplifying the destructive power of the flames.
"It seems this staff is strictly for the fire element." Keyzier remarked before stowing it in his inventory.
Shortly after the staff was taken, the two mysterious doors appeared once again. Without wasting a moment, they stepped through the second door.
Their vision shifted once more. But this time, they weren't transported outside.
A soft, fresh breeze blew past, carrying the scent of damp grass. Stretched out before them was a vast grassland under a bright blue sky, a horizon that seemed to come from nowhere, considering they were supposed to be deep inside a cave.
"Now what?" Keyzier stared at the endless horizon. "Weren't we just in a cave? Why is there a grassland like this in here?"
His three companions stood stunned. This was a phenomenon they had never encountered and couldn't begin to understand.
Without them knowing, they didn't just enter a cave, but a Dungeon. A place where the environment changes every time they pass through a door shortly after defeating the Floor Boss.
"Key, our supplies are low." Novalia reminded him. They hadn't prepared for a long-term exploration. "We don't know how big this place is or what kind of monsters are waiting in that grass."
Keyzier looked at Novalia, then glanced back. The door they had just come through still stood firm behind them. After a moment of thought, he decided to be realistic.
"You're right. We aren't ready for a long-distance expedition. Let's head back and report to the Guild first. This mystery is far too strange for just the four of us."
They turned around, opened the door behind them, and stepped through.
Once again, a blinding white light hit their eyes. When their vision returned to normal, they were standing outside the cave for the second time.
"Seriously, what's going on with this cave?!" Keyzier shouted, kicking a small pebble in frustration.
Donovan burst into laughter at his friend's antics. The usually calm Keyzier was being driven mad by the cave's nonsensical logic. "Hahaha! Give it a rest, Key. Instead of worrying about those doors, let's go report. At least we have proof that something bizarre is happening here."
Keyzier let out a long sigh, stretching his tense shoulder muscles. "Yeah, you're right, Novan. Let's head back to Verna City!"
With relaxed yet cautious steps, Party Noiver left Treeze Forest, bringing home more questions than answers. And, of course, two new magical items found within the depths.