Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 84 Etched into History

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Etched into History

Sain Dungeon, Lower Level, Mine Area.

This is the final challenge. Those who complete it will receive a high honor—being the first to pass the Sain Dungeon (after its alteration).

The names of the first individuals to pass each dungeon are recorded and engraved on a stele near the Teleportation Gate for all passing travelers to admire.

And this was the very reason Leon and his companions formed the Strategy Group—they wanted to etch their names in the annals of history!

"..."

But right now, Leon seemed to lack the energy to think about that.

His mind was filled with the Sunlight King’s heroic Fire Transmission, and he was unconsciously cradling the air with both hands, imagining himself holding a flame.

Maru glanced at him twice, then quietly said to Tal, "Has the boss lost his mind, meow?"

"Uh..." Tal glanced at Leon and felt it inappropriate to comment.

Most of the group had recovered from the shock brought by the vision, and was hastening their exploration of the underground mine.

Only Leon’s mental state was a bit off, as if his soul had dived into the bonfire.

Tal was even afraid that he would suddenly start ranting about transmitting fire.

The entire mine area was like a complex labyrinth; tunnels of all sizes intertwined everywhere, dazzling and often leading to the exclamation, "Where is this? How did I end up back here?"

Not only was the terrain complex, but the tunnels also contained classic designs—Hidden Doors.

These Hidden Doors didn’t necessarily require a hit or a rub to be unlocked; sometimes they were hidden behind a pile of broken wooden crates, sometimes blocked by fragile crystal clusters, and sometimes by humanoid stone statues.

What they had in common was their location near dead ends.

When adventurers, frustrated at reaching a dead end, start a brainstorming session on where else they could go, sometimes just a random kick to a pile of wooden crates near the rock wall could reveal a new path.

This "out of the woods and into the village" design sent adventurers’ spirits on a roller coaster ride, causing their spiritual power to surge rapidly.

"Do you think this could be a Hidden Door?" Steeran stared at the rock wall in front of them; they had reached another dead end, with no way forward.

They had already found three Hidden Doors, and subconsciously formed a habit; whenever they saw something slightly suspicious, they had to try hitting it.

Steeran drew his blade and stylishly struck the rock wall; sparks exploded with a "bang," however...

This was not a Hidden Door, but a plain rock wall.

"Hiss..." He caressed his blade sorrowfully, glad there was no nick on it.

In the future, it would be better to just kick when searching for Hidden Doors—no more showing off.

As part of the tunnel design, traps were naturally indispensable.

Iron balls, ground spikes, Poison Arrows, sprays with various negative BUFFs...

When designing the mine area, Gong Qiying not only borrowed from Dark Souls but also referred to some underground designs from The Elder Scrolls, and he did not expect to reap unexpected benefits from doing so.

Because the trap design logic of Dark Souls and The Elder Scrolls differed, the Exploration Teams who were accustomed to the traps in Dark Souls began to doubt themselves when encountering the nearly-faceup traps from The Elder Scrolls.

"Given the usual situation, pulling that lever should disarm the trap, right?" Maru hesitated, staring at the lever on the rock wall, not daring to move.

Drew finished her unspoken words, "But would the traps in the Sain Dungeon be designed so simply?"

"Could there be a spike pit hidden under the lever? Or maybe if we pull the lever, a giant iron ball will drop from above?" added Steeran.

After a long discussion, in the end, it was Roger who used Mage’s Hand from a distance to pull the lever.

Everyone stared intently at it.

The moment it was pulled down, a series of Poison Arrows shot down from above the tunnel, which would have been a warm welcome for anyone who entered without pulling the lever.

"..."

They looked at each other.

"Is that it?"

The Exploration Team’s spiritual power surged in an instant.

A group of people surrounded a simple trap, discussing it for half a day, imagining all kinds of things that weren’t there. This was...

Truly shameful.

"These traps are deceptive," Roger noted this down in his journal, which was filled with dense, abstract lines.

In fact, these were the maps he had drawn.

He had been attentive to the map of each area in the Sain Dungeon, marking obvious spectacles and some potentially renewable items.

It has to be said that although he looked somewhat shabby, he turned out to be unexpectedly reliable.

As he walked and recorded, his peripheral vision suddenly caught a hint of purple.

He saw a purple-red crystal about the thickness of a finger embedded in the rock wall, blooming with a dim glow.

"Is this... Purple Blood Crystal!?"

He did not hesitate to use his Magic to quickly dig out the Purple Blood Crystal, looking at it from all sides and muttering to himself, "No mistake, this is Purple Blood Crystal. Earl Philip has been looking for this."

Known: Earl Philip issued a Decree, provoked public anger, but still prioritized his workers to enter the Dungeon first.

Among the hundreds of workers, 80% were miners, tasked with mining Blood Essence in several explored points in the swamp area for creating Blood Healing Potions for the King’s use.

With the Blood Healing Potions, Earl Philip made the King happy, and only then did the King include the Sain Dungeon in Philip’s domain and rewarded him with a vast treasure.

The rare Purple Blood Crystal could be used to make extremely high-quality Blood Healing Potions, which meant...

It could make the King even happier!

Maybe even elevate his noble status a notch!

"This will solve the research funding issue,"

Roger chuckled, put the Purple Blood Crystal into his pocket, and closely observed the surrounding terrain, engraving the location where the ore was found deeply into his mind.

As the Exploration Team delved deeper, the surrounding scenery gradually changed from bare rocks to clusters of Blood Essence crystals. A large amount of blood-red ore made the area look especially bright.

Purple Blood Crystals, almost impossible to find in the upper regions, had a much higher occurrence rate in the lower levels. Although not as common as everyday items, one could be encountered after nearly half an hour’s walk.

"This ore yield..."

Roger took a deep breath.

"No wonder the Earl has been so aggressive recently."

It was like sitting on a gold mine that couldn’t be mined, no, more precious than a gold mine.

In the hands of any Lord, it would drive them mad.

Roger changed his mind. He wasn’t just going to sell the information to the Bed Family, but also to report to the Magic Association.

This Dungeon must not become Earl Philip’s private property!

At this moment, Steeran, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped and gestured for everyone to halt.

She looked at the Fog Gate in front of her, formed by white mist, and couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

A familiar presence kept coming through from behind the Fog Gate, one she would never mistake – her nightmare –

The Molten Furnace Knight!

"Everyone, be prepared," she said, drinking a calming potion, which helped her to not get overly anxious.

Everyone realized something, their expressions becoming grave.

Steeran looked into everyone’s eyes, her voice tinged with unmistakable excitement, tension, and pride.

"Our names might be carved into history."

Because what came next, might very well be the final challenge!