Adam and Alexia stopped in front of the gate as the blue fairy, their guide in this mysterious place, revealed herself.

[Pass the Pale Spider Pearl to the light to proceed.]

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The pearl trembled as it rose above Adam's palm and headed for the hollow on the left side of the gate.

These gates had not moved for a long time, the two great slabs were covered with a thick layer of dust through which only the outlines of the drawings were visible.

Even the hollow was only visible because of the light falling on it.

Whoooooooosh.

In a sharp movement, the pearl crashed into the hollow, as a bright blue-purple light ran in waves across the left side of the gate, slowly removing all the dust and making the outlines of the drawings shine.

Adam's eyes reflected the majestic wings of a creature that seemed familiar to him, but was something new.

It was not a wyvern or a gargoyle, but a dragon who was in battle with someone or something. Even from a simple drawing, Adam could see the fear and panic in the dragon's eyes.

However, until they uncovered the right side of the gate, they would not be able to see the full picture.

[You have passed the first trial.]

[Follow the line to the second trial.]

"Wait!" Alexia exclaimed, stopping the blue fairy.

Unlike Adam, who was examining the drawing to find some hints, Alexia was not interested in it at all.

"Don't you dare deceive us this time! Tell us all the rules right away!"

The blue fairy trembled.

[Some rules block others. You know as much as all contenders should, no more, no less. Whether you win or lose depends only on you.]

"Hey..." Adam's low voice rang out. "What's behind the gate? Is that dragon really there?"

This time, there was no answer as the blue fairy disappeared underground, leaving them only the light line.

"Damn it!" Alexia punched the wall, and pebbles scattered over her shoulders.

She was about to leave, but something caught her attention.

"Agh?"

Adam stepped forward as he placed his palm on the gate. He directed his energy along his arm, not the star energy, but the ancient one.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

In response to his actions, the huge gates shook, and cracks ran along the walls from the pressure Adam exerted with just his light touch. These were the capabilities of the ancient energy.

He did not stop there, as a needle appeared in his hand and a black staff in the other.

Crack. Crack.

Like stakes used by a blacksmith at work, Adam drove his needle and staff into the gate gap. His hands trembled, his muscles tensed to the limit, but his eyes remained calm.

Shock covered Alexia's face when the massive gates opened slightly, just for a moment, but it was enough for Adam's fingers, covered in black gloves, to grab the edges.

When he used his Stellar Nexus, he not only gained all the abilities of the Staff of Defeat, but also enormous physical strength that shocked even Menax.

'If this strength was enough to crush the golden skeleton's fingers like paper, then I should be able to handle stone gates, right?

He was not mistaken.

Even though they had to go through one more trial, the gate started to open, slowly but surely, as Adam smashed the two slabs apart while cracks ran across the ground from the pressure. If they had been in another area where the energy density was lower, his feet would have sunk knee-deep into the ground.

Adam's eyes widened when he saw a bright glow in the distance coming from below. He looked at the pond, which seemed to consist not of water but of a myriad of precious stones.

Slowly, his eyes turned to the side to notice a huge, motionless frame that seemed to guard the pond.

Clasp!

At the same moment, the golden runes flashed before and behind the gates as they slammed shut. The shockwave of dense, sharp energy threw Adam back with such force that even Alexia didn't have time to react.

In the end, Adam only stopped when he plunged into the lake at the entrance to the cave, where the first two spiders had attacked them.

"Adam!" Alexia exclaimed as she ran to him, but he didn't need help.

He was unharmed and easily got up while water dripped from the tips of his black hair, and a satisfied grin spread across his face.

"Hah, now I'm convinced."

"Agh?" Alexia stopped, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"This place is full of shit. Damn, I just realized it."

He shook his head as he climbed out of the lake and headed toward the line of light.

"When you deal with the External Artifacts, they immediately tell you their intentions and goals. In the end, you can negotiate with them or understand whether they are friends or enemies. Here, it's not like that."

He waved his hand.

"This place has no intention of rewarding us for the trials we've gone through, like in some Stronghold. It wants to get rid of us by any means necessary."

"I knew it!" Alexia exclaimed. "I knew right away that we couldn't trust this Ancient Voice!"

"No."

"Agh?"

Adam looked at her over his shoulder.

"The Ancient Voice has nothing to do with it. We should be asking questions of whoever set these rules. Hah, the old golem was right."

He grinned as he looked up.

"If you think about this place as an honest traveler, there really is no way out. It's one big toothy chest that slowly devours you."

"What...? What should we do then?" Alexia scratched her cheek. Adam had confused her.

Adam chuckled.

"What we do best: win and break the rules."

Sparkles filled Alexia's eyes as Adam continued:

"It doesn't matter what the second trial requires of us. We have to go through it our way, not the way the rules require. I almost managed to open the gate, so together we'll figure out this unfair trial somehow."

That was all Alexia needed to hear.

"Hell yeah! Now I like this place!" She exclaimed and ran after Adam.

...

At the same time, a huge eye opened slightly, blue and deep as ancient ice, with a vertical pupil.

It saw two auras above, moving toward the second trial.

It was decided to get rid of them, right now.

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