Agggghhhh!
It's so hot!
I only stood on the sand for a moment and already got burned because of the extreme heat. Even though I'm strong, I don't have any skills that help with environmental adaptation.
If I remember correctly, I have a skill called [Wanderlust], but it only boosts my defense stats and doesn't provide any heat resistance. What's the point of defense if I can't resist the heat?!
There's no other choice—I'll have to spend some time getting used to this temperature first.
Eventually, after a whole day, I was able to walk on the sand. Even though my entire body still felt hot, everything would be fine as long as I made it to that pyramid.
Let's go!
I dashed at my top speed, kicking up all the sand along the way, stirring up thick clouds of dust. Suddenly, I heard the movement of some creature within the sand.
Huh?
A monster?
But I just checked earlier and there was nothing.
Not long after, a long creature emerged from the ground, its entire body covered in sand… or rather, it was made of sand.
Is that a worm? A sandworm? Completely made of sand? And there are so many of them.
Dozens of sandworms began slithering up and down through the sand. Despite being numerous and large, they didn't come near me.
Appraisal.
Hmm, I see.
These worms are truly made of sand, which is why I couldn't detect them earlier. They don't attack unless provoked first, and their primary food source is cacti and other desert vegetation.
They even eat cacti…?
Well, I guess the environment here is a bit barren, but… are these the only creatures around here?
I tried checking again, but I really didn't find anything else.
Alright, I think the real surprises will be inside that pyramid, so let's get moving.
Before long, I was standing before the massive pyramid, completely overwhelmed by its size and imposing presence. The huge stone blocks, perfectly stacked over countless generations, still stood firm as a testament to the builders' craftsmanship and wisdom.
So tall.
Probably need to stack a thousand of me just to match its height. But from the outside, it looked rather plain. I didn't see any statues like the ones people often describe from Earth's pyramids.
Maybe this one is just a coincidence…?
I reached out and touched its surface, feeling the heat gathered from the desert sun. Though the outer layer of stone had chipped over time, it remained remarkably sturdy. Each stone felt like it held the stories of a distant era, making me even more curious about the mysteries inside.
Where's the entrance?
I wondered, scanning the colossal surface of the pyramid with my eyes.
I started walking around, searching for any sign of a door or hidden passage. But strangely, all four sides looked exactly the same—smooth, without any cracks or special markings.
Huh??
There really isn't a door anywhere.
A structure this big has to have an entrance. No way it doesn't… I thought, carefully inspecting each block, but all efforts were in vain.
It's not like those where you press a stone and a door appears.
Why not?!
That would've looked so cool!
What a lack of aesthetic sense.
Suddenly, a scorching desert wind blew through, carrying the scent of dry sand and a stifling feeling. I looked up, gazing at the shimmering tip of the pyramid under the sunlight.
That peak… it doesn't look pointed.
I tried using my skill to observe it, and sure enough, it wasn't pointed, but I couldn't see what the surface above looked like.
Don't tell me… the entrance is up high?
The thought made me hesitate for a moment, but it seemed like there was no other way. If I couldn't find a way in from below, then I only had one option left.
Taking a deep breath, I checked my condition, confirmed that I was at my best, and began climbing to the top.
I started to ascend. The surface of the stone was a bit slippery, so I created a layer of Spider Silk to cling to as I gradually climbed. Moments like this really make being a spider convenient, thanks to my wall-walking ability.
Though it looked smooth, the surface was actually covered with fine sand that reduced the grip of my silk. I had to continuously produce new threads because the higher I climbed, the hotter it got, and some of my threads even caught fire.
My threads already had heat resistance, yet they still couldn't withstand this floor's climate? I could feel it too, though it wasn't overwhelming.
Once again, I marveled at this dungeon. I'm really curious—who could've created something like this? But with something this enormous, I'd bet no ordinary person could've built it.
Ah, I forgot. This world does have beings called "Gods," so it's probably their handiwork. I really hope someday I can see it from the outside to know just how massive it really is. But only after I've become human.
Let's keep climbing!
It didn't take too long to reach the top, but there was nothing up there except a flat surface.
Are you kidding me?!
I checked again for any hidden mechanisms, but there was absolutely nothing!
If the entrance isn't here, then why doesn't the pyramid have a pointed tip? Was my assumption wrong?
I didn't want to force my way in because I might trigger a trap or mechanism, which would make things even worse.
"Hey, Meradis, do you have any clues?" Out of options, I had no choice but to ask her again.
"If I remember correctly, this pyramid doesn't have an entrance from here. You have to reach it from somewhere else in this floor."
Huh?
What kind of ridiculous mechanism is that??
But I already checked—there's nothing else out there except sand and those worms!
Meradis giggled and replied, "It's a hidden structure, so Shiraori needs to get close before she can sense it. Its concealment ability isn't something ordinary skills can easily pierce through."
Seriously…
Alright then.
But wandering around this place is going to be exhausting.
Haizzz…
Nothing is ever easy in this Dungeon.
Let's go!
…
But even though I said that, where was I supposed to start looking?
I took a deep breath and turned to look at the scenery from atop the pyramid. The entire desert floor stretched out endlessly, but just as Meradis had said, there was no sign of any other structure beneath the thick layers of sand.
"This is a test of patience, isn't it?" I muttered.
Meradis chuckled softly. "You could say that. But don't worry, Shiraori, you can find it. This time, try sensing more carefully instead of relying solely on sight."
Sensing? Sounds simple, but how am I supposed to sense anything effectively in a vast desert like this?
I closed my eyes and activated [Sensing] once more.
Waves of perception spread out across the surrounding space. At first, all I could feel was the familiar sensation of sand and dry heat. But gradually, I noticed something that didn't blend in—a faint, fragile energy coming from the northeast, not too far from here.
"Alright, I've detected something." I opened my eyes and turned toward the direction I sensed.
I figured I had overlooked this faint presence because I had focused only on scanning for living creatures before. But it's not too late now.
Another lesson learned!
Meradis nodded, her eyes lighting up with approval. "Good. Let's go."
Without hesitation, I jumped off the pyramid using [Spider Silk] to descend, landing silently on the sand. I boosted my speed and rushed toward the source of the energy I had sensed.
Running in the desert wasn't easy, but I had grown so accustomed to the heat that I barely noticed the discomfort anymore. Gusts of wind swept by, stirring up sand as if trying to obscure a secret. But I paid it no mind, pressing on toward the strange location.
Soon, I arrived at an area that felt different. The sand here was firmer, its surface smooth as though it had been compressed over time. A faint energy pulsed from beneath.
"This is it," I whispered, cautiously examining the surroundings. But all I could see was more sand—just an empty patch of desert.
Is there really something here...? But I could clearly feel it. [Sensing] was also giving off a stronger signal now.
Meradis appeared beside me, her eyes filled with hope. "You need to activate it. It could be a mechanism or some kind of seal."
I focused on the abnormal surface. With a closer look, I began to notice faint patterns—like carvings or ancient characters etched into the ground.
I can't make sense of any of this...
"A seal, huh..." I muttered, reaching out to touch the patterns. An unusual chill spread through my fingertips, making me shiver slightly.
Suddenly, the ground beneath began to tremble. The sand slowly receded, and a massive stone door, intricately carved, emerged. The ancient symbols on it started to glow.
"It's beautiful..." I couldn't help but exclaim, staring in awe at the door.
Meradis smiled. "This is the true entrance. Congratulations, Shiraori. You found it."
I turned to Meradis, a bit skeptical. "Finding it is great and all, but how do we open it?"
I tried lifting—no, pushing—with my spider leg against the door. It didn't budge an inch. I also tried anchoring my silk and pulling hard, but that didn't help either.
What is this thing...? A door with no place to pull or push?!
I sighed in frustration. Whoever designed this pyramid and door seriously had some issues with aesthetics.
Meradis tilted her head, amusement in her eyes. "Did you think something this important would open just by pushing?"
"Ugh... You have a point... but I don't see any mechanisms either. Don't tell me we have to solve a puzzle or something?" I squinted at the glowing characters on the door.
"Maybe," Meradis replied, sitting down and examining it closely. "Try touching the symbols. They're not just decoration."
I hesitated for a moment, then reached out with a spider leg and tapped one of the closest symbols. The moment I touched it, the symbol glowed even brighter, and a chime-like sound echoed through the air.
"Oh! It reacted!" I said excitedly, but then... nothing else happened.
"Try channeling your mana into it." Meradis suggested. "Maybe it requires energy to activate."
Following her advice, I infused a small amount of mana into the glowing symbol. Instantly, the other characters on the door began to light up, their glow flowing into a chain of interconnected glyphs.
"An ancient language... but what is it writing?" I mumbled, trying to memorize the shapes. I'd have Suzu analyze it later.
Meradis furrowed her brow in thought. "It's the language of a lost civilization. I'm not certain, but it seems like it's asking you something. This might be a trial."
I'm not good at riddles like this!
But before I could complain further, a deep and echoing voice came from the door: "Those who approach, prove that you are worthy to pass through this gate."
I was stunned.
It talks?! Is this a magical door?
Why does this feel so familiar? Every time I go somewhere strange, there's always some trial waiting.
The voice continued, ignoring my question: "Only those possessing wisdom, courage, and insight may enter. Answer this riddle or return from whence you came."
A question appeared on the door—its glowing symbols transformed into a clear image in front of me. It was a puzzle: a small pyramid broken into multiple pieces, and the task was to reassemble it into its original shape.
"This... is a rearrangement challenge?" I frowned at the image.
"It's not too difficult. Just focus!" Meradis encouraged.
I knew, of course, it wasn't hard. This was clearly a challenge for children... but the simplicity itself made it suspicious!
It wasn't the trial I had hoped for, but if I wanted to proceed, I had to complete it. Taking a deep breath, I began moving the pieces. Each adjustment drained a small bit of mana.
After quite some time, I finally finished it. The pyramid took its full form, matching the very structure I'd seen earlier. The door immediately radiated a brilliant light.
The voice spoke again: "You have passed the first trial. Proceed."
Ugh... Why does this feel like a trap?
The door slowly opened, revealing a dark passage leading deep below. I swallowed hard, a mix of nervousness and excitement stirring in me. Whether it was a trap or not, I still wanted to go in.
"Let's go." I said, stepping forward with Meradis. Whatever lay ahead, I knew it would hold even more surprises.
Thanks to [Heaven Eye], my vision in the darkness was excellent. I could clearly see that the walls on either side occasionally bore ancient characters or murals.
They looked quite a bit like Egyptian paintings from Earth, didn't they?
A place so strange yet so familiar—just the kind of mystery to make my heart race with anticipation for what's to come.