They pressed deeper into the black crystal cavern, the pulsing light growing stronger with each step. The walls narrowed, then opened into a vast chamber—a natural cathedral carved by no human hand.
At its center stood an altar.
It was ancient, hewn from obsidian, its surface etched with symbols that writhed and shifted when looked at directly. Floating above the altar, a flame danced—cold, blue, and utterly silent. It cast no heat, yet the air around it shimmered with barely contained power.
Sein stopped at the edge of the chamber, her gauntlets flaring brighter in response to the ambient mana. "This looks like a boss room," she said quietly, her green eyes scanning the shadows beyond the altar. "I've seen enough of these to recognize the setup."
System: Boss area detected. Threat level: B-rank. Defeat the guardian and claim the artifact. Bonus rewards: Affection Points and Mana Points upon successfully defeating the boss.
