433,
The sound of dripping water echoed in the cave, drop by drop.
Holding torches, two great explorers ventured forward in the pitch-black cavern.
"Professor, do you think this cave has... no end?"
Following behind the professor was a very young boy.
Without turning around, the professor gently replied to the boy's question,
"Don't be silly, every cave has an end."
"But..."
Professor and the boy continued onward, one after the other.
But then the boy asked again, "Can they really succeed?"
Faced with the sudden question, Professor answered,
"They will, we have all been striving for this."
Taking a pause, the professor finally stopped and pulled out a map.
"Look at this."
It was a perfect diagram of a female body.
"This is... the map to the legendary realm."
"Yes, it's a map drawn by the ancient gods in a cryptic way."
Pointing to the bottom of the map, the professor showed a cross.
"This is where we are."
Then pointing to two circles on the map,
"Is that the Realm's Clock?"
Before the boy could answer, the professor patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Yes, we have split into three teams, the first team will climb these two mountains simultaneously, ring the Realm's Clock, and lure out the cavern spirits guarding the realm from the upper openings."
Though not explicitly pointing at the map, the boy knew the upper openings referred to another cross on the map.
"When the cavern spirits leave from the other side, we will take the chance to penetrate to the deepest part of the cave, and enter..."
"The legendary realm..."
The professor nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, the cave started to tremble.
"What?!"
The cave walls began to writhe like the intestines of a monster.
"Water!! Water is gushing out of the walls!!"
"No! It's too early compared to the planned time, how could... could it be?!"
"Professor?"
"I miscalculated... perhaps when the other team climbed towards the Realm's Clock, the cave had already triggered its defense mechanism?"
"No, this can't be... then what do we do?"
As fear crept onto the boy's face, the professor spoke firmly,
"We continue onward!"
Silently, the two explorers pressed forward.
Maintaining their pace, even as the water kept rising in the cave, they continued deeper into the darkness.
"P-professor..."
"Hang in there!"
With the water now at their necks, the two couldn't move forward.
Because ahead of them, a semi-transparent wall appeared.
"It's impossible, how can there still be.. wait a minute! No good, kid!! We've made it!! This is the pure proof, the legendary realm is right before us?!"
"P-professor..."
Without warning, the boy's voice disappeared behind him. Turning back, the professor saw the boy's head no longer above the water.
"Hey!!"
Without hesitation, the professor dove into the water, forcefully lifting the boy.
"Hold on!! We're almost there!!"
Despite his fading consciousness, the boy nodded in response.
Without a second thought, the professor broke through the thin wall blocking their path ahead.
In an instant, a large quantity of floodwater gushed out of the cave, causing intense vibrations inside the cavern.
The professor supported the young boy, and the two of them battled fiercely through the test of the flood.
Finally, before them, lay a bright spacious room.
However, there was nothing there.
"Why... why..."
Faced with such despair, the young boy collapsed to the ground.
But before truly falling, he was pulled back by the professor.
"Yeah... what a pity..."
"Professor..."
"But it's alright."
With a smile, the professor reassured the young boy.
"Even though we may have missed the timing, it doesn't mean we gained nothing."
Looking firmly at the young boy, the professor continued,
"At least, we have successfully ventured into this legendary realm, and..."
The professor gazed at the floor covered in fallen flowers.
"At least, we now know the blooming time of these flowers."
The young boy looked at the professor's excited expression.
"Got it? Next time, when we come again, we will definitely be able to witness the moment these flowers bloom within those seven days here!!"
