It was the expression of an old hunter who’d finally spotted his long-awaited prey—utterly serious, not a trace of slackness.

When I saw that look on her face, I froze for a moment.

Her expression… didn’t seem aimed at this sword?

Could the target not be the sword after all?

Dora marched forward with a stern face, not a hint of impatience. Instead, she took slow, deliberate steps.

After a brief hesitation, we followed.

The stone corridor hung suspended nearly a hundred meters above the subterranean sea. One glance down made you dizzy, as if you might plummet.

No one knew what lurked below or if survival was possible after a fall. So everyone moved with extreme caution.

"Dora, what exactly are we doing here?"

I asked, frowning, as I trailed behind her.

I’d always felt Sharon was hiding something from us.

She claimed our mission was just to explore the dungeon and clear remaining monsters. Yet twenty minutes had passed—no monsters, not even a single living creature! Not even a glimpse of that freak ‘Ankexikaao’.

Gradually, I realized this dungeon quest wasn’t as easy as imagined. It might be the first major event triggered since I arrived in this world.

Like an RPG protagonist forced into a key plot after some time.

…That sudden trio of powerful figures, the mysterious dungeon, this grand underground realm, and the sword embedded in unknown rock…

These anomalies kept screaming that the situation was highly unusual!

"I’ll explain soon—please bear with me," Dora said politely. Despite her large, fierce frame, she turned and gave me an apologetic smile.

The stone corridor stretched two to three hundred meters. With Dora’s long strides, we had to jog to keep up. We covered it in under two minutes.

We soon reached the altar’s edge.

Up close, the entire base was carved from unknown jade. Four incomprehensible runes, like alien script, lined its sides. At the center lay a circular area where the sword-embedded stone sat.

Dora scanned the runes, crouched, and touched one. After a pause, she stood, her eyes flickering before she finally spoke.

She was about to reveal the true purpose.

"Everyone, I must apologize first. We deceived you and hid the mission’s real nature. We didn’t come to ‘explore’—we’re here to resolve something far graver. A seal from over a thousand years ago imprisons a powerful alien creature here… I can’t share details, but please follow my instructions exactly. We didn’t recruit you to die—we genuinely need your help. Please see this through. Thank you!"

Dora bowed deeply, her tone and face heavy with remorse.

But a seal holding a powerful alien creature… this was practically sending us, mere level-ten adventurers, to our deaths, wasn’t it?

Yet things had gone too far. We had no choice. Dora was strong enough to force us if we refused.

We knew that well.

"So, what next?"

I spoke up.

"Stand on these four runes. I’ll handle the rest."

Dora pointed to the runes. I and the three female adventurers nodded.

Each of us stepped onto a rune.

Dora climbed the altar and stood before the one-handed sword embedded in rock.

She reached out and pressed down on its hilt.

Not pulling—pressing downward.

The sword, made of unknown material, looked plain but gleamed sharply.

As Dora pressed, it sank into the rock like piercing tofu, leaving only the hilt exposed.

"Rumble… rumble… rumble…"

A muffled roar echoed from the sea’s depths. It pulsed like waves, rising slowly from the underground world’s core.

Wave after wave, faster and louder, until the tremors shook the entire realm!

Myself and the other adventurers watched in terror as the world shuddered. Dora calmly stepped out of the circular area.

Just as I was about to question her, the female adventurer opposite me pointed down and screamed.

"Look! Light in the sea… It’s a magic circle!"

A colossal magic circle, large enough to blanket the entire subterranean sea, blazed from the depths. Visible despite the water!

What an enormous circle!

"There’s one above too!"

Another shout. I looked up at the rocky ceiling—and my eyes widened.

Another magic circle appeared there, identical to the sea’s!

It covered the entire cavern top—a massive array centered on a twelve-pointed star, ringed with countless circles and triangles!

The upper circle rotated slowly, spinning opposite to its underwater twin!

"Dora!"

I yelled, forgetting my own weakness.

"Tell me what this—"

"Crack!"

A thunderclap cut me off.

Simultaneously, the upper circle’s center shot a silver beam. It pierced the altar’s circular area and struck the sea-circle’s heart!

The three centers linked instantly by white light!

The rune under my feet flared first!

When all four runes lit up, a primordial wolf’s howl erupted from the altar’s center!

"Wooowwwwooo!!! I, the Bloodthirsty Wolf Lord Garios, am finally free from this damned seal!!!"

Before the roar faded, the light beam exploded with a "Bang!" Dust and thunderous noise blinded us. When it cleared, a figure stood in the center!

…A withered, elderly werewolf?

…Huh?

I rubbed my eyes, staring blankly at the old werewolf.

Leaning on a cane, hunched and coughing violently from the dust—he looked ready to drop dead any second…

This was the ‘Bloodthirsty Wolf’ Garios?

Something just felt…

…off.