Halochassis

”It will be dangerous, Mister Shin.” Lireina frowned, her long golden blonde hair swaying gently as she folded her arms across her chest. The emerald hue of her eyes carried genuine concern. ”The Abyssal Dungeon is a high-level labyrinth. Most adventurers are forbidden from entering unless they are at least A-Rank.”

The moment she mentioned the dungeon’s name, Shin felt a faint chill creep along his spine. Even inside the warm halls of the Librarium, the words Abyssal Dungeon sounded heavy, like an ancient curse spoken aloud. Stories about that place were whispered among scholars and adventurers alike—tales of endless stone corridors, monstrous creatures lurking beneath the earth, and entire parties disappearing without a trace.

”Won’t you need a scholar?” Shin asked, straightening his posture. His black hair shifted slightly as he tilted his head, crimson purple eyes focused on Lireina with determination. ”You’ll be researching fallen angels, right? There could be murals, forgotten scriptures, or hidden texts buried inside the ruins. Someone has to document them.”

He tapped a finger against his chest with quiet confidence.

”I’m the fastest scribe the Librarium has to offer.”

Lireina glanced toward Croft. The inspector stood nearby with his usual calm demeanor, adjusting his coat while considering Shin’s proposal. For a brief moment, only the muffled sounds of turning pages and distant footsteps filled the library chamber.

Croft eventually shrugged. ”He has a point.”

Lireina let out a soft sigh before smiling warmly. The tension in her face eased, making her look far less intimidating than the famed warrior the public adored. ”Okay then. You can come with us.”

Shin’s eyes widened slightly with relief.

”Thank you!” He bowed politely, perhaps a little too quickly in his excitement.

Without wasting another second, Shin hurried toward his desk. Papers rustled as he pulled open drawers and gathered supplies with practiced efficiency. He packed several parchment scrolls into his satchel, followed by thick leather-bound books whose worn covers smelled faintly of dust and aged ink. Small glass bottles clinked together as he carefully stored his ink containers beside his sharpened quills.

Then his gaze settled on the Halochassis files.

For a moment, his movements slowed.

The stack of documents felt heavier than ordinary paper, burdened with Emmanuel’s legacy and secrets that should never have existed. Shin quietly slid the files into his bag. Afterward, he reached into another compartment and stared at the Halochassis glove resting inside.

Cold metal reflected the library lights. He hesitated.

A strange unease twisted in his chest as he remembered the power hidden within that armored relic. Bringing it could be dangerous... yet leaving it behind somehow felt worse. After several seconds of silence, Shin exhaled quietly and slipped the glove into his pocket.

It might be useful, he thought.

Once prepared, Shin returned to the others. Before leaving, he stopped near another scholar’s desk.

”Looks like I’ll be gone for a while,” Shin said.

Phyrion looked up from his books, surprise briefly flashing across his face. ”Try not to die down there.”

Shin chuckled faintly. ”I’ll do my best.”

After exchanging farewells, Shin departed the Librarium alongside the inspector and the elf warrior. The massive doors creaked open, and the vibrant noise of Luminious City immediately washed over them.

The business district buzzed with life.

Merchants loudly advertised their goods from colorful stalls lining the streets. The scent of roasted meat, baked bread, and sweet pastries drifted through the air, making Shin realize he had skipped lunch. Carriages rumbled across stone roads while crowds flowed around them like a living river. Bright banners fluttered overhead beneath the afternoon sunlight, their colors glowing against the pale marble buildings surrounding the avenue.

As they walked, people gradually began to recognize Lireina.

”The Untouchable Windwalker!” someone shouted excitedly.

Children ran toward the roadside, their faces lighting up with admiration. Shopkeepers paused mid-conversation, while passing adventurers straightened respectfully at the sight of the renowned elf warrior. Lireina responded to every greeting with graceful waves and gentle smiles, her golden blonde hair shimmering beneath the sunlight like strands of silk.

Women admired her elegance. Men stared at her with awe. Even hardened mercenaries whispered among themselves when she passed by.

This was the first time Shin had ever walked beside someone truly famous.

At first, he felt awkward under the countless curious stares surrounding them. Some citizens glanced at him as if wondering why an ordinary scholar was accompanying legendary figures like Lireina and Detective Croft. Shin instinctively adjusted the strap of his satchel and tried to walk normally despite the growing self-consciousness tightening his shoulders.

Yet strangely enough, Lireina treated the attention as though it were nothing unusual.

She continued greeting people kindly, never ignoring the children calling her name. Watching her up close, Shin realized why the city adored her so much. It was not merely because of her strength or achievements—it was the warmth she carried despite her reputation.

They soon arrived at Cathedral Exa, the grandest altar in all of Empyrea.

Even from several streets away, the cathedral dominated the skyline like a monument built for the gods themselves. Its towering white walls gleamed beneath the afternoon sun, so polished that the marble almost appeared luminous. Golden ornaments decorated every arch, pillar, and rooftop edge, reflecting warm light across the massive courtyard. The air smelled faintly of incense and melted candle wax, while the distant echoes of choir hymns drifted from within the sacred halls.

Shin instinctively slowed his pace as they approached the enormous structure.

He had heard countless stories about Cathedral Exa while growing up, yet standing before it in person felt completely different. The sheer scale of the place made him feel tiny. Hundreds of stairs led toward gigantic silver doors engraved with holy scriptures, and surrounding the cathedral were colossal statues of the Seven Celestial Wardens.

Every statue had been crafted entirely from gold.

They stood like divine guardians watching over the empire itself, their polished surfaces glowing brilliantly beneath the sunlight. Each Celestial Warden carried a unique weapon and expression—some looked serene, others wrathful—but all radiated overwhelming authority.

At the very center stood the largest statue of them all.

Alexander Goldheart.

The strongest among the Seven Celestial Wardens towered high above the others, holding a gigantic cross overhead with one hand. His sculpted cape flowed behind him like frozen flames, while his stern face stared toward the heavens with unshakable resolve. Even as a mere statue, his presence felt intimidating.

Shin swallowed quietly.

So this is the empire’s greatest hero...

Fortunately, they did not need to enter the cathedral’s main sanctuary. Instead, Croft guided them along the first level, where fewer worshippers wandered through the marble corridors. Their footsteps echoed softly against the pristine floors as colored light from stained-glass windows painted shifting patterns across the walls.

Eventually, they arrived before several circular golden platforms embedded into the floor.

Blue light pulsed rhythmically from strange runic markings etched across their surfaces. The glow resembled flowing water trapped beneath glass, rising and fading in smooth waves. A faint humming vibration filled the air around the devices, causing Shin to feel tiny tingles against his skin.

Teleporters.

Shin stared at them with fascination.

”Mister Rebellium,” Croft asked while adjusting her gloves, ”do you have any experience using teleporters?”

Shin shook his head immediately. ”I’m a commoner. I don’t have mana.”

Even saying it aloud still carried a bitter sting.

In Empyrea, mana was everything. Nobles, adventurers, knights, and mages all possessed it naturally. People without mana were often treated as inferior, incapable of wielding magic or using most advanced artifacts.

But before the awkward silence could settle in, Lireina stepped closer with a reassuring smile.

”Don’t worry,” she said softly, winking at him. ”I got you.”

The playful gesture struck Shin harder than any sword ever could. His heartbeat instantly quickened.

For a brief second, he forgot how to breathe properly. The elf warrior’s green eyes sparkled mischievously, and the warm smile on her face made Shin quickly look away before his embarrassment became obvious.

”T-Thank you,” he muttered awkwardly.

The three of them stepped onto one of the golden platforms together.

The moment Shin’s boots touched the engraved surface, the runes beneath them flared brighter. Blue streams of light crawled around the edges of the platform like living energy. The humming sound deepened into a low vibration that Shin could feel through his entire body.

Then Lireina gently took his hand. Shin froze.

Her fingers felt surprisingly soft despite being a warrior’s hands. A warm current immediately flowed from her palm into his body, like heat spreading through cold veins. Mana.

He could physically feel it.

The sensation was strange yet comforting, almost like standing beneath sunlight after years trapped in darkness. Blue particles shimmered around Shin’s arm as Lireina shared enough mana for him to synchronize with the teleporter.

”Destination: Abyssal Dungeon,” Lireina declared.

The glowing runes erupted with light.

In an instant, the platform released a blinding radiance that swallowed their bodies whole. Shin felt his stomach twist violently as the world around him dissolved into pure white. Sound vanished. Weight disappeared. It felt as though every part of him had been ripped apart into countless fragments and scattered through endless space.

For one terrifying moment, there was nothing except light.

Then suddenly—

The sensation stopped.

Cold air struck Shin’s face.

His vision slowly returned, and he staggered slightly as solid ground formed beneath his feet once more. The scent of dust and damp stone filled his lungs. The warm sunlight of Luminious City was gone, replaced by a dim and chilling atmosphere that immediately made the hairs on his arms rise.

Shin blinked several times before finally realizing something.

They were no longer in the cathedral.

They were somewhere else entirely.

The Abyssal Dungeon was nothing like Shin had imagined.

The moment his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized they stood inside an enormous underground labyrinth carved from ancient black stone. Endless corridors stretched ahead like the veins of some slumbering beast buried beneath the earth. The air felt damp and cold against his skin, carrying the scent of moss, dust, and something ancient that had long been sealed away from sunlight.

The walls were covered with faded texts and strange drawings.

Some resembled forgotten scriptures written in symbols Shin had never seen before, while others depicted horrifying creatures with wings, halos, and twisted human forms. Certain murals appeared damaged, scratched apart as if someone had desperately tried to erase them centuries ago. As Shin’s eyes traced the carvings, unease slowly settled in his chest.

Torches lined parts of the dungeon, their orange flames flickering weakly while smoke crawled upward along the stone walls. Yet the fire barely illuminated anything beyond a few feet, leaving the deeper sections swallowed in shadow.

Lireina raised her hand.

A glowing sphere of light instantly formed above her palm, shining with a soft bluish-white radiance. The floating orb drifted upward and illuminated the corridor far more effectively than the torches ever could. Smooth stone pathways, cracked pillars, and scattered debris emerged from the darkness beneath its glow.

The elf warrior’s golden blonde hair shimmered faintly under the magical light, while her green eyes carefully scanned their surroundings.

As they began walking deeper into the labyrinth, Croft quietly reached beneath her coat and revealed her revolver. The metallic cylinder clicked softly as she opened it and inspected the bullets one by one with practiced precision. After checking the chamber, she counted the extra ammunition strapped to her belt.

The sharp scent of gunpowder briefly mixed with the stale dungeon air.

”Stick with me, Mister Shin,” Lireina said while continuing forward. Her voice echoed faintly across the corridor. ”I heard the monsters here are extremely strong. None of the adventurers sent here have managed to clear this secret dungeon.”

”Got it,” Shin replied quickly.

Without hesitation, he moved behind Lireina.

Honestly, Shin did not even mind the position. Following behind the famous Untouchable Windwalker felt strangely safe, especially inside a place that looked capable of swallowing people whole. He stayed close enough to see the gentle movements of her hair and the glowing orb floating above her shoulder.

The deeper they ventured, the quieter the dungeon became.

Too quiet.

There were no distant growls. No footsteps. No dripping water.

Only the sound of their boots scraping against stone floors echoed through the corridors.

That silence disturbed Shin more than monsters would have.

Scattered around the dungeon were piles of old bones. Some belonged to humans, judging by the cracked skulls and rusted armor pieces nearby. Others were much larger. Crooked tusks and massive rib cages suggested they once belonged to orcs or hobgoblins.

One skeleton still had a broken axe lodged beside its hand.

Dust coated everything.

Shin unconsciously tightened his grip on his satchel straps. The cold air seemed heavier the deeper they descended, and every shadow now looked capable of hiding something dreadful.

Then suddenly—

”Oh, treasure!” Lireina clapped excitedly.

Her cheerful voice startled Shin out of his anxious thoughts.

A large chest sat near the corner of the corridor, half-covered in dust and cobwebs. Golden trims decorated its edges, and despite the dungeon’s age, the lock remained untouched.

Croft narrowed her eyes immediately.

”Be careful, Lena,” she warned while slowly raising her revolver. ”It may be a trap.”

”Don’t worry,” Lireina replied confidently with a smile. ”I’m pretty sure it’s not a mimic.”

The elf warrior crouched before the chest and opened it without hesitation.

The lid creaked loudly.

Then something exploded upward from inside.

A snake.

”Eeeek!” Lireina squealed in panic.

The supposedly fearless warrior instantly ducked and covered her head with both arms like a frightened animal. Her reaction was so sudden and adorable that Shin nearly forgot they were in danger.

The snake lunged forward with its fangs exposed, scales glistening beneath the magical light.

”Watch out!” Croft shouted.

BANG!

The revolver thundered through the corridor.

The deafening gunshot echoed violently against the dungeon walls, making Shin flinch as sparks burst from the muzzle. Before the snake could strike again—

BANG!

A second bullet pierced directly through its head.

Dark blood splattered across the chest as the snake’s body twisted violently in midair before collapsing onto the stone floor with a wet thud. Its corpse writhed for several seconds before finally going still.

The smell of burnt gunpowder lingered heavily in the air afterward.

For a moment, silence returned.

Lireina slowly peeked upward from beneath her arms.

”...I knew it wasn’t a mimic,” she muttered weakly.

Croft lowered her revolver with a long sigh.

Shin, meanwhile, struggled not to laugh after witnessing the legendary Untouchable Windwalker nearly lose a battle against a snake in a treasure chest.

Lireina was not nearly as composed as she appeared.

From the stories he had heard, the Untouchable Windwalker sounded like a flawless warrior blessed with unmatched elegance and wisdom. Shin had imagined someone calm, calculating, and impossibly mature.

Instead, the legendary elf was currently crouched beside the treasure chest, awkwardly laughing after getting frightened by a snake.

Shin blinked.

She’s... kind of an airhead.

Not unintelligent, of course. Lireina clearly possessed experience, instincts, and monstrous combat ability. But beneath the heroic reputation and graceful appearance, she seemed more like a cheerful, overly confident adventurer who relied heavily on intuition and luck.

”Jeez, Lena.” Croft sighed.

The inspector casually spun her revolver around her finger before smoothly sliding it back into its holster like a seasoned cowboy. The metallic click echoed softly through the corridor.

”I told you to be careful.”

”Hehe.” Lireina smiled sheepishly and scratched her cheek. ”Thank you, Croft.”

The playful grin on her face somehow made it impossible to stay annoyed at her.

Shin quietly exhaled in relief and adjusted the strap of his satchel once more. The lingering smell of burnt gunpowder mixed with the dungeon’s stale air, while the dead snake remained sprawled near the opened chest.

Inside the chest itself?

Nothing. Not even gold.

After realizing that there is no point in staring at the empty chest, the three resumed exploring the labyrinth.

Their footsteps echoed rhythmically through the dark corridors as Lireina’s floating orb illuminated the path ahead. Shadows stretched and twisted across the stone walls whenever the magical light moved. Occasionally, Shin glanced at the faded murals surrounding them, trying to memorize unfamiliar symbols for later documentation.

Yet after several more minutes of walking, something began to bother Croft.

She slowed her pace.

”...Hold on.”

Lireina stopped and turned around. ”Hm?”

Croft narrowed her eyes at the corridor ahead. The walls were lined with cracked stone pillars, and several skeletons rested near the corners beneath layers of dust.

”We’ve been here before,” Croft said.

Shin looked around carefully.

Now that Croft mentioned it, the surroundings did seem strangely familiar. There was the same broken helmet lying beside a skeleton. The same claw marks scratched into the wall. Even the torch near the corner flickered in exactly the same uneven pattern.

A cold sensation crept into Shin’s stomach.

”Are you sure we’re going the right way?” Croft asked while crossing her arms. ”We’ve passed through this corridor already.”

Lireina confidently unfolded the map she had been carrying.

The parchment crackled softly as she spread it open beneath the glowing orb of light. ”According to the map, we’re still on the right course.”

Croft stared at her silently for a moment.

”...Lireina.”

”Yes?”

”You’re reading the map upside down.”

A painful silence followed. Shin slowly blinked.

Lireina’s green eyes widened as realization finally struck her. ”Whoopsie.”

She lightly bonked her own head with her fist in embarrassment before turning the map around properly. Her long golden blonde hair swayed as she leaned closer to inspect the pathways again.

”...Okay, now this makes a lot more sense.”

Croft pinched the bridge of her nose.

After tracing several routes with her finger, Lireina eventually pointed toward the left corridor.

”The last unexplored room should be over here.”

This time, Croft carefully checked the surroundings while Shin mentally prayed they would not walk in circles again.

Fortunately, after several turns through narrow hallways and descending staircases, they finally reached a large stone chamber unlike the previous corridors.

The room was completely empty.

No treasure chests. No skeletons. No monsters. Only silence.

The chamber’s walls were covered from floor to ceiling with ancient texts and enormous carvings. Strange symbols spiraled around faded murals depicting winged beings descending from the heavens. Cracks spread through the old stone, and dust coated nearly every surface untouched for centuries.

Lireina cautiously raised a hand.

A faint pulse of mana spread outward from her body like an invisible wave.

Her Sixth Sense skill.

The magical sensation swept across the chamber, brushing over every wall, corner, and tile. Shin felt a slight pressure in the air as Lireina concentrated.

Several seconds passed.

”...No traps,” she concluded.

Croft nodded slowly but still kept one hand near her revolver.

With the room seemingly safe, the three carefully approached the ancient writings carved into the walls, their footsteps echoing softly through the silent chamber.

”Can you read it, Lireina?” Croft asked quietly, her voice echoing faintly through the ancient chamber.

”Yes.” Lireina nodded.

The floating violet-blue glow from her magic illuminated the wall carvings as she stepped closer to inspect the symbols. Her green eyes carefully traced the ancient letters etched into the stone, while her long golden blonde hair shimmered softly beneath the magical light.

”It’s Old Elvish,” she explained. ”Written by my ancestors around ten thousand years ago.”

Even saying the number aloud made the room feel older somehow.

Ten thousand years.

The writings before them had existed long before modern kingdoms, before the current empire, perhaps even before recorded human civilization itself. Dust filled the cracks of the carvings, and parts of the walls had eroded with age, yet the mysterious symbols still carried an unsettling presence.

Lireina turned toward Shin. Shin immediately understood.

”Got it.”

He quickly pulled a small notebook from his satchel along with his quill and ink bottle. The familiar smell of parchment and ink steadied his nerves slightly. Sitting knowledge onto paper was far less terrifying than dealing with monsters or ancient curses.

As Lireina began translating, Shin’s quill rapidly danced across the pages with practiced precision.

”Before the rise of the Satan,” Lireina read slowly, her voice becoming more solemn with every sentence, ”five angels fell from the skies and fought against the devils. Semjaza, Armaros, Mastema, Samael, and Azazel.”

The names alone sent chills crawling down Shin’s arms.

The chamber suddenly felt colder.

”These five fallen angels fought during the first resurrection of the Satan and sealed the evil god within the Celestial Nothingness.”

Croft remained silent, though Shin noticed her expression growing more serious.

”However...” Lireina hesitated briefly while examining the next line.

Her brows slowly furrowed.

”...the five angels sacrificed their souls, transforming themselves into abominations too horrifying for mortal humans to behold.”

Shin’s quill stopped moving for half a second.

The final sentence lingered heavily in the air after Lireina finished speaking. Even the dungeon itself seemed quieter somehow, as though the ancient chamber disliked the words being spoken aloud after thousands of years.

Then suddenly—

FWOOSH.

Every torch in the room extinguished at once.

Darkness swallowed the chamber instantly.

Shin’s breath caught in his throat.

Even Lireina’s floating orb of light flickered violently before disappearing entirely, plunging them into complete blackness. The sudden absence of illumination felt suffocating. Shin could no longer see his own hands, and the silence became painfully oppressive.

Then came the sound. A low, unnatural rumble.

It echoed deep within the walls like something ancient awakening beneath the dungeon.

Croft immediately reached for her revolver.

”Stay close,” she warned sharply.

Shin’s heartbeat thundered inside his chest. The air suddenly felt heavier, colder, almost poisonous. He could hear faint whispers slithering through the darkness, though he could not tell whether they were real or merely his imagination.

Then—

The torches reignited. But not with ordinary fire.

Violet flames burst from every torch simultaneously, casting eerie purple light across the chamber. The unnatural blaze twisted unnervingly, illuminating the ancient murals with ghostly colors. Shadows stretched across the walls like living creatures, and the drawings of winged beings now appeared disturbingly sinister beneath the violet glow.

The temperature dropped further.

Shin could actually see his breath.

”Oh no...” Lireina gasped softly.

For the first time since entering the dungeon, genuine fear appeared on her face.

”It can’t be!”

Her voice trembled just enough for Shin to notice. And that terrified him far more than the darkness did.