I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

The black glass door finally opened completely.

Its two massive halves sank into the dry black roots of the dead tree without any sound of scraping or mechanical movement.

The narrow gap that had initially formed between them slowly widened, revealing the darkness behind it.

Cold air came out from inside the structure. Its coldness was not like the natural cold of Glassthorn Forest.

It had no smell of soil, moisture, or plants.

It was dry and lifeless; like air that had remained in a closed space for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years.

Lian stood at the entrance for a few moments. Because of his innate skill, he still did not feel the cold.

But after a long time, he finally felt the cold. This cold was not the kind that makes the body shiver... but a cold that targeted the soul.

He tried to look inside.

His vision passed through the black glass’s surface, but he could not determine the real depth of the space behind the door.

The flows of Mana moved like thin and countless strands in the darkness, and every time he tried to follow their path, they would break on invisible walls.

The interior space did not match the outer structure.

The structure placed among the roots was only a few dozen meters wide from the outside.

But what Lian saw behind the door was much larger.

Seraphina looked at her panel.

[The Trial of Reflections has recognized its challengers.]

”I think it’s too late to turn back now.” Liana leaned slightly toward the darkness, but did not cross the threshold.

”It was clear from when the door opened.” Seris added coldly.

Liana gave her a brief look.

”Do you always speak this encouragingly?”

Seris did not answer.

Lian commanded One through Hive Link to stay outside the clearing. A wave of dissatisfaction from the ant immediately reached his mind.

One did not want Lian to enter an unknown place without it. Since the Hive Link had formed between them, this was not the first time Lian felt such resistance from it, but this time One’s reaction was stronger.

It was not fear, but a kind of instinctive distrust toward what lay behind the door.

”Stay here and wait.” He placed his hand on One’s black shell.

The ant lowered its antennae, and Lian continued.

”If the door closes and we don’t return within a day, move away from this area. Enter Glassthorn Forest and hide yourself.”

A wave of opposition was transmitted through the link. It was clear One was not happy with what it had heard.

”This is not an order to abandon us. It’s an order to stay alive.”

One remained motionless for a few seconds.

Then it slowly lowered its head, accepting the command, although it was not satisfied with it.

”You sound like you’re saying goodbye.” Liana, who could not directly see the communication between the two, but had noticed the subtle changes in One’s behavior, said.

”It’s just caution. We don’t know what we’re going to enter, and I don’t want it to be in danger either.”

”Are we going in?” Seraphina gripped her sword tighter.

”We’re going, but anyone who wants to can stay outside. I’m not forcing anyone into an unknown dungeon.” Lian examined the dark space once more.

No one said anything. Everyone wanted to enter. No matter how big the threat was, this was not an opportunity they wanted to miss.

The path to becoming stronger and reaching the peak was not going to be calm and safe. In fact, only those who accept risks and dangers can become the future pillars of the world.

The four crossed the threshold.

The moment the last person, Liana, entered, the glass door behind them closed.

The two black halves silently came out from among the roots and joined together.

The outside light was cut off, but the hall did not remain dark. White strands lit up on the floor.

Light spread from beneath their feet and traced thin lines on the ground. The lines went to the surrounding pillars and lit them up one after another.

The interior space gradually became clear. A vast hall lay before them.

So vast that the walls on both sides could be seen at a great distance, and its ceiling disappeared into the darkness.

Pillars of white glass extended in two rows to the end of the hall.

Each pillar had a smooth and flawless surface, but vague shadows moved inside them; like memories trapped behind a thick layer of ice.

The walls were made of black glass.

Their surface reflected the group’s image, but the reflections were blurry and multi-layered.

Sometimes Lian’s image was seen a step behind. Sometimes Seris’s reflection looked in a different direction, and sometimes the faces would change for a moment and turn into unknown faces.

Panels appeared before all four of them.

[Hidden → Legacy Dungeon Discovered.]

[Name: Mirror Vault]

[Type: Succession / Archive]

[Origin: Unknown Ancient Civilization]

[Primary Objective: Search for a Worthy Heir]

Liana kept her gaze on the first phrase.

”Legacy Dungeon?”

”Do you know what that means?” Seraphina also looked at Lian.

There were many types of dungeons, and they didn’t know all of them, especially those who didn’t pay attention in class.

But if anyone here was going to know what a Legacy Dungeon meant... that one person was the young Vorhelm.

Lian examined the panel for a few seconds.

The information he had read in the academy, Vorhelm clan reports, and old documents returned to his mind.

”I think I know. Not every cave or place where a few monsters gather is a dungeon.” His voice echoed in the vast hall and returned several times with irregular delays from the walls.

”A dungeon is a space that has its own core, rules, and structure. Its internal environment can differ from the outside world. Sometimes time, distance, or even the rules inside a dungeon change.

Like how this place looked much smaller from the outside.

Some dungeons form naturally. When Mana gathers in one place for a long time, it changes the environment.

Monsters are born inside, rare resources form, and eventually, the dungeon’s core is created.”

”But this one is not a natural dungeon.” Seraphina added.

”No.” Lian turned his gaze back to the panel.

”This is a Legacy Dungeon. That means a civilization or a powerful individual deliberately built it.”

”For what?” Liana asked.

”Isn’t it clear from the name? To preserve something after their death or destruction.”

”It could be a Skill, a civilization’s knowledge, a weapon, a Bloodline, even memories.”

His gaze stopped on the word Succession.

”The Mirror Vault is of the succession type. Its main goal is not to keep treasure or kill intruders. It’s looking for someone who can carry its creator’s legacy.”

”So its main goal is not to kill us.” Liana smiled for a moment.

That meant they didn’t need to worry about their lives, right? It made her breathe a sigh of relief.

But Lian’s next words were like a hard slap on her face.

”Of course, just because its main goal is not to kill us doesn’t mean we won’t die inside.”

”Very encouraging.” Liana’s smile faded. She looked at the dark walls.

”What do we need to do to open the next path?” Seris, who had been only examining the environment since the explanation began, said.

Before Lian could answer, a sound was heard from the end of the hall.

It was not the sound of footsteps, but like the very quiet collision of glass with the ground.

Once.

Then again.

A white light appeared among the distant pillars. A creature was coming toward them from the end of the hall.

It had a human-like body, but it bore no resemblance to a living creature. Its entire body was made of white and semi-transparent glass.

Inside its chest, arms, and head, silver strands were moving. Those strands would sometimes intertwine and form a shape like a network of nerves or veins.

Its face was completely flat. It had no eyes.

No mouth, no nose, nothing could be seen on the glass surface of its head.

A panel appeared before their view.

[Mirror Curator]

[Rank: Normal]

[Level: 10]

From its level, it was clear that it was not a threat at all. It seemed like just a creature entrusted with this legacy dungeon.

The creature stopped a few meters away. Its faceless head first turned to Lian.

Then Seris, Seraphina, and finally Liana.

”Four applicants have been registered.” Its voice did not come from a specific place. It was heard simultaneously from all the walls, pillars, and even the floor.

”Memories will be examined, identity will be measured, false bonds will be removed.”

The hall’s atmosphere became heavy for a moment. Liana kept her gaze on the Curator, but said nothing.

”What happens if we fail?” Seraphina stepped forward.

The Mirror Curator turned its head toward her.

”What cannot maintain its own identity is not worthy of carrying the memories of the dead.”

The answer was neither a direct threat nor a clear explanation.

”That was not an answer to my question.” Seraphina frowned.

The Curator showed no reaction. It was clear that it was not here to answer questions.

It was here to explain the instructions.

At that same moment, the sound of glass cracking was heard from four sides of the hall.

Four sections of the black walls separated and moved toward the center.

Each section turned into a tall standing mirror. The mirrors surrounded the group from four directions.

Their surfaces were initially completely black, then reflections appeared.

Lian saw his own image, but when he turned his head slightly, the reflection did not move.

The version inside the mirror continued to look straight at him.

Seris’s reflection, instead of imitating its owner’s movement, had turned its head toward Lian.

In Seraphina’s mirror, a young girl with similar hair stood, but not the current Seraphina, a child version.

Her clothes were dirty, and blood could be seen on her cheek.

In Liana’s mirror, her own reflection could be seen, but behind her stood the shadow of another girl.

A girl whose hand was placed on the shoulder of Liana’s child version.

A new panel appeared.

[First Trial: The Wound You Carry]

[Enter your reflection.]