Kaito Arakawa — Perspective
The deeper part of the cave continued glowing faintly blue.
Every few seconds, the symbols on the walls pulsed like a heartbeat.
And for some reason…
The closer I walked toward them, the stronger the strange feeling inside my chest became.
“Are we really going deeper?” Yuna asked nervously.
Reina adjusted her posture slightly.
“We don’t really have a better option right now. The goblins are still outside.”
Elira quietly nodded.
“These ruins were abandoned long ago… but my tribe believed places like this contained ancient power.”
“…Ancient power,” I repeated.
That never sounds safe.
Still, we moved forward.
The cave path slowly widened until it eventually opened into a massive underground chamber.
The moment we entered, everyone froze.
Ruins.
Real ruins.
Ancient stone pillars stood around the chamber, covered in glowing blue symbols similar to the ones outside.
The ceiling was so high that darkness hid most of it from view.
At the center of the room stood a large circular platform.
And floating above it…
Was a crystal.
“…Beautiful,” Yuna whispered.
The crystal emitted soft blue light that illuminated the entire chamber.
But somehow…
It also felt intimidating.
Then suddenly—
The Genesis System activated again.
[Genesis Core Fragment Detected]
Compatibility:
Kaito Arakawa — High
Synchronization possible.
“…Why does everything keep reacting to me?” I muttered.
Reina crossed her arms slightly.
“That’s what I want to know too.”
The air around us shifted instantly.
Then—
A voice echoed through the chamber.
Not from the system.
Something else.
Older.
> “Compatible individual detected…”
Yuna immediately stepped closer to me.
“What was that?!”
Elira’s face turned pale.
“…An ancient spirit?”
The crystal pulsed again.
Then lines of blue energy spread across the floor beneath us.
A magic circle.
[Genesis Trial Activated]
Objective:
– Defeat the Guardian
– Protect Party Members
Reward:
– Genesis Link Evolution
– Hidden Skill Unlock
“…Of course there’s a trial,” Reina muttered.
The ground suddenly shook violently.
Cracks spread across the chamber floor.
Then something massive slowly rose from beneath the platform.
Stone.
Armor.
Glowing blue eyes.
A giant humanoid figure emerged completely from the ground.
At least three meters tall.
An ancient stone guardian.
Yuna stepped backward immediately.
“That thing is huge!”
Reina activated Appraisal instantly.
Her expression changed.
“…High threat level.”
Great. Get faster updates on g.com.
That’s exactly what I didn’t want to hear.
The guardian suddenly moved.
Fast.
Far faster than something that large should be able to move.
Its massive arm swung directly toward us.
“Move!” Reina shouted.
We scattered immediately.
The impact shattered part of the stone floor instantly.
Dust exploded into the air.
If that attack hit directly…
We’d be dead.
Yuna quickly raised her hand.
A burst of fire magic shot toward the guardian.
The flames collided against its stone body—
But barely left a mark.
“…You’re kidding me!”
Elira tightened her grip nervously.
“It’s resistant to normal magic!”
The guardian turned again.
This time…
Its glowing eyes locked onto me specifically.
Why me again?
The Genesis System suddenly flashed violently.
[Emergency Synchronization Available]
Condition:
Establish temporary bond resonance with nearby allies.
Warning:
Mental strain expected.
“…Bond resonance?”
I barely had time to think.
Because the guardian was already charging toward me again.
And somehow…
I had a feeling this fight was about to change everything.