My Cuckhold System-Chapter 117: Did It Just Get Colder?

The guide pointed toward scorched markings along a distant wall.

"But when awakened factions cleared it... everything changed."

West noticed skeletal remains displayed behind protective glass panels in certain chambers.

They weren’t human.

One could see elongated limbs and distorted rib structures.

"Those," the guide explained, "are believed to be one of the ancient species that governed the Eternal Ruins. They were powerful."

Darius swallowed.

"They look... wrong."

"They were wrong," the guide replied.

"Early awakened eras were chaotic."

West crouched briefly near a section of fractured stone.

He felt faint energy residue but barely anything noteworthy.

Unlike residential ruins, which often carried unstable aura pockets or dormant creatures, this place felt... empty.

It was truly cleared and cleaned thoroughly.

If something had once lived here... it didn’t anymore.

---

After nearly sixty minutes exploring the North quadrant, they returned to the central underground intersection where guides coordinated rotations.

Groups exchanged directions.

West’s group moved to the East quadrant next.

The East side was more structurally damaged.

There were collapsed corridors and reinforced barriers blocking unstable zones.

Here, the guide emphasized warfare history.

"This section saw direct awakened clashes," he explained.

Students passed massive impact craters in the walls...

Stone that had melted and re-solidified.

Sections where entire pillars had been sheared clean through.

"In one documented battle," the guide continued, "an awakened with seismic manipulation abilities collapsed three connected chambers in under a minute."

Felix looked upward nervously.

"Comforting."

West analyzed angles.

The damage wasn’t random... it was strategic.

Structural collapse was used as a weapon. Perhaps they were battling with a wave of creatures.

The South quadrant, visited next, showcased preserved chambers turned into historical exhibits.

Ancient storage rooms... Fragments of weaponry... broken energy conduits...

Tourist panels explaining timeline progression.

The West quadrant which was their final rotation before regrouping, was quieter.

It was less dramatic visually but deeper with longer corridors and more shadowed recesses.

West compared the Eternal Ruins to the residential ruins and realized that there were lots of differences. The Eternal Ruins didn’t even look dangerous in the slightest to him and he guessed that this was due to him already experiencing an active ruin.

While all of his classmates pretty much found this place scary and heavy due to the atmosphere.

By the time all four groups had rotated through their designated sections, nearly three hours had passed.

They reconvened in the central underground atrium.

The meeting point was a circular chamber with a partially collapsed dome ceiling allowing thin shafts of daylight to pierce down from above.

Dust particles floated through the beams and the students loud voices could be heard as they compared notes and shared photos, arguing about which section was the most interesting.

"It’s insane how big it is," Mira said.

"We didn’t even see everything," Nina added.

"We’d need a week," Darius declared.

The teachers gathered the groups together.

"Alright, everyone settle down," Mr. Lowell called out.

"Roll call before we visit the dancing flames a little further below and then head back to the surface."

Students lined up loosely and names were called one after the other.

"Darius."

"Here."

"Nina."

"Here."

"Mira Han."

"Here."

West responded calmly when his name was called.

The process continued smoothly until there was a pause.

Mr. Ibe frowned slightly.

"Calvin Rhee?"

Silence~

He looked up.

"Calvin Rhee?"

No response.

A murmur passed through the crowd.

Ms. Carter checked her list.

"Emily Tran?"

Silence again~

Students began glancing around.

"They were with the South group earlier," someone whispered.

"I saw Calvin near the lopsided ridge..."

"Emily was taking pictures by the cracked pillar."

Teachers exchanged looks.

"Did anyone see them after the last rotation?" Mr. Lowell asked sharply.

There was no clear answer.

The guides’ expressions became alert as they looked around.

West’s gaze slowly lifted toward one of the darker corridors branching from the central chamber.

Nina’s voice lowered.

"They probably wandered off."

Mira crossed her arms in contemplation.

"It only makes sense."

One of the guides stepped forward.

"Everyone stay here. Your teacher and I will go find them."

Mr. Ibe gave the students a reassuring nod. "Calvin and Emily probably wandered off to take pictures. Don’t panic. We’ll bring them back."

There were a few nervous chuckles.

Teenagers wandering off in a historic ruin during a school trip wasn’t exactly shocking.

The male guide and Mr. Ibe disappeared into one of the dimmer corridors branching from the central atrium. Their footsteps echoed briefly before being swallowed by the underground vastness.

At first, the remaining students resumed quiet conversation.

"They’re definitely making out somewhere," Darius muttered.

Nina rolled her eyes. "You would assume that."

But their assumption wasn’t far from the truth.

---

Elsewhere — A Secluded Chamber

In a deeper, more enclosed section of the Eternal Ruins which was a partially cordoned off area but not entirely inaccessible, Calvin and Emily stood pressed against a cracked marble statue.

The statue depicted some strange six legged figure, half-eroded with its face long since worn away. A zig-zagged fissure split through its torso.

Emily’s back rested against the cold stone while Calvin’s hands were at her waist.

They were kissing intensely, completely absorbed in each other. The silence of the chamber amplified the small sounds of quickened breaths, shifting fabric and the scuff of shoes on stone.

"You’re so naughty," Emily whispered breathlessly between kisses. "Pulling me away from the group like that."

Calvin grinned, leaning closer. "Hehe... let’s make good use of the time before they notice we’re gone."

They laughed softly before their mouths met again as the moment grew heated and reckless in its urgency.

Neither of them noticed the faint cracking sound behind them.

The statue’s fissure widened slightly with dust trickled down.

At first, it was subtle...

A thin line spread downward from the statue’s split torso, creeping along the stone base and branching into the ground itself like a spiderweb.

A faint, unnatural chill seeped into the chamber.

Emily broke the kiss suddenly, frowning.

"Is it me or did it just get colder?"

Calvin brushed it off with a smirk. "Definitely you."

He leaned in again... but as he did, something moved...