Chapter 216: Chapter 214: How Can This Ruin Still Be So Deceptive?

A wide road was cleared between the temporary camp and the ruins gate by the Mercenary Guild, using magic to summon giant stones to fill it, turning it into a stone-paved road.

The lush scenery on both sides of the stone road remains unchanged.

Besides the road from the temporary camp to the ruins gate, the Mercenary Guild also teamed up with nearby towns to feverishly construct roads linking them to the outside world.

The lord of a nearby town seized this opportunity to collaborate with the Mercenary Guild, transforming the town into a temporary mercenary market to provide various supplies and services to mercenaries coming to explore the ancient ruins.

The phantom of Rose appeared beside Hilia, observing the changes made within a few days, finding them somewhat familiar.

"It’s like those internet celebrity check-in spots, where something local goes viral online, attracting a wave of tourists, leading the local government to start construction, creating a formulaic food street."

"What’s an internet celebrity check-in spot?" Hilia asked curiously.

Rose chuckled, "A business model from a thousand years ago, similar to the influx of mercenaries after discovering ruins, except ancient ruins offer benefits, while check-in spots merely satisfy vanity."

"Oh." Hilia seemed to understand.

"It’s really bustling here." Elina’s voice came, and Hilia looked up to find they had already arrived at the ruins gate.

This ancient ruin was different from the Lost Lighthouse.

In sight was a massive stone gate, at least three stories high.

The stone gate was adorned with numerous mysterious runes.

Elina said, "I noted down the runes on the gate before and asked someone, they are runes to activate the gate. Generally, a low-level Magic Crystal can provide the necessary power to open these gates, but this one requires a Pure Magic Crystal... it seems like a scam to lure people into fueling it."

Hilia scrutinized the mysterious runes on the gate, and indeed, they seemed just like what Elina described, merely to drive the stone gate up to open it.

But there were subtle differences, ones that Hilia couldn’t quite discern, too ancient.

She opted to consult Rose.

Rose confirmed, "Those tiny differences serve to lock the Pure Magic Crystal in place, ensuring it continues to supply power. The effect is rather weak but can be forcibly removed; however, if removed, the gate immediately loses power and quickly falls back down. If not removed, the Pure Magic Crystal gradually rises with the gate, eventually lodging into the crevice above."

Hilia looked up, indeed noticing a small hole in the gap designated for the gate to rise into.

The hole was perfectly aligned above where the Pure Magic Crystal would be embedded.

"This ruin is really sneaky, even fooling people for Magic Crystals."

Hilia was dumbfounded.

A moment later, she asked, "If I put a Magic Staff up to power the gate, and I can’t get through while it’s rising, can I outrun the speed at which it falls?"

Rose laughed, "If you want to know, try placing the Magic Staff up there and see."

"I’ll try it tomorrow... can the rune be altered? If it could activate once to open the gate, that would be nice too..."

"No, this rune is fixed. The designer of the ruins anticipated attempts to modify the rune when designing it, so all the runes are intertwined, securely locked, not allowing additions or subtractions."

Hilia: "..."

Rose chuckled, "How interesting, and we haven’t even gone inside yet. I’m sure the traps inside won’t just be straightforward puzzles as Elina said but combined with demons to form thrilling traps."

Hilia looked at the stone gate, "I suddenly feel like it’s not necessary to explore these ruins, they’re so intimidating even before getting inside, who knows what will happen once we’re in."

She briefly relayed the specifics about the stone gate to Elina, who nodded in agreement, accepting Hilia’s opinion.

But Elina grew even more intrigued, "This ruin is so fascinating even before entering, the trap designs inside must be extraordinary, I can’t wait to explore them."

Hilia quietly stepped a bit away from Elina.

She found Elina’s attitude bizarre but couldn’t find the right words to describe it.

Rose gave her a term, "That’s thrill-seeking."

"What’s thrill-seeking?"

"Someone with a penchant for masochism."

"Oh, right, just like Doris."

Elina noticed and curiously asked, "Why did you step back?"

"Ahem, it’s nothing, nothing."

"Oh, Hilia, how about we go inside now? We can always come back out if needed!"

Elina didn’t pay attention to Hilia’s emotional change, her eyes filled with longing for the stone gate and a strong desire to go in.

Hilia shook her head, "Not today, I need to set the coordinates for the Emergency Teleportation Scrolls properly, in case we can’t find our way back once inside."

Elina was taken aback, "Why need Teleportation Scrolls for exploring ruins? These trap-disarming ruins are best tackled bit by bit, even if tired, we can easily return, and the way back poses no traps or sudden Magic Puppets, so safety isn’t a concern.

"Moreover, even with a Teleportation Scroll, if failing to disarm a trap, there’s no time to use it, and if there’s time, there’s no need for such a precious item."

Hilia nodded, "Teleportation Scrolls are indeed valuable."

She wasted a hundred scrolls just to make two Emergency Teleportation Scrolls usable only within the ruins, successfully creating just four.

These are the most basic Teleportation Scrolls, only effective for returning from Subspace to the main world, functional solely in Subspace, making them the simplest yet nearly Tier Four quality. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

In terms of complexity, they’re no less demanding than Tier Four scrolls.

Only the Magic Power requirement and material need are lower compared to Tier Four.

"However, to hold back due to their value, placing oneself in danger, is going against the purpose."

Disregarding Elina’s pleading gaze, Hilia turned and headed back towards the camp.

Elina had to sigh and prepared to follow.

At that moment, a huge crash sounded from the side of the gate.

Boom!

They looked over, seeing a mass of dirt explode from the side of the mountain.

Many mercenaries researching near the stone gate also looked over.

Someone recognized the area.

"Isn’t that the direction where the Eternal Night Mercenary Corps is digging a tunnel? Did they hit a trap?"

"With such a commotion, could they all be dead inside?"

"Death is unlikely, they’re used to digging tunnels and encountering a scene like this often, it’s just unclear what they found."

"..."

With the chatter among the mercenaries, quite a few had already started walking towards the site to check it out.

Hilia also stopped and exchanged a glance with Elina.

"Shall we?"

"Let’s go."