When Kitsune nodded, Chang Long stooped to pick up several small stones from the ground, stuffing them into her trouser pockets. She kept one in her hand to execute their plan. Taking a deep breath, she hurled the stone.

    Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh.

    Thousands of arrows flew out from both sides of the wall of the cave at high speed, a sight too familiar yet unsettling every time. Ready at the sound of the mechanism, Chang Long dashed at full speed with Kitsune closely behind. The hundred meters, given only ten seconds and the uneven ground, posed a significant challenge.

    Halfway through, Chang Long heard a click followed by rapid whizzing sounds. She glanced back and was stunned to see arrows launching again, coming fast towards them.

    "Argh! I don't want to be perforated! Mystic Wind!"

    Chang Long screamed, invoking her newly acquired skill when she fell into a ravine. A cool breeze wrapped around her, converging under her feet. As she continued sprinting, her body lifted a fraction off the ground, propelling forward like a rocket. She did not forget to grab Kitsune's hand, narrowly reaching their destination despite several grazes and cuts. Exhausted, she sat down at the resting spot, rummaging through her bag for a blood crystal and water.

    "We're almost out of water... Looks like I'll have to use the Horn of Abundance to refill my water bottle,"

    Chang Long muttered, tossing a blood crystal into her mouth and offering one to Kitsune. She then took out the Cone of Abundance from her bag to conjure water into her bottle before immediately turning her attention to the second phase.

    Rolling stones gently on both sides, she searched for a safe passage. The resting point was merely a meter wide. After testing the second phase with stones, Chang Long discovered safe spots amidst the deadly flames - areas where the fire did not reach. However, navigating through it would be perilous due to the extreme heat. One misstep could lead to a fatal end. Overwhelmed, Chang Long could only groan in frustration.

    "Look closely, master. The stone you threw hit a safe spot. If you remember where these safe areas are, we can cross without triggering the flames,"

    Kitsune suggested, offering a glimmer of hope.

    "You’re right!!"

    Chang Long sprang up, inadvertently kicking a stone into the second phase, which reactivated the flames, slightly burning her.

    Ignoring the pain and the singe, Chang Long focused on the pattern on the ground. As Kitsune had said, there were square stones measuring 1x1 meter untouched by fire, surrounded by scorched red areas from the flames. The only way to discern safe spots was to move while they were still hot; once cooled, they would blend indistinguishably.

    "Ready, Kitsune?"

    Chang Long turned to Kitsune, who nodded in agreement. Prepared, they leapt from one safe stone to another swiftly.

    ...

    At the entrance of the Pendragon Guild's headquarters, over fifty guild members stood in an organized manner, waiting for their guild leader to show up.

    "Sign, when will Seig, Raf, and Co ever come out? It's almost dawn," Peach Blossom grumbled impatiently, having waited for them for quite some time.

    "Are you really that eager to go? Can't you wait just a little bit?"

    Seigfreid said as he came out of the building. He scanned the guild members and nodded in satisfaction.

    "Alright, let's set off. We're going to special training in the Southern Sea Abyss!"

    "What! Weren't you supposed to help me look for Master? How did it turn into taking guild members for training?!"

    Peach Blossom loudly protested, feeling deceived by her brother.

    "Yes, but if we have to go, we might as well make it more beneficial than just searching for a single unknown person,"

     Seigfreid replied, amused by his sister's reaction.

    "Now that everyone is here, let's head out,"

    he declared and led the way, followed by his deputies, Rafael, and Draco. Sulking Peach Blossom hurriedly followed them after realizing that they were leaving her behind. Their destination was the Southern Sea Abyss, located to the south of the starting town, a place filled with dangers and secrets waiting to be discovered.

    The group of over fifty Pendragon Guild members finally arrived at the only entrance to the Southern Sea Abyss after a two-hour journey, under the watchful eyes of numerous players around level ten and above who were hunting monsters in the area. Some looked in admiration, others with envy. Lidded Wet Trash Can’s group was among them, viewing the scene with envy but not without a certain admiration.

    "Look at them, making such a grand entrance, bringing dozens to stand out like that," Wet Trash Can whispered to Oliang, standing next to him, careful not to be overheard by the Pendragon Guild members.

    "I bet they're heading down to the Southern Sea Abyss for sure,"

    Oliang replied, eyeing a beautiful woman in a pristine white mage robe trimmed with gold ribbons and embroidered with a golden thread in the shape of a soaring swan. She stood pouting near a male player in a black dragon leather armor, who was instructing two other male players.

    "Hm? Are they going after the Pirate King outfit set hinted to be in the south of the starting island?"

    Wet Trash Can speculated.

    "It's possible, but then again, there are not many players over level 40 in their party. They might just be there to help each other level up since there are plenty of high-level beasts down there,"

    Oliang shared his thoughts, his gaze still fixed on the mage woman without blinking.

    "Wait, isn't that Peach Blossom?"

    "Yeah, she looks stunning. But hey, why does she look so grumpy? Completely ruins her beauty,"

    Wet Trash Can remarked just as Rafael, the guild's deputy leader, turned to address the guild members.

    "Alright, everyone, we'll split into groups of ten. Each group will balance levels to assist in attacking the beasts. Our guild leader is here to oversee personally today, so let's give it our all,"

    Rafael announced. The Pendragon Guild members cheered enthusiastically.

    "So dramatic. They’re just going to hunt beasts to level up, but they’re acting as if they're going to war!!"

    Wet Trash Can commented disdainfully, keeping his voice down as usual.

    "Come on! let's hurry up or we won't make it in time to help Master,"

    Peach Blossom complained to her brothers.

    "I think that guy has probably respawned by now."

    Rafael teased.

    "What did you say? Eat this, Raf!"

    Enraged, Peach Blossom immediately conjured fireballs the size of a soccer ball and hurled them at Rafael.

    "Ah! Peach Blossom, watch it! That's dangerous,"

    Rafael exclaimed as he dodged the fireballs. Seigfried had to intervene.

    "Enough, Peach Blossom!!"

    Seigfried commanded sharply.

    "Let's continue our journey,"

    he ordered and led the way down into the Southern Sea Abyss. Draco chuckled and followed closely behind, along with the rest of the guild members. Rafael hurried to the front to walk alongside Draco, while Peach Blossom fumed for a moment before begrudgingly following the group.

    "She's beautiful alright, but she’s so fierce... whoever ends up as her partner is in for a real treat."

    Wet Trash Can looked after Peach Blossom with a mix of intimidation and bewilderment.

    "So, if she asked you out, would you say yes?"

    Oliang, standing beside him, inquired.

    "Of course! Missing out on someone that gorgeous would be foolish. But I think I don't stand a chance. Did you not hear her earlier? Peach Blossom is looking for someone called Master,"

    Wet Trash Can answered.

    "Who's this Master? Never heard of him,"

    Oliang turned to ask his best friend.

    "How would I know? We were both standing there listening; if you don't know, how am I supposed to? Are you stupid or what?"

    Wet Trash Can teased him before darting off swiftly.

    "Hey, Wet Trash Can! You're mocking me, huh? Don't you run away, come back here, and let me kick you properly!"

    Realizing he had been made fun of, Oliang chased after his friend to get his revenge.

    ...

    Halfway through the second, intensely hot phase, Chang Long was sweating profusely, to the point where she had to hold her water bottle ready for a sip whenever she felt parched. Kitsune was not faring much better than Chang Long either.

    "Are you holding up, Kitsune? Need more water?"

    Chang Long asked with a shaky voice. Kitsune did not answer but shook his head at Chang Long instead. It seemed he would not last much longer, and neither would she, given the scorching heat emanating from the ground constantly. Jumping from one stone slab to another only intensified the heat.

    "How can we get through this faster... Ah!"

    Chang Long murmured to herself while trying to think of a way to speed up their passage. She pressed her watch to check her skills for the first time and noticed the mystic gust skill she obtained from falling into the abyss. It turned out to be a skill that allowed players to move through the air as if they had wings, with the height and speed dependent on the levels of the mystic gust and swift movement skills. Upon activation, a gentle breeze would lift from under the player’s foot.

    "I have a plan to get us out of this Kitsune! Just hang in there a little longer,"

    Chang Long beamed, informing her companion who looked like he could pass out at any time. She had just used this secret skill but had completely forgotten about it.

    "Mystic Gust!"

    Chang Long, without waiting any further, grabbed Kitsune's hand and activated the skill. Propelled forward by the skill's force, both Chang Long and Kitsune swiftly moved ahead, landing on the next safe space, four stone slabs away. Chang Long smiled in satisfaction, repeatedly using the mystic gust skill as it had no cooldown and could be used until her mana was depleted. They made it through, despite having to use two more blood crystals each on her and Kitsune, and another eight mana crystals. Chang Long successfully conquered the fiery trial stretching over a kilometer.

    "Player Chang Long fulfilled the basic condition for a beginner profession's advancement. Swift Movement Skill advanced to level 9...10, Evasion Skill advanced to level 14...15, and the Mystic Gust Skill advanced to level 5."

    Exhausted, both collapsed in relief as soon as they escaped the daunting challenge. Chang Long paid little attention to the system notifications. Looking ahead to see what awaited them, she found nothing but a dead-end about five hundred meters away. The thought of enduring so much only to face a dead-end nearly drove her to despair. She should have just ordered Kitsune to help dig a way out at the cave's entrance. Chang Long sighed deeply and looked at Kitsune, who had already fallen fast asleep. Overcame by fatigue and sleepiness herself, she quickly drifted off.

    The morning sunlight that shone through the cave's crevices woke Chang Long. Kitsune, who had been awake for a while, was sitting nearby, waiting. Checking her condition, Chang Long found herself in a dismal state: her body and clothes were grimy, stained, and dust-covered.  Kitsune looked hardly any better, and both of them were emitting an unpleasant odor.

    "Yikes, Kitsune, you’re smelly,"

    Chang Long wrinkled her nose at Kitsune, then quickly distanced herself, wondering why the game had to simulate body odors.

    "You smell just as bad, master,"

    Kitsune retorted swiftly. Chang Long glared at him before rummaging through her backpack for dining set, prioritizing breakfast over everything else, despite the lingering smells.

    After eating but not being able to enjoy their meal to the fullest due to the bothersome odors, Chang Long began rolling and tossing the stones she had brought towards the cave wall that should lead to their exit.

    One stone, two stones, three stones...

    Nothing happened. No arrows shot from the walls, no flames burst from the floor, no cages fell from the ceiling—nothing that could pose a threat to their lives or belongings. Reassured, Chang Long cautiously approached the supposed exit to check for any hidden doors, with Kitsune following at a distance. They safely reached the wall.

    Chang Long examined the area closely, running her hands over the surface to discover a carving of a large arched doorway spanning ten meters wide, its height indiscernible due to the darkness above. It was a double door. On each door was a skull with wings spread on each side. The carvings were as wide as the door itself and were almost 3 meters tall. A dagger pierced the skull from top to bottom. In the middle of both doors was a groove carved in the shape of a sword, extending from the hilt to the tip, about one and a half meters long, with a small circular groove the size of a coin slightly further from the guard. Despite her thorough search for any hidden mechanism, Chang Long found nothing else.

    "Sigh... Found nothing. How are we going to get out of here?"

    Chang Long said, slumping down against the wall that formed the door.

    "Don't be discouraged just yet, master. Maybe the mechanism we're looking for is up above,"

    Kitsune offered comfortingly. Chang Long patted his head affectionately, then looked up thoughtfully at the dark ceiling of the cave.

    "If it was that high up, we would need wings to reach it, Kitsune,"

    Chang Long observed, sheer walls offered no footholds for climbing. She sighed again, leaning back against the wall with her backpack; when the Sovereign Sword touched the door, it began to vibrate intensely.

    Startled, Chang Long looked down at the Sovereign Sword at her waist to see that it was burning. She quickly unfastened it. Once it was free, the sword floated around her as if urging her to do something. Puzzled for a moment, she then glanced between the sword and the carved sword groove on the door.

    "No way!"