Chapter 98: Ancient Crystal Human Ruin

Arthur looked around and noticed several players staring in his direction with confused expressions. Although he had already stopped using stealth, they seemed unable to see him clearly. They could sense his presence, yet their eyes struggled to focus on his figure, as though something was preventing them from observing him properly.

Instantly, Arthur understood what had happened. Noer had probably deployed a powerful domain to prevent anyone from interfering with their conversation. Even after the old man had left, some lingering effects of that domain might still be influencing the surrounding space. Arthur did not bother investigating the matter further and activated his stealth before leaving the area.

His destination was Ironclad City, although visiting the city had not been part of his original plan. He now needed to wait 3 days here.

Before setting off, however, he decided to check on Noah and the others. After opening his communication interface, he sent Noah a message asking whether they had arrived at their destination.

Less than thirty seconds later, Noah replied. "Yes, we have just arrived. Yorichi and his people are also here. Do you have any specific instructions?" Reading the message, Arthur immediately began typing his response, recalling the information he knew about the ruin and the treasures hidden within it.

"Keep your mind sharp and stay alert. That ruin is extremely powerful, and it contains man-made weapons that have reached almost Mythical Grade. More importantly, when you enter the ruin, look for a mecha that is red and white in color and carries a sword as its weapon. It might look rusty and appear to be in poor condition, but you must take that thing no matter what."

Noah was surprised by the detailed instructions, particularly the part about a specific mecha hidden inside the ruin. However, he was no longer particularly shocked by Arthur’s seemingly impossible knowledge. After everything his cousin had accomplished, Noah and the other members of the Miller family had practically become accustomed to such unexpected revelations.

"Understood," Noah replied without asking any further questions.

Arthur glanced at the message and nodded in satisfaction. Since Noah had understood his instructions, there was no need to continue the conversation. He closed the communication interface and headed toward Ironclad City’s entrance, keeping his stealth active as he approached the enormous city gates.

.....

Meanwhile, Noah and Arthur’s nine other cousins had gathered at the designated location. A large group of players was already waiting there, and their attention immediately shifted toward the newcomers. The moment Noah and his cousins approached, the players felt an overwhelming pressure radiating from them, causing many to instinctively hold their breath.

"Who are these monsters?" several members of the Demon Slayer Guild wondered in disbelief.

Their strength was simply too intimidating. Even without deliberately releasing their auras, Noah and his cousins gave off a terrifying presence that made it difficult for ordinary players to approach them casually. The members of the Demon Slayer Guild exchanged glances, struggling to understand how the Evergreen Guild had managed to gather so many powerful players in one place.

"Shh! Keep your voices down. They’re members of the Evergreen Guild, personally invited by our guild master. You know, the world’s top eleven powerhouses,with only Darklord missing here!" one player whispered excitedly to his companions.

"Holy shit! Our guild master is incredible. He actually managed to invite these bigshots!" another exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Exactly! With so many powerful players helping us, what could possibly go wrong inside a ruin?"

The members of the Demon Slayer Guild were visibly excited. In their minds, having so many powerful players accompany them meant their expedition would be far safer and more rewarding than they had initially expected. Some had already begun imagining the treasures they might discover, while others were simply thrilled to witness such powerful individuals in person.

Standing at the front of the group, Yorichi and his top executives naturally overheard the conversation. The praise from his guild members brought a faint smile to Yorichi’s face, and he felt a sense of pride at having successfully secured the Evergreen Guild’s participation. However, he quickly composed himself and stepped forward to welcome the newcomers.

"Hello! You must be the representatives of the Evergreen Guild. I am Yorichi Tsugikuni. Thank you for coming," he said calmly, extending his hand toward Noah.

Noah stepped forward and accepted the handshake. "Hello, Guild Master Yorichi. I’m Noah Miller, and these are my cousins. We’re here on Darklord’s orders. Thank you for inviting us." He offered a polite smile, making sure to show the proper courtesy that Arthur would expect from him.

"Shall we enter the ruin now, or do you have any questions for us before we begin?" Yorichi asked.

"No, we don’t have any questions at the moment. Let’s enter first. If we discover anything that requires discussion, we can share the information while exploring the ruin," Noah replied.

Yorichi nodded in agreement. Since everyone had already gathered, there was little reason to waste time standing outside. He turned toward his guild members and raised his voice, ordering everyone to prepare for the expedition. His executives immediately began organizing the group, ensuring that no one was left behind.

Noah glanced at his cousins while the Demon Slayer Guild made its final preparations. Curiosity was evident on their faces, and he could hardly blame them. Despite their growing strength, this was the first time they had participated in a ruin expedition. They had explored dangerous areas before, but an ancient ruin containing advanced technology and powerful weapons was an entirely different matter.

Soon, Yorichi reached into his pocket and retrieved a broken-looking gadget. Its surface was covered in scratches, and several sections appeared to have deteriorated with age. Nevertheless, he handled it carefully, suggesting that the seemingly insignificant object was essential to accessing the ruin.

After pressing a button on the device, Yorichi stepped back.

The surrounding space trembled, and a circular portal appeared before the assembled players. Strange patterns of light spread across its surface, revealing a passage leading into an unknown destination. Before anyone could take another step, a system notification rang out in everyone’s ears.

[Ding! Congratulations. You have discovered the Ancient Crystal Human Ruin.]

The notification immediately stirred the crowd into excitement. Several players exchanged eager glances, while others hurried toward the portal, unwilling to waste even a moment. The prospect of discovering ancient treasures, advanced technology, and powerful equipment was enough to ignite everyone’s curiosity.

Yorichi led the way, followed by his officers and the members of the Demon Slayer Guild. Noah and his nine cousins followed close behind, maintaining their composure as they crossed the portal. One after another, the players disappeared into the swirling light, leaving the area outside the ruin increasingly deserted.

The instant they emerged on the other side, however, everyone stopped in their tracks.

Their eyes widened, and their jaws nearly dropped as they took in the scene before them. What they had expected to be an ordinary ancient ruin was nothing like the place they were now witnessing. Instead, an extraordinary civilization stretched out before them, its architecture resembling something straight out of a science-fiction world.

Enormous metallic structures towered over the landscape, their surfaces covered in intricate patterns and unfamiliar symbols. Suspended platforms floated between massive buildings, while countless mechanical structures lay scattered throughout the area. Some appeared to be vehicles, while others resembled weapons or machines whose purposes the players could not immediately identify.

The entire place radiated the atmosphere of an advanced technological civilization that had once flourished far beyond the limits of their current understanding. Although much of it appeared abandoned, the sheer scale of the structures suggested that the civilization responsible for building this place had possessed extraordinary capabilities.

"Holy..."

The same thought appeared to cross the minds of countless players as they stood frozen in awe. Even the most experienced members of the Demon Slayer Guild struggled to conceal their excitement. The ruin’s incredible appearance awakened an insatiable desire to explore every corner, uncover its secrets, and claim whatever treasures remained hidden within.

Noah was equally astonished, but he quickly regained his composure. Remembering Arthur’s warning, he forced himself to focus on their actual objective rather than allowing the surrounding scenery to distract him. The red-and-white mecha carrying a sword was their priority, and he had no intention of leaving without finding it.

He turned toward Yorichi, who was surveying the ancient civilization with a thoughtful expression.

"Guild Master Yorichi, should we explore the ruin together or split up and search independently?" Noah asked.

Yorichi considered the question for a moment before answering. "Let’s explore separately. If any of us encounter something important, we can contact the others and coordinate our actions. There’s no point in keeping everyone together when the ruin appears to be this vast."

Noah understood the reasoning behind the proposal. Although their two guilds were cooperating for this expedition, they still belonged to different organizations and came from different countries. Naturally, each side wanted an opportunity to discover valuable treasures for itself rather than sharing every discovery with the other.

Neither party had any reason to blindly trust the other, especially when they had yet to understand the dangers hidden inside the ruin. As long as they honored their agreement and communicated when necessary, exploring separately would give both sides greater freedom to pursue their own objectives.

"Very well, then. Best of luck to everyone," Noah replied.

Yorichi nodded before turning toward his officers and issuing a few final instructions. The two groups began preparing to separate, each intending to explore a different section of the ancient civilization. Meanwhile, Noah glanced at his cousins and quietly reminded them to stay alert and prioritize their safety.