Chapter 547: The First Offering

With the first puzzle behind them, Adam and his companions continued deeper into the ancient temple.

The passage beyond the chamber was considerably narrower, its walls covered in faded carvings depicting jackal-headed figures, strange rituals, and processions of humanoids carrying offerings toward a towering pyramid.

Adam occasionally glanced at the inscriptions, but most of them were too worn to decipher.

Sylphy, meanwhile, floated ahead with an unusually proud expression.

"Hehehe! See? I told you I knew this place!"

"You’ve been saying that ever since we entered," Adam replied.

"Because it’s true!"

Azrynn followed quietly, occasionally glancing at the dark passage behind them. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridor, mixing with the faint rumble of ancient mechanisms somewhere beneath the temple.

After a while, she looked over her shoulder.

"Do you think those beastkin are still pursuing us?"

Sylphy immediately waved her hand dismissively.

"There’s no way! This place is practically a maze. The passages twist around everywhere, and there are traps in almost every corridor. They’ll probably spend hours just trying to find the right path."

She puffed out her chest.

"Besides, you two only made it this far because of me!"

Adam gave her a brief glance.

"That’s true. You’re surprisingly useful when you actually try."

"Surprisingly?!"

Sylphy’s face immediately twisted in indignation.

"What do you mean, surprisingly?!"

Adam ignored her reaction and continued walking.

"Still, don’t underestimate them. That lion beastman seemed pretty capable."

Azrynn nodded.

"If they manage to catch up, we’ll have to deal with them."

"Well, if they do," Adam replied casually, "we’ll just have to fight them."

Sylphy groaned.

"Why does everything have to end with fighting?!"

"Because people keep trying to make things difficult for me."

"...That’s your fault!"

The three continued through the winding passages until the corridor gradually widened.

The atmosphere changed as they approached the next chamber. The walls became darker, and the carvings grew increasingly elaborate. Strange symbols resembling blood-red veins stretched across the stone, converging toward a massive doorway.

Beyond it lay an enormous hall.

Adam stopped as he stepped inside.

The chamber was far larger than the previous one. Its ceiling disappeared into darkness, supported by thick stone pillars carved into the shapes of ancient warriors. The floor was covered in intricate patterns, forming concentric circles around a massive altar at the center.

The altar itself was constructed from several layers of black stone.

At its center stood a large golden chalice, its surface tarnished by age. Dark reddish stains clung to its inner walls, resembling dried blood. A faint metallic scent lingered in the air, though Adam couldn’t determine whether it came from the chalice itself or something hidden beneath the altar.

Two enormous statues stood on either side of the structure.

They resembled the jackal-headed guardians they had encountered near the temple’s entrance, but these were far more imposing. Each statue stood several meters tall, clad in ancient armor and holding a massive weapon.

One carried a long spear.

The other wielded a heavy stone sword.

Their heads were shaped like those of jackals, with elongated snouts and pointed ears. Their eyes were empty, but their expressions seemed almost lifelike, as though they were watching anyone who approached the altar.

Azrynn instinctively slowed her steps.

"This chamber..."

Her gaze swept across the statues.

"It feels as though we’re entering some kind of sacred place."

Adam nodded slightly.

"Probably. That altar doesn’t look like something ordinary people would use."

Sylphy, however, suddenly brightened.

"Oh! I remember this place!"

She darted toward the altar, her tiny wings fluttering excitedly.

"This is the second puzzle!"

Sylphy floated above the altar, looking at the inscriptions carved into its surface.

"Just leave it to me! I’ll solve it in no time!"

Azrynn approached cautiously and examined the writing.

The inscription was carved in an ancient language, though its meaning somehow seemed clear enough to understand.

Three vessels await the offering.

The sun shall shed its blood.

The moon shall weep beneath the heavens.

The desert shall breathe its final wind.

Arrange the offerings according to the cycle of life, and the guardian shall open its eyes.

Below the inscription were three smaller stone bowls arranged in a row.

Each bowl bore a distinct symbol.

The first depicted a radiant sun.

The second showed a crescent moon surrounded by tiny stars.

The third displayed a spiral resembling a desert whirlwind.

Azrynn frowned as she read the inscription.

"Three offerings... blood, tears, and breath?"

Adam examined the bowls.

"Sounds like we’re supposed to put something into them."

Sylphy immediately nodded.

"Iyuppp! The sun represents blood, the moon represents tears, and the desert represents breath!"

She pointed toward the large golden chalice.

"And that red liquid is probably the blood offering!"

Adam glanced at the chalice.

"Probably?"

Sylphy puffed out her cheeks.

"Well, I don’t remember every single detail!"

Azrynn continued studying the inscription.

"It mentions the cycle of life. Perhaps the offerings need to follow a specific order."

Sylphy suddenly clapped her hands.

"That’s it! The cycle of life!"

She began circling the altar excitedly.

"Birth, growth, and death! The sun comes first, then the moon, and finally the desert!"

Adam raised an eyebrow.

"How does that correspond to the inscription?"

"Don’t question me! I’m the expert here!"

Before either of them could respond, Sylphy began manipulating the stone bowls.

She placed the sun bowl first, the moon bowl second, and the desert bowl last. Then she flew toward the golden chalice and used her wind magic to carefully lift a small amount of the reddish liquid.

The liquid trembled in the air before settling into the first bowl.

A faint red glow appeared.

Sylphy grinned.

"See? It’s working!"

She continued, moving toward the second bowl.

However, the moment she attempted to transfer the liquid, the altar emitted a low humming sound.

Adam’s expression changed slightly.

"Wait..."

The sound grew louder.

The inscriptions carved into the altar began glowing one after another, spreading crimson light across the entire chamber.

Sylphy was confused.

"Huh?"

The floor beneath them suddenly trembled.

RUMBLE!

Dust cascaded from the ceiling as the entire hall shook violently.

Azrynn immediately stepped backward.

"What’s happening?!"

Adam steadied himself, his eyes narrowing as he observed the altar.

The reddish liquid inside the chalice began swirling violently. Several thin streams spilled over its rim, running down the golden surface and disappearing into grooves carved into the altar.

A deep grinding sound echoed through the chamber.

Then the two statues moved.

CRACK!

Stone fragments broke away from the shoulder of the first guardian as it slowly turned its head.

Its empty eyes suddenly ignited with crimson light.

The second statue followed suit.

Its massive stone sword scraped against the floor, producing a deafening metallic-like screech.

Adam stared at the awakening guardians.

"...You’ve got to be kidding me."

Sylphy hovered motionlessly, her expression turning pale.

"W-Wait! That’s not supposed to happen!"

Azrynn immediately reached for the bow strapped across her back, drawing it into her hands. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and nocked it against the string, her eyes fixed on the approaching guardians. Several purple rune butterflies fluttered into existence around her fingertips, their delicate wings glowing faintly as they scattered through the chamber.

"Sylphy! What did you do?!"

"I-I don’t know! I followed the puzzle!"

The first guardian raised its spear.

A tremendous pressure descended upon the chamber.

Adam instinctively stepped forward, positioning himself between Azrynn and the approaching statues.

"Looks like you got the order wrong."

"But I was sure!"

The second guardian suddenly slammed its sword into the ground.

BOOM!

A shockwave spread across the chamber, sending dust and fragments of stone flying in every direction.

Azrynn quickly raised a defensive rune, shielding herself from the debris.

Adam remained standing, his eyes fixed on the towering creatures.

The guardians began advancing.

Their heavy footsteps shook the floor with every movement, and the crimson glow in their eyes grew brighter.

One of them pointed its spear toward Adam.

The other raised its sword, preparing to strike.

Adam let out a quiet sigh.

"So much for a peaceful exploration."

He turned his head slightly toward Azrynn.

"Stay behind me for now. We’ll figure out what these things are later."

Azrynn nodded, her expression serious.

"Understood."

Sylphy hurriedly flew behind them.

"I swear, this usually doesn’t happen!"

Adam ignored her excuse.

The two ancient guardians charged and the battle inside the temple began.