In an instant, Wared was fully prepared for battle. His agility in navigating through the trap-laden corridor was nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing that despite years of relaxation at Drachensberg Castle, the former high-ranking officer of the Cosmic Federation had not lost his edge. In fact, his skills had only improved over time—a fact worth celebrating.
But all of it was for naught.
Just three seconds of vigilance later, Wared regained his normal vision and surveyed the grand hall. He quickly realized his earlier preparations were unnecessary, as there was nothing here that posed a threat to him. Or, to be more precise, there had been something that could have threatened him—even demolished him in his current weakened state. The proof lay in the over twenty massive statues lining both sides of the hall.
These statues—more accurately, golems—were crafted in the classic, ancient form of gargoyles. They bore humanoid, hunched bodies with powerful lower limbs and elongated forelimbs ending in sharp, claw-like appendages. Made from pure obsidian, a material highly attuned to magical currents, they were both incredibly durable and polished to a gleaming finish. Such stone was perfect for sculpture or architecture, but in the hands of a skilled alchemist who knew how to embed magic crystals during the crafting process, it could be transformed into flawless golems.
These golems were indomitable, their strength unmatched and their defenses impenetrable. Due to their material, their attacks were inherently enchanted, capable of countering any defensive measures. Similarly, their physical composition rendered their defenses as enchanted as well, making them impervious to most forms of assault. Their only weakness was their slow speed and lack of flexibility, but in the confined space of the hall, arranged in a surrounding formation, these flaws were effectively negated.
It was a perfect killing array. With these twenty golems standing guard, even an army of thousands would find it nearly impossible to breach this hall. The narrow entrance leading to the chamber was a natural chokepoint, ideal for holding off invaders. Unlike the previous traps that relied on cunning, this defense was straightforward—pure, unadulterated power. But now, none of that mattered.
Because these imposing, seemingly invincible golems were utterly broken. Though their exteriors appeared unscathed, Wared's magical vision revealed the truth: the tiny yet crucial magic crystals within them had been destroyed. Some had been consumed, while others had reverted to magical energy, dispersing into the air. This explained the unusually dense magical atmosphere in the room.
As for the cause of their destruction, Wared had a good idea. A single glance upward revealed a massive crack in the hall's ceiling, penetrating the rock layer and revealing the sky above. Looking down, he saw a matching crack on the floor. The angle of these fissures aligned perfectly with the all-out attack Wared had unleashed earlier to break through the barrier. That single strike had not only drained the surrounding magical energy but also destabilized the internal structures of the golems, reducing them to lifeless piles of stone from within.
Realizing this, Wared couldn't help but marvel at the serendipity of fate. Had a proper archmage been here, they would have found a vastly superior method to dismantle the barrier. But if that same archmage had entered this hall, they would have likely met their end under the golems' merciless claws. Instead, it was Wared—a reckless novice—who, in his ignorance, had inadvertently destroyed the tomb's second line of defense. It was a twist of fate worth pondering.
At the same time, Wared couldn't suppress a surge of excitement. This venture was already proving worthwhile. Forget the other treasures and relics; these twenty exquisitely crafted golems alone were worth the trip. If he could transport them out, then with alchemical techniques, he could embed small fragments of magic crystals into them and recalibrate their magical circuits. Each repaired golem would possess combat prowess on par with a high-level undead warrior—a treasure trove of resources.
Lost in these thoughts, Wared's mood lifted considerably—even though he had yet to learn a single thing about alchemy.
"But if the defenses guarding this tomb are so formidable, what must the actual treasures be like?" Wared scrutinized the golems once more, confirming there was no critical damage, and nodded in satisfaction. The question lingered in his mind, fueling his anticipation.
It was time to move forward. But first, he needed to decide which path to take. The hall had four passages—one behind him, leading back to where he came from, and three others.
"The central passage likely leads to the tomb's main chamber," Wared reasoned. "But with my current condition, it's best to explore the side passages first." Turning to the left corridor, he began his advance. In ancient empires, the right side was considered superior, so he would tackle the simpler options first. After all, the tomb wasn't going anywhere.
As he moved, Wared checked the time—a skill he'd honed in his previous life as a Federation officer. It allowed him to estimate the passage of time between events with an accuracy of less than three minutes. Though seemingly trivial, this skill had proven unexpectedly useful.
"A little over two and a half hours," he calculated. "Plenty of time before dawn." With this reassurance, he pressed on. The tomb's designer seemed to have taken it easy on the left corridor; there were no elaborate traps like rolling boulders, snake-infested chasms, piranha-filled moats, or shifting walls. Just a few low-level, puzzle-based mechanisms that Wared solved with ease. For someone from the future who'd attended university in the cosmic era, solving systems of quadratic equations was child's play.
Finally, after navigating these challenges, Wared reached the end of the corridor: a stone-sealed chamber. After inspecting the surrounding area, he found a dial-like mechanism. Turning it twice, he triggered the floor beneath him to vanish. Fortunately, he had already cast a levitation spell, saving himself from a fall.
Steadying himself, he continued turning the dial—once clockwise, once counterclockwise—hoping to avoid further traps. This time, luck was on his side. As the dial spun counterclockwise, the floor reassembled, and the stone door gradually opened. Wared stepped forward, deflecting a volley of poison needles with a dinner knife. After ensuring the area was safe, he proceeded.
Inside the chamber, the space was largely empty. Another stone slab stood ahead, perhaps leading to another passage—or more traps. The only item of note was a book resting on a central pedestal.