The quest poster said "Low-Risk Shrine Clearance – 6 Bronze, Possible Relics."
Which, in adventurer language, translates directly to "You will cry at least once."
The shrine was about an hour outside of Blackstone Crossing, nestled in a gorge that looked like a scar carved into the land. Vines strangled what was once probably decorative stonework. The entrance gaped like a mouth ready to chew on protagonists.
Kazuki took one look and said, "This definitely screams cursed."
Mistral, perched as usual in his hood, narrowed his eyes. "Screams? It's practically singing. In Latin."
Darin stepped forward, sword out, smile intact. "Well, we're getting paid either way, right?"
Vera sighed and muttered a warding charm. "Just don't touch anything glowing. Or humming. Or anything that invites you to touch it."
Kazuki nodded. "So... don't be myself. Got it."
Inside, it was dark, cold, and full of bad vibes.
The hallway stretched into shadows. Old murals lined the walls—faded, cracked, and depicting scenes of people screaming beneath a massive spiral carved into the sky.
Kazuki squinted. "That symbol looks familiar."
Mistral's fur bristled. "It should. It's the same one that showed up on your soul back in the cave, genius."
"Oh. Good. That's probably fine."
[System Notice: Ancient Site Detected – Class Unknown][Warning: Environment may influence Corruption Level.]
Kazuki stopped walking. "Why does everything raise my corruption? I can't even walk into buildings anymore without the universe judging me."
Darin patted his back. "Maybe the universe is just negging you to make you stronger."
Kazuki looked at him. "You say things that make me tired."
They moved carefully through the shrine—past collapsed altars, broken offerings, and a really suspicious number of skeletons who had very obviously died while trying to leave.
Vera read from a stone tablet while Kazuki watched a rat eat another rat in the corner.
"The writing mentions... an offering. A vessel. A ritual to contain something called 'The Broken One.'" She looked up. "That doesn't sound ominous at all."
Kazuki casually backed away from the altar. "Hey, uh. Just checking—has anyone ever told me what my actual class is yet?"
No one answered.
Eventually, they reached a large chamber filled with shattered statues and half-dead torches. In the center: a stone platform carved with the same spiral symbol. It pulsed faintly.
Kazuki felt nauseous just looking at it.
"I don't like this," he muttered. "This has 'trigger the plot' energy."
[System Alert: Dormant Energy Detected]
[Interaction Optional... but highly encouraged.]
Mistral glared at the message. "Touch that and I will leave you for dead."
"...Noted."
Darin, meanwhile, poked a glowing chunk of crystal.
The room shuddered.
[Hidden Mechanism Activated – Sealing Ritual Disrupted][Boss Encounter Approaching]
A deep rumble echoed through the walls. Statues cracked open. Something screamed—not with a mouth, but with space.
Kazuki shouted, "WHAT DID WE JUST UNLOCK?!"
Vera drew her staff, eyes glowing. "Whatever it is, it's not happy."
Darin grinned. "I knew this wasn't a normal dungeon!"
Kazuki raised his ladle and whispered, "Why do I keep getting dragged into lore?!"