LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 14: chapter 14
The faint blue glow from the bioluminescent fungi became their only guide as the trio continued along the submerged path. Their breaths came in short, sharp bursts, the adrenaline from their encounter still coursing through their veins.
Erin's gaze flicked to Rishitha every so often, his expression unreadable. She could feel the weight of his scrutiny, but she kept her focus ahead. Her Keen Instincts buzzed faintly, warning her of the unstable ground beneath their feet.
"Step to the left," she instructed quietly, her voice steady despite the tension. "The rocks here aren't stable."
Mo Tang glanced at her with a mix of curiosity and suspicion but obeyed without argument. Erin followed, though his eyes never left Rishitha's face.
"How do you know all this?" he asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence.
Rishitha stiffened. "I told you, I can sense it."
"That's not an answer," Erin pressed.
"Leave it," Mo Tang said, her tone sharp. "She's keeping us alive, isn't she? Focus on the task."
After what felt like hours, the submerged path gave way to a narrow ledge that wound its way upward. The sound of rushing water faded, replaced by an eerie stillness that made the air feel heavy.
Rishitha's heart pounded as they reached the top, the sight before them both breathtaking and foreboding.
A massive chamber stretched out before them, its walls lined with glowing runes that pulsed faintly. At the center stood an ornate pedestal, a strange artifact resting on it—a shimmering orb that seemed to pulse with life.
"That must be it," Mo Tang whispered, her eyes narrowing.
Erin stepped forward cautiously, his sword drawn. "Looks too easy."
"It's never easy," Rishitha muttered under her breath.
Her interface blinked to life, displaying a new notification.
[Hidden Mission Update: Retrieve the Orb.]
Objective: Safely secure the artifact.
Reward: Unlock advanced system feature: Arcane Insight.
Failure: Unknown consequences.
Her stomach churned. This was the moment she'd been preparing for, but the stakes felt heavier now with Erin and Mo Tang by her side.
As Erin approached the pedestal, the runes on the walls flared brightly. A deep rumble echoed through the chamber, and the ground beneath them began to shake.
"Trap," Mo Tang hissed, drawing her weapon.
The orb emitted a blinding light, and suddenly, spectral guardians emerged from the walls—figures made of shadow and flame, their hollow eyes glowing with malice.
"Of course," Erin muttered, raising his sword.
The guardians charged, their movements unnaturally fast. Erin met the first one head-on, his blade sparking as it clashed against the creature's fiery claws.
Mo Tang moved with precision, her strikes calculated and deadly. But for every guardian they felled, another seemed to take its place.
Rishitha's hands trembled as she accessed her system interface.
[Emergency Skill Activation: Guardian's Will.]
Effect: Reduces incoming damage for all allies by 10% while protecting others.
A faint golden glow enveloped her, spreading to Erin and Mo Tang.
"What the—" Erin began, but there was no time to question it.
"Focus!" Rishitha shouted, her voice steadier than she felt.
As the battle raged on, Rishitha's Keen Instincts flared, guiding her attention to the pedestal. The orb pulsed erratically, as if reacting to the chaos around it.
Her interface blinked again.
[Critical Choice Detected.]
Option 1: Take the orb immediately and risk triggering additional traps.
Option 2: Deactivate the guardians by solving the rune puzzle on the walls.
Option 3: Leave the orb and retreat.
Her mind raced. The guardians were relentless, and while Erin and Mo Tang were holding their own, they couldn't keep this up forever.
"Rishitha!" Mo Tang shouted, her voice strained. "We can't keep this up much longer!"
Rishitha's gaze darted to the runes. Her instincts screamed that the puzzle was the safest route, but it would take time—time they didn't have.
She made her decision.
Rishitha ran toward the pedestal, her heart pounding. The orb's light intensified as she reached for it, her fingers trembling.
"No!" Erin shouted, cutting down a guardian as he tried to reach her. "It's a trap!"
"I don't have a choice!" Rishitha yelled back.
As her fingers closed around the orb, a deafening roar shook the chamber. The guardians froze, their forms flickering like static before shattering into nothingness.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Erin and Mo Tang stared at her, their expressions a mix of relief and anger.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Erin demanded, his voice shaking.
Rishitha held the orb tightly, her hands still trembling. "I… I didn't know what else to do."
Mo Tang sighed, wiping sweat from her brow. "Well, it worked. Let's just hope it doesn't kill us later."
As they left the chamber, the orb safely secured in Rishitha's inventory, her system chimed once more.
[Hidden Mission Complete.]
Reward: Advanced system feature unlocked: Arcane Insight.
She didn't share the notification with Erin or Mo Tang. Some secrets were better left hidden—for now.
As they emerged from the labyrinth, the faint glow of sunlight greeted them. But Rishitha knew their journey was far from over. The missions ahead would only grow more dangerous, and the weight of her hidden agenda would become harder to bear.
One step closer, she thought again, gripping the orb tightly. To what, though?
The trio stepped out of the labyrinth and into the forest clearing, where the sunlight felt almost unreal against their dirt-streaked faces. The warmth was a stark contrast to the suffocating darkness they had just left behind.
Mo Tang collapsed onto a nearby rock, breathing heavily. "I don't know about you two, but I'm done with caves for a lifetime."
Erin sheathed his sword, his sharp eyes still scanning their surroundings. "We survived. That's all that matters. For now."
Rishitha leaned against a tree, her grip tightening on the orb in her inventory. Her system interface hovered faintly before her eyes, displaying the new feature she had unlocked:
[Advanced System Feature: Arcane Insight]
Effect: Gain the ability to analyze and identify artifacts, runes, and ancient mechanisms.
She dismissed the screen before Erin or Mo Tang noticed. The orb felt heavy in her hands, even within the confines of her system storage. It was more than a mission objective now—it was a key to something much larger, though she wasn't sure what yet.
"Alright, let's talk," Erin said, breaking the silence.
Mo Tang groaned. "Can't it wait? I'm pretty sure my legs are still in the cave."
Erin ignored her, his focus locked on Rishitha. "You knew things about that cave—things you couldn't have guessed. The traps, the guardians, even that puzzle on the walls. How?"
Rishitha met his gaze, her mind racing for an answer that wouldn't reveal too much.
"I told you," she said carefully. "I've got a… knack for sensing danger. Call it intuition."
"Intuition doesn't decode ancient puzzles or lead us straight to the artifact without a single misstep," Erin pressed, stepping closer.
Mo Tang waved him off. "Who cares how she did it? She saved our asses back there. Let it go."
But Erin didn't budge. "This isn't just about survival anymore. If we're going to keep working together, we need to know we can trust each other."
Rishitha felt the weight of his words, the unspoken accusation hanging in the air. She couldn't tell them about the system—not yet. It wasn't just a matter of trust; it was a matter of survival. If they knew, the balance of their fragile alliance could shatter.
"I get it," she said finally, her voice steady. "You want answers. But I've told you everything I can right now. If that's not enough for you…" She met his eyes, unwavering. "Then maybe you shouldn't rely on me."
For a moment, Erin looked as though he might argue, but then he stepped back with a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But this isn't over."
After Erin stalked off to scout the area, Mo Tang approached Rishitha, her expression softer.
"Don't let him get to you," she said. "He's just like that—always wants to be in control, always needs a reason for everything."
Rishitha forced a smile. "I get it. He's right to question me."
"Maybe," Mo Tang admitted, shrugging. "But you've got nothing to prove to me. You've pulled your weight, and then some."
The sincerity in her voice caught Rishitha off guard. For the first time since entering this world, she felt a flicker of genuine camaraderie.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
Mo Tang grinned. "Don't get used to it. Next time, you're carrying me out of the cave."
As night fell, the group set up a makeshift camp near a small stream. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across their tired faces.
Rishitha's system chimed again, and she discreetly checked her interface:
[Main Mission: Survival in the Forest]
Status: Incomplete
Time Remaining: 6 days, 14 hours
[Hidden Mission Update: Analyze the Orb's True Nature.]
Objective: Use Arcane Insight to uncover the artifact's secrets.
Reward: Unlock additional story fragments.
Her heart sank. The missions kept piling up, and the stakes only seemed to grow higher. She glanced at Erin and Mo Tang, who were quietly discussing their next move.
They didn't know the truth about this world, about the fragile balance that held it together—or her role in keeping it from collapsing.
Rishitha closed her eyes, exhaustion weighing heavily on her.
Just a little longer, she told herself. I'll figure it out. I have to.
As the group settled in for the night, the forest around them seemed unnaturally still. A faint breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it a sense of unease.
Erin sat by the fire, sharpening his blade. His eyes flicked to Rishitha, who lay curled up on the ground, her breathing slow and even.
"She's hiding something," he muttered under his breath.
Mo Tang, perched on a nearby rock, glanced at him. "Maybe. But so are we all."
Erin didn't respond, his gaze lingering on the faint golden glow that had surrounded Rishitha during their fight in the chamber.
What are you really, Rishitha?
Unbeknownst to them, deep within the forest, a pair of glowing red eyes watched their camp. The shadows shifted, and the faint sound of footsteps faded into the night.
The forest was never still for long.