Chapter 290 Amid The Ruins (2/2)

Much to Arran's relief, they encountered no other Re, he knew Several ties in direction, apparently Sensing danger ahead — long before Arran could detect any trace of it

While he was grateful for Karanos's coe had ever survived his own first visits to the strange land Had Arran hiers, he had no doubt he would not have survived

They had traveled for over a week — or so Arran thought, though without day or night, he couldn't be certain — when Karanos suddenly cae hill

”We have reached our destination,” the ht you here”

”This hill is our destination?” Arran frowned and used his Sense to inspect the hill, but he found nothing out of the ordinary Nothing here see the previous days

”This hill, as you call it, was once a great palace,” Karanos said ”And although the palace itself is long gone, we came here for what lies beneath — one of the few places in this world that still retains souided Arran through the cru to a halt at a narrow gap between two house-sized boulders

”Follow ap

Arran quickly followed behind him, and was surprised to find that a narrow tunnel lay behind the two boulders Karanos entered this as well, gesturing for Arran to follow him

Inside, they traveled for nearly half an hour through the confines of the tunnel Froht the tunnel wasn't man-made Rather, it seemed like a crack within the hill, at tih the cramped space

But then, unexpectedly, they suddenly eed into a wider space And here, the walls were sht, clearly built by human hands

That was only part of what drew Arran's attention, however, as he was shocked to Sense a trace of Essence — and so other than Shadow Essence

He ihly, and was startled to find what appeared to be a formation It was like no formation he had ever encountered before, and it was so weak even his thened Sense only barely detected it, but its presence was undeniable

”One of the foreons,” Karanos explained ”Soh the countless thousands of centuries that have passed since it was created And while it is no longer strong enough to stop us fro Sensed outside”

Arran nodded thoughtfully, taking the opportunity to examine the formation with his Sense While it was too complex for him to understand, he made an effort to remember aswas one worth knowing Once he left the Shadow Realm, he could try to comprehend”Come on,” he said in a tense voice ”While we're safe here, we don't have much time to waste With every hour that passes, more creatures — Remnants, as you call them — arrive in the city We should hurry”

Arran reluctantly tore his attention away fro?”

At this, Karanos flashed hi time ”To the treasury, of course,” he said

Over the next hour, they traveled through a series of wide hallways, and went down several large staircases as they descended deeper into these dungeons Along the way, Arran Sensed e of ti the dungeons froave him no chance to study them, nor did he allow Arran to explore any of the chambers that lined the hallways ”No time,” he said curtly when Arran asked ”And I already searched this place when I first discovered it — there's nothing of value to be found here”

Arran reluctantly accepted it, though he still wished he could have the opportunity to explore the place thoroughly Even if there was nothing of value to be found inside, just the forh to rouse his interest

Then, finally, they reached the end of a wide hall, at the end of which stood a vast doorway that held two uess to know that this was the treasury — he could not i so well-protected

Yet the doors now stood open, and as Karanos approached theet this gift of yours,” he said ”And after that, we'll waste no ti this place If we're lucky, we should still have time to escape”