Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 246: Book 4: Chapter 11: Bloody Puzzles

Read chapter 246 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Chapter 11 “Some sort of super secret passage then?” Devon asked as they all approached the area Kate had discovered. Alex peered at the archway with his [Aether Sight] finding a strange aura that looked a bit familiar. It wasn’t aether like a spell or enchantment, but there wasn’t much in the area for him to get more information other than seeing a whiff of energy in a slightly purple-ish color. “I’ve come across something like this in the Dark Den dungeon, a secret passage. Yet, it was far before the end of the Dungeon.” He said. “Hmm, well it’s either gotta be hiding some really awesome stuff, or a death trap. No in between.” Garret added. They all looked around, trying to discover any sort of clue, searching the walls and floor, checking for any energy or aura Alex might have missed. But there was nothing, at least not easily visible. Whatever the passage was, it wouldn’t give up its secrets so easily. It was tight-lipped like a bank vault. “I mean, we can’t let this opportunity go, right? We gotta check it out,” Cole said with a shrug. And he was right. The steps leading down were rough-hewn, and although not as large as the ones that were at the very front of the structure, they were much bigger than what a typical human would have used or made for easy travel. The stench of long-sealed stale air and possibly centuries of dust attacked their senses, making the journey a threat to their olfactory capabilities above all else. Even the hint of mold attached itself to the smell’s after-notes. Besides that, they didn’t have any real trouble descending the staircase. It was deeper than Alex had first imagined, going further and further down as the minutes crawled by. Based on the time of travel and the height of the steps, Alex guessed they went nearly a mile deep before something finally changed. The stairs bottomed out into a large stone-cut room with tall vaulted ceilings and high walls. The place was taller than it was wide and was adorned with various carvings depicting writhing serpentine creatures in the stone. At the very far end, thick decorative pillars were carved into the back wall, at the center of which stood a pedestal with a stone basin. Lying on the floor in the room were bodies. Each lay in a different pose, clawing, crawling, or fighting off something in desperate attempts to flee an unknown force. It was a macabre still-life of the final moments of a panicked adventuring party locked in time, their armor and clothing looking brand new even with the dust that caked the room itself. “Damn, something took them all out,” Devon said. Holly sighed and nodded. “Looks like we found out what happened to that last party that never came back.” Alex could only assume that she was right; their bodies looked far too fresh otherwise. But it was certainly strange, because he couldn't see what it was that had killed them. They contained no wounds, injuries or other afflictions. Besides the positions their bodies were left in, he could have assumed they had fallen asleep and never woken up, cousins to Snow White who had eaten their apple and never received a prince. “Look around, see what you can find. But be careful, there could be traps or something,” he said, already scanning the first body that lay in front of him. He gave it a once over, seeing it was a man in a cloak and armor made of leather from some arcane beast he didn’t recognize. A sword lilted off to the side of their open hand, as if it simply tumbled from their grip after falling. After only a minute of searching, he found a small amulet around the man’s neck containing an item that he recognized rather easily, an aether slate, small and solid crystal. “I might have something here,” he said, waving everyone else over. He held up the device as they gathered around, and Devon was the next to realize what it was. “You think they recorded the entire dive?” he asked. Alex shook his head, “No, not the whole thing, but probably enough to figure out what the hell happ