They weren't sure what this platform was or what it was hiding or why it seemed to be emitting some sort of energy.

Nonetheless, Rayven knew the others were tense, so they had to investigate quickly.

Miki and Nara, who had no ability to deal with Mana or Magic, checked the corners of the cavern.

Thyruz, on the other hand, used his Spells to investigate the place and read the flow of mana. As an enchanter, he immediately realized that the platform's design had channels used to guide mana.

Rayven also used another Spell as he wanted a clearer understanding of the situation.

"Detect Mana Source."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

Soon, he tracked the energy around him.

The residual mana was still present. It was weak, but it was there.

Thyruz then finally realized what was going on…

He stood and dusted off his robe. "This wasn't just a shelter. It was a ritual site. Sacrificial, most likely. The mana here isn't natural… It's leftover from whatever they did. And the beasts absorbed the remnant energy. That explains the mutations."

Rayven finally realized what this place was.

It was an altar, probably for a forbidden ritual or something!

Rayven was already satisfied with this… "We've confirmed the source. Let's wrap this up."

However, Miki didn't move. Her eyes were fixed on the far end of the cavern.

"…Something's there," she whispered.

Rayven followed her gaze. The shadows were deep, but even he could feel the shift in the air. Not through mana, but through instinct.

Thyruz whispered… "There's indeed something sealed there... It's dangerous to go further."

Rayven didn't hesitate. "We're not paid for that."

He turned to the others. "Ten silver. That's the job. We investigate, confirm, and report. We're not here to clear the ruin."

Miki exhaled. "Agreed. Let's finish collecting evidence and leave."

Nara moved quickly, returning to the altar. "I found more fragments. These look like ritual tools."

They gathered what they could. They found five types of items inside.

A burnt mana crystal, cracked and drained, likely used as a power source.

A metal ring, warped and etched with faded symbols, possibly worn by a ritualist.

A stone shard with a carved groove, probably part of a channeling array.

A cloth scrap, stained with dried ink and faint traces of mana, possibly used for invocation.

A broken vial, its contents long evaporated, but the glass still shimmered faintly.

Thyruz carefully wrapped each item in cloth and sealed them in Rayven's pouch.

Rayven could store them all in his system vault, but he decided to keep it a secret for now.

"These should be enough for the Guild to analyze the ritual type."

Rayven nodded. "We'll let them decide if it's worth a deeper dive."

The group began their retreat, moving swiftly but cautiously.

The corridor felt longer as they also monitored whether they were being followed or not. The presence they felt hadn't moved, but it hadn't vanished either.

Rayven kept his hand near his pouch containing his enchanted darts… If there's probably he could use it and his Telekinesis to deal with the situation. It was enough for defense, but not for a fight.

After a few more minutes, they finally exited the ruin without incident!

Whoosh~

They were finally out of the Headhunt Valley's fissure…

***

Because of their location in the valley, the wind outside was sharp… Thankfully, they have cloaks with them, protecting them from the elements…

It was already late afternoon, edging toward dusk, so they had to quickly leave.

Rayven glanced back once. The entrance was quiet, and there weren't any creatures following them up.

He didn't feel mana, but he trusted the others' instincts. Whatever was sealed inside hadn't followed. That was enough.

Rayven then pulled out the mission slip and confirmed that they had done alright… "Anomaly confirmed. Ritual altar discovered. Residual mana for sacrificial ritual linked to beast mutations. Evidence collected. No engagement with high-tier entity…"

He muttered.

Miki stretched her arms. "Ten silver for all that… We also collected some Beast Cores. Not bad for a few hours of work, I guess."

Nara grinned. "We can probably accept better missions if we rank up."

Rayven didn't respond as he focused on their way back…

They began the walk back toward the dirt path leading to the city…

It will only be a short walk, and they could probably ask a few wagons passing by for a lift.

As they walked, the wind carried the scent of moss and dust, but there were no beasts nearby…

Rayven adjusted his cloak, brushing off some dirt from his boots.

At this time, he didn't notice the smear.

A thin, black sludge, no larger than a coin, had clung to the edge of his sole. It pulsed once, faintly, then flattened itself against the leather, blending in with the grime.

It didn't move and just simply stayed.

Rayven continued walking, unaware of this at all…

Soon, they reached the dirt path just as a wagon creaked into view…

A guild official's cart with two oxen and a driver half-asleep was passing by. He probably came from the 17th Dungeon nearby.

Miki waved him down. "Heading toward the city?"

The man noticed the group and nodded. "Y-yeah. Got room in the back if you don't mind sitting with crates."

Nara hopped up first. "Crates are fine. Beats walking."

Thyruz climbed in next, careful with his staff. Miki followed, and Rayven stepped up last.

He noticed that even if the man was alone, Rayven could tell that he was an adventurer. Probably a gold rank…

Nonetheless, Rayven just thanked the man and promised to pay for the ride.

As he sat comfortably, he finally opened his system to check if there was an update on his mission…

[ Tier Advancement Mission: Path of the Mystic Explorer ]

[ Mission 2: Trial of Insight - Path Synchronization ]

Objective Complete: Hidden anomaly successfully uncovered and identified as a residual mana altar used for sacrificial rituals.

Condition Met: Detection-type spell "Detect Mana Source" used during investigation.

Discovery Validated: Residual mana confirmed; mutated beasts linked to ambient energy; ritual tools and evidence collected.

[ Reward Unlocked: Tier Advancement Qualification +1 ]

[ Bonus Reward: 1 Rare-Grade Spell Ticket ]

[ Bonus Reward: 300 Gold ]

[ Evaluation: Satisfactory Result ]

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