Somehow, he spent another night without any sleep while walking. He was surrounded by those beings the entire night. But his hard work was paid off.

Just as the sky started to brighten, he noticed something a little distance away from him. The forest was still dense, but between those dark, tall trees, there was something else. The tip of a building was visible between the trees.

Amon gasped. A huge grin carved itself across his face.

"Thi—This is it! I finally reached it! Hahaha~" Amon laughed unnaturally in happiness. He had actually reached this place.

He extinguished the torch and put the stick into his ring.

There was sleep in his eyes before, but the moment he saw that thing, it vanished instantly. Excitement rose inside him.

He took a step forward. Then another. Then slowly, he started to run toward it.

Amon's footsteps grew faster, crunching over damp leaves and brittle twigs. His breath came out ragged, not from exhaustion, but from the storm of emotions churning inside him.

With every step, the tip of the structure became clearer. Stone instead of bark, sharp edges instead of tangled branches.

'It's real… it's really there.'

The closer he got, the heavier the air felt, as if the forest itself was resisting his approach. The trees loomed tighter, their black trunks twisted and bent inward, trying to hide whatever lay beyond them.

Shadows slithered at the edge of his vision, those same beings that had followed him all night whispering without voices. But this time, Amon didn't slow down.

He pushed through hanging vines and thorny bushes, ignoring the scratches biting into his skin. His heart pounded violently in his chest, each beat echoing with anticipation.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

The stone structure finally emerged from the forest ground.

Amon skidded to a halt.

Before him stood an ancient ruin. An

A chill ran down Amon's spine.

"This is…" His voice trembled. "…the place."

The forest fell unnaturally silent. No rustling leaves. No distant cries. Even the whispers that haunted him vanished, as if they dared not approach.

Amon stepped forward slowly now, excitement mixing with caution. Standing at the foot of the ancient structure, he felt small insignificant. Yet drawn in, like a moth to a dying flame.

Whatever this place was…

Whatever secrets it held…

His long, sleepless journey had finally led him here.

Then he saw it in front of it.

"What this—" Amon was really surprised.

There in front of him, inside the dark forest, stood an ancient temple—so old that he couldn't tell its age.

Massive stone pillars rose from the earth like the bones of a forgotten god, their surfaces carved with weathered ancient-style motifs—lotus flowers, celestial dancers, coiled serpents, and fierce guardian deities whose faces had been half-erased by time.

The temple walls were built from blackened stone, cracked and chipped, yet still radiating a solemn, oppressive dignity.

Vines and roots wrapped tightly around the structure, crawling through broken stone and earth, as if the forest itself was slowly claiming the shrine.

Moss covered the steps leading to the entrance, making each stair slick and uneven, while fallen leaves gathered in thick, rotting layers.

At the gateway stood two stone guardians, their eyes hollow, mouths frozen in eternal rage.

Though centuries of rain and decay had worn them down, an unsettling presence lingered, as if they were still watching, still judging any who dared enter.

Above the entrance arch, faded inscriptions in an ancient script glowed faintly, barely visible beneath layers of grime and age.

Amon continued to stare at the sight in front of him in awe.

Not even in his wild dreams did he think he would see a temple here. And one this beautiful.

It was surely old and ancient. But the carvings, designs, and everything about it looked beautiful.

Amon stepped closer, his eyes observing the details of the temple.

"Amazing… this place must be thousands of years old." Amon stepped onto the first stair.

It was covered with moss and a little slippery.

He continued to climb the stairs and reached the stone floor above.

He surveyed the pillars on both sides, rising up and supporting this place for so many years.

His fingers touched the cold stone pillars. Even these pillars had detailed carvings, but they seemed withered by time.

The structure was cold against his skin. He moved forward, observing each design on the walls, like a tourist visiting a historical place.

Then he stopped in front of the entrance where two guardian statues stood on each side.

Amon chuckled. "As much as it's beautiful… it feels ominous at the same time."

'I should check inside.'

Amon really wished that nothing dangerous existed inside. Like something sleeping, waiting for its prey to come and be devoured. That was the last thing he would ever wish for.

Pushing those bad thoughts aside, he entered the ruined temple.

What greeted him inside was pitch-black darkness.

Amon clicked his tongue. "Tch!… Even now I have to go into darkness after spending all night in darkness."

Amon took out a thick wooden stick and burned the top with a lighter.

The fire softly brightened the dark place. It was a huge hall, again supported on both sides by massive stone pillars. The walls and floor were made of dark stone.

Amon turned to his left and moved closer to the wall.

There were the same designs and structures on it. Not much different.

'Is there really nothing here…? And if I remember correctly… the temples of the Goddess of Light were never built with such dark stones. They mostly used white or light-colored stones or bricks. And if that wasn't enough, the architectural style of those temples was similar to churches from my past world. While this… this style is much different.'

This made him suspicious. He came to a conclusion that this temple was not that of the Light Goddess.

Just then, his eyes caught something on the opposite side of him. On the wall to the right, there was something.

Amon's eyes lit up.

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