"T-Thanks, Cody." Daru half-bowed in gratitude, in slight disbelief that what was written in the article actually worked.

It said that he could consider Cody as his friend now, and so could request something from him.

He tried.

To his delight, it truly worked.

Daru found it difficult to believe that Cody would be collecting payment for him without the guy asking for anything in return, even declining a small commission he had offered, which he thought was only fair.

Cody didn't even ask why he couldn't do it himself, saving him the trouble of having to explain his identity issues.

While he preferred to keep his secret between himself and Iris, he believed he could trust Cody and so was willing to explain a few things to him.

But Daru was glad he didn't have to.

After successfully asking his friend for a favor, Daru left.

Only the dimming, early-evening skies noticed that Cody was following him with a mysterious gaze and a faint smile as he disappeared into the distance.

***

Daru was in a fantastic mood as he arrived in his dormitory room, though one wouldn't be able to tell based on his somewhat bland and deadpan expression.

He was getting the hang of this friendship and connection thing.

Daru placed his training bag to the side and changed into a more comfortable attire — a simple set of shorts and a shirt, before lying on his bed and pressing his palms on his faintly glowing sword mark.

In the next moment, the world warped into the cold blue walls of the Crystal Hollows.

Daru stood up from the sitting position he left his husk in and retrieved something from his inventory: a jet-black key with a flaming tip, though strangely, the fire wasn't hot.

It was the Underworld Key.

Daru looked at the prompt that appeared in front of him:

[Use the Underworld Key? Y/N?]

He wasn't sure how ready he was, as the very few articles about the special realm weren't very consistent.

Some claimed they arrived at a fiery place, a few in a stormy sea, and others in a realm of endless ice.

Daru could only conclude that either the Underworld wasn't a singular place or the uploader of the articles was outright lying for reads and views.

In any case, there was no way to know unless he tried.

So, staying true to himself and his desires, he tapped on [Y].

The key slipped away from his hand a moment later, stabbing itself on the ground.

A massive black pentagram then materialized, originating from where the flaming tip had been embedded and...burned.

Five seconds later, the cold, blue, condensed soil surface of the ground seemed to melt, revealing a jet-black, descending staircase.

Daru walked closer in utter wonder, peering from above.

His brows furrowed.

He somewhat expected that he would be seeing something similar to the inside of a volcano — a scorching environment, dry, cracked ground surface, and blood-curdling howls of agony and anguish.

That was his personal impression of the underworld.

However, all he could see was fog, and the bottom of the staircase was hidden.

But Daru knew time was ticking, so he didn't hesitate and descended the black steps, soon arriving at the foggy tread.

He didn't stop for a moment and dipped his ankles, his silhouette disappearing into the mist.

For around three steps, there was nothing but fog, until he passed them, finding himself in a monochrome world.

No foul smells, no anguished howls, no heat, just a chilly, misty world of boring, deep gray.

A string of unease invaded Daru's heart, but he didn't stop.

He couldn't, or he would waste his Underworld Key.

He soon reached the surface and glanced down at his feet after hearing the sifting sound his step made.

Daru kneeled and touched the powdery ground.

'Ash, huh?' he mused, standing up and scanning the surroundings.

There were forests of trees, bushes, massive, random stone slabs embedded in the ground and towering like a three or four-storey building, scattered ruins, and a mountain range in the far distance.

It seemed as though he was in some ancient land from the storybooks his late mother read for him, had it not been for the monochrome theme.

Daru took a deep breath.

There was nothing strange in the air.

In fact, it seemed fresher and so healthier for the lungs.

It was just that even this simple action's noise was amplified slightly in volume and echoed a fair distance from where he stood.

The faint feeling of eerie unease in his heart never left, but it also never intensified.

Overall, Daru felt fine, so he carefully walked around.

Based on the description of one of his curses, there should be Swordspawns here, too.

Strangely, he wasn't too excited to meet them.

He didn't know why.

Still, Daru did what he always does in these situations, choosing a random direction and venturing forth.

He selected the ruins a fair distance away from his location as his destination.

It piqued his curiosity and wasn't too far.

Following his instincts and the weird yet useful mental timer that was counting down as though it was merely an everyday, working part of his brain, he believed he would be able to return to the Crystal Hollows before the portal closed.

He began moving towards the ruins, the gentle, sifting noise echoing eerily, and the mist of inconsistent thickness parted as he advanced.

The moment he arrived close to a tree, he observed it, and a stone slab, where a string of a strange alphabet that he couldn't understand was engraved.

Unsettlingly, gazing on it deepened his unease, but he still continued towards the ruins, having no time to lose.

Perhaps he would find a loot chest there, or something.

Sifting through the ashen floor for around six minutes, he arrived at the ruins, unease deepening after finding yet another of the eerie engravings.

Daru took another deep breath.

It wouldn't be good if he fought like this.

To his astonishment, the uneasy feeling lessened the moment he exhaled. Daru didn't think much of it but took note.

He then proceeded to enter the arch entrance of the ruins.

Stepping on the ancient stone floor, his footsteps echoed, but Daru paid it no attention, starting to get used to the strange sound mechanics of the monochrome world.

He looked to his left, observing the destroyed part of the wall and the ceiling.

He wondered what could've happened.

Unfortunately, fifteen minutes was not enough time for him to uncover an entire lore, so he shifted his focus back to what seemed to be a massive lobby.

He looked around, but there was only rubble and a few gray flora.

Perhaps there was something in the dark corridor to his left?

Strangely, Daru felt nothing as he gazed, and the faint unease in his heart even vanished for a few moments before returning.

He had always trusted his instincts, especially in combat and danger.

Daru headed over to the ruined path to explore it.

But then, the moment he got close and was about to step into the pallid darkness, he heard it.

Faint echoes of footsteps.

Something was coming his way.

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