The sight of the colossal, ruined Alvari fortress silhouetted against the blood-red sunset had instilled a mixture of awe and trepidation in the Explorer's League caravan. They had made camp within sight of it, the air thick with ancient power and unspoken anticipation. Drake had spent the night much like the others – on edge, his senses heightened, though his [Perfect Recall] allowed him to mentally review the previous day's brutal Mountain Ravager ambush, analyzing his own performance and that of the League guards, seeking any tactical lessons. The [Echoing Forge] lay somewhere within that sprawling, broken edifice, and the final leg of his escorted journey was about to begin.
At dawn, under Captain Borin Stonebeard's watchful eye, the caravan broke camp with a subdued efficiency. The mood was palpably different from the earlier stages of the journey. The playful banter was gone, replaced by grim determination. They were entering the heart of a high-level, legendary ruin site.
"Alright, listen up!" Captain Stonebeard addressed the assembled guards and passengers, his voice a low growl. "We're heading into the outer fortress grounds. Standard approach protocols: tight formation, scouts wide, mages ready with wards. Expect automated defenses, territorial ruin-beasts, and who knows what else the Alvari left behind. Our objective is the primary subterranean access point marked on the League's older survey charts – believed to lead towards the deeper geothermal vents and, potentially, your 'Echoing Forge'," he gave Drake a pointed look. "We establish a secure base camp there. After that, Bladesworn, you're on your own. The League's charter doesn't cover delving into un-stabilized Alvari deep sites without a full excavation permit and a much larger support team."
"Outer grounds, then a base camp. Makes sense. They won't risk the whole caravan for my personal quest. The real challenge begins once I go solo into the Forge itself."
The caravan moved out, leaving their relatively secure campsite and beginning the slow, cautious approach towards the nearest discernible breach in the fortress's outer perimeter – a section where a massive wall had collapsed inwards, creating a rubble-strewn ramp into what looked like a vast, overgrown plaza.
The moment they passed through the breach, the atmosphere changed. The ambient Alvari energy Drake's [Relic Hunter] skill detected spiked significantly. The ruins here were more intact, though heavily weathered and reclaimed by nature. Crumbling archways, shattered statues of robed Alvari figures, and the foundations of immense buildings hinted at the former grandeur of the place. But an unnerving silence hung over it, broken only by the wind whistling through broken stonework and the distant screech of unseen creatures.
Drake kept [Relic Hunter] at maximum sensitivity, his [Cartographer's Compass] subtly aiding its range. His role now was less about direct combat support – the League guards were more than capable of handling standard ruin fauna – and more about proactive hazard detection. The ancient Alvari were masters of traps and concealed defenses.
"Captain," Drake called out quietly, pointing towards a section of flagstones in the plaza that looked slightly too uniform, too undisturbed compared to the surrounding decay. [Relic Hunter] highlighted faint energy lines beneath them. "Pressure plates. Large array. Likely triggers a collapse or energy discharge."
Stonebeard grunted, signaling his scouts to mark the area and find a path around it. Drake's skill proved invaluable repeatedly as they navigated the crumbling plazas and overgrown courtyards of the outer fortress. He identified structurally unsound archways moments before they might have given way, spotted hidden pit traps concealed beneath centuries of accumulated debris, and detected the faint energy signatures of dormant Alvari Cleaning Drones (Level 30-32 Constructs) or territorial Ruin-Lurkers (Level 31 reptilian scavengers) before they could ambush the caravan.
The League guards dealt with these minor threats efficiently when they appeared. Drake occasionally supported if a Drone proved particularly resilient or if a Lurker pack tried to flank the wagons.
After several hours of tense, careful navigation through the treacherous outer ruins, following the ancient, fragmented survey charts provided by the Explorer's League, they finally reached their destination. It was a massive, circular plaza, surprisingly intact, dominated by a colossal, sealed Alvari gateway built directly into the mountainside. Intricate, glowing blue runes pulsed rhythmically across its surface, and a deep, low hum of contained power emanated from within. This was clearly the primary access point to the subterranean levels, the path towards the Echoing Forge.
"This is it," Captain Stonebeard announced, his voice holding a note of awe as he surveyed the gateway. "The 'Umbral Threshold,' according to the old charts. Deep access point. We make camp here. Secure the plaza, set up defensive perimeters. This will be our staging area."
The caravan guards moved with practiced efficiency, establishing a fortified base camp within the plaza, using the wagons as a defensive core and setting up their magical wards. The passengers – scholars and explorers – began to set up their own small tents and equipment, their excitement palpable.
Drake watched them for a moment, then found a quiet spot near the edge of the camp, overlooking the massive Alvari gateway. His escorted journey was effectively over. From here, he would proceed alone into the depths. He felt a familiar mix of anticipation and trepidation.
Just as he was mentally preparing himself for the challenges ahead, Captain Stonebeard approached him, the gruff caravan master's expression unusually thoughtful. "Bladesworn," Stonebeard began, his voice a low rumble. He held out a heavy, bulging leather pouch. "Your foresight with that skill of yours, spotting those traps and ambushes in the outer ruins… you saved us much grief, likely several injuries, maybe even a wagon. The League appreciates exceptional service, especially when it contributes to the safety of the entire expedition."
He pressed the pouch into Drake's hands. It was unexpectedly heavy. "A bonus, for services rendered above and beyond the call of a paying passenger. Use it well on whatever madness awaits you in there."
Drake was genuinely surprised. "Captain, this wasn't necessary. I was just…" "Nonsense," Stonebeard cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You earned it. Now, get some rest if you're heading in soon. And try not to get yourself killed. I'd rather not have to explain to Elder Jian why his chosen instrument ended up as cave fodder." He gave a rare, gruff smile, then turned and strode back towards the center of the camp to oversee the defenses.
Drake opened the pouch. His eyes widened. Inside was not just gold, but a significant quantity of [Condensed Mana Crystals] of varying qualities. He quickly sorted through them: << Acquired: [Cracked Condensed Mana Crystal] x20 >> << Acquired: [Normal Condensed Mana Crystal] x15 >> << Acquired: [Rare Condensed Mana Crystal] x10 >> << Acquired: [Superior Condensed Mana Crystal] x3 >>
"Condensed Mana Crystals! And a lot of them! Cracked, Normal, Rare… even three Superiors! This is… incredibly valuable. Especially after finding out the Guild Hall training dummies need these to function for high-SCR practice. The Rare and Superior ones might actually allow me to push my Bladesworn skills further!"
The unexpected reward felt like a significant boon. The disappointment from the Guild Hall dummies being largely useless with common crystals was now mitigated. He had a stash of catalysts that could genuinely aid his training.
Gratefully accepting the valuable gift, Drake watched the Explorer's League caravan secure its position in the ancient plaza. His escorted journey was over. He found a secluded, defensible spot within the ruins just outside the main camp's perimeter, ensuring he wouldn't be disturbed. He needed to rest, to prepare both mentally and physically for the descent into the Echoing Forge.
He set up a simple bedroll.
"Okay. Rest. Real-world break. Then, tomorrow, when I log back in… the Echoing Forge."
He initiated the logout sequence, his mind already buzzing with plans for the Mana Crystals and the descent into the earth.