"Either there is a Second Rank among that group, or that person has mastered a Second Rank strength attack!"
After a moment of silence, Colin continued to speculate.
"The former is perhaps more likely." Lillian also speculated in a deep voice.
Colin nodded slightly, "A person with Second Rank strength and something that allows a First Rank strength person to launch a Second Rank attack, obviously the possibility of the former is greater."
However, thinking of Anando's Dice... Colin felt that perhaps the latter was also possible. Regardless, in the end, they both chose to continue forward.
The third group, not only as possible enemies but also as their hope for leaving the Elf Kingdom. Emerging from the grand hall, they cautiously proceeded along a corridor speckled with dark red mottling, encountering increasingly fresh signs of battle.
The debris they saw was also increasing. Although, few were more powerful than the War Treants, they found several new Second Rank attack marks, causing head-sized penetrating wounds, like those on the heads of War Treants.
"We're very close now," Colin whispered to Lillian in the corridor.
In front of them, dark red light filtered through stained-glass windows in the golden corridor, casting eerie light on the remains of an unidentified humanoid creature, adding a grim element to the already terrifying scene.
On the body of the humanoid creature was a layer of dark red, crystal-like substance that was irregularly bulging and prominent, nearly obscuring its human form.
In the creature's chest was a penetrating wound.
Hissing, some weird green energy had not yet dissipated and was still emitting faint sounds on the wound.
"It must be right ahead."
Lillian, looking at the wound, nodded in agreement.
Colin didn't respond but instead looked up towards the turn in the corridor ahead. His judgement that they were close was based not only on the wound on the remains in front of them but also because—Anando's Dice indicated that the location was just around the corner of the corridor ahead.
"Let's keep moving." The two tacitly rested for a moment to recuperate their Magic Power, Lillian opened her eyes, placed the Demon Release Ring into the Storage Ring, and said.
"Okay." Colin nodded, took a deep breath, adjusting his body to a ready stance, and continued forward with Lillian by his side.
Soon, the turn in the corridor was right before them.
Here was a three-way intersection that allowed them to either turn left or go straight.
Lillian paused slightly, seemingly weighing which direction to take.
"Let's check the left first, Senior Lillian," Colin suggested.
To the left, exactly where Anando's Dice indicated the location.
"Okay." Lillian nodded and continued towards the corner.
Both instinctively held their breath, the Concealing Moon Cloth and Silent spells masking their shapes and sounds.
As they were about to turn the corner, their steps involuntarily slowed down, listening carefully.
Yet, there was no sound from the other side of the corner... Indeed, ever since ascending to the sky, while they had seen signs of battle, they hadn't heard any sounds of fighting.
Colin and Lillian looked at each other and crossed the corner together.
Here, within the Elf Kingdom, the dark red light suddenly weakened, and a faint golden light mitigated the eerie atmosphere.
A magnificent door, still retaining its gold and white colors, came into view.
The door was arched, with densely packed colorful reliefs carved on it.
There were shining Mysterious Fruits, oddly shaped but beautifully filled strong devices, and potions twinkling with dazzling starlight...
"Is this the legendary Elf Treasure Vault?" Lillian was slightly startled, and somewhat unexpectedly vocalized it.
While transmitting her thoughts to Colin, she almost stepped forward... The surprise was so sudden; the Elf Treasure Vault, a place they had long sought that might contain items to save her grandfather, appeared so suddenly right before them!
"Wait! Senior Lillian!" Colin suddenly stepped forward, extending an arm to stop Lillian.
He watched the archway warily, suspicions flooding his mind.
According to Anando's Dice, this location was where the solitary treasure lay, while the spot with the three treasures together was still some distance away.
In fact, saying it was the location of the solitary treasure wasn't quite precise... Anando's indicated range was actually further back. Beyond this door, one would still have to walk about a hundred meters to reach the edge of the location range.
"Colin…" Lillian, being stopped, instinctively glanced at him, about to question but seeing Colin's solemn expression, her heart also raised alarms, turning again to observe the archway ahead.
This archway, located about ten meters directly ahead of them, matched the styling and carving of the surrounding architecture harmoniously, showing no obvious abnormalities.
If one had to point out an anomaly... it would be that this light gold archway with colorful relief was not muddied, but instead emitted a muted, faint golden light.
An abnormality hints at a demon... Yet if one insisted, the Treasure Vault was indeed a place of utmost defense; it was plausible it had remained uncontaminated until now.