We continued our walk through the shrine, our footsteps echoing softly against the polished wooden floor. The once decrepit structure, which had been consumed by cracks, moss, and the lingering presence of corruption, now radiated an air of serenity.

  The wooden beams overhead, which had previously sagged under the weight of time, now stood strong and pristine, polished to a deep, rich hue. The scent of fresh cedar and incense drifted through the air, blending with the crisp, cool breeze that occasionally slipped through the open corridors.

  The walls, which had once been marred by decay, were now lined with intricate carvings of foxes, celestial patterns, and symbols of protection. I traced my fingers along one of the engravings absentmindedly, marveling at the fine craftsmanship. It felt as though the very soul of the shrine had been rejuvenated, its sacred presence stronger than before.

  Golden light poured in from the open shoji doors, illuminating the tatami mat floors that looked freshly woven, as if they had been laid out just moments ago. Everything felt alive, as though the shrine itself had been reborn.

  “It’s beautiful,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

  Ai, who had been walking beside me, gave a small, satisfied nod. “The shrine was always meant to be a place of peace and protection,” she said, her silver-white eyes gleaming with quiet pride. “Now that the corruption has faded, it can finally return to what it once was.” She let out a soft sigh, glancing around as if admiring her own handiwork. Tiny snowflakes flickered into existence around her, swirling gently before vanishing like whispered prayers carried by the wind.

  Behind us, Yuzu was spinning around in wide circles, her eyes darting in every direction as she took in the grandeur of the restored shrine. Her black tails swayed excitedly, fluffing up like a satisfied feline. “Bery pretty! Sooo bery pretty!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing with every step. “Mashiro bery cleanse everything! Ai bery amazing! Yuzu bery happy!”

  I chuckled at her enthusiasm, watching as she skidded to a stop near one of the supporting pillars, her ears twitching with excitement. She reached out, touching the smooth wooden surface as if she still couldn’t believe how much everything had changed.

  I nodded in agreement. “It feels… peaceful. Like it’s truly alive again.”

  Ai turned to me with a soft smile. “That’s because it is.” Her voice was gentle, yet filled with certainty. “The shrine is connected to the spirits that dwell here, and now that it has been purified, it can truly breathe again.”

  As I took another step forward, the warmth of the golden sunlight wrapped around me, filling me with a sense of accomplishment. This was no longer a place of corruption or despair, this was a sacred sanctuary, restored and renewed.

  As I stepped deeper into the shrine, my gaze fell upon a stairway leading downward, a passage I hadn’t noticed before. The entrance to it was nestled at the far end of the main hall, shrouded in shadow despite the golden light filtering through the open shoji doors. The air around it felt different, denser, almost as if the space itself was holding its breath. Unlike the rest of the shrine, which had been restored to pristine beauty, the entrance to the stairway remained untouched by the warmth of purification.

  I furrowed my brows, tilting my head slightly as unease settled in my chest. Has this always been here? It felt… hidden, like a secret waiting to be uncovered. The smooth, polished wood of the shrine gave way to rough stone as the stairway descended into darkness, disappearing from view.

  Beside me, Ai remained unnaturally still. Her silver-white eyes flickered with hesitation, her small hands clutching at the fabric of my sleeve. It was rare to see her hesitant, Ai was usually composed, confident, even playful at times. But now, a shadow of doubt crossed her delicate features, and she swallowed as if bracing herself.

  “Miss Mashiro…” she muttered, her voice softer than usual. She tightened her grip on my hand, her fingers cold to the touch, though not from her usual snow-like aura. It was as if she were trying to find the right words to explain something even though she didn’t fully understand.

  I turned my gaze toward her, my ears twitching slightly at her uncharacteristic unease. “What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice gentle yet firm. I could feel the faint pulse of magic lingering in the air around us, subtle but present, like the ghost of a whisper.

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  Ai hesitated for a moment longer, then took a deep breath, shaking her head as if dispelling whatever doubt had momentarily clouded her mind. Her expression hardened with resolve, and she straightened her posture before looking directly into my eyes. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze, a seriousness that sent a small shiver down my spine.

  “There’s… something below,” she finally said, her voice steady yet laced with a strange weight. “I don’t know how to explain it properly, but…” She glanced back at the stairway, her brows furrowing slightly. “It’s easier if you look at it for yourself.”

  The three of us descended cautiously, each step echoing in the vast, empty corridor. The stairway stretched down farther than I had expected, winding endlessly into the earth like a path carved through time itself. The air grew colder the deeper we went, carrying with it a dampness that clung to my skin. The walls, unlike the polished wood of the shrine above, were formed from rough-hewn stone, dark and ancient, as if they had existed long before the shrine had ever been built.

  Yuzu, who had been hopping excitedly behind us at first, gradually slowed her pace, her eyes flicking around warily. Even she could sense it now, the presence lingering in the depths of this place.

  When we finally reached the bottom, the stairway opened up into a vast underground chamber. My breath hitched at the sheer size of it, it was massive, easily as large as a baseball field, if not bigger. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, vanishing into darkness, while massive stone pillars lined the walls, some of them crumbling from age. Flickering blue torches lined the corridor ahead, casting eerie shadows that danced across the worn stone floor.

  For a moment, the only sounds were the faint echoes of our footsteps and the distant, rhythmic drip of water from somewhere unseen. Then, A deep, guttural roar.

  I froze. The sound rumbled through the chamber, shaking the very air around us. It was distant but unmistakable, a primal growl that carried an overwhelming presence. It wasn’t the snarl of an ordinary beast. It was ancient, powerful, and filled with an unmistakable malice.

  Yuzu’s ears flattened against her head, her tails bristling as she gripped the hem of my dress. “N-Nnai… Mashiro… something beeg bery inside…” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

  Ai, standing by my side, remained silent. But I could feel the tension in her grip as she squeezed my hand. Her silver-white eyes flickered with determination, yet there was a subtle, almost imperceptible flicker of concern in them.

  I swallowed, my heart hammering in my chest as I forced myself to steady my breathing. My fingers instinctively twitched toward the bow on my back, my body preparing for whatever lay ahead.

  As we stepped further into the chamber, the oppressive air grew thicker, heavy with an unnatural presence that sent shivers down my spine. Then, as the dim torchlight illuminated the space before us, I finally saw it.

  A massive dragon.

  Its body was covered in jagged black scales, each one lined with cracks pulsating with an eerie purple glow. Its wings, once mighty and proud, were now tattered, their membranes torn in places as thick iron chains bound them to the ground. Similar restraints clamped tightly around its colossal legs, the metal shimmering faintly with runes that pulsed in sync with the dragon’s ragged breaths. Despite its restraints, its sheer size was overwhelming. It was easily the length of a warship, and its massive tail coiled around the broken stone pillars like a serpent waiting to strike.

  Then, it let out a roar. The force of it sent shockwaves through the cavern, the sound reverberating in my chest like a drum. Dust rained down from the ceiling as the very walls seemed to tremble in fear of the beast before us. The temperature shifted, not to fire, but to something colder, more suffocating. The feeling of death and decay lingered in the air, crawling over my skin like unseen tendrils.

  I instinctively activated my Identification skill, my vision sharpening as text materialized in front of me.

  <>

  Health Points: ???????/??????? [??%]

  Race: Undead

  Defence: ???????

  Physical Attack: ???????

  Magical Attack ????????

  Description: FRwriter said the ??? is too much.

  "Who the hell is FRwriter?!" I suddenly yelled, my voice echoing in the cavern.

  Yuzu, who had been trembling behind me, also activated her skill. A moment later, she gasped, her black fox ears perking up in alarm. "Nnai, Yuzu's identification skill bery gib same description!" she screamed, bouncing in place, clearly distressed by the lack of information.

  “FR is an acronym for…” Ai started, only to pause, tilting her head slightly as if she were deep in thought.

  A long, tense silence followed.

  I stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue, but instead, she simply puffed up her cheeks and muttered, “Actually, I have no idea.”

  I felt my eyes twitch while Yuzu, who had been watching with an expression of wonder, let out a deflated "Buuu..." as her ears drooped slightly in disappointment.