"Could this be... the key to a dragon's hoard?"
Orson froze, staring at the uniquely shaped key in his hand. Its black obsidian surface gleamed, and intricate, arcane patterns adorned its inverted triangular design.
In his previous life, he'd seen something similar auctioned off on the black market. The item had fetched a staggering ten thousand gold coins before being snapped up by a wealthy player. Rumors claimed it had led the buyer to a dragon's hoard, yielding an astronomical profit.
Dragons in Infinite Dimensions were apex predators, synonymous with wealth and greed—common tropes in many games. Even the treasure of a low-tier dragon could bring unimaginable riches.
"Could this key unlock the hoard of the Dark Dragon King Rebellion?"
Suppressing his excitement, Orson stashed the key in his inventory.
Even if the hoard remained elusive, the key itself was priceless.
He turned back to survey the tomb but furrowed his brow. "Why does this chamber seem larger than before?"
Far ahead, faint candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows along the western corridor.
After thoroughly searching the current area to ensure nothing was overlooked, Orson set off toward the distant glow.
The corridor stretched endlessly, each step echoing in eerie silence. Faint music wafted through the air—a haunting melody, elusive and distant, yet strangely entrancing.
"If the gods included this detail, it must serve a purpose," Orson mused, firing a test [Explosive Fireball] into the darkness ahead.
The fireball illuminated the corridor as it hurtled forward. Moments later, the sound of gears grinding filled the air.
A barrage of traps unleashed from the walls—spears, blades, and falling stones crashed down in deadly waves.
Beads of sweat formed on Orson's forehead. "Good thing I didn't just charge in…"
But something felt off. Hidden treasures had already been secured—why were there still traps?
"This doesn't add up," he muttered.
Deeper into the corridor, the candlelight faded, leaving Orson at the mouth of a three-way fork.
The melody grew louder, its mournful strains echoing in the silence.
The haunting tune carried a sorrowful, almost divine quality, unsettling in the desolate corridor.
But Orson felt no fear. "Three paths, but only one will be safe. The other two will definitely lead to death."
Without hesitation, he fired off test attacks down each path.
Two of the fireballs collided with walls after a few seconds, triggering deafening explosions as more traps activated. The entire tomb quaked with their release.
"No sound from the left…"
Smirking, Orson reinforced himself with nine protective shields before stepping confidently into the left corridor.
Minutes later, he found himself facing a glowing white barrier blocking the path.
Orson fired a [Explosive Fireball] at the barrier. The projectile passed through without detonating, vanishing silently on the other side.
After a moment's consideration, Orson shrugged. "The worst-case scenario? I die and get sent back to town. Big deal."
Steeling himself, he stepped through the barrier.
The oppressive darkness lifted, replaced by dazzling light.
Orson blinked in disbelief. Before him stretched a stunningly lush valley, teeming with vibrant flowers and greenery. The air was alive with the sounds of chirping birds, and the entire area exuded an almost sacred tranquility.
Turning back, Orson saw that the glowing barrier remained intact, still marking the exit. Yet this place felt entirely disconnected from the tomb.
"A pocket dimension?"
His mind raced. Only spatial magic could create such an environment, and such feats required incredible power.
In Infinite Dimensions, spatial and temporal magic were exceedingly rare. The teleportation arrays scattered across the empire were remnants of ancient times, with few NPCs or players capable of replicating them.
Temporal magic, meanwhile, was little more than a myth. Orson had never encountered anyone wielding it in his previous life.
"For the Ascension Kingdom to have created a haven ... their strength must have been immense."
"You have entered the Ascension Kingdom's Celestial Refuge."
The system prompt appeared, leaving Orson stunned.
"A hidden dungeon… within a hidden dungeon?"
Orson couldn't help but feel impressed. "The gods really went all out this time."
Though small, the dimension exuded a serene, otherworldly beauty. "Who's playing that melody? Some kind of background music?"
Curiosity piqued, Orson scaled a nearby hill for a better view.
In the distance, a massive gray tree loomed over a field of flowers. Its gnarled branches bore withered, golden leaves, and a few crimson fruits hung from its boughs.
"The Tree of Rebirth?"
Orson's heart raced. The red fruits resembled the ones Mancalan had consumed in the vision—legendary items capable of extending life.
"Divine artifacts! Each one boosts HP by 1,000!"
Eyes gleaming, Orson sprinted toward the tree.
Suddenly, a damage number flashed above his head as he collided with an invisible barrier surrounding the tree. Rubbing his head, he examined the barrier.
The six-sided fence around the tree shimmered faintly with magic, clearly a powerful ward.
Nearby, Orson spotted an ancient harp resting on the grass, long since decayed.
In that moment, a vision overtook him.
A stunning woman appeared, seated on the grass beside the harp. She plucked its strings with delicate hands, her song filled with longing.
Her beauty was otherworldly, her pointed ears and regal aura marking her as a high elf.
"Wait… that's the Queen?"
The system identified her as:
[Earth Elf Queen: Lunar Grace]
[Title: Ascension Kingdom Queen Consort]
"Mancalan's wife was… her?"
The elegance and ethereal charm of the elven queen left Orson momentarily dazed.
"No way. How did that decrepit king land her?!"
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he muttered, "Thanks a lot, Bradley. Your dumb jokes about fat nerds are getting to me."
The vision faded, returning Orson to reality.
"This dungeon just keeps getting weirder."
Refocusing on the Tree of Rebirth, Orson formulated a plan.
Stepping back several hundred meters, he fired a series of [Explosive Fireballs] at the magical barrier.
The damage numbers were pitiful, a testament to the barrier's insane durability.
[Advanced Chaotic Barrier]
"Three billion HP? Seriously?"
Despite its ridiculous stats, Orson noticed something promising: the tree trembled with each strike. Its fruits swayed precariously, as if on the verge of falling.
Excited, Orson unleashed an even faster volley of attacks.
Suddenly, the barrier emitted a low hum.
Orson paused, realizing something was off. The barrier's resonance changed, and his attacks began to reflect back toward him.
He narrowly dodged, sweat dripping down his face.
"Something's wrong. There's a hidden mechanic here!"
A chilling thought crossed his mind. "Could the barrier actually be breakable?"