Chaos Warlord: Reincarnated in Eldrich with the Devil System!

'Let's get to the bottom of it.'

Meanwhile, Val activated his Heavenly Eye, projecting his vision towards the source of the golden light.

Far away in the distance, on top of a mountain, a flower had bloomed.

The flower had petals that shimmered like liquid gold, glowing resplendently in a dazzling display. The golden beam of light that had captured their attention was emanating directly from this flower.

Val did not recognize it. He couldn't cast a spell to understand more about it since it was not in his direct line of sight. His detect spell only worked if his eyes were on the target.

Anyway, he was certain of one thing; the flower was something special. He could see that the entire tribe of Ashtine was converging on the location, eager to claim the flower for themselves. Bloodline users and wizards who had entered the lesser dimension were also making their way there, along with the native monsters of the dimension.

A bloody battle was imminent.

"There is indeed a treasure there. But if we decide to act and try to obtain it, we'll be swimming in murky waters. Our life and death would be entirely up to fate."

Val said to his group.

"So, we should sit this one out?" Rowan asked, seeking confirmation from Val. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝒘𝙚𝓫𝒏𝙤𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝙤𝒎

Val nodded.

"In my opinion, we should. However, the final decision is up to you." Val added, his tone serious. "But I won't be fighting for it. I have somewhere else to be."

"Where exactly?" Oliver inquired, curious about Val's plans.

Val pulled out the Truth Reflecting Mirror. Its pristine surface usually only reflected its surroundings but now it was showing a completely different thing. It showed the terrain of the dimension, and there was a distinct 'X' mark on it.

Pointing at the mark, Val's voice echoed, "There. I believe the key to closing the dimension lies there."

"I will be following him," Oliver quickly voiced his opinion, showing his loyalty.

In his mind, Alfred weighed the value of life against material treasures.

He reflected on a lesson from the founder and the most benevolent king of the Kingdom, King Valerius the First.

The king had once asked his people what they would choose if presented with a thousand gold bars, with the catch being they would lose their lives the very next day.

The overwhelming response had been a rejection of the offer, leading the wise king to remind his subjects to cherish their lives, for they were invaluable.

Life was the most precious treasure in heaven and earth. It was as simple as that.

With this thought swirling in his mind, Alfred knew what he should do. He should ensure his life.

He chimed in, expressing his thoughts pragmatically, "It's better to stick together in the lesser dimension than to venture out on my own for the sake of a mere treasure. I'm also going along with you guys."

Rowan, though not the brightest of the bunch, was not blind to the truths of survival or the ensuing situation.

Going solo in the lesser dimension was a recipe for disaster, a fact even he could understand.

Not to mention, he had barely survived when he teamed up with Alfred; going alone, driven by greed, would surely lead to a brutal end.

With this realization, he gritted his teeth and made his decision, "Fine, I'm coming too."

They quickly made their way toward the 'X' mark indicated by the mirror. Val, aware of his companions' limitations, consciously kept his speed low to ensure everyone could keep up.

After a rapid journey, they reached a clearing fifty miles away from their initial position.

In the center of the clearing stood an ancient structure.

The ancient structure was made of stone, with intricate carvings and symbols etched onto its surface, standing tall and stoic in the middle of the wilderness.

"Is this it?" Oliver asked, looking towards Val for confirmation.

Val nodded in response, "Yes, it is."

Rowan, his curiosity piqued, turned to Alfred, "Hey, you're the most knowledgeable guy here. What is this thing?"

Alfred, despite his extensive knowledge acquired from countless books, had to admit ignorance this time.

"I've read many books, but none have mentioned anything like this. I have no idea what it could be," he confessed.

Val couldn't help but chuckle internally at the conversation unfolding before him. Alfred was undeniably knowledgeable, especially concerning the northern frontier and this peculiar world, but Val, with his vast experience from his previous life and his extensive explorations of Earth, was the true sage in their group.

The structure before them seemed foreign to the inhabitants of Eldritch, a sight they had never encountered before. However, thanks to his past life's knowledge, Val could recognize it instantly.

"It's a sundial," Val explained confidently.

"What's a sundial?" Alfred inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Val proceeded to explain the concept of a sundial in the simplest terms, ensuring they grasped the basic idea of this ancient time-telling device.

As Val spoke, a thought crossed his mind, leaving him slightly taken aback. The presence of an Earth-like item in such an unexpected place made him wonder if there was a connection between the curse on Eldritch and his home planet. Nevertheless, it was a fleeting thought, as he redirected his focus back to the matter at hand.

"Why would a sundial be here?" Rowan asked, genuinely puzzled. "Does it serve any other purpose?"

Val appeared thoughtful for a moment, but in reality, he was quickly scanning through a notification from his detect spell.

[Secret Mechanism Detected: This sundial is a complex mechanism. Solving it may activate or deactivate traps within the dimension.]

That was the extent of the information provided. Val was left without a clear direction on how to solve it.

Turning back to the group, he shared his findings, "This sundial is more than it seems. It's a secret mechanism, and solving it could affect the traps in this dimension."

Oliver nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. Alfred's mind raced, feeling a mix of admiration and competition, while Rowan blurted out, "Wait, so you're smarter than Alfred?"

Alfred felt a sting of annoyance, labeling Rowan an ungrateful dog in his thoughts.

The group fell into a contemplative silence, pondering over how to solve the mechanism with no clear answers in sight. Val was in a similar position, but then it hit him. "Ah!"

His eyes widened, and his eyebrows raised in a sudden realization. He remembered the Droplet of Guidance, which would become usable when the way appeared. Given that the Truth Reflecting Mirror had shown them the way, the droplet should now be active.

Carefully, he took it out of his pocket dimension, ensuring the droplet remained stable in his palm, preventing any wastage.

For a moment, nothing spectacular happened, leaving the rest of the group confused. Why was Val staring so intently at a droplet? What magic did it possess?

Rowan found Val's behavior utterly foolish, questioning the usefulness of a mere droplet of water. He didn't realize that Val didn't engage in futile actions; had he known, he wouldn't have jumped to such hasty conclusions.

Memories began to materialize within the droplet, dozens of images flashing by. Val, with his sharp and inquisitive gaze, didn't miss a single detail, quickly forming an understanding of what needed to be done. As the water lost its luster, having served its purpose, Val discarded it.

Turning back to the group with a beaming smile, Val announced his discovery. "I've got it!"

"Got what?" Rowan asked, his interest piqued.

"The key to reaching the core of corruption. If you position the sundial just right…" Val explained, detailing the unique arrangement needed, "...you can open a portal to the third and most hidden realm of the lesser dimension."

Val confidently approached the sundial, carefully positioning it under the sun, ensuring that its shadow fell perfectly onto a specific point on the dial's edge. As he made these adjustments, the atmosphere around them began to change drastically, becoming colder and more sinister.

The moment Val had the sundial in the correct position, a portal abruptly materialized in front of them. It emanated a strong, ominous energy, making it clear to everyone present that what lay ahead was not going to be easy. The dangerous vibes emanating from the portal were impossible to ignore.

Their gut feelings were immediately confirmed when a force of corruption surged out of the portal. Val and Oliver, quick on their feet, instantly put up a defensive barrier using their soul power.

Bam!

A resounding reverberation echoed throughout the surroundings as the force of corruption crashed onto their barrier like a relentless wave, only to be split in two as if the barrier was an unyielding boulder.

The remnants of the wave washed over the surrounding grass and smashed into the trees around the clearing, stripping them of life.

The grass lost its luster, dying out immediately, while the trees, though still standing, turned brittle and black.