Chapter 202: Sanctuary of the Stone Echoes

Luke was dragged through dense roots, pulled along a living tunnel while the Beast Lord’s roars grew more and more muffled beneath layers of dirt and leaves. Then even the sound vanished as the path sealed shut behind him.

And then—he fell.

But he didn’t stay down. Not even for a second. He sprang to his feet, kukris drawn, scanning for the monster, ready for it to lunge from the dark. But the tunnel was gone. No way back. Charlie emerged from his soul, stepping into place beside him like a loyal shadow. Parts of her armor were corroded, eaten away by whatever that thing had thrown at them. But the Midnight Warden breastplate was already beginning to regenerate, drinking in her mana like water.

The Beast Lord really couldn’t follow him here. It had been a gamble—and it paid off. That monster wasn’t allowed inside this mission zone. Luke waited, tense, half-expecting the wall of roots to dissolve or the creature to smash its way through, springing in like a coiled nightmare.

Nothing.

I’m free of the monster… but trapped in here.

He was surrounded by colossal trees. The sky above was a thick tangle of branches and leaves, blocking out any natural light. The only illumination came from scattered mushrooms that glowed like living lanterns, casting a bluish-green light over twisted roots and gnarled bark. Their glow stretched long shadows across the forest floor.

Suddenly, a system notification blinked to life in front of him.

**Special Mission: Sanctuary of the Stone Echoes!**

Objective: Destroy the Fallen Stone Angel and crush the Watchers under its command. Only then will you gain access to the fortress interior and activate the Third Mechanism.

Warning: Watchers patrol the sanctuary or rest at their camps. If one spots you and sounds the warhorn, it will awaken the Army of the Sleeping—an unrelenting platoon of stone sentinels who will protect their master with savage fury. If that happens, prepare for a brutal battle against living stone.

Tip: Stealth is the key to completing this challenge and reaching the boss.

Stealth?

Luke leaned back against a tree, the damp bark pressing cold against his spine.

“Man, that was intense. Easily one of the craziest things you’ve ever done—and I mean, that’s saying something,” Artemis said.

“But it worked,” he muttered, sarcasm dripping from his bloodied lips.

One glance at his HP told him just how bad things really were.

[Health Points (HP): 1138 / 2030]

He drank a healing potion. That left him with only one more. With a quiet sigh, he reached into his storage item and pulled it out.

[Healing Potion (Common)]: A potion that restores 133 HP.

The last one. His precious stockpile of six was now down to this—burned through in his desperate struggle to stay alive ever since the Beast Lord had marked him.

“It is what it is.”

He crouched near one of the glowing mushrooms sprouting from the tangled roots. The greenish light pulsed gently, almost like it was breathing.

[Green Luminous Mushroom (Uncommon)]: A special mushroom that developed unique properties while growing in mana-enriched soil.

Mother Freya’s Note: “Its bio-organic structure possesses strong regenerative capabilities, making it a valuable ingredient for high-grade health potions.”

Charlie stood a little farther ahead, on watch. The sound of branches snapping echoed through the forest. That’s when the hoofbeats started. Luke narrowed his eyes. Without hesitation, he recalled Charlie back into his soul, then climbed the nearest tree, disappearing into the canopy. Activating his stealth ability, he stilled every sound from his body—even his heartbeat.

Minutes passed. Then something moved in the woods. Three riders emerged from the trees, but they weren’t ordinary soldiers. Both the mounts and the men were carved from stone.

The Watchers…

[Watcher Knight – Lvl 45]

[Watcher Horse – Lvl 30]

[Watcher Knight – Lvl 45]

[Watcher Horse – Lvl 30]

[Watcher Knight – Lvl 45]

[Watcher Horse – Lvl 30]

The statues scanned the area, heads turning unnervingly smooth, watching every direction. One dismounted and walked toward the stretch of wall where, not long ago, Luke had passed through the tunnel.

Were they alerted when I crossed into this zone? Or did they just hear something? What exactly triggers the warhorn?

He stayed perfectly still, watching them closely. They didn’t speak. No gestures, no signals. But they moved with eerie coordination, like they were speaking through some silent link. His eyes dropped to one of their belts. A stone horn hung from it.

If he blows that thing, I’m screwed.

Luke couldn’t risk it. Not without knowing more about how this challenge worked. So he dropped. Landing in the middle of them, kukris flashing in both hands, he crouched low and activated his Dance skill. His body spun with brutal precision, blades sweeping through the legs of all three stone horses in a single motion. The statues crashed to the ground. He dashed toward the nearest knight and drove his kukri deep into its stone face before it could react.

[You have slain a Watcher Knight – Lvl 45]

Even Luke was a little surprised by the raw power behind the strike. One of the others managed to draw a sword, but he sidestepped the swing and shoved the knight back.

Charlie leapt from the trees like a missile, fists glowing. She slammed into the second knight with a flurry of punches.

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[Princess Charlie has slain a Watcher Knight – Lvl 45]

*The [Pugilist] 2nd Class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 14! (Class Bonus Points Acquired: +3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +2 Agility, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points.)*

The last knight lunged—but Luke was faster. A blur of movement, a dash, then steel met stone. His kukri sliced through its chest and the statue cracked apart.

[You have slain a Watcher Knight – Lvl 45]

*Your class [Demonic Assassin] has reached Level 34! (Class Bonus Points Acquired: +5 Per, +4 Str, +4 Agi, +3 Vit, +2 Int, +3 Free Points)

The three remaining stone horses were down in seconds.

[You have slain a Watcher Horse – Lvl 30]

[You have slain a Watcher Horse – Lvl 30]

[You have slain a Watcher Horse – Lvl 30]

Breathing steady, Luke glanced down at his kukris. The power boost from those seventy Strength points? Night and day. No more enemies in sight.