Hidden Temple? Unexpected Treasury {1}

Althea, with her flowing icy blue hair and icy aura, stood still as the wind howled past us. Her presence was calm, but her narrowed eyes betrayed her focus.

The Speed Phantom lunged toward us—a creature draped in black mist, its form barely distinguishable except for the glint of twin daggers clutched in its inky hands.

Its speed was impressive, easily F- Rank, but Althea didn't even blink. With a scoff, she raised her hand slightly, releasing a chill into the air.

The wind didn't touch us, but it sliced through the mist-like being as if it were paper. Clara, quick to act, blurred forward. Her blade shimmered, and in a single arc, she cleanly severed the Phantom's head.

The creature dissolved into a flurry of star-like particles, vanishing as silently as it had arrived. But we didn't get time to breathe. The forest echoed with the rapid, synchronized steps of more Phantoms—hundreds, maybe thousands.

Clara readied her stance, her sword glowing faintly in anticipation, but Althea only sighed. She prepared to unleash another icy wave, but I stepped forward, voice firm.

"No—come with me. Fighting them is pointless. They're endless."

The urgency in my voice made them pause. My memories from my past life were vivid. We had tried fighting wave after wave of these things, thinking brute force could clear the floor. It hadn't ended well.

Clara frowned, clearly confused. Her golden eyes studied me sharply, weighing my words. She already suspected I had far more knowledge than I should have.

Althea didn't argue. She floated effortlessly as we moved, keeping pace while occasionally glancing back. The forest around us was wild and unnatural. Towering trees with twisted trunks and veiny, moss-covered roots made running difficult.

Despite putting a heavy number of points into Agility, I struggled to keep up. Clara moved gracefully, eyes always scanning for the safest path, while Althea adjusted her speed to match ours, protecting the rear.

Minutes passed. The forest thickened. And the Phantoms They only grew in number.

Clara, still eerily calm, took note. Her expression never changed, but she was clearly analyzing everything—the enemy's behavior, terrain advantages, and our fatigue.

"They're multiplying... interesting," she muttered, almost amused.

Althea scoffed again but didn't comment. It was her way of agreeing.

Eventually, we stumbled into a clearing—an enormous lake stretched before us, its dark surface undisturbed and still. We halted.

Behind us, silence. The Phantoms hadn't followed us beyond the tree line.

I narrowed my eyes. Something felt off.

This lake... in my Past Life Memories i didn't remember any Lake That adding i Live and explore the 1st Floor for Weeks or Maybe even Month from what i remember

i started scanning the area.

We decided to rest.

Clara, was prepared. She produced small, elegant snack boxes and handed one to each of us. It was no ordinary food. Upon biting into it, I felt my mental fatigue ease. My senses became sharper. Althea accepted hers in silence, and Clara casually chewed on hers—an exquisite sandwich packed with rare meats even the rich would envy.

After our brief rest, we started exploring the lake. The terrain wasn't normal soil—it was some kind of loose, shifting sand that absorbed weight with eerie silence.

I ordered Clara and Althea to stay at least ten meters back. If anything went wrong, I needed to make sure Althea had enough space to react.

We moved slowly, cautiously, but oddly, the area was devoid of threats. No Phantoms. No Red Monkeys. Not even the usual corrupted wildlife.

Clara yawned, looking unimpressed. "This place is supposed to be dangerous?"

I didn't answer. My instincts said something was wrong.

Suddenly, the water exploded.

A massive form surged upward, sending waves crashing across the shore. From beneath the lake emerged a towering figure—made not of flesh, but of tightly wound corpses. Rotten limbs and twisted faces made up its muscular form, and its head bore a single, horned eye.

A Cyclops.

Its size was staggering—easily the height of a multi-story building. Its presence dwarfed the trees, and the air grew cold with dread.

I gawked, blinking rapidly. "The hell...?"

I rubbed my eyes, hoping it was an illusion. It wasn't.

"D- Rank... at least," I muttered.

The monster raised a boulder-sized fist and roared. Just before it could strike, Althea acted. Her hand lit up with frost, and in an instant, she grabbed Clara and me, pulling us away with a burst of speed and a chilling gust.

We landed safely several meters away, just in time to watch the giant Cyclops take its first step onto land.

"The Fuck?!" immediately The Three of us tried too escape i wasn't the only that Felt it a C- Ranked was a Death sentence.

For the three of us Clara was strong atleast The Rank of a E but beside that The next Rank difference was Really Vast.

Althea also felt it she sighed Frustrated Though if she have her True Power unsealed That Type of Monster was just a Flick of her finger should be Gone.

But right now she needed too Compromised and Clara was the most suprised she didn't expect something dangerous could happen in the Blink of a Eye.

She realized something her experience slowly Growing and committed herself too be always on guard.

And not the same mistake Without Althea She would have been smash too death By now making her gulp.

And she had finnaly realized why her Father was right warning her too not go inside the Tower.