The sharp clack of the door slamming shut behind them made the priestess jump.
"Locked...?"
The rogue spun around immediately, testing the handle. No use.A sinister click echoed through the stone walls.
"I hate when dungeons do that…"
The room ahead was circular, lined with strangely blue torches.At its center stood a stone pedestal, and atop it, a metal plate engraved with symbols.
"A puzzle already? What is this... we haven't even fought anything yet.""Relax. Let me read it."
[Lin's View – Room 1: "The Broken Oath"]
From his interface, Lin observed in silence.
He had deliberately reversed the classic logic:No monsters until the puzzle is solved.A strategy designed to throw off standard adventurers.
"They're too confident. Let's shake that up a little."
He mentally tapped the engraved slab.A crystalline voice echoed through the chamber:
"Born of fire, shaped by metal, bound by vow.I break when betrayed. What am I?"
The archer raised an eyebrow.
"Is this... a riddle?"
The warrior frowned.
"A promise. Or maybe... a pact?"
The rogue narrowed his eyes.
"Wait… this isn't just a riddle. I saw one of the floor tiles shift in the corner. That thing's alive."
[Lin – slight smile]
"Good eye."
He subtly adjusted the trap sensitivity in the room—Just enough for the ground to tremble slightly.A little tension goes a long way.
"They'll understand soon.This dungeon isn't meant to be rushed through blindly."
The priestess stepped cautiously toward the pedestal.
"What if... it's 'word'? Or 'trust'?"
Silence.Then, a sharp metallic whine.
The plate vibrated. A click.A section of the wall slid open.
Behind it—an eye.Red. Motionless. Watching.
"What the—?"
The floor began to shift.
"We triggered something!"
[Lin – calm]
"First trigger confirmed.Let Room 1 reveal its true nature."
He mentally pressed another command.
The circular room began to rotate slowly, the torches flickering in rhythm.Even the stone itself seemed to rearrange.
"Welcome to the living dungeon."
The floor came to a sudden stop.The adventurers now faced a new wall, once hidden—Glowing glyphs etched into its surface.
"Another puzzle?""No… more like an order."
The priestess stepped forward, reading aloud:
"So long as the oath stands, the path remains sealed.To open the way—break what you've sworn."
The warrior cursed under his breath:
"What kind of twisted puzzle is that? Break an oath?"
[Lin – contemplative]
"The theme of this room is moral dissonance.I want to see who hesitates.Who betrays.Who obeys."
He summoned four circular zones onto the ground—one in front of each adventurer.Slightly raised. Trial pedestals.
A golden halo shimmered around each.
[System: Enter your Oath – Sincerity Required.]
A soft, almost gentle voice drifted into their minds:
"Swear upon your essence.And break that vow to move forward."
The rogue groaned.
"Seriously? A psychological trap?We didn't come here for philosophy!"
But still, he placed a hand on the circle.
"I swear... to always run from responsibility."
Red flash. Rejected.
"Damn it..."
The archer tried next, more solemnly.
"I swear to protect my brother, no matter what."
The halo flickered… then blinked.
[Oath Accepted.]
But nothing happened.
The warrior crossed his arms, annoyed.
"Fine, my turn."
He placed his hand.
"I swear never to back down from a fight."
The slab pulsed. White light. Accepted.
The priestess stepped up, trembling slightly.
"I... I swear to believe in the light, even in darkness."
Accepted.
Still, no passage opened.
[Lin – silently watching]
"And now... who will have the courage to break what they've sworn?"
A second circle appeared for each of them.
[Break Your Oath to Proceed.]
The silence grew heavier.The archer hesitated.
"This is madness. It's... messing with our core values."
The warrior placed his sword into the second circle, gaze firm.
"If this is what it takes to move on…"
"I break my vow.I'll retreat if it means protecting my allies."
A dull thud.A slab crumbled from the wall, revealing a hidden corridor.
"It worked…"
The archer trembled, then whispered:
"I… I won't protect my brother if it costs me my life."
A second wall gave way, soft light spilling through.
The rogue frowned, muttering:
"Fine... I swear not to run anymore. And I break it. Happy?"
Third passage.
The priestess took longer. Eyes wet with tears.But she, too, broke her vow.
The final slab fell.
[Lin – thoughtful]
"Interesting.The warrior broke his vow without hesitation.The priestess cried.The archer... faltered."
He mentally noted their reactions, the emotional intensity, the hesitation.
"These data points are invaluable.Each response feeds my Progression Board."
The four adventurers continued, more cautious than before.
Their earlier confidence had taken a blow.
The dungeon had made them question themselves…
Before the first fight even began.
End of Room 1