There were no spike traps as imagined, no crossbow mechanisms suddenly firing arrows, and no giant rocks rolling down the stairs.
The journey was uneventful.
Guided by Gavial's childhood memories, everyone quickly followed the spiraling stairs downwards, made a few turns, and arrived at the bottom of the temple.
More accurately, they had entered from the upper tower of the temple and finally reached the first floor of the temple.
"Boom — — — —"
With a deafening directional explosion, an arched wall instantly shattered into pieces of stone.
Then, a vast space appeared before everyone.
The room was exceptionally spacious, several hundred square meters, and nearly ten meters high. It was incredibly dim inside; only by the light of torches could its outlines barely be made out.
And on Goki's person, a Geiger counter, which Researcher Miss had just handed him, suddenly started beeping.
"Beep beep beep beep beep — — — —"
"Ah, damn it, Originium radiation! Goki, step back!"
"All teams, equip biohazard protective gear."
The moment they heard that sound, everyone except Goki and Skadi, including Gavial, flinched and took a step back.
This sound in Terra was a symbol of death.
High-concentration Originium radiation, large amounts of Originium dust; ordinary people would instantly contract oripathy upon contact, and those with oripathy would experience super-doubled pain upon contact.
In Terra, everyone was terrified of this thing and avoided it at all costs.
The Columbia mercenaries and the local Sargon mercenaries, who had originally intended to rush into the room to search for Treasure Trove, immediately stopped in their tracks and scattered, grumbling as they ran backward, pulling out tattered gas masks.
And including Blacksteel, these professional security personnel immediately pulled out professional chemical protection equipment from their personal bags and put it on their faces.
"Hey — Skadi, Skadi!"
Goki was stunned for a moment, then immediately patted the Little Orca beside him, while also taking out the protective mask issued by the research team and a simple radiation-proof cloak, which he placed on Tomimi on the other side.
"Oh, oh!"
Skadi was also a bit dazed by the sudden actions of those around her. After Goki patted her twice, she remembered his and Kal'tsit's previous warnings to her and immediately pulled out a gas mask, putting it on her face.
Of course, the Old Hunter of Yharnam and the Aegir bio-engineered Abyssal Hunter were not afraid of radiation or dust.
But they couldn't easily show how they were different from ordinary people, so they still followed suit and took a step back.
Especially with an entire research team accompanying them, seeing two individuals completely immune to oripathy would surely make them excited enough to dissect them immediately.
Of course, whether these mercenaries combined could defeat Skadi was another matter.
However, if possible, Goki still didn't want to conflict with ordinary people.
He had killed many, but for those who weren't insane, especially those who were just trying to make a living, it was best to let them live if possible.
Goki now knew that the monsters and demons facing the world of Terra were no less than those in Yharnam.
Perhaps these mercenaries were all scoundrels who lived day by day, enjoying themselves, and didn't care about the lives of others.
But from a macro perspective, once an unpredictable and terrible situation occurred, at least, these people might be warriors on the side of humanity.
After all... "This is really bad..."
Casually putting on his gas mask, Goki walked into the shattered wall — in reality, it was a large door that had been sealed by a wall, with golden decorations still visible around it.
Walking into the room, Goki used his torch to light a bonfire stand nearby.
Whoosh —
Then, one by one, the bonfire stands not far away lit up through the conduction of the flames, illuminating the spacious room.
The room's furnishings were exceptionally simple: an altar with a huge statue and a heavy stone Sarcophagus — and, on the ground, one charred corpse after another.
It was simply a scene from Hell.
Nearly a hundred charred corpses lay on the ground, their bodies reduced to black, emaciated husks. The closest one was only tens of centimeters from Goki at the entrance.
The corpses were unrecognizable, but they still maintained a crawling posture, stretching out a withered left hand towards the entrance, as if, before death, they were desperately trying to climb out, to escape this Hell.
Perhaps because they were thoroughly dried by the burning, these dead people did not rot, but instead became mummified, only to be rediscovered a thousand years later.
"Ugh... good thing Zumama and I never thought of sneaking in."
After putting on her gas mask, Gavial clicked her tongue. The thought of so many dead people lying next to the place she had explored as a child sent a chill down her tail.
"Hey, hey, can't see, can't see — it's so dark!"
Without hesitation, Goki directly extinguished his torch and covered Tomimi's eyes, as she was the only minor present.
Almost simultaneously, Gavial's slender hand also reached out to cover Tomimi's eyes, but she only touched a rough, large hand.
Feeling that the touch was wrong, she and Goki exchanged glances, a little embarrassed, and withdrew her hand.
"Good heavens, how tragic. This person was burned alive. There were clearly no such dead people in the previous temples. This isn't a temple, it's practically a tomb — never mind, let's go, brothers. They're just dead people anyway, let's see if there's anything valuable..."
Beside them, the Bovine mercenary who had just joked with Goki and Skadi pinched his nose and frowned, but in the end, desire won out. With a shout, he led the protected mercenaries to step over the corpses and enter in single file.
Over a thousand years, a thick layer of ash had completely settled on the ground. It was stirred up again by the mercenaries' trampling, reducing visibility in the air.
Even the charred corpse in front of Goki was stepped on directly.
To these mercenaries who lived on the edge, dead people were the least frightening thing.
And for the Sargon people, their lives were not good enough to worry about cultural relic protection.
"Lina, take your team to analyze the inscriptions on the altar, and detect the areas with the highest Originium energy reactions. What we're looking for is within."
Parvis adjusted his glasses. As he walked past Goki, a hint of excitement appeared on his somewhat expressionless old face, and the pale bird feathers in his hair trembled slightly.
"Be careful and cautious. Don't make the same mistake as last time. The Spell model is incredibly precious. According to our previous estimations, this sample is far more powerful than what we delivered to Columbia before. If it's damaged, the land within several kilometers, including us, will be blown sky-high."
Compared to his own safety, this old professor from Rhine Lab seemed more concerned about the integrity of the sample.
However, the speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart. Gavial suddenly thought of something, and anger blazed in her green eyes.
"Huh? Old man, what are you saying? Several kilometers? Are you crazy? To just casually activate such a — wait, I heard Tomimi say that half a month ago, there was a large forest fire in northern Acahuala. Was that your doing?!"
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A surge of anger suddenly ignited in her chest. Gavial picked up her staff and blocked Parvis's path.
When Tomimi mentioned this before, Gavial didn't pay it much mind. Rainforest fires were a common occurrence every year; they could be caused by lightning, or a wisp of smoke from the mountains.
But now she suddenly recalled that the tribe where the fire broke out also seemed to have such ancient structures nearby.
Acahuala lives were cheap; many could die from a common cold. However, that fire seemed to have killed no fewer than a hundred people — clearly, it was more than just a fire.
Gavial was furious.
"Step back!"
Click — click.
Firearms and crossbows were cocked. The Blacksteel mercenaries, instead of following the others to excavate Treasure Trove, raised their weapons and aimed them at Gavial.
"The Spell model was damaged during excavation, and the Originium energy, after going berserk, triggered a small Originium Arts, burning down the entire forest. We also suffered considerable losses — but this time, we will be even more careful."
Without evasion, Parvis admitted that his research had caused the forest fire. Instead, he was somewhat annoyed that someone was blocking his way, preventing him from studying these ancient Sargon artifacts in a timely manner.
"Of course, as we promised, you can also take any Treasure Trove that has no experimental value."
Meanwhile, Manager Elwin, who had been accompanying Parvis, was now rubbing his hands with extreme flattery, chiming in.
"That's right, Mr. Parvis, I apologize for the trouble I caused — Miss Gavial, Rhine Lab's research is permitted by Mulla Pasha. Are you trying to antagonize Sargon? You Rainforest people?"
Elwin intended to serve Professor Parvis well as a stepping stone for his return to Columbia, so he naturally looked down on the young mercenary before him.
Although Sargon's control over the Rainforest was practically nil, nominally, Acahuala was still within Sargon's borders.
"You motherfucker —"
Upon hearing this warning, Gavial, who should have calmed down, uncharacteristically intended to raise her staff.
"Calm down, Gavial, calm down — everyone, continue your work."
And in the next second, a broad embrace, however, wrapped Gavial from the front, holding her back and pulling her aside.
It was Goki.
"That's more like it. Let's go, Mr. Parvis."
Tilting his head arrogantly, Elwin watched Goki's reaction, nodding somewhat smugly, and respectfully followed the Rhine Lab researchers into the hall.
Indeed, even this fellow was afraid of guns and crossbows.
"Goki, what are you doing — don't hug me!"
Meanwhile, Gavial, embraced by Goki, struggled violently, but luckily her strength wasn't too great, otherwise Goki wouldn't have been able to hold her down.
"You too, calm down and think about what you're doing. Challenging nearly ten professional mercenaries alone — although Skadi and I would help, you're not right, you're being influenced!"
As Goki whispered, his eyes emitted a white glow, meeting Gavial's gaze.
"You — ah, hiss."
Her head suddenly throbbed, and Gavial came to her senses, seeing Skadi and Tomimi on either side of her, looking at her with concern.
Then, she realized her unnatural behavior just now.
She was an experienced mercenary; even if she wanted to deal with these people who treated her homeland as a game, she would need enough manpower and plan a brilliant ambush like before.
She would absolutely not just swing her staff and charge alone like this. This wasn't even brave but foolish; it was pure suicide.
If Goki hadn't held her back, the consequences would have been unimaginable —
These mercenaries would definitely be shredded by Skadi — Gavial clearly understood the true combat power of the innocent-looking girl beside her. In any case, it definitely wouldn't be their side that suffered in the end.
"Phew, thanks. My head was a bit off just now."
She was warlike, but not stupid. Thinking of her recent behavior, a cold sweat broke out on Gavial's back.
Indeed, there was something seriously wrong with this temple.
However, she then noticed Goki's broad, strong arms and the warm breath exhaling from his nostrils.
"Yes, I just felt a bit of Life Qi, very angry... Hey, how long are you going to keep hugging me?"
Seeing their noses almost touching, Gavial blushed a little and, with all her strength, easily pushed Goki away.
[Ah — am I in heat? Why am I always thinking strange things lately!]
Her tail behind her thumped the ground several times, kicking up a cloud of dust, and only then did Gavial calm down.
"This place is really a bit spooky — but what about those Rhine Lab people? I finally understand what you said before. That old birdman is a madman. Forget the Rainforest, if anything goes wrong, we'll all be blown sky-high!"
Looking at Gavial's anxious expression, Goki simply pulled out several small, pale yellow vials and syringes from his pocket and handed them to Gavial.
"Let's do what we need to do. You protect Tomimi, stay clear-headed, don't listen to any strange sounds, don't touch anything, and if necessary, inject these sedatives — I'll keep an eye on them."
Turning his head, Goki looked at the mercenaries who were sifting through corpses, searching for Treasure Trove, and the researchers gathered around the altar and Sarcophagus, fiddling with various instruments. He touched the hidden pistol at his waist.
"If necessary, we'll have to teach him the rules of the Rainforest — after all, I'm the Chieftain's boyfriend, so I'm half a Rainforest person. If someone causes trouble for our tribe and puts the Rainforest in danger, we definitely have to do something."
Grinning, Goki even patted Tomimi's little head beside him.
Then, he was again lightly kicked on the calf by Gavial and Tomimi.
"Get lost! — What are you saying?!"
"Goki, didn't you say you and Gavial were just pretending?!"
However, this time, Gavial's voice of protest seemed much weaker.
Beside them, Skadi merely nodded, not finding it too strange.
Boyfriend, wasn't that just a male friend — Goki was her boyfriend too, was that strange?
The Little Orca focused her attention on the murals in the room.
There, a burning giant, with a huge sword in his hand, was slashing at a twisted monster covered in tentacles and fish scales.
Skadi suddenly found it somewhat familiar.
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