A Mysterious Cave Containing Hidden Treasures and Other Grython Snake!

Five hundred meters away from the ongoing monster battle, Allen floated in the air, meticulously surveying his surroundings.

"Was my estimate wrong?" Allen furrowed his brow, starting to reconsider his assumptions.

Considering the earlier behavior and disposition of the Grython snake, it seemed as though it prevented the bear from advancing, assuming a defensive stance.

"However, what exactly is the snake protecting, and where?" He eventually descended to the ground, scanning the area, which was abundant with tall, lush vegetation.

Instantly, he gasped in shock as he spotted a large hole concealed by lush leaves and flanked by two towering trees.

"That's a cave?" Driven by curiosity, he activated his wind magic, causing himself to vanish from his previous location and reappear right at the entrance of the cave.

"It's so well hidden!" He muttered, quickly realizing that the cave's concealed appearance was not a natural occurrence but seemed deliberately crafted, possibly by someone or even a monster.

His eyes widened, and he whispered, "The Grython Snake must have done this!"

He felt quite certain about his deduction since the Grython Snake was a monster of a mysterious level, having awakened some level of consciousness.

Though not fully awakened, monsters at this stage possessed a growing intelligence that allowed them to master their animal instincts.

"There must be a valuable item or something else that enticed a Grython Snake, which should typically inhabit the desert, to suddenly appear in the northern forest!" He nodded slightly, preparing himself as he entered the cave cautiously.

Uncertain of what might lie ahead, he remained vigilant, aware that the snake might have set traps or other defenses to thwart intruders, given its desperate defense against the enraged bear's attack.

Allen gently pushed aside the weeds and vegetation at the entrance, revealing a breathtaking sight before him.

"This..." Allen gasped in utter shock, for the scene that unfolded was truly astonishing!

Inside the cave lay an immense collection of gold and various other treasures.

It could be described as a treasure trove, containing enough riches to sustain the entire kingdom of Eldoria for a hundred years, eradicating worries of famine or scarcity!

"That's unbelievable! How could such an abundance of gold and precious treasures be stored in a cave like this?!" Allen marveled, stepping inside and standing right in front of the heaps of gold, jewelry, gems, and emeralds scattered about.

A sudden realization struck him as he recalled something from his past life, specifically eight years after the summoning of the heroes.

There was a renowned rumor circulating at that time!

The rumor spoke of a hidden treasure tucked away in a secret location within the northern forest—an unparalleled hoard, equivalent to the treasury of a small kingdom.

This rumor ignited a burning curiosity in everyone, including the hero summoned by the Eldoria Kingdom.

He led an expedition through the northern forest, sparking a massive sensation at the time.

However, to their dismay, the rumors proved baseless, and the treasure remained elusive.

Even the hero who searched with eager anticipation returned home with a crestfallen and angry expression.

At that time, Allen himself hadn't taken the rumors seriously, dismissing them as the mischievous work of pranksters.

"I never expected it to be real, yet here I am, having found it!" Allen smiled faintly, his heart racing with excitement.

With such boundless wealth before him, Allen was certain that all his future endeavors and plans would undoubtedly be more achievable.

After all, no matter where he found himself, money and wealth held immense significance, and his current position as heir of the Duke Frey family offered limited access to family riches.

"I'm sure this must be what the snake is protecting!" Allen clenched his palms, thoroughly convinced.

Nevertheless, he abruptly halted his advance toward the treasures.

A sense of foreboding washed over him as he felt an enormous presence stalking him from the depths of the cave!

"Damn, not good!" In a swift motion, he cast a spell and vanished from his previous location.

"Boom!"

The resounding explosion echoed loudly through the cave where he had stood moments ago.

Smoke and dust billowed, prompting Allen to reappear five meters deeper into the cave to escape the aftermath.

"Cough!"

He coughed, the dust having filled the air within the cave.

"Damn! I was so caught off guard that I didn't even realize what it was!" He narrowed his eyes and assumed a fighting stance.

True to his suspicions, an enormous, shadowy figure began to stir amidst the scattered smoke and dust.

"This is..." Allen took a step back, his gaze fixed on the colossal shadow that rose to touch the ceiling of the cave!

As if sensing his presence, the shadow turned its head towards him, and its blazing red eyes left Allen gasping in shock!

"Another Grython?!" He was taken aback and swiftly activated his magic.

"Wind Magic: Movement!" In an instant, he vanished, and indeed, the shadowy figure that emerged revealed an immense, pitch-black Grython snake.

The Grython snake launched an aggressive attack against Allen, but fortunately, he swiftly dodged the assault.

"Boom!"

Once again, the snake's attack missed the spot where Allen had been standing.

The massive serpent slowly turned its head, fixing its gaze on Allen, who now stood ten meters away.

"Shhh!" Its enormous tongue flickered menacingly, adding to the creature's terrifying presence.

Realizing that escape was impossible with the snake guarding the exit, Allen took a deep breath and adopted a determined fighting stance.

"Alright, if that's what you want, I'll fight it!" He shouted with unwavering resolve.