A few minutes prior…

When Kang Yoon-Soo’s party emerged from the underground, they found themselves in a vast hall with a tall altar at its center, leaving them astounded.

Shaneth raised her brows and asked, “This… Isn’t this the heart of a ruin? It’s similar to the ones I’ve seen before.”

“Hmm… So that means the treasures are at the altar?” Henrick wondered, rubbing his chin.

Iris smiled brightly and exclaimed, “So we should be able to get the treasure without fighting against the monsters!”

She happily skipped up to the altar and tried to open the steel chest sitting atop it. However, as soon as she came into contact with it, the chest was enveloped with an electrical current.

Bzzzt!

“Kyaaah!” Iris immediately took her hands off the chest when the electric current coursed through her.

[The trap guarding the treasure has been triggered!]

[It will not be possible to obtain the Death Pool Ruin’s treasures unless Alsroa the Witch is dead.]

“Are you alright, unni?” Shaneth asked while helping Iris to her feet.

“That really surprised me,” Iris said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Show me your hand,” Henrick said. He inspected Iris’ soft white hand before tilting his head in confusion and saying, “Your hand seems too normal for having just been zapped by that strong electric current. There are no signs of burns anywhere.”

“The scales suddenly appeared and protected me before I could get hurt,” Iris said. She clenched her fist and golden scales suddenly appeared to cover it.

Henrick grimaced, seemingly reminded of their recent death-defying experience against a certain powerful creature. He grumbled, “I guess you really have gotten stronger,...