CHAPTER 376: A PROTAGONIST’S OPPORTUNITY?

A wave of absolute exhaustion hit me the moment I let go of my focus. My muscles gave out, and I collapsed backward, my bare shoulders and back hitting the cold, rough stone of the cave floor.

A small gasp escaped my lips at the sudden chill.

Thanks to Virion’s brutal training and my own heightened resilience, the impact was just a dull thud rather than a painful shock. But the weariness was a different beast altogether. It was a deep, soul-deep fatigue that made my very bones feel heavy - an irresistible urge to close my eyes and surrender to sleep pulled at me.

But then the smell hit me.

I wrinkled my nose, my enhanced senses rebelling.

I looked down at my body. A thin, greasy film of black and grey impurities coated my skin, the unwanted dregs expelled during the breakthrough. It wasn’t thick, but the stench was foul.

’Right. Can’t sleep like this.’

Pushing through the fatigue, I forced myself to sit up. I held out a hand, conjuring a globe of clean water. And with a focused thought, I channeled a wisp of my fire affinity through my other hand, carefully warming the water until it steamed gently in the cool cave air. I then quickly scrubbed the grime from my skin, the warm water a small comfort against the deep chill of exhaustion.

Once clean, I dried off with a spare cloth from my storage ring and pulled on a fresh set of clothes.

After that, I moved a little deeper into the cave, away from the damp spot I’d created. I took out a few dry wood and put them on top of each other. With a snap of my fingers, I lit a small, controlled campfire, its flickering light pushing back the oppressive darkness and bringing a sliver of warmth.

Finally, I could rest.

Seren, I called out mentally. I need to sleep. Keep watch.

A pulse of understanding and reassurance flowed back. The next moment, the small, luminous Seren materialized. He gave a soft, determined chuff and settled himself near the cave entrance, his ’ears’ perked and eyes glowing faintly as he scanned the darkness beyond the illusion.

I didn’t even bother with a bedroll. I just lay down on the hard ground next to the fire, pulling my cloak over me like a blanket. The moment my head touched the bundled cloth I was using as a pillow, consciousness fled.

I plunged into a deep, dreamless sleep.

_____ ___ _

My eyes opened to the dim, fire-lit cave. A deep sense of rejuvenation filled me, the crushing fatigue from before completely gone. I felt... excellent.

A quick time check confirmed I’d slept for over a day. Honestly, I wasn’t even surprised. The past month had been a string of sleepless nights and constant tension. It was no wonder my body had demanded such a heavy toll to recover.

’Guess I have to fix my sleeping habits,’ I muttered inwardly with a sigh.

Closing my eyes again, I focused inward. The Genesis Aura Well hummed steadily at my core. It was working perfectly, drawing in a slow, constant stream of environmental aura, refining it, and feeding itself. It had even grown slightly, as it looked a bit bigger than it had yesterday.

Satisfied, I opened my eyes and scanned the cave with a quick pulse. Nothing. No threats, no changes.

You are up, friend.

I nodded at Seren’s voice in my mind. I am. Thanks for keeping watch.

But as I looked at him, I noticed the subtle shift in his luminous form. His head was tilted, his gaze fixed on the dark, recessed end of the cave. A clear thread of curiosity and certainty emanated from him.

You want to tell me something? I prompted.

He gave a quick nod. There is something here. Further in.

Oh! My interest was immediately piqued. Could it be... Where?

This way. Seren turned and floated deeper into the cave, his soft light illuminating the narrow passage.

The cave wasn’t very deep. We reached the end in less than a minute — a solid, unremarkable wall of rock and packed earth. It looked completely normal.

But Seren stopped right in front of it, his form pulsing. Here.

I stared at the wall, then back at him. What is it?

This is not real, he stated, his voice firm. It is an illusion. A very good one.

I frowned, placing my hands flat against the cool, rough stone. It felt utterly solid and real under my palms. I pushed, but there was no give, no hidden mechanism.

It feels completely normal, I told Seren.

Look deeper, he urged, floating closer until his luminous form was almost touching the wall. Past the surface.

I closed my eyes, letting my senses extend through my fingertips. I focused past the physical sensation, reaching out with the Pulse of the Unseen. For a long moment, there was nothing.

Then, I felt it — a faint, consistent hum of energy woven through the rock, a seamless tapestry of deception.

The illusion was probably layered directly onto the wall itself, perfectly mimicking its texture.

But as I traced the energy flow, my fingers brushed over a spot that felt... different. Slightly more rugged, a tiny protrusion no larger than a pebble. I pressed it, expecting a click or a shift.

Nothing happened.

’Strange...’

I kept searching, my fingers moving methodically across the stone surface while my mental senses mapped the illusion’s structure. A few inches to the left, I found another slight irregularity. Then another. They formed a rough, vertical line.

It’s not a button, I realized, opening my eyes. It’s a seam.

The illusion wasn’t just hiding a passage; it was plastered over a physical barrier — a thin, man-made wall constructed to look like a natural cave end. The "buttons" were just imperfections in the masonry.

Stepping back, I shook my head. Sometimes, the simplest solution was the best.

I focused aura into my fist, a faint shimmer of condensed force wrapping around my knuckles. I didn’t need a fancy technique for this.

I threw a single, sharp punch directly at the line of seams.

CRACK!

The thin stone wall shattered inward, exploding into a cloud of dust and rubble. The intricate illusion flickered violently like a broken mirror and then dissolved into shimmering motes of light that faded into nothing.

Where a solid wall had been, a dark, narrow opening now yawned before us, leading deeper into the cave. A faint, musty draft brushed against my face.

Seren pulsed with quiet satisfaction. Told you.

Mm... I praised it while patting. While thinking if this situation was similar to when protagonists would get lucky opportunities.

I wouldn’t mind it if this were one.