The Omnistore System

Chapter 464: Veridian Guardians

 n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

A few days had passed since Kevin had convinced Roma to sell her house to him and work at his store. Meanwhile, Keith had returned, and for the last three days, she'd been thoroughly enjoying herself with Kevin-though she tried to get Keyara and Viana involved, too, but that hadn't quite worked out. Still, Kevin hadn't let her feel disappointed, keeping her entertained and satisfied throughout her stay.

Now, as they sat around the dining table in their new home-having sold their previous base since it was no longer needed for just the three of them-Viana, Keyara, and Kevin all watched Keith with curiosity. She finally had time to explain her sudden return.

"The reason I came back," Keith began, a spark of excitement in her eyes, "is because a really big opportunity has opened up in the Den. Well, it's not open just yet, but it will be soon. And when it does, anyone can try their hand at it. It's dangerous, but it's the kind of thing that could make anyone who survives it much stronger."

Kevin, clearly annoyed by her attempt to drag out the suspense, frowned. "Just spit it out already."

Keith smirked at Kevin's impatience, leaning back in her chair as she let the tension simmer just a little longer. She enjoyed teasing him like this, especially when she knew she had something big to share.

"Alright, alright," Keith relented, twirling a strand of her hair as she glanced around the table. "So, here's the deal. Word is that deep within Chernbog's Den, things are getting really dangerous. And I mean dangerous, like we heard before our last trip there. For us, it felt almost like a leisure trip, but after you three came back, a lot of strange things started happening." Her expression darkened as her tone grew more serious. "I heard you guys had an accident on your way back. I was really worried when I found out the spaceship you were on blew apart mid-air."

The three exchanged glances, recalling the danger they faced, before Viana spoke up, her voice tinged with fear as she remembered the lanky-limbed creature. "There was more going on than we realized... We still don't know how we made it out."

As Viana finished, Keyara took over, explaining in detail what had happened to them at the ship and the terrifying creatures they encountered. Keith's eyes widened in shock as she processed their story, her mind racing. "I thought those were just rumors," she muttered to herself before speaking up again. "There's talk going around that some cultivators are turning into monsters... and one of those monsters sounds exactly like the one you described to me."

"I thought it was all the work of those green-haired bastards, but now it seems there's something else going on..." Keith said, her anger barely contained.

"What green-haired bastards?" Keyara asked, confusion written all over her face.

Keith let out a sigh, settling back into her seat as she began to explain. "There's this tribe... they've been living in Chernbog's Den for centuries."

"I thought there were only monsters in that place?" Kevin interrupted, sounding genuinely shocked.

"We all did," Keith replied with a grim nod. "But those bastards are very real and very strong. They call themselves the Veridian Guardians. I don't know what that name even means, but I only encountered them once... barely got away with my life." A flicker of fear crossed her face before she quickly shook it off, noticing the worried looks on the others. "They capture or kill anyone who hunts monsters or collects Noxlight Flowers. And for some reason, they're even more brutal to anyone working for the Emporium."

As Keith finished speaking, everyone fell into deep thought for a moment. Keyara was the first to break the silence. "Okay, but what was that opportunity you were talking about? It doesn't involve killing that green-haired tribe, right? I'm not interested in killing people just to make a profit."

Keith's serious expression shifted into one of excitement. "I don't even know if those Veridian Guardians are human, but no, it's not about killing them. It's about this massive door that suddenly appeared near the Emporium's base. At first, the Emporium kept everyone away, but then the kingdom's forces got involved. They made the Emporium investigate, and they revealed that the door leads to a portal. A portal to another spatial realm that once belonged to an ancient cultivator."

Everyone at the table knew what that meant. Realms like this were similar to the dimensional spaces inside storage rings, but they were big enough for people to visit. They often had their own environments-some even the size of kingdoms-and when they first opened, they were full of treasures, waiting to be found.

Viana's curiosity was evident as she asked, "But can we actually enter it?"

Keith's expression shifted from serious to excited. "Yes, anyone who can access Chernbog's Den will be able to enter the portal once it opens. It's set to open in about six months. Kingdom officials have managed to figure this out from some investigations, though I don't have all the specifics."

She then tapped a button on her watch, and a holographic image of the massive door appeared on the table. The door was a striking dark green, in contrast to the grey one underground. The hologram displayed the door's intricate designs and the faint, eerie green glow that surrounded it. Unlike the ancient inscriptions on the underground door, this one was adorned with elegant patterns but no writing. The door's surface shimmered with an almost ethereal quality, hinting at the mysterious realm it concealed.

Keith continued as they observed the holographic door. "But here's the catch: it's becoming increasingly difficult to reach the door. The monsters in the area are growing in number, and some of the more powerful ones are coming from other places. On top of that, the Guardians are causing even more trouble. And with the new information you've provided about those creatures, it only adds to the complications."

He paused, glancing around at the concerned faces of his audience. "To make matters worse, there's also some shady stuff going on with the Emporium. Rumor has it they've been trying to keep news about the door under wraps and might even have had a hand in making it appear, so I don't know if it's safe to go in there."