Vaults have always been shrouded in mystery. No scholar has definitively traced their origins, and no historian has uncovered a clear record of the first Vault that appeared. Some believe they are ancient tombs constructed by civilizations that predate the current kingdoms.

Others argue they are not tombs at all, but rather storage vaults created by empires that foresaw their own demise and hid away their treasures before falling.

There are even whispers suggesting that Vaults might not be man-made in the conventional sense; instead, they could be fragments of shattered realms drifting through space and time, anchoring themselves to our world for a fleeting moment before vanishing again. The truth remains elusive, perhaps forever out of reach, as Vaults do not linger long enough to be fully understood.

What is universally acknowledged is that Vaults hold far greater value than Dungeons. Dungeons are common, ranked and categorized; Adventurers frequently clear them in search of coin and experience. In contrast, Vaults are extraordinarily rare. Decades can pass without one emerging; in some regions, centuries may elapse before a new Vault reveals itself.

When a Vault does appear, it doesn’t merely bring monsters and minor loot, it offers the potential for treasures beyond what any Dungeon could yield: relics forged in forgotten eras, weapons inscribed with divine markings, spellbooks containing lost magical systems, and materials that have vanished from the present age.

However, some Vaults turn out to be cruel tricks of fate. They open only to reveal emptiness, filled with traps and guardians ready to slaughter intruders. Others contain treasures capable of altering destinies, impacting individuals, families, or even entire empires for millennia to come. This is why every power mobilizes when a Vault appears: nobles, hidden sects, mercenary groups, royal houses, and religious factions all rush toward it like moths drawn to flame.

Another peculiar aspect of Vaults is that their entrances are never fixed; there’s no single gate or door. People may enter from different directions only to find themselves starting in entirely different locations inside. Two teams entering simultaneously might never cross paths until much later or perhaps not at all. Vaults defy simple rules; they reshape space and bend perception while exerting control over everything within them.

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The golden pillar that had pierced the sky above the Evergreen Mountain Range flared one last time before collapsing inward as if swallowed by space itself. For an instant, everything around Sage and his companions turned white, not the white of snow or clouds but a blinding wash of light erasing both shadows and sound alike.

The ground beneath their feet vanished; sensations of falling mingled with standing still in an unsettling way. There was no wind rushing past them or any sense of movement yet somehow their surroundings transformed from the cracked stone core of the mountain.

This surreal experience lasted only a heartbeat or two before fading back into color.

Sage felt solid ground beneath his boots once more. The air shifted, the scent changed, and the familiar hum of the outside world vanished completely.

As his vision cleared, he found himself in a vast expanse of grassland that stretched endlessly in every direction. The grass brushed against his calves, swaying gently as if caressed by a light breeze, yet he felt no wind on his skin.

There were no trees, mountains, rivers, or any visible landmarks, just an open, boundless field. Above them, the sky was not blue but a deep, mesmerizing green that glowed faintly from within. It wasn’t dark yet didn’t shine brightly either. The entire atmosphere felt calm on the surface, but there was something unnerving about that calmness, a silence too complete.

Vanthrice took a slow step forward, scanning the horizon. "This... isn’t the mountain."

"No," Gregor replied quietly, resting his hand lightly on the hilt of his broadsword as he surveyed the grassland with cautious eyes. "We’re inside."

Brutus turned slowly in a full circle. "Where are the others?"

Caelis and Leona stood close together, clearly unsettled by the strange sky above them. The twenty Adventurers who had followed Sage into the golden glow were scattered loosely behind him, each looking around in confusion. Some crouched to touch the grass as if to confirm its reality; others tested the air for mana density in this peculiar place.

Sage paused for a moment to extend his senses outward. The mana here felt different from what they were used to, it was thick yet stable, flowing evenly through the land like water beneath soil: controlled but vast. The ground felt firm beneath him; even the sky remained still.

Mina, who had been sitting on his shoulders during their transition, lifted her small hands to shield her eyes from the green glow above and looked around curiously.

"Mmmm," she hummed casually, her voice breaking through the quietness. "Everyone... where are Boren and Lyana?"

Sage’s expression shifted immediately.

Gregor froze.

Valeria’s gaze sharpened instantly.

Without saying a word, Sage turned to scan behind them more carefully while Brutus mirrored his actions. Caelis counted quickly under her breath as Vanthrice stepped closer to Gregor; her short hair brushed against her cheek as she surveyed their group again.

Boren was missing and Lyana was nowhere to be found.

The twenty Adventurers remained intact, Valeria stood to Sage’s left and Gregor slightly to his right while Mina still perched above but those two who had been just behind Sage moments ago were gone.

"Boren!" Brutus called out loudly; his voice carried across the open grassland but did not echo, it simply faded away into silence.

"Lyana!" Gregor’s voice followed sharply and with control but there was a hint trembling in his voice.

There was no response.

Sage stepped forward slowly, narrowing his eyes as he extended his perception outward once more. He searched for any fluctuations in mana, disturbances in the grass, anything that might indicate recent movement. But there was nothing. No footprints. No crushed blades of grass. It was as if they had never been there at all.

Brutus clenched his jaw. "The vault entrance must have separated us."

"Yes," Valeria replied quietly. "Vault entrances are random."

Gregor exhaled slowly through his nose, frustration flickering across his face for a moment. "They were right behind us." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Sage said calmly, though his gaze remained sharp and alert. "Hhey could have been pulled into another starting zone."

Mina leaned in slightly and whispered into Sage’s ear, "They didn’t even say goodbye."

Sage pressed his lips together faintly but kept his voice steady. "They’re not gone."

Caelis stepped closer, concern etched on her face. "Guildmaster... what do we do?"

Sage scanned the endless field again, then looked up at the strange green sky above them. There were no visible landmarks to guide them, no signposts, no structures, just grass stretching endlessly in every direction.

"Vaults separate teams all the time," Gregor muttered quietly to himself. "We knew that."

Valeria nodded once in agreement. "If they’re inside, they’ll move soon enough. Lyana isn’t reckless."

"And Boren?" Brutus asked.

Gregor let out a faint snort of laughter. "He’ll complain the whole time, but he’ll manage."

A few Adventurers forced small smiles at that remark, but the tension lingered.

Finally, Sage turned fully to face the group again. His expression was calm, yet his eyes held focus and determination.

"We proceed," he stated firmly. "Slowly and carefully. We search for signs of them. If the Vault brought us here, it likely didn’t take them far away."

He glanced back at the grass before returning his gaze to the group. "Stay close."

Mina lifted her head again to scan the field and muttered softly, "I don’t like this place."

And neither did Sage.

The green sky remained still above them. And Boren and Lyana were nowhere to be found.