Chapter 210 Puzzle

210 Puzzle You'll find the origin of this content at n0velb!n•

The group found themselves in a quandary, with no clear path forward. If the previous round stop them with locked door that required a high-ranking lockpick skill, this one demanded an entirely different approach.

Players began to explore the chamber, their eyes scanning for any clues that might provide a solution. Their search led them to the altars at the far end of the room, where they discovered ancient writings etched into the stone. There were also mysterious markings adorning the sides of the huge coffin at the center of the chamber.

"I can't understand any of this!" exclaimed Cammie, her blue hair framing her frustrated expression.

Axel, the French noble who seemed to possess a deep understanding of the classics text, promptly identified the script. "It's ancient Britannia," he confidently declared.

He glanced at Alan, and knowing what the noble wanted, Alan called upon Merlin. As a Fey chief and a powerful wizard, the legendary NPC possessed the necessary expertise to decode the cryptic messages. However, such a task would require time and concentration.

In such situations, opening a chamber usually required a clue that could be obtained from another quest within the game. But the game's mechanics also allowed for alternative solutions, such as using selected NPCs to assist, as they were doing now. Unfortunately, such secondary paths often came with the trade-off of consuming additional time.

As they waited for Merlin to decipher the cryptic writings, Alan's curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to approach the two Blood Patriot members, Marcus and Jason. He couldn't help but ask, "I thought the two of you had enough of taking orders from someone else."

Merlin, however, had only managed to decipher two-thirds of the cryptic writings, and time was running out. Frustration lingered in the chamber, and impatience gnawed at their nerves.

Surprisingly, Axel, the French noble, after observing the writings for some time, decided to walked over to the markings on the coffins and began examining their surfaces. He manage to moved plates and revealed four panels, each bearing a different picture – four distinct swords. With a calm and deliberate touch, Axel turned each panel in sequence, and a series of clicks followed. Then, he discovered a concealed switch.

As Axel activated the switch, a series of events unfolded rapidly. The chamber quaked, and the stone wall behind the altar began to shift with a resounding boom, creating a new pathway for them to follow. The group watched in awe as the previously insurmountable obstacle was transformed into a passable route.

Zancher couldn't contain his excitement, and he voiced his admiration once more. "You are amazing, boss!!" he exclaimed.

Alan couldn't help but ponder the implications of Axel's actions. It struck him that for a player to break the puzzle faster than the NPC – in this case, Merlin – could suggest that Axel possessed his own special skill. It was entirely possible that Axel had access to a skill similar to the advanced job class Strategist's [Critical Thinking], an ability designed to increase the success rate for any intelligence-based task.

This realization led Alan to a deeper understanding of Axel's character. Despite their differences and personal animosities, he recognized that Axel was, in many ways, quite similar to himself. Both had chosen the path of intelligence to survive the game.

Was trying to put the skyrim refrence as marking of the puzzle but i found dolphin being too weird. so i retrun to my initial idea. thank you for reading, your support are much appreciated.

Avan