A temporary freight elevator had been installed behind the entrance.
Its metal framework ran down the deep shaft, hugging walls covered in freshly driven anchor bolts, while the lights drew a straight white line from top to bottom.
When the elevator doors closed, the grinding of gears echoed back and forth through the shaft.
Amamiya Mio stood opposite him and continued her introduction.
"Three years ago, your parents and several other researchers reached Underground Level Seven, the deepest they went. That was where they discovered the Blank Stone Tablet."
"And then they were attacked?"
"Yes."
"What about the tablet?"
"It's still in the innermost area."
Amamiya Mio's fingers tightened slightly.
"After that Shadow Duel, the energy fluctuations in the sealed zone kept rising. We didn't dare venture deeper rashly, so we could only install stabilizers first. It took us three years to bring the leaking energy below the safety threshold."
Yūki watched the shaft walls recede.
"Three years just to contain it?"
"Strictly speaking, even now, people can only approach it."
"You made it sound pretty easy yesterday."
"Mr. Kamiya was afraid you'd refuse outright."
"...Very honest."
"We researchers generally aren't good at lying."
Yūki glanced at her.
That statement was about as credible as "My deck is perfectly fair." Both needed to be tested on the spot.
By the time the freight elevator stopped, the air had turned cold.
Underground Level Seven wasn't as cramped as he had imagined. Instead, it was as spacious as a hollowed-out underground plaza.
The surrounding rock walls had been neatly cut smooth, and dozens of massive stone pillars supported the vaulted ceiling, their surfaces covered in indistinct monster reliefs.
There were sword-wielding warriors, coiled dragons, and several slender humanoid outlines holding things resembling staffs.
Modern lighting rigs, cables, and instruments had been crammed