Solo Dungeon Streamer-I Am Overpowered

Chapter 147: The Second Waypoint

The trek eastward from the spring led us deeper into the Shifting Isle's untamed wilderness. The forest, dense and imposing, seemed to grow darker with every step, the canopy above tightening as ancient trees loomed taller. Despite the eeriness, the path carved out by the symbols from the altar remained visible, though faint, guiding us with its mysterious precision.

Kijin took the lead as usual, her sharp senses attuned to the subtleties of the environment. Raijuu prowled at our side, his eyes constantly scanning for movement, his ears flicking at every sound. The faint hum of the crystal around my neck was a steady reminder that we were on the right path.

"Keep your eyes open," I said, breaking the silence. "The markers have been consistent so far, but that doesn't mean we're out of danger."

Kijin glanced over her shoulder, grinning. "Relax, Tsukasa. If something pops out, I'll just charm it into submission."

"Or irritate it into attacking us," I muttered, earning a quiet snicker from Tenko.

The chat kept pace with their usual mix of humor and helpfulness:

: If Kijin's at the front, you'll probably find trouble sooner rather than later.

: Does the crystal's glow get stronger the closer you get? It seems reactive.

: Keep Raijuu fed! If anything dangerous shows up, he'll handle it.

The trek wasn't without its challenges. Thick roots snaked across the ground, forming natural obstacles that threatened to trip the unwary. Occasionally, strange sounds echoed through the forest—distant calls or the rustle of unseen creatures moving through the underbrush. It wasn't enough to alarm us, but it kept everyone on edge.

After several hours, the dense forest gave way to a rocky incline. The path turned steep, forcing us to climb carefully over uneven terrain. At the top of the incline, we found a plateau, where the forest parted to reveal another ancient structure—a monolithic stone obelisk, its surface etched with the same symbols we'd encountered before.

The obelisk towered above us, its presence commanding. It was weathered by time, yet its carvings remained sharp, as though protected by some unseen force. Around its base, smaller stones were arranged in a circular pattern, their surfaces covered in faintly glowing glyphs.

"We've found it," I said, approaching the structure cautiously. The crystal's pulse grew stronger with every step, its light intensifying in response to the obelisk's energy.

The chat's excitement was palpable:

: That obelisk looks ancient! What does it do?

: It's glowing—this has to be connected to the first waypoint.

: Be careful touching it. What if it's a trap or activates something dangerous?

Kijin circled the obelisk, her fingers brushing lightly against the carvings. "This is incredible. The energy here is different from the spring—more intense, almost like it's concentrated."

Raijuu sniffed the air, his body tense but not aggressive. He seemed wary, as though sensing a latent power within the structure.

I held the crystal close to the obelisk, watching as the light from both began to sync. Suddenly, the obelisk responded with a low hum, and the glyphs at its base flared brightly, illuminating the plateau.

"What's happening?" Tenko asked, her voice calm but alert.

Before I could respond, the light from the obelisk coalesced into a beam that shot upward, piercing the canopy and disappearing into the sky. For a moment, the entire area was bathed in its glow, the glyphs pulsing in rhythmic patterns.

: WHAT WAS THAT?! Did the obelisk just signal something?

: This feels like a beacon. What if it's calling something—or someone?

: That's either really good or really bad. Be on guard!

As the beam faded, the glyphs dimmed, leaving behind an eerie silence. The obelisk returned to its dormant state, but the energy in the air remained charged.

"That wasn't random," I said, stepping back from the structure. "It was a signal. The question is, to whom or what?"

Kijin nodded, her expression unusually serious. "This island has layers we're only beginning to uncover. Whatever that signal was for, it means the next waypoint is even more important."

We documented everything—images of the glyphs, readings from the crystal's reaction, and the residual energy patterns left by the beam. The obelisk had given us more questions than answers, but it was clear that we were following a trail left intentionally.

With the plateau mapped and the obelisk's energy recorded, we prepared to descend toward the next marker. The forest loomed ahead, its shadows deeper than before, as though the island itself was reacting to our progress.

The forest seemed to tighten its grip on us as we pressed deeper into the Shifting Isle. The trees grew denser, their massive trunks wrapped in thick vines that snaked upward toward the impenetrable canopy. The air was cool and damp, heavy with the scent of moss and earth. Even the light seemed reluctant to enter this part of the island, casting long, distorted shadows across the path ahead.

Kijin walked at the front, her steps light despite the uneven terrain. Her sharp eyes darted from side to side, scanning for any signs of danger—or opportunity. Raijuu padded silently beside her, his nose low to the ground, sniffing at the faint scents that only he could detect. Tenko brought up the rear, her focus divided between monitoring our surroundings and recording the journey on her camera for posterity—and the chat.

The chat, ever vocal, filled my wrist-mounted screen with a mix of humor, advice, and questions:

: That forest is starting to look like something out of a horror movie. Be careful!

: Kijin seems way too excited about this. Watch her doesn't start poking at ancient traps.

: Raijuu's on high alert. That's either really good or really bad.

We'd been trekking for over an hour since leaving the spring, the path indicated by the altar's symbols leading us into increasingly rugged terrain. The forest floor, once carpeted with soft moss, now gave way to jagged roots and rocky outcroppings that made every step a calculated effort.

"This path isn't just old—it's designed to keep people out," Kijin observed, pausing to examine a cluster of stones arranged unnaturally in the undergrowth. "These are markers, subtle but intentional. Whoever created this trail didn't want it easily followed."

"Or they didn't want it forgotten," I replied, the crystal around my neck pulsing faintly. Its steady rhythm was a reassuring presence, a beacon guiding us toward something larger than ourselves.

The climb grew steeper, forcing us to slow our pace. Large boulders jutted from the earth, and we had to use our hands to steady ourselves as we ascended the incline. At the top, the forest opened slightly, revealing a plateau dominated by a massive stone obelisk. The structure stood tall and imposing, its weathered surface covered in intricate carvings that matched the symbols from the altar and spring.

The obelisk's presence was commanding, exuding an air of purpose and power. Around its base, smaller stones were arranged in a circular pattern, their surfaces etched with faintly glowing glyphs.

"We've reached it," I said, the crystal pulsing more intensely now. The connection between it and the obelisk was undeniable, their energies resonating in a way that made the air around us feel charged.

The chat reacted instantly:

: That obelisk is incredible. It looks ancient but still so well-preserved.

: Is it another waypoint? Or something more important?

: Whatever it is, be careful. The energy here feels... alive.

Kijin approached the obelisk with a mix of caution and awe, her fingers tracing the carvings. "This energy... it's different from the spring. Stronger, more focused. It's like the obelisk is the heart of something."

Raijuu prowled the perimeter of the clearing, his body tense, ears swiveling as if picking up sounds too faint for human hearing. His behavior put us all on edge, a silent reminder that we weren't alone here.

As I stepped closer to the obelisk, the crystal's glow intensified, its rhythm syncing with the glyphs carved into the stone. Tentatively, I held the crystal toward the structure. The moment they connected, the obelisk emitted a deep hum that vibrated through the air and into my chest.

The glyphs flared brightly, their light spreading across the stones at the obelisk's base. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, a beam of light shot upward from the obelisk, piercing through the dense canopy and illuminating the sky above. For a moment, the entire plateau was bathed in radiant light, the forest around us seeming to retreat from its brilliance.

The chat exploded with messages:

: WHAT WAS THAT?! It's like the obelisk sent a signal!

: That beam definitely means something. What if it's calling for help—or warning something?

: This is beyond anything I expected. You're making history here, Tsukasa!

The beam lingered for a few seconds before fading, leaving the obelisk glowing faintly. The clearing fell silent once more, the air heavy with an unspoken tension.

"That wasn't random," I said, lowering the crystal. "The obelisk is a transmitter—or a beacon. It's sending a signal to something—or someone."

Kijin stepped back from the obelisk, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "Whatever it's calling, it's not small. This island is hiding more than just ancient history."

We documented everything meticulously: images of the glyphs, readings from the crystal, and the lingering energy patterns left by the beam. The obelisk's role in the island's network was clear, but its purpose remained a mystery. Was it a call for help? A warning? Or something else entirely?

"We need to move," I said after a moment, my voice firm. "This obelisk is important, but it's not the end of the trail. The altar's map shows more markers, and if they're anything like this, they'll bring us closer to understanding what's really going on here."

Kijin nodded, her usual levity tempered by the weight of our discovery. Raijuu, still on high alert, took the lead as we began our descent from the plateau. The forest closed in around us once more, the dense canopy swallowing the light and plunging us back into the eerie twilight of the Shifting Isle.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant calls of unseen creatures. The obelisk's signal had changed the atmosphere; the island felt alive now, as if it had noticed our presence.

The path ahead twisted and turned, leading us deeper into the island's hidden heart. The next waypoint was waiting, and with it, more pieces of a puzzle that was quickly becoming far more significant than any of us had anticipated.