volume 3 - Chapter 204 – Lighthouse in the dark (2/2)

The group slowly pa.s.sed through three defense lines. The temperature within this maze-like place continued to rise as they went deeper to the heart of the underground city. If it were not for Brendel, they would have taken a long time to make their way through.

[We’re finally out of the outer defense lines and in the fortress’s living areas.]

They found themselves in a huge cavern split into several districts. Residential houses, markets, temples, and even a palace. It was a grand city with a huge sewage system.

Dwarven cities had similar designs, and it was also common for monsters to reside in the sewers. Players often received quests to subjugate the monsters as they would often venture into the city.

Brendel could not help but think back on his past when he searched the area. Drinkable water was transported around in water channels from a central reservoir in the city’s heart. After walking for another minute, he eventually discovered the artificial water channel that he was looking for.

The group eventually reached a large flooded courtyard with a fountain in its center after following the watercourse. Even after several millennia, water was still gus.h.i.+ng out from the fountain, but the stone basin around the fountain had been eroded completely and ended submerging the area with water.

“It’s just like you said, brother Brendel! We found the courtyard!” Sifrid exclaimed in surprise.

Scarlett nearly reached Sifrid’s level of wors.h.i.+p. Her lord was a fantastic scholar who seemed to have a limitless amount of knowledge. The other n.o.bles at Brendel’s age were jealous individuals, engrossed in nothing but carnal pleasures in life, while he was on equal footing on incredible people like Mephisto and Veronica.

“Yes,” Brendel nodded quietly, unable to share his companions’ excitement, but kept his brooding to himself.

This courtyard was ma.s.sive in size, making the youth believe that he was near the sacred halls that housed the Fire Seed. The symbols carved into the nearby walls were familiar as the people of the past believed in G.o.ddess Marsha.

The faith of the continent had never changed.

Mother Marsha continued to bless the land and traditions were kept. There were some minor differences in terms of aesthetics, but it was clear that the symbols represented the Holy Mother.

“I found it. The ramps over there.” Brendel said with a frown.

There were several grand buildings that made the youth pause, but he eventually made a deduction based on the defensive layout of the area. Magic Formations were placed strategically to create powerful barriers that made it tricky to a.s.sault this area.

[There’s another secret behind Valhalla. Indeed, the Fire Seed allows the Dark Forest to be stabilized, but it’s not the reason why the guild controlling Valhalla in the game became powerful. Even though it’s extremely unlikely for Mephisto or Veronica to find out, I need to be on my guard.]

It was the biggest hope of saving Aouine and there was no way he would give up this secret.

Brendel continued to lead the way, but Mephisto suddenly pulled the youth back. A dark shadow emerged and Mephisto pulled out his greatsword and slashed at it. A tremendous sound echoed in the area, and Brendel saw that the flying shadow was actually a huge scythe blade with glowing Runes on it.

It was definitely imbued with powerful magic, and getting struck by it would be quite fatal even as one as powerful as Andesha in her dragon form.

[This trap seems like it’s from the civilization after the Twilight Dragon’s era, so it’s actually avoidable for me even if Mephisto didn’t pull me back. But this at least proves he’s on my side.]

Cold sweat broke out of Brendel’s forehead when he realized he was being careless. If this was a trap from the Golden Lineage, then it would not matter if Mephisto pulled him back.

Everyone would have died there.

Still, Mephisto’s action won the youth’s goodwill and the latter nodded at him in grat.i.tude.

“Be careful,” Mephisto said monotonously in response.

“Understood.”

There were indeed more traps along the way. Even though Brendel did not have a Thief profession and did not have the system’s guide to spot one, he was experienced enough to test for them. These traps were created by people from the Silver Lineage and were of no challenge to him. As long as he knew what trap it was, he was able to figure out the range of the affected area.

Mephisto raised an eyebrow at Brendel, but he quickly a.s.sumed the youth was someone who had poured a great amount of effort into studying Magic Engineering subjects. Orthlyss who had observed Brendel for a long time was completely baffled at how the youth seemed to excel in every subject. The girls simply acted like it was completely normal for Brendel to be capable of everything.

The Sacred Hall that the group entered was not overly complex in design, neither was it excessively luxurious. The walls were carved from stone, while the ground was fitted with marble tiles and Magic Formations. The four pillars supporting the ceiling were large enough to have a dozen people hug it.

Thirty poles were planted in a circle around a gigantic beacon in the center of the hall. The closer the group walked towards the beacon, the stronger they felt the energy that was pulsing from it

[A ‘Lighthouse’.]

Brendel’s first thought that it was a structure that housed the Fire Seed.

Indeed, when he brought the Light Crystal up, he saw a gigantic crystal that was the size of twenty meters hovering over the beacon. Runes s.h.i.+mmered across it like water waves with the rhythm of a beating heart.

“The Fire Seed,” Brendel remarked amidst the stunned silence from the others.

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