Chapter 1212: Defense Mechanisms
The giant arched door that led further underground lay past the corpse of the feathered serpent, all the way on the other side of the vast chamber.
The entrance gave way to a tunnel, narrow and carved from weathered stone. But if one looked closely, they would find that the tunnel was carved by something more forceful and... primitive.
"Say, old man," Edward began in a low voice as he gazed at the ceiling of the tunnel. "What are the chances that the feathered snake used this tunnel to travel back and forth?"
The tunnel was dark, and the only source of light was an illumination spell—a small orb of light—cast by the elderly gnome.
Berger, mounted atop Blackie, observed the tunnel with squinted eyes. Then, he said in an even voice, "Highly likely."
The walls were rough, covered with faint carvings eroded by time. The air inside was damp and heavy, carrying the smell of mold and earth. The illumination spell revealed thick roots pushing through the ceiling and cracks, as though the jungle itself was invading the structure.
Blackie’s dark eyes gleamed with a mysterious light. Suddenly, he paused in his footsteps and sniffed the air slightly. "I sense something down there," he began.
His words caused Edward to stiffen. Berger’s face, meanwhile, was shadowed by a grim expression.
"But I don’t think it’s... alive," Blackie concluded.
Hearing his words, Berger couldn’t help but frown. He closed his eyes and expanded his senses outwards. A long time later, he opened his eyes. He muttered softly, his tone laced with slight confusion:
"It seems to be dead, but... it’s also alive?"
Edward had an incredulous look on his face as his gaze shifted between the gnome and the wolf several times. He couldn’t help but wonder if the two had finally lost it.
Alive? Dead? Also Alive? Why can’t you just pick one?! He thought to himself.
As the trio continued their journey, the tunnel started to slope downwards. The floor became uneven and slightly slippery. Water dripped from above, forming shallow puddles along the path.
Insects scurried into the cracks, and faint scratching sounds echoed from shadowy corners. Edward’s back was drenched in a layer of cold sweat. He involuntarily started to walk closer to the giant wolf, his hand reaching for the dark fur on his back.
For some reason, Blackie forbade Edward from mounting him. And so, the blue-eyed youth had no other option but to walk side by side.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened up to a vast underground chamber. The ceiling rose high, lost in perpetual darkness, supported by massive stone pillars carved with motifs of serpents and geometric symbols.
The moment the three arrived at this underground chamber and gazed at what lay before them, they were utterly stunned. Even Blackie and Berger... they were startled by what they were seeing.
At the center of the chamber lay the remains of a colossal snake, this one bigger than the one Berger and Blackie had just recently slain.
This amassive snake’s body coiled tightly around a black pedastal. The serpent’s scales were dulled, its flesh degraded, revealing nothing but the skeletal frame. Its jaws were slightly open, exposing broken fangs.
The pedastal it seemed to guard was polished to a dark gleam. It was the only thing that looked out of place inside this ancient underground chamber. It stood in stark contrast to the pale, ruined serpent that wrapped around it.
Shadows clung to the curves of the snake’s body. Although this mighty creature had long since perished, its remains still emanated a tough and unyielding vitality. That was why both Berger and Blackie felt that the creature was alive but also dead.
But something probably even more shocking than the remains of this colossal serpent was the...
"Goodness arcana!" Edward blurted out in exclamation. "Such... such high density of mana! What the hell is this place?! Is this... paradise?!"
The mana density was unlike anything the trio had ever felt before. Just by practicing mindfulness here could save a Magus years’ worth of gruel training. Their advancement speed would increase rapidly if they were to absorb the mana here.
"Where is this mana coming from?" Edward asked, wide-eyed. "Or could it be that the pyramid is gathering mana from the outside and funneling it here?"
Blackie and Berger had a solemn look on their faces, their gaze fixed on the black pedastal the dead serpent was guarding.
"Say, Blackie," Berger began, casually dragging a puff from the pipe. "If this creature were alive, what were the chances of us defeating it?"
Blackie remained silent for a few moments, carefully observing the carcass of the mighty predator. At last, he replied with a simple word:
"Slim."
Berger hummed in acknowledgment. "This one seems to be far stronger than the one upstairs. To think that it would radiate such an aura even after death..."
The gnome’s gaze followed the blood stains on the ground, closer to the pedastal. He then continued, "And it looks like our friend here tried to find the mysteries behind the mana density in this place."
"Indeed." Blackie nodded as he slowly walked towards the serpent’s corpse. "It would appear that the serpent got a little too greedy."
He turned his head ever so slightly and asked the gnome, "Did Adam mention any way to bypass the pedastal’s defense mechanism?"
"Oh, the boy was meticulous," said the gnome as he took flight and hovered above the pedastal. "Very, very meticulous."
Berger’s expression turned solemn, and he began weaving a series of complex hand seals. At the same time, his mana engulfed the entire black pedastal, forming an invisible dome around it.
Edward approached Blackie and couldn’t help but ask, "What are you guys talking about? And what is Old Man Berger doing?"
With his gaze still fixed on Berger, the wolf patiently explained:
"The source of the thick mana density in this chamber is that pedastal. This serpent tried to uncover its mysteries and died in the process. Now... Berger is doing the same, except he won’t meet the same fate as this silly snake here."
After a few long, tense minutes, Berger finally exhaled a breath of relief. With the final hand seal completed, the black pedastal trembled. Then, it split in two, revealing a spiral staircase that descended deeper underground.
He cast a look at Blackie and Edward, and said solemnly, "Follow me. Be careful of where you step. This place is meant to be full of traps."
With that said, he ventured down the stairs. Meanwhile, Blackie transformed into a smaller version of himself and hopped onto Edward’s head.
Then, he said in a stern voice, "Go on, then. What are you waiting for?"
"R-right!" Edward gulped nervously.
He nimbly climbed over the serpent’s corpse and reached the base of the staircase. He took a deep breath, then finally began his descent.