Chapter 282: The Flame Being
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Merlin was swallowed by the whirlpool but without the strangulation that he imagined as he was not torn apart by the vortex. Instead, it felt like he had shuttled pa.s.s an endless distance, and it also seemed as if he was transported to a strange place in the blink of an eye.
“Eh? Even my robe is not wet?”
Merlin gradually regained consciousness. However, the first thing he felt was that there was not a single drop of water on his robe. Merlin remembered very clearly that the huge whirlpool was full of water columns, and he was sucked into it. How was it possible that there was not even a drop of water on him?
It was known that although Merlin had blue dolphin’s bubble, he was already drawn into the whirlpool before he managed to use it, and he fainted thereafter. As to how he got here, there was no memory of it at all.
“Wizard Merlin, you’re awake too?”
Just as Merlin was trying to figure things out, he heard a familiar voice. Merlin turned his head and there was immediately a smile on his face.
“Wizard Bayton, you’re alright!”
The person beside Merlin was Wizard Bayton who was sucked into the whirlpool earlier. Merlin thought that Wizard Bayton had already been wrung to death by the whirlpool, but did not expect that Wizard Bayton would survived too.
However, Wizard Bayton’s look was very solemn. With a low voice, he said, “Wizard Merlin, though we’re not dead, the situation is very unfavorable for us. Can you take a look at what’s around you?”
Seeing such a solemn expression on Wizard Bayton’s face, Merlin stood up slowly and began to look around.
Merlin saw that they were in a huge transparent bubble, but the bubble seemed to be very solid, without any trace of cracks. Outside the bubble was only pitch darkness, with occasional sightings of seaweed. This indicated that they were at the bottom of the sea.
The interior of this huge bubble was magnificent, surrounded by transparent gla.s.s, inlaid with innumerable jewels with a hint of white light.
It was exactly because of the existence of these unique jewels that the interior of the bubble appeared bright as daylight.
“What in the world is this place?”
Merlin was also puzzled, but there was more of a feeling of shock in his heart. In such a deep seabed, he was still able to walk freely, not feeling even the slightest hydraulic pressure inside. This was already beyond the capabilities of ordinary people.
Wizard Bayton indulged for a moment, his eyes showed a hint of surprise, and whispered, “If I’m not wrong, this should be a relic in the bottom of the sea! In the vast sea, there are endless hidden secrets buried within. Some Spell Casters had been accidentally swallowed into the stomach of sea beast. Fortunately, they did not die, but they did get hold of some powerful spell casting tools in the belly of the sea beast. From there on, they leapfrogged to become powerful Spell Casters.
“Some of the Spell Casters used blue dolphin’s bubble to dive into the deep seas, occasionally discovering some dilapidated ancient monuments, and also retrieved some treasures from them.
“This place, in all likelihood, is an ancient monument left behind by a powerful Spell Caster, and it is so well preserved. It has drifted to the bottom of the sea for who knows how many years. Wizard Merlin, if this really is an ancient monument, then we’re really lucky!”
Wizard Bayton’s words made Merlin recall some rumors about ancient monuments. Merlin was no stranger to ancient monuments. Back then, it was exactly because he entered an ancient monument that he had found the cultivation method for Fiery Collapse.
However, it was too unusual to leave an ancient monument at the bottom of the sea. In addition, Spell Casters generally do not have the power to leave ancient monuments on the seabed.
In all likelihood, this huge bubble was an unimaginably powerful alchemy product. It was rumored that back in the Molta Empire, the most glorious era for Spell Casters, the alchemy products produced by some powerful Spell Casters held magical powers beyond imagination. Perhaps this is a similar alchemy product.
“The whirlpool on the surface of the sea must have been created by this huge bubble. It’s just that why did it bring us here?”
Merlin did not seem too excited even if he knew that this was an ancient monument. Entering ancient monuments did not guarantee the reward of treasures. On the contrary, ancient monuments were full of dangers.
“Wizard Bayton, have you tried breaking this layer of bubbles?”
Merlin looked at the huge bubble outside and asked in a low voice.
“Break this bubble? I’m afraid that will be difficult. However, if it could really be broken, then we must also be prepared. Once the bubble bursts, we’ll bear the horrific pressure of the seabed.”
Wizard Bayton immediately understood what Merlin meant. The ancient monument should be a lesser priority. The most important thing was to be able to return to the surface of the sea, back to Fort Udon.
“Wizard Bayton, do you have a blue dolphin’s bubble?”
“I am, in fact, preparing a blue dolphin’s bubble. Let me get ready, once the bubble bursts, we’ll immediately move inside the blue dolphin’s bubble.”
Wizard Bayton’s face gradually became solemn.
Merlin nodded, then took a deep breath. He also braced himself to release the blue dolphin’s bubble when the time came, thus intense elemental fluctuations immediately appeared on his body.
“Pandora Demon Ability, Glacial Finger!”
Merlin reached out and pointed his finger, a gush of cold air surged out. However, when it touched the bubble layer, it did not have any effect, and it dissipated instantly.
It was the first time that Merlin had encountered this situation. This seemingly soft bubble layer was indeed tricky.
“Pandora Demon Ability, Fiery Collapse!”
At this moment, Merlin could not bother that Wizard Bayton was beside him, and he pulled off another Pandora Demon Ability, Fiery Collapse!
Suddenly, the blazing fire started burning, and the pale flame exuded a heart-rending high temperature.
Wizard Bayton’s gaze froze slightly. Watching Merlin cast two types of Pandora Demon Abilities in succession, he could not help but changed his expression slightly, feeling appalled deep inside.
He knew Pandora Demon Abilities. They were an absolute secret whether in Fort Udon or in some spell casters’ organizations, and only the most powerful Spell Casters could obtain them.
It was considered very lucky to get one Pandora Demon Ability, let alone two Pandora Demon Abilities. Although Wizard Bayton did not know the true origin of Merlin, he could feel that Merlin was not a simple being – he was definitely not some roaming Wizard.
At this time, Merlin was concentrating on observing the condition of his Fiery Collapse. He found that no matter how the flame from Fiery Collapse burned, there was no change at all to the huge bubble.
Subsequently, Merlin did not continue casting Fiery Collapse. He knew that no matter how he attacked, he could not break the bubble layer.
“Wizard Bayton, the bubble can’t be broken. If we intend to leave, I’m afraid we have to continue further inside.”
Merlin glanced at Wizard Bayton and then set his gaze on the large door in front. Obviously, if this was an ancient monument, then they must follow the path of the ancient monument venturing deep inside for any hopes of leaving.
“Yes, no matter what’s inside, we have to give it a try. Maybe it’s a blessing and not a curse?”
Wizard Bayton was full of curiosity about the mysterious monument as the eager look on his face gave this away.
Soon, Merlin and Wizard Bayton went straight to the front door. The two looked at each other. They prepared themselves, kept fully vigilant, and then with force, they yanked the door open together.
“Creak-”
This door did not look heavy but it required a great force to push it open.
Once the door opened, there was a huge and s.p.a.cious room inside. There was no other decoration in the room. Instead, the walls were engraved with mysterious runes.
“At last someone came… Oh, there’s two. Hehe, but you two are too weak. Back then, even a Seventh-level Spell Caster had been here but he failed in the end. He was banished into the flame cage and eventually burnt to ashes.”
Suddenly, there was a voice in the s.p.a.cious room.
Merlin and Wizard Bayton were petrified and frantically searched around for the source of the voice, but after looking for a while, they did not find anyone.
“No need to look, I’m right in front of you!”
The mysterious voice appeared again. Following that, traces of flames appeared and began gathering quickly out of thin air, eventually forming a human figure.
The “Flame Being” floated in the air, then gently extended his hand. Suddenly, several flames rapidly split up and again formed the same “Flame Being”. The situation was very peculiar.
“Who are you? What’s this place?”
Both Merlin and Wizard Bayton looked at each other, forcing a calm look on their faces and asked.
“You can call me Tinder. As for where this is, you’ll naturally know when you have pa.s.sed the three levels left by the master.”
The strange “Flame Being” spoke again.
“Three levels? What if we don’t do it?”
Wizard Bayton said after a ponder.
“Don’t do it?”
The mysterious flame seemed to have laughed. The voice soon became sharper, “It wouldn’t matter if you don’t do it. Your lives are not that long anyway, just a few hundred years, just wait to die here.”
After a long time, Merlin slowly opened his mouth and said, “You’re the one who pulled us here?”
“Yes, every 100 years, I’ll pull some Spell Casters here. There’s almost no one who succeeded, but there are also people like you who refuse to attempt the levels, thus they can only wait silently for their own deaths. Even a Master Wizard could not force an exit out of here, much less pinpoint the location of this place. Which is why you two shouldn’t have any expectations that a powerful Spell Caster will come here and save you.”
The Flame Being’s voice was very awkward. It seemed that he was not speaking at all, and sounded really weird.
However, Merlin and Wizard Bayton had understood what the Flame Being meant. This huge bubble was definitely left behind by a powerful Spell Caster. Even a Master Wizard could not find this place, which also indirectly signified the great power of this monument’s owner.
“Well, that’s about all you could ask, so will you be attempting the levels or not?”
The Flame Being looked a little impatient and asked coldly.
Merlin and Wizard Bayton looked at each other and shook their heads slightly. “Do we have a choice? Not attempting means waiting for our deaths!”
Hearing that Merlin and Wizard Bayton agreed to attempt the three levels, the Flame Being’s temperament became clearly more at ease. Initially, there were several Flame Beings but these flame being then quickly merged together, with only two of them left, each standing in front of Merlin and Wizard Bayton respectively.