The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Chapter 227: Chapter 2: The Secret Door Opens_2 Chapter 227: Chapter 2: The Secret Door Opens_2 The coordinated assault by the members of the adventure team spelled doom for the Magical Beast as formidable as the One-spiked Flying Dragon Variant. The second skeletal dragon wasn’t so lucky, bombarded by a relentless downpour of Magic Attacks, particularly the blinding waves of the Mysterious Mage’s Holy Light Purification Spell, which almost instantaneously sapped the creature of a significant portion of its abilities. The Dark Magic Power emanating from the depths was utterly feeble in the face of this pure, heavenly Holy Light. The searing light, unreserved in its cleansing fury, eradicated all shadows, making it difficult for the now-supportless skeletal dragon to even hover in the air. Coupled with the hurricane-like Violent Lightning Combo Spell from Rebry and the combined assault from the Dark Knight, just one move was enough to send this skeletal One-spiked Flying Dragon down the path of destruction.

The silence of the dark passage was restored, and everyone, caught up in the madness of the battle just moments ago, seemed to relish the feeling of having survived a calamity. Even the ordinarily brave Rebry considered the possibility that they might not be able to withstand two more such encounters, and that this expedition to Damarlinsk Castle might be the last mission for the team. The display of almost grotesquely powerful Light Magic by the Mysterious Mage sent a chill down the spines of the already alert Rebry and Komer.

The silent dark passage stretched out before them, but the adventurers’ hearts were no longer filled with the arrogance and confidence they had upon first entering. The appearance of the foreign magical beasts was undoubtedly a wake-up call. Although they had only encountered a mutated form, it was a sign that more challenges might lie ahead. To complete this expedition would undoubtedly require even greater courage and more thorough mental preparedness.

Upon Komer’s suggestion, the adventure team reorganized their marching order. Continuing as the vanguard was still the Dark Knight Sorrenberger, but Vladimir Koff was moved to a central position, while Newman was placed third, in front of the powerful Mysterious Mage Lome, whose Light Magic Power made her an unwavering choice. Mihailovich and Komer moved to Newman’s side, with Rebry bringing up the rear.

With each step deeper, the damp chill of the underground grew more intense, and the party could feel its adverse effects on their bodies. They had to cast minor spells to relieve the stiffness creeping into their limbs, while the knights stimulated their Fighting Qi to resist the damp’s encroachment and prevent harm. The spiral passage twisted downward, and by Newman’s calculations, they had descended at least three stories before they felt the slope even out again.

When a faint pale light cast from the dark depths reached them, everyone sensed the approach of another crucial juncture.

At the end of the curving passage stood a door, made of an unknown material. The pale light emanated from above the door frame, which the discerning Rebry immediately recognized as a very rare Magic Stone—Linlang, highly prized for crafting Light Series Magic. The stone absorbed Luminous Flames by itself and, once saturated, could release the light. Its quality varied with the length and strength of the absorbed light, but any stone capable of emitting Light was precious. Rebry judged this particular Linlang to be of high quality among such stones, making its placement by the doorway seem like casting pearls before swine.

Just three meters from entering the door, everyone could already sense the heavy Mana emanating from the area, signaling the presence of Magic Traps and mechanisms. Newman was already on the ground, expertly searching for the origins of these traps. His skill in this area was unmatched, and without him, even if the traps and mechanisms were discovered, the group would have resorted to the crude method of triggering and then destroying them, the consequences of which were uncertain.

After carefully neutralizing two Magic Crossbows and three magic traps, as well as the slumbering mutated forms of two foreign magical beasts—the Earth Badgers, everyone including Rebry realized they were already sweating through their heavy clothes. The Magic Crossbows and magic traps perhaps they could cope with, but the Earth Badger Variants were a nightmare. As the king of the earth-based Magical Beasts, Earth Badgers were not only immensely strong and impervious to swords and spears but also naturally immune to ordinary magic. Aside from Thunder Magic, which could cause them certain harm, the common magic of water, fire, wind, and earth could not inflict any damage on them, and normal Fighting Qi was likely ineffective against it as if it were merely scratching an itch through boots. It seemed that the person who had installed this trap was also reluctant to awaken the creature wantonly, having no choice but to use Space Magic to impose a ban and seal it at the entrance to a Different Space. Once the ban was triggered and the Earth Badger awoke and set foot into this space, the consequences were unimaginable to the group.

Once Newman and Rebry worked together again to send the two Earth Badger Variants back into the Different Space with Space Magic, everyone, including the Mysterious Mage Lome, couldn’t help but take a long sigh of relief. Facing the ferocious Earth Badgers, nobody in the group had the confidence that they could escape the Passage.

It seemed as if all the obstacles had been passed, and a clear path lay before the group. At this moment, they were like frightened birds, unable to imagine how such an ancient castle could be filled with so many magic traps and mechanisms. The malice and cunning of the designer was almost perverse, reportedly finding so many Exotic Magical Beast Variants through specialized summoning spells and laying them in ambush along the must-pass routes. If it were not for this group of exceptional adventurers, ordinary adventurers under these circumstances might not know how many times they would have been doomed. Just one One-spiked Flying Dragon Variant alone was enough to obliterate a band of adventurers with ease.

The Hexagonal Light Pattern gradually dimmed under Newman’s continuous spellcasting. It was a Spatial Trap that could potentially send any rash individual who tried to push or break through the Door into a Different Space. Newman’s experience in this field was clearly superior to anyone else in the exploration group, even the Mysterious Magician was now watching with interest how Newman was deciphering this Space Magic. Powerful Magic Power constantly shifted in front of the door, sometimes creating various illusions, at other times turning pitch black and silent. Eventually, the Hexagonal Light shrunk into a bright point and then disappeared on the Door. Only then Newman wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath.

The Door slowly opened with a tentative push from Sorrenberger, and everyone had repeatedly recited their protection magic in preparation for any dangers that might arise upon the opening of the door. Newman was the first to move to the back, taking cover behind Rebry, while Sorrenberger’s Knight Spear glinted darkly and pointed straight ahead. The Mysterious Magician had his right hand raised high, with his index finger and middle finger twisted into an odd gesture, evidently ready to launch a Magic Attack at the first sign of danger.

Once again, a skeleton cloaked in swirling black mist rose in front of the Puppet Mage. This skeleton differed from the previous two Skeleton Giant Demons; it was much more refined, about the size of a regular human. It wore exquisite Magic Protective Armor, a smooth Round Shield that shone like a mirror, and a short sword that gave off a chilling aura. Surprisingly, a Red Headband was tied around the bare skull, giving it an indescribably eerie and gloomy appearance. The Skeleton Warrior took a bow stance with its legs apart, body turned sideways, carefully shielding its upper body with the Round Shield, while the short sword was drawn across the chest. The dark hollows of its eye sockets stared straight ahead, readying an attack posture that made the Mysterious Magician next to it instinctively step back.

Rebry was equally cautious, gauging its movements and posture, his Magic Attack ready to be unleashed at a moment’s notice upon the appearance of the target.

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