The shadow within the darkness disappeared as fast as it appeared . Brendel hesitated for just a second before he raised Halran Gaia and chased after it . The endless passage was illuminated by the soft glow of the Stone in his hands . The walls were plastered with a type of cement that was commonly seen in most dungeons to waterproof it .
The youth's footsteps resonated louder, proving that there was a large cavity ahead . Brendel slowed down just to see the silhouette flash in front of his face and fired two spikes of crystal at him .
"Shit!" He slashed in the air and shattered the crystal projectiles . He gritted his teeth and brushed his arms . He admitted in Marsha’s name that the monster had ridiculous strength . Seeing that his attack had failed, the monster retreated . Albeit slow, it hid in the shadows and quickly disappeared .
Brendel swore furiously and chased the monster . But after a few steps, he halted and looked back that the corridor he came from with the Stone in his hands . Apparently, he had made it past the corridor and is not in the chamber he saw earlier .
The area was an open hall filled with tall pillars . The light from the Stone did not even cover one percent of the entire area . The floor alternated between black and white slabs of rocks . Besides the smears and cracks on the ground, it was evident that the place was once a majestic place .
“ . . . ”
He could not help but hold his breath . The place did not resemble that of a catacomb, unlike one befitting a king . “Eh?” The ground and the lower half of the pillars were filled with strange patterns . At first he thought it was some kind of artistic murals, but upon a closer look he discovered that they were grooves with mithril cast into them .
Brendel's hand trembled . He nearly used Halran Gaia to dig out the mithril for himself . After all, he knew that there was only one thing that could be used with it - a Magic Formation .
But he forcefully stopped himself and studied the area carefully . The silent and vast darkness seemed to contain some sort of mystical energy, and he was at a loss of words for a moment: this entire corridor is actually a giant Magical Formation! He recalled his experience in the Everwinter Hall, a sanctuary that was blessed by the Goddess of the Northern Winds, Jubius . That divine territory was protected by four statues of that Goddess, with several kilometers of golden runes to cast a neverending cold wind . And surprisingly, those runes were similar to the ones he was seeing in the tomb .
With nothing could be heard, nor seen for miles, it may seem that the Magical Formation seemed like a graveyard, the silver runes seemed seemingly lost their usage
"Just what is this place exactly?" Brendel muttered to himself . He trekked across the worm-like silver-colored runes and went deeper into the hall . His lonely footsteps rang out in the darkness and he appeared like a small light moving across a dark world from afar .
Legends had it that the Everwinter Sanctuary was very far away, secluded from the rest of the world in the Evermist Mountains . But what about this place? Who could build such majestic structures?
"Orthlyss, you have any idea about it?"
“Never heard nor known about it . ” Orthlyss's voice was curious as well, "but the origins of this place seems to be pretty important . The runes look like they are even older than me . You lucky brat, to have found such a place randomly without even trying to . ”
Brendel's response was a dry smile .
"Careful, that thing is near you . " Orthlyss's voice suddenly became taut .
"That thing?" Brendel quickly understood it was the Crystal Wight . He cursed and was about to look back, but was stopped by Orthylss: "Don't turn around and keep walking forward . Wait for my signal . "
Brendel's eyes brightened . That monster seemed like it was very familiar with the hall's structure . If it was determined to play hide and seek with him, it would really be troublesome to deal with that monster . However, if he followed Orthylss’s judgment, he might actually manage to finish the guy off .
He gave an affirmative response and continued to walk forward with a relaxed gait, completely trusting in Orthlyss . The two of them had overcome many troubles before, there was no way she would harm him . He walked slowly, his footsteps were like a metronome's tick . He placed his hand on his sword sheath . While he looked as if he was observing the surroundings, he placed his focus behind him, at the monster .
It did not take long for Orthlyss's sudden shout to fill his ears: "Turn to your left, behind the third pillar!"
Brendel's reaction was immediate . Halran Gaia was flung out with all his might . A pillar of white light broke through the pillar with a loud explosion and it was followed by an inhuman scream . A figure retreated swiftly out from the dust and rubble, but it was clear that the monster had been injured as it was slower than before .
"Are you still trying to escape!" Brendel was about to curse at the thought of the monster fleeing .
He Dashed to cut off its escape . The monster took the unexpected hit and lost a leg . No wonder . Brendel thought . However, he was not the sort of person to pity it and thus stabbed at the monster .
Although it had a ridiculous amount of strength, its defense and agility were unexpectedly low . Usually, Brendel would have more trouble dealing with BOSSes, but he should have easily bypassed the Wight’s defense . His sword began to glow, an indicator that the Stabbing skill was active .
There was no way for the Crystal Wight to avoid his attack . But a card suddenly appeared on its chest and a wave of energy burst out and clashed with Halran Gaia's sharp tip .
"A Card of Fate?!" Brendel was startled . A tremendous force pushed the sword out of his hands .
Brendel rolled backward without caring about his right hand that fell numb . He used his left hand to activate his own Card of Fate, the Sun Blade, manifesting a physical flaming sword that shot through the air to pierce the Crystal Wight's chest .
The entire room fell silent .
Then cracks radiated from the monster's chest and spread everywhere . It struggled towards Brendel as if he was out for revenge, but after a few steps, its entire constitution shattered into fragments .
Both Brendel and Orthlyss were stunned .
Brendel sighed with relief and looked at the Sun Blade card . The colors were already dull, indicating that it would be going back into his deck . He was not concerned about the fact that he could not reactivate the card until the crisis was over, but rather the fact that it held so much destructive power .
The Sun Blade was never a powerful card, but it's effective in dealing with the undead . He was surprised to see the Wight using a Card, and had thought that he would be fighting against a powerful Planewalker . But it seemed that Ciel’s warning was a fluke .
Why is the contrast between reality and expectation so big?
Brendel took several more moments to compose himself before noticing a notification in the corner of his eyes .
- Elite Boss "Half-crystallized Leader" has been killed, 72310 XP received .
"It's really a boss . ? Half-crystallized Leader? It's actually a Boss NPC?" Brendel read the words before he quickly searched through the crystals on the floor and found it .
There was a silver-colored card resting quietly in the broken crystals, glittering against the light .
Brendel was troubled . How did the monster know how to use a Card? According to Tuman, only a Planeswalker can perceive the relation of the Laws with the Cards . So a normal human or monster should not be able to use it .
Brendel absentmindedly rubbed his numb arm . He picked up the silver-colored Card that signified its rarity - as well as its cost-efficiency . Silver Elf Medissa was such a case . With only 15 points, it was his strongest card .
The card that Brendel picked up was called "Anrolda's Divine Ring" . It seemed like an artifact, only to discover that it was a magic spell .
- Anrolda's Divine Ring (Paradise of Adversity XX)
- 10 Light EP
- Spell - Instant
- Effect: The next attack you receive is nullified
- "Divine protection . "
"Another card belonging to the Paradise of Adversity . . . . . " Brendel immediately understood why his attacked failed . After looking at the card several times, he still could not discover anything unique on the card that would allow the Crystal Wight to use the card .
If this crystal statue is a Planeswalker--- But how can that be? A Planeswalker that only has one card? There should be more on it, right?
There were sudden footsteps coming from behind the puzzled youth . Both Brendel and Orthlyss were shocked: they did not perceive its presence . It was normal for Brendel to not notice it, but Orthylss? The thousand-year being? Although she did not have a physical body, her powers did not regress much .
The enemy was probably abnormally powerful .
"Be careful . " She reminded the youth in a strict tone .