The ancient mage-emperors obviously did not know how to effectively suppress the First Born, because they were all defeated. The First Born was forced to fall asleep under the influence of the safety device, and they had not really found a way to kill this primal creature. Therefore, after the First Born fell asleep, the suppressive measures they took were basically a gamble: each mage-emperor chose a different form of sealing in the hopes that they would work.
The mountainous barriers of Dragonspine Ridge and the lifeless rock monsters were proven to be ineffective, while the Giant Tree of Life was said to have withered. Now, the only seemingly functional and powerful seal was the Volcano of Dusk.
The volcano was pressing against the First Born. The werewolf mage-emperor, Sanur created under the volcano a web of magma flow and columns, so that they criss-crossed around the First Born's organs like nails. The deep underground world here was far more complicated than the one in Beinz. The cracks and magma lakes formed a fragile but stable equilibrium, and as soon as the First born woke up, it would trigger the elemental flames in the Volcano of Dusk. The area would collapse and the First Born would fall into the magma deep in the mantle.
However, Sanur did not try to use this method to kill the sleeping First Born. He knew that merely pushing the monster into the magma was not enough to kill it. Instead, this would only lead to an early awakening. Therefore, Hao Ren speculated that the suppressions used beneath the Volcano of Dusk were just stopgap measures. The mage-emperor was expecting his "allies from the stars", who were destined to never come.
Hao Ren decided to go into the First Born's sleeping chamber after collecting the tissue samples and signal frequencies from the Divine Sarcophagus. The area ahead was a place that the average person could absolutely not venture into. Even holding the amulet of the Church, he or she may still be affected by the First Born's illusion at any time. So this time, he only brought Vivian, Ophra, and Cardinal Orben with him. Everyone else stayed behind in the cavern.
Becky had wanted to follow: her professional habits as a mercenary made her feel that she ought to go deeper. Additionally, her mental strength was no less stronger than a high-level knight or ascetic, who could move freely in deep caverns. However, Hao Ren did not think it necessary to bring too many people along, so he let her and Lily stay back.
The four of them got into the sleeping chambers of one of the First Born's sarcomas through a large crack in the rock barrier. They then groped themselves forward in the cavern system, which extended in all directions. The environment in the deep caverns was several times worse than the outside. The high heat was unbearable and the air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur. They were very close to the magma column. Also, from time to time, they would hear strange sounds, and see chaotic visions in their minds. This was the First Born sleep-talking, and those who stepped into its viccinity would be involuntarily affected.
"This guy looks more 'mature' than the one in Dragonspine Ridge. Perhaps he is approaching 'adulthood'," said Hao Ren. "I remember the interference of the First Born in Dragonspine Ridge not being this strong. I only heard it occasionally."
Ophra nodded. "Rumor has it that the evil spirits of the mage-emperors are underneath the Volcano of Dusk. Soldiers in Limestone Fortress often heard strange sounds coming from deep underground, but they didn't know they were from the First Born."
After a long while, a huge underground rift appeared before them.
This black rift stretched out far to both sides beyond their eyes could see. The spot where they were standing on was right in the middle of the rift. Clinging on to the cliffs of the rift, giant tentacles criss-crossed the gap like bridges, while down at the bottom of the rift, dark red magma flowed slowly. There was even a magma waterfall a few hundred meters away from the cavern's exit and it formed a fiery pillar of fire. The red light emanating from the magma illuminated the hellish underground world. Hao Ren looked up and could only see a faint shadow: it was the roof, which was woven with more tentacles, holding the rock layer above it.
The air was filled with an unbearable smell, and every breath felt as if their lungs were on fire. Vivian summoned a frosty barrier and barely blocked out the bad air around them. She then released a small bat. The little bat circled around the opposite cliff a few times, and when it came back, it was almost dehydrated like dried meat.
Vivian snapped the bat back into her body and frowned. "There is no way ahead. Only one tentacle connects to the opposite ramp like a bridge, but the path is very bad and the tentacle is a bit too thin…" she said.
"This is a place full of maliciousness." Cardinal Orben took a deep breath as the runes on his skin glittered. "The air is filled with hostility."
"There is no need to go any deeper. This is pretty much the core area." Hao Ren shook his head and released the MDT. "How's the scan of the structure coming along?"
"It's completed." The MDT projected a complex scan of the subterranean world, showing an ellipsoidal region of lava, rifts, tentacles, caverns, and a weird mass of biological tissue, which was woven together like a twisted nightmare. "We better go back and find a better solution."
Hao Ren sighed. "Let's get the hell out of here."
The expedition group returned to Limestone Fortress and teleported back to the Royal City.
They did not go to the Giant Tree of Life, because the situation there was not complicated, and it was much easier to resolve than the one in the Volcano of Dusk. Moreover, in Hao Ren's action plan, as long as he could deal with the First Born beneath the volcano, the underground cavern beneath the Giant Tree of Life was not going to be a problem.
Of course, Hao Ren still had to ask Ophra for some information. This was regarding a map that the ascetics of the Disciples of Glory had drawn after spending two months exploring the underground system beneath the Giant Tree of Life, and some historical documents about the Giant Tree. It did not matter if these things were useful or not, they could never have too much information.
Several other officers and cardinals had returned to their respective work. They each needed to find their own boss, and Ophra as well as Hao Ren had also returned to Becky's manor. However, the marshal looked a bit worried. "How should I report this?"
"Just assure the king. I have an idea," Hao Ren said with confidence. "In fact, I had several plans in mind when I was in the caverns... But, all plans have a certain risk. The situation in the Volcano of Dusk is very complex. I have to prevent the magma from breaking out."
"We'll go back and study it. We'll come back immediately as soon as there's a solution. The next time we come back, the problem of the First Born on this planet should be completely solved," Lily said, sounding like an expert. "Anyway, I'm sure Landlord will have a way. He's a high-tech guy."
"You're leaving now?" Ophra looked at them and then at Becky. "Is she staying back?"
"She can't leave the manor estate here." Hao Ren shrugged. "But, it doesn't make a difference to us as we can travel through space and time just like we're running out to buy groceries across the street. When we're not around, please look after Becky. Well, you know this girl has a little brain—"
Before he could finish speaking, Becky glared at him and Lily, who was next to him immediately growled in a threatening manner. Hao Ren looked at Lily with a forced smile. "I wasn't talking about you…"
Lily gritted her teeth. "But I know you were going to use me as an example! I know you too well—a cracked bell can never sound well…"
Everyone was quiet. Vivian patted Lily on the shoulder. "How do you think you sound right now?"
Lily did not get her drift. "Arf?"
Hao Ren pinched Lily on the ear as he smiled and looked at Ophra. "About the cult, I need you to keep an eye on them. I heard that there's still no lead on them?"
"It's a loose sect, and it's very likely it's a cult made up of a dozen small gangs," said Ophra, shaking her head. "We only know they are still active in certain areas, but we have not been able to catch anyone."
"Take some of them in alive." Hao Ren nodded. "I want to study that gigantic brain they summoned."
"And remember to pass the letter to the pope and the king," Vivian reminded Ophra. "It contains the truth that we've discovered about the First Born ending the world and the mage-emperors being the scapegoat for 10,000 years. Now you guys should right the wrongs of the past. Regardless of whether those bigwigs believe it or not, the mage-emperors are indeed innocent."
Ophra nodded slightly. "Understood."
Ophra left discreetly before Hao Ren could send her off, leaving him to bid farewell to Becky. The mercenary was still very reluctant to give up her friends at this time. After all, they had lived together for so long. Even mercenaries had feelings. "You have to come see me often, even after the problem of the First Born is solved. From now on, please bring me along when you're going somewhere exciting. I still wish to sit in your spaceship and go on adventures. Oh, please don't forget to bring me some potato chips and Coke the next time you come...."
Hao Ren looked at the maiden's rare expression with much interest. "If you can't bear to see us go, why don't you come back with us to Earth?"
Becky jumped a meter back. Clinging on to the door's pillar, she said, "Drive safe. I'd rather stay here as a parvenu."
Hao Ren was speechless.
After they left Becky's manor, Vivian asked, "Are we traveling directly from Alamanda to Andrea Castle? Are we taking the spaceship or teleporting?"
"No, there's still one thing left." Hao Ren tilted his head slightly to look at the sky. "A ruin we have yet to see."