Fire Mage-Chapter 653: Second Layer

Chapter 653: Second Layer

"Just like the one I saw outside," he murmured, invoking [Mystic Algorithm]. Intricate symbols began to glow as he deciphered the magic circle.

Minutes later, he memorized the sequence, infused the stone with his wisdom power, and chanted in the ancient Vamii tongue.

A golden glow rose beneath his feet, wrapping around his body. Moments later, he faded from view.

...

Charles reappeared inside the underground necropolis. After a cautious sweep of the area, he relaxed—but something felt different.

"I can sense things again... My wisdom power’s working?"

His eyes fell on the Bracelet, its three beads gleaming ominously.

"And that divine pressure—it’s gone?"

He considered probing the Bracelet with his soul imprint, but before he could act, Grace released herself from his grip and hovered mid-air. Madness radiated from her like a dark fog.

In a flash, the golden-hilted sword was cloaked in red-black smoke. Though he couldn’t see what she was witnessing, her blade trembled.

"She’s... afraid?" Charles whispered, stunned.

He reached out with his wisdom power, trying to understand—but a sudden, invisible force lashed out at him.

"Don’t!" A scream, shrill and feminine, echoed in his head.

Grace remained suspended, her aura thrumming with madness. Slowly, she calmed and descended, regaining her composed, graceful form.

Charles caught her and sheathed her at his waist.

"You’re still shaking. What did you see?" he asked, voice low. But there was no reply.

Shaking his head, he gripped the Bracelet and made his way to the Second Chamber.

But this time, the halls were empty.

’Order Church members must’ve left already,’ he guessed, and turned back.

Returning to the First Chamber, he navigated through the narrow cave tunnel and emerged once more into the storm-blasted land.

The wind screamed, but Charles pressed on toward the distant Oasis, navigating skillfully around hidden dangers. He reached it in under half an hour, then turned toward a solitary hill on the horizon.

With no hesitation, he continued on, eyes fixed on the ruined silhouette of the Ancient Reverie Palace.

Three days passed.

When he arrived, the towering structure loomed like a ghost from a forgotten age. Inside the main hall, Azoth sat waiting.

"I figured you’d show up at the last moment," she said with a small smile.

"How many days left?" Charles asked.

"Two. But if you’re ready, I can send you now."

Her gaze shifted to Grace.

She stood abruptly, eyes narrowing as she grabbed the sword from his waist.

"Why is she trembling?"

Charles raised his right hand and showed her the Bracelet.

Azoth blinked. "You... you actually got that thing?"

"It’s a long story," Charles replied with a sigh and recounted what had happened.

By the time he finished, Azoth’s expression had grown serious.

"You even obtained Esim’s inheritance... That explains a lot. I understand now—why our Lord changed."

She stared at the Bracelet. "So, what will you do? That thing corrupts its user... and the people around them."

"I don’t know," Charles admitted. "Grace’s reaction was unlike anything I’ve seen. This Bracelet might be more terrifying than we thought. I’m planning to give it to a friend—let him decide."

Azoth nodded. "Smart. So, what’s your answer? Do you want to go to the Second Layer now?"

Charles paused only a moment before nodding.

"I won’t delay. Send me now."

"Safe journey," she said simply, then manipulated the space around him.

The world shimmered.

And he disappeared.

...

Second Layer, Dungeon of Star Tombs

The Shadow Dimension was a realm shrouded in eternal darkness—an abyss where daylight had never existed. Overhead, the sky bore no sun or moon, only twenty-four ghostly stars glowing faintly. Their dim, haunting light cast long shadows, but failed to drive away the prevailing gloom.

The land below was twisted and unnatural. Trees stood warped and gnarled, their blackened limbs clawing toward the sky like ancient sentinels. Dark flora thrived in this cursed soil—grotesque, sinewy vines, and towering mushrooms that fed off the ambient darkness. Every plant pulsed with silent hostility. Some bore razor-sharp thorns capable of piercing steel, while others exhaled invisible toxins to lure and disable prey.

Creatures born of shadow prowled these lands. They drifted soundlessly through the murk, little more than vague silhouettes with ember-like eyes glowing in the dark. Some were clever deceivers, masters of illusion and mimicry. Others spread dread with their mere presence, smothering the air with fear.

High above the ground, perched atop a twisted tree, sat a man in his early thirties. Cloaked in dark robes, with raven-black hair, he held a bow across his lap and scanned the forest below with a predator’s vigilance.

The bracelet on his wrist vibrated, pulsing softly with a red glow.

He tapped it and spoke in a low tone.

"How is the situation over there, Caspian?" came a voice in Blen Tongue.

Caspian’s eyes narrowed. Cardinal Benedictus?

"Nothing out of the ordinary, Your Eminence," he replied, then added, "But it seems most of the other churches have already left the dungeon. We’ve been watching for ten days, and still no sign of our target."

"Be patient," Benedictus said with quiet assurance. "If he wants to rise, if he wants to support Pontiff Leander IV in the next election, he will come. He’s not the kind of man to skulk in the shadows."

"What about Lady Jade?" Caspian asked. "Will she intervene if there’s a conflict within the Church?"

"Unfortunately, no," the Cardinal answered. "And she’s not someone I can confront carelessly. I may be stronger, but she’s tied to the Fairchild Family. Attacking her could shatter my standing within the Church—and worse, provoke them. It’s a risk I can’t afford."

"Even with the help of that thing sealed in your necklace?" Caspian’s voice dropped, uneasy at the memory.

"You misunderstand its power," the Cardinal said. "What you saw in the last layer was merely the illusion of might. Here, it’s limited. It can only remain in this world for five seconds at most. It’s a Nightmare Creature—no soul, only a false consciousness."

"Is there no way to extend that time?"

"Any soulless being is crushed by the world’s will, or in this case, the dungeon’s laws. That thing’s connection to the Nightmare World was severed when we captured it. It’s growing weaker by the day. Give it another year or two, and it’ll fade entirely."

"So, we act before that happens," Caspian murmured, nodding. He was about to ask more when his eyes suddenly narrowed.

A flash of white light shimmered across the horizon, two kilometers away.

"Another group just entered the Second Layer, Your Eminence."

"Another group? Who are they? How many?"

Caspian climbed higher through the tree’s twisted branches, slicing away a few that tried to coil around him. He peered through the darkness, then stiffened.

"Oh, Mother of Life... It’s not a group. Just one person."

"One?" The Cardinal’s voice sharpened. "Impossible. No one enters this place alone—not even me. Look again."

"But he’s alone, Your Eminence. And... young." Caspian’s gaze intensified. The newcomer was scanning the surroundings using wisdom power. A chill crept down Caspian’s spine. "Rank-5 Mystic. How in the world did he survive the Nightmare Layer and make it here?"

"Are you certain?"

"I am."

There was a pause, then Benedictus’s voice turned icy. "Capture him if you can. Search him. If there’s nothing valuable, kill him. He’s not worth wasting the opportunity."

"Understood, Your Eminence." Caspian ended the call and raised his bow.

He watched the young man carefully. The intruder looked focused, cautious. Every movement suggested experience far beyond his apparent rank. How did someone so weak make it this far? Caspian wondered.

He drew the bowstring back and infused the metallic arrow with darkness energy. Aimed low—for the leg. Better to capture.

He released.

The arrow sliced through the air, but at the last second, the young man twisted aside with inhuman reflexes. The arrow missed.

Caspian’s breath hitched. That speed... Not a Rank-5 Mystic. Something more.

Then, the young man vanished.

A voice whispered above his head.

"You know, it’s rude to shoot someone from behind."

Caspian’s heart dropped. What—? When did he—?!

Before he could react, something invisible wrapped around his throat like a serpent. His body froze.

This power...! It was overwhelming. He wasn’t facing some minor pest. This man’s wisdom power dwarfed even Cardinal Benedictus’s. A Demi-God!

Fear slammed into him like a tidal wave. He felt as if he stood before the Pontiff of Life himself.

The young man floated down, hovering just a few feet away.

"Who are you? Why attack me?" he asked calmly.

Caspian couldn’t speak. His thoughts scattered—then vanished.

The young man raised a brow. "Cardinal Benedictus? Life Church? Interesting..." A glint appeared in his eyes. "I was only going to give a warning, but now... I’ve changed my mind."