Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength-Chapter 1237 - 1231: Lava Lake

Ronald and his group descended from a great height.

Due to the altitude, they could see a vast expanse of scenery below.

In the center of the pale and desolate land, there lay a flat plain that resembled the mirror-like surface of a lake. At its heart was a churning lava lake, like a fiery red eye of evil, scrutinizing everything in the surface world.

"Ronald, what is that?"

Upon seeing this scene, Mermaid Lulu immediately asked Ronald beside her:

"Haven't you been here before? Is this how it's supposed to look?"

"We should be at the original location of Barrier Mountain. The lava below is where the original Well of Judgement led to!"

Ronald had previously explained the situation about Barrier Mountain to Lulu, so he skipped the explanation and directly informed his companions of his inference:

"And I can sense that there are people from the fleet down there!"

"..."

Under the control of a spell, they continued their descent.

The view for Ronald's group became increasingly clear.

Soon, not only Ronald, who had the widest perception range, could detect signs of human activity, but even those beside him could see the situation below with their naked eyes.

Surrounding the almost exposed lava lake.

The casters from the Gred fleet, who had disappeared from the outside world, were currently here, encircling the lava lake in the center of the plain.

Although the situation was unclear.

But judging by their vigilant stance, they were clearly guarding against something.

"Over there, there are camps set up too!"

At this time, Patricia also discovered something new.

Likewise, on the plain, a few kilometers from the lava lake, many people were setting up camp— they were also members of the fleet.

Stationed here, probably to rotate with those guarding the lava lake.

However, Ronald's focus wasn't on this.

Following Patricia's direction to look at the camp, he speculated from its scale that this wasn't something that could be set up in a few minutes.

So, an obvious fact lay before them.

The exaggerated time ratio between the Infinite Negative Field and the outside world had now returned to normal.

It could even be boldly speculated.

Catherine, who remained here, had presumably already spent over half a year.

Ronald's group continued their descent.

Soon after, people from both the camp and the lava lake noticed their descending figures and dispatched individuals over.

These two were somewhat special. They were Nicole and Mou Li.

The ace investigator from the Investigation Bureau and an important researcher from the Book Research Society, these two young women were not only familiar with Ronald but together almost represented the intent of the Gred.

"Ronald, you've really come!"

At their reunion, Mou Li seemed hesitant to speak, but Nicole didn't care about anything else and greeted Ronald as she always did:

"That red-haired woman was adamant you'd show up. I thought she was joking?"

"If your prophecy little tricks could develop further, I believe one day, you might achieve the same capability," Ronald replied to Nicole, inwardly confirming the situation.

After all, Nicole said it—the red-haired woman insisted he would come.

This trip to the Infinite Negative Field was indeed Catherine's 'invitation' to him.

Ronald asked Nicole:

"How are Claudia and everyone else on the fleet?"

"And where is Catherine now? What is her purpose in bringing us here?"

Nico was momentarily stunned by Ronald's questions, as there were some things happening over at the lava lake that she wasn't quite clear about.

Thus, Mou Li finally overcame her hesitation, stepped forward, and explained to Ronald:

"Ronald, everyone is fine for now."

"As for Miss Catherine, she left a message for you to go down and find her when you got here."

Boom——!

Before Mou Li's words were finished, there was a loud bang in the direction of the lava lake. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Everyone immediately turned to look and saw the lava lake, which had been calm moments ago, suddenly explode with a colossal crimson shadow bursting from the surface.

...

The momentum of this thing was incredibly imposing.

Upon careful observation, it was entirely composed of scalding lava, shaped like a tentacle of a North Sea leviathan.

Moreover, at the moment it burst from the lake, it sent flying streams of scalding, fiery rain. Fortunately, the casters present were top-tier elites, preventing casualties in such a sudden event.

"It's emerging!"

"Group A, provide defense, Group B, handle offense, Group C, support your comrades nearby!"

The commander barked orders, and the casters immediately sprang into action.

Their formation remained familiar to the investigators, consisting of three-person teams, each responding to one of the tasks in the command.

The light of defensive spells lit up among the crowd, while attack spells from various schools, like rainbows composed of a myriad of substances, shot towards the lava tentacle.

Bang bang swoosh——

Boom——

The scale of this attack was entirely at a warfare level.

Especially given it was the Infinite Negative Field, where the effects of spells were significantly enhanced. The changing exterior couldn't compare to this place.

With the most elite casters striking simultaneously.

The terrifying lava tentacle, reminiscent of a fantasy monster, was forcibly blasted to pieces in midair, eventually reducing to chunks that fell back into the lake, merging completely with the lava.

"..."

Was this the purpose of the fleet members encircling here?

After witnessing such a scene, Ronald naturally made a corresponding deduction.

Nico, who originally came from the lava lake, didn't wait for Ronald to ask and proactively explained to him:

"Ronald, just as you've seen, we are defending this lava lake."

"According to that red-haired… Catherine, creatures made of lava appear here periodically, and she has been here handling it."

Previously stationed here…

Upon hearing Nicole's explanation, the scene of Catherine guarding this place immediately surfaced in Ronald's mind. After defeating the enemy, Catherine had stayed here all this time for that reason?

More importantly.

Now with the Gred crew manning the guard again.

With Catherine freed up, what has she been up to?

Thinking of this, Ronald got an idea, and he immediately looked at Mou Li, asking in a somewhat surprised tone:

"Mou Li, Catherine asked me to go find her…"

"By 'down', does she mean beneath this lava lake?"