The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 200: The Changing Ruins (Part 4)

The center of the Changing ruins was rumored to have the greatest minerals of all – it was perfect for the miners but it was so located so deep within the former mines that the miners feared going there without groups. There were a lot of wrong turns and one wrong turn could lead to being lost.

But after the incident happened and the mines became the ’Changing Ruins’, it’s infrastructure changed and it was far easier to make it to the center, almost as if it welcomed anyone that entered the Changing Ruins to the center but with each movement one made further into the center, the attacks from Monsters became more frequent – they were charged with more soul energy than ever but Rem was able to overpower them.

He only hoped he could make it to the being that was causing such trouble in the ruins and defeat it... that was the only way to permanently stop the entity causing the trouble and absorb its abilities.

’I’ve arrived,’ Rem thought to himself as he reached the part of the ruins where the soul energy was the densest, it completely nullified his ability to sense – he wasn’t even able to read his position anymore, he was left completely defenseless in a place where monsters lurked.

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The Center of the Changing Ruins was a peculiar place, filled with jagged cave formations. It was known by the miners as a place where one could get a lot of resources to bring back to Ember town but it was so hard to get here that the resources were deemed rare by the miners. Upon the first change crafting the Mines into the Changing Ruins – the whole formation of the former cavern was altered, changed beyond recognition. It was much easier to reach the center; it wouldn’t take four days from the original opening but the initial opening became the most dangerous choice... Monsters lurked within, if you weren’t even able to pick up their soul energies and they decided to ambush you, it was over.

The party had entrusted Amelia with the opportunity to escort their new recruit to the center for assistance, not only because she was a powerful Swordsman but rather her sensing skills had been sharpened to the absolute highest, even in an area covered with dense soul energy akin to fog, Amelia would still be able to perceive the monsters coming.

Cecilia Yokama shoved her sword into its sheath, a flicker of annoyance and impatience crossing her face. They were lodged inside a cave that they had rid of all monsters within and was waiting for Amelia to bring over their new recruit.

"I wonder if he’s strong," A brown haired boy, looking no older than fourteen said. He sat cross-legged in the cave and stared blankly at the ceiling with his piercing blue eyes – he was a Light magus and the reason that the soul energy from the outside wasn’t getting in, he had cast a barrier of magical energy nullifying the foggy soul energy from entering the cave, "Well, he better because we’re going to need all the help we can get against that... thing,"

Cecilia swallowed subconsciously and so did everyone else in the group, the ’thing’ was the monster that they believed to be responsible for overseeing the Changing Ruins – it resided in one of the jagged caves located in the center and it’s power was so strong that it overwhelmed them entirely, pushing them out of its resting place.

"I didn’t expect such a powerful monster to be here," Cecilia muttered under her breath, "Which means its magic stone will be worth a freaking lot,"

A Cavalier in her group turned to Cecilia, he was still shaken by what he had seen – the power that this monster had shown was beyond their strength and she knew it but despite the odds, she tried to remain positive despite the odds.

"Even if it is, the Monster’s abilities are too much to handle without a full squad," The boy spoke, his words laced with wisdom, "We’ll wait for our new recruit and Amelia before attacking the monster again, and this time, we’ll come out victorious,"

The light barrier suddenly trembled, it was getting pushed back.

"Cyrus," Cecilia called in urgency and the young boy narrowed his eyes, bright magical energy bursting to life around his palms as he focused his attention on the barrier that was slowly faltering.

Cyrus gritted his teeth, expanding the barrier with a burst of magical energy. The barrier glowered and kept stationary despite the occasional push of soul energy. Cyrus sat back down on the ground and sighed.

"That was a close one," Cecilia said and wiped a little bit of sweat away from her forehead, the enchantments that helped them resist the power of the Changing Ruins and teleport away were destroyed during their fight with the Boss, "Once Amelia gets here with the rest of the tags, we can find a way to leave,"

The intensity of the soul energy surging outside died down and the group calmed down, even a small wisp of soul energy coming inside would spell doom for all of them – they could be trapped within the endless cycle of teleporting around the Changing Ruins by the hour until one day, if the day ever came, they found themselves at the exit.

Suddenly, a banging sound echoed across the barrier. Amelia hit the barrier with a bit of force, she needed to know – she wanted to get inside.

Cecilia’s shock drowned as she saw the reliable figure of Amelia, but contrary to her expectations, there was no-one with her. Cyrus immediately let down the barrier and soul energy surged inside, Amelia entered the cave and seeing that nobody came in with her, a surge of magical energy escaped his hands, pushing out all of the soul energy and recreating the barrier.

"Did Rem come here by chance?" Amelia asked, exhaustion visible on her face.

"No, who’s Rem?" Cecilia asked, "And why isn’t our back-up here with you?"

Amelia bit her lips.

"As soon as we entered the Changing Ruins and defeated some monsters, we were teleported away from each other," Amelia said with a nervous smile, "Ehehe, I forgot to give him the tag,"

"Oh fuck," Cecilia muttered under her breath.