Chapter 117

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Chapter 117: Fluid Guard

The Fluid Guard twisted violently in the air.

Tasha suddenly loosened her claws after the spell took effect, her falling speed was too slow, she flapped her wings to speed up, narrowly avoiding the struggling ceiling. The space above the underground waterway turned into a more dangerous battlefield than before, countless tentacles thrashing wildly, enough to turn the area above into a meat grinder on overdrive.

This scene was like acid catching up with the tiny cluster of soldiers’ heads, just on a larger scale, stronger reaction, and taking a longer time. The Fluid Guard had no vocal organs, but looking at its appearance seemed to resonate with the roaring of a giant beast. The shining Disjunction Rune emitted a dazzling light, attacking and conquering, spreading from the core to every tentacle, like frost on a blade in cold weather.

The madness of the Fluid Guard peaked within a few minutes, everyone lying on the ground, anything higher than a meter difficult to escape the fate of being affected. The soft-bodied creature was no longer hiding, like a malfunctioning neon light assembly, countless colors from the environment but in the completely wrong positions flashing in waves overhead, distorting into nauseating forms. The current Fluid Guard resembled a giant caterpillar, bright in color, bulky in body, futilely writhing, trying to escape the control of tiny parasitic wasps.

No matter how it thrashed, the spread of the silver-white runes was unstoppable, flowing silently towards the low points like water.

The tip of the last tentacle was also covered with runes, the tattoos on the Fluid Guard dropped the final stroke, now they looked so harmonious, the runes seamlessly integrated, as if they had grown on the soft body from the beginning. The Light Spell released by Bruno had reached the casting time, and the scene above became strangely beautiful.

The dim light of the Lantern Vine on the high ceiling was not enough to illuminate the figure of the giant worm, so when people looked up, they could only see the flashing of the runes. They twinkled, complementing each other, turning the ceiling into a starry sky. The soldiers stared dumbfounded, as the earthly hell turned into a surprising heaven for a second. Tasha’s night vision did not give her the chance to enjoy the beautifying filter, she couldn’t help but have a strange thought, perhaps it was a good thing that people couldn’t see clearly in the night sky, who knows what might be growing next to the "stars", right?

The "starlit sky" stood still.

The dying struggle of Fluid Guard did not bring it any chance of survival. The more it struggled, the deeper the rune pierced, finally invading every layer of its soft body. The fight lasted for hundreds of years, the rune took just over ten minutes to settle in place, but it only took a second for it to take effect.

Crash!

People on the ground hurriedly lowered their heads as the ceiling suddenly collapsed, and a heavy rain poured down from the underground waterways. In the final moments, Fluid Guard lost all its color and turned into a harmless colorless liquid. The Disjunction Rune achieved its goal and retreated, its lines scattered, its radiance vanished, blending with the crumbling fluid rune. These long-time adversaries reconciled and shook hands after determining the winner, pouring down rain on the ground and merging with other parts of the underground river.

In the moment they disappeared, Tasha felt the wind.

The airflow came from above, not blowing downwards but sucking upwards. People’s wet hair was pulled up by the wind, flags swayed like waves. Tasha lifted her head, her eyes wide open, seeing clearly in the wind with the protection of her eyelids.

The ceiling was empty.

A dark hole appeared above, about three to four meters in diameter, with no visible bottom. Holes leading downwards were always dark, but those leading upwards were connected to the outside light. The dark ceiling? It really made one wonder how deep it was.

Maybe thinking about it in a normal way was a mistake.

It’s not scientific, but it’s magical. The strong wind after the opening of the large hole lasted less than a minute, and the significant air flow ceased, as if the pressure inside and outside had balanced. Surprisingly, it was the wizards who stood up first. They stood unsteadily, stretched their necks, and looked into the hole.

"That should be the Mage Tower over there," Gloria said excitedly.

"Oh my, I can’t believe I’m seeing a real Mage Tower," Rudolf exclaimed. "Too bad Edwin isn’t here, this adventure would have been perfect material for his new novel."

"The unfinished feat of the White Tower Wizard…" Bruno muttered to himself.

"A complete, ancient wizard’s Mage Tower!" Miranda’s tone couldn’t hide her excitement.

The group of wizards looked eager, like a group of archaeologists facing an undiscovered ancient tomb, unconcerned about any curses or traps, looking as if they could sprout wings and fly up there.

"How much magic power do you have left?" Tasha, now with wings, asked.

All the wizards looked disappointed, as if a group of teenagers’ summer camp plans had been ruined by a weather forecast from their parents.

"We need to take a break for a while," they said. "Rest for a few hours."

"We can’t go back the long way, can we come back tomorrow?" Tasha suggested.

"No, this dismantled Mage Tower passage is very unstable," Gloria pointed to the hole above her head. "By reinforcing it with magic, it will be safe within five to six hours, but definitely not for half a day or a full day."

"If it disappears, none of us can open it again, those spells are lost forever," Bruno sighed.

"This is Aryan’s last Ancient Mage Tower!" The wizard in black robes expressed more intensely, "I would rather die inside than miss it!"

"No one is going to die," Tasha sighed, "What about Dolores?"

The Undead Sorcerer with a face like a dead person shook her head, "Give me two hours." She briefly said, took out some suspicious-shaped things from her pocket, and chewed them up.

The wounded were sent back a long way, taking advantage of the deterrence of the fireball spell on the big rat. The wizard closed his eyes to rest, while the soldiers adjusted their mood and ate. Fortunately, they were well-prepared this time, with no shortage of food, water, and spell materials – Bruno brought the ancestral tortoiseshell space bracelet that could hold equipment enough to deal with this adventure.

After two hours of rest, the team set off again.

Rudolf buried several seeds in the mud, and with his spell, several thick vines sprung up from the ground, spiraling upwards like magic beans in a fairy tale, twisting into a strong and sturdy vine ladder. Bruno repeated his actions, and the Liandrin Lantern Vine climbed up along the vines. He furrowed his brows, seeing that the Lantern Vine on the vine ladder was still bright, but the part deep into the large hole showed no light.

This should not have happened, Liandrin Lantern Vine can detect lighting and environmental conditions, if it encounters an environment unsuitable for human breathing or a segment completely destroyed, the entire Lantern Vine should wither, unlike now, half intact and half unresponsive.

"It truly is ancient magic," said Miranda, looking somewhat happy. "Try this."

She took out a black candle that looked moldy but had no smell. The wizard’s fingers rubbed the wick, igniting a black spark that burned dimly.

In theory, there should not be black fire, but again, what does science matter when it comes to magic? The black candle lit up, making the surrounding light slightly darker. After Miranda and Dolores spoke a few words, a soldier with a empty jaw slowly got up, the black candle fixed under his chin.

Many living soldiers showed expressions of unbearable discomfort, with some even turning pale. Bruno cast an inspiring spell among the crowd, making them look a bit better.

The undead with the black candle on their heads crawled slowly through the vines into the cave, illuminating the dark hole. The scouting zombie soldiers signaled "safe," and the Undead Sorcerer nodded, leading the group upwards.

There were many convenient places to climb on the vine ladder. The guards climbed up easily, with many apprentices having no problem. Tasha spread her wings, carrying a wizard in each hand back and forth several times, saving the wizards who were exhausted from flying spells.

On the other side of the large hole was a spacious area.

A zombie soldier acting as a lamp stand stood aside. The previously dim black candle on the ground shone amazingly in the space above. The brightness was similar to a normal candle, but it had a radius of over ten meters, with the illuminated area not diminishing anywhere within. Within this broad illumination, the floor was covered with thick carpets, and the walls of dark wood glowed a somber shade, while the ceiling shone like carved obsidian.

"Stay in place and don’t touch anything!" Miranda said sternly. "Any mishap triggered here will leave you bones without a trace, and your soul unable to escape!"

After speaking, she lifted her robes and ran towards a nearby pillar, like a young girl in love running to her crush, Tasha had never seen her move so quickly before.

The guards obediently stood still, too scared to even take a step. Other wizards looked around, appearing calmer than the ones in black robes, showing a sense of dignity in their determined eyes. Wild Wizard Rudolf, who knew the least about the situation, asked first, "Where do we go next?"

"We need to find a passage, go upwards, as the most precious things are usually hidden at the top of the tower," Gloria said, still looking around, "I don’t know to whom this tower belongs, but it definitely isn’t an alchemist wizard’s."

"Can we find out who the owner of the Mage Tower is?" Tasha asked.

"Only the most outstanding wizards in ancient times would possess a Mage Tower in the subspace, typically of legendary status," Gloria explained, "Having such a Mage Tower is a proud achievement, and the Tower Master would leave their ‘signature’ all over the tower."

"The entire tower?"

"The owner of the Mage Tower needs to create very complex protective runes inside the tower, in order to keep the Mage Tower safe in the subspace, while also sheltering the treasures, apprentices, and guests within the tower. When the Tower Master finishes the protection, they will embed their name and a motto into the runes, hiding these words throughout the corners of the Mage Tower," Gloria explained, "I only know the pattern of how alchemist wizards hide their names, usually advising their apprentices to pursue eternal knowledge."

"I heard that the motto of ancient wizards is often a curse, like ‘those who peek at my treasures will not have a good death,’" Rudolf interrupted, mentioning some rumors and legends, "The Tower-speak of Black Magic masters are like what a tomb owner would say to a grave robber."

"Because the relationships between Black Magic masters are never good," White Robed Wizard Bruno happily joined in criticizing the Black Robed wizards, "Instead of educating apprentices, their towers are used more for defense and storing treasures, holding phylacteries and bodies, waiting for resurrection in the future, so they curse those who trespass with a bad fate – these curses often have real power."

"I think it’s not good to talk about this now," said Tasha.

"Don’t worry, the Mage Tower that will be dismantled by White Tower must have been ownerless for a long time. A Mage Tower with an owner won’t be captured," Gloria reassured.

"Moreover, ancient spells mix black and white magic. A Tower Master with Fluid Guard may not be a very fierce and evil wizard," Bruno added. "Even if we really encounter a dangerous wizard who gives warnings through curses, we can quickly leave according to the warning, and won’t trigger the curse."

"You saying that makes me even more worried," Tasha thought to herself, recalling the doomsayer who is now sleeping in the Magic Pool.

"Hahaha it’s him! It’s really him!" The wizard in black robe suddenly laughed excitedly. "Dragon Slayer, the enemy of light, Master of Evil Spirit, the black meteor Rasheil! Legendary Wizard Rasheil Cliff from eight hundred years ago. They actually found his Mage Tower! We actually found his Mage Tower!"

Not good, Tasha thought, this Tower Master doesn’t seem like a good person.

The title of Legendary Wizard is not thrown around casually like Demon Lord.

Dragon Slayer, the person who has killed three or more pure-blood adult dragons. Defeating sub-species dragons or young dragons doesn’t count. Those who successfully slay one or two dragons are called Dragon Slayers, but only when your record reaches three, will people think that your achievements are not just temporary bravery. The title of Dragon Slayer can make young dragons keep their distance and make older dragons treat you as equals.

Enemy of light, once provoked the peak Cult of Saul and managed to escape unscathed. The owners of titles like these must have caused significant damage and not paid any price for it, only then can they be cursed by Saropriests afterwards without fleeing in disgrace or being unknown.

People who made deals with evil spirits and benefited from the transactions were called Master of Evil Spirit. Most dealings with demons ended badly, so those rare individuals who truly profited from them were both despised and admired by many. Despite their close ties to the abyss, they were known as Masters of Evil Spirit rather than worshippers of the underworld because they did not worship it, but instead used it.

"What is the Black Shooting Star?" Tasha asked, hoping it had nothing to do with the Astral Plane.

"Archmage Rasheil advanced to legend status in less than a hundred years, earning the title above by defeating other ancient wizards who had held the status for a long time," Miranda’s voice trembled with excitement, like a fan talking about their idol. "He was the innovator of the Casting Golem and the creator of many groundbreaking spells across eras—this is all without intending to share his research results; his true accomplishments are surely greater than what is recorded. The rise of Master Rasheil is legendary."

"Just like his downfall," Bruno interjected, "Rasheil’s active period was less than a hundred years. He vanished suddenly amidst much attention, and the subsequent search efforts by various forces, followed by the relics discovered over the next few hundred years, prove that he did not simply fade into obscurity on his own."

"Unlike those wizards recorded as ‘missing’ due to their connection to the Astral Plane, he truly disappeared, much like the ancient wizards who died in unknown places," Gloria added.

"A life as short-lived and legendary as a shooting star is better than many inept and long-lived old wizards!" Miranda glared at them, essentially agreeing with what was said.

The rise and disappearance of that archmage were as swift as a shooting star, yet his existence tore through the night sky, leaving behind legends after nearly a thousand years of upheaval, truly embodying a legendary aura.

Being a Tower Master of such renown, having so many people explaining things at the door felt very ominous. If this were a game dungeon, this Tower Master could very well be the final boss, Tasha thought resignedly. With all this buildup, even if we have to fight the missing Tower Master himself at the top of the tower, I wouldn’t feel particularly surprised.

But at the same time, there was also some good news.

Tasha asked Hall of True Knowledge how to wake up Victor, and the Hall gave her a hint instead of directly solving the problem. This means that before coming here, she was mentally prepared that there would be only a prescription without the ingredients available. Now that the Tower Master titles have been revealed – one is a brave fighter who defeated a dragon and kicked the Cult of Saul, another is a wizard skilled in collecting and storing magical materials, and the third is a legendary figure who disappeared suddenly, leaving behind many unused treasures. Plus, the White Tower demolition work is only halfway done, and the magic environment in the area has been well preserved.

What does this mean?

Danger, as well as equal opportunities.

Tasha is very likely to find something and wake up Victor in one go.

"’Tower-speak,’ what is it?" Rudolf interjected between the figures in black and white robes, trying to steer the conversation, "Did that archmage curse intruders?"

"’Tower-speak,’ is," Miranda paused, her expression becoming serious, "’Those who enter my tower, are all mine.’"

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"I don’t know why, but I feel like a curse along the lines of ‘stealing my stuff leads to a bad end’ would be more relatable," Rudolf complained.

"In ancient times, did wizards also train apprentices in the Mage Tower?" Gloria speculated, "Perhaps their way of nurturing was just a bit harsher, meant to warn apprentices not to betray them."

Many ancient wizards used to graduate by killing their teachers," Miranda added, "or be killed – that was considered a dropout. That’s why ancient wizards were much stronger and more skilled than modern wizards."

The wizard in a black robe said this with a longing tone, she turned around and gave a disapproving look, making all her apprentices shiver.

"Please don’t do this, it’s against the law," Governor Tasmarin had to speak up.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Bruno sighed.

The wizard in a white robe already had a sad expression, looking like a troubled middle-aged scholar since entering the White Tower ruins. Frowning and sighing constantly, he plucked some fruits from the dim Lantern Vine beside him and threw them into a big hole.

Those fruits didn’t hit the ground, they vanished.

Under the dark abyss, the underground waterway they had just walked through was clearly visible. Beyond the territory of the Ancient Mage Tower, the Liandrin Lantern Vine illuminated the vine stairs and underground waterway. The water flowed in the underground channel freed from the Range Water Splitting Technique, perhaps with mice and leeches scurrying about inside.

The fruits dropped in front of everyone and vanished just before leaving the large hole that connected the Mage Tower to the underground waterway.

Someone took off a belt and hung it into the hole, the belt disappeared at the hole’s edge. When the soldier pulled back the belt, the missing part didn’t return, there was a smooth cut on the belt and the other half was gone.

"One-way street," Bruno sighed.

The magic environment in this area has never disappeared, and part of the power of the Mage Tower still remains. The statement hidden within the protective rune is more of a declaration than a mere warning.

Luckily, the inspiring magic from earlier is still within its effective time, keeping the guards and apprentices emotionally stable.

"Is there a way to stop this effect?" Tasha asked.

All the wizards shook their heads.

"Staying here is pointless, let’s go inside," Miranda said.

"Did you find anything?" Gloria asked hopefully.

"No," Miranda said bluntly, "but there’s nothing else to see here, so why stay?"

This black-robed wizard had clearly reached a "this is worth it in my lifetime" state, and her reasoning was sound.

"Let’s go up," said Tasha, clapping her hands. "Maybe there are other paths leading to the outside here."

"The chances are very slim," said Bruno. "The way we entered this cave is not the original path of the Mage Tower. Here, you can only go in but not out. It’s highly possible that the whole tower is covered by this one-way effect. Even if we find another exit – assuming we can safely cross the Ancient Mage Tower, which is full of unsealed, Fluid Guard level magical creatures and golems – it would be the same situation as here, unable to leave."

"Can’t you say something positive?" Gloria sighed. "Please, have some hope in life! Think about your apprentice, your research project, the plants you grow, and your pets."

"I just finished my previous research project," Bruno said with a troubled look. "I’m not married, I’m the only one in my family, my apprentice is here, and I don’t have plants or pets."

Gloria paused for a moment, then her tone became cheerful again. "Isn’t that a good thing? Even if we die here, we’ll have no regrets!"

"Thank you for remembering to say that at the ‘Antoine Conference Table’," Rudolf said with a wry smile. "You have greatly contributed to our team’s morale."

Tasha wondered if they were here to perform comedy sketches.

"We might not have to die."

After a long silence, Dolores suddenly spoke. She pointed ahead, and the zombie lamp holder took a few steps forward, illuminating a patch of ground several meters away.

There lay a messy magical statue.