Razmund frowned and shook his head. “I am no idiot. Relying on it was useful. The voice is different.”
“What does it say?”
“Release.”
“Well, I don't know about Divine Artifacts, but ones with Fate are dangerous. Where have you got it from anyway?” Ozeki calmed his laugh, obvious that he didn't care where Razmund got it from, and it didn't hurt to ask.
Razmund didn't give him that privilege. Centralis had its sources for a plethora of treasures and these kinds of artifacts were usually one of a kind. All Divine Artifacts were like that. This was why Razmund took the next course of action that Ozeki took with a sneer. He untied the straps, letting the Dice tremble on top of his palm, and its voice became hectic.
[Feed me! Feeeeeeeed meeee the blood!] the Dice begged as if horny for food or read of Fate. Razmund didn't see the difference, but it sure ate a lot of mana and Ancient Blood since he came to this place. Now, it was empty as if it constantly thought of Fate.
“It hungry, eh?” Ozeki remarked, gesturing his men to leave him and Razmund ahead all by themselves.
Razmund was curious. The Dice usually didn't demand this out of the blue or emptiness.
“What do you want this for?” Razmund picked something from his pouch; a red glass with thick liquid within it soon came out and approached the Dice, which shivered but didn't leave his palm.
[Fate! Approaching!] the Dice echoed in a soft voice. [Feed and show. The End is coming, for there is no escaping]
“That is the first time I see it like this,” Ozeki said. “Usually, it isn't taking initiative. Perhaps you fed it too much. I don't recom...”
Razmund fed it a dozen whole droplets, soaking the Dice in shivering Bliss that was borderline euphoric.
It screeched softly as if panicking, absorbing the blood, and it was unsure if it should soar away or leave Razmund to rot. Then, it went up, looking for something, but didn't wince left and right, or up or down. It simply hovered there, so Razmund and Ozeki stopped their horses.
“You sure are insane. Why feed it that much blood? You don't have much left.” Ozeki asked in worry, nearly brandishing his spear.
“Because.” Razmund shrugged, waiting for the Dice to calm down, or seek what it was seeking.
[They are here. Death to you, walking and waiting, hunting the home of this land]
[It is approaching. The inevitable clash that seeks no remedy is close and ending] The Dice slammed at Razmund's chest, not even flinching him.
“And?” he asked. “What is there for us, when dangers are everywhere? Who is here? What is approaching?”
“Someone is,” Ozeki added. “Got plenty of readings of potential threads. That was days ago. Some moved, others did not. Nothing is valid anymore and no one troubles us. Something changed the status quo, so this message might be why.”
Razmund frowned, and just as he wanted to clutch the Dice, it winced and went up again, as if looking at him.
[You die. Feed me beforehand]
“Is that so?” Razmund snapped his hand, catching it in a flash and securing it again around his left palm, leaving the Dice whispering to his heart.
[Death is approaching. They Hunt you from behind, around, and all over you. Take steps lightly, lest the clash of divine be the End of your Hunt]
“What was that for?” Ozeki asked and couldn't get a word out of that noise.
Razmund hesitated as he secured a couple of knobs. Divine words were apparent and worth some ears. “That we are changing our strategy. You mentioned something to me before. Something about... you know. You haven't said all the details to me, but it was a possibility. A bait, is that right?”
Ozeki laughed, pushing his palms over his face as if he heard a joke. “You consider it just because of a mere Dice? It does it all the time.”
“And? Is it wrong? Something changed the situation. It is a real possibility that something harmful is moving. What was that about a Lady then? Is it something that Levandis did or created?”
Ozeki stopped laughing when he heard him mention his Lady. “Oy, I was serious. The bait is good. I reckon you would want it one way or another, but now and in this Sector? Well, it won't hurt me, but you won't like the feel of it.”
“Do it,” Razmund ordered.
Ozeki slashed the empty hand aside; a thin dagger appeared in his hand, looking like blood itself, but glistering in metallic glint. “It needs blood. Lots of it.”
Razmund would accept the cost at any capacity, even when this possibility would cost him a fortune and a large portion of this single Helper.
“I will feed your folded reward. Don't worry.” He said to Ozeki as he offered his right arm.
“So generous,” Ozeki said. “I will cherish drawing you myself. Cutting you even more.” Then, he slashed at him, bathing the air and ground in red.
***
Far away, in the middle of sand patches of storming heat that felt like swirling sip into volcanoes of wind, Murai was scowling under the sun he no longer liked. With only Itrosh aside, hiding under Bagus's wing, they moved on foot onward at a slower pace than ever before.
With the hood off, and the hoodie opened on his front thanks to its zip right below his neck and down his belly, he still felt hot and uncomfortable. Perhaps it was a mental issue, an unnecessary superstition, or his cores didn't like this level of heat, or he didn't want to accept how his Flame was churring. It was affecting his Core Defying Fusion Technique and his Artificial Core was getting haughty because of his Beast Core and its Flame.
Lisa said he wouldn't find the heat problematic, claiming that Anatidae feathers had neat properties and elemental defenses, but she didn't know about elementals, cores, and what Anatidaes liked, or what their Universal Affinity was about. It was never in her mind, for they were out of her sight.
What a lying bitch, Murai would call her if it wouldn't be for her terrible mood or his spread-out wings in defeat. He spent some time in the Heavenly Manual and working on his techniques will take a lot longer than expected.
It wasn't a terrible time, frankly. Unless one was Bagus. Murai was light like a pebble for him, so he spent this journey on top of his back, closer to the sun, spread like a death chicken, but at least he didn't walk on his own on hot sand or scorching hot rocks.
He was right beside Lisa, who was basically a featherweight of concern, yet full of it. Itrosh complained to them to no end, saying they should try going quicker if he would go under her hands or feathers.
Murai kindly refused, showing her his ass, wings, and hoodie off. Bagus laughed and cried at the same time, figuring that everything about his choices was wrong. He should've stayed behind and fought alongside David. It made sense. Itrosh was faster in the desert; she could clutch Murai and travel like lightning that would arrive at their destination in a couple of hours.
But no! Lisa argued that both would come or none, which meant death anyway. As usual, reaching David was useless. They should plan and go.
Days ago, David assured Lise to follow a reasonable pace, and not worry if some problems emerged all the time. He gave her his words for finding and getting Razmund's and Ozeki's areas or weaknesses and fighting the problems that were much more prevalent than far. He swore it on his name and Ultium's power.
Which Lisa took with acceptable skepticism back then, until he moved behind her back and fled her terms. She had limited choices and arguments and it wasn't as if she could fly and clasp him back. To her, going for Razmund sounded like an excuse to get rid of the Encounter as a whole or ride straight to the End with the next elevated Part.
It was stupid for her, but what about David? It was his hope, and Lisa should've known that greed was vast. Perhaps David was overconfident with Ultium, and she wasn't even sure what that devil was hiding in his heart, let alone deeper.
Information was king in the present situation, and with almost no living places around Scorching Light, all they could do was reach out to some caves, underground dwellings, or mines.
It was just an idea. Lisa dismissed it immediately, saying it was better to remain blind and not seek trouble when they could. Unfortunately, she was right. Bagus and Itrosh knew it, so they remained grumbling as they walked.
From time to time, Itrosh used her Waves, but it wasn't all that useful in this heat that warped her efficiency and accuracy. It had vast reach, so they took it as a brief outlook for dangers.
There weren't many points in that because this entire environment was dangerous. Traveling through the plains of sand was treacherous, filled with various sights and history. Destroyed temples, residual of mines, or old places littered many dunes. There were even many destroyed mountains that depicted pebbles the size of some buildings below old caves or mines.
There were some stalagmites made of melted sand, appearing like glass that glowed upwards or from the tall mountainous rock formations. Lisa said it was an aftereffect of that hot distant sun and mining. She hadn't mentioned anything else.
As for the potential foes, there were native beasts of this desert that attacked them from time to time. No gangs, which Lisa found strange.
Bagus dealt with scorpions, snakes, and flying harpies with a flick of his tail, wiping the sand with them to calm his mind. It worked for a time before the heat invaded his feathers again.
That went on for an hour until Lisa suggested one of the most innovative things Bagus had heard her say.
“Wait, you have a Water Affinity?” Itrosh cheered, grabbing Murai by his hoodie and hugging him tightly. Too tightly. Murai grumbled, feeling that this hug was far from being humble and nice.
“Why have you not said it sooner? Quacked it! Shouted it! Painted it like a mural in blood, or magic?” Bagus also shouted in insanity. “WHYYY!?”
Murai looked at them with bewilderment, half glancing at Lisa who hadn't thought of this as something important. It seemed she underestimated or overestimated some things about this pair. Or not at all.
“Don't look at me like that,” Lisa said to him, floating without worry. “There are many ways to handle magic. I gave you many suggestions before. Never seen you touch a speck of your Water Affinity. It is so low right now, but usable. Sharpness? Sure. You are using it often. Flame? It has some shortcomings, but it isn't so bad. You should think about Anatidaes and their Universal Affinity as a bother, but it is what gives them an edge and touch of the Endless Skies.”
Murai still glared at her in annoyance, hugged by Itrosh, and glanced at Bagus from a feather's distance away.
“What?!” Bagus and Itrosh said at the same time after hearing Lisa's voice. “What a waste.”
“Water?” Murai grumbled. “That element drowned me! Almost... That time...”
Lisa looked at him, pinned between Itrosh and Bagus who wanted some refreshment. Water was a precious element in many instances. Although they had some water in storage, they could only quench their thirst. Water as magic had many wonderful ways and effects that could turn into many things. It was extremely versatile, unlike Flame which was hot and menacing.
If anything, mana and water had many similarities. Both flowed endlessly, though one like foggy breeze and flames, and the other like blood.
“I really died there!” Murai shouted to Lisa's mind, noticing that she didn't trust him.
“Wasn't there. Surely, you shouldn't put your ass to every End. You didn't die. You keep quacking and yapping for nothing. Use your head from time to time and not bother with some Water issues that are your problems.” she said out loud.
“And the shitty Battleworld gave me that Affinity out of that near End experience.”
“Sure enough. Sounds nice and all. So? Does it stop you from doing what you should do and handle? This gift of endless Affinities is like your head. Insensible, yet like the finest gift.”
“GIFT?!” Murai almost went insane in this heat and anger. He was never this furious about a single word she said.
He hated it when she was this dismissive. It reeked of...well, it reminded him of many pasts, let alone some close deaths.
“Water... Fucking Water!” Murai couldn't break free from his chains so he unleashed his Robust Defense out of nothing but spite. Bagus only looked at him, beak close.
Itrosh handled him like a fool, so she winced her hands and stumbled to the sand when she felt a tremor and power of this sturdy barrier of unknown origin. She never saw him use it.
Murai hovered before he stopped his Defense and got down. Bagus's back was far, and his single-second Robust Defense proved itself. He mastered its basics, though he felt he couldn't unleash this sort of act all the time. It made him vulnerable afterward since it would pin him to the gravity of existence and his stability would be weaker after any seconds. Mana was almost the same, though some options about it and his Heavenly Shaping might function together. He already saw some options in the last Gate when he fought against Uqari and a bunch of beasts way over his level.
Using abilities under Robust Spirit was the training itself. Increases in Will, Soul Power, and Soul Force also gave some pointers, but he was never sure how much those numbers were worth the effort. These powers in numbers were strange where his soul was always tensed and vast. It made him dull unless he truly felt his Robust Spirit shine. It wasn't like waking up. It was more like a sudden enlightenment that elevated his soul.
At Level 8, Robust Spirit was weak at number, yet its Grade was SS. Time was precious, so Murai didn't like wasting precious Soul Force points, so he took his Robust Spirit for something else than he should.
“What is even a misery for you?” Lisa asked a good question. “I thought you went through worse than some drowning or boiling.”
“Dismissing the reality and current reality or distance reality... BAH!” Murai flicked his head away, upset. “It sounds awful. I don't like it.”
“How insensitive of you, more likely.” She said cleverly. “I think you need me and we need you.”
“More misery? No thanks. It will come anyway, regardless of my tries to stop it or not. Hunted, you see. Curses work like that. They hardly go away.”
“Or you seek it.”
“Like you, seeking and hunting my life? Uh... Fine!” Murai gave up and kicked the sand around in small storms. Taking a deep breath, he began Conjuring some mana out of his full reserves. He didn't hate Water. If he did, he would kill himself because he was a freaking duck. Those should love water like air.
Conjuring was noteworthy under his training and Heavenly Shaping. It was a very universal way to let any mana out. He opened his channels, letting his Beast Core find its way of Water out of his body. The heat made it rather odd, while Heavenly Shaping didn't influence this in the slightest unless he was using Surge or Insta Cast for some spell.
Conjuring and Shaping had their neat connection, but in his case, mastering their basics was a run in endless track. Elemental Magic was quite a wide and fundamental side of magic that was etched into his soul.
When a mage awakened his mana with a core, or had some talent like being born with some element, it was a very important time. Pursuing some talent in that direction was important for one's Path and future because what was natural was better than what was forced.
Usually, talent was the biggest obstacle when handling Elemental Magic. One could try to seek it, hoping to awaken some talents, or forcefully guide and take some element into their core. Mana Tomes was good for that, but one could easily get burned and injured by touching what one couldn't handle.
There were massive limits in what mages could handle with their flesh and cores weren't something earthshaking. Most of the time a mage was happy to master pure mana before touching or hoping for something else. External tools or some treasure could help with the rest since they were outside of their body, and some elements were useful and not that far from pure mana.
Alas, this world was far from others. Murai knew that Boosts were incredulous, enticing for anyone, and worth taking for strange Resonance, or straight-up gifts sent from Heavenly Void. That was odd. Some things were points of the previous Epoch, yet still lingered.
Getting a proper Affinity in this world might be easier than in most worlds.
For Murai, it was worth noting that his choices were important, and his species was having a joke of that rule instead. It could take anything. Any Affinity. Any element. How? Was it the wilderness, or what could that Universal Affinity mean?
Beast Core was always unkempt. Even with or without his triplet of Affinities, Shaping, or fighting.
But he had them like cheap gifts. Others had it different, limited, and varying in talents or possibilities.
Cores were most important when one considered elements and rules of magic. It was what was guiding a lot of mages in their Paths. So when thinking of one or two of them, their significance would remain with them forever.
Having them was the best with birth. Naturally awakening their effects was proper. Forcing an element to the core without any aid was hard.
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This world turned that issue into a trial of talent and resources. A mage could hone their tries until the Boost would create the beginning variant of the low-tier Affinity they were trying for. Mana Tomes worked the same way. One could fail to get it, but it was like attempting to touch something far. One could get closer and closer until one would succeed. So, at least for those who had some success, accomplishments, or due reward, it was a great gift. If there was some practice and time, Boost could increase what was worth it.
Getting an Element for Shapers was considerable leverage and an increase of possibilities. Sometimes it was a true Blessing. Core could change as well; it always did under the Affinities, unless one didn't want them at all, or simply focused on a single one of their priorities. In that sense, having more than two was useless.
There were various needs for all sorts of mages and Paths. Mana Cores were tools, after all. Everyone used them differently, turning them towards desirable heights, and trying to increase them wasn't as easy as one would assume. Revolving Core was like a dream. Mere three Successes of the Initialization Core were like great barriers, and overcoming one whole stage in the core was like a great evolution.
Murai thought of Affinities the same as usual, and even if his Core Defying Fusion Technique bricked that idea in half, he took his multiple ideas for curious and annoying gifts. Some Affinities couldn't work together. Mana wouldn't like them, and there were also Laws that one had to regard if one aimed for greater heights.
At least he could still train with the fundamentals, finding neat tricks with Heavenly Shaping, and taking Affinities for gifts that might be good later down the line. For now, he had everything he needed for basic training. For fighting, not so much.
It would take a while before some sense of comfort in magic arrived.
Affinities turned the magic upside down. Murai was a prime example of that, though he was far from being a true mage just yet. He focused on other things for most of this life.
It was hard to blame him; his body abilities and beak were simply far too great and adding to it his soul and his surroundings, he wasn't able to see the end in sight.
Water and Flame were in his core, followed by Sharpness which was the biggest and most visible. Both Water and Flame were also there, hiding under the Sharp light. Both were usable whenever he could unleash his Conjuring and touched on one of the Elements. He just never done much with either, besides roasting meat with Flame and using it in Flame Shots. That was it.
Lisa was right. Water was never in his head. He knew why, but he didn't want to admit it like a fool. With a pair of opposite elements growing around his Beast Core, it was natural to see it with doubts and use them with caution. They wouldn't disappear, but they could feel left out and slowly dim until they would be mere shadows that could hide.
His little elements weren't lonely, however. Sharpness claimed its spot, and both combined couldn't defeat this sharp light. It was far too savage, or perhaps his Beast Core disregarded these conflicts altogether when it could have them.
Murai thought it was possible because his core gave him magical issues and these Affinities. It was like a double-edged sword, and something about his Beast Core wanted those elements and he was their master, watcher, and jailer.
Sharpness was somewhat natural, but it wasn't an element.
Sharpness was under specific Force Magics that depicted styles close to elements. With roots in many things, they were residues of higher Laws, making them more powerful than natural elements and Elemental Magic.
Those could change cores in vastly different ways from elements. Thus, they were known as dangerous tools with high ceilings for learning and usage.
Still, be it Force or Elemental Affinities, they were still under the same roof. Mana space held them, cores used them, and letting them out had similar principles. Cores took care of them like planets revolving around the sun, or moons revolving around the planets. Exactly like in the vast and ancient past Epochs.
Shapers depended on them much more than Handlers, whose Affinities were usually forced by their bodies, Catalysts, or dangerous techniques. Most were unable to truly benefit from them, for Shapers were much stronger in that regard since it dwelled deep in them, and came from them.
Handlers had it in their skin. It was a little different, yet not as weak if one looked at truly powerful mages. Affinities hung around, hovered, and influenced mana space and roots in Mana Core. These processes signified power and the process of fuses of Affinities. The stronger they were, the better mages developed. Growing Affinities came less with usage and more with efficiency or letting the mana grow by taking outside resources. If one had just one of those, a mage couldn't get very far. Resources couldn't grant efficiency, and efficiency couldn't increase Affinity to another level alone.
For example, Murai's Sharpness was great and at a Grade that was rare among Anatidaes at his Level. It improved via efficiency and use. He lacked outer resources and it won't grow further as smoothly. But if he wanted to, mastering its effects would make him unstoppable at his Level.
In the vision of Affinities, core's revolutions worked for its purpose, pushing everything out in Conjuring and Shaping.
In Murai's case, his three Affinities were abnormal, if one forgot the base of pure mana. It was azure in color, cooler in flow, and without a shred of anything foreign. It was almost prettier than anything, but when it fused with elements, it turned much crisper and nicer. Like coloring water, it created an illusion of transformation. Depending on Affinity or how much the pure mana touched on this transformation, more strength came next.
If a mage wanted to turn the tides from the go, Conjuring with some Affinities in mind, they could do it if they were confident in their bodies, cores, and handling Force or Elemental Magic came next.
Someone could get burned if one turned the unkempt element up a notch, unleashing Conjuring like a storm.
Because of that, Shaping had to be more controlled and better, thus more important for most mages.
In history, Conjuring was known as the start of magic. Shaping came afterward, taking roots of control, training, and many techniques that changed magic forever. Shaping handled Conjured mana. There was usually some brief pause, delay, and waste of time.
That was even with or without Heavenly Shaping in sight. Turning that delay into the smallest amounts was substantial help and something that many mages sought out like a dream, yet their cores would have some delay, their Shaping would come next, and one still had to mind the basic Conjuring.
Murai lacked nothing in his memory. In body and mana space, he had some shortcomings.
He felt almost all elements in the universe, but not all Force Affinities. Things like Sharpness were second nature to him due to some of his lives, yet Laws were vast, and Affinities limited for most life forms. One couldn't master everything.
So what about the Water Conjuring?
It was there in his head, known and awaiting because it came to him many weeks ago. It latched into him like a curse, giving his mana potential transformation that would increase the flow and create pure water.
Mana flowed out of his feathers, escaping from openings of his open hoodie and going away. It was bright pure mana at first, before it all changed when deep inside of him, Water turned, changing his Beast Core and Conjuring when he wanted it to start.
Mana changed in a heartbeat, turning softer like wind, vapor, and droplets of water. Soon, streams of water began to fly above Murai's head, turning, and taking the heat for an enemy.
Bagus cheered but waited.
“Is that it?” Lisa said, frowning.
Murai grunted and turned toward his Shaping. He stabilized his Conjuration by letting the Water revolve and turn into a storm. Quick like a tornado, soft like a soft pillow, the water turned colder, overcoming the heat and turning into a cocoon of comfort because with speed and this storm came less contact with heat and the surroundings turned colder.
Most of this water hit Bagus, who cheered, cried, and spread his wings wide. He cooled off instantly. And for a long time, he wouldn't have an issue with traveling if Murai would do it from time to time. Itrosh was the same. She started to dance around and cherish this water storm.
“You know you can do it when you want.” Lisa clapped sarcastically, an inch from Murai's face.
He stopped his magic when the water turned to mist. He stopped his Conjuring some time ago and because of it, the heat was slowly eating this water. It lasted for more than fifty seconds. Well, it was at least half a minute more than Lisa thought he would last, considering this heat and desert, and his general ignorance for using every tool he had.
It seemed Lisa underestimated this duck again.
“Satisfied?” Murai quacked, turning to Bagus and Itrosh who were soaked wet and happy.
“You know how to handle Water better than Flames, don't you?”
“Wanna know what I don't handle?” Murai spread his wings, turned, and frowned at Lisa who felt lofty as she floated before him.
Lisa smiled at him, calm and collected as she felt him. “Me? Seriously?”
Murai nodded.
“I thought you had trouble with your core more than myself. What now? Don't tell me Heavenly Shaping changed you so much that you don't see what matters. I took that technique for something ancient, yet never utilized by Anatidaes.”
“What do you know?” Murai asked. “You take Anatidae to your mouth far too often and I don't know what to expect. Do you know them or what? Do you know something I should know?”
“Perhaps. Do you know what I don't? Undoubtedly.”
“I thought we were over this topic many days ago, Lisa. That a page turned to a new leaf and we would mind our business.”
“Weird quote.”
“It isn't a quote. I said it as I feel it.”
“Leaf, huh?” Lisa pondered about something. “I suppose we will go deeper and quicker into Scorching Light like this. Can your Water and Beast Core manage it?”
Murai folded his wings back. “Yes. Who do you think am I?”
With that said, the group went back to their journey and Lisa relaxed and figured she might give Murai some ideas.
Reaching Sector 34 with the help of Water ended up helping Itrosh and Bagus substantially. They were no longer half dead, but rejuvenated and quick on their feet. Especially Bagus was laughing and took Murai's position on top of his head for a Blessing.
In less than an hour, Sector 45 was near. Sectors were indifferent, looking the same, and most surrounded or took some mountains for their base, corners, and borders. Most significant Sectors had great owners who let it show. Roads were great and some towns were even on the surface, shrouded by some mountains, big buildings, or large flat layers of leather or magic barriers against the sun and heat. Those were generally obvious by some landmarks, big mountains, and places that Lisa didn't want to visit.
The further they went, the hotter it got, and the harsher environment turned into dried sandy rocks. Bones started to appear, dried and crisp like crackers. Murai tried some of them, but they tasted like dust.
Land by itself was useless. The sand was lifeless when it didn't turn into dried rocks. No enemies appeared either. It was lovely in many different ways. Mines in Sectors 44, 45, 46, 48, and 50 were large-scale operations with thousands of years of history, and also many raging wars. Great sources of income, competition for money, and godly favors ensured Chaos in this place.
Itrosh found many wandering figures around them, yet most of them meant no trouble. They didn't want to have anything to do with this Hunt, and Grifhart was kind of strong. They cared about mining and resources under the sand, and some games were far from their heads.
If it weren't for Hell Points and their wanted posters, Lisa would try to find some support in them. Most should know about the occurrences outside of the Scorching Light. Mindarch spoke its voice, and Levandis was like the voice of a Ruler. Everyone should take her voice for Law.
For as long as their heads could, of course. Many were so far above this play or level of fame, that they wanted to work and provide for themselves. They didn't care for some God. They had work to do. Hunt was for those who took Hunt for work.
Scorching Light was an outcast Province. A lot of arrogant and wild demonic clans, gangs, and individuals ended up here, looking for riches and power that can come with it.
That could mean trouble because Murai's location was one of the best mining places in this entire Gate. Murai kept his Token always close in his pocket. It could become problematic if he lost it. And its benefits against such a place were laughable.
There was only one Pivotal City here. Anyone, or anything could attack them at any time. That was why Gate 3 was known as Hellish Gate in the Surface and many adventures didn't want to come here. It was like a great filter. It stopped anyone weak before Paradise.
Murai though Hellscape was a greater name than Hellish Gate.
Adventures and Dungeon Delvers knew of Levandis Temple's reputation and regarded it as a Unique-Grade location that was outside of most old or newly found Dungeons. Subjectively speaking, it was harsher than most of them simply because of the involvement of Somalis Hell itself and difficult and flexible Gate challenges.
Hellscape was the harshest place out of the starting half of this temple. The reason? There were too many variables, crazy fools willing to do wild acts, unknown dangers, and difficulties were hard to calculate at every attempt.
It was no wonder. Strategy was more important than flesh or sword, and going here alone was like asking for a beating.
Sectors could shift without the right direction. Most of those who challenged this Gate with impunity died, never to return to the Surface.
That was what Lisa knew, but the case of weaklings didn't concern her. Her cards were awaiting. Her hopes were approaching.
“How long... till we stop? Bloody world. Water. Feather for a Water!” Bagus whined, regretting having such a tough coat of feathers.
“Shut up,” Murai scowled and showered him with a quick whirlpool of Water that seemed like a tornado. Speed cooled his Water, turning cold as long as he was good with speed. He used a limited amount of mana, thus the effects weren't strong or large, so the speed was good, and heat ceased it quicker. It was enough for refreshment and Bagus cheered up and like his words, he gave him a father for this shower. Murai didn't know what to do with many of them, so he sored them into his ring and called it a day.
So far, Murai was still wearing his half-open hoodie as he sat on top of Bagus's head. Without it, the heat might be more manageable, but he kept Amelius close in his mind, so he kept it on. Water didn't leak through it, and his own refreshment elevated his mind for five minutes at a time. That ensured near infinite loop of showers because his mana was constantly replenishing, and his use of Water was getting better and better.
Unfortunately, so much could one do with a shower. Murai doubted some beasts or Razmund would appreciate it.
Lisa argued with him about it a couple of times, but each time she did so, Murai barked at her that she was a bitch that didn't have any feelings. It wasn't hurtful. In a sense, he was right; Lisa didn't have any physical feelings at all. She felt fine as if she was taking a stroll in the garden and some heat was the same as intense cold.
That was at least the gist of it as they entered Sector 44.
They were around eight kilometers away from Ip'ur Mountain, which was the middle portion of Scorching Light and this Gate as a whole.
Sector 44 had a great location to hide. There were many open caves in the mountainous cliffs that were many stacked mountains in the middle of a vast flat desert. There was even some chill in their shade.
They rested for a bit of time, feeling like bugs hiding in the darkness.
This brief pause was the last one before they would reach Ip'ur Mountain.
Sector 44 wasn't anything crazy. There were no indistinguishable paths onwards or borders. It was all the same dry sand. But when some gangs found some trespassers around their properties or wounded mines, things could get ugly.
Owners of each mountain were usually different unless large gangs or companies owned them. Sometimes, there were those interested who would take them by force anyway, so there were those who owned dozens of them because they were powerful enough to keep them. Mines worked similarly in name alone.
All for the wealth and power, this place was honest under Murai's eyes.
In the case of valuable mines, rare findings, treasures, or some ancient sights, they were a hot commodity. Competition over them was always fierce even with some demons, humans, or clever beasts.
Everyone was looking for their benefits. So much so, that small towns often surrounded some mines, creating a hub of some sort. One such hub was where Lisa decided to visit and check on something good.