Murai could easily imagine how many complications could arise, begin, or change. Seeing the sun, surroundings, and that huge mountain down below, he was wondering where to go. Down? How? What was there for him other than jump?
Looking up, he didn't even squint as he looked at that menacing giant sun that was in the ceiling, looking significant, sizzling, and its grinding waves and waves of light looked as if there was a true sun around a kilometer above him. It must be hundreds of meters in diameter, and it was pushing rapid waves of sunlight waves around the Scorching Light. It was crazy how it didn't destroy its surroundings or the ground below for dozens of kilometers.
“Why does this feel like a formation enchant, forma, or... well, a spark?” Murai wondered for himself again, causing Lisa to flinch and look at him with serious eyes. He missed her act.
He had no choice but to trust her demands and this place. Breathing in to feel it, he won't breathe again for a while. It was making walking and sensing mana difficult and that sun was way too close. It felt so rabid that his mana space was itching and breaking apart.
He revolved his Core Defying Fusion Technique and pushed his Artificial Core further away from a Beast Core that was overwhelming with pushing forces of three Affinities. Sharpness was the greatest by pure principle and Grade, but in the past day, he spent quite some attention on Water, while Flame was feeling at home. The Water didn't get stronger in the slightest. It got respectful use for the first time out of sheer need for showers. It was a shame, but Murai never took Lisa's or Pillage's advice to heart.
Some aspects of heat followed his natural Replenishment, so his Flame improved by a small leap in its Grade for sure, but Murai wasn't too concerned about following some letters, let alone numbers.
“How savage. I am glad I took most of the last day in this desert with a clutched beak and feel. A simple toss out of the blue to this place would crack my last days of efforts. Perhaps I would.... lose everything. If so... maybe leaving all my essences in the stash for later is good. I could restart if no big harm cracks my tries apart. Let's do it like usual if my life and mana space is like a storm. Oh. How much killing would I make for a proper flesh...”
Nodding to himself, Murai glanced back to the deep crevice and felt Bagus's little exciting steps and breath. Bagus and Itrosh had no choices. David said to trust Lisa, and since he went to do his own things, this pair was on their own and enjoyed it greatly. They trusted such a simple task, yet what could happen afterward was still not up to here. Struggling against the heat, no one was sure what was around them. Itrosh's Waves ceased to stop an hour ago, so they were blind, but so were the others.
Once more, that might've never played a big role, for Mindarch was watching, and who knows what else was around. Lisa definitely felt disrupted.
High above, for almost no eyes to see with a blinding light with an aura that shined to most corners, the sun was like a deadly curse, yet there were some flying skulls, and even some birds and weird eyes. It was unknown whether it was a kilometer above or hundreds of meters wide. Some denizens thought this biggest artificial sun might be very tiny. Glowing waves followed its every push of heat and wave, and even the crystals around the ceiling seemed to be lost in the light, or they weren't there as they corroded or lost their purpose.
Down below, surrounding the round canyon, lifeless grounds stayed dry and hot for many millenniums. There was no helping that. Well, perhaps no one wanted to help or change anything that Levandis personally created.
It was like this for a reason, Lisa knew. Where worths were kept, interest would remain. Gods had to tolerate it or adore it.
Murai didn't care to dig for information or some excuses himself. They were quite close all the time. He didn't have the means to do much, which left Lisa full of her choices and argumentative desires. She said she would give him the long awaiting help and words.
Yet how did it end, or where? Looking down, Murai noted a red mountain with a city curling around it. There were cliffs and the entire perimeter of the ground below seemed quite barren beside the city. Perhaps it wasn't as hot as he assumed, as there were thousands of buildings.
“How do we want to get down? Proceed with the proper steps, or not? Personally, I hate this place already. Makes my skin crawl,” Itrosh asked, crunching and looking down. She knew exactly how this place operated and how many fools were below.
“Know some way myself,” Bagus said, determined to go down as fast as possible to leave this hellish cliff.
“I know a good way down too.” Itrosh smiled, turning to everyone.
“No thanks.” Lisa said, ignoring her suggestion, but not Bagus's “There are things to carry in our minds next. Below, things might get fragile and I want every one of us to be ready. We go mining after all. There are many fools there, got it?! Agree?!” By the end, Lisa sounded like a general hyping up her soldiers.
Bagus laughed and agreed, and the fact this was a bait flew over his head. Itrosh cheered rather reluctantly while Murai could only remain silent.
“Will this be any different than Tagg's City?” Murai asked. “Everyone there felt troubled. Why not here?”
“Because we have things to do there, unlike in our brief pause back in that mountain. I doubt we will get the warmest welcome below. However, I wonder what are politics like. David said he has limited clues about them because Ip'ur City is kind of remarkable. You will get why.”
“Do you blame anything?” Itrosh said, still looking down. “These areas are hardly in our lines of duty or work. Lost Brothers takes care of tasks that are pleasant and doable. Not intense and insane.”
“That's the same thing,” Bagus argued, looking at her.
“Wanna tease me like this?” She hissed at him with a wide smile. “I am ready, Lisa. We go when ready or what? Murai doesn't seem... Well...”
She looked at the itching Anatidae, sitting and ready to go ham. Murai had a good feeling about some good fights. He got plenty of it already, but this place might get wilder.
Lisa clasped her hands, echoing an unlikely sound for her size. “Calm down. I am a voice of reason.
“And I am what?” Murai asked her mind.
Ignoring him was the perfect response. “Bagus will do us good, am I correct?”
“I can glide down with ease. Itrosh included, though it won't be as nice and comforting,” he cocked his head, chuckling and trying to hide his beak by his wing. He was too obvious in his remark about her weight.
Itrosh got up, hissing and scratching his feathers with numerous weapons of no particular choice.
Ip'ur Mountain held a weirder town than the main hubs of other Sectors. In a sense, a dozen kilometers around this hole were known as Sector 45. There were just ten mountains in this circle in total, and every one of them was like a pebble compared to this one. Tagg's City was also small. Ip'ur City had more people, better mines, a richer history, and especially wild political, strategic, or physical ideals.
It was a place where deep values went through many processes and many Overlords and Extremes showed it some attention. It was the best mining area that Levandis owned. Overlords owned it under many names, a firm hand, and no changing name. It was for under the military, many subordinates fiddled with its worth and politics, which further put things into a strange demeanor where there was a lot of room for gangs and many companies.
Politics in this canyon weren't small in the slightest, nor were they bad or good. For most, it represented craftiness to get benefits, which might happen with some deals, money, bravery, or power.
Some mines were great acquisitions, followed by literal stealing, or obliteration of some mining companies. It was about the opposition, and as long as one didn't touch the mining itself, or quotas wouldn't go below passable level, nothing would happen.
There was a rule that prevailed. The owner of this whole Sector wasn't dealing with the mines themselves. That fell on companies, affiliates, gangs, or those willing to mine and do it for Levandis in any capacity. Unsurprisingly, things weren't simple with the greed and difficulties of mining Ultra Materium.
As suspected, incentives for using slaves as miners were common. It was lucrative that with more hands to mine, more results arrived. Unfortunately, the mining difficulties varied from miner and location, and going deep or closer to some mines or veins of Ultra Materium might come with consequences. Dreams between the miners and companies were heavy, while the mining itself was harsh and much harder than some simple ore or essence mining.
However, there was one fact that surrounded the depths of this mountain. There was very little of anything besides Ultra Materium.
Around the Scorching Light, there were thousands of mines with various depths and countless teams of miners worked for many treasures. A huge part of Hellscape's population ended up working for the running of this business and trading for various goods. Be it some farming to provide food or water, or simply some means to make them run, there was enough interest and never enough hands.
Ultra Materium was never running out because of its properties, suns, and its mining difficulties. The artificial sun above wasn't that, unfortunately. That one was there as a simple breath to keep the soil going but Lisa didn't mention it.
There were also better ways to let some Gems shine again. Those were individuals with the same Affinity as some Ultra Gem. After Laws came into this equation, farming, and very substantial means to increase one's Affinity or potency of one's core, things got intense very quickly, creating a perpetual cycle that could go on and on.
Alas, it wasn't without dangers. With speed came consequences. Too much density and Mana Flow could quickly become a ticking bomb. Mistakes could happen to any mage, while training or absorbing Ultra Gems was seen as a rare and excessive method on the Surface, where these Gems held rich and rare status. Some places didn't have them at all, while some took them for an unfortunate good from Somalis Hell. Their need was also quite hefty for many mages on Surface or in Sky, so some compromises were clever.
Levandis had many customers around the globe. The mere point of golem making and crafting that came with these Gems ensured she had this business running for many millennia. It was her monopoly, and she defined prices.
A true goldmine. That was how Murai perceived the Ip'ur Mountain under his eyes after he quickly understood what Lisa meant. It was wide and glaring in heat and the wind here wasn't small. How to come down again? Lisa wanted them to fly down, or jump. he must be kidding in this heat, albeit that was false. She didn't give a single feather about any of them.
Other canyons were far smaller in comparison or made that way to create a better environment. Competition was rather common across the mining teams and all mining companies had big stakes in meeting quotas or satisfying Levandis.
Most of that was falling on the owner. Things like black markets or unofficial businesses were common and dealt with a heavy hand, yet they still happened, and purchasing them in hopes of reselling was against this place. When any Overlord discovered such activities, miners and companies—let alone Challengers or regular denizens—rather followed what they should.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
What was below them was a city that Lisa couldn't see because it wasn't part of most Challenger runs. Yet she took her bait here, and she planned to see the end of it.
With the world already so insane, what if Levandis prepared some nasty surprise for them? Mindarch was quiet. No significant information came from the Tagg's City either, but Lisa knew something was odd about them. Something very wrong was ticking her nerves for days.
She flew around in that city and with Bagus behind, some excuses or rumors came from some unfortunate demons who preferred to talk rather than feel her touch or eyes inside their heads. Things she discovered were simple at first. Device communication was off-limits.
Be it private or not, their workings were under some supervision. Physical communication was possible, which was one part of the rumors, although it might not be that fat. Everything else was cut off for some reason, which might explain David's silence, but that fool hadn't talked to Lisa long before this Sector.
Lisa was nervous. They reached their destinations, and there was no sign of Ozeki or Razmund himself. Hunters could come.
If not doubtful, what good was waiting down below? Perhaps her whole mining idea might come as off-putting to even more people than their simple visit and rest.
Murai wasn't following her concerns as he looked at the city from the top of Bagus's head. This one was much better in structure than most cities he had seen ever since Helltrim City. It had a shrouded style and architecture that was elevated and full of shadows and big roofs. Heat-resistant materials that would absorb or reflect the sun from above were wise.
Way down was a single road around the mountain, circling like a swirling path around the whole perimeter until going to the city walls and gates. The city itself was the same. There was just one street that swirled around the Ip'ur Mountain like a little thread. Many side-street were intersecting and fusing streets, looking like a dart board in some taverns. It was more intense, however, swirly like weird eyebrows, tornado, or water whirlpool.
“I say we go,” Lisa ordered, knowing there was no point in wasting time. As she spoke, she made last turns around the scorching rocky desert that was mostly flat. She saw far and saw no one besides some fools above.
Getting down was at least better than standing like lost ducks on top of this cliff. Below were many shades thanks to the mountain in the middle, with many cliffs coming from it that were like spikes. Boulders protruding and shading from the heat were another protection. Murai thought it shouldn't be that hot. Especially in the mines that they were soon to enter.
This was their goal and a lot of the past days headed for this exact moment. Lisa was tense in the same way as she entered this Gate, if not much more. There was almost nothing that would ease her mind. Hopefully, this place wouldn't stop her demands and ideas too much. If so...
Bagus jumped into the air like a master and spread his wings. He was tall, his wings had incredible reach, and his weight and stability were extraordinary, so he fell steadily.
With Itrosh hugging his neck, Lisa flying behind, and Murai clutching his feathers with his beak, they reached the ground level of Ip'ur Mountain below the cliffs.
The ordinary entrance consisted of a road around the cliff. It took ages to go down that way. It was something Lisa would refuse because she knew Murai's complaint.
Perhaps it was for the better since she felt he had an itch to fall and spread his wings as well. That would work, but Bagus was better.
Entrance by flying down was a bit rarer since one couldn't enter the city this way. There were plains before it, and massive gates and walls before the city itself. Any visitor had to enter like this. Trespassers were chaotic, hardly ever questioned, and if it was some well-known criminal or someone with a bad reputation, they could be apprehended, killed, or forced to work in mines for free.
Denizens of this city were not that brash about their work, wealth, or power. The military wasn't the smallest, and companies were like big dogs that could swallow weaklings or look for every opportunity.
Lisa knew this place. The question was how far it would change in fifty years and within this bait of hers or this Hunt. David wasn't aware how it would change either, so he didn't give her any word all those days ago.
Entering with Itrosh and Bagus was all she could rely on, which was far from being enough if she was honest with herself. But she wasn't. She hardly expressed her worries to Murai, let alone to anyone else.
Before them was a city of tens of thousands, which was quite a surprising number of demons in such a place. Most were permanent residents or part-time miners from other places of Levandis's interest.
Few humans were in this place, but many had their stores, workshops, or businesses there. Considering this canyon was harsh in climate, origin, and work, it wasn't a lovely place for everyone, yet business was always booming.
Upon landing, Murai felt the soil that was hard like steel, and every breath he took shocked his lungs and pushed his clutched cores. Any moisture was nonexistent, and with heat and competition, this place was not for vacations.
Miners were the majority of the incoming enemies, with demons, beasts, and anyone. As long as one was capable, one could mine as long as one wanted. Since it was a hard job in success and failure, as long as someone got a contract going and worked alone or with some company, stopping a miner from working was like taunting their ancestors.
Free reign over mining was always relative. Almost all Ultra Gems went through major companies that worked under the name of an owner, who was right below Levandis herself. Such companies would get cuts depending on their success and miners, who were disallowed to bring any Gems out of the mines.
Solo miners or company miners had to relinquish their loot. Then, after the owners got the hang of their Gems, most went to Levandis. Depending on selling, she would make correct arrangements and offer hefty rewards for this whole process. Depending on the position, rewards could be substantial. This increased mining and created great competition. It wasn't that hard to see it not working. Most Gems weren't useful for anyone here, and reselling them anywhere was a huge gamble.
It was a neat structure of value incentivized by Blessings and her word. Valuable rewards and worth of Hell Points came from this system. Thanks to Levandis' clever ideas of selling them to the highest bidders in the Surface or Sky, everything was for her benefit, despite the work of her people. But they were still happy because if she wouldn't keep her word, a happy Goddess might be no more.
Regardless of Chaos and her, Murai was impressed and surprised to see this. It sounded like a basic structure that stung of godhood and Endless Skies. Rewards and ancient or modern slavery were the rest. It was worth applauding because it didn't sound terrible on paper or words.
Most such crazed ideas would crumble soon enough. Chaos was like that. Demonic companies were never so neat and collected to make something like this work. Sooner or later, some God would move in and crack the sensitive, or neat system put in place.
Right. Someone like Lordis might do it just fine, but he didn't. Instead, he forced her into his world and changed her temple. Ever since then, some Challengers have been able to bring out some Gems. It was a peculiar problem that hadn't been an issue for quite some time, for there was the Centralis Kingdom which was surrounding the Seventh Death Forest for quite some years.
But considering the age, fallen, or old legacies and dynasties, this temple had seen plenty of them. They won't crack under any pressure. Every one of them might as well be a temporary issue because a big or small number of Surface Challengers didn't make any difference. Levandis might as well cheer them on as they clashed and died against her temple.
But every once in a while, some nasty visitors would knock or leave, which might be stressful because she didn't read through the terms of service all that well.
Everyone wanted to get ahead and get as much of rewards as possible. Hence, some underhanded tactics were commonplace and robberies or wiping out competitions was feasible. Value in mining was intense and worth it, allowing places to work for millennia. It never stopped, thus the business never left.
Because of that, even in such a desert unfit for a city, where there was wealth, there was a life. It was inevitable. Each place in such canyons or mountains was like that, which was part of the reason Lisa only allowed one single visit to one of many mountains.
Murai turned and looked around some more, noticing close yet hiding buildings behind sturdy gates and walls.
“What a city.” Murai reckoned as he went back to Bagus's head for better views. They landed in wide open land that had no shade whatsoever. It was very hot again, and Bagus wished Lisa would tell him to get closer to the gate.
No one was around them. No guards. Not a single soul was in sight. Murai saw the city on their flight despite his clutched beak and shaking head. The closer the streets were to the mountain, the closer they turned. Width and size were away from the mountain, yet most mining companies were still closer to the mountain because of access to the underground.
It was quite a simple layout for a hellish city, filled with limits, tight spaces, shade, and roofs. Murai was unable to notice streets or anyone because of all those constraints. There seemed to be proper protection under them, and some kind of architecture made of straight lines and size. Someone cared for that place, for it was old and quite good. No one would bring destruction to the street, lest they anger the owner or Levandis herself.
“Now, Murai Hisagi, where to start looking and do this madness next? A hundred meters, remember,” Lisa said to his mind and clutched Murai's Token in her palm.
“Hey, when did you take it?” Murai quacked at her, half annoyed and half surprised. “Also, I know what it means!”
Before answering, she tossed it at him. Murai caught it with his beak, glaring at her in an open irritation and growling noises.
“Token is your room to the next Gate. Unfortunately, we can't leave this temple like this, or... here. David tried to look for a way out besides a portal. There is not much to do because of that little Mindarch and current problems. There is nothing we can afford. Trust me on this.”
“Figures. So? Is there some way further into this madness and suffering?”
“What if I say there is?”
“Would I get disappointed if I trusted you or not?” Murai asked in return and took their internal discussion for a silly idea.
“That is up to you. For now, handle that Token like your life. It will do something when you are close to a portal. Vibration. Shine. Sense of undulation, or some connection. David and I had a long conversation about possible locations. One was the overall surroundings, but that is wrong. So how about the city itself? We will look around and take care of that mountain as well. Portals should have a stable structure. Ground had to be sturdy, so some elevations were no good. So, what's left? Go deep. Half of the portals around Scorching Light are linked to some underground. Another half goes to old cities or hard-to-reach places. You will know yours from your pocket. Not a pouch or a ring. That is why you should be careful. When one snatches it away, we are gone. Finding it back is like finding purpose in this life.”
“Shouldn't a Guide be for that? Wait. Never mind.” Murai shook his head and couldn't see a single logical thing in what he asked.
“Do you see Lorry anywhere?” Lisa said calmly, overlooked his mark, and widened her arms around her. “That skull is either whoring himself, gambling, or doing whatever he deems worthy under his Lady. I could care less since this Gate doesn't require such nonsense. My times were without a Guide as well. It is one of the rules of this place.”
“Well, that is a bummer. Wait. No. Fuck the rules. Right?” Murai stored the Token in his pocket and had no big issues if that silly skull was out of sight.
“I would say otherwise, but be my guess. That skull could be reliable if he wants, but he is...” she hesitated.
“Like you?”
“No. Definitely not that. Back to the topic. We have plans. I have plans. We walk into it, you feel your Token as we walk around, and don't cause trouble.”
“Says you. I am a little tiny stuffed animal. You do the same.” he joked around and felt her irritated marking her face with little tensing sona. It was getting obvious. “Does it even matter in the ground? Portal is going to be underground for sure.”
“I took you as someone who hates guessing. Do you want to argue with me? You heard me before. We don't know. So we look.” Lisa gave him a long look.
“Guessing means uncertainty. If a portal is hiding, it is down. Where else? Sometimes, I can't get your head and words at all.” Murai sighed and felt the Token in his pocket like a notable coin.
“Take my warnings. I have my doubts, but history has its precedence. No troubles, everyone. Alright?” She finally spoke out loud, looking at Itrosh and Bagus who were ready.
“I am going anywhere. Probably...” Itrosh said, tossing a bunch of knives up and down her palms. “If troubles come from that city, I will slice them.”
“I will bite them.” Bagus offered his beak.
On top of Bagus—the big guy didn't mind him—Murai looked for the entrance to the city. With such a bodyguard underneath him, he had doubts someone would snatch his Token away. The pocket itself was deep. He would have trouble losing it intentionally, let alone because of others, yet Lisa still got it from him, which was curious.
Having a mount always felt good. The upcoming task was simple in some ways and complicated in others. Finding the portal was one part of the task. Some consider it the easy part, or incredibly hard. Getting inside had its privilege for any Challenger. The true tasks were the surroundings and individuals close to portals. It was about some Guardians like in the Gate 1.
Some portals were public, resting in the city's square, or some public and well-known places such as some mountains, cave systems, or various farming spots or danger zones. Some animals and gangs took them for themselves, protecting what was precious.
Even a Surface Challenger could enter one with a Token in hand. Without it, one was prohibited from using it because it would turn this Gate into a joke. Without that in sight, most portals connected to Chaos Space ensured traveling was easy as long as one had money to spare.
Lisa had enough of that. No chances, however. She knew Mindarch disallowed that, and even looking for a different escape route ended up fruitless. She thought of dozens of kinds of underhanded tactics. One thing was hiring someone from Hell for help, get them out of the temple and Death Valley itself. Seventh Death Forest was then a secondary issue. Lisa believed that if she had her whole party, even if the Centralis Kingdom would come with some army, she and Murai would get away.
Once again, Mindarch refuted her tries even if they were personal and good for everyone. It seemed because of overreaching Gods, and her failure in trying anything anyway, David or Lisa didn't manage to hire anyone.