Linden, following far behind the adventurers, felt increasingly uneasy the further they went.
Why does this path feel so familiar?
Isn't this the way to the Flame Demon's old home?
Linden knew very well that no battle had occurred at the location of the Flame Demon Nest; otherwise, the mushrooms he had placed nearby would definitely have detected magic fluctuations.
Could it be that the Flame Demon never returned after going out that time, and they missed each other when they came down?
He had always thought these people had come down through a route he didn't know about. After all, the deep layers were vast, with more than just one entrance, it was just that he didn't have the ability to explore them.
Since they were taking the path to the Flame Demon Nest, the question now was—had the Flame Demon gone home?
***
"Ha, finally I can relax."
Having found the Ducal Daughter, Gael was also in a good mood. What adventurer wouldn't covet the reward of an entire city?
"Captain, you don't know how desperate I was on the 9th floor when you said the direction had changed. I thought she had really fallen into the Touch..."
Before he could finish speaking, Gael was kicked by Night Owl.
Looking at the pink Puff Night Owl was holding, he remembered that Inanna was still here. What he had just said was a bit too unrestrained.
"Ahem."
As usual, it was Captain Nova who came out to change the subject.
"Ivan, are you confident you can lift Miss Inanna's Transformation Spell?
Do we need to find some professional curse removers after we go up?"
Ivan didn't like hearing that: "Do you think I'm worse than those third-rate hacks?
It's just a solidification potion used after transformation, and you think that can stump me?
It won't be harder than changing you back from scarecrows that time in the Scarecrow Abyss."
Nova just wanted to change the subject and didn't expect to step on Ivan's landmine. He could only give an awkward laugh:
"I don't understand, I don't understand. It's good that you're confident..."
Unknowingly, the group had returned to the entrance connecting to the upper layers.
It was as hot here as ever.
Night Owl was already sensitive to heat, and now holding a Puff, he was even hotter.
But considering Inanna was a noble lady after all, even if she had turned into a Puff, it wasn't appropriate for a man to hold her casually.
Night Owl could only endure the heat, just walking a little faster.
On the contrary, Inanna in his arms didn't react much to the hot environment, after all, she had All Resistance LV6.
"Wait!"
Archmage Ivan's sharp voice made Night Owl and the others stop in their tracks.
"The magic fluctuations are different."
[Reconnaissance Skill]
"Night Owl," the Archmage's voice was calm, "take the young lady and go."
Night Owl glanced at Ivan. Although the old half-human often went crazy during his magic addiction, he was the most experienced in the entire team when he was sober.
Without hesitation, she blended into the elongated shadows of the others and darted into the passage at an extremely fast speed.
The moment she disappeared, the entire cave began to tremble.
The lava pools on both sides surged like boiling blood vessels, and viscous golden-red bubbles burst one after another, spewing out sulfurous smoke mixed with heat waves.
Night Owl's departure made the hidden enemy realize it had been discovered. Now, it didn't intend to let the remaining few prey escape.
Accompanied by an inhuman roar, a massive figure rose from the lava pool.
Its mountain-like upper body was pieced together from semi-solidified lava and charred bones. Dark red rock shell wrapped its body and the lava heart within like armor.
At the same time, numerous one-person-tall flame monsters, looking like smaller versions of it, leaped out from around, blocking the way.
Gulp—
The half-dragonman swallowed hard.
"Flame Demon... and Lava Golems..."
"Be careful, there's a Level 64." Ivan, who had already used Reconnaissance Skill, stated the Flame Demon's strength.
There was no time for further communication. The Flame Demon had already swung its giant lava fist and smashed down.
[Shield Domain]
Gael raised his shield, forming a massive shield phantom in front of him, and forcefully blocked the blow.
However, due to the level difference, he was not unharmed. Blood continuously seeped from his armguard.
[Revival]
[Life Potential]
Nova took a breath and cast two spells, healing and strengthening. Only then did Gael barely manage to maintain the Shield Domain.
With another roar, seeing that it couldn't directly crush these bugs, the Flame Demon stirred up a giant wave from the lava pool beneath it.
Seeing the unfavorable situation, Ivan decisively inserted an A-Grade Magic Crystal into his abdomen. At the same time, a [Clarity Spell] allowed him to maintain his sanity under the surge of magic, although this would cause him immense pain.
Facing a LV64 Flame Demon, he didn't dare to hold back at all. He went all out with 300% of his power from the start.
[Ice Ring]
The embedded Magic Crystal provided him with a power bonus far exceeding that of an ordinary staff. The Ice Ring spread outwards with the three of them as the center.
It froze the rocky ground, and also froze those few Lava Golems. Finally, it collided with the giant lava wave and barely managed to solidify it.
"We... need to run faster."
Immense pain stimulated Ivan's every nerve. He couldn't maintain this state for long.
Even with this explosive boost, his magic could only barely match the Flame Demon's regular strength. If they dragged this out, the few of them would surely die.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple."
The Flame Demon actually took advantage of the few people blocking the lava to move near the passage entrance, blocking the three of them.
Seeing this, Ivan uncharacteristically let out a curse:
"Damn it, if I can get back alive this time, I'm definitely going to apologize to Kemo. I even laughed at her last time when she said Flame Demons were highly intelligent..."
"What should we do? Should we retreat?"
The half-dragon looked at the passage they came from. It should still be possible to retreat now.
"No, you guys hold on a little longer."
Nova's tone was as if he had made some kind of decision. Gael, who had worked with him for 10 years, knew exactly what he was thinking.
"You want to use that? Even then, it might not be enough to deal with this Flame Demon!"
Ivan didn't say anything from the side. After blocking another wave of lava, he was already in too much pain to speak. His last bit of strength had to be used on the next spell.
Nova didn't explain, he just glanced at the half-dragon. The latter could only, as usual, choose to trust his captain.
A small branch with two tender buds was taken out of Nova's embrace.
Linden, who had been watching from a distance, immediately noticed this item with a panel.
[Divine Artifact: Life-Visiting Wood Core (Fragment)]
Another divine artifact!
Magic power surged into it, but not just magic power.
Nova's life force was also being heavily drained. His face visibly thinned before their eyes.
After finally feeding the divine artifact, Nova pointed it at a corner of the Flame Demon's chest – there was a subtle crack on the rock shell there.
It was because he noticed this that he dared to counterattack here.
A tender bud turned into a green light and flashed past, piercing the Flame Demon's armor and shattering the lava heart within its chest.
The Flame Demon, which had thought victory was within its grasp, suddenly suffered a fatal blow.
With its core shattered, it could no longer support its massive body, and it fell beside the lava pool, letting out a final weak wail.
This demon, which had blocked Linden for several years and was the strongest monster he had ever seen, died so abruptly.
Feeling the fragments of Sunstone still hot beneath his carapace.
Is this a divine artifact...
If anyone finds any bugs, please let me know, and I'll fix them promptly.