NOVEL NEXT Chapter 545 Instrumental
545 Instrumental
The group of Magi stood in front of the gaping hole. This was the same hole that Stratford had come out from at the advent of the twin blood moons.
"This is the place?" Hudson asked with a solemn expression.
"Yes!" Said one of the Agents.
"Hmm…" Hudson stroked his chin, wondering how to proceed.
Right at that moment, Valerian stepped forward. Adam was sitting on his back, looking at Hudson with disappointment.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, my dear Brother Hudson. What's there to think about? All the problems are taken care of already."
With that said, Valerian unfurled his enormous wings and jumped into the hole.
"Hahaha! Life often requires us to take risks! Otherwise, it's boring!" Adam's voice resounded in the ears of everyone present.
Hudson's lips twitched, listening to his words. "Hmph! No wonder you're always in the middle of a shit storm."
He harrumphed and jumped down. "Everyone follow me. We can't leave Brother Adam alone. He's so weak at the moment that even a gust of wind could kill him."
The other Agents of the Brotherhood looked at each other with helpless smiles before following behind Hudson and Adam.
Meanwhile, Adam's three students couldn't help but wonder.
Why do these guys call each other 'Brother'? Are they part of some cult?
…
Despite the cataclysmic turn of events that took place above ground, the ancient ruin underground was fairly intact.
Although large boulders had fallen from the cavernous ceiling, the main area of this ruin that lay behind the towering stone doors was unscathed.
This just went on to show how much resources and care went into building this place.
With a loud thud, Valerian landed on the ground, looking around with alertness.
"Brother, everything looks clear," he said. "There's no one—"
Suddenly, he paused, looking in a certain direction near the stone doors. His topaz pupils constricted when he sensed a figure buried underneath a large boulder.
"Found someone, Val?" Adam asked curiously.
Since he was experiencing a splitting headache from overusing the white lotus, he refrained from utilizing the Sphere of Resonance.
"Yes." The young dragon's lips curled up into a mocking smirk.
He walked toward the stone door and found a person knocked out unconscious. This person's lower body had been buried under the boulder and he was lying in a puddle of blood.
"It's Gore Darkmore," said Valerian.
"Oho!" Adam was surprised. He opened his eyes with great difficulty and tried to focus his vision.
Indeed, it was none other than the Rank 2 Magus, Gore.
"Hehe, I was wondering where he went. Turns out he sneaked his way here when Stratford followed me into the Weeping Woods," Adam chuckled. "What an opportunist!"
Valerian rolled his eyes. "You would have done the same."
Adam's lips twitched. "True, true."
"Brother Adam, do you know this man?" Hudson, who had just landed on the ground, walked toward Gore and asked.
"Ah, yes." Adam nodded. "He was instrumental in helping me complete this mission."
Hudson was taken aback. He didn't expect this person, Gore, to have helped Adam in defeating the Rank 3 Magus, Stratford.
Although Gore hadn't directly helped him, in a manner of speaking. Adam gave the man credit where credit was due.
If Gore hadn't killed the mayor of the town, then Stratford would have used the latter's body and reached the peak of his strength.
At that point, no one could tell how everything would have unfolded.
"Alright, we will take care of him." Hudson nodded before instructing one of the Agents to remove the boulder and give Gore first aid.
He then walked toward the towering stone doors, gazing at the carvings of werewolves on the surface with great fascination.
"This ruin must be centuries old," he said. "I wonder what treasures lay behind."
Just as he was about to press his hands against the doors and open them, Adam called out, "Wait."
Hudson turned around and asked, "What is it?"
"It's the lair of a Rank 3 Magus. There are sure to be some traps," Adam said solemnly.
"…You're right," Hudson stated in embarrassment.
In his moment of excitement and anticipation, the man had completely overlooked this part. He looked at the youth and asked, "How do you suggest we proceed?"
Adam waved his left hand and conjured Stratford's corpse from his earring.
Hudson's eyes lit up. "Good idea."
He then weaved a simple hand gesture and cast half a dozen Magus Hands. Then, under the man's guidance, the spectral hands lifted the werewolf's corpse.
Following that, they pressed the corpse's hands against the stone doors, slowly opening them.
CREAK!
The sound of doors opening resounded in the underground chamber. A gust of wind blew from inside the door, gently brushing against the Magi standing outside.
"Uackk!" Valerian stuck his tongue out in disgust and nearly puked. "Smells like dogs in there!"
Adam put away the werewolf's corpse before urging the young dragon to step inside. "Don't be so dramatic. Of course, if you don't want the treasures in there, you can stand guard outside."
Valerian instantly began drooling, his eyes turning into the shapes of gold coins. "Brother, I can't leave you alone. Seeing as how you're so weakened, I have no other choice but to accompany you inside."
He spoke in a noble manner. Then, he raised his chin and strutted inside.
The people around them were dumbfounded by this interaction. They followed after the pair and then stepped through the doors.
No traps were activated since technically Stratford had opened the doors for them.
They arrived at a large hall supported by towering marble columns. Glowing stalactites hung from the ceiling, illuminating the place.
On the other side of the hall were four doors made of rare ores and embellished with gems and jewels.
There was a large pond in the center of the hall, but the peculiar thing about it was that it was a pond full of blood.
The group arrived before it, looking at it with complicated emotions. The pond radiated a great aura of vitality that made one feel that it could cure any disease.
"This…" Hudson's eyes flashed with anger. "This is the blood of humans! And it seems that other chemical elements have been mixed in with it to foster recovery!"