Chapter 148: Guardian of the Origin Flame

The narrow passage descended farther than Jet had expected, forcing him to turn sideways several times to squeeze between the enormous rocks obstructing the entrance.

Warm air flowed steadily upward, carrying an extraordinary concentration of Fire Mana that grew stronger with every step.

The surrounding walls gradually changed from ordinary volcanic stone to dark rock threaded with glowing golden veins, and the temperature increased until sweat began gathering across his forehead.

Whatever lay beneath the mountain was producing enough elemental energy to affect the entire passage, confirming that his decision to investigate had been worthwhile.

After nearly twenty minutes of descending, Jet reached a natural opening overlooking an enormous underground cavern.

He crouched behind a formation of black stone and examined the chamber below.

A broad lake of molten rock occupied much of the cavern, illuminating towering columns and jagged formations scattered across the surrounding ground.

Several narrow streams of lava flowed between the rocks, converging toward a raised platform near the opposite wall. There, resting within a shallow depression, was something that immediately captured his attention.

A golden-red crystal, roughly the size of a human head, floated several inches above a circular formation of dark stone. Flames moved continuously beneath its translucent surface, gathering and dispersing in patterns that resembled a miniature sun.

Even from his position, Jet could feel the extraordinary Fire Mana radiating from it.

His expression brightened.

"Found you," Jet whispered, leaning forward for a better look.

However, his excitement disappeared when he noticed the enormous creature sleeping beside the crystal.

At first, he had mistaken its body for another section of volcanic rock, but the slow movement of its chest revealed otherwise.

The beast resembled a gigantic lion, possessing six muscular legs, a broad armored body, and a thick mane of dark red fur that flickered with living flames.

Two enormous horns curved backward from its skull, while its long tail ended in a cluster of glowing spikes. Even while sleeping, the creature radiated an oppressive presence that made Jet instinctively remain motionless.

A notification appeared before him.

[Ding!]

[Mana Beast Detected!]

[Name: Volcanic Inferno Lion]

[Rank: Lord]

[Equivalent Combat Level: 4-Star Awakener]

[Elemental Affinity: Fire]

[Warning: The detected Mana Beast possesses combat capabilities significantly exceeding the user’s current Star Rank.]

Jet stared at the notification before slowly withdrawing behind the rock.

"A Lord-Rank Mana Beast," Jet murmured, rubbing his forehead. "Of course there had to be something guarding it."

He had encountered Lesser and Greater-Rank Mana Beasts throughout the wilderness, but this creature belonged to an entirely different category.

Lord-Rank Mana Beasts possessed strength comparable to 4-Star Awakeners, placing them well beyond what Jet could reliably defeat with his current abilities. His recent advancement had improved his physical attributes considerably, but even the Eight-Armed Asura couldn’t erase such a substantial difference in strength.

Worse still, the beast appeared perfectly adapted to its environment. Its fiery mane remained unaffected by the surrounding heat, and its armored body rested comfortably beside a lake of molten rock. Attempting to challenge it directly would be foolish.

Jet examined the cavern again.

The Origin Treasure was clearly visible, resting less than ten meters from the sleeping beast. Unfortunately, the surrounding platform offered almost no cover, and the narrow approaches would make escaping difficult if the creature awakened.

He needed another approach.

Jet remained hidden for nearly half an hour, observing the Volcanic Inferno Lion and studying the cavern’s layout.

The creature barely moved during that time, occasionally shifting its enormous head or flicking its tail against the surrounding stone. Its breathing was deep and steady, suggesting that it was genuinely asleep rather than merely resting with its eyes closed.

That was encouraging, but Jet refused to underestimate its senses. Mana Beasts possessed instincts that frequently exceeded those of ordinary animals, and a Lord-Rank creature might detect an approaching intruder long before opening its eyes.

He considered using the Vorpal Blade’s wind attacks to strike the cavern wall and create a distraction.

However, the sound would originate too close to his position, and there was no guarantee that the beast would investigate rather than immediately search for whoever had disturbed its sleep.

Instead, Jet began examining the passages surrounding the cavern.

Several openings connected to the chamber, including a broad tunnel near the lava lake and another passage positioned behind a cluster of towering stone columns. The latter appeared particularly promising because it led away from the treasure platform.

If he could create a sufficiently convincing disturbance inside that passage, the guardian might leave its resting place to investigate.

The challenge was making the distraction powerful enough to attract a Lord-Rank Mana Beast without revealing his location.

Jet opened his Red Moon System inventory and examined the items he’d collected during his journey. Most were ordinary harvesting materials, Mana Crystals, and supplies. However, several Beast Cores obtained from Fire-aligned Mana Beasts caught his attention.

He withdrew one and examined its reddish glow.

An idea gradually formed.

The cores contained concentrated Mana, and although Jet couldn’t control Fire Mana directly, he could still release the energy stored within them by damaging them. A sufficiently powerful discharge might resemble a disturbance caused by another Mana Beast.

More importantly, he could trigger it from a distance.

Jet smiled faintly. "That might actually work."

He withdrew three Fire-aligned Beast Cores and began preparing his distraction.

Using a section of tough cord from his supplies, he secured the cores between several loose stones, arranging them so that a sufficiently strong impact would crack their surfaces.

He then examined the narrow passage behind the stone columns, calculating how far he could throw the bundle without exposing himself to the guardian.

The distance was considerable, but his improved Strength and Agility made the attempt possible.

Jet activated the Asura Physique, allowing its enhancement to spread through his body. Two additional arms emerged from his back as he activated the first stage of Asura Arms, giving him the ability to maintain his grip on the surrounding rocks while preparing the throw.

He carefully positioned himself near the edge of the opening.

The Volcanic Inferno Lion remained asleep.

Jet drew back one arm and launched the bundle toward the distant passage.

The stones traveled through the cavern before disappearing between the towering columns.

Several seconds passed.

BOOM!

Then a violent explosion erupted from the tunnel.

A burst of reddish flames illuminated the passage, followed by a thunderous impact that sent fragments of volcanic rock scattering across the surrounding ground.

The Volcanic Inferno Lion awakened immediately.

Its enormous head rose from the platform, and its fiery mane expanded as it released a deep, threatening growl. The sound reverberated throughout the cavern, causing loose stones to tumble from the ceiling.

Jet pressed himself against the rock, remaining completely motionless.

The beast stood up, its six powerful legs supported an enormous armored body, and the flames surrounding its mane intensified as it turned toward the disturbance.

For several seconds, the creature examined the distant passage.

Then it roared. The resulting shockwave swept across the cavern, scattering dust and loose debris. Jet tightened his grip on the rock as the beast began moving toward the stone columns.

Each step caused the ground to tremble.

The Volcanic Inferno Lion crossed the chamber and approached the tunnel where the explosion had occurred. Its enormous nostrils flared as it examined the lingering Fire Mana, apparently searching for whatever had disturbed its territory.

Jet watched carefully.

The creature entered the passage. However, it stopped just beyond the entrance.

Jet frowned.

"Come on," Jet whispered, watching the beast hesitate.

The lion lowered its head and examined the shattered stones scattered across the ground. It appeared suspicious, perhaps recognizing that the disturbance hadn’t originated from another living creature.

Jet needed to encourage it to continue.

He withdrew another Fire-aligned Beast Core from his inventory, this one obtained from the Greater-Rank salamander he’d killed earlier.

The core contained considerably more energy than the previous three, and damaging it would produce a much stronger discharge.

He waited until the guardian turned farther into the passage before throwing the core toward a distant section of the tunnel.

The crystal struck a jagged rock formation and shattered.

A second explosion erupted deeper inside the passage, considerably more powerful than the first.

The Volcanic Inferno Lion reacted immediately.

With an enraged roar, it charged toward the disturbance, disappearing into the tunnel as its enormous body smashed through several protruding rocks.

Jet waited.

Ten seconds passed and then twenty.

The sound of the creature’s movements gradually faded into the distance.

Only then did Jet allow himself to breathe normally.

"Finally."

---

Jet didn’t immediately rush toward the treasure. He remained hidden for another minute, listening carefully for any indication that the guardian was returning.

The distant tunnel occasionally echoed with the sound of collapsing rocks, suggesting that the creature was still searching for the source of the disturbances.

However, Jet understood that the distraction wouldn’t last indefinitely.

Once the beast discovered that nothing remained inside the passage, it would eventually return to its resting place.

He needed to act quickly.

Jet emerged from his hiding place and began descending toward the cavern floor, using his enhanced physique to leap between protruding rocks.

The heat became increasingly intense as he approached the lava lake, but his improved Vitality allowed him to endure the environment without immediately suffering serious discomfort.

He avoided the exposed pathways whenever possible, moving between stone columns and elevated formations that provided some protection from the surrounding heat.

After several minutes, he reached the outer edge of the raised platform.

The Origin Treasure remained suspended above its circular stone formation, emitting a brilliant golden-red glow.

Jet could feel its extraordinary energy even more clearly now.

It was unlike the Fire Mana he’d encountered throughout the mountain.

The treasure possessed a concentrated, almost overwhelming purity, and the flames moving within its crystalline surface appeared to respond to something deep inside his body.

Jet immediately recognized the sensation.

Ilios.

Although the Divine Rune remained sealed, its presence had begun responding to the nearby treasure.

His excitement increased, but he forced himself to remain focused.

He still needed to reach the crystal before the guardian returned.

Jet examined the distance separating him from the treasure and calculated the route across the platform. There were no obvious traps or barriers, although several cracks in the stone revealed molten rock flowing beneath the surface.

He could cross the remaining distance in seconds. However, obtaining the treasure might require more time than simply touching it.

Jet glanced toward the distant tunnel. The sounds of destruction had stopped.

His expression tightened. That wasn’t encouraging. He estimated that the guardian had already spent several minutes investigating the explosions.

Depending on how quickly it recognized the deception, it might return at any moment.

Jet opened his status window and checked his remaining Mana reserves. He had consumed only a modest amount during the distraction, leaving enough energy to maintain the Asura Physique and escape if necessary.

Nevertheless, fighting the guardian remained out of the question.

He had to retrieve the treasure and leave before the creature returned.

Jet took one final look toward the tunnel before stepping onto the platform.

The golden-red crystal floated directly ahead, its extraordinary Fire Mana filling the surrounding chamber.

He had finally reached the Origin Treasure.

But somewhere beyond the distant passage, the Volcanic Inferno Lion was beginning to realize that it had been deceived.

Jet had only a few minutes left before the Lord-Rank Mana Beast returned.