Chapter 52: Flaming Wasteland

Steven threw his body in the way of the devastating attack, vaporizing the body of light.

As it looked like the sun itself had formed Just in the middle of an open field; only I wasn’t one anymore, just a burned wasteland. Lumiel was thrown to the ground; his skin was badly burned.

Merency simply fell forward to the ground completely unconscious, her body fully healed.

As the blistering ground started eating away at her unprotected skin.

Watching his clone intervene, Steven had already changed directions once more and, with a strike of lightning, moved towards them.

But what awaited him was nearly beyond his comprehension, after all his clone had blocked the attack.

So why did it feel like he was walking straight into a volcano?

Rocks having turned into molten lava flowing downhill, the air was so dry you weren’t even sure if you could breathe.

Not a single plant remaining or inch unburned, and in the middle of this hell were only two students.

Jumping a lava bubble, he could feel his basic barrier melting slowly away.

But that didn’t stop him as he finally reached the bodies of the two students hurried in a crater.

Dashing to Lumiel first, the young man looked like he was burned alive, barely breathing anymore.

Activating a heal spell, Steven felt somebody approaching as he turned his head.

Edward stood just a few meters behind him, staring at the destruction, his hands raised.

Steven already readied himself to cast a quick spell, but Edward spoke, "Relax, Steven. I am only here to help my friend." As he raised his arm further in surrender.

Steven lowered his arms. "You should check on Merency; I will take care of Lumiel." Edward added, but Steven was already on his way to her.

She looked in much better shape than Lumiel, with only slight burns all over her body; the only problem was her mana, which was way too calm, nearly extinct.

Putting her over his shoulders, he only gave Edward a fierce gaze as he made his way towards the distance.

Steven thought about returning to his base, but it would be of no use; her body was fine, only her mana was damaged, and that could only be restored over time.

Instead, he walked only further into the flaming wasteland to where the statue had stood originally.

And his prediction was right; below the ashes of grass and lava was another giant iron plate.

It seemed like each altar was assigned a diamond-class monster; the one in the forest had just been defeated before their arrival.

This one was guarded by the statue of the priestess, and June and Lucy probably found a diamond monster themselves, leading them into another altar.

Throwing the iron away, the path downwards had nearly completely collapsed, having turned into what looked like a slide.

Taking it down, even several meters below the stone, was still melted and glowing.

He just hoped the altar wasn’t damaged in the attack, as after several minutes of walking downwards the path opened like last time.

But instead of swinging blades, there were no traps, as the ashes on the ground gave away their destruction.

Even the rune-filled walls looked like a meteor hit them; not even half of them are readable anymore.

But to his relief, the crystal altar in the middle still stood, only having long cracks running over its being.

Moving Merency to the ground, he used one of his hands to cut open a wound on himself and, afterwards, a powerful barrier over Merency.

Walking up the stairs with his bleeding hand, he didn’t hesitate one second to put his blood into the dark liquid, which ate it like a beast.

Feeling his mana being drained, it nearly forced him to his knees as he stared at the runes, waiting for them to activate.

But they only shimmered slightly, probably too broken to activate any powerful spell.

Feeling happy, he started his way to the outside, but before he could even begin, Merency stood up casually, swatting away his barrier, breaking it into pieces.

No, this wasn’t Merency; it was whatever had possessed her the last time. Her body was already regenerating her recent wounds.

"Mr. Bright, you’re here. What a relief." She spoke, cleaning herself from the dust on her skin. "I thought I accidentally burned you to a crisp with my attack; Lady Moonstone would never forgive me that."

Steven stared at the person wearing Merency’s body. "What are you? Some kind of demon?"

"Oh no, please don’t think I invaded this body; no, I was invited." She answered, but Steven didn’t believe her one bit.

But before he could ask more questions, she spoke once more, "This doesn’t look like a place she is supposed to see, so I would hurry to get out of here."

"Why aren’t you in control?" He asked confusedly, but Merency’s body just fell forward unconscious.

Moving forward to catch her, her flow of mana had completely changed, back to her normal state.

"What the heck is going on?" He had no idea why all of this was happening or who he had just been talking to.

But he knew Merency wouldn’t stay unconscious for too long after her body had been restored completely.

Picking her up in a princess carry, he moved quickly upward. The molten lava is still emitting great heat.

Just before leaving the room, he stopped while raising his finger towards the altar.

With just a small focus, the air began to charge itself as a lightning bolt shot outwards.

Shattering the remains from the altar into pieces with an explosion as the lighting shattered into many pieces.

Destroying the pillars lets the room collapse.

Quickly stepping outside her carried Merency up the staircase, which also seemed to be close to collapsing.

With a final jump, he leaped out of the hole he came through.

Standing once again back in the burnt wasteland.

This time holding a princess.