Chương 353: Chapter 348 - Wardens at the gate

Fynn shot across the chamber like a bolt of green lightning, trails of viridescent wind spiralling in his wake. Shin stepped forward, sword and shield raised to guard the others. Beside him, Allyssa pulled a glowing yellow vial from her bandolier with one hand, fingers steady around her crossbow with the other. Scarlett donned the [Crown of Flame's Benediction] and [Eternal Flameweaver's Athame], the artifacts sharpening her focus.

A sharp crack echoed as Fynn's fist crashed into the warden's stone body, but neither he nor the construct moved. The impact was like striking a mountainside. The warden responded first with sluggish, deliberate motion — then, suddenly, its head whipped towards Fynn like a hammer swinging on a pivot. He leapt back just in time, landing in a low, tense crouch a few metres away, arms ready for another strike. A lilting, melodious tune floated across the chamber as Rosa's charms got to work.

Scarlett felt her awareness sharpen even further, a surge of energy and clarity pulsing through her and focusing her senses like a lens. Next to her, Kat gripped her claymore with both hands and drove its tip into the floor. Red veins of fire spiralled out from the golden rod embedded in its base, and nearly a dozen darts of blazing flame materialised in the air before her. The fire cast her features in flickering crimson, glinting off her sun-bleached golden hair.

The Shielder blinked, looking genuinely surprised by her own magic. She stared at the hovering darts, then turned to Rosa.

"Wow. You weren't kidding. This is…seriously strong." Rosa gave her a playful wink.

"And that's just the prelude. The real treat is getting to hear my encore." Kat chuckled.

"Guess I'm a lucky gal today, then."

"Oh, most assuredly." Scarlett ignored them. She raised her hand, conjuring a fresh volley of fire arrows above her. Her gaze swept the chamber, scanning it carefully. Another dull boom reverberated as Fynn traded a rapid flurry of blows with the warden, but she paid it little mind. Bluish-white flames—the fires of Itris—climbed the Flameweaver's hilt and blade, twining upward to merge with each fire arrow, tinting them pale azure. She spotted a shimmer high above.

Without hesitation, half a dozen fire arrows streaked through the air. Where they struck, a defensive rune flared into existence, radiating a bright light. The arrows punctured the rune, leaving pinprick holes that spidered outward — until the entire glyph shattered and vanished before completing its spell. A short while later, another glimmer appeared across the chamber. Scarlett launched another volley, disrupting the rune before it could activate.

This had been a feature that Beld Thylelion was somewhat infamous for in the game. Its defensive wards blanketed certain chambers, and while they mostly only activated during combat, they could be a pain to deal with. For players, it had meant constantly watching for spontaneous spellcasts like these. Annoying at best. Lethal at worst. Scarlett had no doubt her team could survive a few stray spells, but she'd rather not burden Rosa with unnecessary healing. So she'd planned a more efficient countermeasure.

It helped that she had an artifact like the Flameweaver's Athame letting her conjure flames that devoured mana, which were particularly useful against wards like these. And that she knew enough about Zuverian runes to pinpoint which glyphs were structurally critical. Though, to be honest, she hadn't been entirely sure it would work.

Past experiments with the fires of Itris had shown that the possibly-divine flames didn't consume her own magic—which meant they were surprisingly flexible— and she had confirmed that they could destabilise runes when used properly, but that wasn't always enough when countering a spell. Sometimes, all it did was make the spell go haywire. And even for her, targeting a tiny rune mid-battle was no small feat. She wasn't exactly a mana detection expert, either.

She'd improved, sure—between upgraded skills and recent experience—but she'd worried she might miss the activation windows. Apparently, though, that wasn't an issue. She was glad she'd spent so much time practising accuracy with Arlene in Freymeadow. She summoned another wave of fire arrows, weaving the fires of Itris into their cores. As a rune flared near the far wall, aiming a beam of light at Fynn, she launched them. They hit before the rune could complete its cast.

She was curious how this tactic would work against an actual mage — not just a pattern of automated wards. Not all spells used visible runes. Those were more common in high-tier or pre-prepared casting. Some mages could even conceal or alter their glyphs. Not to mention that interfering with the mana of a conscious spellcaster was harder. The way she figured it, she could probably handle anything below a grand wizard with this approach. Beyond that? She wasn't sure.

There was also the question of how much Itris flame she could summon before hitting her limit. She hadn't tested it extensively. The fire didn't just draw on mana—and not an insignificant amount of it, either—but it pulled from something else. Something she hadn't quite identified yet. And now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Beside her, Kat unleashed her barrage. A storm of fire darts rained on the warden, each striking from a different angle. Fynn leapt aside. At the same moment, Allyssa hurled her yellow vial.

It burst against the warden's stone carapace, releasing a cloud of golden dust that clung like shimmering pollen. Every time one of Kat's darts struck the dusted stone, it triggered a sharp crack, miniature explosions rippling across the construct's body. Waves of force pulsed out from the chamber's centre. Shin charged in to support Fynn, shield up. He raised his sword, channelling aura until it glowed silver-white, light cascading down the blade.

Just as he brought it down, though, the warden pivoted with nigh uncanny precision, dodging just enough. Shin's sword slammed into the glyph-covered floor instead, gouging a deep scar. The warden retaliated immediately — head and forelegs crashing into Shin's shield, sending him skidding backwards. Rosa's charms kept him from being overwhelmed, but Scarlett had to quickly destroy two runes that flared above him.

A powerful gust blasted the chamber as Fynn slammed into the warden's flank like a cannonball, knocking it off Shin and hurling it several metres through the air. But golden threads shimmered along its limbs, and the warden twisted mid-flight as if it had anticipated the strike. As Fynn followed up, it half-turned just in time, so instead of tearing through its side, Fynn's fists scraped across its angled head. Blood streaked from his knuckles, while tiny explosions flared where Allyssa's dust had stuck.

Rosa's charms healed him almost instantly, but the damage had been mostly one-sided. The warden barely showed a scratch. It wasn't that it had matched Fynn's speed. It had simply moved at the right moment. Scarlett had warned him about that. Suddenly, stone walls erupted around the warden just as a crimson rune ignited above. A pillar of fire slammed into the sealed space, courtesy of Kat. The Shielder's brow furrowed in concentration, both hands gripping her claymore, sweat beading at her temple.

Scarlett kept one eye on her while continuing to track incoming spells. She wasn't joining the offensive yet for three reasons. One: mana conservation. Two: confidence in her party. And three: curiosity. She wanted to see what Kat could do with real freedom. That spell just now—[Scorchbrand's Wrath], if she wasn't mistaken—was no minor casting. It was somewhere between mid-to-high-tier pyromancy, and most wouldn't have been able to cast it so quickly.

That Kat managed it, despite being 'only' B-rank, was impressive. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Fynn and Shin both held back, watching to see if the spell was enough to finish the job. Flames hissed and crackled within the burning cage. Then, the stone prison shattered. The warden emerged in one piece, fractures webbing a section of its back and limbs but not slowing it down.

It lunged at Shin, who raised his shield— Only for the construct to twist mid-charge and meet Fynn head-on. But this time, Fynn was ready. He slipped aside as the warden's head drove forward like a battering ram, dodging out of reach. A heartbeat later, Shin's glowing blade came down in a wide arc from behind. But the warden swerved again, forcing him to abort the swing. Allyssa hurled a vial, though by the time it landed, the warden had already moved away.

The glass burst harmlessly against the floor, releasing a viscous blue liquid that oozed outward, clinging to the stone like sap. She clicked her tongue in irritation and pulled another vial free, this time closing the distance. Scarlett summoned another volley of fire arrows, weaving the fires of Itris into them, countering a fresh cluster of forming spells. She caught a glimpse of Kat launching a new barrage in sync with Shin and Fynn's attacks. For someone who hadn't fought with them before, Kat adapted well.

Scarlett could tell she was still cautious—especially around Shin—but that was understandable. The warden wasn't the most dangerous foe they'd faced in raw power, but its resilience made it frustrating to fight. Fynn's claws only chipped away at it. Shin's strikes were strong but too slow to land reliably. Allyssa's vials worked only when the construct was pinned, and even then, not always. Kat's spells, though, were gradually wearing it down.

After several minutes of back-and-forth, their worst injuries were a few bloody cuts on Fynn and some hard knocks Shin had taken, both quickly patched by Rosa's charms. Meanwhile, the warden had begun to show real damage. Deep fractures marred its surface, spiderwebbing wider with every blow. At one point, Shin let his sword drop, grabbing his shield with both hands and throwing his full weight into a full-body charge. A faint silver lustre pulsed across him as the impact knocked the warden slightly off balance.

At the same time, Kat triggered a spell that had stone spires burst from the floor, locking its legs in place. Wind surged through the chamber, gathering around Fynn like a storm seeking a centre. Scarlett watched closely. The ethereal claws on Fynn's hands lengthened, streams of emerald wind spiralling around them in wild arcs. For a moment, she could've sworn his white hair grew longer as he raised both arms, poised to strike. Then — he froze. Scarlett caught it too. A flicker at the edge of her vision.

Shapes—not quite real—shifted within the swirling wind. Fynn's head snapped toward it. A second later, his entire attack changed target. A violent torrent of razor-sharp wind tore across the space, carving a jagged fissure into the stone floor. But there was nothing there. For a heartbeat, everything went still. Everyone stared at Fynn. The warden shattered the silence. With a mighty heave, it broke free of Kat's bindings, slammed Shin aside, and lunged at Fynn.

He turned back just in time, ducking the blow, but caught a deep gash across his left arm. The warden broke the silence, tearing itself free of Kat's bindings with a mighty heave. It slammed Shin aside and lunged at Fynn with impressive speed. He turned back just in time to avoid the blow, ducking from the construct's head but earning a large gash across his left arm.

"What is he doing?" Kat muttered, already preparing another flame. Scarlett's gaze narrowed. She raised her hand.

"I am putting an end to this." Water surged from nowhere, encasing the warden in a swirling prison of clear liquid. For a second, it staggered, pressure crushing in from all sides — then the water compressed, forced into every crack and joint. With a hiss, it vapourised into steam, expanding with explosive force. Fractures split wider, revealing glowing runes and hollow channels beneath the surface. The twin hourglass-shaped cores in its chest cracked. Sand began to fall. A moment passed. Then fire engulfed it.

Compared to Kat's earlier casting, this was not a flame — it was an inferno. Heat rippled outward like a tidal wave, sucking the air from the chamber. For a few seconds, the warden disappeared inside a column of red-hot fire. When the blaze died down, only a blackened husk remained. Its limbs were warped and melted. Its cores shattered. Sand spilt out across the stone. Beside Scarlett, Kat blinked. Arnaud raised his eyebrows.

"…What the Blazes have you been eating, Scarlett?" Kat asked.

"Who knows," she replied coolly, lowering her hand. She glanced to the side. [Mana: 9634/12644] She spent over 2000 mana in a handful of seconds just for that. Far from efficient, but effective. She'd wanted it dead quickly. Her eyes scanned the chamber, confirming that the destruction of the warden also meant no more ward-empowered spells sniping at her party. Then she began walking with deliberate steps towards Fynn.

He stood with his back half-turned, now staring at the gouged floor where his redirected attack had landed. His brow was creased in a heavy scowl.

"Fynn," she said, stopping in front of him. He looked up. Yellow eyes glinted beneath messy hair.

"What happened?" she asked. He was silent for a long moment. Then he looked back at the spot again.

"I don't know. I felt something over there. Like something about to attack. I reacted." Scarlett studied him, then followed his gaze to the ruined ground.

"…Was it your ancestors' interference?" Fynn didn't answer right away. He seemed to genuinely consider the question.

"Maybe," he finally replied.

"It felt similar to them. But…"

"But?" He raised one hand. A swirl of viridescent air gathered in his palm, half-visible, as if the wind itself hesitated to be seen.

"It reminded me more of when I use their power. Not like when they act on their own." Scarlett frowned. What exactly did that mean? She was fairly confident this wasn't part of Beld Thylelion's defensive systems. Which made his ancestors the most likely cause. But if that were the case, why was he so uncertain? In the past, Fynn's ancestors had never been subtle. When they chose to intervene, they made it known. Loudly.

And right now, with Yamina's cryptic warnings still fresh in her mind—and far too many unpredictable variables hanging over this expedition—an unexplained event like this was the last thing she needed. She scanned the chamber again, taking in the still-flickering glyphs and shifting runes embedded in the walls and floor like the nervous system of some sleeping creature. Her gaze settled on the warden's shattered body. The golden threads that had lit the air around it had disappeared the moment it fell.

She knew those threads weren't just generic magic. They were supposed to be a unique part of Beld Thylelion's defence matrix. While Zuverian ruins had convergence chambers, they didn't have ones like this. That glow was different. Almost every foe in this place shared it — a latent awareness. A kind of artificial prescience. An ability to anticipate actions just before they happen. In the game, that had just translated to higher dodge and resistance stats. Here? It was something more tangible. More deliberate.

Before arriving here, Scarlett had been curious how that mechanic would manifest in reality. After all, the effect sounded uncomfortably close to reading Fate. And given what The Gentleman had told her, the link didn't feel far-fetched. But she hadn't been able to confirm it for herself. Nor could she explain what she saw just before Fynn's strike veered off. It had been fleeting—barely a second—but she could have sworn she saw people. Had she imagined it? That felt unlikely.

Had Fynn's ancestors manifested in some half-physical form? Possibly. But it could also be something entirely different.

"Any chance someone's going to explain what that was all about?" Rosa's voice cut in as the woman strolled up beside them. She jabbed a thumb at Fynn's bloodied arm.

"By the by, I'm letting you keep that for a bit. Should teach you a lesson not to go around wasting my mana all the time." The rest of the group was closing in as well. Allyssa was fussing over Shin, scolding him while inspecting a dented spot in his armour. Kat was eyeing Fynn. Arnaud stopped near the warden's remains, quietly contemplative. Fynn didn't seem particularly affected by Rosa's 'threat', still staring at the same patch of floor.

"We do not yet know exactly what occurred," Scarlett said, shaking her head.

"It may have been the influence of Fynn's ancestors, but that remains speculation."

"His ancestors?" Kat glanced between them, then down at the [Mark of the Gale] on Fynn's finger.

"Is that part of your people's weird 'truth-sense' magic, or whatever?" Fynn nodded.

"Yes. In my tribe, we connect with our ancestors during our awakenings. This ring helps channel them."

"Are they like…voices in your head?"

"Sometimes."

"Do they always cause this kind of mess?"

"…Sometimes." Kat stared at him for a few seconds.

"That's kinda worrying, isn't it?"

"Yes," Fynn said simply. Kat turned to Scarlett.

"So…I'm guessing I shouldn't even try to be surprised anymore? What with you apparently meeting princesses, fighting demons, saving wizard isles, and all the other fantastical nonsense Rosa's been rambling about in her songs." Scarlett glanced at Rosa. The bard gave an impish smile.

"They're works in progress," Rosa said.

"I've always told you I was working on something magnificent." Scarlett looked back at Kat.

"It is indeed likely easier to stop being surprised and simply adapt." The Shielder sighed dramatically, then tilted her head curiously.

"Can I at least ask when you became a grand mage, or whatever it is you are? You handled that warden far quicker than most mages I know could even hope to. And you're still only using pyrokinesis."

"Perhaps another time," Scarlett replied.

"But do not assume all foes we face here will fall so easily." They were bound to run into more wardens, but within Beld Thylelion's hierarchy, those were mid-tier at best. The real dangers lay deeper. Scarlett did think her party could manage most of what awaited them, but that didn't mean it would be easy. She looked over at Arnaud, considering him briefly. The man soon turned and met her gaze, offering a small, polite smile.

"I'm here to help you, Baroness," he said, walking up to them.

"It's been enlightening to see what my daughter and the rest of your group are capable of in person — but I think it's best I don't sit out what may come next."

"I agree," she replied. She watched as Arnaud walked to Allyssa, gently ruffled her hair, and praised her performance. The girl flushed, seeming to momentarily forget her nagging of Shin. Scarlett shifted her attention to the far side of the chamber, where, instead of another passageway, a solitary stone platform was embedded seamlessly into the wall. That would be their path deeper into Beld Thylelion.