Chapter 321 Advancement and the Unutilized Giant

Shaoke's team chose the central massive channel. Perhaps due to the wars of past years, the defensive magic arrays in the channel were too damaged to fully function. However, the dense array of protective formations still slowed the progress of outsiders like Shaoke and his group. Eventually, they had to resort to brute force to destroy the arrays on the walls.

The elder mage led the way, stopping every so often to indicate where Shaoke and the others should direct their spell attacks. The blue-robed female mage at the rear produced a pale purple crystal ball, using it to continuously observe the distant path ahead to prevent any unexpected incidents.

Progress was monotonous, with numerous branching paths along the way. Based on Shaoke and the eighth-tier female mage's understanding of the Death Stronghold from the Bloody Fortress, the smaller passages mostly led to residences or training grounds, so there was no need to explore them. They continued straight along the main channel, believing that only after reaching the end would they find the markers left by the empires from the war and claim ownership of it.

"Honorable Mage, if the empires had forcibly seized this place back then, there would be no need for us to undertake this mission now," Shaoke inquired of the elder mage after traveling for over a magic hour, unable to suppress his curiosity.

"It's not as you imagine," the elder mage replied, frowning as he studied the arrays ahead before signaling the mages to cast spells to forcibly destroy the intact defensive formations. "If they had fought here, this entire underground city would have collapsed." He seemed to sense something and urged them to speed up, joining the effort to break the arrays himself.

Suppressing his eerie feeling, Shaoke noticed the massive channel gradually sloped downward. Many of the defensive arrays ahead appeared intact, showing little sign of damage.

"Honorable Mage, could the mages of the Esuoer Empire still be stationed here?" Shaoke asked uncertainly, feeling uneasy about the unusual situation.

"There are no mages from the Esuoer Empire here anymore," the elder mage said, slowing down again. After studying the path ahead with a frown, he gestured for the blue-robed female mage to come forward and take his place. "You don't need to know the details of the war. Just know that once we obtain the markers here, we will truly control the Fallen Capital."

The elder mage and the blue-robed female mage quickly swapped positions. Shaoke and another ruler saluted the blue-robed female mage before following her obediently onward. This time, perhaps due to her guidance, their pace increased a lot.

The blue-robed female mage effortlessly dismantled the complex arrays and wards. The small light blue crown on her head proved invaluable, emitting a pale blue glow that, when shone on the intact arrays, seemed to halt their operation, along with nearby formations. For nearly two magic hours, Shaoke and the other low-rank mages stood idle as the blue-robed female mage resolved all obstacles.

"This is the place," the eighth-tier blue-robed female mage finally spoke as they reached the end of the channel, having been silent throughout the journey. "Let's rest. Then you'll begin dismantling this stone door." She sat cross-legged on the ground, closing her eyes.

The elder mage instructed Shaoke and the others to rest while he stood guard.

Shaoke, having expended little energy, recovered quickly. The eighth-tier blue-robed female mage also recovered swiftly, but Shaoke noticed that during her recovery, the blue crown on her head emitted pale blue light that seeped into her skin.

"Is there a problem?" the blue-robed female mage asked, catching Shaoke's undisguised gaze. He shook his head, and she turned her attention to the massive stone door before them.

The door, over twenty meters tall, was covered with countless defensive arrays and wards, along with numerous magic scripts that moved slowly with the patterns. Strange beast motifs performed various actions on the surface, appearing almost alive.

Soon, all the mages and over a hundred warriors ceased resting. Under the blue-robed female mage's direction, they positioned themselves at a safe distance from the door. Following the eighth-tier female mage's instructions, they prepared to destroy that stone door, with the mages as the main force and the warriors providing protection against any threats.

After preparations, the mages almost simultaneously activated their defensive spells, including the two eighth-order beings. Then, nearly a hundred forced-breaking spells were unleashed, merging into the stone door to violently break its arrays.

As the spells struck, the door emitted a pained groan, echoing through the channel. Over a dozen beast figures on the door came to life, leaping out and charging toward Shaoke's group.

Prepared for this, Shaoke and the others remained calm, continuing their work. The hundred or so warriors in front erupted with aura, hurling javelins and axes to intercept the beasts. Seven or eight seventh-tier warriors, wielding heavy flails, rushed toward the leading giant beasts. Meanwhile, the elder mage, who had been resting, made his move. A gray ray shot from the tip of his ancient staff, striking the foremost beast, which instantly turned to dust, dissipating in the turbulent air.

"Keep working; you won't need to fight soon," the blue-robed female mage shouted at Shaoke and the others, hoping to speed up the process, as the door's defenses were not that simple. By then, the warriors had clashed with the dozen giant beasts. The lead beast, struck by heavy hammers from the seventh-tier warriors, remained unfazed, merely shaking its head before attacking.

Fortunately, the channel was just wide enough for four beasts to walk abreast, preventing the rest from reaching the warriors. The latter managed to hold the line.

Shaoke noticed that the beast killed by the elder mage had re-emerged from the door, pushing the others forward from behind.

As Shaoke observed, one beast suddenly shrunk, leaping onto a companion and roaring. The roar caused the remaining seven or eight beasts to halve in size and follow suit, jumping over the front ranks to attack the warriors.

Dozens of aura blades shot toward the beasts but had no effect. Then, a pale blue giant net appeared across the channel, repelling the beasts that crashed into it.

Without hesitation, the warriors swung their heavy weapons, striking the beasts. Those in the rear launched aura attacks from a distance. Meanwhile, Shaoke and the mages continued their disruptive work for some time. Through mental probing, Shaoke sensed that the door's defensive arrays were barely damaged. Yet, he saw the elder mage's wrinkled face break into a relieved smile.

Suddenly, a strong magical fluctuation emanated from the door. The eighth-tier female mage ordered Shaoke to stop and conserve energy for self-protection.

At the fluctuation, the beasts retreated toward the door, leaping back into it. The door kept warping, and the female mage directed the warriors to unleash their aura at the distorted surface.

Nearly a hundred aura strikes hit the door, producing strange howls. Over time, under the warriors' relentless assault, the door transformed into a giant over ten meters tall, composed of unknown stone. Its massive body was covered in magic scripts and arrays, some partially damaged.

"Attention—this is a magical construct. It will attack all living things within its perception. Use aura; mages, stand back," the elder mage identified and warned the group.