The Vastness of Magical Destiny

The mysterious dark square stretched beyond sight, making it unimaginable how such an enormous square-shaped structure could be built on the Underground Second Level. Faintly, the outline of more buildings could be glimpsed in the depths of the square, but the sheer distance and dim light prevented everyone from seeing clearly what exactly lay there.

However, those were not the things the group was most concerned about at that moment. What appeared under the firelight was truly chilling: two Black Warriors stood silently about twenty meters from the passageway entrance, their vacant stares seeming to indicate they were still in a state of confusion. From the strangely shaped black mustache hook blades they held, faint black flames occasionally fluttered out. A barely perceptible mist swirled around the bodies of the Black Warriors, and their pale golden cheeks bore no sign of emotion—it wasn’t possible for them to have any emotions at all.

Confronting the two Black Warriors was a massive humanoid monster, its thick and long arms hanging low enough to nearly touch the ground, its slightly bent legs resembling the mammoth feet of a giant elephant. When the humanoid monster turned its head, a pair of bell-like eyes flashed fiercely, and white breath spewed constantly from its flaring nostrils. Behind this large creature was a ring of smaller monsters arranged in a circular formation; they were slightly smaller than the frontline giant but of the same form, though their behavior seemed much more frivolous and active, as they emitted squeaking calls, apparently communicating through these strange sounds.

A few snakes as thick as barrels coiled around the huge pillars in the square, originally unnoticed by the group. Perhaps detecting the scent of living people, these serpentine beings also began to move around the pillars, but it was impossible to see the heads of these snake-like creatures. However, the glint of gold scales proved distasteful to the learned magicians who could guess what they were encountering.

Rustling noises traveled along the walls, and a succession of black shadows appeared in the corners, brandishing pincers, with narrow mouths spitting out tongues, covered in black scales and sporting tails gleaming with a faint green glow—a clear sign to anyone that contact with these creatures meant inescapable trouble.

In the distance, at the edge of the light, a group of skeleton warriors came into view, their ancient armor and rust-streaked weapons indicating they had lived in this dark world for a very long time. The weapons of these skeleton warriors differed slightly from those encountered or used by Komer and his comrades on the Blue Continent. Almost uniformly they carried spears and great maces, the blackened weapons clearly rusted but not at all less effective, even seeming to possess an added aura of malevolence. The skeleton soldiers marched in neat formation with determined steps that seemed arranged into specific tactical patterns; the occasional grating sound of bone clacking against bone unsettling those who heard it.

What other things lay hidden in the endless darkness, Komer didn’t know, but his instincts told him that there might be far too many formidable creatures beyond his knowledge, and perhaps his group was doomed.

A shadow, akin to black lightning, seemed eager to attack the group, darting through the expanse of empty air directly toward them. However, the faint magic glow at the doorway stopped the shadow in its path. As it approached the circle of light, the glow, as if stimulated by the magic breath, suddenly intensified and erupted outward with magic force. The shadow flashed away in retreat, disappearing into the upper darkness of the square.

Almost everyone realized that the original stand-off—or balance—in the entire square had been disrupted by their arrival. Perhaps it was the scent of humans, or the sense of new prey arriving; whether it was the Black Warriors and skeleton warriors, or those strange and varied Magical Beasts, all turned their attention towards Komer and his party.

"Mr. Rebry, Mr. Mihailovich, it seems we’re in a bit of a bind here. This seems to be their paradise, and we’re not very welcome," Komer remarked, having already gathered all his magic power to a peak. Holding the Black Crystal Staff in hand, rings of light that signified the accumulation of magic power flowed up and down it. His gaze still fixed on the square, undead creatures and Magical Beasts—a menagerie of formidable beings—not one of them weak, and his group seemed to have stumbled into a stroke of luck indeed!