Chapter 148: The Blotches

All the shards that I have collected are all high quality and even though I am not convinced, I can use 50 shards with this quality to open the training space instead of 100 shards. I am not so familiar with the shards but I feel like the fee is scam. Not really sure about that but lets just ignore it for now.

The monsters that were killed by Anya were all cleanly killed. There is no chance for them to even stand again due to how they ended up being in pieces. It took a while collecting the shards but I managed to collect them all from the places the monsters were hiding. When I returned, Anya is currently poking one of the blotches on the floor. Good thing she is poking it with a stick, not directly through her hands. When she saw me approaching, she stopped doing it and stood up.

"You are back brother. I am just curious about these blotches on the floor. They felt like they are alive and whenever I poke them, they try to fight back."

"They fight back?" I frowned.

"It was quite a weird thing. It felt gelatinous but it also feel like they are made from rubber. I have never seen this kind of material before even in the Phantasmal Reality."

"Let's just ignore that for now. I am not sure about it for now butI hope they don't do much. They have been around the place since the first floor. Let's go and ascend to the third floor. We have to finish clearing this G.A.T.E.S before dinnertime."

We continue to our destination but I can't help but look at the blotches that was poked by Anya earlier. Just what the heck are those?

...

As usual, we tried probing to the third floor using our abilities that can scan the surroundings but just like how it happened in the first floor, it still didn't work.

"We still have to personally went inside again huh? Is there some kind of rule that prohibits us from probing further?" I scratch my head as I stare to the stairwell.

"It might be a gimmick of this place. I heard from Father that things like the anti-probing magic or equipment are always placed to places where treasures and other things are present."

"Treasure huh? I don't think that is the case here inside the G.A.T.E.S. As far as I can tell, treasures do not exist in this plane. I think it was more like a prohibition teaser or something."

Probing the place would be really good as I can plan preemptively if whether it is fine to proceed or not.

"Are you tired already, Anya? We can postpone the exploration and proceed to the next floor in the next few days. What do you say?"

"Hmmm, I am a bit tired and I wanted to rest for a while. If we can return here again the next time you are free, then we should go back. I also felt a little bit hungry."

"Haha, alright then. We should make our way back to the ground floor."

With that decision, we made our way back to the stairwell that connects the ground floor and the second floor. However, what appeared before us is a blocked entranced covered with the same disgusting blotches I am trying to figure out. There is no more exit that will lead us to the ground floor since all the gaps that is present evidence that the second and ground floors are connected is now sealed with these disgusting blotches.

"It's blocked?! I clearly saw earlier that its not blocked!" Yuri inspected the blotches on the floor.

"Don't touch it Yuri, you can just look at it but don't touch it. We can't afford to do careless things on what these things are."

"Master, how about we teleport outside then? You came from the outside so it should be possible for us to teleport out of here," Yuto suggested.

"That might work. Start the channeling process."

"Alright."

Yuto clasped his hands together and started to channel his mana to perform the teleportation. However, I realized the problem. The teleportation process cannot be performed at all. First of all, the mana that Yuto uses to channel and open a teleportation gate seems to be blocked by an unkown force. The magic circle that should have appeared does not take form at all. In the end, Yuto stopped his chant to channel the mana.

"I'm sorry master but it seems like something is forcing my mana to stop before connecting the connection to complete the teleportation process. It was like I was cut off to the other end of my portal."

"Is there any other way to reconnect?" I asked.

"I tried to do so in several attempts but it was forcefully blocked."

"Don't force yourself. You will end up wasting your mana instead."

This didn't happen when I came here with Godou. Of course, it might not be a good situation to compare since we all just settled on the ground floor before we return to the real world after Godou's phobia kicked in. Our problem now is how to get out of this place.

Although I already tried blasting several magic attacks on these weird blotches before, it was a clear answer that these weird things can absorb magic. Since my magic disappears after it gets into contact with the weird blotches, I immediately assumed that these things has an ability to absorb magic. I tried kicking it since I am wearing shoes. I already practiced my kicks that has an applied mana to amplify the strength of my kicks so I know I can deal lots of damage in just a single kick.

But my expectations were also ruined. As soon as my kick landed, a strong force seemed to retaliate on my kick. It was strong enough that I was sent flying from it. I was surprised but I quickly kept my cool and landed to the ground without hurting myself in the process.

"Brother! Are you all right?" Anya flies towards my location followed by Yuri and Yuto.

"No worries, I am fine."

"So my description about those things are real! They do fight back!" Anya said.

"I don't think so," I quickly disagreed.

"Huh? Why?"

"From the way the force hit me, I immediately realized what this thing can do. It can absorb magic and reflect physical attacks. You can say it is the perfect barrier against us magicians and those specializing in physical attack enhancements."