In the heart of a melting volcanic mountain range, a labyrinth-like cave system formed by ancient magma flows lay hidden from the world. Its dark, winding passages were carved through layers of hardened rock, revealing the tumultuous history of this place's fiery past.
Shafts of dim light pierced through cracks in the rock, casting an eerie glow on the rough walls and uneven ground.
In one of the many tunnels leading to a few interconnected paths, two women floated across the pathway.
One was a golden-robed beauty and the other crimson-white-robed mature woman. Both of them possessed blonde hair, appearing gorgeous like twins when they flew side by side.
They didn't touch the magma flowing on the ground and even dodged a few drops that leaked from above. The situation was extremely perilous, but they seemed rather unafraid of it.
*Badump~*
Occasionally, they stopped when they heard a low growl. It was like a heartbeat, making them feel like they were in the stomach of some special lifeform, but they knew that wasn't the case, venturing further after the sound receded.
"What do you think it is...?"
"Most likely, the deepest underground layers are collapsing, melting under the apocalyptic flames and churning into a compressed explosion..."
Bylai asked, causing Sophie to respond.
It made Bylai pursed her lips as she arrived at a similar conclusion, the both of them suddenly stopping as they turned to look at each other, wry smiles filling their face.n0Velusb.c0m
"Sorry..."
Bylai uttered with an apologetic expression. However, Sophie shook her head.
"Don't be. What we're trying to do is even more ridiculous."
"The realm concoction?"
"Yes."
Sophie nodded to Bylai's question, causing the latter to feel somewhat better.
Right now, she felt guilty because she had finally detected clues to the Molten Goldcrust Core and somehow obtained it together with Sophie, who joined later on, but the moment she did, the tyrannical aura emerged from above, freezing her in place.
She had no prior experience dealing with this kind of ridiculously tyrannical, overbearing aura, so she was late in responding to the changes that had occurred around her, only able to watch the tunnels collapse and the walls begin to greatly shudder and sink, chunks of debris raining down from above.
With a deafening roar, everything around her collapsed.
Seeing that she was in danger, Sophie also jumped into the collapsing sinkhole of her own volition in order to save her, and now they remained together, trying to contact Davis through messaging talisman for some time while also trying to find a way out. They had no idea how many kilometers they had fallen but knew it must be more than a thousand, for they could not find a foothold as a huge part of the area sunk, almost crushing them beneath.
Because the rock's density was also at the level of Mid-Level Immortal Emperor Stage, the molten liquid could also cause them serious damage. If they are trapped underneath the magma, then they could say goodbye to their lives.
It was that dangerous at the moment.
They continued to walk further, trying to find a way above.
The heaven and earth energy present here was berserk in nature. It was also heavy. When they breathed, they felt their throats burn. The stream of flowing magma underneath them was like a sewage system leading somewhere. They followed the path but ended up meeting a dead end with magma flowing downward at the crack underneath the dead end.
"..."
Sophie and Bylai looked at each other once again, yet this time, they couldn't smile wryly but smiled brightly.
"We're dead, aren't we?"
"Yes... but don't say that..."
Their lips twitched as they tried to hide their fears. Being melted was not a way they thought they would go out, so it gave them the chills. Because they were deeper, the magma could basically kill even an Early Immortal Emperor, so they did their best to avoid it, weaving through all dangerous projectiles and obstacles, but now it looks like they wouldn't be able to avoid it.
Bylai also thought of breaking through the dead end, but she shook her head. She couldn't act like Davis, as her body wasn't as strong and enduring as his. The image that she would melt upon breaking the dead end as magma spewed on her like a gushing wave chilled her to the very bones, not even making her want to try it.
Suddenly, Sophie's brows raised, garnering Bylai's interest.
"What?"
"I think I have an idea..."
Sophie nodded as she turned to look at the five-meter wide crack underneath the dead end. She waved her hand, summoning a large object that was five meters in length and breath and one meter tall.
It was a table that appeared to be crafted from a rare obsidian mineral known as the Obsidian Vein Jade, which is a refined mineral from its ore. It was known to be the king of Immortal King Grade Mineral, as its ability to endure strikes and flames was off the charts.
Bylai blinked, recognizing that it was a forging table.
She saw its surface shimmer with a jet-black gleam, deflecting the heat, which made it slightly cooler around them. Intricate patterns and runes were also etched onto the surface, these markings appearing to be a combination of hundreds of runes that form a complex matrix, a pipeline that amplifies the blacksmith's soul force as they work, allowing them to maintain better focus.
It also seemed to increase its density and endurance.
There were also strange crystals at the four corners of the table, serving as conduits to harmonize the energy that rages berserk when an armament is being forged.
Further to the side was the sturdy anvil where the hammering process to finely tune the shape of the item occurs, and in front of the table, there was a seat made of high-quality wood cushioned with plush silk. All these were included in a forging table, giving the blacksmith the necessary comfortability and tools to work with.
"That's right. This could help keep the magma in bay..."
Bylai slapped her forehead, wondering why she hadn't thought of it before turning to look at Sophie with a confused gaze.
"But wouldn't this forging table also melt?"
"Yes."
Sophie pursed her lips, "But it's all we have..."
"Then you wouldn't be able to forge armaments and artifacts. Isn't this the most expensive Peak-Level Immortal King Grade Forging Table in the Aurora Cloud Gate's Treasury, capable of handling peak Low-Level Immortal Emperor Grade materials and ores? Are you sure you want to lose this?"
"..."
Sophie clenched her fists. It wasn't like she didn't have any attachment to this forging table as this was bought by her sisters pouring in all the contribution points they could spare while it also accompanied her in forging so many armaments and even helped her reforge and upgrade Yama.
Yama was the most difficult armament she had ever forged as she refined highly extinguishing death-attributed ore in order to forge it, but this forging table even endured that corrosiveness. But now, she was certain it wouldn't be able to endure this molten rock that could easily kill Early Immortal Emperors.
Sophie waved her hand and brought it down.
*Boom!~*
The forging table slammed against the surface, momentarily stopping the flow of magma.
Sophie and Bylai watched the remaining magma disappear into the cracked surface, leaving behind scorched walls, but as soon as they saw some space to maneuver underneath, their eyes flashed.
"Now!"
Sophie jumped into the cracked surface, causing Bylai to also follow without missing a beat.