Chapter 561

Chapter 561: What’s in the Hole

The tree disappeared. And the ground sunk because there’s no more roots under there. But it doesn’t end there. The ground around the tree keep sinking as swear words keep coming out of my mouth. So, I stopped swearing and cursing.

“Everyone, step back!” I gave a warning as I turn around, and grab as many people as I could as I transformed Victoria into a net.

Though the wind mages fly away as soon as I gave the warning. And Ian also transformed into a falcon and carried Ruby with him into the sky.

The ground keep sinking and the garden that Ruby has taken care of since she moved here. All the beautiful flowers that she has grown was devoured by the earth.

I see Sara as she tried to use magic to stop the sinking ground as it goes closer to the mansion. But I stopped her.

“Sara, don’t stop the earth. Let it sink. I don’t know what’s inside there, but I hope it’s something valuable,” I said to stop Sara from using her magic.

“Okay. But are you sure you’re fine having your house destroyed?” Sara asked.

.....

“It’s fine. The house can be repaired. Just use earth magic to give you all some footing for everyone here. If it’s a dungeon, I don’t want you to waste your mana too much,” I said.

“Are you sure it’s a dungeon,” Kayla asked.

“I don’t know. With my Divine Vision, I can see that there’s a path going down inside. But I can’t see too deep. Which mean there’s either a high amount of mana concentrated in the dungeon, which is common in a dungeon that hasn’t been discovered, or it’s related to Aura,” I said.

I thought that since the tree absorbed my Aura, there’s a possibility that this place is man-made. Created by an Aura user since the tree has been modified. And the fact that I couldn’t see clearly even with my Divine Vision means that not just a place highly concentrated with mana. I also couldn’t see far into a place created by an Aura user of the past.

And the fact that an Aura user did this means that the Aura users of the distant past, even further past than when Victoria and Sonia were still humans and were alive, is very strong. Stronger than what I could imagine.

If there’s a secret buried by that person here, I could get much stronger. Though if there’s any record of this Aura user from the past, I doubt it can be deciphered. It has been very long time since then after all.

But maybe if they did some mural drawing in a cave, I might still be able to perceive it.

Well, we can only know if we go into that tunnel. I hope it’s something good.

After a while, the ground stopped sinking. Part of the mansion was devoured by the earth, but that’s not a problem. This is a house that is not too important to me, but I had it because of my connection with Albert. He will do something to the destroyed house. I don’t have to do anything.

Well, he can just get the earth mages to fix the mansion. But I need our earth mages to help me explore where this tunnel lead us to.

“I think the ground has stopped sinking. I’m going in. Anyone interested in coming with me?” I asked.

And then, Angela, Kayla, Jewel, Candy, Wendy, Veronica, and Sara raised their hand. I guess this is the party we will go with. As for Spot, he’s too big and won’t be useful in this small space, so he won’t be coming and just wait for us instead. He doesn’t even want to become small and wrapped his body around me.

Well, he can do what he wants. I’ll just bring this party with me.

“I’ll go check the place first then before you go. I’m curious what’s inside,” Sonia said. She’s a ghost, so she should be fine.

“Alright. Then, we will go in after one hour. Prepare yourself since I don’t know what will happen. And if it’s not a dungeon, we might not be fighting at all. What you will do is just sightseeing. If you’re okay with that, you can come,” I said.

I don’t think it’s a dungeon. And there’s probably no monsters. If there’s a monster in a capital of a kingdom, things will get troublesome.

After one hour, we prepared to get in the hole. I even brought my Reizpear since I don’t know what will happen next.

After falling for a bit into the hole, I reached the bottom. The others who were being carried by the wind mages fall slowly behind me.

“Oh, Sonia is back. It’s been one hour, so it must be quite deep for her to only return now,” I said.

Even though my sight is limited, I can still see further than any ordinary people can see.

“The earth here is weird. I can’t sense anything further than what I can see,” Angela said.

If someone who is the closest to a master level mage with us said that, it means that we entered some ridiculous place. We need to be careful.

“Let’s move after we asked Sonia what’s in front of us.”

Everyone nodded and we waited until Sonia returns.

Instead of teleporting, she’s floating this way. Maybe there’s something that blocked her from teleporting.

Sonia stopped in front of us and told us what’s inside.

“Roy! I see ghosts inside!” Sonia shouted excitedly.

“Yeah, me too. There’s one in front of me,” I replied.

“I don’t mean me! I mean other ghosts! They are trapped inside!”

Ghosts trapped inside this place? Just what is this place?

Before I can make any assumption, Sonia added something.

“They were all ghosts of Aura users of the past who died here! They failed the upcoming test from the ancient Aura user who created this place, and died!” Sonia said.

“So, you mean that even Aura users of the past are still not strong enough to conquer this place? Man, this place is ridiculous. Have you asked what trials they went through?” I asked Sonia.

“Yes. The ghosts who died here will be our guides. They won’t harm you since Aura can kill them. Unless they want to die. Once you enter, you can’t leave,” Sonia said.

“Even if I can use portal?” I asked.

“Well, magic still work in this place. That’s what they said, so I guess you should be fine. Anyway, once you go deeper, there are two doors. One is for the test taker, which can only be entered by one person at a time, and the other is for those who want to watch,” Sonia said.

I guess she flew all the way here instead of teleporting since she was excited about something.

“What is this place? Some place for entertainment which have a place for audience to watch?” I asked.

“Master said it was. This place was just a test for Aura users if they can complete the test and get the reward. But many people failed during the time the creator of this place was still alive, so the creator of this place make it more entertaining,” Sonia said.

“Wait, master? Do you mean our master? He’s here!?” Victoria asked.

“Yes. That’s why I was late since I talked a lot with him. Anyway, he and the other ghosts can’t leave that place, so you can meet him once you enter. So, Roy, will you enter?” Sonia asked me.

“A place filled with Aura users of the past. I’m interested. They died, but I should be safer since I have Divine Vision and portals. But what about the audiences? Sonia, I want you to ask your master and the other ghosts if the audiences will be able to return safely if I fail. If not, the others shouldn’t enter and just wait for me in the surface. And ask the ghosts about the content of the test, and if any of the ghosts were summoners who can use portal, or have vision power like me.”

Sonia returns back to the testing ground. Since we have a ghost with us, we might be able to get more advantages than Aura users of the past. Though I wonder what’s inside this place for so many Aura users to die here? I hope it’s something amazing.

“Hmm? Victoria? You seem normal after hearing that you can meet your master again. Even Sonia was excited,” I asked Victoria who doesn’t seem to be excited.

“Well, since I could talk with Sonia again, I’m not really surprised to know that I can talk to someone who has long been dead. We even talked to Javier who came from the far future. I don’t think there are many things that can surprise me anymore,” Victoria said casually.

“You don’t miss him?” I asked.

“Not really. He’s my master, but other than that, we don’t have much interactions,” Victoria said.

“Well, if that’s what you want. As for me, I guess it’s better if I just wait here and let Sonia chat with the ghosts. We don’t know what will happen after I enter, so I will delay my departure again. It’s also a rare chance for me to learn about Aura from Aura users of the past. Let’s go back to the mansion and wait for Sonia there. And since it’s a test for Aura user, only I will take the test. The rest of you can rebuild the mansion or come to watch if you’re interested,” I said.

I wonder what kind of test I will take. A test which people died in. I need to be extremely careful.

Do I look like someone who is willing to risk my life for something that I’m not really sure of? No. But I will go since I know that I can escape with my portal. Good thing we have Sonia to check if I can still use magic or not.