Chapter 62: Black Smoke

In a fantasy story, it is paramount that one should keep a secret or two. Sneak around and build your strength in the shadows without anyone knowing.

Keep oneself hidden in the shadows, let no one know what you’re doing – not even your family and loved ones.

Such an option is not viable for Colt.

“So, how did you come to know of this? I didn’t think my dear husband was searching for the entrance of ancient ruins and I didn’t even know that this ruin existed.”

“Research, I’ve been interested in ancient treasures and artifacts for a long time. I was planning on testing my research findings and it appears that I was correct.”

“Is that so.” Mina nodded her head; she was very accepting of Colt’s words.

With Colt being in a relationship with Mina, it is much appreciated for the two sides if he just does what he needs to do without being sneaky. One way or the other, Mina will learn his move, and instead of Colt sneaking up on the shadows, it would be Mina sneaking up from behind.

Though he can tell that Mina has changed since she had that misunderstanding with Vyra and Jin, she is still a yandere at heart.

In most cases, it would be troublesome to show this kind of place to anyone but being together with a “very loyal” woman by your side such sneaking can be thrown to the side.

Mina will not stab Colt in the back for power as she will instead push him to gain more so he’ll become stronger. The only reason why Colt can be stabbed in the back while listening to a peal of laughter that pierces the ears and the soul is if he cheated with some woman.

So, showing this to mina will not cause him a problem. It will be much more of a problem if Mina learns he did something behind her back and a misunderstanding arose.

‘A misunderstanding is the last thing I want to have at this time.’ Such is Colt’s thoughts.

The two of them left their bags outside near the mountain peak they entered the ruins together. Mina doesn’t care about what’s inside, but she is worried about Colt’s safety so she came with him.

They took a step forward and their feet landed on the steps. As soon as it did, a chilling wind rushed past them as the presence of the World Devouring Book was felt.

They took the steps and descended without fear. Colt held Mina’s hands as he assisted her from going down. After what seemed to be hundreds of steps, they finally reached the bottom of the ruins.

Colt was just about to get the only thing he prepared that’s going to illuminate the way before going into the ruins when Mina flicked her wrist and a small ball of fire appeared. This is Mina’s second element, Fire.

Colt looked at her smiling as she did something for him and could only nod at her to show thanks. With the light of the fire giving light, Colt and Mina got a good look at the surrounding.

They are currently in a wide pathway, that was also made with black-colored bricks.

Mina approached the wall to her left and touched it. As she did, her mana went haywire and the fire she conjured disappeared. While touching the black walls, Mina could not activate her mana, but once her hand backed away, she once again regained control of her mana.

“These bricks are made of Void Stones,” Mina stated.

“Void Stones, huh. It appears that the one who sealed the artifact is trying to completely shut off any outside contact.”

Mina needs not to say anything regarding these stones because Colt was already aware as to what they are.

Void Stone is simply a material that keeps the life force of the world away from it. Phase one Mana, Prana, Aura, and even Zara cannot affect these stones. They are really useful against Pathfinders, but this stone is so rare in the outside world that a brick-sized stone such as the ones around him would cost a fortune.

Any normal person would be tempted to take a brick or two to sell. But Colt and Mina didn’t because they are sensible enough to know that this place was created specifically to not let any life force inside.

If they take a brick out, something might happen. Untold consequences can happen if they are not careful.

“Let’s go, we should go get the artifact. There shouldn’t be any traps if these void stones are present here, that must mean that there shouldn’t be one, A single gap in this place can cause a massive change in the ruins.”

Mina nodded her head at Colt’s words. The two of them walked down the pathway and just passed the void stones without showing any interest. As they walked forwards more and more, Mina felt something amiss.

Her mana was being sucked away and then; her fire got whisked away by some mysterious force. The fire traveled forward Illuminating the way.

Colt was not apprehensive about the situation but it was Mina who took the first step forward as she went after her fire.

She was a Mage, someone who wishes to learn the inner workings of magic and the world itself. Her interest at the cause of the strange phenomena was something akin to a child discovering chocolate…she was very excited.

Colt runs after Mina, but to his surprise, he couldn’t catch up despite her being a mage and him being a warrior in training.

As he runs after her, he noticed that the pathway was slowly getting illuminated. And soon, he saw the end of the pathway.

Mina exited the pathway earlier than Colt, but three breathes later, Colt also exited but Mina was still by his side.

She didn’t move as she steps into a spacious hall made entirely of Void Stone Bricks. There were cracks around the ceiling of the hall. The shockwaves from the purple lightning resulted in the Void Stones to show cracks.

Void Stones may have the ability to survive the onslaught of Phase One life forces, but the Purple Lightning came from the Aerial Beast God, it far surpassed the prerequisite needed to overcome it.

There was a stream of lightning coming in the hall, but none of the lightning was causing a problem. There were no sparks around them, instead, there are lines of purple lightning constantly getting absorbed by an ancient black book that is atop an altar.

The fire absorbed from Mina circled the book and soon disappeared as it touched the book. The presence of mana found in the fire could no longer be felt.

The altar was elevated a hundred steps from the ground and as Colt looked at the book, he now understood how the book got so much energy to carve the mountain and the heavens.

‘I better take it now before it absorbs more lightning.’ Colt took a step forward, leaving the side of the mesmerized Mina.

He took a step forward and up the stairs, exactly a hundred steps later, he now stood before the book.

The World Devouring Book was now before him. Its cover was black, it did not have a single word on its cover but Colt could tell this was it.

He reached his hand forward, and as he got his hands on the book, something bizarre happened. Upon contact, the World Devouring Book trembled and then shot up before flying around the hall.

“What’s happening!?”

“Dear! What’s wrong!?” As soon Colt’s voice echoed, Mina snapped out of it as her heartbeat wildly. She looked at Colt and wanted to run up to his side and see what she can do, but Colt’s voice echoed once again!

“No! Don’t come up here! I’m okay!”

Colt was bewildered however he was not in pain so he thought everything was okay, but the surprises have yet to end. An unknown force made him raise his left hand.

His hand was slowly made to be raised, and as his palm pointed at the ceiling of the hall where the World Devouring Book was coincidentally flying over. It dove from above and suddenly turned to black smoke before entering Colt’s left hand!

“Aaaahhh!”

This time, there was pang of pain! Colt shouted aloud, and as he did, the force coming from the book made him lose strength on his lower body.

His knees almost buckled, but he felt like if he fell now, he’ll lose something very crucial to his life. So, he stood his ground and took the black smoke into his left hand.

The wind blew around him and the lightning went wild, but it didn’t matter because Colt stood his ground and the lightning never touched him as the Lightning Absorbing Orb was still in effect.

Fwuuuu!

BooM!

As the last of the shadows entered Colt’s hands, something in his head created a muffled explosion. A wave of information flooded his mind, but he couldn’t sort it out as the information was simply too much!

And as the flood of information finally stopped, Colt finally fell on his behind. His body was drenched in sweat as he felt like his body just underwent a very strenuous exercise.

‘That part didn’t happen in the book.’ Colt laughed.

He looked at his left palm and he found a black smoke-like swirl on his palm.

“What’s this?”

He questioned himself as he stared at it some more. As he was staring at it Colt felt something softly tapping his cheeks.

“Nya.” Fluff gave him a thumbs up.

Colt smiled as he nodded his head, “I forgot you were there.”