Chapter 642: Chaos Eye
With a sigh of relief, Charles concluded that the immediate vicinity was devoid of any lurking creatures. Taking swift action, he skillfully stowed away the chair, stopwatch, and all other traces of his presence, leaving the cave to appear abandoned and undisturbed by any living soul.
His following action led him deeper into the cavern, carrying the reddish crystal in his grasp. Each step echoed softly in the darkness as he ventured further. Finally, he reached a secluded spot, the end of the cavern. Carefully, he buried the reddish crystal onto the dry sand, its surface gleaming in the faint illumination.
Seating himself in a position of tranquility, Charles crossed his legs and sent his wisdom power into the very heart of the crystal.
In the blink of an eye, Charles vanished from his previous location, leaving the cavern shrouded in an even deeper gloom. Time seemed to stand still as he traversed the vast expanse, his elemental form traveled at an incredible speed. And then, like a flame rekindled, he reemerged before the magnificent sight of the gigantic ball of fire, its fiery brilliance captivating his gaze.
Within the depths of the strange dimension, Charles embraced the chaotic dance of the flames, his mind and soul attuned to the intricacies of the Chaos Fire. With each passing moment, he delved further into its essence, his comprehension expanding and evolving. The flames whispered secrets as new knowledge flowed through his veins like molten lava.
...
Time in the peculiar dimension seemed to stretch and warp, crawling forward at an agonizingly slow pace. While a mere ten days had elapsed in the outside world, Charles had traversed the corridors of this confining realm for an astounding four years. Every second, minute, and hour was filled with relentless dedication as he tirelessly delved into the depths of the Chaos Fire Essences, their volatile essence fueling his insatiable thirst for knowledge.
In those four years of ceaseless endeavor, Charles seized every precious moment, extracting understanding from the chaotic dance of the flames. The flame's enigmatic secrets unfurled before him and revealed the intricate nature of the Chaos Fire. His relentless pursuit bore fruit as he successfully comprehended a staggering 650 Chaos Fire Essences, a remarkable achievement that fueled the creation of another Legendary Spell model within his Inner World.
While his progress in Chaos Fire may not have matched his rapid strides with Lawful Fire and Rebirth Fire, Charles recognized the extraordinary opportunity presented by his time within this confined dimension. Slowly, he opened his eyes, the deep reddish glow of a strange crimson-eye pattern materializing on his forehead. His brows furrowed in contemplation as he grappled with naming his newfound spell.
"What should I call this spell? Chaos Eye?" he muttered softly, his voice filled with awe and uncertainty. Determined to explore the boundaries of his powers, he soared upward, propelling himself toward the end of the small dimension. With a burst of elemental energy, he emerged from the dimension, reappearing at the furthest reaches of the cavern.
Gently unearthing the once-buried crystal, Charles carefully returned it to his space ring, the weight of its power palpable against his skin. Transforming back into his human form, he embarked on the journey towards the cavern's entrance, each step deliberate and careful.
Arriving at the cascading water, he allowed the refreshing droplets to wash away the dirt on his body. Emerging cleansed and rejuvenated, he exchanged his worn garments for a new ensemble, the black fabric seamlessly blending into the shadows of the surrounding cavern.
After that, Charles stepped out of the cavern, venturing forth on the path leading to the domain of the "Nightmare Guardian."
He ventured into the thick woods in no time, his gaze fixed upon the cloudless, radiant sky above. With each step, he drew nearer to where the ruined buildings stood. As he cautiously proceeded and reached the area where they had previously been attacked, he cast a vigilant glance around, acutely aware of his surroundings.
Simultaneously, Charles directed his attention to his left eye, meticulously examining all twenty visions.
"Not a single sign of an anomaly," he solemnly muttered, his voice laced with determination as he walked further.
However, as he took the fifth step, he suddenly noticed a peculiar transformation within his visions. Each sight displayed distinct and diverse glimpses into possible futures, causing him to furrow his brow.
At that moment, Charles activated his [Accelerated Thoughts] skill, honing his mental faculties and preparing himself for the imminent battle. As time seemed to slow down, seconds ticked by, and the leaves in the air gracefully swayed to an unhurried rhythm.
Upon reaching the eleventh second, an invisible attack materialized out of thin air, aimed directly at Charles's neck.
Swiftly, he reacted, transforming his form into that of an elemental being. A sharp cut appeared momentarily around his neck but healed itself.
At that precise instant, an eerie humanoid figure, emanating a dark, blackish aura, materialized before him, brandishing an ancient, elongated sword poised to cleave him in two.
Yet, just as the Nightmare Guardian was about to unleash its attack, Charles cast the [Burning Thoughts] spell, erasing its current intention. Despite also attempting to employ the [Knowledge Seeker], [Fire Seed], and [Purple Consciousness] spells, all of these spells dissipated into thin air, yielding no discernible effect.
Undeterred, Charles focused on the Nightmare Guardian's Head and invoked the [Chaos Eye] spell. Within an instant, a peculiar eye-shaped imprint manifested on Charles's forehead, emanating a dense, chaotic ray infused with pure Chaos Fire Essences.
The intense, chaotic ray had already reached its countenance before the Nightmare Guardian could fully regain its composure from its half-dazed state. The next moment, the chaotic fire forcefully penetrated its forehead and erupted, releasing torrents of chaotic fire essences in all directions.
In a mere blink of an eye, a colossal fire explosion reverberated throughout the vicinity, enveloping not only the Nightmare Guardian and Charles but also the dilapidated buildings, trees, and vines surrounding them. As the tumultuous flames gradually subsided, Charles remained the sole figure standing amidst the desolated ruins.
"It died just like that?" What startled him was the notification that appeared before his eyes.
[Target Eliminated! 5 Wisdom Points obtained!]
'Only 5 Wisdom Points? Does that mean the earlier shadow being was a clone?' He furrowed his brows for a moment and noticed even its weapon disappeared as if it had never existed.
'I need to be more careful.'
Engrossed in his thoughts, Charles deliberated on his next course of action, realizing the need for increased caution. With this newfound resolve, he proceeded to tread more carefully. Charles continued his journey over the following few minutes, traversing through a maze of dilapidated buildings. During this time, he had an astonishing revelation—the desolate surroundings he had entered were, in fact, an abandoned city.
"However," he mused to himself, "it appears to have been deserted following the demise of the Dream God. More likely, its Divine Domain must have been transported here and fused with this dungeon." As Charles ventured deeper into the city, he observed the remnants of broken street roads, towering structures reduced to ruins, and even watchtowers, all bearing witness to a past abruptly cut short.
Intrigued by the fate of the city's inhabitants after the fall of the Divine, he couldn't help but ponder their ultimate destiny. At this very moment, his attention was captivated by the sight of a grand, palace-like edifice that stood conspicuously intact. Determined, he quickened his pace and directed his footsteps towards the impressive structure, driven by an unquenchable curiosity.
However, just as he was about to approach the palace, an instinctive intuition compelled him to halt abruptly, his gaze keenly fixed on the left side. A premonition surfaced within him, warning of an invisible attack that would swiftly sever his head should he dare to take another step forward.
Despite the Nightmare Guardian's stealthy presence and the absence of any discernible manifestation of its power, Charles, guided by his [Faceless Eye] skill, managed to pinpoint its location through his vision. Reacting instantaneously, he unleashed the [Burning Thoughts] spell upon the concealed foe, anticipating a swift victory.
Yet, to his astonishment, nothing happened. The spell proved futile against the enigmatic adversary. Before Charles could even blink, the seven-foot-tall humanoid figure surged forward, closing the distance between them in a mere half-second. Even with his honed mental abilities granted by the [Accelerated Thoughts] skill, he struggled to keep up with its lightning-fast movements, causing his vigilance to intensify.
As the formidable figure drew nearer, it abruptly utilized its leg to propel itself skyward, wielding its weapon with both hands. Simultaneously, an eerie greenish aura enshrouded the sword, causing the air around them to quiver with apprehension.
Although Charles had never encountered such a menacing sword technique before, he dared not underestimate it. With unwavering resolve, he swiftly raised his hand and invoked the [Ignis Sanctuary] spell, seeking protection in the face of impending danger.
In the blink of an eye, a potent force-field-like fire materialized around Charles, encompassing an area of approximately five meters in radius. The flames shimmered with an ethereal brilliance, forming a protective barrier that shielded him from immediate harm.
A mere second later, the ancient sword, wreathed in its ominous aura, collided with the resilient shield of the [Ignis Sanctuary] spell, triggering an explosive shockwave reverberating in all directions. The sheer force of the impact sent tremors through the surrounding environment, shaking the very foundations of the ruins.
As Charles contemplated his next move, another humanoid shadow abruptly sprang forth from a nearby dilapidated building, wielding an ancient longsword.
It was yet another Nightmare Guardian, a formidable adversary.
Swiftly and with uncanny agility, the second Nightmare Guardian soared through the air, closing in on Charles from above. Its ancient sword, cloaked in the same unsettling greenish aura, descended upon the protective force field with a powerful slash, testing the limits of its resilience.
The clash of their attacks created a whirlwind of destructive shockwaves that rippled through the immediate vicinity. Both Nightmare Guardians, unrelenting in their assault, unleashed an array of peculiar and enigmatic sword skills, relentlessly battering the defensive barrier with increased force.
What startled Charles was the relentless onslaught and the coordinated and calculated maneuvers of the Nightmare Guardians. Unlike other magical beasts, these beings acted with purpose and coordination, skillfully targeting the areas of the protective shield that showed signs of weakness.
Before long, despite the [Ignis Sanctuary] spell successfully fending off countless sword skill attacks, it exhibited visible cracks in certain regions. Exploiting these vulnerabilities, the Nightmare Guardians intensified their assault, their strikes growing more potent and precise.
With mounting pressure, the once-unyielding five-meter radius protective layer fragmented into innumerable shards, showering the surroundings in a dazzling cascade of golden flame.
In the face of this relentless onslaught, Charles had no respite. Without a moment to spare, he witnessed two formidable beings of legendary rank hurtling toward him at an astonishing speed.
