Annan, Isaac, and Ofelia, following the guidance of "Julius," rose one level and reached the seventeenth subterranean layer.
This was also a highly confidential space.
Although its secrecy was sowhat less stringent than that of the eighteenth layer, it was still a secret area inaccessible to ordinary Wizards.
Up until now, every part below the ninth subterranean layer was completely confidential.
Various experints and rituals that "Julius" was conducting, along with all his secrets, were stored between the tenth and eighteenth subterranean layers.
After all, the bottommost layer of the Magma Ban Tower contained "Julius’s" brain and the proof of his once-human existence.
That place even stored the "core program" of the entire Magma Ban Tower, which could be said to be the sole vulnerability of both the Magma Ban Tower and "Julius."
If an invasion occurred, it would be nearly impossible for the invaders to reach this layer.
The structural integrity of the Magma Ban Tower could even withstand the self-destruction of a Silver-rank destructive Wizard. And after the developnt of elevators, the stairways in Wizard’s Towers had been completely abolished.
To break through each layer of the ground under the lock of "Julius," a Gold-rank spellcaster?
That was almost an impossible task.
In other words...
The behavior of "Julius" sending them directly to the lowest layer before eting them was a display of sincerity. At the sa ti, it was also a threat—since it would not be easy for them to leave this place.
Just like the Heath Tower of Black, the Tower Master controlled various rituals and apparatus within the Wizard’s Tower.
But Tower Master Hugo was directly housed in a human battery, controlling through a connection with the Heath Tower of Black... Over here at the Magma Ban Tower, cyber immortality was directly achieved, existing in the cyber space of the Magma Ban Tower, perfectly under control.
Although there was no such thing as cyber space in this era.
Without the internet, "Julius" could only be imprisoned within the Wizard’s Tower. His thinking speed had already surpassed the constraints of the body and reached the realm of Elental Power.
"Julius" could repeatedly browse, inquire, and study all the books saved by the Magma Ban Tower to alleviate boredom... but that was it.
He could never leave the Magma Ban Tower again.
Or rather, the true Julius had died the mont he completed the ritual. Like "Isaac the Second," what survived was only the artificial intelligence that inherited his mories, abilities, and knowledge.
The authority of "Julius" was even higher than that of a typical Tower Master—because he was now the Wizard’s Tower itself. This was the confidence "Julius" had to constrain subsequent Tower Masters.
What slightly exceeded Annan’s expectations was that...
In this subterranean seventeenth layer, there was nothing placed that would frighten soone at first glance.
There were only four strange black pillars standing at each corner of the room.
They looked like coffins set upright, seemingly just the right size for soone to lie inside.
"Are these the support pillars that sustain the Magma Ban Tower?"
Ofelia asked subconsciously.
The voice of "Julius," with a hint of chanical tone, echoed in the room, causing a faint echo in the empty room: "These are the ’support pillars’ you saw outside. Their real na is called [Subterranean Guide Rail]."
As he spoke, three of the "coffins" lifted their covers on their own.
Inside was a very soft cushion that appeared to be made of a material similar to silicone and surrounded by several layers of isolation.
"...On that point, it’s quite advanced."
Annan comnted.
Then, he took the lead and climbed into the pillar closest to them.
anwhile, "Julius" continued to explain to Ofelia, who was sowhat hesitant:
"In fact, the [Subterranean Guide Rail] is essentially a hollow, single-person elevator. By descending from here, one can enter the bottom of the volcano.
"Because the temperature of the lava is too high, only by entering here can you avoid being burned during the descent. Ordinary elevators can’t be used, and the risk is too great."
"Is it really just going to be a burn?"
Ofelia retorted, "Why do I feel like it’s like putting at into a tal cylinder, then placing the cylinder with at over the fire to roast?"
"It’s because Transcendents of the Gold rank are not so easy to die."
Isaac answered with a smile.
Then "Julius’s" chanically tinged voice sounded again: "Indeed. We have confird that each Subterranean Guide Rail is prepared with impact and high-temperature protection asures. The integrity of the protection ritual is constantly monitored by . Whenever the integrity falls below 95%, repairs will be made..."
Thinking of the bottom of the volcano, Annan rembered another matter.
Right now... the Silver Baron and his companions are probably under another volcano in the Winter Duchy. That is also an active volcano and one of the regions where the Dream Condensing Egg: Ode to the Sky Chariot can be used.
That is the place where the Charioteer’s remains are stored.
—Does this have any connection with the Egg of Dream Condensation: Ode to the Sky Chariot?
Annan was still pondering.
The three of them had already entered a Subterranean Guide Rail, and the opened coffin door was slowly closing.
The voice of "Julius" gradually faded from the outside, almost disappearing.
After a slight pause, the voice of "Julius" sounded again from inside the coffin, and the volu suddenly beca very loud: "Please stand upright, Your Highness Annan. Relax your hands, let them hang naturally, close your eyes, and do not resist the expanding protective cushions..."
The surrounding "silicone cushions," like buzzing massage chairs, tightened gradually, enveloping Annan within. Even his ears were filled with this unknown soft material.
"It’s not too cramped."
Annan closed his eyes and tried to lift his head. The incoming foam material suddenly stopped and adjusted intelligently to accommodate Annan’s movents, just like an elevator door reopening when it detects soone approaching.
Surprisingly, although Annan’s chest was subrged by this soft material, his breathing was completely unobstructed.
Annan murmured softly, "It’s just that your voice is a bit loud, can you lower it?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
"Julius" was anable, and his voice was promptly cut in half: "I’m so sorry, Your Highness Annan. No one has ever brought up this issue to before."
After a slight pause, he continued, "Please remain silent for a mont to prevent biting yourself; we are about to plunge into a nightmare... in five, four, three, two, one.
"Begin the descent."
—It was not like an elevator.
To describe it precisely, it was more similar to a "fall," or rather a "drop tower" ride that has been activated. It was like falling from a nightmare, crossing the boundary between illusion and reality, and instantly waking up.
Annan, endowed with rich arcane knowledge, imdiately realized—this was a device designed to prevent soone from controlling the mind.
Because "falling" implies waking up from a dream. If soone were controlled by a Soul Snatching Spell, then after experiencing an "abrupt fall," they would also wake up imdiately.
It took nearly half a minute like that.
Annan started feeling that the speed of the fall was suddenly slowing down. It was as if he had left a certain place, breaking through so kind of barrier.
To describe it, it was like falling from a high place, breaking through a wooden floor, and plunging into water.
Annan’s consciousness faded instantly, everything around him seed to turn monochro. It all gradually slowed down, becoming silent and still. He felt as if he was asleep, yet also as if he had just awakened.
In this state of being half-asleep and half-awake, Annan seed to see, silent grey moths fluttering their wings.
His vision was pitch black.
When Annan awoke again, he saw a blood-colored moon hanging in the sky.
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