Go back?


    Enzo woulddie if hedid.


    Although Enzo was unsure of Maude''s current strength, he could feel an invisible force enveloping him, binding him and making it difficult to move.


    Itwasdefinitely Maude!


    Enzo quickly confirmed this and then turned back with a smile, saying, "No, I just sensed something behind me and wanted to check it out."


    Maude smiled and said, "That''s good."


    He continued, ambiguously either threatening or expressing a sentiment."We are like-minded partners. As partners, we should help each otherinstead of choosing to leave halfway. Just like when you encounter trouble, I help you. And when I encounter trouble, I need your help too."


    Enzo picked up on this and asked, "So, Captain, what trouble have you encountered?"


    Maude''s expression was inscrutable as he nced at Enzo before saying, "You''ll find outter."


    At that moment, Enzo was certain that the Maude before him was not quite right.


    Perhaps he has his own consciousness and is not merely a time shadow created by temporal fluctuations.


    So, what about this ruin?


    Enzo had no choice but to continue following Maude and his group deeper into the ruins.


    Not far along the passage, they came upon an entrance to a cave. Entering the cave led them down a spiral staircase, ending at a glowing door.


    Maude stepped through the glowing door without hesitation.


    Upon passing through the door, the scene changed abruptly. The previously mottled walls turned into orderly stone walls, intricately carved with various patterns, looking vivid and lifelike.


    "Why are there brick walls underground?"


    "Could it be an illusion?"


    Mina and the others whispered among themselves.


    Enzo tried touching the wall. It felt solid and hard to the touch. The intricately carved stone walls were not illusions but real.


    Maude showed no sign of disturbance and said, "Keep moving forward."


    The group continued on their way.


    As they proceeded, the walls began to show signs of age. The further they went, the duller the stone walls became. Though it was the same stretch of wall, it looked as if it had been built in different eras, indicating temporal fluctuations.


    Enzo felt the Ring of the World vibrating again.


    At that moment,nterns appeared ahead. The mes floated on either side of the stone walls, but strangely, there were no visible sources of fuel. The light from the mes illuminated the dark passage, allowing the group to see their surroundings more clearly. They had reached the end of the stone wall, whererge murals were disyed.


    The murals were vividly colored, but under the flickering light, they took on a terrifying aspect.


    "These murals seem to record something."


    Mina saidthese words, stopping to examine them.


    The others approached as well, while Enzo moved aside, preferring not to stay with the group.


    The content of the murals was easy to decipher. They depicted the story of a powerful tribe called the Saint Silver Tribe.


    TheSaint Silver Tribe hade from the wilderness and arrived at Qaidam Lake—no, at that time, it was not yet named that but was called Qaidam Mine. They discovered vast mineral deposits here and, using the power of the underground volcanoes, smelted the ores into metal ingots, which they then forged into exquisite weapons.


    In the years that followed, the Saint Silver Tribe continued mining the ores like that.


    Over time, they umted an immense fortune, but they eventually exhausted the entire Qaidam Mine. The final mural depicts the now-empty Qaidam Mine reced by numerous deep pits on the surface. With the arrival of a heavy rain, these pits filled with water.


    Qaidam Mine transformed into Qaidam Lake.


    "Is this the origin of Qaidam Lake?"


    Enzo wondered, intrigued by the fate of the Saint Silver Tribe.


    However, after describing the evolution of Qaidam Mine, the murals abruptly end with a ck sphere resembling a consuming ck hole. Surrounding the ck hole are small figures holding hands and kneeling in worship, suggesting some sort of special ritual.


    The muralsabruptly ends here.


    That wasas if erased by an uncontroble force, leaving only a nk space.


    The group continued forward and soon encountered a massive bronze door over twenty meters high, adorned with intricate patterns.


    In the center of the patterns was a human figure with three pairs of wings on its back.


    At the sight of this figure, everyone had the same thought—deity!


    Even Enzo, who had seen Beast God Rexfit, felt a profound sense of insignificance and vulnerability.


    It was a feeling he hadn''t experienced in a long time.


    Enzo squinted slightly,mitting the unique image to memory.


    "What should we do next?"


    A woman in the team asked, her namewas Isabel and she possessedhealing abilities. ording to Enzo''s spection, she should also be an important member of the Barren Mountain Tribe.


    Enzo thought he might find out more about herter from Mina.


    But that was a matter for after their current situation.


    The question which Isabsked silenced everyone. With no path forward and only the massive bronze door ahead, pushing it open seemed to be their only option.


    Isabelcould not help but suggested, "Maybe we should go back."


    There was fear and terror on her delicate little face, and the area exuded an ominous aura. This door was like an abyss leading to hell, and no one knew what they would face next.


    Mina sighed and patted Isabel''s shoulder.


    "We have no choice but to move forward."


    Maude then gave the order."Continue forward!"


    To proceed, they had to push open the door.


    To their surprise, the door moved easily, revealing not a horrifying scene but an underground za. In the center of the za stood a deity statue with six wings.And nearby,there was also a monster bound by chains


    As Enzo and the others stepped into the za, the ground began to tremble.


    At the same time,thick ck mist began to rise.


    The entire za was instantly enveloped in ck mist. The mist seemed toe alive, swirling and flowing into the bound monster''s body.


    Creeeak—


    Strange noises echoed through the za.


    Soon, the za was illuminated brightly as countless mes appeared overhead. These mes provided light, allowing everyone to see clearly the details within the za.


    However, this light also brought fear.


    The chained monster struggled free, breaking its chains easily. It looked at Maude and the others with a cold smile and said, "As the awakener of Isaacron, you are fortunate. I will grant you the blessing to die in the mes!"


    Isaacron!


    Upon hearing this name, Enzo was taken aback.


    This name was unique and, ording to the Barren Mountain script, meant "eternal endless fire" a description aligning with the Seven Great Origins Creation''s Endless Fire.


    Could it be…


    Enzo''s mind raced with a wild thought.


    He nced at Maude.


    Maude, however, was focused and stared intently at Isaacron. "I don''t believe you can kill us."


    "Oh really?"


    Isaacronughed maniacally.


    Amidstughter, Isaacron''s body constantly changed, like a ck me, but the mes continued to condense and eventually grew four limbs, except for his head which remained a burning me.


    In the next moment, Isaacron spewed a stream of fire.


    Maude remained unperturbed, raising one hand to project a golden light that coalesced into a shield, blocking the firefrom Isaacron''s mouthwith ease.


    Isaacron seemed surprised but quickly dismissed it. "Is that all?" he said.


    His voice echoing through the za with oppressive force. "Next, I will show you what true fear is!"


    This statement made everyone''s faces turn grave.


    Isabel trembled and said, "It''s over… We shouldn''t havee here…"


    Her reaction really puzzled Enzo.


    Compared to the others, Isabel seemed excessively fearful.


    As if to confirm Isabel''s words, Isaacron''s massive hand waved lightly. The mes floating above turned into dark green motes of light that drifted down toward them.


    However, these dark green motes caused no immediate harm.


    The group was curious about this strange urrence.


    Bang!


    The motes suddenly exploded, but no one was hurt. This abnormal scene caused unease.


    Somethingwaswrong!


    Somethingwasreally wrong!


    Enzo suddenly realized what was happening. The Ring of the World began to analyze the dark green mes at a frantic pace.


    Within moments, the analysis wasplete.


    Enzo warned the others, "Be careful, the dark green mes affect consciousness!"


    But the warning came toote.


    "Ha ha ha!"


    Maude''s maniacalughter filled the air. He suddenly appeared next to Mina, striking her with a powerful blow that sent her flying. The same green light appeared around the others, who began attacking their own teammates.


    Isaacron sneered, "Such weak wills."


    He then turned to Enzo, his eyes showing both approval and fierce intent. "You are impressive for resisting my mental fire''s corruption. "


    "As a mark of respect—"


    He paused, "I permit you to be the first to die!"


    Just as Isaacron prepared to attack, Maude interjected, "Lord Isaacron, please allow me to deal with this person. I will present his head to you as a demonstration of my loyalty!"