Chereads / The Strongest Porter / Chapter 17 - Death Tunnel (2)

Chapter 17 - Death Tunnel (2)

Magnus kept walking through the dimly lit tunnel, his senses heightened as he searched for the dojo where the tournament was supposedly held. He could feel unseen eyes tracking his every move, the oppressive atmosphere of the Death Tunnel pressing down on him. After his previous encounters, he was both exhausted and wary, his mind racing with thoughts of potential threats lurking in the shadows.

"Alright, let's see what I need to do to evolve my abilities further," Magnus muttered to himself. "Show me the requirement for the next evolution."

A golden window materialized before him, its light illuminating the dark surroundings.

Next Evolve Requirements:

 • Achieve an above-average body

 • Win the tournament

 • Achieve Stage 3 Mana Eyes

Magnus sighed, feeling the weight of these new challenges. "The requirements just keep getting tougher," he thought aloud. "I guess I'll have to push my Mana Eyes whenever I can, win this tournament, and hope Xavier's master can help me improve my body."

With that in mind, Magnus activated his Mana Eyes, the world around him sharpening as the ethereal glow of his eyes cut through the darkness. He could now see the intricate details of the tunnel walls, detect subtle shifts in the air, and spot any hidden dangers lurking ahead.

"Hey, are you heading to the dojo for the tournament?" a voice suddenly called out from behind.

Magnus turned his guard up. Standing before him was a woman in her early twenties, with vibrant green hair that contrasted starkly with the grim setting. She wore simple, practical clothing, clearly designed for ease of movement rather than protection.

"Yes… how did you know?" Magnus asked, suspicion lacing his tone.

The woman shrugged with a playful smile. "Lucky guess. I'm Violet Moses, by the way. I'm also heading to the tournament." She extended her hand in a gesture of friendship.

Magnus hesitated, studying her carefully before accepting the handshake. "Magnus Lynton."

Violet's smile widened. "The tournament is supposed to be really tough. I'm excited. What about you?"

"Yeah, exciting," Magnus replied, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. He was too focused on the potential dangers ahead.

As they walked together, the tunnel gradually widened, the oppressive atmosphere lightening slightly with Violet's chatty demeanor. Her cheerful attitude was a stark contrast to the grim surroundings, and Magnus found it somewhat refreshing, albeit distracting.

"So, what kind of abilities do you have?" Violet asked, her curiosity evident.

Magnus shrugged, keeping his tone nonchalant. "I can store things and use wind magic. What about you?"

"I'm a nature mage," Violet said proudly. "I can manipulate plants, using them for both offense and defense. It's especially useful in natural environments."

"Sounds handy," Magnus replied, though inwardly, he wasn't particularly impressed. He had seen far more powerful abilities in his time.

Violet pouted at his lackluster response. "That was sarcasm, wasn't it? Why don't you show me your skills, then?"

"Why would I reveal my abilities to a potential opponent?" Magnus countered.

"Fine, keep your secrets," Violet huffed, moving ahead of him. "Good luck finding the tournament on your own."

"Wait, do you even know where the tournament is?" Magnus called after her.

Violet stopped in her tracks, turning back to face him with a sheepish smile. "Not exactly. Do you?"

Magnus sighed. "No, but we might find someone who does."

As they continued, the air grew hotter, the tunnel widening into a large cavern filled with bubbling lava pools. The intense heat shimmered off the ground, making the atmosphere almost unbearable.

Suddenly, they heard a loud commotion up ahead. Moving cautiously, they saw a figure with bright orange hair and thick glasses arguing with a group of Ascenders. The man looked out of place, more like a nerdy student than a fighter.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Magnus called out, stepping forward with Violet beside him.

The black-haired man turned to face them, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "Another hero? You want to join the fun?" he sneered.

Violet quickly raised her hand, and vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the man's ankles and pulling him back.

The man stumbled, glaring at them. "You'll regret this," he spat, retreating as the group of Ascenders followed him.

Magnus turned his attention to the orange-haired man. "Are you alright?"

The man adjusted his glasses, looking relieved. "Yeah, thanks. I'm Holiday, and I'm trying to find the tournament."

Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Holiday? Seriously?"

Holiday nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I heard you need a ticket to get in, and I have one."

"Where did you get it?" Violet asked, suspicion evident in her voice.

Holiday's eyes darted around nervously. "I… found it. Look, I can help you find the tournament, but I'll need protection."

Magnus and Violet exchanged a glance. "Alright, we'll help you," Magnus said. "But don't try anything funny."

Holiday eagerly agreed, leading them deeper into the tunnel. As they walked, Magnus couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Holiday seemed too out of place, and his sudden appearance was suspicious.

"Why are you so eager to join the tournament?" Magnus asked, trying to sound casual.

Holiday pushed up his glasses, looking even more nervous. "I just… I want to prove myself. I'm not much of a fighter, but I know a lot. I can be useful."

Violet snorted. "Knowledge won't help if you can't defend yourself."

"That's why I need your help," Holiday said quickly. "I can guide you to the tournament, but I need protection."

The tunnel grew hotter as they ventured further, the air thick with the scent of sulfur. Suddenly, they found themselves in a vast cavern, the heat almost unbearable. The ground shimmered with the intense temperature, and Holiday stopped abruptly, a sly smirk spreading across his face.

"You two are really gullible," he said, his voice shifting from nervous to cold and calculating. "I've led you right into my trap."

Magnus and Violet tensed, ready for a fight.

Holiday raised his hand, flames sparking to life around him. "Let's see how you handle this!"

He hurled a fireball at Violet, who quickly summoned a wall of vines to block the attack. The flames scorched the plants, starting to burn it.

"Magnus, we need to work together," Violet called out, her voice strained.

Magnus nodded, summoning his wind blades. "I'll keep him distracted. You focus on defense."

Holiday laughed, his glasses glinting in the firelight. "You think you can beat me with wind and plants? Pathetic."

Magnus launched a barrage of wind blades at Holiday, who dodged them with surprising agility. He retaliated with a wave of fire, forcing Magnus to summon a portal to redirect the flames away from them.

Violet's vines snaked toward Holiday, trying to entangle him, but he incinerated them with a burst of flame. "You'll have to do better than that!" he taunted.

Magnus narrowed his eyes, focusing on his Mana Eyes to track Holiday's movements. He saw a brief opening and directed a wind blade at Holiday's legs, causing him to stumble.

"Now, Violet!" Magnus shouted.

Violet summoned a massive vine from the ground, wrapping it around Holiday and lifting him off his feet. Holiday struggled, his flames flickering as he tried to burn through the plant.

Magnus took advantage of the distraction, summoning a powerful gust of wind to extinguish Holiday's flames. "Give up, Holiday. You're outmatched."

Holiday snarled, his glasses askew. "Never! I won't be beaten by a couple of amateurs!"

With one final effort, he unleashed a torrent of fire, but Violet's vines tightened around him, suffocating the flames. Magnus directed a concentrated wind blade at Holiday's hand, knocking the ticket he held out of his grasp.

Holiday gasped in pain, his defiance fading. "Alright, alright, you win," he spat. "The tournament is in the middle part of the tunnel, past the lava pools. But you won't make it."

Magnus delivered a swift blow to Holiday, knocking him unconscious. "We'll see about that."

As they left Holiday bound by Violet's vines, Magnus noticed something unsettling. The vines around Holiday's body were slowly tightening, the snapping of bones audible in the silence. Blood began to pool beneath the vines as they squeezed tighter.

"Violet… what are you doing?" Magnus asked, his voice filled with concern.

Violet didn't look back, her expression cold. "I hate liars."

Magnus stared at her in disbelief as the vines continued to constrict, reducing Holiday's body to a bloody mess. "That was unnecessary," he muttered, shaken by her ruthlessness.

Violet glanced back at him, her eyes devoid of emotion. "In this world, you can't afford to let your enemies live."

Magnus remained silent, following her as they continued deeper into the tunnel, the gruesome scene behind them lingering in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that this tournament was going to be more dangerous than he had anticipated.