The Colosseum was a vast and expansive structure, with most of its buildings in ruins, open to the elements. As Collin made his way through the corridors, he noticed numerous signs of past battles, with the walls bearing deep scratches and gaping holes.
The Colosseum itself consisted of three floors. Gilgamel and his companions were currently situated on the third floor, which featured an open corridor that was likely reserved for VIP spectators to witness the fierce battles below from a lofty vantage point.
Meanwhile, Collin was exploring the second floor. Here, he found numerous small accommodation rooms, most of which were no longer inhabitable. Some had even been taken over by abyssal creatures.
These abyssal creatures were weak and manageable. Dodo could eliminate them effortlessly, even without Collin's help. However, Collin was the one who made the final hit, allowing him to earn points with minimal effort.
As Collin made his way through the Colosseum, he initially planned to select these rooms as his team's base and then regroup with them. However, upon careful consideration, he decided to continue exploring the interior of the Colosseum in the hope of uncovering something useful for his team.
As he ventured towards the first floor, Collin couldn't ignore the escalating sense of foreboding and claustrophobia brought on by the oppressive abyssal energy. It made his entire body feel uneasy, adding a palpable sense of discomfort to his every step.
Collin and Dodo came upon a towering double entry door, shut tight and imposing in its size. As Collin reached for the handle with both hands, Dodo let out two sharp barks as if instinctively issuing a warning.
The situation only occurred when Dodo caught wind of the presence of abyssal creatures lurking in the distance.
Since Collin couldn't comprehend the language of dogs, but Dodo could understand human speech, they devised a code that was easy for both of them to understand.
When Dodo barked once, it signalled that the abyssal creatures it had detected were weaker than itself. In such instances, Collin would allow Dodo to confront the abyssal creatures until they were at their last breath.
On the other hand, if Dodo barked twice, it indicated that the abyssal creatures it had sensed were stronger than itself. In this scenario, Collin would refrain from exposing Dodo to the danger and instead utilize his magic to assess the situation and determine the next course of action.
This time, Dodo barked twice. Collin's heart sank as he realized the implications - the abyssal creature lurking behind this door was of a higher level than Dodo. This could only mean one thing: they were likely dealing with a level 9 or even Tier-2 abyssal creature.
Collin, a novice in combat with no prior experience, felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him.
Fortunately, his current task was not to fight abyssal creatures but rather to explore.
Without any hint of hesitation, Collin swiftly retrieved a pristine white canvas and a slender paintbrush. With almost effortless strokes, he meticulously swept the paintbrush across the canvas, bringing to life a vivid portrayal of a diminutive, onyx centipede.
Upon completing the intricate drawing, Collin intoned the chant: "Picture Magic: Creation!"
In that very instant, the previously immobile centipede adorning the canvas began to writhe and twist. Gradually, it detached from the white expanse and materialized into a tangible, living centipede.
The creature descended to the ground, stealthily navigating its way across the room and slipping through the crevice beneath the door, proceeding to infiltrate the space on the other side.
Collin closed his eyes, but it was not darkness that he saw. Instead, as the centipede slithered into the room, his mind conjured an image of a vast, empty room adorned with striking similarities to a place he vaguely remembered.
"The infirmary?"
As he entered the infirmary, he noticed rows of patient beds neatly arranged on either side, appearing untouched for a long time. The beds showed signs of neglect, and they were covered in dust and mould from disuse.
Collin meticulously guided the centipede through the dimly lit room, its multi-legged form skittering across the floor. As he reached the far end, where the sunlight struggled to penetrate, a sense of unease crept over him. Such shadowy corners often harboured the slumbering forms of abyssal creatures, as he and Dodo had encountered in previous rooms.
Drawing on his experience, Collin knew that these creatures weren't necessarily averse to sunlight, yet they preferred to shroud themselves in darkness.
With a brief pause, he resolved to press forward and explore the unknown. It was crucial to uncover what lay concealed in the depths of the room.
In the end, Collin decided to check it out. After all, he would not know what was there unless he checked it directly.
Besides, he and his centipede image only shared vision, not his senses. So he would remain unscathed even if the centipede faced danger.
It turned out that what Collin was worried about turned into reality.
The alarming moment we arrived when the centipede slithered into the shadowy spot, only to be seized and obliterated by a massive, ebony claw. Instantly, Collin's telepathic link with the centipede was severed.
Luckily, before the connection was severed, Collin managed to catch a glimpse of the entity behind the ominous claw. To his astonishment, he recognized who it was.
"Who would have thought that Wyvern is actually hiding in this place..." Collin whispered in surprise.
The Wyvern he was referring to was the one that Farad had defeated before.
Although Farad failed to kill the Wyvern, Collin had presumed that even if the creature had survived its fall from the sky, other abyssal creatures would have eventually preyed upon it. So it came as a shock to him to find it here.
Furthermore, upon witnessing the Wyvern's current state, it was evident to Collin that it had not yet recovered from the severe injuries inflicted by Farad.
Collin stood with a pensive expression, his fingers pinching his chin as he pondered deeply.
Given the current state of the Wyvern, it may not be able to unleash its full power in the event of a battle.
The only complicating factor seemed to be its magical ability, "Magic Armor".
However, after witnessing Farad's triumphant victory over the Wyvern, Collin gained insight into how to confront and overcome this powerful abyssal creature.
After a moment, he gazed at Dodo and spoke softly: "Dodo, the abyssal creature inside, seems to be in a weak state. While its power surpasses yours by a level, I believe that if we unite forces, we can triumph over him. What do you say? Are you keen on this?"
"Woof!"
Surprisingly, Dodo replied to his words with immense enthusiasm.
Dodo often appeared to be lethargic, but in reality, it was exceedingly passionate about engaging in battles. Gilgamel, as its owner, understood this hidden nature of his cherished pet. As a result, he would occasionally take Dodo to the nearby forest to engage in combat with other magical beasts.
Dodo's seemingly passive behaviour when with Collin was due to its primary duty of leading the way and detecting the presence of abyssal creatures.
Although Collin allowed it to fight occasionally, Dodo did not face any significant challenges from its opponents. As a result, Dodo was immediately energized upon hearing Collin's words.
Collin was a little surprised by Dodo's response.
"Are you sure?"
"Woof!"
Collin nodded with a look of approval on his face as he gave Dodo clear instructions: "Listen, Dodo, your mission this time is to conceal yourself and launch a surprise attack when our enemy resorts to using magical powers. Do you understand?"
In response, Dodo cleverly nodded, emitting a soft "woof" to indicate its understanding of the assigned task."
Upon receiving this response, Collin efficiently arranged a comfortable chair and a sizeable painting board with a larger canvas than before.
As he settled into the chair, he focused his thoughts and took a moment to gather inspiration before commencing his artwork.