Fars had a few years of adventuring experience under his belt, but he had never encountered a barrier like the one before him. This magical tower, left behind by a grand mage, seemed remarkably intact. In his earlier days, when he was merely a mid-level mage, such places were beyond his reach. Major adventuring groups always sought high-level mages when organizing expeditions to explore such ruins, and occasionally, some mages would be willing to join.
Fortunately, Joanna and Agno didn't have high expectations for their somewhat inexperienced teammate. However, they couldn't just stand there staring at the tightly shut door of the tower without doing anything. Prepared as ever, Miss Joanna produced a strange item that Fars couldn't quite identify. It wasn't that the object was particularly unusual; rather, it was so ordinary that Fars immediately recognized it as a bundle of twisted, dead branches. But since she had brought it out, it must have a purpose for breaking through the tower's closed door, so Fars hesitated to conclude that it was merely dried plant matter.
Joanna wasn't inclined to give Fars a free lesson. Instead, she continued to manipulate the branches, treating them as if she were planting flowers in front of the tower. The ground outside the magical tower wasn't just ordinary soil; it was neatly paved with blue stones. To Fars's astonishment, she even pulled out the coveted Uno Steel Spike Blade, using it like a shovel to dig up a patch of stone. After a few scoops, she inserted the bundle of branches into the hole and covered it with dirt. As if that wasn't enough, she produced a bottle of thick, dark green liquid and poured it directly onto the roots of the branches.
Since this girl wasn't willing to explain, Fars had no choice but to ask. Of course, he couldn't directly approach Joanna. Agno, who was also aware of the expedition's details, seemed to know about the branches Joanna had produced. With the item already in use, there was no need for further secrecy. Besides, it appeared that the branches wouldn't take immediate effect, so Agno took the time to explain to Fars.
As it turned out, these branches were no ordinary twigs. Despite their plain appearance, they were taken from the incredibly rare Qingqiuluo tree. This plant, found only in the extreme western deserts, could thrive in an environment with extremely low elemental density due to its powerful ability to attract and gather various elements. Specimens over a hundred years old were exceptionally rare magical materials. Unfortunately, the tree had poor reproductive capabilities and was highly territorial; if one Qingqiuluo tree existed, no others could grow within hundreds of miles. The reason it could be used to break barriers was a testament to humanity's deep understanding of the world. Ancient scholars discovered that a withered Qingqiuluo tree, when placed in an area rich in elemental distribution, could absorb the surrounding magical elements, maintaining its form for a short time. In reality, a dead Qingqiuluo tree could not be revived; it merely absorbed a large amount of magical elements due to its inherent properties.
However, the Qingqiuluo was exceedingly precious. The bundle of dried branches Joanna had produced was already of immense value. With the aid of a potion she used to assist in its "revival," the branches would absorb a significant amount of surrounding magical elements, creating a temporary vacuum in the tower's barrier. During this time, the three of them could enter the magical tower.
Soon, Fars witnessed the miraculous moment of the withered branches coming to life. What had once been an unremarkable bundle of dead twigs slowly began to stretch and transform into slender, tender branches, as if freshly plucked from a tree. With Fars's keen sensitivity to magical elements, he could clearly feel the surrounding magical energy being consumed. The Qingqiuluo branches then pressed against the tower's door. Due to the high concentration of elements within the magical barrier, the branches instinctively sought out this rich source, clinging tightly to the door. While they couldn't completely drain the elements from the barrier, their absorption rate was so extreme that the barrier couldn't immediately adjust, creating pockets of elemental vacuum. Although the barrier's markings remained on the tower door, without elements, it was as if the medium for transmitting power had vanished.
When it came time to break through the door, Fars was the only one truly capable of sensing the right moment. Just a few breaths later, the Qingqiuluo branches had swelled to the thickness of an arm. Agno summoned his white-headed griffon, transforming it into a spear, ready to break through the obstructive door.
"It's time!" Fars shouted to Agno, sensing the moment had arrived. He and Joanna quickly moved aside to avoid any debris from the shattering door.
Agno's strength was formidable; with a single thrust of his spear, he created a large enough hole for them to pass through. The tower's door, stripped of its protective barrier, still boasted impressive defenses. Although the materials used were exceptionally durable, they seemed fragile under Agno's powerful assault. It was worth noting that with the aid of his summoned beast, Agno's attacks could even breach the defenses of the previous earth dragon; a mere wooden door was no match for him.
The effect of the Qingqiuluo branches on the barrier was short-lived. As Fars and Joanna followed Agno inside, the barrier's self-repair capabilities began to fill the elemental void they had created. The once-miraculous branches quickly withered away, like a fleeting bloom.
The lower levels of a magical tower were typically spacious and tall. Many mages preferred to use these areas as halls or libraries. After all, mages who owned towers were typically grand mages or higher, having accumulated vast collections over nearly a century. The sheer volume of rare ancient texts, cultural geography, and oddities was staggering. In this instance, it was clear that this space had once served as a library, with bookshelves reaching seven to eight meters high, only a short distance from the ceiling. However, Fars didn't see a single book on the shelves; only a thick layer of dust coated them.
The lighting in the tower's lower level was poor. While Fars had dark vision, he realized his companions lacked this ability to see through darkness. Given Fars's insufficient skills as a mage, Joanna had to ask him to grant her and Agno dark vision. While a simple illumination spell could work, the meticulous Joanna understood that Fars, being a vampire, couldn't use such an easy and low-cost spell.
Fars felt genuinely embarrassed; compared to Joanna, he hadn't considered their needs thoroughly. They were teammates after all, and he certainly wouldn't refuse such a simple request. Once he granted them dark vision, Joanna pulled out the map to compare it with the actual layout of the tower.
After carefully examining the map, Joanna confirmed its accuracy and led Fars and Agno up the stairs. The lower level didn't seem to hold anything of value, and it was quite empty. Looking around, there was nothing useful left behind. Following the principle that the good stuff was always on the upper floors, the three of them had little interest in the empty hall that was now just a wooden frame.
Don't assume that every corner of a magical tower is fraught with danger. While mages were indeed wealthy, constructing various magical arrays required many precious materials, and maintaining them demanded a large supply of magical crystals or cores. It was impossible for every area to be heavily protected. Typically, only places containing important items would have multiple layers of security to prevent easy theft by apprentices or unwelcome guests.
They continued up the stairs, and Fars felt increasingly empty inside. The sense of loss gradually dulled the curiosity and excitement he had felt upon entering the tower. Each floor still had remnants, but they were merely broken tables and empty crates that couldn't be taken. If he were indeed among the first visitors in ten thousand years, it could only mean that the tower's owner had prepared for a hasty evacuation, taking everything of value with them. Yet, since Joanna and Agno were so determined to find something important, was there truly anything left behind? Or was it hidden here, concealed from prying eyes? Fars couldn't grasp what had transpired here in the past. Over the past few millennia of exploring various ruins, he had made a startling discovery: the owners of these sites either fled in haste or took all the valuable items with them, leaving behind their magical towers, laboratories, and palaces as if they had mysteriously abandoned them.
Unable to comprehend or decipher the situation, Fars decided to play the fool and ask. He sighed inwardly. To be honest, he didn't want to engage in conversation with Joanna. Although Fars usually maintained a cold demeanor, he couldn't blame the young lady for treating him like an ice queen.
Climbing the stairs didn't hinder their conversation. Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Fars forced himself to ask Joanna about the Gonsago ruins, "What exactly is worth risking your lives to come all this way for? All that's left are broken wooden scraps and rusty iron. It seems the previous owner took everything of value with them."
"Stop wasting time. You'll be informed of what you need to know," Joanna replied curtly.
Fars felt stifled by her response. Was he just going to follow her around, playing the errand boy? Deep down, he was proud, especially now that he had a certain level of authority. He wouldn't simply allow this girl to lead him around. The compromise he had worked hard to achieve was quickly dissipating, and he mimicked Joanna's sarcastic tone, "Hmph, you know the situation well enough. Don't try to sever the already fragile bond of cooperation between us. In the end, neither of us will benefit."
lly now that he felt a measure of agency. He wasn't about to let Joanna lead him around by the nose. The tentative compromise he had almost reached evaporated instantly, prompting Fars to mimic Joanna's sarcastic tone, "Hmph, we both know the situation well enough. Don't try to sever the already fragile bond of trust between us. In the end, neither of us will benefit."