"No movement... could it be that the elemental crystals have run out?"
Seeing the puppet guardian standing still, a hint of delight flashed across Laiseen's face. As an alchemist, he didn't fully understand the crafting of these ancient constructs but knew that such elemental golems relied on elemental crystals as their source of power. Once those crystals were depleted, the golems posed no threat.
Nevertheless, Laiseen remained cautious and sent his alchemic creature forward to confirm that the guardian had truly ceased all activity.
The creature moved quickly, grasping the immobile golem and lifting it from the ground where it had sunken. The golem showed no reaction, and after a brief search, the alchemic creature found a small, raised button beneath its arm and pressed it firmly.
*Click.*
Instantly, a hollow cavity appeared at the golem's head, revealing a pile of fine white sand. This was the residue left behind by the countless elemental crystals that had been expended, compressed over time into what remained.
Elemental crystals are condensed with pure elemental energy, often leaving minimal residue. But when used in large enough quantities, they produce a substantial amount of remnants. This guardian's large collection of residue testified to the immense number of crystals it had consumed.
"Finally, we got past this guardian!" Laiseen laughed. "I nearly lost my life escaping it last time. Let's move in—beyond this door should be the location of the Pandora Mana!" His eyes locked onto the space behind the shattered stone door, which had broken apart amid their earlier struggle with the guardian.
Whether Pandora Mana was actually there, Merlin couldn't be sure. The existence of Pandora Mana in this relic had always been Laiseen's claim. But seeing Laiseen advance, Merlin followed him into the room.
Beyond the door, there was another towering stone barrier, its surface encrusted with large, gleaming gemstones that illuminated the chamber as though it were daylight.
*Clack.*
Laiseen approached and twisted a particular raised stone on the wall, and immediately, the stone door began to hum and lift slowly.
"It's finally opening!" Laiseen's face showed barely-contained excitement, though Merlin stayed on alert, keeping his senses trained on the surroundings and ready to cast at the slightest hint of danger. He even began to restore his elemental reserves by drawing on crystals from his ring, recovering the energy within the *Solidifying Ice* and *Freezing* spell models in his mind.
While Merlin prepared cautiously, Laiseen, driven by impatience, ordered his creature to hurry forward through the rising doorway.
The room beyond was surprisingly small and sparsely decorated, the thick layer of dust hinting that it hadn't been occupied for centuries. At the center stood a half-meter-tall statue of flame, sculpted with lifelike detail. The entire chamber seemed to revolve around this captivating object.
Merlin and Laiseen's eyes immediately fell on the strange flame statue, their magical senses drawn to it. As they examined it, they both felt an intense "heat" in their minds as though their spirits were being scorched. Though mental energy is formless and unaffected by physical temperature, this sensation suggested the statue was guarded by a powerful array of runic spells.
As their probing triggered the statue, glowing runes emerged, like fiery orbs floating in midair, enhancing its realistic appearance.
Observing the transformation, Laiseen's delight grew. He extended his hand, channeling fire magic into the statue, which suddenly cracked open, revealing a small black box within.
"We found it!" Laiseen said with a smile, his eyes fixed on the black box hidden inside. This could be the Pandora Mana he and Merlin had been seeking.
After casting a glance at Merlin, he opened the box.
*Snap.*
The box split in two, revealing a thin scroll made of beast hide inside. Laiseen carefully unrolled it, revealing ancient Molta script inscribed in neat rows.
Merlin quickly scanned the text and confirmed their find—it was indeed Pandora Mana.
"The Fire of Annihilation!"
The scroll described a highly potent form of Pandora Mana, known as the Fire of Annihilation. It detailed three distinct stages: the first could be used if one had mastered either the *Raging Flame* or *Sea of Fire* spell. Unlike the *Finger of Frost,* which had stricter requirements, this form of Pandora Mana allowed for multiple spell foundations.
The second stage required specific fire-based fourth-level spells, while the third could only be accessed when a seventh-level spell was merged with the Fire of Annihilation's essence, forming a truly advanced state. But this third stage was exceedingly difficult to reach, as it required near-impossible conditions.
For now, Merlin's *Raging Flame* spell qualified him to practice the first stage of the Fire of Annihilation.
"Pandora Mana, indeed!" Laiseen said with excitement, his voice thick with satisfaction. "Merlin, why not take a copy here?"
Merlin nodded. Based on their agreement, they would share any Pandora Mana they found. Apart from the basic details, the scroll included specific training methods for the Fire of Annihilation—crucial information Merlin would need to understand and record.
"Matrix, begin scanning and recording the content of the scroll," he silently instructed his AI device.
"Recording in progress."
Though the matrix completed the scan in an instant, Merlin took out a quill and began transcribing onto parchment to avoid arousing Laiseen's suspicion.
The scratch of the quill on paper echoed through the room, while Laiseen's face shifted into a strange, unreadable expression. In his hand, he held a small, intricate spell scroll, unnoticed by Merlin.
When Merlin finished copying the text and handed the original back to Laiseen, he remarked, "Thank you, Laiseen. Without your help, I'd never have had access to Pandora Mana like this."
"Oh, no need for gratitude, Merlin. Actually, if you're so grateful, there's something of yours I'd like in return," Laiseen replied, his voice laced with an icy edge.
Merlin raised his head, his gaze turning sharp as he fixed his eyes on Laiseen. "Something of mine?"