In the land of ashes!
This place can be considered a paradise for dungeon dwellers and crypt creatures, and as the result of the weird ecosystem formed in this world, the city-state of Larmore Tower has developed itself an on intricate underground passages system beneath it.
Deep within one of these cold, silent, and dark underground passages, Tucker cautiously moved forward, his lantern casting an orange light that banished the shadows.
During an "Ash Night," this underground area might have been teeming with kobolds, goblins, and other dark creatures hunting for food. However, today was just the beginning of the "Ash Night," and an intense cold had gripped the entire world, including the underground passages close to the surface. As a result, those subterranean creatures had retreated deeper underground to escape the frigid temperatures, sparing Tucker from unnecessary conflicts.
Alone and aware that kobolds and goblins gauged strength through numbers, Tucker knew he was on the "weak" side. Nonetheless, he pressed on.
Eventually, at the end of the crypt passage, Tucker's eyes were drawn to a dancing and burning bonfire. Carlos had already been waiting there.
Carlos, possessing the [Climbing] ability, had taken a shorter path and teased Tucker, saying, "If you didn't come, I'd think you've been caught by those kobolds!"
Ignoring the taunt, Tucker joined Carlos by the bonfire, seeking warmth from the flames. While Tucker had a first-level [Red Flame Bracelet] that granted him better cold resistance than most, he couldn't completely disregard the chill.
As the firelight bathed Tucker's face, the [Red Flame Bracelet] absorbed the heat energy, gradually dispelling the cold. Tucker raised his head, peering past the campfire and Carlos. There, a massive door stood, about five meters in height and three meters in width, crafted from magic obsidian. It was adorned with intricate magical rune seals, and it was known as the "Demon Lord's Sealed Gate."
This was the purpose of Tucker's journey. Previously, he had previously used the [Area Mining System], and the anchor point had been an abandoned mine. The Kobold tribe had occupied deep within the underground passage, and there were mysterious ancient ruins in the wilderness.
Additionally, near Larmore Steam Tower, there was a warm underground passage brimming with energy. However, the only resources mining these ordinary areas produced were "source energy experience."
The area behind the magical seal door, on the other hand, was perilous and brimming with incredible energy, a real treasure, enough to transform oneself.
"Tucker, this magic seal door is where powerful wizards unite to imprison the the most powerfull dungeon devil, The Demon Lord" Carlos explained. "It's rumoured that the defeated dungeon devil is sealed within."
"Many adventurers have attempted to open it, with each year many outsiders coming here to give it a shot, but all have failed due to level and strength they possess," Carlos continued, his eyes fixed on the ancient sealed door.
Tucker, well aware of the door's formidable nature, said, "Can I open it with the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone]?"
Carlos glanced at the door and shook his head, showing little hope that Tucker could succeed.
However, he also wore a serious expression, concerned about unexpected consequences. After all, this was the sealed door of the Demon Lord's Tomb, and even though the Demon Lord had long since fallen, the cave where he met his demise remained extremely dangerous.
Tucker retrieved the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone] that was the most valued item he had obtained from all his mining experience from a storage bracelet.
As he did, a surge of power in the form of runes and sequences enveloped them and their surroundings. The cold dissipated instantly, and the bonfire's flames were nearly extinguished.
Darkness closed in from all sides as the power of the runes grew. Tucker felt the weight of this extraordinary item on his shoulders, causing his legs to tremble.
The [Rune Stone] was a precious crystallization of the natural extraordinary power of their world. Expensive but immensely powerful, the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone] could create passages through barriers, seals, and between different levels.
Carlos possessed an "extraordinary storage bracelet" that was able to harness the power of this Spirit Bridge Rune Stone, while Tucker did not have any. This was the reason Tucker had sought Carlos's assistance.
Under the pressure of the situation, Tucker took the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone] and firmly attached it to the Demon Lord's sealed door. The moment the two made contact, a series of runes illuminated the obsidian magic seal door.
However, the Demon Lord's Sealed Gate was over three centuries old and had been neglected for a long time.
Only a fraction of the rune marks lit up, and many of them had a dim, fragmentary appearance. Even so, Tucker understood that with the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone], opening this mighty sealed door was beyond his abilities.
In reality, Tucker's purpose for this journey wasn't to open the devil-sealing door at all. Instead, he intended to establish an incredibly brief connection with the space beyond the Demon Lord's sealed door using the Spirit Bridge Rune Stone.
Even a momentary connection was sufficient for his system to operate. Tucker had been here on numerous occasions to conduct inspections and gather information about the explorations of fellow adventurers.
He was aware of specific cracks in the Demon Lord's sealed door, which he hoped to exploit with rune stones like the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone].
Opening the seal held little promise, but there was some hope in utilizing the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone] to make contact with the area beyond the sealed door. Once that contact was established, the system could come into play.
With skilled manipulation of the [Spirit Bridge Rune Stone], Tucker swiftly navigated through the cracks. Soon, he pinpointed a severely damaged seal crack.
"Go!" Tucker gathered the power of the Spirit Bridge Rune Stone and squeezed through the gap. It was unclear whether this seal was too old and frail, or if Tucker's position was particularly strategic. In essence, the Spirit Bridge Rune Stone's effects were outstanding.
As Tucker built the Spirit Bridge within the crack, a cracking sound echoed from the Demon Lord's sealed door. The entire door trembled, causing the underground passage to quiver, with debris and ash falling.
"No way!" Carlos widened his eyes in disbelief, ready to flee if the cave collapsed. Tucker was equally startled, his eyes twitching slightly.
"I only intended to reach a connection with the other side; I didn't plan on destroying the sealed door." When the Spirit Bridge Rune Stone established a small rainbow bridge, a "crash" reverberated. Large chunks of debris fell away, revealing a fist-sized hole in the dark Demon Lord's sealed door before their very eyes.
"Unbelievable!" They stared at each other in astonishment. Tucker had just excavated a significant hole in the Demon Lord's sealed door, a feat that had confounded countless others before.