Physics The Greatest Magic 53 Chapter 53: Mastermind

After we scouted the desert, we flew around for a while and found nothing. We decided to walk as to not waste any more magic in case we had to fight.

Walking on the sand was rough. I could feel my feet sinking on every step, but it would be good endurance training

After half an hour of walking we encountered the first problem.

At first everything seemed normal, sand everywhere as far as we could see, then eventually we spotted a ruin. As we walked over at it, the sand Around as began to sink.

As we tried to climb out the sand began to rotate and in the middle was the mouth of a sand monster. We tried climbing out but that sound was too slippery and there was nothing we could hold on to.

I could have flown us out of it, but i got a better idea.

"Let's attack it. It's basically defenceless at this point." I said as i cast Glacies

I formed 3 Glacieses and propelled them at its open mouth. Serena and Ariel did the same with their own spells.

The monster who was completely defenceless was hit head on by our attacks. It let out a loud shriek before dying. Once it was dead the sand stopped spinning and it was easier for us to climb back up.

"Alright, let's go back up. How's everyone holding up?" I asked as we climbed up

"*I-I'm good..." Replied Serena

"M-Me too" Replied Ariel

"Is that so," I said

It's been around 2 hours since we've entered the desert, the heat was starting to get to them. Shortly after, we made it back up i thought of something.

"Hey, you two, come over here for a moment."

"Huh? What is it?" Asked Serena as they came over

Once they were right next to me, they noticed

"What? It doesn't feel hot around here?" Said Serena

"H-How?" Asked Ariel

"I just mixed wind Magic with ice magic and created a frosty area around us. If you stay near me you shouldn't be affected by the heat." I replied

"Thanks..." Said Serena as she got slightly closer

"This breeze feels nice," Said Ariel who also got closer

You girls don't have to be that close... It should have a radius of 2 meters around me. But i guess it's fine, It'll be easier for us to help each other like this.

After a few more minutes of walking, we finally reached the ruin. It was made of stone brick which had been dyed black, almost as if it was made to stand out within this sea of yellow sand.

There was a broken down entrance, we walked inside and looked around. there was nothing special inside just stone lying everywhere.

"What do you suppose this place is?" Asked Serena

"Not sure, probably a place where monsters won't attack?" I Said

"What makes you say that?" Asked Ariel

"Well i mean, This must have been here for a long time, why haven't the monsters destroyed it yet? It's a bit strange..." I said

"True... There's probably a reason why they can't... Maybe we'll find out if we go down there?" Said Ariel

Ariel pointed at a staircase which led down to a basement.

"Was that always there?" I asked

"Ah, i'm not sure. I didn't notice it when we had walked in, I only noticed it now." Ariel replied

"A spell was probably placed to keep it out of sight." Said Serena

So like furtim...

There were footprints formed thanks to the sand lying on the stairs.

"Someone's been here, recently." I said as i began going down the stairs

Ariel quietly followed behind with her guard up

"If someone's here why are you going!" Said Serena as she followed behind me

Once we reached the bottom, we couldn't see anything. It was too dark, so i cast Lumine. The room lighted up and once i could finally see, I felt a shiver go down my spine

We stood right on top of a magic circle. It hadn't activated so we were still doing fine. I was about to warn the two girls who hadn't noticed

Footsteps resounded as someone walked down the stairs. The person stopped once only his torso and legs were visible. We couldn't see his head.

"John... Do you think that person is friendly?" Asked Ariel

"I don't know. Hey who are you?" I asked at the person who stood there.

Without replying to my question, the person muttered 5 short words and the magic circle under us began glowing. His voice sounded like a guy's

"This! It's a teleportation magic circle!" Said Serena

Why did he set us up? As i thought about that i placed my hands on the stone and began to pour magic inside to prevent it from activating.

I thought it wouldn't work but to my surprise, we still hadn't been teleported.

"Ariel, Serena grab on to me! I'll ask again? Who are you?" I asked as i cast Glacies

"Resisting teleportation magic, you never cease to amaze me." Said the person

"Amaze you? I don't recognise your voice. I'm sorry have we met before?" I asked

I was talking normally but my magic was being sucked out of me as if it were a broken tap. I won't last long at this rate... I need to find a way to get us out of this circle...

"Oh, we haven't met. But since you've managed to last this long, i'll give you a reward and answer your question." He replied

Where does he want to teleport us?! Damn it... I can't move... If Serena and Ariel let go of me they might be teleported elsewhere...

"I'm the one who sent you put a curse on you and sent you to the 10th floor. I do it to quite a few people, but you were the only ones who survived." He said casually

...

"Can you imagine? 3 Kids, survived a boss hundreds of adults I sent failed to kill? Although i'm guessing you were also lucky that the Rank party helped you. But Luck is also part of strength."

I continued to listen to the man go on without speaking a word

"Oh, and I'm also the one who trapped you and your friends inside." He said

"So you're the one... Because of you... Ariel nearly died..." I muttered

"And? Why does that matter? Rather than that, It was more amusing watching you three climb through the tower. Ah well, if she did die I guess I wouldn't be able to watch you three anymore..." He said

As I heard his words, I felt something inside of me start to snap

"Are people's lives just a game to you..?" I quietly asked

"Hm? Yeah" he casually replied

I lost it.

The instant he said that I formed over 20 Ice spikes around the room. I aimed all of them at him. And began to gather air behind each one.

As I was about to propel them at him he spoke again

"Oh, I think that's a new record! But In the end, it only amounts to decorations."

After he finished I propelled them all straight the stairs where he was at. But right before it reached him, he muttered a few words and all my spikes dispersed.

He spoke faster than my wind propelled Glacies?

As I thought that, he spoke again

"Come back and challenge me once you're stronger. I'm quite interested in you, you see."

As he began muttering words again I started to panic, but before he finished Ariel spoke up

"Why..? Why do you play around with peoples lives like this? Everyone's trying to make a living so they can support those they care about... Why do you treat it like a game?" Asked Ariel as tears streamed down her face

"Why... Well if you ask me... I guess it's because it's fun?" He replied with a casual tone

At his reply, Ariel got truly angry, she began gathering Air in front of her to fire off her spell. Serena remained quiet but I could tell she was even angrier than Ariel. Without saying anything She Simply began gathering Fire in front of her hand.

"Oh, Serena is that a new spell? I'd love to see it, but maybe another day." He said

After he finished, he muttered another set of words at speeds you wouldn't expect possible coming from a mouth.

After he finished, Serena dropped to the ground, then Ariel, and finally i could feel my consciousness fading.

"You're still not down? Just give up. There's nothing you can d-"

before he finished, he stopped when he noticed that his right shoe was frozen.

"Surprised? You must not be that special if it was this easy to land a hit on you."

Crap... I can't hold on any longer... Sorry Ariel... Serena...

"Tch, don't get cocky." He said with an annoyed tone

"Likewise. I'm coming back for you... And soon... So... Until... Then... Enjoy..."

Those were the last words i said before i fainted. A bit of my anger was satisfied as i managed to land a hit on him. But that wasn't enough... I'll get back at him...

And just like that, all traces of us disappeared from the dungeon

Chapter end