Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2077: Land of fire

When the icicle got triggered, the identical occurrence from before took place, with lines emerging across the ground.

Right away, these lines dashed away in various directions.

It was obvious they were heading toward the other nodes of this array to link up.

In a flash, a massive array materialized on the ground, featuring multiple icicles at its key positions.

Viewing from overhead made it straightforward to observe everything. Yet soaring up high exposed us to the intense chill.

Below, certain features shielded against the biting wind sweeping through the area. However, ascending high into the air like this let the freezing gusts hit us full force.

After the array fully formed, we descended toward the location where the entrance should emerge.

Truth be told, we began our descent prior to the array's completion because I was already aware of the entrance's position. After all, this array matched the one we'd faced previously.

These formations were crafted by the gods themselves, yet the gods didn't require unique arrays for each location. If one proved effective in a spot, it would surely function elsewhere too.

That explained why this was precisely the same array.

Upon landing, the entrance stood ready for us, identical to the previous one. It consisted of stairs descending into the earth.

Nevertheless, a distinct feeling emanated as we neared those stairs.

It felt like warmth rising from the depths of these stairs.

Whatever lay below appeared brimming with heat, in stark contrast to the icy desolation surrounding us.

I couldn't shake the resemblance to the divide between the rock elementals' habitat and the surface above it.

Even so, I avoided dwelling on it much, given my complete ignorance of what awaited underground.

That said, I could guess the type of elementals inhabiting a realm saturated with such intense heat.

With the entrance unveiled, hesitation wasn't an option, as unlocking it would surely act like dangling bait. Indeed, the elemental energy would spill out through this open portal.

Greater releases of energy would draw in even more corruption energy.

Hence, we needed to accomplish our objectives here with utmost speed.

"It's getting hotter..." The group trailing me murmured this as we ventured down the stairs, and it rang true.

The deeper we descended, the more the heat intensified.

Eventually, I had to deploy a barrier around us to mitigate some of the heat. Still, the pervasive warmth proved too powerful for the barrier to fully neutralize.

This heat's ferocity was evident in how it escalated with our descent.

At the foot of the stairs, the origin of the heat came into view.

A sense of déjà vu washed over me regarding this location.

It closely mirrored the dungeon where I discovered Ifrit.

This area brimmed with molten lava everywhere.

Flames dominated the entire landscape.

Given the all-encompassing blaze, such overwhelming heat was inevitable. The issue lay in my inability to shield the entire party from it indefinitely.

I could manage temporarily, but sustaining the block against all this heat would drain my energy rapidly.

Alone, Ifrit's power might suffice for me, but protecting the others long-term was out of reach.

That's why I declared, "Everyone, you need to head back."

Klein and the royal guards appeared reluctant, bound by duty to safeguard me. The rest had joined out of curiosity about the troublesome elementals.

Yet I insisted, "If you’re here with me, I won’t be able to stay here for long protecting all of you. I need you all to leave so I can focus on what I need to do here."

Several expressions hinted at protests, but even the Sorcery Empire's magicians recognized their limits in enduring this place.

Their strength simply couldn't withstand the ambient heat.

Without my intervention, they would've retreated much sooner.

Ultimately, they relented, aware they were hindering me. I provided a fading barrier to guard them on the return path.

With them departed, I scanned the surroundings, pondering my next move.

My initial task was summoning the elementals dwelling here, though the method remained unclear.

After a moment's reflection, I lifted the hand bearing the Mark of God.

A mere thought sufficed to illuminate the Mark of God, unleashing divine energy throughout the vicinity.

Beyond that, I retrieved a stone and held it aloft, as if displaying it proudly.

This item came from the rock elementals' elder, who claimed it would aid my quest for the other elementals.