Chapter 526: Chapter 525 – Fire Temple.

Roland hovered mid-air on his sleek, floating glider. Before him loomed a massive barrier of flames, churning and raging with an almost sentient ferocity. His visor displayed real-time projections, highlighting weak points and areas of concentrated energy within the fiery shield. It was a complex construct - an intricate masterpiece of tier 3 magic - not something easily countered. Yet, like all magical creations, it had a flaw, a weak point, and that was where Roland would focus.

There were several approaches he could take. One was brute force: outputting an overwhelming surge of raw energy to shatter the barrier outright. However, if he concentrated his attack on the identified weak spot, he could achieve the same result with half the mana expenditure, though it would still demand a staggering amount. The shield was immensely powerful, drawing its energy from the vast dungeon itself. Clearly, it hadn’t been designed to withstand an assault from this direction. The intended approach was likely through the temple’s main entrance, where removing an elemental block would cause the shield to dissipate naturally.

The second option - and the one Roland was more inclined to choose - involved disrupting the spell and hijacking it for his own use. For experienced mages who could align themselves to a spell's frequency, this was a viable, albeit advanced, technique. It was notoriously difficult to execute in the chaos of combat, but Roland had the luxury of time to analyze the barrier. With his skill, it would be a cakewalk. Once he took over the spell’s structure, disabling it would be as simple as dismissing one of his own creations.

There was also a third option: creating a small breach in the barrier and sending a golem through. The golem could retrieve the elemental block from within the structure, which might cause the external shield to collapse entirely. However, there was no certainty that the shield would behave as expected, and Roland disliked uncertainty in critical situations. Another option was to use copious amounts of anti-magic powder but it was a limited resource. Thus, he chose the second option and began his mana-hacking attempt.

The runes on his gloves started glowing as he activated his magic. His whole armor shimmered as he altered some of its runes to fit this task. Roland’s gauntlets thrummed with energy as he attuned himself to the fiery barrier's mana frequency. Strange symbols appeared on the glowing shield, a defensive mechanism to counter most external tampering forms. However, Roland’s visor provided a constant feed of calculations, his Multiple Minds trait parsed the spell's intricate layers faster than a conventional mage could ever comprehend.

“That should do it…”

The runes on his gloves pulsed rhythmically as he injected a thread of his own mana into the barrier’s structure. It resisted at first, the fiery energy rippling outward as though trying to push him away. Roland, unfazed, intensified his focus, amplifying his mana to match the barrier’s resonating frequency. The flames began to stabilize, their chaotic movements slowing as Roland's magic seeped into the spell’s core. Agni, watching from a safe distance, growled softly, sensing the intense magical energy building in the air.

“Almost there, I’ll give you the signal if something goes wrong.”

For now, everything was proceeding as planned, but Roland couldn’t shake the uncertainty of what lay ahead. His runic magic, powerful as it was, wasn’t omnipotent. It couldn’t control every variable, a truth he had come to accept after his encounters with the Headmistress and the witch who had captured him so effortlessly. These experiences had left a mark, fueling his resolve to improve - not just in crafting and combat, but also in the art of problem-solving.

This was, perhaps, a good opportunity to test his ability to assess a situation accurately. As a precaution, he had positioned all his available turrets on the ceiling to serve as a safety measure. After analyzing the readings within the temple, he had concluded they would suffice for what lay ahead. Now, with the flaming barrier rapidly fading, the moment of truth had arrived - it was time to see if his judgment was correct.

As the mana shield flickered and dissolved, Roland hovered closer to the apex of the Red Temple. The oppressive heat surged briefly before subsiding, allowing him a clear view of the elemental block nestled within a cradle of ornate runes. The shape resembled some glyphs that he had witnessed before but he was mostly unfamiliar with the design. It pulsed with fiery energy, bathing the immediate area in a crimson glow. Roland extended a gauntleted hand and used his mage hand spell to grab it.

The instant his mana fingers closed around the elemental block, the entire temple shuddered violently. A deep, growling rumble echoed through the chamber, as if the temple itself was alive and resented his intrusion. Roland's visor lit up with warnings as tremors cascaded down the temple, the strange carvings along its walls flaring to life.

"Here we go.”

He muttered, gliding upward to avoid the trembling surface below while taking the glyph-like object away. Suddenly, the stone doors leading to this level began to crack, revealing creatures forged from fire and bone. Flame elementals surged forth, their blazing forms crackling with energy, while skeletal warriors clad in molten armor rose to join them. Their hollow sockets glowed with the same red energy as the elemental block now in Roland’s possession.

“A different variant of undead and fire elementals.”

Roland had anticipated a change in the types of monsters they would face, and he had been right to decide that Agni should sit this one out. The enemies were altered Infernal Skeletons, their forms drenched in molten lava. While still undead, their strong affinity to fire would likely weaken the impact of Agni's divine flames. Additionally, there were the Greater Flame Elementals - pure manifestations of mana that were completely immune to fire-based attacks.

Still, Roland remained calm, confident in the preparations he had made. With a swift command sent through his armor, the turrets positioned along the ceiling sprang to life. Their mechanisms whirred to life, and the first shots rang out, piercing through the air with devastating force.

The turrets unleashed a synchronized barrage of runic projectiles, each infused with counter-elemental energy - holy and water. For someone of Roland's skill, combining these two elemental wavelengths was effortless, a testament to his mastery over the intricate nuances of rune magic. The skeletal warriors crumbled under the relentless assault, their molten cores erupting into fiery explosions. The Greater Flame Elementals fared no better, their forms of roaring flames and molten rock disintegrating under the unyielding barrage.

Roland remained in the air, watching as his creations did the work for him. While their power was limited, these creatures had massive weaknesses that could be exploited. With the first wave of molten skeletons and Greater Flame Elementals dispatched by his turrets, Roland exhaled in relief. His preparation was paying off, but this was only the beginning. The temple trembled more violently now, cracks spreading along its surface as though the entire structure was rebelling against his intrusion.

The elemental block pulsed with strange energies, as though it were trying to communicate with the entire temple. He could tell that the dungeon had not granted him the authority to wield this artifact - it wanted it back. The first wave of monsters had been dispatched, but more were on their way. His mapping device displayed a cluster of dots converging on one location, likely ascending the stairs to reach him - the intruder who had stolen their precious treasure.

Roland quickly calculated his options. The temple was awakening, and the creatures within were converging. His turrets were powerful but he wasn’t sure just how much. However, for this test to conclude he needed to keep observing, even if that meant that his creations were destroyed in the process. A tide of monsters poured out: skeletal warriors drenched in molten lava and massive Greater Flame Elementals, their blazing forms pulsating with raw mana.

Roland’s visor lit up with an array of data, but he remained motionless, his attention fixed on the unfolding chaos. This was precisely what he had anticipated. Above, the turrets he had painstakingly constructed sprang to life. Each turret activated, their barrels swiveling with precision. All of them were connected through a networked system, controlled through the runes in his armor, allowing them to target with deadly accuracy. The first salvo erupted, streaks of glowing projectiles sliced through the air as they homed in on their targets.

The molten skeletons were the first to fall. The runic bolts, infused with water and holy elemental energy, tore through their molten cores, shattering their charred bones and extinguishing the lava flowing through them. Each impact sent fiery explosions rippling across the upper floor. Despite their overwhelming numbers, there was only one entrance to the upper area, forcing them to bottleneck as they tried to squeeze through. This choke point allowed his turrets to unleash concentrated mana blasts, creating wide-area splash damage and making the onslaught greatly easier to manage.

“They are doing well but… The same problems persist as always.”

He remained in place, calmly observing as the turrets did their work. The temple floor was soon littered with the remains of his adversaries, and the air filled with the acrid stench of molten rock and charred bone. Everything seemed fine but he knew that there was a problem, his turrets were starting to overheat. While they were made from improved materials there was still a limit to their operational time. The runes were starting to sizzle and the longer they operated the more self-damage they would sustain.

To address the issue, Roland adjusted a few settings. He began by lowering the turrets' fire rate, which helped conserve power but wasn’t sufficient on its own. To improve efficiency, he implemented a ten-second cooldown cycle for some of the turrets, putting them in sequence. Starting with two, he set them to rotate through the cooldown periods. This change allowed the monsters to advance more easily, and soon they began to swarm the upper level. However, Roland and his turrets were positioned high above, making it difficult for the creatures to reach them directly.

The Skeletal Berserkers were at a loss, unable to climb or effectively close the distance. But among the horde were mage-types capable of slinging spells, along with flame elementals that posed a similar threat. Roland ensured his magical cannons prioritized these ranged attackers. Even so, a few long-distance spells managed to slip through, forcing him to finally involve himself in the battle.

"Persistent, aren’t they?"

The skeletal mages within the horde began to adapt, coordinating their spells to both shield their allies and launch counterattacks. Roland was forced to erect his own shields, intercepting the sizzling fireballs hurled in his direction. Meanwhile, his turrets maintained their relentless barrage, prioritizing the mages who could withstand several water-based projectiles. Fortunately, the holy element infused in the bolts significantly weakened these enemies, exponentially reducing their resilience and hastening their destruction.

His visor displayed a stream of data as he synchronized with the turrets, sometimes manually adjusting their aim to counter the mages. The glowing red icons on his HUD dimmed one by one as the skeletal spellcasters were systematically eliminated, their brittle forms collapsing under precision strikes.

As the battlefield below cleared of ranged threats, Roland took a moment to assess the situation. The turrets, while effective, were depleting their battery reserves at an alarming rate. They were designed for short bursts of high-intensity combat, not prolonged engagements like this. A glance at his interface confirmed what he already suspected - most of the turrets were on the verge of running dry.

One by one, the turrets fell silent, their barrels cooling as their batteries drained completely. Roland's lips pressed into a thin line but he had been successful, the horde had been halted and no undead monster remained. The temple was now empty, all of the creatures the relentless assault of his creations. Yet, the battle had exposed several shortcomings in his approach. The turrets, while effective against the monster waves, were not sustainable for prolonged engagements. Their overheating issues and limited power reserves were problems he needed to address if he wanted to rely on them in future encounters.

“I’ll probably need to install a shield unit to protect them from the spells and get the energy issue resolved before these can be used but…It’s not that bad.”

Although there had been some issues, the cannons remained intact and could still be used in the future. The dwarven steel had successfully resisted the rune deterioration effect, proving its resilience. Now, Roland just needed to find a way to power his creations or recharge their batteries. In time, this place could serve as a valuable source of materials.

As the temple fell silent, Roland descended cautiously, his visor scanning for any lingering mana signatures. The magical symbol he had retrieved from the temple continued to pulse faintly, though it no longer attracted defenders. All the monsters had been cleared, and the task had taken just over ten minutes to complete.

The golems hovering nearby activated and moved deeper into the temple's interior, scanning for hidden treasures and concealed compartments. Meanwhile, Roland focused on gathering the leftover materials from the defeated monsters. The Greater Fire Elementals had dropped shimmering crystals infused with fire mana - a highly sought-after material. Both alchemists and craftsmen valued these crystals, as they could serve as cores for forges or smelters. However, in this case, Roland planned to sell them to bolster his funds.

He examined the fire crystals with interest, their vibrant crimson hues glowing faintly in his gloved hands. Each crystal radiated intense heat, but the mana veil of his armor protected him from discomfort. Once satisfied with his inspection, he carefully stowed the crystals in one of his runic spatial pockets. Turning his attention to another peculiar find, Roland noticed an unfamiliar drop - something unlike anything he had encountered from other undead monsters. Intrigued, he prepared to investigate further.

“This is?”

Roland vividly recalled the undead monsters being encased in armor made from a magma-like substance. It appeared that the ore Ignisium was present in this area, and now he had the opportunity to collect it. This rare ore could be refined to craft exceptionally heat-resistant alloys, perfect for enhancing some of his creations. By combining Ignisium with red mithril, he could forge an even more advanced suit of flame-resistant armor. However, this was merely the beginning. His thoughts drifted to the other temples scattered across this level.

“If these undead drop this ore, could the other temples hold similar treasures?”

His mind raced with possibilities. He envisioned armaments that were fully immune to elemental magic of specific types. He could see himself crafting multiple sets of armor, each tailored to counter a particular element using mithril alloys blended with ores like Ignisium. The idea was tantalizing, the potential boundless.

He methodically gathered every shard of the ore, using his sensors to detect and extract fragments embedded in the floor and walls. Each piece of Ignisium he stored in his spatial pocket felt like another step toward future-proofing his arsenal. While was busy here, his golems informed him about further treasures hidden inside of the temple. This was truly a treasure trove that would possibly allow him to continue his lavish spending in the future.

“Weapons, armor, and even gold and that’s only one temple, what will I find in the others?”

Roland wasn’t typically one to salivate over treasures, but with all of this at his disposal, his future looked exceptionally bright. To make matters even better, he already had an effective method for clearing this tower. What remained was tackling the other four. However, one pressing issue lingered: the other adventurers.

While their progress was slow, Roland estimated they could reach this area within a few weeks. He needed time - time to solidify his dominance over this floor. That meant returning to restock on turrets and other supplies. As he brainstormed over his options, a thought struck him. While it might tread into slightly unethical territory, it wouldn’t actually harm anyone.

He could use an illusion generator to obscure the entrance to this area, buying himself valuable time. Since he was already planning to use illusions to conceal his turrets, deploying it to mislead other adventurers wouldn't be much of a stretch.

“AWWoooo!”

A loud howl snapped him out of his scheming. His companion, clearly bored of waiting, was now creating a racket near the entrance.

“Yeah Agni, I’m coming!”

With a solid plan forming in his mind, Roland sprang into action. This place was far too valuable to let slip into anyone else’s hands. He had to extract everything worthwhile before others even caught wind of its existence.

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