Jacob descends in the spiraling tunnel with the Map of the Blazing Constellation hovering before him like a guiding lantern. Even with the Eyes of Judge, Jacob found that he couldn’t see anything unusual about this tunnel, which only made him more vigilant.
The tunnel seemed endless like an abyss, and as he reached its depths, an oppressive pressure began to weigh down on him.
After an unknown time, the Map of the Blazing Constellation suddenly flickered, releasing a vague undulation, and Jacob felt a strong attraction force again. However, he couldn’t see the end of the spiraling tunnel, which made him doubt it.
Nonetheless, he knew the Map of the Blazing Constellation was the key to acquiring the Yang Flame, and without it, no one would be able to acquire it.
At this moment, the contents of the Map of the Blazing Constellation suddenly shifted, and the space ahead also started to twist like a curtain. Jacob was startled by this as he looked at the twisted space, and at that moment, a scarlet door suddenly appeared in front of him.
The scarlet door was ethereal, and etched with fiery golden ram horns, and between the space of these horns was an indentation.
Before Jacob could analyze the door, the Map of the Blazing Constellation suddenly hummed and fit itself into the indentation.
Jacob was shocked by this sudden reaction of the map as he looked at the scarlet door with a hint of a grimace, ’This map is clearly part of this door...’
The next moment, the golden ram horns suddenly come alive as strange runic markings begin to surface on the door.
Jacob’s eyes contorted when he saw those runic markings making a vague image of a ram’s head, and the moment that image was completed, the entire tunnel suddenly quivered, and a power oppression filled the air.
At this moment, the scarlet door started to shift upward, revealing a golden-red vortex behind it.
But Jacob didn’t seem happy about it because at this moment, he lost his connection with the Map of the Blazing Constellation. It was as if opening this door was its ultimate purpose.
Jacob looked at the golden-red vortex gravely, unsure whether the disappearance of the map was a good or bad thing. Nonetheless, Jacob knew he couldn’t back down after coming this far, and the Yang Flame was part of his plan to gain power so he could move to the next part of his plan to counter the ’Hunter!’
After a moment of hesitation, Jacob took a step forward and walked into the vortex.
When Jacob walked into the vortex, it began to shrink as if about to close, having achieved its purpose. Still, right at this moment, before the vortex fully vanished, a phantom silhouette slipped through—just before the vortex sealed shut with a silent snap!
If Jacob knew about this, he would’ve been appalled because he didn’t know anyone was following him all this time, especially with his current power level!
---
The moment Jacob’s figure vanished into the golden-red vortex, the obsidian path behind him began to shimmer.
CRACK—KSHHHHHH!
A thunderous rumble echoed from the depths of the lava sea. The spiraling tunnel, which had opened like the coils of an ancient serpent, began to twist in reverse. Each rotation sent tremors through the surrounding magma ocean.
Molten ridges that had once been parted began collapsing inward like towering waves of fire crashing into each other. The obsidian veins dimmed, and the corridor closed like a mouth sealing shut after consuming its prey.
In just moments, the spiraling chasm disappeared, swallowed once more by endless waves of molten fury, leaving behind no trace that it had ever been there.
But the change wasn’t over.
Suddenly, the lava sea itself began to glow brighter, as if it had awakened from a deep slumber. The fiery waves rippled outward in perfect concentric circles, radiating power as an unseen pressure surged skyward.
Then came the roar.
FWWOOOOOOOOOM!
A blazing column of fire erupted straight into the sky like a primordial volcano, illuminating the entire Ashen Mirage Desert in a crimson hue. The skies themselves seemed to bend and shimmer under the weight of the eruption.
As the flames climbed into the skies, a massive phantom structure began to materialize just above the center of the lava sea.
A palace of fire—impossibly large, impossibly ancient. It hovered silently, suspended above the lava sea without any physical foundation, like an illusion birthed from the essence of fire itself.
Its towering spires were wreathed in ever-burning embers, its domes forged from translucent scarlet crystal, and enormous braziers levitated at its four cardinal corners, each bearing a sacred flame that burned in different colors: red, gold, violet, and ghostly white.
The palace doors remained shut, yet the entire structure pulsed with ancient, sleeping intent, like an ancient beast slowly stirring in its slumber.
High above its central spire, a spectral banner fluttered into existence. Upon it was the symbol of the Aries Zodiac—the Ram—its flaming horns forming a menacing ring, its eyes burning with starfire.
A name etched itself into reality, readable by all who looked upon it.
Temple of the Blazing Flames: Only the Flame-Willed May Enter.
From a nearby dune ridge, the cloaked observers stared in stunned silence. Even the arrogant ones held their breath as the phantom palace took form.
"What in the Zodiac is that...?" one of them whispered, fear laced in awe.
Even the Star Pirates, standing far across the lava sea, fell to silence. None dared move.
The Corrosion King clenched his fists. "That’s not just a mirage...right?"
Dark Wing’s eyes narrowed, "Most likely not...it seemed that person is behind it..."
At this moment, everyone who had been silently observing the scene could no longer remain silent, as they all knew that the emergence of this temple meant peerless fortune and opportunity.
Meanwhile, within the void beneath the lava, Jacob had already vanished. He hadn’t anticipated the manifestation of this temple.
But one thing was clear: All who dared tread too close without the blessing of the Aries would burn into oblivion!