The scenes became progressively chaotic, showing the goddess fighting against dragons, Radiant angels, demons, and wraiths. Each new enemy grew more numerous and fierce, and the goddess's expressions turned from determination to despair.
The final mural depicted the fallen goddess, her body battered and broken, surrounded by mourning followers prostrated in sorrow.
"[The murals tell of the downfall of the old gods, miao. The Radiance incited the united races to destroy them, and the Goddess of Ashes and Fire was the last to fall,]" Miaomiao explained.
Passing the murals, the group pressed deeper into the temple.
The next sight was gruesome: bodies lay everywhere.
Some corpses were missing limbs, while others had their fingers severed. Clad in ancient garments, the bodies were so well preserved that they appeared to have just died.
Michael looked at Alfred in shock. "Could it be...?"
Alfred nodded solemnly. "Yes, now we know where the fingers from the well came from."
"[They were sacrifices, miao. The ancient gods demanded human offerings, and the power of this temple was sustained through the sacrificial rituals performed here,]" Miaomiao said, her voice steady but somber.
Michael recalled the ancient stones from the well. If those stones came from this temple, it was likely parts of these bodies were in the castle's basement as well.
Shaking off the horror of the scene, Michael steadied himself. These were events from a long distant past.
"Once we're done here, we should give these bodies a proper burial," he said softly.
They moved further into the temple. The air grew colder, heavy with a chilling energy.
At the temple's center, they entered a vast hall.
A magnificent statue of the goddess stood there, holding a still burning flame in her hands.
The statue was exquisitely crafted, so lifelike it seemed to breathe. Michael found himself drawn to the flickering flame, unable to look away.
Suddenly, a melodic female voice filled the air, seductive and inviting.
Alfred, too, paused abruptly, seemingly captivated by the sound.
"Come closer and place your hand into the flame. I will grant you limitless power," the voice promised.
Michael's lips twitched in annoyance. Outer gods—they always tried the same tricks. Unlimited power? If it was so unlimited, why didn't she free herself instead of enticing humans?
Feigning hesitation, Michael asked, "Are you the Goddess of Ashes and Fire? How could someone as great as you end up in a place ?"
Miaomiao shot him a look, as if to say not this again, but Michael ignored her.
"This is all the work of the Radiance!" the voice exclaimed, growing more desperate. "They ambushed me and massacred my followers. Release me, and I will make you the greatest being in the world. Quickly!"
Michael took a step back, feigning fear. "But... won't releasing you cause the volcano to erupt? As the heir to this land, I can't take such a risk."
The voice softened, coaxing. "That's nothing to worry about. The barrier here stabilizes the volcano's power and has nothing to do with me. Just free me, and you'll be safe."
Michael hesitated theatrically. "There's another problem. People near the lake have been dying for years. If I don't understand why—"
The air in the temple trembled as the voice snapped, "That was me! How could I allow unworthy mortals to settle near my sacred lake? But it doesn't matter. Become my new priest, and all will be forgiven..."
Glancing at Miaomiao and Alfred, Michael saw them nod slightly.
"Is that so? Well, that's a relief," Michael said nonchalantly.
Before the voice could finish its plea, Michael stepped forward and placed his hand on the statue.
"Not there! Put your hand into the flame—"
"Absorptionem eligo!"
Unleashing his ability, Michael activated a massive force that began absorbing the goddess's power.
"No! Stop! This can't be happening—aaaghhh!"
Her scream echoed throughout the temple as the statue cracked and began to crumble.
The immense power that had been sealed within flowed into Michael. He relished the sensation, letting the energy course through him and reveling in his complete control over it.
Smirking, he looked down at the shattered remains of the statue. Whether she was desperate from her millennia long imprisonment or simply foolish, Michael was glad the goddess's attempts to manipulate him had failed.
"One thing the statue got right—it really was harmless," he remarked, looking around cautiously.
Fearing the possibility of an unexpected twist, Michael scanned the temple. But no calamity came. The temple remained still and serene, save for the destroyed statue.
Sighing in relief, Michael turned to his companions. "Let's search the area. This is an ancient temple—there might be more treasures to uncover."
As Michael was about to leave the temple, he noticed something sparkling among the crumbled statue debris.
Carefully brushing the remains aside, his eyes fell on a glowing, red gemstone. The gem was a deep, intense red, as though flames were flickering inside it.
"[Huh? That's the Heart of Fire. You've found something really valuable. Doesn't the gem feel hot to the touch? There's definitely the power of fire within it. What a find!]" Miaomiao exclaimed.
Michael grasped the gemstone, feeling its warmth, and tried to calm his excitement.
Lincoln's grandfather, a baron and an appraiser at the capital's auction house, had passed on a wealth of knowledge. With that expertise, Michael immediately recognized the gem's value. It would be incredibly useful for refining high quality iron.
Feeling Marcus's greedy gaze, Michael quickly tucked the gemstone into his spatial pouch. Marcus, looking downcast, stuck out his tongue and slumped.
"Cheer up, Marcus! I'm sure there's more treasure here. This place, where the goddess once dreamed of resurrection, can't be without treasure," Michael encouraged.
At the mention of more treasures, Marcus perked up, eager to move forward. He even tapped his claws on the floor, impatient to hurry.
"[Let's go quickly! What if someone else takes the treasure?]"
"[You fool, there's no one else here]" Miaomiao growled, swiftly grabbing Marcus to prevent him from running ahead.