Where did that sound come from? Was it some phenomenon occurring within the strata, or had rocks collapsed? Allen listened closely, but the underground palace remained as silent as death.
Thinking of television shows he had watched before, Allen pressed his ear to the stone wall. He seemed to really hear people talking. His spirits rose. After walking alone through the long, silent darkness for so long, hearing a human voice was wonderful.
Allen pressed his ear against the wall again. Yes! There really was a faint whisper. Though the sound drifted in and out and was indistinct, Allen still caught the words "lost," spoken in a low, sorrowful tone.
Relying on his exceptional hearing, Allen raced in the direction from which the voice came. The closer he got to its owner, the more excited he became. He recognized the voice—it belonged to Albert, the one who had the whole family worried sick. Suddenly, Allen's foot slipped. Moving too fast, he lost his footing on an extremely steep slope. He slid faster and faster, practically falling. He involuntarily rolled and bounced down the vertical stone wall, plunging all the way. When Allen finally managed to steady himself, he saw Albert sitting dejectedly on the ground. He looked terribly weak. His beautiful pure-blue eyes overflowed with joy upon seeing Allen, only to fill with worry moments later.
"Allen, how did you get here?" The concern in Albert's voice was impossible to miss, and it moved Allen. Albert was clearly in bad shape, yet his first concern was still his Younger Brother's safety.
"It's a long story. What happened to you? Why haven't you treated the wound on your leg?" As an Auror, Allen was not naive enough to think Albert did not know healing magic.
"I may have been cursed. I lost all my magic. I got lost in this underground palace, then accidentally broke my leg." Albert briefly explained his situation.
Allen hurriedly summoned the Mobile Tower he had obtained earlier from the system. Concealing it with his sleeve, he pretended to take it from his pocket. The Mobile Tower landed on the ground, and Allen activated its control Incantation, making the top of the Tower just touch the ceiling of the stone cavern.
Allen helped Albert into the Tower. "Incendio." The enormous Fireplace immediately burst into flame, and the Tower's hall became warm and comfortable. Allen helped Albert recline on the large sofa, took out the Tower's medical kit, and simply bandaged him. Then he said, "If you've been cursed, there's no need to worry. I had an encounter at Hogwarts and happened to obtain this Mobile Tower, as well as a magic orb that can lift curses."
Allen took out Fools' magic orb and skillfully cast the spell. Albert felt familiar strength surge through his limbs—his magic had returned! Though still somewhat weak after fully recovering his magic, Albert was able to expertly treat his broken leg himself. By the time Allen put away the orb, found some food in the Tower's kitchen, and brought it out, Albert looked almost completely fine.
"Thank you, Allen. You saved my life." Albert did not ask why Allen had been able to find him, nor did he inquire about Allen's encounter. He understood not to pry into other people's privacy and to respect their secrets.
In just a few minutes, the two of them finished two plates of sandwiches and a large glass of milk, feeling much better.
"Allen, this underground palace is very strange. We can't Apparate here. Although I've recovered my magic, I still can't find the way out." Albert calmly pointed out their situation. Their comfort was only temporary; if they could not leave the Maze, they would eventually face shortages of food and water.
"It's all right, Albert. Since heaven let me find you, I don't think we'll be trapped here much longer." Naturally, Allen could not tell Albert that he had a magical map in his mind. Besides, he still had not completed the system's mission to obtain the Moonstone.
After resting briefly, they decided to continue searching for a way out. Or rather, for Allen, it was a search for the Moonstone. As they continued through the stone tunnel, the space grew wider and wider, and the air gradually became damp. Moisture seeped across the stone walls, where dark green moss even grew. Less than five miles farther on, an extremely broad underground river blocked their path. Before they could discuss a plan, enormous waves rose on the river's surface. The violent disturbance put Allen and Albert on high alert. Danger lay right ahead—they had to be careful.
Amid the rolling waves, a sea serpent-like monster nearly thirty feet long appeared like the Grim Reaper, blocking Allen and Albert's path. Its body resembled a massive cylinder, but its tail was short. Its four limbs were like oars, and layers of hard shell covered its body. Yet its head and neck were as flexible as those of a giant python, and with a casual lift of its head, it could stretch thirty feet into the air. Its movements stirred waves as high as mountains, which even crashed onto Allen and Albert as they retreated at full speed. It had discovered the two uninvited guests!
"It's a Plesiosaur! Allen, go first. I'll hold it off." Albert shouted desperately, his face pale as he gripped his wand, leaving Allen the chance to escape.
Allen was touched, but he could not retreat. His mission target was right ahead, and he could not accept failure. Besides, he had means of protecting himself. Summoning Neptune, Allen swung himself onto its back. Albert shouted joyfully, "That's right, Allen! Ride Neptune and escape!"
Allen turned back and gave Albert a confident smile. At the same time, he decided to use the remaining nine minutes of Invincible Aura in the system. It would be best if he could finish it within nine minutes; if not, he would flee quickly.
Having made up his mind, Allen resolutely flew toward the enormous monster. The Invincible Aura worked once more. Allen felt as though he possessed inexhaustible magic and endless strength. He darted rapidly around the Plesiosaur. Though the monster's head was extraordinarily agile, it was still no match for Allen's speed. The two fought fiercely. Allen tirelessly unleashed one deadly Charms after another. Many of the offensive Incantations were ones he was using for the first time, yet beneath the system's Invincible Aura, Allen seemed to have been born knowing how to use them, striking the Plesiosaur steadily, accurately, and ruthlessly.
At times they neared the shore, and at times they moved away again. Allen seemed to merge with Neptune, soaring and twisting through the towering waves. Though Albert was despairing, he too fought with the determination to die, desperately casting every deadly Charms he knew at the Plesiosaur.
Suddenly, both Allen and the Plesiosaur sank beneath the water. After a while, the Plesiosaur's enormous head emerged from the surface. Albert's heart pounded like a drum as he wondered whether Allen was safe!
Before you continue