Core Area

Two days later.

"Crack—"

The metal magic box unfolded layer by layer before Dago like a flower, its precise mechanical clicking especially piercing amid the deathly silent ruins.

As the white light spilling from within faded, it revealed not a pure stream of energy, but a foul, dark green gas that had been sealed under high pressure for thousands of years. Hissing corrosively, it burst out at high speed.

"Bang!"

Dago spread out his mental power. Rather than a simple defense, he instantly constructed a high-frequency repulsive barrier.

His mental power compressed the air into visible ripples, dispersing the newly released gas in an instant.

A violent wind swept through, carrying toxins capable of making ordinary creatures rot instantly, and quickly cleared away the stench, leaving only a faint acidic smell in the air.

After that, the magic box was completely empty.

It seemed the box had originally contained that nauseating cloud of foul gas. Perhaps it was a failed specimen from some ancient biochemical experiment, or perhaps simply a malicious trap.

Dago's expression remained calm. The indifference unique to wizards made him seem like an emotionless statue.

He casually tossed a golden gear and several pieces of metal to Bronte III, as practiced as if he were feeding a domesticated hunting hound.

It was hard to say whether he was disappointed. On a wizard's path toward truth, failure was also a cornerstone leading to success.

Over the past two days, he had found seven magic boxes in total through Bronte III.

He had also come to understand the meaning of "marvelous" in Marvelous Magic Box more deeply—it was ancient mechanical civilization's mockery of those who came after, as well as a cruel screening mechanism.

Aside from the magic box before him, which had contained an unknown foul gas, he