Strongest Warlock - Wizard World Irregular

Chapter 829: Traveling Through The Maze of Morgeth

"I come in peace, Guardian of the Skies," Ethan said. "We didn't come here to fight."

"Then, what did you come here for?" the Phoenix asked, its tone as fiery as its appearance.

"I came here to go to World's End where the Progenitor of Magic, Hecate, lives," Ethan answered.

"Hecate?" the Phoenix narrowed its eyes. "What do you need from my Master?"

"Your Master?" Ethan frowned. "Hecate is your Master?"

"Don't make me repeat myself," the Phoenix stated. "Why do you want to meet my Master?"

Ethan then explained his reason for coming, which made the Phoenix look in the direction of the Flying Ship.

Even from a distance, it could see everyone on the ship clearly.

After glancing at the people on the ship, its gaze lingered a few seconds longer on Godfrey before shifting its attention to Hecate.

"I see… so it's her," the Phoenix muttered.

A minute of silence passed before the Phoenix glanced at Ethan as if trying to dissect the young man with its gaze.

"My mistress has instructed me that if someone named Ethan Gremory came here, I should let him pass," the Phoenix stated. "So, you can go. However, it is possible that you might not see my mistress at this point in time. A few days ago, she left to go to the Lands of Saraqael. As to when she will return, I do not know.

"If you are willing to wait then you can enter her Domain. Just know that it might take a few days, to a few years before she comes back here."

Ethan frowned after hearing the Phoenix's reply.

Chudo Yudo had told him that on the day that they fought, a great battle was being waged in the Lands of Saraqael.

That was also why the three-headed Dragon attacked them because it thought that they were enemies that managed to slip past the defenders, who were currently fighting in the realm that was located at the boundary of their world.

The young man suddenly fell into a dilemma because he didn't know when the Progenitor would be able to return to her Domain.

But, since they were already there, he decided to push through with their journey and wait a few days and see if the Progenitor would return.

If she didn't return right away, he would ask Merric to return the others to the Shire Continent, while he and Hecate remained to wait for the Progenitor's return.

After thanking the Phoenix for letting them pass unharmed, he returned to the flying ship and told everyone what the Guardian told him.

"We'll trust your decision," Nicole said. "Since we are already here, it would be a shame to not see what the place called World's End is like."

"Right." Lyall nodded. "I can't wait to tell Father about this adventure when I return to Southshire."

"I agree. It's not every day we have the opportunity to go to places outside of the Shire Continent," Conall stated. "Since we are already here, let's just push forward and be patient for a bit."

Ethan glanced at Hecate, and the young lady nodded her head.

"Understood," Ethan replied. "Merric, we cannot take the flying ship underground, but the Phoenix will allow us to land it near the entrance."

Merric nodded and gave the order for the Catkins to move the flying ship to a good spot near the underground entrance.

The Catkin didn't plan to stay in the Flying Ship because he wanted to accompany his Young Master.

After telling everyone to guard the ship, Ethan's team, including Godfrey entered the passage that would take them to the underground tunnels that was known as the Maze of Morgeth.

This underground maze was similar to the River of Okeanos, that could lead anywhere in Midgard.

If one didn't know where to go, they could end up wandering the underground tunnels forever.

Fortunately, Hecate seemed to know where exactly to go.

It was as if her memory of the place had returned, allowing her to retrace the steps that she had taken hundreds of years ago.

Godfrey, who also knew the path to World's End, simply followed behind as if he didn't care whether everyone got lost or not.

He was more at home in dark places, and being underground didn't faze him.

Ethan and Nicole raised their wands, lighting the path with their magic.

Conall, Merric, and Godfrey walked in the rear, while Ethan walked in the front.

Nicole, Hecate, and Lyall were in the middle, ready to assist the young man just in case something sprang at them from the dark.

The Maze of Morgeth was home to many races, including Drows, Dwarves, and Kobolds.

The deeper one went in, they would find themselves looking at hanging stone bridges, where the inhabitants could observe them from afar.

If they were lucky, these races would simply observe them from afar.

If not then they would have no choice but to defend themselves if the more aggressive races, like the Drow, decided to try and catch a few humans to become their slaves.

It was not only the living that walked the underground maze.

Specters and Undead also roamed this place, including Liches and the one-eyed Beholders that terrorized unlucky passersby.

Ethan wasn't afraid of them because in the worst case scenario, he could just flood the underground maze with water.

When that happens, the ones who would be crying wouldn't be him.

On their second day of traveling underground, they spotted a group of Drow bathing in an underground river, and eyeing them with great curiosity.

Some of them even playfully made a gesture for Ethan's group to join them, but they decided to just continue walking, and ignore their advances.

As another day passed, they sensed that they were being followed, and felt the brush of magic passing through their bodies.

Sebastian had told Ethan that the tingling sensation that he was feeling was scrying magic, which meant that there were a few curious beings who were paying close attention to their group.

Even with the close encounters and stalking, nothing really happened.

It was as if those who were trying to get under their skin just wanted to make them feel anxious all the time because they found it entertaining.

Finally on the fifth day, a five-meter-tall Beholder decided that they would become its lunch.

Unfortunately, it became Dainsleif's lunch, which scared most of the onlookers who watched the horrifying scene as the Ancient Wendigo devoured the Beholder after it was defeated, leaving nothing behind.

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