Chapter 823 – Crude Work

He exhaled softly, then muttered, "Corvus."

A ripple of shadow gathered beside him before coalescing into the familiar form of a sleek, dark raven. Corvus materialized mid-air with a dramatic flap of his wings, landing gracefully on the stone floor.

"What now, boss?" the raven asked, voice laced with dry sarcasm.

Lux gestured casually toward the corridor ahead. "Come with us and detect traps."

Corvus blinked slowly.

Then looked around.

Then looked back at Lux.

"You summoned me for this crude work?"

Lux nodded, utterly unapologetic. "Efficiency."

Corvus ruffled his feathers in clear indignation. "I am an infernal intelligence asset, not a glorified mine detector."

"Congratulations," Lux replied smoothly. "You’re being promoted to multitasking."

The raven stared at him for a long, dramatic moment. "I can’t believe this."

"C’mon."

A sigh... yes, an actual sigh from a bird.

"Fine," Corvus relented. "I will inform you if I detect traps. But this will be noted in my performance review."

He hopped onto Lux’s shoulder, talons gripping the fabric of his suit with practiced familiarity. "Now go."

Mira allowed herself a faint smile at the exchange before turning forward again. "The mountains are deep enough," she said. "Prepare your legs. We are going to walk a lot."

Corvus tilted his head, scanning the dim corridor ahead. The torchlight reflected ominously in his dark eyes. "And don’t forget about monsters," he added. "Because I can feel them."

The atmosphere grew heavier as they ventured deeper, each step echoing softly against the ancient stone. The warmth remained, but it did little to dispel the sense that the mountain was alive, aware of every movement, every breath, every heartbeat.

Lux adjusted his cufflinks absentmindedly, posture relaxed but senses razor-sharp. Internally, he welcomed the tension. This was where legends were tested. Where power proved its worth.

And if the Dragon Mountains were watching him?

Then Lux Vaelthorn intended to give them a show worth remembering.

They advanced deeper into the corridor, boots echoing softly against ancient stone. The warmth of the interior did little to ease the pressure building in the air, a subtle, oppressive aura that clung to the senses like an unspoken warning. Torchlight flickered along the walls, casting elongated shadows that seemed to shift just a moment too late, as if something unseen moved within them.

Corvus tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he scanned ahead. His feathers ruffled slightly.

"Trap," he announced flatly. "Pressure-based. Ancient mechanism. Draconic signature. Very impolite."

Lux halted immediately, raising a hand to signal the others. His eyes traced the faint seams in the stone floor, the nearly invisible runic etchings waiting to be triggered.

"I see it," he murmured, fingers already twitching with the urge to deploy his telekinesis. "Stand back—"

Before he could finish, Rava moved.

Water coalesced instantly around her hand, swirling into a compact vortex. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she launched it forward. The spell struck the pressure plate with surgical precision, freezing it for a fraction of a second before shattering it with a concussive burst.

- CRACK! BOOM!

Hidden mechanisms within the walls attempted to activate, but the disruption rendered them useless. Metallic clicks echoed harmlessly before fading into silence.

Lux blinked.

Then slowly turned his head toward her.

"...Wow."

Rava grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "What? Never seen me in action?"

Lux tilted his head, lips curling into a teasing smirk. "In action on the bed? Yes. This?" He gestured toward the shattered trap. "Is different."

She smirked. "Then get used to it."

"Oh, I fully intend to."

They continued forward, tension sharpening rather than easing. The mountain seemed to respond to their intrusion, subtle vibrations through the stone, distant echoes that hinted at movement far beyond their line of sight.

Corvus spoke again. "Second trap ahead. This one is less polite. Magical trigger. Area denial."

Lux stepped forward this time, but again, he was beaten to the punch.

Ely raised her hand gracefully, golden elven runes spiraling into existence around her fingers. Her magic flowed like liquid light, weaving through the air with elegant precision. She extended her palm, and a radiant pulse surged forward, unraveling the trap’s enchantment before it could fully manifest.

A wave of shimmering light washed over the corridor, revealing hidden sigils embedded in the walls. They flickered once, then dissolved into harmless motes.

Lux watched her, impressed by the control and finesse of her magic. Ely lowered her hand, offering him a soft, almost shy smile.

"Elegant," he said simply.

She dipped her head slightly. "I prefer solutions that leave the environment intact."

"Remind me to hire you as my interior designer."

Naomi snorted softly at that, though her attention quickly snapped forward as Corvus let out a sharp caw. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Third trap. Mechanical. Immediate threat."

The floor ahead split open without warning, and a barrage of massive stone spikes shot upward, followed by rotating blades emerging from the walls. The entire corridor transformed into a deadly gauntlet.

Lux prepared to intervene, but Naomi was already moving.

She stepped forward with unwavering confidence, muscles coiling with explosive power. Timing her movements perfectly, she surged into the trap zone. Her fist slammed into the first spike, shattering it into fragments. She twisted mid-motion, delivering a devastating kick that snapped one of the rotating blades clean off its axis.

Metal screeched. Stone cracked. Naomi moved like a force of nature, precise, powerful, unstoppable.

Within seconds, the trap lay in ruins.

She exhaled calmly, rolling her shoulders as if she had merely completed a warm-up.

Lux stared.

"...Remind me never to argue with you."

Naomi glanced back, smirking. "Smart decision."

Rava clapped enthusiastically. "That was hot."

Ely nodded in agreement. "Efficient."

Mira simply observed, her expression proud yet unsurprised. "She trained for this."

They pressed onward, the atmosphere growing heavier with each step. The traps became more sophisticated, more aggressive, as if the mountain itself was escalating its defenses.

Corvus’s voice dropped to a more serious tone. "Final trap before the inner gate. Complex. Draconic magic. High threat."

This time, Mira stepped forward.