Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

Chen Lin took the time to adjust his breathing while observing Rod and Kyle.

Rhodes' explosive power is terrifying; the power of his Molten Core Explosion Fist far exceeds that of ordinary level four apprentice spells.

Kyle's Shadow Silk Cut, after gaining the spatial sharpness property, has greatly increased its penetrating power, and its timing is precise.

Although the two have very different personalities, they are both highly skilled in combat.

After resting for a while, the three of them continued to rendezvous with Evan, guided by the communication talisman.

This time, Kyle scouted ahead, using shadow jumps to avoid dangerous areas, while Rhodes and Chen Lin provided support from the center.

The dangers of the Lava Heart are ever-present.

They were attacked by swarms of fire bats—bats with wingspans of nearly a meter, engulfed in flames, extremely fast, and spewing high-temperature fireballs.

Rhodes was responsible for bombarding the main force to disperse the large group, while Chen Lin used vines to precisely strangle any stragglers and those attempting to ambush, and Kyle cleared out the few hiding in the shadows ready to launch a sneak attack.

The teamwork wasn't perfect, but it was very efficient.

They also encountered a sudden eruption of sulfurous steam, and the scorching heat and highly toxic gases nearly engulfed the three of them.

Fortunately, Elena's star omen transmitted a very faint warning signal through the communication talisman, allowing the three to take precautions in advance and escape unscathed.

This also made Chen Lin realize the importance of those with prophetic abilities in the team.

Finally, after traversing a rugged hilly area formed by solidified lava, they spotted Evan.

Evan stood on a relatively high black rock platform, his blue and white robes fluttering slightly in the heat.

He was wielding his short staff of wind, manipulating several condensed cyan wind blades, as he fought against the three lava hounds below, which were slightly smaller but more agile.

These hounds resemble hyenas, their bodies made entirely of dark red rock, with lava flowing through their crevices at incredible speeds, spewing out thin tongues of lava fire.

Although Evan's wind blades were sharp, the hounds' rocky bodies offered strong defense, and they outnumbered him. He could only rely on his agile movements to keep moving around, which made him somewhat passive.

"Haha, Evan! Got chased by a dog?"

Rod laughed loudly and charged forward without hesitation.

"Lava Hounds? Leave them to me!"

His right fist ignited with white light again, but this time he didn't charge it up to the maximum. Instead, he fired several smaller lava bombs like a machine gun!

Boom boom boom!

The bomb exploded among the pack of hounds. Although it didn't kill them instantly, the powerful impact and flames sent them sprawling and their formation in disarray!

"Bloodthirsty Poison Ivy - Entangling!"

Chen Lin made a tacit move, and the vines precisely wrapped around the hind legs of the two hunting dogs that were stunned by the explosion!

Toxin injection!

"Shadow Strike - Throat Slit!"

Kyle's figure appeared like a ghost behind the last hound that tried to pounce on Evan, a dim shadow silently slicing across its rocky neck!

Click!

The rocks shattered! The hound's head rolled off!

With the pressure on Evan reduced, a gust of wind swept out and strangled the other two hounds that were bound by vines and whose movements were stiff!

[Successfully killed 3 Lava Hounds (Level 4, Early Stage), earning 3 points.]

The battle was over, and Evan looked at the three who had reunited, a gentle smile on his face:

"Looks like everyone's safe and sound. Rod, Chen Lin, Kyle, well done."

"No problem!" Rhodes patted the lava armor on his chest.

Kyle simply nodded slightly.

Chen Lin then looked at Evan: "Where are Senior Sophia and Senior Elena?"

"Their points of resonance have converged, and they should have already found common ground."

Elena sent a message saying they were moving towards the Obsidian Gate.

That's one of the entrances to the second level, the "Shadow Corridor," about fifteen kilometers away.

Evan pointed southeast, "Let's hurry over there and meet up."

With a clear goal and more teammates, the journey ahead became much smoother.

The four had clearly defined roles:

Kyle acts as a shadow scout, exploring ahead of time, warning of dangers, marking safe paths, and clearing out small lava creatures.

Rhodes serves as the vanguard, responsible for breaking through enemy groups head-on and clearing large obstacles, such as fragile rock pillars blocking the way.

Chen Lin is responsible for crowd control and support. His vines restrict and divide enemies over a wide area, his neurotoxins paralyze high-threat targets, and his psionic seeds disrupt the enemy's formation.

Evan is in charge of command and support, using Wind Blade to precisely eliminate any stragglers or key nodes, and Wind Binding to restrict powerful targets. At the same time, he uses Wind Sensing to assist Kyle in reconnaissance.

They encountered a group of "lava jetters" hidden in the lava pool—toad-like creatures that could spew high-pressure columns of lava.

With Kyle's advance warning, Rhodes drew fire from the front, Chen Lin used vines to entangle him and restrict his jumping and turning, and Evan used wind blades to precisely target his vulnerable jet nozzles, easily taking him down.

They also passed through an area filled with "scorching traps"—the seemingly flat ground would suddenly collapse when stepped on, revealing a pool of molten lava below.

Kyle's shadow sense and Evan's wind sense detected the energy anomaly in advance, and the group carefully detoured around it.

After a long day of trekking and several minor battles, the four finally arrived at their destination—the Obsidian Gate.

This is a colossal archway, tens of meters high, made of pure black obsidian, embedded in the wall of an extinct volcano. Dark red lava patterns flow across the surface of the archway, emanating intense spatial fluctuations. In front of the archway is a relatively open platform formed from cooled lava.

On the platform, Sophia stood like a rock, her body covered by a layer of gray-white rock armor, exuding a calm and heavy aura.

Elena stood behind her, her silver hair swaying slightly in the heat, surrounded by a faint starlight that formed a weak but effective purifying field, dispelling the surrounding toxic gases and mental heat.

At their feet lay the remains of several lava hounds and a larger lava beast.

"Evan! Chen Lin! Rod! Kyle!"

When Sofia saw them, a slight smile appeared on her resolute face.

"Haha, Stone Girl, Silver Star, it's good that you're alright!"

Rod shouted in a loud and boisterous manner.

Evan quickly stepped forward: "Thank you for your hard work, Sophia, Elena. How is it?"

"The entrance is stable, but we need to wait for a gap in the spatial tides to pass through safely, which will take about an hour."

Elena's voice was ethereal, and the nebula crystal in her hand shimmered slightly.

"In addition, we found something while clearing out the guards."

She pointed to a corner of the platform, where some dark red, crystal-like fragments were piled up, along with a few scales and claws that emitted faint fire elemental fluctuations.

"A fragment of the Lava Beast's core?"

Rod's eyes lit up, and he grabbed a piece.

"Excellent material! It contains pure fire elemental energy, making it a top-tier material for crafting fire-based magical artifacts or refining fire resistance potions!"

"And the complete carapace scales of the Lava Lurker,"

Sophia kicked a piece of dark red scale armor, about the size of a tabletop, at her feet.

"Its defense is amazing, with excellent resistance to both physical and fire attacks."

Chen Lin also went forward to check.

Besides these, there are some scattered, ruby-like fire spirit crystals, and several strange, fiery red, coral-like plants growing in the crevices of extremely hot rocks—"Molten Coral".

These corals exude a rich fire element and life force, making them rare materials for crafting highly effective fire-resistant agents or for refining fire-affinity compounds.

"According to the Green Peak Alliance's distribution principles, whoever makes the most kills or contributes the most will be given priority, and the rest will be distributed as needed or reserved by the team."

Evan said,

"Rhodes, you, Chen Lin, and Kyle killed that Lava Lurker together. The three of you will share the core fragments."

The scales belonged to Sofia, who bore the brunt of the main attack.

Fire Spirit Crystals and Molten Coral are to be shared equally among everyone as basic resource reserves.

No objections, right?

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Chen Lin received two high-quality Fire Spirit Crystals, a well-preserved Molten Coral, and a small fragment of the Lava Lurker's core.

Although not particularly rare, they are all special products of the Lava Heart and are hard to find outside the region.

More importantly, through the battles and adjustments along the way, the team became more coordinated, and Chen Lin also gained more insights into fighting using the Seed of Origin.

He became familiar with the combat rhythm and symbiotic use in extreme high-temperature and toxic gas environments, especially the effects of Thorn Swiftness and Spiritual Pivot Seed in actual combat.

The body's resistance to high temperatures and fire-type energy has improved, and the mental sea has also been strengthened in resisting the mental heat of the environment. The personal score has also reached 17 points.

Just as everyone was taking a short rest and waiting for the gap in the spatial tides, a sudden change occurred!

Rumble—!!!

The entire obsidian platform trembled violently! It was as if some colossal creature was awakening from the earth! The lava river at the edge of the platform churned and boiled, churning up towering crimson waves!

"Warning!" Evan shouted sharply, and his Wind Staff instantly pointed at the source of the vibration!

Suddenly, the seemingly solidified "ground" covered with a thick layer of volcanic ash in front of the platform bulged upwards and cracked open! Countless huge black rocks, flowing with molten lava, flew everywhere!

An indescribably terrifying figure slowly rose from the boiling lava river!

It was a colossal beast, ten meters tall, composed of countless burning lava boulders and flowing magma!

It has no clear head. At the center of its torso is a huge core that emits a blinding white light like a furnace. Around the core are several thick arms made of solidified magma, each holding a giant hammer or spear made of pure lava!

His lower body was completely immersed in the lava river, as if he had become one with the entire river!

A violent, scorching, and destructive pressure descended as if it were a tangible force!

[WARNING! Extremely high energy reaction detected!]

Target: Lava Behemoth (Level 4 Peak)

[Characteristics: Extremely high physical defense (Lava Armor), immune to fire, and an intensely hot energy core (weakness?).]

Attack methods: Lava slam, magma eruption, and ground-shattering tremors. Threat level: Lethal!

The chilling notification from the Seed of Origin exploded in Chen Lin's mind! Peak Level 4! Far surpassing the previous Lava Lurker!

"Damn it! It's a lava behemoth! The huge guy guarding the entrance!"

Rhodes's expression changed, but a fierce fighting spirit instantly ignited in his eyes.

"Level 4 peak? Perfect for warming up!"

"Don't let your guard down!"

Evan's voice was solemn.

"Sophia, frontal defense."

Rhodes, Kyle, look for an opportunity to attack the core.

Chen Lin, try to restrict its actions as much as possible.

Elena, activate the purification field to its maximum to suppress its lava eruption!

The instructions were clear and swift!

Sophia let out a low roar, and the rock armor on her body instantly thickened and spread, forming a fortress in front of everyone!

A bright gray-white light shone forth, exuding an aura of indestructibility!

The lava behemoth seemed to be enraged by the provocation of these tiny creatures, and it let out a deafening roar, like a volcanic eruption!

The enormous lava arm was raised high, and a giant lava hammer burning with incandescent flames slammed down on Sofia with a piercing shriek that tore through the air!

"Earth's Barrier - Fortified City!"

Sofia's feet seemed to be rooted to the ground as she crossed her arms to block!

The runes on the rock armor were flashing wildly!

boom--!!!

Like a meteorite impact! A terrifying shockwave spread instantly! The platform's surface cracked inch by inch!

Sofia groaned, large spiderweb-like cracks appearing on her rock armor. Her body was slammed backward several meters by the immense force, her feet carving deep furrows in the rock! But she withstood this devastating blow!

"A perfect opportunity!" Rhodes' eyes flashed with a sharp light! Taking advantage of the brief moment of stiffness after the giant beast's attack, his entire body erupted with crimson battle aura like a volcano!

"Molten Core Fist - Ultimate Energy Accumulation!"

His right fist gleamed with an unprecedentedly dazzling light, as if he were holding a miniature sun!

With a burst of power from his feet, his body shot out like a cannonball, aiming straight for the blazing white furnace core in the center of the giant beast's torso!

Almost simultaneously, Kyle's figure vanished from the spot like a ghost, and the next moment, he appeared at the joint of a lava arm on the back of the behemoth!

The shadow threads, carrying a cold, sharp edge, silently pierced the crevice where lava flowed!

However, the lava behemoth reacted incredibly quickly!

It seemed to sense the threat to the core, and its other free lava arm swept across, crashing into Rhodes in mid-air like a giant lava pillar!

At the same time, its lower body, which was submerged in lava, stomped down suddenly!

"Earthquake-like tremor!"

Boom!

Centered on the behemoth, terrifying shockwaves spread out in a ring!

The platform's surface undulated and cracked like waves! Countless fragments of rock and lava were hurled into the air!

Rhodes was in mid-air with nowhere to grab onto, and he was about to be hit by the sweeping lava arm!

"Wind Binding!"

Aiven's Wind Staff, quick!

Several condensed cyan wind ropes appeared out of thin air, coiling around the sweeping lava giant arm like serpents. Although they were instantly broken in half by the immense force, they successfully deflected its trajectory slightly!

boom!

The giant lava arm swept past Rhodes' body, and the scorching shockwave sent him flying!

Rhodes twisted his body forcefully in mid-air, and his molten core punch, which was ready to be unleashed, slammed hard into the side of the behemoth!

boom! ! !

A blinding white light and a burst of violent fire energy exploded!

Large sections of the behemoth's lava armor on its waist were blasted to pieces, revealing the flowing crimson magma inside!

But we're still some distance from the core!

Kyle's Shadow Slash also hit the joint, cutting a deep gash that spewed out lava, but it failed to completely sever the arm!

The behemoth, in pain, let out an even more ferocious roar!

The furnace core at the center of its body shone brightly, and suddenly opened up like the muzzle of a cannon!

"Lava eruption!"

A torrent of viscous, scorching white magma, hot enough to melt adamantite, shot out like a high-pressure water jet, aimed directly at Rhodes, who had just landed, and Sophia, who was adjusting her posture!

The scope is extremely wide, and there is no way to avoid it!

"Starry Protection - Wall of Purification!"

Elena gave a sharp shout, and the Nebula Crystal in her hand burst forth with a dazzling silver-blue light!

A semi-transparent wall of light, made of pure star power, instantly rose up in front of Rhodes and Sophia!

*Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!*

The blazing torrent of white lava crashed violently against the wall of starlight!

It emitted a piercing burning sound!

The light wall fluctuated violently, and the silver-blue light clashed fiercely with the blazing white magma, the purifying power frantically eliminating the raging fire element in the magma!

The wall of light was thinning at a visible rate and was on the verge of collapse!

"Now! Chen Lin!" Aiven roared.

Chen Lin was already poised to act!

In the instant the behemoth spewed lava, its core exposed, and it had no time to spare, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes!

"Bloodthirsty Poison Ivy - Thorn Strangler!"

He slammed his right arm into the ground, unleashing the full power of the Seed of Origin!

The ferocious will of the Bloodthirsty Vine, combined with the tenacious nature of the Golden Thorn, erupted!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several giant vines, several times thicker than before, entwined with dark gold and jade patterns and covered with metallic spikes, ripped through the scorching rocky ground like chains extending from hell.

In an instant, it wrapped around the lava behemoth's two main lower limbs that supported its body and one of its waving arms!

The pale purple nerve-paralyzing toxin on the vines is being injected frantically!

At the same time, metal spikes pierced the cracks in the lava armor, attempting to hold them in place!

"roar--!"

The lava behemoth let out a painful roar!

His lower limbs were suddenly and forcefully restrained, causing him to freeze abruptly.

The body swayed noticeably.

The movement of the entangled arm also froze instantly.

Its momentum of spewing magma also paused for a moment!

Elena's pressure eased dramatically, and the Star Wall of Light shone brightly, temporarily stabilizing the situation!

"Well done!"

Rod shouted, "Seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

He wasn't injured when he was thrown back, and now he's gathering his raging fire fighting spirit once again!

"It's not over yet! Shadow of Thorns - Binding!"

Chen Lin shouted in a low voice!

A flash of light appeared in the dimensional bag, and five "Thorn Shadow" puppets, resembling small vine snakes, shot out instantly!

They moved incredibly fast, climbing up the giant vines that Chen Lin had summoned, and precisely burrowing into the lava cracks in the giant beast's lower limb joints and the wounds on Kyle's arm that he had previously cut open!

"Activation - Injection of Neuroparalyzing Toxin!"

The tiny poison sacs within the Thorn Shadow's body ruptured instantly, and the highly concentrated neurotoxin was injected directly into the depths of the behemoth's energy channels!

"hiss--!"

The lava behemoth's movements suddenly froze!

The struggling force of the lower limbs has clearly weakened!

The arms, entangled in vines, were almost completely frozen in place!

"Rhodes! Core!" Evan's voice was tinged with urgency.

He knew that Chen Lin's restraints and the effects of the poison could not last.

"Leave it to me!!!"

Rhodes' eyes turned bloodshot, and his fiery fighting spirit surged wildly into his right fist!

The rocks beneath his feet melted from the intense heat!

He charged across the ground like a raging bull, each step cracking the earth!

The target was the core of the blazing white furnace, which was now more clearly exposed as the behemoth's body swayed!

"Molten Core Fist - Overload!!!"

The light emanating from his right fist was so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it!

With an unstoppable, all-consuming momentum, it slammed into the pulsating white core!

The lava behemoth seemed to sense a deadly threat. It swung its remaining two arms wildly, trying to intercept Rhodes, while its core glowed brightly, attempting to spew lava again!

"The Shackles of the Wind!"

Evan wielded his Wind Staff to its fullest extent!

Countless condensed wind ropes wrapped around the two arms. Although they snapped instantly, they successfully slowed down their movements!

"Shadow Strike - Flow Interruption!"

Kyle's figure appeared like a ghost above the core of the behemoth, and several shadow threads precisely cut at the nodes of energy transmission!

Although it failed to sever the energy, it successfully disrupted the instantaneous burst of core energy!

Sofia, enduring the aftershocks, slammed her fist into the ground: "Rock Spike!"

Several sharp stone pillars pierced out from under the giant beast's feet. Although they were easily melted by the lava, they still disrupted its balance!

In the blink of an eye!

Rhodes' fist, imbued with all his strength and will, slammed fiercely into the blazing white core of the furnace!

boom!!!

An indescribably horrific explosion has occurred!

A blinding white light instantly engulfed everything!

The raging fire energy, mixed with shattered lava fragments, swept outwards like a tsunami!

The shockwave violently blew everyone off the platform!

In the instant before the explosion, Chen Lin activated the "Shadow Vine Protection" mode of the Shadow Thorn Ring and fully activated the Thorn Armor.

A layer of dark gray energy thorns that distorted light instantly covered his entire body, and at the same time he commanded the vines to pull himself behind Sophia's rocky barrier!

Even so, he felt as if he had been struck by a giant hammer, his blood and qi churning, and his Shadow Vine Armor fluctuating violently!

The explosion lasted for several seconds before gradually subsiding.

The smoke and flames dissipated.

The massive body of the lava behemoth had vanished, leaving only a huge crater and flowing, slowly cooling lava.

At the center of the pit, there remained a basketball-sized, semi-solidified dark red crystal radiating astonishing heat and fire elemental fluctuations—the core remains of the lava behemoth.

Rod knelt on one knee at the edge of the pit, his right fist charred and smoldering, panting heavily, but his eyes were filled with the ecstatic joy of victory.

The others also stood up from behind their cover, looking disheveled but unharmed.

Sophia's rock armor was riddled with cracks, Evan's face was pale, Kyle was breathing heavily in the shadows, Elena's nebula crystal was dimming, and Chen Lin felt a huge drain on his mental energy, with waves of weakness coming from the vines on his right arm.

The recorder notifies you: [Successfully defeated the Lava Behemoth (Level 4 Peak), earning 100 points. Teamwork kill, points distributed according to contribution. You have earned 20 points.]

"Haha! That felt great!"

Rhodes stood up, looked at the core remains at the bottom of the pit, and grinned.

Evan walked to the edge of the pit, looked at the huge crystal, and a look of solemnity flashed in his eyes:

"The lava core... contains incredibly violent energy, but it's also a rare material. Keep it, Rhodes, this is your spoils."

Rod didn't stand on ceremony and put it away in a specially made high-temperature resistant container.

"The spatial tidal gap has arrived!"

Elena's voice rang out as she pointed to the obsidian gate.

At the center of the enormous archway, the swirling, light-devouring vortex had become relatively calm, emitting stable spatial fluctuations.

"Let's go! Get out of this godforsaken place!"

Rod walked towards the gate first.

The crowd followed closely behind.

Standing before the massive obsidian gate, feeling the spatial fluctuations emanating from it that led to darkness and the unknown, Chen Lin took a deep breath of the scorching air.

The first battle at Lava Heart was extremely dangerous, but also yielded significant results.

Points, materials, and more importantly, the initial team cohesion.

He took one last look at the burning crimson inferno behind him and clenched his fist.

The shadowy corridor is just ahead.

Evan gave a low shout: "Let's go!"

Seven figures rushed into the swirling nebula vortex without hesitation!

In an instant, the world spun and space shifted!

The burning sensation, the sulfurous smell, and the glaring red light vanished instantly.

Instead, there was a bone-chilling cold, a thick darkness, and a deathly stillness that seemed to penetrate the soul.

The second level of the Tower of Trials of All Things - The Shadowy Corridor!