In just five minutes, a thick, solid barrier had been erected around the island at the center of the lake, enclosing it completely—extending even underground.
The visible black mist no longer spread outward. Instead, it gathered entirely within the barrier's confines.
But as the mist tried to corrode the barrier, something strange happened—it was absorbed by the barrier's walls, which only made the barrier stronger.
As the one who set it up, Bell knew a barrier of this scale would normally require an enormous amount of magical energy to maintain. But with a major battle ahead, he wasn't about to waste his own mana on something like this. So, he made the surrounding energy—the residue of divine power and the monsters' hatred—the barrier's primary power source.
In this place, under these conditions, that energy was the perfect fuel. The beasts' malice and corrupted divinity, meant to erode the world outside, could just as easily be turned against them.
And best of all, it didn't cost Bell a single drop of his own mana. It ran entirely on the enemy's power.
Still, he considered the possibility that the monster might withhold that energy, cutting off the supply. So Bell added the powers of "Gluttony" and "Greed" to the inner layer of the barrier—ensuring that even if the creature tried to hold back, the barrier would forcibly draw that energy out to sustain itself.
As the old saying went: "No guns, no cannons? The enemy makes them for us."
Bell's barrier worked on that very principle—using the enemy's own strength to bind them. By the time it was fully in place, the creature inside had already lost control over its own territory.
"The walls… they're absorbing the black mist."
Bell glanced toward Ais, a hint of surprise in his eyes. She was sitting on the ground, watching the barrier's edge intently. He had already withdrawn the sensory link he'd given her, yet she could still see it.
'I see. Her eyes have adapted to perceive it… because she's gained awareness of that power itself?'
'Impressive. A true genius who rose through pure skill. Ordinary adventurer standards don't apply to her.'
Bell couldn't help but admire her talent. The "Sword Princess" really was terrifying in her potential. If she had a growth skill to match, she might even reach Level 6 within half a year.
"The barrier needs energy to stay active. My magic is limited, and maintaining something of this size is quite demanding. So I had to make some special adjustments."
That was a lie.
Bell could restore his mana at any moment, and Runes didn't consume much to begin with. The cost was negligible compared to his regeneration rate.
But in his previous life, Bell had suffered from a severe case of "firepower anxiety." In this one, it had evolved into "chronic over-caution"—practically a terminal condition. Even the slightest depletion of stamina or mana made him uneasy.
He always sought to minimize energy expenditure whenever possible, a habit that became especially severe before a fight.
So, whenever he could avoid using his own magic, he found other ways to handle the strain.
Once everything was in place, Bell lowered his hand and turned toward Ais.
"Let's go, Sword Princess."
"Alright."
Ais stood and followed closely behind him. Together, they crossed the stone bridge leading to the ruins' entrance.
The stench wafting from behind the stone gate hit her the moment they approached, forcing her to raise a hand over her nose.
"It reeks."
The stench was overwhelming.
Even when she tried to blow it away with wind, the foul odor clung stubbornly to her like maggots on bone—impossible to dispel.
Seeing Ais's futile effort, Bell spoke up.
"That stench is a fusion of malice and divine power. It's already begun to transform into hatred toward the world itself. Normally, it constantly corrodes everything around it, staining it with its own color—just like the forest outside. So no matter how much wind you use, it won't fade."
Then Bell added, almost in admiration,
"Still, you really are an exception, Sword Princess. Ordinary adventurers who encounter this kind of malice don't just smell it—they're infected by it. It seeps into their hearts, twisting their emotions until a new self, full of hatred, is born from within..."
"But you're unaffected. You only smell the stench. That's quite rare."
The compliment didn't make Ais feel any better. Still covering her nose, she muttered in frustration,
"It's disgusting."
"Well, considering it's the product of a monster fused with divine power, I'd say we're lucky that the stench is all we have to deal with."
Bell's gaze shifted to the massive stone gate before them.
Its lock bore the engraved image of the Moon Goddess, glowing faintly with divine authority—and even the power of the world itself seemed to be woven into the stone.
"So this is how Artemis sealed the monster..."
To completely imprison a creature like that, ritual and power alone wouldn't suffice. A divine authority had to be used as well.
Which meant the only way to open this gate was with Artemis's power.
Hmph. No wonder the beast tried to devour a god.
At last, Bell understood how this whole tragic situation had come to be.
From the spatial pocket, a divine bow materialized.
As the sacred weapon born alongside Artemis, it carried her power within it.
"Thud."
The stone door trembled faintly.
Sensing Artemis's power, the stone lock began to turn. Once it stopped, the gate slowly started to open.
The moment it did, the flesh hidden behind it began to stir.
Like sharks smelling blood, the writhing mass of flesh lunged forward, extending rapidly toward the entrance.
Ais immediately raised her sword, ready to strike, but Bell lifted his hand to stop her.
"Not yet. Save your strength for the real fight—the monster itself."
He swept a circle with his hand, and a massive rune took shape before him. As his magic flowed into it, the symbol glowed blue, then flared into a deep, burning crimson.
"Boom!"
A torrent of flames erupted from the rune, crashing into the onrushing mass of flesh.
In an instant, the entire passageway was filled with roaring fire.