Master Of None

Chapter 2306: 2306. Growing Lava Lands

Walker and Ignus were both forced to fly lower while they traveled. It wasnʼt that they were unable to fly as high as they had or they were below of mana or anything of that sort. It was the dark clouds of smoke and the falling ash that was causing them more trouble.

Just the air itself was already heavier. The ash within it was making the air taste bitter and generally bad on Walkerʼs tongue. That was aside from the burning acrid smell of smoke going in to his nose. It proved that this air was not safe or good to be breathing at all.

While he could easily manipulate the manas around in to keep the ash and the smoke away from him, others would struggle to do so. That was where magic items like rune sewn cloth could come in though, it would be simple to make some cloth with a light purification rune sewn in.

It was something which the party had used before but would be even more valuable as time went on. For the moment, Walker could easily throw these sorts of things together without much thought. Especially since he had seen his little sister make them before. That was enough knowledge to be able to utilize some of the other crafting skills he had.

The main point though, was that he and Ignus could already sense the fire mana within the ground even though there was not any active lava flowing or magma pools right where they were.

With their better eyesight, it was easier to see the volcano and the red outlines proving that lava was flowing from it actively. They could also see the glow of larger magma pools from where they were. But by no means, should the soil be steaming and feel hot to the touch.

This meant that the water within the soil was being forced out. The dead plants around were just additional proof of an issue here. Even with the expansion of the world due to proper mana flows, this area had been lush and green. Also able to combat some of the heat from fire mana. It was why there were unique fire affinity herbs in this area that could be used for potions or for monsters to feed on.

”I can sense that the fire mana is much more potent here than what it should be. Ignus, we should expect that some underground caverns are now filled with magma too.” This was Walkerʼs best guess.

Since this was a nearby area to a volcano, it made a lot of sense that there would be caves. Places that lava or magma had once used to reach the surface. The caves would be left behind after it cooled or water flowed from the surface in to those cooling areas after the volcanic activity died down. It was just a natural part of this process.

What stood out from that though, was that these places might be picking back up in activity. Causing small volcanic eruptions slightly further away from the main volcano and causing new magma pools to form. Creating an entire underground flow of connected magma which monsters could also use to travel if they had the right resistances.

Thinking of the magma and lava flowing like water was somewhat hard to comprehend. Earth was not naturally something that could swim through. However, Walker recalled the underground rivers and the muddy areas underneath the marshlands. Monsters developed to swim through that, instead of the mix of earth and water, this was a mix of fire and earth. Similar, but also very different in principle.

Just as they were observing more, they saw a small hill of earth become dyed red as flame erupted from it and lava spilled out. The small spot quickly grew, proving that the theory of underground caverns filled with moving lava was true. The slight shake of the ground just added to whatever fear there would be from local villages as this kept happening.

”This is what we need to worry about. If that volcano is even more active within the month, how far will its magma spread.” Ignus took a step forward and felt that the fire mana was fairly uncontrolled. It was a natural disaster due to the sheer amount of fire mana and he couldnʼt just will it to halt. Doing so would cause much more in terms of a disaster.

Walker had buffed himself and Ignus since he knew that they would need it if they were going to encounter any of the risky situations he had seen when he first came to such a place. The fact that the ground was even more unstable because of the unseen activity was just another reason for him to rely on the senses and buffs he had for protection.

”I can feel that there is more going on too. Thereʼs a driving force that is pushing the magma through the caves to create these lava pools. The volcano was partially cooled when you were here. Do you think that could be it?”

Nature was nature. It changes as time goes on. That was a fact that Walker could rely on here. And when it came to volcanos, he knew that they would not erupt forever and would go dormant or even cease forever.

Since this volcano had been somewhat active the last time he was present, he knew that it was just the consistent state of things. Right now, it appeared there was a growth within that state causing the volcano to erupt more radically. If this was just because of the mana, then there could be a chance that this was just the progression of nature in ancient times that had been allowed to continue.

However, Walker was thinking there was another reason. ”You believe that the cooled rock is too thick in parts of the volcano causing the magma to be pushed away from the top.” Ignus looked toward the volcano while he grasped what Walker was thinking.

He was also questioning the theory because he could see that lava flowed from the volcano already. ”Just because there is lava flowing and more smoke doesnʼt mean that it isnʼt blocked in some way. Donʼt volcanoes send up large chunks of molten rock in to the air when they are truly erupting? Why isnʼt the volcano able to do that right now?

Shouldnʼt there be a plume of smoke and ash and then a larger flow of lava too? I read about it and heard about it from those who studied them.”

Walker was knowledgeable. He took the time to study these things. So, his theories were not just random ideas. Ignus clearly understood this was also more than just a hand trying to catch light, it was an idea with facts to back it up. One that was becoming more plausible the more he thought about it too.

Another crackling echoed through the lava lands as a large burst of steam erupted from nearby. The gray water which also spouted in to the air was quickly blocked by Walker. He manipulated the water mana and realized some of the caves must have been filled with water over the years of inactivity.

These random guesses were yet another danger. But this water might be useful.

ʼVolcanic water

While most can not consume this, the ground can. If cooled properly and mixed with crushed earth and light elemental mana crystals, it can become an amazing liquid fertilizer.

It is high in unique earth manas due to the ashes dissolved within. While this is what makes it toxic, these unique pieces of earth mana can only be formed when the specific nutrients is also present. Allowing for a revitalization of certain tired farm fields…ʼ

It could be an unexpected boon that Walker could come back with. He had the water manipulation and earth manipulation skills. He easily captured this volcanic water and stored it away within his high spatial storage while explaining his reasoning.

Meanwhile, Rise had already contacted Ventus but was also struggling with the clear evidence of destruction she already found. Too much ash had fallen in certain places. Too much heat. Too little light already.

She had come here to halt this sort of damage to the world they knew and she had not been fast enough. Or at least that was what she had been telling herself as she looked at the lingering clouds of ash.

Her focus was going while she began moving above the clouds of ash mixing with normal clouds. She had to gather light mana and break through them. She could not disperse them, but if she utilized her full force as a light dominator regain, she could do much more.

Her time studying the churchʼs purification magic had only improved her own.

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