Last Wizard King's SSS-Level Magic system in Modern World
Chapter 53: Into the Temple - Part 3

Chapter 53: 53: Into the Temple - Part 3

Liam adjusted his sweatshirt and rubbed his neck, still feeling a phantom weight where the collar had been.

The rush of magic flowing through his veins made him feel alive again, sharper and more alert. But this wasn’t the time to celebrate his minor victory. He needed a phone—badly.

His eyes darted across the lobby, scanning for a reception desk or any public phone booth. The lavish surroundings felt strange to him now, as though everything had shifted slightly.

The ornate chandeliers sparkled too brightly, and the polished floors seemed to reflect shadows that shouldn’t be there. Something about the air was heavier, like it pressed against his skin.

Pushing the strange feeling aside, Liam spotted a hallway to his left. It was dimly lit and empty, a contrast to the bustling lobby.

He assumed it led to staff areas and maybe a phone or at least some way to contact the outside world. Without hesitation, he strode into the corridor, ignoring the faint chill that ran down his spine.

As he walked, the hallway stretched unnaturally, the walls narrowing slightly and the lighting growing dimmer.

The air smelled faintly of ozone, a sharp tang that made his nostrils flare. Liam frowned but kept going, determined to find a way to communicate with the outside.

He passed several closed doors, each unmarked, and the sensation of wrongness only grew. The hotel’s polished and modern aesthetics seemed to melt away, replaced by something older and far less welcoming.

The walls were no longer smooth and painted but rough, textured with strange carvings that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly light.

"What the hell..."

Liam muttered under his breath, slowing his pace as he ran his fingers over one of the carvings. The symbols glowed faintly under his touch, and for a moment, he thought he could hear faint whispers, just out of reach. He pulled his hand back as if burned, shaking his head.

"Keep it together."

He told himself, pushing forward.

The hallway began to twist in strange ways, the floor sloping downward at an angle that seemed far steeper than it should have been.

Liam’s footsteps echoed oddly, as if the space around him was bending and distorting.

The air grew colder, and he shivered, wishing he’d grabbed a jacket.

Finally, he stopped in his tracks, realizing that he might have made a mistake. The door he’d passed just moments ago was no longer visible behind him. In fact, the hallway seemed endless now, stretching into darkness in both directions.

"Great. Just great."

He muttered, running a hand through his hair. He turned around, intending to retrace his steps, but as he did, a faint shimmer of light caught his eye up ahead.

It looked like a barrier, a translucent veil of energy that rippled faintly, almost like water. That should have told him that he was going the wrong way.

But Liam took it as a security measure and kept walking.

Liam hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to turn back. But there was no other path. The distorted space behind him was just as unfamiliar as what lay ahead. He clenched his fists, steeling himself, and took a cautious step forward.

The barrier shimmered more brightly as he approached, and he felt a pull, as though it were drawing him in. His magic surged in response, reacting instinctively to the presence of the unknown force.

He stopped just inches away, staring at the barrier.

"This can’t be good."

He muttered.

But it was too late to turn back.

The pull grew stronger, and before he could react, his body was drawn forward. The barrier enveloped him, its energy crackling against his skin.

It wasn’t painful, but it was overwhelming, like walking through a storm of raw power.

When Liam emerged on the other side, he gasped, his legs nearly buckling under him. He looked around and immediately realized he was somewhere entirely different.

The space was vast and cavernous, its walls lined with ancient, glowing runes. The floor beneath him was made of smooth, black stone that shimmered faintly, reflecting the eerie light of the runes.

Strange statues loomed in the shadows, their forms twisting in ways that made his head hurt to look at.

Liam’s heart pounded in his chest as he took a cautious step forward. The air here was heavier, almost suffocating, and the faint whispers he’d heard earlier were louder now, echoing around him in an unrecognizable language.

"Where am I?"

He whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of magic that filled the space.

He looked back, but the barrier was gone. There was no way to retrace his steps, no visible exit. The only path was forward, deeper into the strange, otherworldly chamber.

"Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?"

Liam muttered bitterly.

With no other choice, he pressed on, his senses on high alert. The further he walked, the more the space seemed to shift and warp around him. The statues appeared to move in his peripheral vision, and the runes on the walls pulsed in time with his heartbeat.

Despite the unease curling in his stomach, Liam couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of familiarity. Something about this place resonated with him, though he couldn’t quite place why.

As he rounded a corner, he spotted something up ahead: a large, ornate door carved with intricate patterns.

Unlike the rest of the chamber, the door seemed untouched by time, its surface gleaming as if freshly polished.

Liam hesitated, his instincts warring with his curiosity. The whispers grew louder as he approached, and his magic flared in warning. Whatever lay beyond that door was powerful—dangerous.

But Liam had come too far to turn back now. With a deep breath, he placed his hand on the door and pushed.

The door creaked open, revealing a blinding light that forced Liam to shield his eyes. As the light faded, he squinted and took a cautious step inside.

What he saw made his breath catch in his throat.

In the center of the room stood a pedestal, and resting atop it was a glowing artifact—undoubtedly the Sacred Relic he’d been sent to retrieve. But the room itself was alive with magic, the air crackling with energy so intense that Liam could feel it vibrating through his bones.

"Great. Now how am I supposed to get out of here alive?"

he muttered, his voice dry.

He stepped forward, knowing that whatever happened next, there was no turning back.

And just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, it happened - the system’s warning.

[User is advised to be careful. Probability of triggering a trap - 100%]