The Copper Lamp Monster did not speak, nor could it speak.
In an instant, it took shape and simultaneously charged towards Colin!
Boom!
Beneath a dim crimson glow, a speck of orange-yellow flame suddenly ignited from Colin's hand, swelling with the wind, and in the blink of an eye transformed into a giant orange-yellow Fireball that flew towards the Copper Lamp Monster.
Bang!
The Copper Lamp Monster seemed to lack intelligence; it neither dodged nor avoided the collision and slammed directly into the scorching Fireball, resulting in an explosive impact.
The resultant brightness illuminated the entire crimson corridor!
Colin narrowed his eyes, vigilantly watching the aftermath of the explosion.
Yet even after the remnants of the flame had vanished and the dust stirred up by the shockwave had settled, the Copper Lamp Monster was nowhere to be seen.
Colin furrowed his brow and took a step forward.
Several broken shards of dark copper lay silently at the epicenter of the Fireball explosion, and perhaps due to the high temperature, they bore traces of melting.
However, the melting was minor, and the pieces were still recognizable; Colin realized at a glance that these were the remnants of the very monster they had just encountered—the remains of a lamp's oil reservoir.
"The Copper Lamp Monster... is it dead just like that?" Colin muttered in disbelief.
The assault by the Copper Lamp Monster was swift and unexpected, and not knowing the extent of its power, Colin naturally used all his might.
However, despite that, the Copper Lamp Monster... seemed far too fragile.
"Great giant, you're so powerful!" The little Elf Nasi praised as she looked at the fragments.
"Nasi, do you know this place... Hmm?"
Colin diverted his gaze, about to inquire further from the little Elf, when out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly spotted something noteworthy.
It was several dark copper-colored shards, not far from the slightly melted lamp pieces in front of him.
These were not melted, their shape and surface clearly intact, and so Colin recognized at a glance—
They were also fragments of a copper oil lamp... Moreover, their jagged edges were smooth and clean, without a speck of dust accumulation.
A glance was enough to tell, they had only broken recently.
"Another visitor has been here!" It was an almost instantaneous reaction for Colin.
If the oil lamp monster attacked every person who arrived in this place, leaving behind fragments after being destroyed,
then, without a doubt, these shards, which had shattered no more than a few days ago, indicated that someone had arrived here before him, just like him, and had also killed the attacking oil lamp monster.
As to who this person was... Colin had a vague answer in his mind.
He subconsciously stroked the petals he kept in the pouch at his waist, as he surveyed the surroundings, searching carefully.
Moments later, Colin withdrew his gaze and walked towards the shards of the copper lamp.
Nearby, he found no traces similar to the white flowers he had discovered earlier, but there were other traces—
Several withered vines, now completely turned a dark crimson color.
Unlike the white flower, it was difficult to infer what kind of witchcraft or natural magic had been used... However, the appearance of these tangled and bound vine remnants easily led one to think of a classic control witchcraft—for instance, the entwining of vines.
Like the white flower, this was also a plant-based witchcraft...
Seeing this, Colin was almost certain in his heart.
The person who arrived here before him, destroying a Copper Lamp Monster, was very likely the same individual who left the white flowers on the plains above!
At the same time, Colin had a subtle awareness of another matter.
He subconsciously lifted his right foot, shifting his gaze to the sole of his boot.
The vines in front of him were all completely dyed a dark crimson, visibly heavier in their taint compared to the contamination seen on the white flower.
If viewed in isolation, this could only suggest that the person had arrived here first and later left the white flowers outside... Such logic also fit.
But Colin's instinct told him that, like him, this person was heading towards the mountain, and it was after leaving the white flowers that they came here!
If that were the case, it could only mean that the contamination here was much more intense than outside!
Indeed, as Colin's right foot slowly lifted, a fresh red immediately caught his eye.
Colin's expression grew grave as he lifted his left foot.
On the thick, grey sole of his left boot, like the right, a fresh red stain appeared.
After doing so, Colin wasn't finished; he took the white flower from his waist.
The white flower, which still had some life left, was now completely turned a dark crimson color!
'Just hours before, I had checked the soles of my boots and found nothing unusual; at that time, nearly half of the white flower was still white.'
'The contamination here... Indeed, it's more severe than outside.'
Colin couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart; although he showed no signs of contamination now, how long he could withstand it remained unknown.
The unknown... was always the most frightening.
Like a sword suspended overhead, not knowing when it might fall, it caused an inevitable sense of agitation.
'Since that person is most likely ahead...'
Colin slowly lifted his head, his eyes fixed on the corridor bend ahead, which appeared mysteriously enigmatic under the faint crimson light, hesitating whether to follow...
"Nasi, do you know what this place is?"
After a moment, Colin decided to gather more information before proceeding, turning his head to ask Nasi.
"This place..." Nasi furrowed her brow, "Little Nasi doesn't know the name of this place."
'I don't know what it's called...'
Colin paused for a moment, then asked another two questions: