“Thanks, you two,” I said to the women, trying my best to appear less concerned than I actually was. I flashed a grin. “Don’t worry, Astrid. Belinda’s right. I’ll be fine. Hell, I’m a natural charmer. She won’t be able to resist.”

“Good luck, Jeremy,” Astrid said. Her tone almost seemed like she was saying goodbye. Did she really think I’d end up like the other Keepers? I shuddered at the thought. I had a future of incredible magic at my fingertips. I wasn’t going to let negative thoughts hold me back from achieving it.

I turned away from the two women, walked around the staircase, and found—as Belinda had said I would—a door behind it. It took a bit of force, but I managed to heave it open. When it creaked open, a warm, sulfurous smell rose up to meet me.

I was looking at a narrow stone stairwell leading straight downward into darkness.

“Here goes nothing, then,” I muttered and set off down the stairs.

The air seemed to buzz with energy, and the hairs all over my body stood on end. I could smell sulfur, and the air tingled on my tongue like static electricity.

I took a few steps down. Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind me. I pushed against it a few times but without much hope. It was impossible to open again.

I didn’t like having my exit route cut off, but what else could I do?

Without an option, I forged onward.

It was dark at first, but after a while, a dull red light began to permeate the scene. As I made my way down the stairs, an oppressive warmth surrounded me.

The stairway seemed to go down and down for an impossibly long time—dimensional magic again, I guessed. The further I descended, the hotter it got, and the brighter it got. Before long, my clothes were soaked with sweat, and my head throbbed from the intensity of the heat.

I stopped and shed my leather jacket, then my shirt, leaving them on the steps behind me before continuing down. At last, when I felt like I couldn’t go any further, the stairs ended abruptly.

A short corridor lay in front of me, turning sharply to the right. The red light and the baking heat were both blasting. From around the corner came an ominous bubbling sound, like a gigantic pot of stew simmering.

“End of the road, Jeremy,” I muttered to myself. “Time to see whether you’re as good of a charmer as you think you are.”

Chapter 8

I checked that my rifle’s safety was off and that the gun was set to Storm Sphere rounds. Then I checked that my mana pot was easily accessible on my belt, took a deep breath, then stepped around the corner.

The sight that met my eyes was mind-boggling, and terrifying.