Just as everyone was wondering, a soft light slowly rose from the crater. Within the light, a figure in an ancient robe with white hair appeared and disappeared. When the light faded, everyone could see clearly that it was an old man with a hunched back but exuding a sense of majesty, holding the rune scale in his hand.
"Outsiders, your courage in pursuing us this far is commendable." The old man's voice was deep and hoarse, as if it had traveled through countless ages, echoing in everyone's ears. Zhang Shi stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Senior, we have no intention of offending you, but this behemoth is rampaging and endangering the island. We hope that you will help us and tell us how to subdue this beast." The old man nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the tired yet resolute faces of the group, and slowly said, "This behemoth was born a thousand years ago by the lizardmen race to protect a secret treasure within the volcano. It was created by fusing forbidden magic with the power of the earth's core magma. Its power is connected to the volcano, inexhaustible, and ordinary methods cannot harm its essence."
Ge Dalong asked eagerly, "Then, senior, what's the deal with these runic scales? Why were the giant beast imprisoned after they flew towards the volcano's crater?" The old man gently stroked the scales, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes: "These scales are one of the keys to unlocking the volcano's secret treasure, and also the key to controlling the giant beast. A thousand years ago, the lizardmen were embroiled in a chaotic war over the treasure, causing the seal to loosen and the giant beast to gradually spiral out of control. As the last guardian of the lizardmen, I exhausted all my magical power to seal myself and the volcano here, waiting for a destined person to come with the scales and completely quell this disaster."
Zhao Feng frowned: "Senior, now that the scales are in your hands, how can we completely subdue the beast?" The old man smiled slightly, and with a flash of light in his hand, the scales transformed into three streams of light, which entered Zhang Shi, Zhao Feng, and Ge Dalong's bodies respectively: "These scales have already bestowed some of their power upon you. Next, you must work together to inject your own magic power into the sealing array eye of the volcano. Although this beast is strong, its lifeline has been injured by your repeated attacks, and it is currently in a weakened state. Your magic power will activate the ancient seal and imprison it once again."
The three exchanged glances, their eyes igniting with hope. Without hesitation, they walked to the edge of the crater and stood in the positions indicated by the old man. Zhang Shi took a deep breath, channeling his inner magic power. The pain in his right arm seemed to vanish, and his entire body surged forth, transforming into a silver sword aura that flowed into the array's core. Zhao Feng swung his battle axe, letting out a roar. The axe blade shone with golden light, carrying his immense power as it slammed heavily into the array's core, each swing causing the ground to tremble. Ge Dalong's hands danced, icy blue magic power pouring out like water. The surrounding temperature plummeted due to his magic power, merging with the power of Zhang Shi and Zhao Feng.
As the three continued to pour their magic into the crater, ancient runes lit up the ground around it, their light shooting straight into the sky. The behemoth sensed the resurgence of the sealing power and struggled and roared frantically, trying to break free. However, under the powerful seal, its resistance grew increasingly futile. Finally, a flash of intense light appeared, and the behemoth was slowly dragged into the depths of the volcano. The seal closed completely, and the raging magic subsided, leaving only silence.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing to the ground, their faces filled with the joy of surviving a calamity. The old man floated over, looking at them with satisfaction, and said, "Thank you, brave warriors from afar. This calamity has ended because of you. The treasure within this volcano, though extraordinary, has endured countless vicissitudes and has become fused with the seal, making it unsuitable to retrieve. However, your actions today have protected the peace of this region, and you will surely be blessed with great fortune in the future." Zhang Shi and the others rose and bowed to the old man again in gratitude.
After everyone had rested, they bid farewell to the old man and slowly descended the mountain path. The sea breeze was still there, but the pungent smell of sulfur was gone, and the sun shone warmly on them. They knew that although this thrilling adventure had ended, their story of upholding justice and defeating a powerful enemy would be passed down from generation to generation on this island. Back in the island village, the villagers cheered and welcomed their heroes home. Zhang Shi, Zhao Feng, and Ge Dalong gazed at this reborn land and secretly vowed that no matter what hardships lay ahead, they would protect it to the very end.
Back on the island, the soldiers had already decorated the island with lanterns and streamers, eagerly awaiting the heroes' return. Some alliance members ran ahead, waving homemade colorful flags and calling out the names of Zhang Shi, Zhao Feng, Ge Dalong, and others. Familiar faces stood at the harbor, their eyes filled with relief and gratitude. They personally presented the heroes with wreaths woven from fresh flowers, adorned with seashells symbolizing good fortune for the island.
A grand victory banquet was held on the island, with long wooden tables laden with a variety of delicacies. There were freshly caught fish, steamed until tender and juicy, as well as plump poultry roasted with local spices, and platters piled high with fresh fruits and vegetables. Wine was served freely, and everyone raised their glasses to toast the heroes, expressing their sincerest gratitude. During the banquet, the survivors spontaneously organized a song and dance performance; the cheerful music and lively dance moves immersed the entire island in joy.
Although the old man warned against taking the treasure again, Zhang Shi's curiosity was hard to suppress. After resting and recuperating for a period of time, he discussed with Zhao Feng and Ge Dalong and decided to embark on another journey to the ancient volcano. However, this time it was not for treasure hunting, but purely out of a thirst for knowledge. They brought with them more advanced equipment, as well as information about volcanic geology and magic arrays collected from ancient books in the village.
深入火山内部，他们发现了许多被巨兽肆虐掩盖的古老遗迹。墙壁上刻满了蜥蜴人曾经的生活场景、祭祀画面，还有一些神秘的魔法符文，这些符文与他们之前见过的截然不同，似乎蕴含着更深层次的魔力运用之法。三人如获至宝，花费大量时间临摹、研究，葛大龙凭借自己深厚的魔法造诣，逐渐解读出了部分符文的含义，掌握了一些新的魔法技巧，比如能够瞬间凝聚小型冰盾进行防御，或是操控水流形成更精细的攻击形态。
经历了与巨兽的生死之战，张石、赵峰和葛大龙彼此间的默契达到了新的高度。赵峰开始向张石请教敏捷战斗技巧，如何在战斗中快速变换身形、精准出招，张石则反过来学习赵峰那种一往无前的战斗气势培养方法，让自己在面对强敌时更加果敢。葛大龙为两人制定了专门的魔力训练计划，帮助他们更好地感知和运用魔力，经过一段时间的训练，张石的瞬影步施展起来更加流畅自如，速度更快，赵峰挥动战斧时也能附带魔力冲击，增强攻击力。
同时，跟随他们一同战斗的战士们也有了长足进步。在日常训练中，大家互相分享战斗经验，战士们学会了如何更好地配合魔法攻击，在面对魔法怪物时不再手忙脚乱。一些有魔法天赋的战士还得到了葛大龙的悉心教导，开始尝试施展简单的魔法，如点亮火把、凝聚水球等，团队的整体战斗力得到了显着提升。
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