Although Allen was observing the others' combat abilities, he didn't stop his own actions. Instead, he summoned a massive ring of fire from his wand, which gradually expanded from the three wizards' positions to fill the entire room.
The fox by his side was equally active, flicking her wand to send several bursts of green flame into the swarming beetles inside the room. Upon landing, the flames exploded violently, clearing a patch of space within the swarm.
However—it was useless.
Even with Allen's test attack, the only attack that had any effect was the one released by the wizard using acid. The beetles slowed slightly, while every other attack was entirely ignored. These little creatures were immune to poison, fire, and the acid barely did anything.
Though the flames crackled and hissed, it seemed only to warm the beetles up. Any real damage was nonexistent; if anything, the swarm became even more active after the attacks.
Allen frowned. He casually tossed some seeds near himself and waved his wand, summoning a torrent of water that surged toward the beetles. From the earlier explosion of fire by the fox, he knew the creatures would still be affected by physical force.
As expected, the massive water stream scattered the swarm and drenched the three wizards completely. Yet they didn't complain. Instead, they used the opportunity to dash out the room's door.
Of course, they weren't just running blindly. As they fled, their wands ignited different spells, this time unleashing sharp white light. Wherever the beams passed, the beetles exploded, leaving pools of green blood in their wake.
"Damn it—almost got us! These are the demon-hating beetles listed as extinct by the Ministry of Magic. If your attacks hadn't reminded us of their habits, we'd never have handled them!" The wizard who dashed out first complained as he plucked a few beetles clinging to him, even snagging a piece of flesh. Yet he didn't flinch—he casually popped one into his mouth, chewing it crunch, crunch.
Yes, into his mouth.
Not just him—the other two wizards followed suit. The slightly plump wizard in the red robe even smacked his lips, seemingly enjoying the beetle's taste.
"Luckily, we had studied the materials. When Boshi-kun escaped, he remembered these creatures' traits. Most magic can't harm them; only Muggle-style weapons work. Thankfully, we've dealt with similar spells before, which is why we managed to stop that wave of beetles." Another wizard, still catching his breath, glanced back at the room they'd just exited. The beetles were now devouring their fallen comrades' flesh. A few lingered near the doorway but couldn't get out—some force was holding them back.
"Don't worry. They can't get out. This door has magic specifically against them. We don't know what exactly, but it works. That wizard would never let them roam freely. It means the tomb will remain intact—these beetles leave no magical trap or mechanism untouched. Of course, don't even think about using them to break anything. They prefer us alive."
No one mentioned eliminating them. The earlier spells had barely weakened the swarm, reducing their numbers insignificantly. Cleaning them out would be a massive undertaking.
Given the treasure likely hidden in the tomb, everyone decided it was better to ignore the densely packed beetles behind them. Perhaps they would hibernate again when hungry.
Allen wasn't concerned either. Not only did he have several ways to bypass the swarm, but even if the path was blocked, he could easily create a way through.
Thus, each moved forward with their own intentions, ignoring the insect swarm that occupied the entire room.
The earlier incident had taught them caution. Even a sound could trigger mechanisms, so they remained silent, alert to every movement.
It seemed, however, that the tomb's owner hadn't invested in another massive trap. After walking along the giant stone passage for a while, the group encountered no further dangers. Instead, they admired the reliefs: the wizard's entire military career sculpted into wall carvings taller than giants, lining the wide corridor.
After verifying no traps were nearby, everyone pulled out items from their bags and rested briefly to regain energy. Walking constantly on edge was exhausting—the tomb was massive.
After a simple meal, discussion began. Without the map, everyone wandered aimlessly, achieving nothing.
"This method isn't working. The tomb is too big. Aside from the initial loot, we've got nothing. Wandering blindly might trigger something dangerous," someone complained.
"Exactly. This place is too dangerous. If anyone has an idea, speak up. If it works, you get a bigger share," another said.
"Yes, I agree. The tomb's huge. Whoever can help us find the main chamber sooner deserves extra reward," a third chimed in.
Tsk tsk. Half a day in, and they're already scheming?
Though the tomb was mentally taxing, there's no way these three knowledgeable, experienced wizards could collapse so quickly.
Only one possibility—they've formed an alliance.
They had teamed up to maximize their gains. No doubt they had discovered a method to the main tomb chamber and wanted an extra share in advance.
Interesting—they were already plotting infighting before even seeing the treasures.
As expected, freelance teams are unreliable. But Allen wasn't the leader, so he didn't bother interfering. He'd just watch the fox's plan unfold.