420

```

When Shard once again saw the light ahead, he temporarily left the narrow, mud-covered corridor and entered a more spacious area inside the temple. This place was probably a library or something of the sort in the past, decaying bookshelves scattered amidst the mud on the ground.

The merman High Priest, clad in a red ritual robe, was fighting with the vice-chancellor of Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, Professor Sanchez. Despite being a Nine Rings sorcerer, the High Priest seemed to have his powers bolstered within the temple. Even so, he was still being completely overpowered by Professor Sanchez, whose victory was all but assured.

"Who are you?"

Just like the Church Ring Sorcerer at the entrance to the temple, Professor Sanchez also posed this question. But Shard still didn't speak and tried to bypass them to move forward.

Neither the red-robed High Priest nor the professor attempted to stop him, the professor even went so far as to warn: