Chapter 1032 The Abyssal Flame Dragon <TOC> Chapter 1034 Odeklaes
Translator: SumTLMan
Upon receiving the dragon scale, an involuntary tremor ran through Odeklaes.
Angel could vaguely perceive that the flames enveloping Odeklaes dimmed a fraction.
He was sure that the white dragon scale must have come from an Abyssal Frost Dragon. A frost dragon is naturally the bane of a flame dragon, and it’s likely that holding this scale inflicted a certain amount of harm on Odeklaes himself.
Yet, he took the scale without a hint of hesitation and, moreover, with relish.
As Odeklaes studied the scale, Angel finally got a good look at the vivid mural on the hall wall directly ahead.
The entire ice crystal hall was almost entirely transparent blue-white, with only the mural displaying an array of vibrant colors, as if it weren’t a creation of any abyssal creature.
The mural depicted a dragon, as white as jade, of the Abyss.
Having previously seen Fafnir in her true form, and now with Odeklaes in front of him, both the wind dragon and fire dragon appeared ferocious and terrifying. However, the Abyss Dragon on the mural was as pure white as a crystal, glistening translucently, even its typically grotesque horns appeared irresistibly beautiful.
In the mural, the Abyss Dragon’s scales were also white and transparent, identical to the frozen dragon scale from before.
Could this be the depiction of the Abyssal Frost Dragon known as Bina Jonis?
Judging from the way Odeklaes had looked longingly at the mural, this might indeed be the case.
As Angel continued observing the mural, from the stylistic perspective, the true form of this Abyss Dragon was depicted in a mainstream realistic style. This might have involved some subjective idealization, but at the very least, it seemed quite lifelike.
However, the background of the mural——
The Abyss Dragon spanned both night and day; the daytime was golden like flowing sand, and the night sparkled like clusters of fireflies.
This transition from day to night clearly bore abstract characteristics. Especially the night scene, where the stars were swirled like a whirlpool, assailing the senses and luring one into a trance.
The combination of different painting styles didn’t feel conflicting at all. It was indulgently liberal, brought to life in a single stroke, as if the painter’s heart already held specks of ink, just waiting for the brush tip to blend them out.
The painting wasn’t incredibly exquisite, and the color application in many places was fairly elementary. However, the painter’s emotions were deeply embedded within the artwork. While the appearance of a painting is important, the underlying context is the soul of the artwork. This painting, although not technically superior, at least had a soul.
However, what Angel held in higher regard was what the mural conveyed beyond its physical form: “This artwork distinctly deviates from the abyssal style. Certain techniques used seem akin to those common to human artists.”
As an aristocrat by birth, Angel’s ability to appraise art considerably outstripped his talent for creating it.
Upon identifying human techniques within the mural, a seed of doubt sprouted in Angel’s mind. Could this work have not been painted by the Abyss Dragon? Yet, that didn’t seem right. For a human to encapsulate such potent feelings towards the “Abyss Dragon” within a painting is no mean feat. Moreover, the emotions in this mural are not only strong but complex, with subtle traces of affection interlaced within.
Could it be possible that a human had taken up the mantle of a dragon rider?
Even if that were the case, the aesthetic preferences of an Abyss Dragon would vastly diverge from those of humans.
Judging from Odeklaes’s fond gaze at the mural earlier, Angel speculated that perhaps the dragon had created the painting. The presence of human techniques might be due to the dragon learning from humans at some point?
As Angel was lost in his thoughts, Odeklaes unexpectedly exhaled a draconic breath.
The terrifying flames danced in the air.
Startled, Angel thought that his usefulness had been exhausted in Odeklaes’s eyes and that the dragon was preparing to burn him alive. However, these flames did not assault Angel. Instead, they gradually converged into a diminutive fireball.
Under Odeklaes’s control, the flame slowly faded from a fiery red to a purplish hue, and eventually transformed into a faint icy blue.
The surrounding temperature plummeted abruptly. This was not a flame of searing heat but an icy blaze capable of freezing everything in its path.
The icy flame wafted in the air for a moment, seemingly absorbing the frosty aura around it, which deepened its ethereal glow. It then slowly infused itself into the icy chunk that previously encased the dragon scale.
Under the corrosion of the icy flame, the chunk gradually altered its state, liquefying drop by drop onto the floor. What remained was the jade-like dragon scale, shimmering with an eerie glow before Odeklaes.
Having absorbed the icy flame, the dragon scale’s brilliance was even more striking.
Previously, a portion of the frosty aura within the scale had been converted into an “Ice Dragon Shield”. This was a result of the potent aura of the Dark Gold Gargoyle stimulating the dragon scale.
Now, through the infusion of the icy flame, the depleted frosty aura within the dragon scale was replenished.
Angel, although failing to comprehend Odeklaes’ motive, could vividly perceive how the powerful flame dragon delicately manipulated its breath, transforming it from its fiery nature into a contradictory — icy flames. It performed this intricate spell solely to rejuvenate the depleted aura within the dragon scale.
From this, the sheer reverence Odeklaes harbored towards this dragon scale — or more accurately, his affection for Bina Jonis — became evident.
Perhaps, as Angel had previously speculated, Odeklaes and Bina Jonis were a bonded pair. Without this assumption, Angel found it difficult to fathom the rationale behind Odeklaes’ profound attachment. The intense love depicted in the murals also suggested a romance rather than familial ties.
Angel was not particularly intrigued by Odeklaes’ love story, yet a question stirred within him — how did Fafnir come to possess a scale of Bina Jonis?
This thought led his imagination astray, painting a drama of love and hate entwining the three Abyss Dragons.
Meanwhile, after restoring the frigid aura of the dragon scale, Odeklaes proceeded to conduct a series of perplexing tasks within the palace — summoning frost, revealing underground caverns, summoning streams of light and so forth.
Odeklaes completed these tasks without any regard for Angel’s presence.
In other words, Odeklaes appeared to dismiss Angel entirely. To Odeklaes, Angel bore no difference from the bricks and tiles of the icy palace.
Being ignored at least suggested his safety was assured. However, his problem remained unsolved amidst the continual disregard.
Angel closely observed Odeklaes’ actions, intending to find a window of opportunity to inquire about Toby.
However, Odeklaes remained entirely immersed in his own world, leaving no room for Angel to intervene.
Eventually, Angel contemplated bypassing this waiting game and directly posing his questions. Before he could muster the courage for such an action, Odeklaes enveloped himself in flames and vanished from the hall.
Angel found himself left alone in the vast, deserted palace.
Angel: “…” He really ignored me completely.
Earlier, when Odeklaes heard the name “Fafnir,” a flash of rage passed through his eyes. At that moment, Angel thought he might end up as collateral damage from Odeklaes’ wrath. However, Odeklaes neither retaliated nor communicated, leaving Angel somewhat bewildered.
Angel found himself at a crossroads — should he stay here or venture outside?
After a moment of hesitation, Angel moved towards the side of the ice crystal palace, where an open window provided a view of the surroundings.
As Angel stood by the window peering out, he realized that he was currently situated within the Ice Valley.
Outside, the wind howled like a chorus of snowstorm banshees, obscuring any semblance of a view.
And this palace, gleaming as if sculpted from the purest ice, was nestled at the heart of a cliff’s precipice.
“Could this be… the Unmelting Ice Valley?” Gazing out into the pitch-black scenery and the relentless gusts of icy wind, Angel felt an uncanny sense of surrealism.
It was said that those who entered the Ice Valley would be cursed, but upon examining himself carefully, Angel found no signs of any curse latched onto him.
He attempted to shape a model of the “Ice Wall” trick in his mental formation, which surprisingly went without a hitch. In fact, the frost-laden aura permeating the ice crystal palace even seemed to accelerate his creation process.
Could it be because he was brought into the Ice Valley by Odeklaes, and thus exempt from the curse?
While Angel was deep in thought, a shadow suddenly appeared below in the ice valley. In the vicious winds, it was impossible to discern the details of this dark silhouette, but its massive size was undeniable.
“Could it be Odeklaes?”
Angel tentatively extended a mental tendril, hoping to perceive more closely.
But the instant his mental tendril slipped past the window, he felt a bizarre force worming its way up the tendril, wreaking havoc as it attempted to infiltrate his sea of consciousness.
Startled, Angel immediately severed the mental tendril without hesitation.
With the mental tendril’s severance, Angel felt as if his brain was on the verge of exploding, an unbearable pain washing over him. Stumbling, he found himself leaning against a sturdy wall before he succumbed to unconsciousness.
Angel had no idea how long his unconsciousness lasted this time.
As he regained consciousness, a persistent, needle-like throb haunted his brain. His cognitive domain appeared unscathed, yet the landscape of his mental space lay in shambles.
Attempting to extend the tendrils of his mental power proved fruitless for the time being.
Though the somatic agony persisted, Angel felt a certain sense of relief. He had now realized the insidious energy that had infiltrated his mental tendrils was most likely the chaotic curse pervasive in the Ice Valley.
Angel estimated that this crystal palace remained immune to the curse. However, stepping outside its confines would immediately provoke an assault from the curse.
Despite the fortunate absence of the curse’s taint, he remained clueless about his next course of action.
Surveying his surroundings, Angel found himself leaning against a column. He was still within the great hall of the palace, the silence echoing in the absence of any other beings.
As he exhaled, a ray of light suddenly arced in front of a fresco not far away, in the midst of his cluelessness.
When Angel turned his gaze towards the light arc, a figure seemingly bathed in flames emerged from within it – a man stepping out of the radiance.
Chapter 1032 The Abyssal Flame Dragon <TOC> Chapter 1034 Odeklaes