Translator: SumTLMan
Firestone?!
Angel hesitated for a moment, extracting several orbs radiating a crimson aura from his bracelet.
As these spheres were brought forth, the temperature in the air began to climb. The icy atmosphere interlaced with the fiery crimson radiance emanating from the orbs, creating a space of visually distorted ambience.
Odeklaes stole a quick glance, then immediately shifted his gaze elsewhere.
These are fragments of the shattered Firestone, a common possession among the minions of Fire Demons. Although they are referred to as fragments, in reality, they bear little resemblance to an intact Firestone.
Even a myriad fragments of Firestones could hardly compare to a single, intact one.
Odeklaes remained silent, but the disdain in his eyes was blatantly evident. Angel was also aware that the fragments of Firestone couldn’t rival a whole one; he had merely pulled them out to inquire about something.
“Respected Lord Odeklaes, I have heard that Firestone is synthesized from these types of fragments.”
Odeklaes fell silent for a moment before nodding in affirmation.
“I am an alchemist, I could attempt to fuse these Firestone fragments. However, I have no knowledge of the method involved in the synthesis…”
He had acquired these Firestone fragments from a Fire Lich outside the Emberstone Titan in the past. At that time, Madeline had told him that the fragments of Firestone were of little use, but a complete Firestone was incredibly scarce.
However, the method of synthesizing Firestone was said to be known only to the Fire Demons.
Fire Demons were at least at the level of true knowledge. If your strength was great, killing one would be straightforward, but getting the method of synthesizing a Firestone from one was virtually impossible.
The method of synthesizing a Firestone was the biggest secret guarded by the Fire Demons.
Angel himself was definitely not capable of dealing with a Fire Demon. Even if someone could help him kill a Fire Demon, obtaining the synthesis method was unlikely. Therefore, he could only inquire from Odeklaes.
Given that Odeklaes needed a Firestone, could he possibly possess the synthesis method?
However, Odeklaes’ response was short and unequivocal: “No.”
The countenance of Angel grew somewhat gloomy; without a formation method, it seemed almost impossible to fulfill this task.
The cherished formation method of the Fire Demon has eluded wizards for many years… Perhaps some have attained it, but at least Angel had heard no such tale.
He did not believe that he would be so fortunate as to obtain it. Besides, with Toby by his side, he should forget about any good luck coming his way.
Completing Odeklaes’s task seemed virtually impossible, and the Misfortune Wizard resided in another phase plane. Could it be that the only remedy for Toby’s ill-fortune was the passage of time?
And even if they relied on time to erode it, they would need a safe haven, but where could they find such a sanctuary in the Abyss?
In the depths of Angel’s despair, Odeklaes was mulling over another scheme.
Angel had mentioned a phrase before: “I am an alchemist.”
This sentence reminded Odeklaes of something “Feng” once said: alchemists are a rare breed in the whole Wizarding World, and if there was anyone capable of forming Firestone, it would probably be an alchemist.
Had Angel not uttered these words, Odeklaes would likely have expelled him from the Ice Valley by now. However, upon disclosing his identity, Odeklaes, who previously didn’t believe that Angel could bring back Firestone, began to harbor a glimmer of hope.
It was this sliver of anticipation that led him to divulge new information.
“While I do not know the formation method for Firestone, I do know where one might be found.”
…
Angel left the Ice Valley.
As he stepped out into the violent blizzard, the fire swirling around him morphed into a flame-shaped mark attached to his left earlobe.
From afar, it looked like a flame-shaped earring.
This Mark of Flame was a unique inscription left by Odeklaes. It served two purposes: it protected him from the chaotic curse of the Ice Valley, and it indicated that Angel was, for now, aligned with the camp of Odeklaes.
Ever since Angel had parted ways with the Ice Crystal Palace, he was beset by the external curse’s erosion, with the Mark of Flame transforming into a swirling incandescence around him, standing as a bulwark against the chaotic curse of Ice Valley.
One could say that, until the Mark of Flame ceases to be, Angel could venture freely in and out of Ice Valley without any interference from the curse.
The secondary function of the Mark of Flame, as it turns out, was also a key determinant in whether Angel could obtain the method to synthesize Firestone this time around.
The Mark of Flame upon Angel signified not only his alignment with the camp of Odeklaes but also temporarily suppressed his human aura.
In the wilderness, if discovered by other demons, they would not launch an assault due to his identity, at the very least.
Of course, some demons are not swayed by notions of identity, their lust for blood too compelling. Facing such demons, Angel’s Mark of Flame would prove futile. Nevertheless, those demons associated with Odeklaes’s faction would no longer cause him harm.
This time, Angel’s destination was an underground demon city known as La Sutherland.
According to Odeklaes, there resided a half-demon who once had ties with an old friend of his. This half-demon, apart from possessing the bloodline of an Abyss native, also had the bloodline of a Fire Demon.
Odeklaes had an old friend by the name of “Feng” who claimed to have a past with this half-demon and mentioned that it had received the complete inheritance of the Fire Demon. With this in mind, it should also possess the method to synthesize Firestone.
What Angel had to do was to venture into La Sutherland in search of this half-demon, in hopes of procuring the method to synthesize Firestone.
To infiltrate the demon city, his Mark of Flame was indispensable.
After departing from Ice Valley, it took Angel less than half an hour to leave the mountain range.
He did not find Fafnir at the entrance of the mountain range and assumed she had already left. However, just as he was pondering his path, Fafnir descended from the sky out of the blue.
Fafnir retained her human form, her alluring, glossy, ebony figure was still radiant.
“You’re actually not dead?” were the first words out of Fafnir’s mouth upon seeing Angel.
Angel: “…” What could he say, really? It seemed that Fafnir had all along maintained the attitude that she might indeed be killed by Odeklaes.
“Could it be, his temperament has changed?” Fafnir muttered, her gaze continuing to scrutinize Angel, a trace of doubt lurking in her eyes. Ultimately, her sight rested on the lobe of Angel’s left ear.
The Mark of Flame there made Fafnir’s expression momentarily distant.
Fafnir gazed at the Mark of Flame, as if through the dancing fire phantom on Angel’s earlobe, she perceived the gargantuan, terrifying form of a dragon.
Fafnir’s captivated stare sent a shiver down Angel’s spine.
This gaze was strikingly similar to the one Odeklaes had given the mural of Bina Jonis!
Could his previous guess have been accurate? A melodramatic love triangle had unfolded amongst the three dragons: Fafnir, Odeklaes, and Bina Jonis?
As Angel’s thoughts swirled, Fafnir gently exhaled.
She had intended to inquire about the Mark of Flame, but she held back, merely stating, “Has Odeklaes rid your bird of its doom?”
Angel: “… What do you mean, ‘my bird’? It’s Toby! And Toby, having transformed into a griffin, has grown considerably!”
Despite his inner monologue, Angel maintained a respectful facade.
He summoned Toby from his bracelet. Toby was still in a deep sleep, only now it was encased within an orb of ice.
This icy sphere was the work of Odeklaes, puzzlingly crafted by a dragon of fire.
According to Odeklaes, this sphere of ice could temporarily suppress Toby’s doom.
However, the time frame of suppression was limited to approximately two hundred hours.
Translated into days, it amounted to about seven to eight days.
Therefore, the time afforded to Angel was limited. Within this brief period, he not only had to acquire the method for synthesizing Firestone but also return to Ice Valley from La Sutherland.
Holding the icy orb containing Toby, Angel roughly explained the circumstances of his journey to Ice Valley.
Reflecting upon it, the experience was rather brief. The dialogue between Odeklaes and him could be counted on both hands, with most of it revolving around the one at La Sutherland, a half-demon.
Thus, his narration was over in a flash.
Fafnir’s expression was peculiar after listening. The words of Odeklaes seemed to fit his personality, but she found many of his choices rather inscrutable.
Firstly, he actually let this human live?
Secondly, he gave this frail human a glimmer of hope, using Firestone as a bargaining chip to dispel the doom.
She was well aware of the significance of Firestone to Odeklaes, even Bina Jonis once shared that Odeklaes proclaimed: anyone who could deliver him a complete Firestone would win his friendship.
It could be said that Firestone was of paramount importance to Odeklaes.
He handed over this crucial task to this human? Furthermore, he even branded this human with the Mark of Flame and helped the bird suppress the disaster.
All these actions seem to signify one stance: Odeklaes believed that Angel might genuinely have a chance to obtain Firestone.
But why did Odeklaes harbor such a belief? After all, this was but a lowly human, what merit or capability did he possess?
She repeatedly inquired about the minutiae, and Angel did not withhold anything, spilling everything to her.
Fafnir could discern that Angel was not fibbing, but the seeming plausibility of it all rendered her even more perplexed.
Unable to make heads or tails of it, she decided to set it aside temporarily and broach another topic.
“After he obtained the Frost Dragon Scale, did he ask anything about me?” Fafnir posed the question with an impassive face, yet the slight contraction of her pupils betrayed her inner turmoil which was far from the calm exterior she portrayed.
Angel shook his head, “Lord Odeklaes did not say anything.”
In truth, it wasn’t that Odeklaes didn’t react at all, a palpable flash of irritation crossed his eyes when Angel mentioned Fafnir.
However, it was prudent for him to hold his tongue and leave this particular detail unspoken.