Chapter 1158 Popoca's Purpose <TOC> Chapter 1160 The Laudsourcian Offering
Translator: SumTLMan
Popoca would not disrupt the master rune node without good reason.
The shocking course of action he has taken, Popoca undoubtedly has his own aspirations.
However, Angel could not fathom how a man, who not long ago was merely an apprentice, could through cunning and strategem, venture into La Sutherland and accomplish such a mission. Even if given to a formal wizard, or a wizard of true knowledge, the completion is not guaranteed, let alone for an apprentice.
Therefore, Popoca’s desires must be tremendously urgent, compelling him to act. The pressing matters that Angel could think of in such a short span were ‘Lord Night’s ascension’ and ‘Olucia’s arrival on the surface layers.’
Perhaps Popoca acted for one of these reasons, or perhaps both.
Yet neither of these matters would necessitate the disruption of the master rune node, would they? Could it be that his assumptions were wrong, and Popoca’s purpose were something else entirely?
As Angel recalled Popoca’s previous ramblings, he remembered Popoca had once loudly proclaimed, “No one can stop the rekindling of our clan’s fire, no one!”
The fire of our clan, rekindled.
The last time Angel saw Popoca through his observation puppet, Popoca had also murmured similar words, “To be the kindling of our clan’s fire.”
This phrase seemed to leak some information, potentially related to Popoca’s goals… However, Angel knew too little about Popoca to further analyze this.
Another puzzling thing to Angel was that Popoca couldn’t have foreseen this chain of events. He must have had his sources of information… Hence, Angel tended to think that someone else was guiding Popoca from behind the scenes.
But who could this person be?
When Popoca was by the lava pool, he spoke to the demon being devoured by the chains, “You want to be reborn after being devoured by that insatiable old thing!”
Considering the circumstances then, Angel had initially thought that the ‘old thing’ Popoca referred to was the chain; however, considering that the chain was recently created by Angel, it didn’t match the insatiable old thing Popoca mentioned. Recalling it now, perhaps the ‘old thing’ in his words was the one pulling the strings behind him?
Angel was full of speculation, yet it was mostly conjecture. Moreover, the more he thought about it, the more complex the information became. The greater the volume of this chaotic information, the easier the truth could be obscured and hidden.
Angel forced himself to cease overthinking, choosing instead to sort out the established facts from the existing information.
As Angel was sorting it out, suddenly, the sounds of fighting outside disappeared.
He was taken aback. The fight ended so quickly?
Angel quietly cracked the door open. As the door creaked open, he saw a tall figure standing outside.
It was Sanders.
The flickering glow of the holding fire sculpture outlined Sanders’ facial features in deep shadows. Angel could clearly see that Sanders seemed to be lost in thought, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. When the door was pushed open, Sanders’ eyes shifted, looking at Angel behind the door, he quirked an eyebrow and said, “It’s time to leave.”
…
Minutes later, Angel could already see the gates of the Void Obelisk.
Yet, Sanders didn’t instantly escort Angel outside. He explained, “Fafnir and Komodo are still battling outside. It’s incredibly perilous to venture out now. It’s safer to linger here.”
Angel consented with a nod. The exit was within sight, and meeting Sanders had loosened the strings of tension he’d been holding in his heart.
They found a nearby sanctuary to rest and sat down.
Only then did Angel have the opportunity to ask, “How is Popoca doing now?”
At the mention of Popoca, Sanders furrowed his brow again, “His current power level is comparable to a member of the seven seats of the Void Obelisk. However, the way he reached such a high level in such a short period means he is still poor at handling his own energy. Therefore, it would be easy to defeat him in battle, but his physical body is incredibly sturdy. It would be hard to take him down in a short period of time. If he decided to run, it would be challenging to hold him back.”
In other words, Popoca had been defeated and had escaped.
Sanders turned to Angel, “I remember you mentioned to Canter before that you saw Popoca in La Sutherland?”
Angel nodded, explaining what he had seen through his scout puppet in the lava pool.
“…I originally thought that Popoca was your informant.”
“La Sutherland is located within the void, protected by seven great demons, making it harder to infiltrate than other demon cities. Even formal wizards would be easily turned into cannon fodder here, so no one would send a wizard apprentice to act as a spy.”
After finishing his explanation, Sanders pondered what Angel had said. Popoca had disguised himself as a Purgatory Flame Slave, infiltrated La Sutherland, and then slaughtered a large number of Purgatory Flame Slaves. The scouting puppet even saw Popoca potentially consuming the bodies of these Purgatory Flame Slaves with his chains?
No one could believe that a wizard’s apprentice could carry out such a series of operations.
But Sanders carefully recalled Popoca. Indeed, about a month ago, his power was that of an apprentice. Since Canter often had Popoca help him pass game levels, Sanders had a vivid impression of him.
But how could an apprentice like that, according to Angel, be the one who destroyed La Sutherland?!
“What do you know about Popoca?” Sanders inquired, “And how did you meet him in the first place?”
“My knowledge about Popoca is limited. We’ve only crossed paths a few times, once in the Savage Grottoes…” Angel narrated all his encounters with Popoca to Sanders. This included the strange things Popoca had said, and Angel’s own analysis of them.
After listening, Sanders fell into deep thought.
Angel also contemplated Popoca’s actions. He kept emphasizing “No one can stop the rekindling of our clan’s fire.” This message was obviously critical, likely Popoca’s ultimate goal for his series of actions in La Sutherland.
However, to understand the clues behind this message, one must first know Popoca’s background.
Yet Angel didn’t know much about Popoca’s background. The only information he knew was what Popoca had voluntarily told him. For instance, his customs, placing great emphasis on the enduring transmission of names. Hence, his clansmen would go to great lengths to find a memorable name.
Popoca’s name was strange enough, his sister’s was even stranger. She was named Sparrow Blossom.
Recalling this, Angel had a sudden thought. He looked at Sanders, “Mentor, do you know any countries whose national bird is a sparrow and blossom?”
He still remembered, Popoca once mentioned that his sister’s name was the same as their national bird. If they could determine the country they hailed from, they might be able to surmise their ethnic group.
“A sparrow and blossom? It sounds vaguely familiar,” Sanders mused, before making a slight circular gesture in the air. An illusion materialized: “Do you mean this bird?”
There, suspended mid-air, was a strikingly vibrant little bird.
Its plumage was a verdant green, with ruby-like patterns and eyes of deep ocean blue. The bird was a riot of colors, yet its most distinctive feature lay in its pattern, reminiscent of an eye or perhaps the tail feather of a peacock in full display.
The bird fluttered joyously in the air, eventually landing softly on Sanders’ finger, its song ringing out crisp and cheerful.
“I’ve seen this bird on the Paramjit Plateau. The locals call it the Sparrow Blossom. It’s a common bird, nothing extraordinary. I’ve never heard of it being any nation’s emblem,” Sanders paused, a puzzled look directed towards Angel, “Why do you ask?”
Angel didn’t answer Sanders’ question, his thoughts seemingly in a daze.
And the reason? The very illusion of the Sparrow Blossom before his eyes.
He had, in fact, seen this bird before!
Angel seemed to envision a little girl in a butter-yellow dress, looking at him with bright eyes, her tender, soft voice echoing in his ears, “Brother Pat.”
From his bracelet, Angel retrieved a necklace. The pendant was a heart-shaped ruby, which glowed brilliantly under the light of the holding fire sculpture after being cut into sixteen facets by a master jeweler.
Sanders watched, bewildered, at his actions.
Once Angel had the necklace in hand, he gently rubbed the edge of the ruby. A faint click was heard, as if a hidden compartment had been triggered.
Sanders noticed that the compartment was empty, devoid of anything. However, as Angel gazed into the compartment, his eyes betrayed an unusual emotion.
After a long moment, Angel finally lifted his head, whispering:
“I think I might know Popoca’s Origin.”
…
“I have always had a strange sense of déjà vu around Popoca, a feeling of familiarity. When I found out at the lava pool that Popoca was also known as Sparrow Blossom, a light flickered in my mind, but I could not recall anything,” Angel paused, “until just now. Seeing your illusion made me remember certain things.”
Angel then narrated the full story.
The heart-shaped necklace was, in fact, the start of everything.
Once, Angel had ventured to the Black Castle in Fairytale World. At that time, he discovered the skeleton of a child in the castle’s graveyard, where this necklace was found. At that time, the hidden compartment in the necklace was not empty. Inside was a piece of silk with a painting: A curly-haired girl, beaming happily, was being held by a young man, but the young man’s face was damaged, obscured. The girl, with her right hand held high, had a bird perched on it, its patterns resembling an eye, or perhaps the feather of a peacock.
The owner of the skeleton was none other than the little girl in the painting.
Chapter 1158 Popoca's Purpose <TOC> Chapter 1160 The Laudsourcian Offering