Chapter 1211 Savior <TOC> Chapter 1213 In Search of a Clue
Translator: SumTLMan
Popoca flexed his fists, the stark contrast between his past strength and his current profound weakness filled him with desolation.
From mind to thought, from body to soul. This endless emptiness taught him one thing.
It was all over.
His clan, the fire of Laudsourcians… and his sister.
“I’m sorry,” Popoca murmured quietly, his eyes growing blurry as images flashed in his mind, memories breaking through his defences.
“Popoca.”
At this moment, a voice filled with regret resonated in his ears.
…
Angel hadn’t expected that, just a moment after talking with a sobbing Young Fire Demon, he would come to Popoca and again hear weeping.
Popoca heard Angel’s call, lifted his head, tears still glinting in his eyes, repeatedly murmuring, “It’s over.”
“This was your choice, you should have anticipated the outcome,” Angel sighed softly.
Hearing the voice in his ear, Popoca’s thoughts gradually woke from the chaos. He glanced at Angel, his eyes filled with sorrow:
“I knew I was destined to die, but I just wanted to buy a bit more time. I thought sacrificing Olucia might delay it, but I didn’t expect this outcome. I had anticipated this situation, but arrogantly, I thought I could control it.”
“But, in reality, I achieved nothing.”
The biggest illusion in one’s life is, “I can.”
When Popoca mentioned the body of Olucia, Angel raised an eyebrow: “You still want to use Olucia’s body for the sacrifice?”
Popoca shook his head with a bitter smile.
He had once hoped to summon the Profound Lord using an artifact, but when the other party ignored him, he had understood everything.
From start to finish, he was just a puppet in the hands of the Profound Lord.
Even if he got Olucia’s body now and offered it to the Profound Lord, he probably wouldn’t get what he wanted. Not to mention, Olucia’s body had already been taken by Angel.
“Making a pact with the Demon God is as dangerous as planning with a tiger,” Angel said calmly.
“In my sister’s prophecy, I thought I could transition from being a pawn to a player. Now, I realise that once I prayed to the Demon God, my fate was sealed, powerless…” Popoca lifted his gaunt and skeletal eye sockets, his turbid gaze settling on Angel. “Your choice was right. Never believe in a Demon God, and never utilize relics.”
Tears mixed with thick liquid seeped from Popoca’s eye sockets.
Angel watched him silently.
After a while, Popoca raised his head and asked, “Angel, can you do me a favour…”
“I cannot.” Angel rejected him without hesitation.
Popoca was stunned, not expecting such a decisive refusal from Angel. In his mind, if Angel came looking for him, it should hold some significance. If Angel intended to refuse, why would he bother coming at all?
Or could it be, Angel had merely come to mock him in a victor’s fashion?
“You’re still alive. The abnormal energy has disappeared, bringing your bubble-like dream to an end. Embrace reality; at least you’re not dead yet. You can do anything you want.”
“I am now crippled, the cracks in my magic source leave no room for recovery. And the Source Fire…” Popoca glanced towards Greaves in the distance, who promptly rolled his eyes in response. “Even the Source Fire is gone. Everything is over.”
“Is the Source Fire crucial to the Laudsourcians?” Angel asked.
“Only the Source Fire can ignite the Ancestral Laudsourcian Altar, leaving a flame that can be passed on within the clan. The prophecy of our ancestors explicitly states that only when the Fire of the Laudsourcians is rekindled, can we reclaim our glory. Therefore, to our clan, the Source Fire is a pillar of spiritual support.”
Angel nodded, as if in deep thought.
“I can give you the Source Fire.” Angel gestured to his own earlobe. The purple-white Source Fire sealing Olucia’s soul couldn’t possibly be given to Popoca. However, within the Mark of Flame in his earlobe, there was still a spark of the Source Fire.
Popoca stared at Angel in astonishment. Why would Angel, who had earlier refused to help, offer him the Source Fire?
Angel didn’t explain his motives, he merely stated, “Now that you have the Source Fire, you have even more reason to survive and ignite the Ancestral Altar you spoke of. Plus, you must find your sister yourself.”
Upon hearing this, Popoca realised he had misunderstood Angel earlier. Angel hadn’t come to mock him but was encouraging him to live through this roundabout manner.
Turbid tears streamed from Popoca’s eyes, this time stirred by emotion. If he was still in the Savage Grottoes, perhaps he could have become friends with Angel… but not now.
“Thank you,” Popoca said, a gloom settling in his eyes. “However, even if I choose to ignite the Ancestral Altar, I’m still doomed.”
Angel looked at Popoca, waiting for him to explain.
This matter, in fact, pertained to the core secret of the Laudsourcians, a flash of hesitation flickering in Popoca’s eyes, unsure of whether he should disclose it. After a long pause, Popoca let out a sigh: since his life was nearing its end anyway, taking these secrets to his grave would only mean they’d be interred alongside him. It seemed better, then, to entrust them to Angel, who seemed… deserving of trust.
With this thought, Popoca eloquently revealed a secret about the Laudsourcians. The so-called Ancestral Laudsourcian Altar did not exist within the tangible world, he didn’t even know where it was. All he could say was that it dwelt in the minds of every Laudsourcian. As long as one quieted their mind, every Laudsourcian could perceive this altar, existing within the intangible.
Upon hearing this, Angel was struck by a sudden understanding. He had read about this, how the settlements of Laudsourcians always housed the Source Fire, which was part of the reason why some wizards hunted them. However, despite the scattered extermination of the Laudsourcians, no wizard ever located this so-called “Source Fire”.
As it turns out, the altar that bore the Source Fire didn’t exist in reality.
“Ever since the fire in the Ancestral Altar gradually started to fade, it has become increasingly difficult for Laudsourcians to sense its presence. The ancient texts left by our ancestors mentioned that when the Ancestral Altar blazed fiercely, one could see it just by closing their eyes. But now, to sense the Ancestral Laudsourcian Altar, a supportive ritual is needed.”
“The preparatory time required for the supportive ritual is at least two days. This is why, after I first arrived in this world, I didn’t immediately kindle the Source Fire.” Popoca spoke, a glimmer of sadness in his eyes.
The supportive ritual could help Laudsourcians relocate their Ancestral Altar.
Upon finding the altar, could one ignite it simply with the Source Fire? The answer was no. To bring the Source Fire into the Ancestral Altar required a significant expenditure of energy.
The total amount of energy required was massive, at least of a wizard’s level.
This was why Popoca had chosen to engage with the Profound Lord, forcefully increasing his own abilities. Firstly, it was to disrupt La Sutherland’s plans, and secondly, because kindling the Source Fire required tremendous power.
This task couldn’t be delegated to anyone else because only Laudsourcians could sense their Ancestral Altar.
“My magic source is already broken, and it is an irreversible situation. I don’t have nearly enough energy to kindle the Ancestral Altar.”
“Therefore, the only method is to sacrifice myself, using the flesh and blood of a Laudsourcian to ignite the Ancestral Altar.”
In other words, Popoca would still die.
After Popoca finished speaking, he turned to Angel, “Thank you for fulfilling my last wish. I am the only one left of the Laudsourcian clan, so, I must do this.”
“Furthermore, while the collapse of my physical body has temporarily stopped, there will inevitably be a day when it breaks down again. Even if I cling to life, I can at best survive one or two more years, which is why I choose self-sacrifice. The only one I’m sorry to is my younger sister… Angel, could you visit my sister for me? Tell her that I…”
Before Popoca could finish his emotional plea, Angel interrupted flatly, “No.”
Then, Angel added, “Neither will I give you the Source Fire.”
Popoca was stunned, wasn’t the atmosphere quite amicable just moments ago?
…
The reason why Angel decided to hand over the Source Fire to Popoca was, in fact, based on two considerations.
Firstly, the Source Fire is of great significance to the Laudsourcians. As stated by Popoca, the Source Fire is key to the survival and continuity of the Laudsourcians. Totoro, with a high degree of certainty, is also a Laudsourcian. Therefore, Popoca’s igniting of the Source Fire would be beneficial to Totoro as well.
Secondly, Angel does not wish for Popoca’s demise, at least not in the short term. This is not due to any particular empathy Angel feels for Popoca’s predicament; Angel has always maintained that one should bear the consequences of any decision, especially failure. Moreover, since Popoca forcefully brought him here, Angel’s initial impression of Popoca was rather poor.
Nevertheless, Angel does not wish for Popoca’s death.
Because once Popoca falls, as a follower marked by the Profound Lord, his soul would return to the Bottomless Abyss, where it would be controlled by the Profound Lord.
Once Popoca’s soul is seized by the Profound Lord, all events that have occurred here would be known to the Profound Lord.
At that time, Angel would inevitably fall under the scrutiny of the Profound Lord, which would be an extremely perilous situation.
This is the real reason why Angel does not wish for Popoca’s death. At least, until his return to the Wizarding World, Popoca should strive to stay alive, otherwise, the troubles would be endless.
As for killing Popoca and annihilating his soul, Angel still cannot accomplish this. Not because he can’t make himself do it, but because part of Popoca’s soul is already in the hands of the Profound Lord. Upon Popoca’s death, his soul would travel directly from the ethereal Soul Plane to the Bottomless Abyss, leaving no opportunity for Angel to annihilate Popoca’s soul.
Given the circumstances, Angel should ensure Popoca’s survival.
Upon hearing that igniting the Ancestral Altar would cause Popoca’s immediate death, Angel naturally rejected him without hesitation.
……
“Why?” After a moment of stunned silence, Popoca asked weakly.
“Why give me hope, only to let me…” Disappointment filled his words.
Angel looked at the disoriented Popoca, “I told you, you should try to survive.”
“But igniting the Ancestral Altar is my only wish!” Popoca growled.
“Is it truly your only one?”
Popoca faltered, a picture flashing across his mind, his ears seemed to hear his younger sister’s innocent laughter.
Igniting the Ancestral Altar was his obsession.
But protecting his sister was also in his thoughts.
“Don’t think that by sacrificing yourself to ignite the Ancestral Altar, you can erase everything you’ve done.” Angel paused, “And besides, you’re not the last of the Laudsourcians. You should save your life and see Sparrow Blossom for yourself.”