Chapter 2166 Scorched Earth and Flames <TOC> Chapter 2168 Dark Flame Werewolf
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel walked another few thousand meters, and beyond the six-tailed fox encountered earlier, he spotted a Koschei Fire Salamander poking its head out from the lava.
However, this Koschei Fire Salamander merely peeked around and quickly dived back into the orange-red lava, not showing itself again.
Angel couldn’t help but feel that the fire salamander had glanced in his direction before hiding in the lava.
Had he been discovered?
“Probably not,” Angel murmured to himself. He was completely concealed by illusion nodes and had deliberately erased all residual pheromones, making it unlikely even for a true knowledge wizard to detect him. It seemed improbable that the Koschei Fire Salamander, which did not appear to be at a wizard level, could have noticed him.
Perhaps it was an overthought. Shaking his head and not delving deeper, Angel continued forward.
Along the way, every few thousand meters, Angel encountered one or two unique elemental creatures but chose not to disturb them, simply bypassing them.
However, even this short journey filled Angel’s heart with many emotions.
According to common records in the Wizarding World, the birth of elemental life in nature is extremely difficult. It requires a combination of extreme environmental conditions, a coincidence of timing, and a regional elemental concentration sufficient to support the consumption of elemental life, missing any one of these conditions makes it impossible.
This was different from the fire creatures Angel had encountered in the Doreen Flower Garden. Those were manifestations of Reeves’ elemental energy, not natural forces. These artificially formed elemental creatures still retained some of Reeves’ elemental properties, which was why Angel had chosen not to capture those fire creatures at that time.
In contrast, the fire creatures Angel encountered in this region were undoubtedly naturally born.
In the outside world, having one or two elemental creatures born in a volcanic area was already remarkable. But here, despite the birth of so many fire creatures, the force of the fire element was still so abundant, as if it had never been consumed.
Such a place was unimaginable in the outside world.
While contemplating, Angel reached a crevice in the ground. Unlike the previous ones, this could almost be termed a ‘gorge’, about ten meters wide, with large amounts of grey-black smoke billowing out. Looking down through the smoke, he could see the bright orange-red molten lava river.
The temperature of the lava river was extremely high, and the space above the crevice was twisted by the heat. Moreover, standing by the crevice, Angel could clearly see numerous flames bursting from the lava river, shooting straight into the sky.
These flames were more terrifying than those Angel had encountered earlier.
Ordinary apprentices, even with flying vehicles, would likely not dare to cross it.
However, for Angel, although these ground flames were formidable, they couldn’t cause him too much harm; his reaction speed was more than enough to outpace the speed of the flames’ surges.
With this in mind, Angel leaped across the crevice.
After successfully dodging five ground flame attacks, Angel safely reached the other side of the crevice.
Upon landing, however, Angel did not continue forward but turned back to look at the flowing, bright orange river in the crevice.
“Something is not right. Even with frequent ground flames, it seems too coincidental to spout five times towards me over just a short ten-meter distance, right?” Angel felt that the previous ground flame attacks were abnormal, as if they were deliberately targeted at him.
Could it be that an elemental creature in the lava river had discovered him? But he had hidden his presence from the start.
Or could it be that the five consecutive ground flame attacks were just a coincidence?
Angel thought for a moment and decided to try again. This time, he did not choose to fly over but simply took a step forward, hanging in the air over the fissure.
Boom, boom, boom——
Three loud explosions erupted from the lava river. Three fiery attacks enveloped with glowing high-temperature magma charged directly at Angel.
“Am I really being used as a target?” After dodging the fiery attack, Angel retreated to the edge of the fissure and shouted, “Eremy!”
As his voice fell, the ground’s shadow turned into a boiling black marsh, churning and rising. Soon, a silhouette with a blue lantern flower for a head emerged from the shadows, it was Eremy!
Eremy lifted his head, and his crimson eyes looked over. Without waiting for Angel’s command, Eremy already understood his intention.
Eremy’s form shrank, once again becoming a shadow, and like an arrow leaving its bow, he flew along the edge of the fissure towards the lava river below.
Upon reaching above the lava river, the black shadow turned a bright red, like boiling blood flames, and dove headfirst into the bubbling magma.
Half a minute later, dozens of fiery attacks erupted from the lava river, each reaching tens of meters in height.
However, the power of the fiery attacks quickly weakened, and their frequency reduced.
Two minutes later, Eremy flew out of the lava river and quickly returned to Angel’s side, merging into his shadow.
After entering the shadow, Eremy slowly emerged his head again.
The next second, Eremy opened his mouth, and a bright orange Fire Butterfly flew out.
“Is this the elemental creature that caused the fiery attacks earlier?” Angel asked in a low voice.
Eremy nodded, his blue lantern flower shaking slightly. Ripples carrying telepathic information entered Angel’s mind.
Eremy shared his memories of chasing the fire butterfly in the magma.
In the memory, the fire butterfly seemed almost one with the surrounding magma. Each flap of its wings sent spiral-shaped fire elements attacking Eremy, who then redirected these fire elements upwards, forming the sky-reaching fiery columns seen earlier.
“So it was really its doing.” Angel’s gaze returned to the fire butterfly.
After emerging from Eremy’s mouth, the fire butterfly showed no fear and even circled the blue lantern flower before landing on it, appearing rather at ease.
Angel understood why the fire butterfly was so fearless.
Because this fire butterfly… was an elemental sprite.
Elemental sprites are also elemental creatures, termed ‘sprites’ due to their relatively recent birth, making them in the juvenile stage of elemental creatures. These juvenile elemental creatures are typically small, mischievous, adorable, just like sprites.
This fire butterfly was such an elemental sprite in its juvenile stage.
These types of elemental sprites are always fearless, as Angel once taught Angel in his childhood: “A calf is not afraid of tigers.”
It did not care about the consequences of its fiery attacks or who it was attacking; it simply did as it pleased.
Even when captured by Eremy, it was not too scared and was curious about the blue lantern flower on Eremy’s head.
Ignorant and fearless.
Looking at this elemental sprite, Angel didn’t know what to say.
Elemental creatures possess a certain level of intelligence, but the majority of elemental sprites are of low intelligence and act purely on instinct. This fire butterfly, for instance, belongs to the unintelligent kind. Even if Angel were to inquire something from this fire butterfly, he would not receive any response.
However, precisely because of their low intelligence, Angel can roughly guess that the fire butterfly’s previous attack on him with a burst of flame was not intentional but rather instinctual.
Elemental sprites of fire generally have a mischievous nature.
When Angel was previously at Silent Hill, he was captured by Bogula and fell into a short coma. During this period, the fire elemental sprites kept in Bogula’s fireplace occasionally tugged at his hair, leaving his golden locks singed and in disarray. These fire elemental sprites didn’t really intend to attack Angel; they were just being mischievously playful.
It could be said that among elemental sprites, fire sprites are the most typical of mischievous children.
Regarding such unprovoked attacks by these mischievous children, Angel understands their nature; however, what he doesn’t understand now is something else.
“How did it discover me?”
Due to its low intelligence, the fire butterfly certainly cannot answer this question. However, after some thought, Angel figures there are two main possibilities.
First, this fire butterfly might possess a special scouting ability, enabling it to detect Angel hidden within an illusion.
Second, it’s not that the fire butterfly is special, but rather that in this Tidal Realm or this area, the elemental creatures possess a widespread ability to detect hidden beings.
The first scenario is less concerning, as only the fire butterfly would be able to see him; but if it’s the second scenario, does it mean that all the elemental creatures he previously encountered actually noticed him?
Angel recalls the Koschei Fire Salamander he saw earlier, which peeked out from the magma and looked around before submerging again after spotting him… At the time, Angel felt something was wrong. Now, he wonders if the Koschei Fire Salamander actually saw him and hence hid.
“There really might be such a possibility.” Angel, somewhat distressed, pinched the bridge of his nose. He thought he was stealthily gathering information, but if fire elemental creatures can indeed detect him, not only is gathering information out of the question, his own whereabouts might have already been exposed.
Angel sighed: “Well, let’s not think about it for now.” Proceeding as if he hadn’t been detected, he continued forward. He would test his theory the next time he encountered a fire elemental creature.
Having decided on his next course of action, Angel once again looked at the fire butterfly resting on the Blue Lantern Flower.
How should he deal with this fire elemental sprite?
The deeper implication of this question is: should he let it go, or capture it?
Before coming to the Tidal Realm, Angel thoroughly researched elemental creatures. For a wizard, elemental creatures are very useful, not only for aiding in the practice of elemental magic but also as a medium for casting spells, enabling the rapid release of powerful attacks. Moreover, well-nurtured elemental creatures themselves are a formidable force.
As a formal wizard, having elemental creatures as companions is essential.
But how does one choose a suitable elemental creature?
Setting aside artificially cultivated elemental creatures, when it comes to choosing naturally born elemental creatures, there are two mainstream opinions in the Wizarding World. The first is to choose an elemental sprite and nurture it from its infancy, accompanying its growth; the second is to choose an elemental creature that’s already in its growth phase, already possessing certain capabilities, to directly assist the wizard in practicing elemental magic.
Each of these choices has its advantages and disadvantages. Generally, elemental branch wizards prefer to nurture from the elemental sprite stage, as it ensures loyalty and allows for influence over the elemental sprite’s future development.
Most importantly, once an elemental sprite matures, there’s a high probability that it can grant its host one ability: Elemental State.
With the ability of Elemental State, a wizard can basically ignore most physical attacks.
The choice of nurturing an elemental sprite in its juvenile stage offers significant advantages, but its drawbacks are equally clear: the cost of nurturing is excessively high, and the duration too lengthy, often spanning several decades or even a century.
On the other hand, choosing a grown elemental creature comes with ready-made abilities, granting immediate and notable combat strength. However, there are disadvantages: grown elemental creatures possess a certain level of intelligence and may not willingly follow you. Even if they do acknowledge you, their abilities and attributes may not be well-suited to you.
Given the choice, Angel is actually fine with either option.
If he chooses the juvenile stage, he isn’t short of magic crystals, so he can nurture the elemental sprite without worrying about the quantity.
If he chooses the grown stage, that’s also feasible for him since he doesn’t rely on elemental creatures for combat. To him, elemental creatures are merely a medium to assist in practicing and honing his elemental abilities.
Since either option is viable, this fire butterfly can also be considered.
Angel squatted down and gently touched the fire butterfly, intending to sense its internal elemental structure. However, just at that moment, the fire butterfly flapped its wings, sending a fire tornado straight at Angel’s face.
The fire tornado, a spell cast by the juvenile stage fire butterfly, was not inherently powerful. But the fire element here was overly active, making the area of impact of this fire tornado unusually vast.
Angel himself wasn’t much affected, but his action activated the underground magma lake nearby.
A massive amount of earth flame, like an inverted waterfall of fire, erupted from the ground upwards.
Angel swiftly flew into the mid-air, narrowly escaping being scorched by the flames.
Once the flames had somewhat subsided, Angel’s gaze towards the fire butterfly darkened slightly. He lost interest in making a choice and, with a flick of his finger, sent the fire butterfly into a deep crevice.
“Let some other person train this naughty child in the future,” Angel remarked nonchalantly, shaking off the ash from his hands.
As for talent? When he touched the fire butterfly, he found its internal flame structure quite ordinary; Angel didn’t perceive any particularly remarkable talent.
Given that there must be plenty of other elemental creatures and sprites in this place, there’s no need to engage in antics with a mischievous child.
Without hesitation, Angel turned and left.
During the next few miles, Angel didn’t encounter any more elemental creatures, likely hiding within the magma. However, he did see numerous exposed fire magic materials on the open burnt soil, including gems, magic ores, and remnants left by fire elemental creatures, like fire feathers or nails with fiery properties.
Angel didn’t bother to collect these items. There were too many to carry, and most were of low grade. In the future, he could issue tasks in the Savage Grottoes, allowing apprentices to come here to collect them.
His current priority was pioneering and exploring, with other matters being secondary.
Chapter 2166 Scorched Earth and Flames <TOC> Chapter 2168 Dark Flame Werewolf