Haidel (2)
Roooar.
The ground was engulfed in flames on all sides. The air was thick with heat so intense it was hard to breathe. But Kim Jehyun stood unfazed amid the inferno.
Cozy.
Having absorbed the Millennium Tree, this level of heat felt merely warm to him.
—Hooh, already at that level, are you?
A massive voice that shook the entire space boomed out. Jehyun's head naturally turned toward it.
In the distance loomed the silhouette of a giant.
"Ifrit."
The Fire Spirit King. It was Ifrit.
He had come to the right place. Jehyun had business with Ifrit, which was why he had entered this realm.
Jehyun strode straight toward him. Ifrit lounged on a massive jade throne, chin propped on one arm. His soldiers filled the space around him.
The overwhelming heat dominating the chamber dwarfed what Jehyun had felt upon first entering—intense enough to make comparisons futile.
—A dragon indeed. To achieve such growth in so short a time. I can't help but be impressed.
Ifrit spoke to Jehyun in a voice brimming with fascination. Even among dragons, he had never seen one grow this fast, which sparked the light in his eyes.
—You mentioned contracting with Vulcan recently.
As Ifrit spoke, one of the monkey-like fire spirits nearby stepped forward.
Fwoosh. Fwoooosh.
The monkey bowed deeply to Ifrit, then to Jehyun.
This Vulcan was one of Ifrit's mid-tier soldiers, now contracted to Jehyun.
—Looking at you, you could probably handle an upper-tier soldier now.
Ifrit grinned, baring his teeth. His entire body, face included, was made of fire, so it was hard to notice without close inspection, but he wore a pleased smile.
"An upper-tier soldier... That sounds good. But I came for something else today."
Jehyun met Ifrit's gaze and spoke.
—Something else? Speak it, temporary contractor.
Ifrit leaned in eagerly, ready to hear him out. Jehyun didn't hesitate.
"I need more power than even an upper-tier soldier can provide."
—Hooh. More power, you say.
Ifrit chuckled amusedly at the response, then fixed Jehyun with a piercing stare.
—Very well. I like that spirit. A bit premature, perhaps, but you've met the minimum requirements... Take this. My seal.
Ifrit snapped his fingers into the air. A vivid crimson emblem, like cherry blossom petals, bloomed in the void and flew straight to Jehyun.
Swoosh.
It headed for his chest and began absorbing into his body.
Fwoooosh.
Flames engulfed Jehyun in an instant. Heat far beyond molten lava scorched his form, but he didn't make a sound.
—Kuhahaha! My eye for talent never fails.
Ifrit burst into roaring laughter as Jehyun absorbed the seal effortlessly. In his long life, he had contracted with many beings, dragons included, but none as unique as Jehyun. It thrilled him.
Ifrit has recognized you as his true contractor.
Ifrit's Provisional Contractor (SS) has been upgraded to Ifrit's Contractor (SS).
Fire attribute power greatly increases!
Ifrit's seal is imprinted on your mana core.
Current imprint rate of Ifrit's seal: 35%.
This is...
Jehyun felt the eternal, unquenchable flames blazing massively within him as the messages appeared. Ifrit's power had taken root in his body.
—Hooh! 35% right off the bat. Impressive.
Ifrit looked delighted. He continued enthusiastically.
—Fill that seal's imprint rate to 100%, and you'll be able to summon me.
"Summon you?"
—Exactly. Doesn't the thought excite you?
Ifrit spread his arms wide, seeming more thrilled than Jehyun.
If I can summon Ifrit...
Even the Magic Tower Master might struggle against him. Setting aside full power, summoning a being like Ifrit would massively boost Jehyun's forces.
—Hmm, but reaching 100% won't be easy right away.
Ifrit stroked his chin, then snapped his fingers toward his assembled soldiers.
—Take that one. It'll help you greatly for now.
At his words, the largest fire mass at the innermost rank among the soldiers rose.
Fwoooosh.
As it unfurled its massive wings, an awe-inspiring presence swept the area.
This enormous bird-shaped blaze...
—The Dawn Flame that devours darkness alive.
Ifrit smirked and continued.
—It's a phoenix.
Thud.
The colossal fiery bird landed before Jehyun.
—Quite the arrogant one. See if you can tame it.
Ifrit grinned mischievously.
Jehyun soon understood why.
Fwoooosh.
The phoenix thrust its head toward him, locking eyes.
Riiiing.
A tinnitus rang in his ears as he felt it appraising him.
Moments later, it tilted its head, lost interest, and buried its face in its wings, slumping down.
What the...? Did it just dismiss me?
Jehyun let out a hollow laugh. Curiosity piqued about what made it so haughty.
Dragon Eye.
He scanned the phoenix.
Perhaps because Dragon Eye's proficiency had reached 30%, Jehyun could see all its info.
His eyes widened.
Level 77?
Incredibly high. And SS-rank.
Ifrit's Elite Guard...
His throat bobbed. This massive fiery bird was a supreme fire spirit—far stronger than ordinary ones.
No wonder it's so arrogant.
Jehyun pouted. Being ignored to his face bruised his pride.
Thud.
He approached and placed a hand on its wing. The phoenix lifted its head with an annoyed glare.
"Look again. Properly this time."
His eyes glowed amber as dragon horns erupted from his forehead.
* * *
Fwoooosh!
A colossal pillar of fire erupted from Jehyun's body, piercing the sky. The scorching heat enveloped the elves' temporary shelter, drawing them in alarm to the clearing.
There, they saw Jehyun wreathed in golden flames radiating holy light.
"J-Jehyun-nim..."
Sharze called out in a trembling voice. The heat kept her at bay, but something felt off, worrying her.
"Sharze, don't worry. He'll be fine."
One of the elders, Roisha, placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"Look closely. Those flames... are power flowing from Jehyun-nim's body."
"Ah..."
Sharze realized it belatedly and gasped. The overwhelming fire aura dominating the space emanated from him.
Far stronger than before... Incomparably so.
She gazed at him in awe. Truly a great race—such rapid growth in so little time.
As Sharze trembled at his enhanced power, heavy thuds echoed rapidly.
"...!"
The elves' sharp ears stiffened their faces. Footsteps of a massive beast.
M-Melkanto Demon's footsteps.
Sharze paled. S+ rank. Even the 7th Circle elders struggled against it. They could fight it somewhat, but protecting the trance-like Jehyun would be impossible.
Shaaaah.
In moments, the Melkanto Demon appeared. Over 20 meters tall, covered in dark brown hide. Its upright forelimbs gleamed like reaper's scythes. It resembled a massive praying mantis.
"W-We have to block it!"
Sharze shouted, pale-faced. As Roisha grimly nodded and stepped forward—
"No need."
Jehyun, eyes now open, regarded the elves.
"J-Jehyun-nim!"
Sharze brightened. Jehyun nodded to her, then turned to the demon.
"Shaaaah!"
The Melkanto Demon clacked its blade-like jaws and swung a forelimb at Jehyun. Simple, but infused with immense mana—devastatingly destructive.
"Phoenix."
Jehyun could handle it alone now. But he summoned the phoenix to test its new power—for the upcoming battle with Kang Sihu.
Fwoooosh.
Golden flames bloomed before him and Jehyun and the demon, swelling to sun-like size in an instant.
Fwoom.
Scorching heat, hard to even breathe, descended on the field.
"...!"
"Th-This is..."
The elves' eyes widened at the power's mere fragment. As spirit experts, they felt its spirit force skin-deep.
Impossible... Upper-tier? No, beyond that. Supreme-tier spirit...
Roisha, Haidel tribe elder, stared trembling at the phoenix.
Even high elves like Haidel couldn't wield supreme spirits yet. The last he saw was their high elf elder summoning one before their homeland's fall—centuries ago.
This massive fiery bird was the first supreme spirit in hundreds of years.
And stronger than that one back then...
Roisha's thoughts cut short. The phoenix unleashed its power at the demon.
Hooo.
As it exhaled from its beak—
Fwoooooosh.
A golden storm of flames surged toward the swinging forelimb of the Melkanto Demon.