Chapter 136
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: The Flame Artisan's Brazier
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The vast corridor, plunged into darkness with its fires extinguished.
On that wide passage, broad enough to accommodate two large cargo trucks side by side, a hooded young man named Bier Valmut gazed ahead.
Kwaaaang!!
A deafening roar echoed from beyond the fork in the passage.
A scorching heat accompanied a flash of light, and the shadow of a swordsman battling some enormous entity danced brilliantly.
As that shadow play-like movement continued, a heavy metallic clang resounded once, and the shadow's motion abruptly halted.
"It's over."
A dry, emotionless voice drifted from beyond the fork.
At that signal, Bier stepped forward to survey the battlefield he'd only glimpsed as a shadow.
Roarrrrk
Flames devoured the wreckage of a massive golem. Bier's face hardened at the sight of its cracked and melted remains.
'They said the guard golems had A+-rank durability.'
Taking one down single-handedly meant S-rank firepower or equivalent.
Bier's gaze turned to the man standing with his back to the golem's ruins, more powerful than he'd imagined.
"......"
Clad in crimson-black light armor, wielding a long red sword around 180cm in length.
His right shoulder, shrouded by a cape, hung empty, and his face looked gaunt, as if he hadn't slept for days, appearing frail. Yet his eyes and aura exuded immense pressure.
Despite several battles, he bore no injuries, not even a single ragged breath.
'So that's why they sent him alone.'
At first, Bier had thought sending a one-armed man ahead alone was like discarding a pawn. It seemed he'd been mistaken.
As Bier revised his assessment, the man fixed him with a parched gaze and spoke.
"We're going back in."
His voice held no interest in Bier whatsoever.
A flicker of displeasure rose at being treated like mere labor, but Bier quickly suppressed it.
'I can't be picky right now.'
The moment he'd collaborated with the puppeteer and Myriad Demons' Mire to lure them into Babel, he had to see the objective through, no matter what.
Recalling his precarious position, Bier swallowed his pride and nodded to the man—the Flame Blade Hunter.
"Got it."
With Bier taking the lead, the two passed the golem wreckage and ventured deeper inside.
About three minutes in, as Bier scanned the endless corridor, his eyes tinged gray as he extended a hand forward.
Wuuung!
A faint vibration emanated from his fingertips.
Bier's skill, Light Source Resonance, which resonated with metal origins, spread ahead. Moments later, space warped, altering the corridor's scenery.
A massive bulkhead door blocked their path. Confirming its resonance with the inner metal, Bier summoned mana to control it.
Kugugung
The firmly sealed door slowly parted to either side, revealing a new space before them.
The interior felt cavernously empty.
A single worn brazier sat isolated in the depths. Bier stared at it, entranced.
Tadak—
The brazier burned small with a few logs, its flames flickering softly.
Visually, it was so antiquated and outdated it belonged in a museum.
Yet in its form—precisely the flames blooming within—Bier sensed an inexplicable power.
'What in the world is... that...'
He'd received instructions on what to do but not details on the object, leaving him baffled.
Why would something like that brazier be here? As Bier stared intently,
Kwak—
The Flame Blade Hunter grabbed his shoulder and flung him back.
Kuung!
Bier tumbled across the floor without resistance, grimacing as he glared up.
"What the hel—"
About to demand answers from the Flame Blade Hunter, Bier glanced ahead again and his eyes widened.
Tadak—
The brazier, clearly over 200m away before, was now right in front of him.
He wondered if it had moved, but looking back revealed the entrance receded by exactly that distance.
Realizing the truth, Bier paled.
'Was I entranced by that flame?'
A chill ran down his spine as he grasped he'd nearly thrown himself into it.
He'd frequented artisans' workshops since childhood, seen countless braziers and special flames, but nothing like this.
'What did the Ascendant Emperor...'
As Bier broke into cold sweat staring at the flame, the Flame Blade Hunter spoke calmly from ahead.
"It's the Flame Artisan's brazier."
"......What?"
"More precisely, the one he used before becoming a Summit Climber. That flame harbors a fragment of his authority."
Bier looked at the brazier anew in shock at the explanation.
A brazier infused with the Flame Artisan's authority. It made sense why he'd been entranced, but it also raised questions.
'How did Myriad Demons' Mire know about this?'
Were these people truly from Myriad Demons' Mire?
Their atmosphere differed starkly from the demons and criminals he'd dealt with before. Bier's eyes shifted to the Flame Blade Hunter.
'There's more I don't know.'
Irritation bubbled at feeling used, but he brushed it off.
'I'll find out once this is done.'
No need to rush what would reveal itself in time. As Bier steadied himself, the Flame Blade Hunter extended his sword.
"Put this in the brazier and trigger the resonance."
"That's all?"
"Once you kickstart it, the barrier will handle supplying mana from here."
Gathering fire-attribute mana altered by Borsippa's Vermilion Bird barrier, Vermilion Heaven Flame Soul.
Recalling his mission, Bier nodded and took the sword.
'At least hero-grade top quality... using something like this just to start it up.'
What were they trying to forge with this brazier? Curiosity as a blacksmith stirred as he inserted the blade inside.
Hwaruk!
Flames clung to the blade, burning small.
It looked like they were merely creeping up from the tip, but holding the sword, Bier's eyes bulged.
'The sword... it's being devoured...?'
The power and functions within the blade were overlaying onto the tiny flame, transforming into something else.
An overwhelming presence that coated the material in an instant. Sensing the unnatural flame's power, Bier swiftly activated Light Source Resonance before the sword was ruined.
Wuuung—!
The moment Bier and the sword resonated, all his senses detached, expanding outward.
'This is...'
The Vermilion Bird's power linked to the brazier became part of him through the sword. The fire-attribute mana across Borsippa fell under his control.
"Ha... haha... hahaha!"
Laughter burst from Bier unbidden. The overwhelming omnipotence of wielding vast mana.
His own body and mana felt like dust by comparison; his mind reeled from the sheer scale.
As the resonance deepened, its influence spread everywhere.
Wung
A faint resonance emanated from Borsippa's outskirts, the residential district.
A presence similar yet hollow like an empty shell, calling to him. As Bier focused curiously,
"So that's where you were."
A chilling voice came from behind.
Puuk!
A gruesome sound by his ear, an alien sensation in his chest. His detached senses crashed back to reality, and Bier's gaze slowly dropped.
Revealed was a red blade piercing through his heart. Slowly turning, Bier looked at the Flame Blade Hunter.
"What... is... this..."
"Your family head said as much."
The Flame Blade Hunter gazed indifferently.
"Eliminate all evidence cleanly."
Whether success or failure, no proof of Valmut involvement could remain.
Shock, despair, and rage at those responsible flooded Bier's face.
"I'll... kill... all of... you..."
Stammering through surging mana and emotions, for the first time, the corner of the Flame Blade Hunter's mouth twitched up.
"You'll make fine material."
He mercilessly yanked out his left hand.
Puhwaak!
Bier's limp body staggered, then collapsed into the brazier.
Hwaruk—
As with the sword, flames clung to his corpse, and soon a massive rumble emanated from within.
Wuuung!
The Vermilion Bird's power, fused with Bier through resonance, begins gathering all mana here to revive its main body.
Kiiing!
Vast mana poured madly into the brazier from ceiling, walls, and floor.
The interior dyed crimson in an instant, the flames intensifying.
Watching, the Flame Blade Hunter placed his bloodied hand on his chest.
Wung
Purple mist—illusory mana—spread, drawing out an item from within.
A red crystal orb flickering like flames inside. Clutching it gently in his left hand, he gazed fondly.
'We'll meet again soon.'
And he'd slay the vile traitor who tore them apart.
His eyes cold, the Flame Blade Hunter tossed the orb into the brazier.
Wuuung!
Red flames erupted, filling the chamber.
"The Forging Department's main building basement?"
Ran Fei, barely managing the exhibition hall cleanup, looked perplexed at Lee Se-hun's sudden revelation.
They hadn't even grasped the situation fully, yet they'd pinpointed the enemies' origin. But the real surprise was elsewhere.
"Yes. Confirmed through the Vermilion Bird, so it's certain."
He'd negotiated with the mana beast the enemy revived.
Was this a joke amid crisis? Yet the contract sigil on his hand vouched for its truth.
Pondering whether to trust it, Ran Fei soon nodded decisively.
"Understood. I'll dispatch faculty immediately to check the basement."
"Thank you."
"And you two..."
Eyeing the hand sigil and the preserved Vermilion Bird in midair, Ran Fei spoke gravely.
"Stay here, control the Vermilion Bird, and monitor as before. Can you manage?"
Guilt at tasking cadets who should evacuate? Despite seeming oblivious, Ran Fei's responsibility shone through. Lee Se-hun smiled faintly and nodded.
"Paid staff now, gotta earn my keep. Don't worry."
"...Appreciated. Rewards when it's over."
Handing them communicators, Ran Fei rushed out. Watching him go, Lee Se-hun narrowed his eyes.
'Forging Department main building... I recall no special facilities in that basement.'
Especially no tales of a hidden brazier.
At the undisclosed facility, he naturally recalled past memories seen via Mental Image Projection.
'Among the docs Ice Dog showed, there was one.'
Blueprints of hidden special facilities in Babel.
Most photos and diagrams censored, sparse info, but one shaped like a 'brazier' was there.
'Guessed Kim In-cheol as watcher right, so not mere illusion...'
What were those memories?
What was the hidden basement brazier, and how did 『Offering』 know? As unease deepened his thoughts,
[Grk...]
The stakes embedded in the Vermilion Bird's body emitted black light.
Whoooong!
Scattered fire-attribute mana sucked underground. Shocked by the flow, Lee Se-hun asked the Vermilion Bird.
'What's happening?'
[They're... draining my origin entirely from below...]
Previously just sharing power; now it sucked fiercely, threatening to shatter its ego.
Feeling torn apart, the Vermilion Bird cried urgently.
[Hurry, release the bind! Or...!]
Something began beneath the Forging Department's main building basement. Lee Se-hun yelled to Louise.
"Louise!"
"Got it!"
They swiftly raised internal mana, preparing. Surprised, the Vermilion Bird watched.
'They're really keeping the promise.'
Half-doubting humans, but maybe not so bad. As it awaited swift release,
【Spirit Bind】
Chaak!
Dozens of iron chains burst from the exhibition hall, binding its body tight.
[What... grraaah!]
The draining origin halted, gripped by the chains. Amid soul-rending agony, it howled.
[I said release it! What are you doing!!]
'Releasing sloppily now just sends you there. Hold on.'
[Hold on!? My soul's tearing!]
'I know, so endure a bit.'
[You filthy dog...]
Its furious curses rang in his ears, but Lee Se-hun unblinking supported Louise, strengthening the ritual in a tug-of-war.
As chains neared breaking,
Whung
The downward mana pull suddenly stopped.
"...Done now?"
Louise asked wearily, maintaining the incantation. Lee Se-hun peered below.
"Wait..."
Wung
Faint mana swirled on Ran Fei's left communicator, then his voice emerged.
-Discovered massive flaming egg in Forging Department basement. Mana pattern suggests Vermilion Bird spare body. Evacuate immediately if issues there.
Lee Se-hun's eyes narrowed at Ran Fei's words.
'Trap after all.'
Moment they destroyed the seal, it'd revive anew and ambush arrivals.
A predicted counter to tie their feet. They'd coped somehow, but one doubt lingered.
'Then where'd the gradually absorbed mana go?'
What was 『Offering』's true goal?
Mind racing in the unfathomable situation, a realization struck; he shouted into the communicator.
"Anyone seen Professor Kim In-cheol?"
After relay, reply came.
-Helped evac near hall, then said something to investigate and left. Problem...?
Hearing Ran Fei, Lee Se-hun yelled to Louise.
"Hold here. Run if dangerous."
"Huh? What... hey! Where!"
Ignoring her shock, Lee Se-hun bolted from the hall.
'Vermilion Heaven Flame Soul. Using it to locate the shattered flame, Flame Heaven Greatsword.'
Repairable with Vermilion Bird byproduct meant similar or related materials inside.
Thus, leveraging that power to find the workshop-hidden blade was no surprise.
'Running's too slow.'
Time already delayed; he headed to the lot for a ride, spotting a massive red motorcycle.
'That'll do...'
At Kim In-cheol's bike, he checked its state.
Vermilion Heaven Flame Soul effect: wouldn't start. Mounting, he activated Erika's Bond Engraving.
Bond Engraving 'Four-Hand Stone' activates.
Charak!
Silver threads from his hand twisted and reinforced the broken internal circuits on-site.
Crudely repairing the mana circuits, he ignited it.
Kugung!
The bike roared menacingly. Eyes flashing, Lee Se-hun turned toward the workshop.
Kwagagang!
The red motorcycle crushed parked vehicles, accelerating wildly.