Chapter 146
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Lord of Flames
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After the smooth negotiation with the Vermilion Bird concluded, Lee Se-hun immediately began processing the Scorching Flower.
[St-stop... There's something on the top of my head...!]
[You monstrous bastard! Do you even have a human heart, you... Aaargh!]
Though the Vermilion Bird threw a bit of a tantrum midway, it was bound by the contract, so the work went relatively smoothly.
Rustle—
A Scorching Flower neatly planted on the Vermilion Bird's crown.
It greedily sucked in mana and flames to grow its leaves, now larger than before with even more vibrant colors.
"Hmm... Better than I expected."
He'd thought it might take a while, but at this rate, it'd reach a usable level in about ten minutes.
As Lee Se-hun savored the Vermilion Bird's unexpectedly potent power, the bird covered its face with both wings and sobbed pitifully.
[Sob... To think I, one of the Four Guardian Beasts...]
More than the pain of the flower on its head, it was the injustice of this irrational bind—this inability to resist a human far weaker than itself.
Since its resurrection, humiliations had piled up, but nothing compared to this depth of shame.
While the Vermilion Bird writhed in self-loathing, Lee Se-hun paid it no mind and moved on to the next step.
'First up, the Eternal Ring.'
Pulling out the purplish orb pulsing with light, Lee Se-hun wrapped his hands in earth-attribute mana, 'Pure Land,' then gently cradled it.
Hummm...
Purple light faintly seeping through his fingers. Sensing the mana fluctuations, the Vermilion Bird lowered its wings and eyed Lee Se-hun.
'This monster... What fresh hell now...'
As it tensed, fixated on the Scorching Flower atop its head, Lee Se-hun—who'd been staring at his hands for a long moment—called out.
"Hey. Come here once you're done bawling."
[...I wasn't crying.]
Suppressing a surge of emotion, the Vermilion Bird shuffled closer. Lee Se-hun extended his cupped hands like a bowl.
Splash...
Purple liquid encased in earth-attribute mana, sloshing gently. The Vermilion Bird narrowed its lone eye.
'Processed for easier absorption than raw.'
Lower stability, higher efficiency. Far too risky for direct intake, but ideal when funneled through its own flames.
'Personality's trash, but the skill's undeniable.'
Perhaps why the Ascension Lord had taken notice. As the Vermilion Bird began reassessing him—
"Here goes."
Lee Se-hun's fingertips plunged mercilessly into the bird's beak.
[What the— Grk-glrk!]
The Eternal Ring poured into the Vermilion Bird's maw. In that instant, purple energy permeated its flame-wrought body, sparking transformation.
[I... damn... you...]
Its fiercely roaring flames slowed to a hardening crawl, thoughts stuttering in fits.
As if time itself had decelerated solely for the Vermilion Bird. Seeing it flail against the accelerated cognition, Lee Se-hun spoke swiftly.
"Don't fight it. Channel straight into the Scorching Flower. You can manage that, right?"
[Sl... ow... ly...]
"Yeah, yeah. Just do it quick."
Hummm...
The instant its body glowed crimson, the invasive purple dissolved and surged to the Scorching Flower overhead.
Purple veins etching between scarlet petals. Confirming the Eternal Ring's energy successfully infused, Lee Se-hun marveled sincerely.
'This thing's actually useful.'
Put simply, the bird had endured manifold acceleration from the Eternal Ring's power.
Precision work enabled, but demanding sustained focus—usually hellish. Yet it'd flawlessly transferred the energy amid it all.
'Lives up to its old S-rank glory.'
As Lee Se-hun reevaluated it, the Vermilion Bird—having offloaded every last bit—snapped back to normal.
[Y-you bastard! How dare you pull that stunt...!!]
Exploited in hyper-accelerated thought, then ogled like a sideshow.
Beyond endurance, it summoned flames for retribution—but fulfillment never came.
Keeeeen...
A transparent hexahedron encased its form. Spatial pressure within made it reflexively cringe.
[Urgh...]
Trembling in deliberation for a long beat, it sheathed its hostility and quelled the blaze.
Whoosh!
The hexahedron vanished seamlessly, as if it'd never been. Lee Se-hun watched with keen interest.
'Ludwig's authority clamps down the instant hostility flares.'
Brute force suppression—crude, but airtight compared to dodgy psychological chains.
With the restraint's mechanics confirmed, Lee Se-hun patted the shuddering, anger-choked bird.
"Sorry about that. I'll watch it next time."
[...]
Silent, the Vermilion Bird whipped its head aside. Ignoring him outright to vent the annoyance.
'S-rank beast with a grudge that petty...'
Tsking inwardly, Lee Se-hun inspected the Scorching Flower before scooping up the final Shadow Root.
"Hoo..."
Here on, outcome hinged on his handling.
Steadying his breath, he channeled dark-attribute mana, 'Moon Shadow,' into his gripping hand.
Whumm—
Dark mana erupted on contact; coiled roots bloomed, ensnaring his hand in a flash.
Crunch!
A horrific chill from his left hand.
Agony like countless needles stabbing, thick something burrowing arm-deep into his core.
'Eager little bastard...!'
Shadow Tree seed—the Shadow Root's nucleus—racing blood vessels to his heart. Rather than block, Lee Se-hun eyed the root-veiled hand.
Whumm!
Seed burrowing, roots liquefied and infiltrated, transmuted to dark mana nourishing it from behind.
'Just a bit more...'
Endurance here set absorption yield. Heartbound focus on the encroaching seed—
Crunch!
Seed kissing heart, every dark mana strand fully absorbed.
'Now...!'
Instant confirmation: Lee Se-hun unleashed Spirit Link Magic, flushing the seed via bloodstream.
Boom—!
Sudden torrent ejecting it pre-rooting.
Verified, he yanked the Vermilion Bird and force-fed it the overhead petals.
Roar!
Down the throat, Scorching Flower flames erupted inward.
Vast fire mana laced with Eternal Ring essence; Lee Se-hun rallied focus to corral it.
'This fierce even post-refine.'
Mere seepage hyper-amplifying senses, thought velocity spiking.
Fatal slip meant cripplehood—but fear yielded to honed acuity, mastering flames and energy.
Whumm...
Pure it'd resist; flame-via-bird eased reins.
Drawing Crimson Flame fire mana, he shrouded the reseeking seed.
Roar!
Seed searing under Scorching Flower blaze and Eternal Ring infusion.
Stranded mana mobbed desperately—but neutered already.
Splatter!
Spirit Link's detached frame rerouted laggard mana to Moon Shadow circuits, slamming shut.
Seed—Eternal Ring-laden—decelerating, dark control forfeit—
"Hup...!"
White Light Dagger plunged heart-adjacent.
Crunch!
Flick-twist, seed excised. Processing complete, Lee Se-hun eyed the gaping Vermilion Bird.
"Absorbing now. Assist on your end."
Words done, mana orchestration began; the bird's gaze turned profoundly odd.
'This guy's... truly a monster?'
One: flames risking neural meltdown on botch.
Other: seed vitals-corroding to instant death.
Parallel max-yield intake of solo-caution imperatives.
Godlike payoff, cataclysmic peril on micro-slip.
'Stay worlds away.'
That ingenuity—who knew what it'd wreak on his frame next. Power hoarded max; flames proffered from afar.
Whumm...
Its regenerative blaze.
Chest mended, permeating to knit ravaged flesh.
'Hmm... Solid. Built to withstand strain.'
Assured, he unleashed Spirit Link unbound, maneuvering dual manas.
Rumbbble!
Fire mana wildfire-sprawling; dark shadow-seeping.
Proximal circuits mutual-checked; earth mana fenced divides.
Whummm—!
Confined to turf, settling sans rampage.
Fusion flawless, he reeled the bird's flames inward.
[Wha... huh...?]
Flustered peep ignored; slathered like salve on wounds within.
Slow mend blazed accelerant-fast; eyes gleamed.
'Keeping this one forever.'
Effort dissed, utility locked; blueprint-guided full mend.
Form firming—
Clang—!
Mental hammer smashed fixated.
"Guh... Hack!"
Frame bucked; pitch smoke mouth-spilled. Impurity pyre-smoke hacked clear, body lightly flexed.
"Hmm... Spot on."
Muscles once tear-prone now rubber-resilient, supple.
Vitality dwarfing pre-wound baseline. Reveling—
Due to the effect of skill 'Spirit Link Magic', all stats have greatly increased.
Attribute mana 'Crimson Flame Wheel (D+)' has been strengthened to 'Scorching Flame Ring (B)'.
Attribute mana 'Moon Shadow (D)' has been strengthened to 'Moonlit Shadow (C+)'.
Skill 'Flame Artisan (C)' has been absorbed into skill 'Lord of Flames (A)'.
[Lee Se-hun]
[Scorching Flame Ring] 『B』
Crimson fire mana that radiates after endless cycles.
Specialized in absorbing mana as fuel; can 'reflect' the properties of incinerated materials.
[Moonlit Shadow] 『C+』
Dark-attribute mana like sharp shadows under moonlight.
Specialized in dominating and eroding objects; can 'impart' its properties to rooted targets.
[Lord of Flames] 『A』
A body that governs roaring flames.
Grants whole-body flame resistance; wields potent dominance with minimal mana.
Easily controls weaker fire mana holders; peers or superiors provoke strong backlash.
*Strong resistance and dominance over flames acquired.
*Effortlessly dominates weaker fire-attribute mana holders.
Lee Se-hun perused the updates, face lighting with intrigue.
'Attribute manas aside... Lord of Flames, huh.'
Intriguing name; he promptly audited the changes.
"Oh..."
Reviewing, faint admiration escaped. Entrance-frail frame now averaged B-rank.
Enhanced attributes tailor-suited for forging too. Satisfaction swelled.
'Body worthy of department top billing.'
Aqar Quf elites averaged B-rank physicals; Babel-caliber now. Pre-semester-end trajectory locked, joy mingled regret.
'No more skyrocketing growth highs ahead...'
Hero-grade elixirs peaked at B-rank norms.
Legend-grade minimum for future leaps.
'Ludwig probably hoards stacks... but tread careful; not casual fare.'
Audit done, windows dismissed; gaze dropped low.
"So what're you doing?"
Vermilion Bird half-submerged in his chest, head peeking.
Ignored fully? Now pranking? Lee Se-hun deadpanned; bird bellowed.
[You yanked me in and locked me like this!!!]
"Ah. My bad."
Flame-only intent undershot volume, dragging in a clone.
Contractor-risk froze it solid; Lee Se-hun smirked, gripped head, yanked free.
Roar!
Flames bloomed regenerative on severance.
Glancing self-over, incredulous stare pinned Lee Se-hun.
'Contract-linked or not—snatched sans resistance...'
Clone-weaker sure, but self-flame flesh.
Control primacy obvious—yet aiding, foundational blaze hijacked.
Implying, however brief, Lee Se-hun's mastery eclipsed its core.
'What in blazes is this monster?'
Kim In-cheol's forge-lore relayed, monstrosity gauged.
Talent too paltry a word for aberration. Caution sharpening gaze—
"Bit off from expectations, though."
Lee Se-hun muttered disappoint.
[...Pardon?]
"Vermilion Bird screams regen, so I figured faster heals. Slower than hoped. Kinda underwhelming..."
Faster would've squeezed extra physicals. Lament voiced, bird blanked.
[...]
Wrung dry, now critiqued?
Absurdity ballooned eyes; frame ballooned explosive, roar erupting.
[Imperfect revival yielding this power's already phenomenal—witless whelp dares that drivel...!!!]
Keeeeen!
Pre-rant vent, hexahedron snapped shut—unlike before, compressing ruthless.
Pop—!
Ludwig's authority reverse-summoned in blink. Lee Se-hun grimaced sour.
"Lord of Flames sparking that prickliness?"
Temper'd wreck future utility predictable.
Pre-surpassing: placate, exploit. Bed risen.
'Body squared away... Yeom Seong-ha remains.'
What craft averts his mana-hybrid resonance?
'Armor wastes stock... Necklace shape?'
Saves mat but feature-dense bulks it—prisoner/perv collar vibes.
'He'd bin it dead.'
Cleaner fix? Brooding gaze snagged bedside item.
Eternal Ring-sapped, decelerate seed. Implant-safe: slow-drains dark mana sans vitals-rush.
'...Hold up.'
Effect clicked; lightning epiphany birthed a curse-spell.
Inoue Ren—Erika's bro, clan heir. That opener curse on him.
Blueprint sketched, variants spawning—
Skill 'Black Spirit Thread (D)' has been absorbed into skill 'Black Mist Thread (B+)'.
Inoue clan secret curse seamlessly integrated.