Chapter 11 Chapter 4: The Girl in the Flames
“But relying on you, a young master who couldn’t even cultivate Dou Qi, who only barely reached Bronze through that sinner’s futureless Sword Qi path? Go ahead and use your so-called ‘Starflow Sword Qi Slash’!”
The mercenary swordsman’s heavy fist struck Ig with a thunderous boom, and amidst the cracking sound of the wind, the sharp crack of breaking bones was undeniable.
“Pfft… *cough!*”
The long sword flew and fell to the ground, and between the gaps of the bone-shattering sounds, an unbearable noise permeated.
Ig’s chest caved in from the merciless blow, and his swaying body was once again brought down by gravity’s “gift.”
Blood from his ruptured internal organs poured out of his mouth in large quantities, but Ig’s blood-stained fingers attempted to grasp “End” which had also fallen to the ground.
“Shiel, I can’t fall. That bastard…”
His palm was suddenly stepped on by a hard leather boot sole, and the sound of cracking emanated from between his finger bones. In his dimming and cooling consciousness, the tearing pain became as bright as a sudden burst of fire.
“Urk… Nnngh!”
“It seems our Young Master Ig cares quite a bit for this broken sword… Mage, Archer, come and check again if we missed anything!”
Fleck picked up the sword the young man struggled to regain, with a cold laugh.
Fleck called his companions and began to re-examine it carefully.
After a while, “End” was once again thrown like garbage onto Ig, whose black clothes were soaked with overflowing blood, still trying to support himself and crawl up.
“It really is just a broken sword. I don’t know why you, a young master, would be so obsessed with such trash.”
The voice that came was cold and contemptuous, mixed with resentment.
“This isn’t a broken sword… It was Lord Lothel’s personal sword back then. It has slain countless powerful demons…”
“Lothel? That overrated fake hero!”
Upon hearing the name, Fleck and the other two were stunned for a moment, then burst into uproarious laughter.
Fleck stepped forward and sneered at the young man who was still struggling.
“I never thought anyone would be this stupid. That fool who showed off in front of His Majesty Lancaster – only an idiot like Young Master Ig would believe such a liar.”
Fool, liar… No, that’s not right!
Ig felt a surge of strength as if injected into his chest, and he struggled to stand up and roar.
“Lord Lothel is not a liar! He is the chosen hero, he saved… Nnngh.”
Another immense force struck the young man’s chest, and Ig spat out a mouthful of blood. The intense pain numbed and chilled his consciousness.
“Fleck, it’s best not to kill him directly.”
As his hearing faded, he seemed to hear the frowning voice of the female mage.
“After all, Marquis Mays is a Saint Rank expert. Even in this place, if he uses some secret karma technique, he might find us.”
Kill me, huh… Cough, Shiel…
“Indeed. Fleck, I have an idea. I heard that back then, that fake hero was killed here after being backlashed by the Sacred Sword, falling into this sea of flames, his corpse disappearing without a trace… It’s truly pathetic to think about. However, since Young Master Ig admires this liar so much, why don’t we…”
He felt another burst of pain, and then seemed to be thrown, falling.
Ig forcefully opened his eyes, his vision blurred by blood. The colors of the world seemed to spin.
“Give him this broken sword too! Young Master Ig, may you use it in the God of Underworld’s fallen kingdom and no longer be as useless as you are now.”
“Archer, you can keep the money, but it’s best not to touch his other belongings. Let’s throw them down together.”
“What a shame… such good equipment.”
At the last moment of his hearing, he seemed to touch a sighing voice, and then his consciousness sank into the deep sea, as rolling waves of blazing flames surged.
…
…
The gaps in his consciousness seemed to solidify.
Am I going to die… Shiel, Mother, Father, I’m sorry…
His body plunged into the burning flames.
… And Lothel.
The burning flames were not as painful as he had imagined.
The pain in his body seemed to subside, and the darkness in his consciousness gradually cleared – the omnipresent flames seemed to permeate all his spiritual will. Even with his eyes closed, the scorching orange-yellow and crimson filled his entire vision.
Ig opened his eyes: in the flames, as clear and transparent as seawater, a beautiful maiden was sleeping. Her eyelids were gently closed, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly with the ebb and flow of the currents. Her slender and delicate hair, rendered by the flames, shone like golden flame.
The maiden’s delicate body was adorned with a dress decorated with a skirt of dazzling gold and fiery crimson feathers, painted pure white with flame-like red and crimson; but in Ig’s eyes, the maiden’s slender body was naked, her skin smooth and fair.
She is…
The world formed by flames fluctuated with her breathing.
Finally, the damaged “End” also fell into the world of flames.
“End…?”
Suddenly, the maiden opened her eyes, her golden-red pupils resembling the purest flames in the world. The maiden’s slender, fair fingers touched the sword hilt. She lowered her gaze; a sense of familiarity, like a long-lost reunion.
“Tegasol…”
In the silent, still world of endless time, a faint maiden’s voice echoed. She was slender, frail, and tightly held in front of her, reflected by the broken blade.
The maiden’s slender, white, and delicate fingertips gently touched the blade that was far from its former brilliance, stroking the rust and the breaks. In her exquisite eyes, seemingly not of this world, the blazing golden flame color gradually dimmed.
She lowered her face, her expression of guilt like that of greeting a lover unseen for many days.
“I’m sorry…”
The maiden murmured, tears welling up in her eyes. She suddenly raised her face again, the colors on her face condensing into the deepest hatred.
“Lancaster… I won’t forgive you, just you wait!”
In her melodious and sweet voice, there was an indelible hatred that caused the countless flames in the entire ocean to vibrate, extinguishing and reigniting the blazing flames.
She was naturally Lothel, betrayed by a trusted friend a hundred years ago… Imbued with eternity, endless regret, pain, silence, and the heart-piercing betrayal, awakened after a century at the end of her long slumber in the flames, transformed into the deepest hatred on the maiden’s face.
At this moment, her gaze fell upon her slender and fair hands.
“Heh, I, I…”
The maiden’s voice was slightly hurried.
After a hundred years of slumber, although Lothel vaguely knew her identity and what kind of existence she was, upon seeing her slender and fair wrist, as delicate and beautiful as fine jade, she couldn’t help but reveal confusion in her bright golden eyes.
He was Lothel. Once a Peka Imperial Knight known as a hero, a first-generation hero renowned for his courage and glory. He had once raised his sword and shouted with his comrades, and drunk strong wine to celebrate victory. He was undoubtedly a man, however…
Soon, the maiden shook her head, gazing at her slender hand, her jade-bamboo-like delicate white fingers, according to her will, clenched slightly.
“Even so… even as a woman, Lancaster, all of you traitors, I will not let any of you go.”
She whispered, her expression resembling the declaration of an oath.
Countless flames flickered with her will.
Just then, the maiden noticed the young boy who had fallen into this world along with “End.” She turned her gaze, and her expression couldn’t help but freeze.
“This young man, is he cultivating… my techniques?”
