Chapter 177 - Phoenixs Daughter 4 (2/2)

[You think that’ll be enough!]

“I’m not worried.”

It wasn’t a simple flame.Mana Strings under the control of Artpe emerged from the flame sword.Each Mana String was infused with the power of fire.The Mana Strings started to weave together in the air to create a strong and rigid barrier.

The fire sword, which was at the heart of the barrier, was starting to crack as time passed.It was the price for adding more heat to the barrier.

“Oppa!”

“No, don’t attack him!”

The Steel Horse had arrived late.Artpe’s party was about to rush forward when they saw what was transpiring.However, Artpe blocked them from approaching any further.It was easier to block Petra’s attack when it was focused on him.

[Do you think a mere Artifact can block a spell that was created with my life on the line?!]

“You lost the moment you thought this was a mere Artifact!”

There was a grin on Artpe’s lips.Afterwards, he increased the output of his Reinforcement skill.What happened was….

“My sword!”

“It’s fine!”

Her flame sword was completely destroyed!The intrinsic nature of the Artifact remained the same, yet the output was steadily increasing.In the end, the sword couldn’t withstand steady climb of its power, so it broke.

Despite this fact, the heat created by the sword remained in place.In fact, the power was still increasing!It was thanks to the flame within the sword escaping the restricting confines of the sword!

“This is the greatest ability possessed by an Artifact.When an Artifact sacrifices itself, an extreme result occurs.It is able to create a great magic in one go!This is a spell created by combining the Reinforcement and the Materialization spell…..I call it the Waste Money spell!”

“You should have given it a bit cooler name!”

Etna had been pretty impressed by the spell, but she appalled by his horrible naming sense.

The enormous fire shield easily blocked the cold energy.Petra bit his lips.

[This can’t be happening!You betrayed the Demon race.You betrayed the Demon King.You betrayed me….I…..!]

“Hoohp!”

Artpe used his Materialization spell to slowly change the shape of the barrier.In a flash, the wall of fire increased in size, and the sound of the flame covered up the howl of Petra.The flame wall engulfed Petra!When it came to using fire, Etna could basically be called the mother of the flames.Even she gulped when she saw Artpe’s attack.

[Koo-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

The horrible scream of Petra could be heard from beyond the fire.The scream of pain wasn’t simply caused by the fire.His power was being internalized through the fire.The ‘penalty’ of the Soul Contract was finally starting!

[Ggoo-ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!Herooooooooooo!You bastard, Artpehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

“Don’t act so familiar with me.”

[How dare you!You bastardddddddddddddd!]

At the moment of his death, did he miraculously remember his past life?Artpe’s eyes turned sharp, but Petra spoke no more.The Soul Contract, which was in his possession, crumbled away after spending all its power.Afterwards, the flame was suddenly all gone.

‘It wasn’t a simple waste of money.I borrowed the power of the Artifact, but I manifested it using my Materialization spell.The Record from the Materialization spell still remains….It won’t be as powerful, but I’ll be able to recreate this spell again.’

Artpe’s heart was beating faster.He finally found a way to grow his Materialization spell.He didn’t have many enemies left, but he had ominous feeling tha he’ll meet those enemies in the near future!

“Artpe, are you alright!?W...what happened to Petra!”

“Ah, Etna.”

He had come here to save Etna, yet he had forgotten about her.He had been drunk on his magic.When Artpe’s worried eyes landed on her, Etna let out a bitter laugh as she replied.

“I’m fine.It seems Petra is dead, but he left his Soul behind.”

“Soul······?”

The flame had been extinguished, and a very small blue marble was left behind.Artpe let out a smile of satisfaction as he picked it up.

“In the old stories, there are stories about the Demon race trying to revive the Demonic god.Normally, the vector for the Demonic god in those stories were characterized as marbles.It talked about the fragments containing the soul of the Demonic god.Most of these fragments took on the shape of marbles….However, this marble contains the soul of a powerful Demon.”

The story about summoning the Demonic god seemed to come up every couple dozen years.However, the world hadn’t ended yet.It was just an old story.

If Artpe just threw away this Soul Marble, some brainless idiot might try to summoning the Demonic god.The idiot might be enticed by the Demonic energy within the marble.

“However, it is impossible to revive someone using the marble even if it contains the Demon’s soul.Of course, it contains all of the Demon’s Record, but that is it.In truth, it is just a very good ingredient for making an Artifact.It can also be used in magic….Regina might like this.”

In truth, he had thought about strengthening Regina’s magic.He had this idea when he met Petra once again.As soon as he made the Soul Contract with Petra, he had expected things to turn out like this.If he spoke this out loud, he would look too unscrupulous and villainous, so he kept this fact to himself!

“Anyways…..I’m glad you are unharmed, Etna…...”

Artpe took the marble as he turned towards Etna.The very first thing he checked was her slim neck.There was no collar.It seemed something really did happen to the Demon King.

“Unharmed?That’s what I should be saying to you….I really thought you were dead…..”

After the hectic situation came to an end, tears welled up in Etna’s eyes.In their last meeting, Artpe’s party had escaped to the underground world as they brought down the Winter Queen’s ruin around them.Of course, Etna would have thought they were dead!

“I should have stopped him, but I wasn't able to.I... I…..”

“Etna.”

At that time, Etna had been fettered.The Demon had been stronger than her, and they were of the same race.How could she interfere with such a foe?!

Artpe let out a bitter laughter as he shook his head from side to side.

“Anyways, I want to ask you something.”

This might cause her pain once again, but….Despite this fact, he believed that she was waiting for this question.

“Will you be with me?”

Artpe tossed the slightly embarrassing question towards Etna.