Chapter 299 - Welcome Back, Beast Gods (1/2)
TO SAY that Alec Forrester was shocked after Kalel Moonchester, the Black Serpent, froze the entire Redsun Desert. The Crades had also turned into giant ice sculptures. And even if the climate in that area was very hot, his ice didn't look like they would melt any soon.
It required a very high amount of Mana to accomplish such task.
After all, the Crades in the Redsun Desert were the strongest kind. But when faced against a Beast God like the Black Serpent, they looked nothing like the fearsome creatures that they should be. For Kalel Moonchester, they were just insects that he could easily step on.
And the most amazing thing was the fact that the Black Serpent didn't even break a sweat despite using a huge amount of Mana.
”You're amazing, Lord Black Serpent,” Alec told him. ”Even though you chose to be reborn as human, discarding your divine body in the process, your Mana and divine powers still remain very strong.”
”It's not as strong as it used to be,” Kalel said while looking straight at Mount Sola. Even though it was a few feet away from them, he could tell that the Black Serpent could see the shrine where Soleil Rosenberg went to. After all, the Black Serpent had a sharp sight. Ah, to be precise, all his senses were sharper than normal people. ”These Crades are just weak.”
He laughed softly at that remark. ”Of course, my lord. Any enemy, no matter how strong they are, will look weak in front of you.”
”No,” the Black Serpent said, then he turned to him. ”These aren't the usual Crades that lurk around in this area. This is supposed to be their lair. But it seems like the stronger ones aren't here for some reason.”
He was surprised to hear that.
Of course, he didn't doubt the Black Serpent's words. Even before he was reborn as a human, he had already faced the ancient Crades back when he was still Nystrom. That meant Kalel Moonchester knew what he was talking about.
”Then, maybe they were already eliminated by someone else,” Alec said hesitantly. Admittedly, he didn't know much about the Crades because it wasn't a part of his job to deal with them. ”Although I'm not sure if there are people like you that can easily eliminate them. I heard that even your brother, the second prince, has a hard time fighting them off.”
”Auro isn't weak.”
Ah, the Black Serpent looked offended. It seemed like the rumor about the first prince being overprotective of the second price was true, huh?
”I apologize if I sounded like I'm saying that Prince Auro is weak,” he said with an apologetic smile. ”I didn't mean to offend you, Lord Black Serpent.”
”You can just call me by my current name,” Kalel said. ”The way you call me is too mouthful.”
He smiled and nodded. ”I understand, Lord Kalel.”
Thankfully, the Black Serpent looked satisfied now.
”I've seen some shedded skin around,” Kalel said seriously, then he turned to Mount Sola again. ”I have a feeling that the stronger Crades have already evolved and thus, this lair has become to small for them.”
”'Evolved?'” Alec asked, then he gulped nervously. ”Then, does it mean the ancient Crades have become stronger?”
***
”I AM here, Lady Soleil.”
Soleil turned to her spirit guardian and smiled.
Lucina Morganna held the Core of her real power, the Black Flame. Although she was a spirit guardian, she looked like human. She had dark brown hair and eyes, and wore a maroon cloak that had the symbol of the Red Phoenix.
After all, the Beast God that the Fire Mage clan worshipped was her very own brother.
”It's been a while since I've summoned you,” Soleil said to Lucina with a cheerful smile. ”How have you been, Lucina? I missed you.”
”I'm always with you, Lady Soleil,” Lucina said in her usual indifferent tone. ”How can I serve you today?”
”I need the Black Flame.”
”No can do, my lady,” the spirit guardian said bluntly. ”Master Winchell asked me before to never let you use the Black Flame.”
She groaned as a playful complaint. ”Lucina, I'm your master and not my brother.”
”But as your spirit guardian, it's my duty to protect you,” Lucina explained patiently as if she was talking to a child. ”Using the Black Flame weakens your body, my lady. You haven't tamed it yet so it attacks you each time you try to borrow its power.”
”I can't tame it because you and my brother won't let me use it,” she complained while shaking her head. In normal circ.u.mstances, she would have given up on using the Black Flame because she knew how stubborn Lucina could get. But not this time. ”Lucina, I'm serious.”
The spirit guardian flinched when she probably realized that she was really dead serious.
”Lucina Morganna, come,” Soleil said in a serious tone, then she extended her hand to her spirit guardian. ”Become my wings.”
Lucina let out a deep sigh, then she smiled faintly at her before she took her hand.
As soon as she did, the spirit guardian became a lump of red flame that spread to her body like, well, wildfire. Then, the heat from her flame gathered on her back. When she moved her shoulders, she felt her wings sprout from her shoulder blades.
The flicker of flame around her had turned black now.