Chapter 301 299-Flame of Faith
The Flame Kirin's eyes flickered with fire as it slightly shook its massive head, "So it was, all because of that useless fellow."
Forst Herald, staggering to the Flame Kirin's side, cried out indignantly, "Hey, you two are actually having a chat here. Hurry up and kill this dimwit!"
Ethan, gasping for breath, continued to buy time, "So it seems, to defeat you, one must wield a flame even stronger than yours."
"Exactly," the Flame Kirin responded succinctly.
"Why is that?" Ethan was genuinely puzzled, seeking an answer while also trying to extend their conversation.
The Flame Kirin, observing Ethan's weakened state, knew that it wouldn't even need to strike.
Ethan would crumble like a porcelain doll, his body breaking apart piece by piece.
Perhaps it had been a long time since the Flame Kirin had spoken to anyone, for it seemed willing to elaborate.
"This is the world of the deities, where hierarchies are strict. The inherent Elemental Cycle has been completely obliterated."
"Elemental Cycle?" Ethan furrowed his brow slightly.
The Flame Kirin blinked its fiery eyes, "Essentially, Hydro counters Pyro, Pyro counters Dendro... such predetermined laws of nature."
"I see," Ethan nodded slightly, "So the battles between deities are more about strength?"
"Strength is too broad a term. It's more about the depth of one's mastery over the Power of Rules. A deity who comprehends more of the Power of Rules possesses overwhelming strength," the Flame Kirin explained, sounding like an ancient deity mentor guiding Ethan, a lost soul.
"So you're saying, if I had a higher tier of flame, I could defeat you?" Ethan's eyes swirled, testing the waters with his question.
The Flame Kirin looked down upon Ethan, a hint of mockery in its gaze.
Its mouth, hot enough to be measured in thousands of degrees, uttered words chilling to the bone: "Nice thinking, but what a pity... Your flame is too inferior; it stands no chance in killing me."
Forst Herald spoke disdainfully, "A mere ant, how high-grade of a flame can it possibly possess?"
Ethan's eyes lit up slightly, "Is the Flame of Faith considered high-grade?"
Forst Herald burst into loud laughter, shaking its head back and forth in the air as if it had just heard the most preposterous thing, "Flame of Faith? Have you lost your mind? If you possessed that kind of flame, you could become a god."
Desire flickered in the Flame Kirin's eyes as it looked up at the sky, speaking softly, "That kind of flame, although it is the lowest tier, is something I wish to possess…"
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly, summoning Aneropo with an unstoppable smile on his face, "Sorry to disappoint, but I have the Flame of Faith."
The voices of Flame Kirin and Forst Herald abruptly stopped, their gazes simultaneously shifting to the fireball by Ethan's side, distinctively different from the surrounding flames.
Aneropo's fireball, radiating an unparalleled holy aura, was red-gold in color, with murmurs of prayers and supplications from believers mingling within…
This fireball was too conspicuous. As a master of fire, the Flame Kirin naturally noticed it.
The Flame Kirin's pupils constricted in sudden fear, roaring, "How could you possess the Flame of Faith? That is the power of a deity…"
Ethan stood up, his lips curving slightly, "Don't get me wrong, I don't possess it."
Forst Herald, scared enough to almost jump up, pointed its robust serpent tail at the fireball in a panic, exclaiming, "Then where did this come from?"
Ethan bowed slightly toward the two massive beasts, speaking with gentlemanly grace, "Allow me to introduce everyone, my deity servant—Aneropo."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Aneropo materialized from the fireball.
Due to the lack of Power of Faith, his form was not solid, emanating an ethereal feeling.
"Master, your servant Aneropo is at your service." Aneropo bowed slightly, his refined voice echoing throughout the entire valley.
Even the Flame Kirin, which had forgotten to flee, had its flames flickering rapidly in its eyes.
Shock had rendered it speechless.
This weak, almost dying insect actually had a deity... a deity servant?
The Flame Kirin took a step back, retreat already in its mind.
Ethan's eyes flickered with intense fury as he lifted his spear once again, "Aneropo, coat my spear with a layer of the Flame of Faith."
"My master," Aneropo swung his arm, and a layer of golden-red flames enveloped Ethan's spear, "The Flame of Faith has been applied."
Ethan pointed his spear at the Flame Kirin, a mocking smile on his face, "Flame Kirin, thanks for sharing so many secrets with me."
Seeing the flames on the Blasphemous Spear, the Flame Kirin was utterly terrified, its soul nearly departing from its body, "Who are you exactly? Are you a son of god from the divine realms? Why else would you have a deity servant?"
Ethan, however, was not about to give the Flame Kirin any chance to delay, "You don't need to know anymore. Die. I really want to see what kind of monster you are."
He gripped the spear tightly, golden wings unfurling behind him, as he sped towards the Flame Kirin.
The Flame Kirin's strength lay in its power and flames, but it had no advantage in terms of speed.
The tables had turned; Ethan was now chasing the Flame Kirin to kill it, just as he had done with Forst Herald.
Forst Herald, having fled early on, was once again caught up by Ethan.
Watching the Flame Kirin being pushed back, its fiery scales scattering and sparks flying everywhere, it couldn't help but bitterly think: "Where in the world did this man come from? His strength is formidable, cunning as a fox, and most importantly, he has a deity servant by his side..."
"It seems our good days are coming to an end."
A hint of pain flashed in Forst Herald's eyes; it truly did not want to return to those dark, sunless days.
The Flame Kirin, cornered and furious, had its eyes spewing magma, forcing Ethan back and standing its ground against him.
"So what if you possess the Flame of Faith? My power far surpasses yours; I will kill you."
The Flame Kirin advanced rather than retreating, attacking Ethan ferociously.
Ethan's eyes burst with brilliance as he roared back: "Kill!!!"
Man and beast collided, and with a huge explosion, flames shot up into the sky.
A gigantic pillar of fire hung in the void, almost reaching the heavens.
Demi-god Phito saw the pillar of fire. Standing at the top of the cliff, he looked down into the fog-filled valley.
The breeze made his divine robe flutter and whistle.
"Ethan can succeed, right?" Phito extended his hands, delicate as jade.
Red and blue lights flashed momentarily in his palms.
At the valley floor,
The flames dissipated, and embers slowly fell.
Ethan stood in mid-air, clutching a spear in his hand.
The spear was thrust into Flame Kirin's throat, from which flames erupted vigorously, as if blood itself was gushing out.
Fire and blood intertwined, creating an unparalleled masterpiece.
Flame Kirin screamed in agony, its body wavering unstably before finally collapsing onto the ground.
The gleam of intelligence in Flame Kirin's eyes gradually faded, its body becoming somewhat rigid.
Forst Herald abruptly turned around, clumsily maneuvering its enormous body. Its pupils filled with timidity and confusion:
"What were you thinking fighting him? He has a deity servant... Could he be just an ordinary person?"
Forst Herald's eyes brimmed with sorrow.
The massive body of Flame Kirin was still ablaze, filling the valley with thick smoke and the scent of something charred.
Ethan gazed upon this magnificent sight, catching his breath with a renewed glint of sharpness in his eyes.
"Forst Herald, will you still resist?"
Forst Herald looked at Ethan, its massive crystalline maw opening:
"He and I were one. With his death, I too cannot live."
Forst Herald laid its head upon the ground, as if waiting for death's arrival.
True to its words, the flames throughout the valley began to recede.
They transformed into specks of light and merged into Flame Kirin's body.
Ethan furrowed his brows, twirling his spear as he observed the scene before him.
Flame Kirin wouldn't revive, would it?
However, after absorbing the surrounding specks of light, Flame Kirin's body began to change, gradually shrinking.
Then, it suddenly disintegrated, and along with Flame Kirin, Forst Herald also collapsed.
The two behemoths silently fell apart, leaving only a sky full of light specks behind.
These specks of light hung in various parts of the valley's floor like stars.
The scene was fantastical and exceedingly beautiful.
It was like a field in July or August, filled with a myriad of twinkling fireflies.
Such a blurry and dreamy picture surely couldn't be just for show.
Ethan furrowed his brows tighter, not quite understanding what had just happened.
Aneropo approached Ethan, pointing at the specks of light and spoke, "Master, these light points can be connected to form lines."
"Connect them into lines? How so?" Ethan asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Master, why don't you try using Pyro Magic and Cryo Magic?" Aneropo suggested once again.
Ethan swung his arm and chanted a spell, causing a fireball to appear in the air.
The fireball floated aimlessly until it touched one of the light points.
It was as if the fireball had hopped onto a roller coaster, swiftly traveling along a path, passing through the light points.
The fireball traversed through numerous light points, akin to an artist using flames as a brush, painting within the valley.
Soon, a picture composed entirely of fire emerged throughout the entire valley.
The pattern was intricate and regal, dizzying anyone who laid their eyes upon it.
Ethan, upon witnessing this scene, exclaimed in awe, "Aren't these the Language of Nature?"
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺