Chapter 107: Flame Island
“Master, be careful!”
A knight shouted, charging forward with his sword.
Before he could get close, his pupils suddenly widened, and an extreme sense of fear surged from the depths of his heart.
The figure in front of him, covered in tentacles, was like a demon from hell, emitting an abyssal aura that devoured everything.
Darkness!
Death!
Despair!
***
Fear!
This fear instantly shattered his sanity, causing him to scream involuntarily and swing his broadsword wildly.
But having lost his mind, his swordsmanship became a complete mess.
Karl’s figure flickered, his large hand shot out and swatted away the broadsword, his five fingers clenched suddenly, crushing the knight’s throat.
“Swish!”
The illusory tentacles behind him thrust out in sync, like sharp thorns, piercing into the knight’s body.
Suck!
The tentacles turned into straws, devouring the opponent’s life force and soul, giving Karl a sense of satisfaction.
In the blink of an eye.
The burly knight was sucked dry by the tentacles, leaving only a withered corpse.
“Bang!”
With a flick of the tentacles, the corpse was thrown into the swamp, and they continued to lunge towards Ancelot.
“Monster!”
Ancelot retreated repeatedly, waving his staff abruptly, causing dozens of water snakes to shoot out from the swamp.
The water snakes wrapped towards Karl’s body, like dancing vines, with incredible speed.
“Hmph!”
Karl let out a soft grunt, and the tentacles on his body suddenly expanded outwards.
“Bang!”
“Bang, bang!”
The attacking water snakes were instantly torn apart, and Karl seized the opportunity to rush in front of Ancelot.
Aura of Fear!
A faint halo enveloped him, and a trace of trance flickered in Ancelot’s eyes, followed by a sudden focus.
He actually resisted the mental assault.
‘It seems that everyone’s resistance to the Aura of Fear is different. Some people’s sanity can be easily shattered, while others have the ability to resist.’
Karl understood and wasn’t surprised.
Back then, he and Lula were able to withstand the Aura of Fear of the Abyssal Giant Squid, even in its complete form.
Although they were Grand Knights, with strong minds and physical resistance, it didn’t mean that others couldn’t do it.
Ancelot was patient and could maintain a certain level of sanity under the influence of the Aura of Fear.
Minor Force Field!
Azure Wave Protection!
***
Familiar force fields, familiar spells, the difference was that in the past, Karl used them to deal with others.
This time,
they were being used against him!
Ancelot was also a School of Nature, Water Wizard.
The reason he was able to get acquainted with Tim was because they practiced similar spells and could exchange experiences.
“Hmph!”
With a soft snort, Karl’s momentum remained unchanged, his speed even increased, as he charged towards his opponent.
The explosive power of a Grand Knight allowed him to maintain lightning-fast speed even after being weakened by the spells.
“Bang!”
The water ball summoned by Azure Wave Protection was shattered by him.
Dozens of illusory tentacles shot out, enveloping Ancelot’s entire body.
Huh?
Something’s wrong!
Karl’s eyebrows twitched, he crossed his arms in front of him, and the tentacles instantly transformed into an illusory shield.
“Boom!”
Ancelot’s body exploded with a loud bang, turning into a torrent of water that pushed Karl back violently.
Zero-Circle Spell ━ Water Clone!
Water Explosion!
“Who are you?”
Not far away, the water flow converged, forming Ancelot’s figure once again. He looked at Karl with cold eyes:
“Why are you trying to kill me?”
“Senior Wizard Apprentice?” Karl’s entire body was shrouded in darkness, his voice echoing through the field as if from hell:
“You’re already a Senior Wizard Apprentice!”
“Indeed.” Ancelot held his staff and said coldly:
“I became a Senior Wizard Apprentice a year ago. You… are walking the path of a Bloodline Wizard?”
“What bloodline did you refine?”
Among the people he knew, several also practiced Bloodline Magic, but he had never seen a form like Karl’s.
Terrifying!
Bizarre!
Even just looking at it for a few more seconds would send chills down his spine.
If he hadn’t had strong mental power and a certain level of resistance, he would have been killed on the spot like his guards.
“That’s none of your business.”
Karl grunted, and a ball of fire suddenly appeared in front of him.
Fire Rune!
“Boom…”
The fire was initially only the size of a fist, but it instantly expanded to the size of a basin, then transformed into a raging inferno.
The flames swept out in all directions.
This kind of attack definitely couldn’t threaten Ancelot, but it could determine the location of his body.
The Ancelot in front of him was still a Water Clone, and his true body was hidden somewhere.
“Useless.”
Ancelot sneered, thrusting his staff into the ground, summoning streams of water that rose into the air and diverted the flames:
“No matter who you are, you’re dead.”
“With this level of Fire Magic, are you an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice from Colon or a Fire Thief?”
As a Senior Wizard Apprentice, he had enough confidence to take down his opponent.
“Huh?”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sense of danger surged in his heart.
Not good!
“Boom!”
As Karl stomped his foot heavily on the ground, the earth and swamp within a radius of dozens of meters trembled violently.
Super Rune ━ Shake the Earth!
The power of a weakened First-Circle Spell erupted.
“Bang!”
The terrifying shockwave instantly shattered the Water Clone, revealing Ancelot’s true body hidden not far away.
Immediately after.
Dozens of thick stone spikes emerged from the ground, stabbing towards him with astonishing speed.
Water Wall!
Water currents rose into the air, slightly slowing down the stone spikes.
But,
it wasn’t just the stone spikes that were attacking, there was also the black shadow lunging towards him.
A surge of fear emerged in his heart, causing Ancelot to panic, and his spellcasting faltered.
Damn it!
Karl leaped high into the air, pouncing towards him, the illusory tentacles behind him already thrusting out in mid-air.
Minor Force Field!
Control Gravity!
Gravity Distortion!
***
A barrage of auxiliary spells descended upon him.
“Ugh!”
Ancelot’s knees buckled, his body uncontrollably fell to the ground, and a look of horror appeared in his eyes.
“Senior Wizard Apprentice!”
“Grand Knight!”
“How…”
“Bang!”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was bombarded with forces, and his wizard robe instantly shattered.
“Pu!”
“PuPu!”
Stone spikes, illusory tentacles, and water arrows pierced him, turning him into a hedgehog.
“Ugh…”
Ancelot opened his mouth, blood spilling out, his body collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
“Too brutal!”
Karl landed, his face filled with annoyance:
“I forgot that he had just become a Senior Wizard Apprentice, not as durable as a veteran wizard. His body was too fragile, and I didn’t leave him alive.”
“Forget it!”
Shaking his head, he quickly searched Ancelot’s body, gathering everything and leaving swiftly.
As for the corpse on the ground…
This was a swamp, whether it was shattered ships or corpses, they would be devoured by the swamp.
By the time someone discovered his disappearance, it would be too late to find him.
…………
Half a month later.
Sybil knocked on Karl’s door, accompanied by an innocent and lovely young girl.
“Senior Martial Sister.”
Karl nodded towards the two:
“Amy, we meet again.”
“Yes.” Amy looked around the room curiously:
“Mr. Karl, do you always stay indoors?”
“Not really.” Karl smiled, leading them inside:
“Please, have a seat!”
“I’ll go prepare some drinks.”
“No need.” Sybil waved her hand:
“We’re here to inform you that Amy, whom you recommended, has passed the test and become a member of the Starry Secret Society.”
“Junior Martial Brother!”
“You have a good eye. Amy’s Wizard Talent is very high, and she also has a very rare magical creature. Although she’s young, her strength is not bad. She will definitely become one of the pillars of the Starry Secret Society in the future.”
“Is that so?” Karl looked at Amy:
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you for your recommendation.” Amy expressed her gratitude sincerely:
“Now I finally understand the benefits of joining a faction. It’s not easy to be bullied this way.”
As she spoke, she tightened her small face and waved her slender arms.
“You wouldn’t know.” Sybil said:
“That day, after you attended the auction, Amy was attacked by a Black Wizard and almost died.”
“Fortunately, a mysterious person saved her.”
“Ah!” Karl looked surprised:
“Such a thing happened?”
“You never go out, of course you wouldn’t know.” Sybil rolled her eyes:
“But it’s also a good thing. At least the island is protected by magic traps, so you won’t be in danger. I can leave with peace of mind.”
“Yes.” Amy nodded, her face still pale with fear:
“I…”
“Huh?”
She blinked, and a small bird flew out from the bag behind her, circling Karl a few times.
It chirped incessantly.
“This is Amy’s magical creature.” Sybil introduced:
“A white falcon with Wind Spirit bloodline. Don’t underestimate it because it’s small. It will reach a high rank when it grows up.”
“By the way, what’s its name again?”
“…Huh?” For some reason, Amy seemed to be in a trance before she came back to her senses and replied:
“Little Wind.”
“Her name is Little Wind.”
“Karl, have you met Little Wind before?”
“No.” Karl shook his head:
“This is the first time.”
He could sense the mysterious power within the white falcon. It indeed had good potential, but for Karl, who had seen many magical creatures in the Other World, this level of magical creature was not uncommon.
“Is that so?”
Amy’s eyes were filled with suspicion. She called Little Wind back to her shoulder, shook her head, and looked at Karl with intense curiosity.
Could it be him?
Impossible, right?
“Chirp…”
Little Wind flapped its wings and screamed, seemingly bored, then smoothed its feathers and retreated back into Amy’s bag.
“Right.”
Sybil remembered something:
“Junior Martial Brother, do you know Ancelot?”
“Ancelot?” Karl pondered for a moment, then asked hesitantly:
“Tim’s friend?”
“That’s him.” Sybil nodded and said casually:
“Orseia said that Ancelot asked her about you a few days ago, and then he suddenly disappeared.”
Karl shrugged.
Amy’s eyes lit up, and she looked at Karl carefully once again.
*
*
*
Other World.
Dense fog enveloped the surroundings.
A small boat cut through the fog and stopped at a rocky shore. Several figures leaped onto the island one after another.
“Is this Flame Island?”
Karl looked around:
“The temperature is indeed much higher than other places. Aren’t the people on the island afraid of a volcanic eruption?”
This was an active volcano!
And it could erupt at any moment.
The unique geological conditions had created a special environment. The fog that filled the air was like a light veil, enveloping the island in a hazy mist. Beneath the veil, flames danced like spirits.
The vegetation on the island thrived under the interplay of fire and fog, exhibiting a unique vitality.
The dust floating in the air, carrying the scent of sulfur, smoke, and the breath of the earth’s depths, gave people a primitive and mysterious feeling.
“Afraid?”
Susan waved her hand, seemingly uncomfortable with the smell here:
“The people here seem to be crazy. They have a fanatical worship of fire. They probably wish for a volcanic eruption.”
“You guys!”
She pointed at a few people:
“Guard the boat and don’t let the people on the island discover us.”
“Karl, Quincy, we’ll go to the dungeon to rescue Connie first, then meet up with Miss Lula and deal with the Flame Island Lord together.”
Flame Island was located at a crucial passage leading to the Endless Sea. No matter what, they had to capture it.
Connie knew the Island Lord and thought he could persuade him.
Unfortunately!
Not only did he fail to persuade the Flame Island Lord, but he was thrown into the dungeon and sent a distress signal.
It just so happened that Lula and Karl were both around recently, so they decided to take action directly.
“Alright.” Karl nodded:
“Let’s go!”
***
For him, the sea routes of the Endless Sea meant abundant magical materials and wizard resources.
Other things can be ignored, but he will definitely put in effort to help reopen the sea routes.
Not to mention anything else.
Reopening the sea routes, avoiding the Merfolk, and capturing a few water monkeys would allow him to refine potions and exchange them for Great God’s Grace coins from others.
Quincy is short in stature with slightly dark skin, a Grand Knight wandering within Duke Ferdinand’s territory.
While passing by nearby, he received a warm invitation from Lula, and is currently preparing to join the Dragon King Trading Company.
This time on the island,
is also his first time participating in an operation of the Dragon King Trading Company.
“Be careful.”
Susan leads the way in front:
“There are many pirates on the island, and their strength is not low. The key is that once they start fighting, they don’t know how to retreat.”
“Even Connie was captured!”
“Connie.” Quincy, carrying a short staff, laughed:
“The captain of the Windbreaker, a legend of the Endless Sea, I’ve heard many people mention his name.”
“Unbelievable…”
“Our first meeting is actually him being locked in the pirates’ dungeon, waiting for us to rescue him.”
Susan frowned.
She could hear the contempt in Quincy’s words, and as Connie’s lover, she naturally felt uncomfortable.
“Don’t be careless.”
“Although Connie is sometimes unreliable, his strength is not bad, and there aren’t many people who can capture him.”
“Of course.” Quincy shrugged:
“The captain of the Windbreaker is, after all, a Grand Knight.”
Susan did not continue the conversation. She slightly lowered her body, like a female leopard heading towards the depths of the island.
Not long after.
The three stopped at the edge of a dense forest.
“The dungeon is ahead.”
Susan pointed to a small door in front, and whispered:
“According to the information we investigated, the guards of the dungeon are the three Paul brothers, all Peak Knights.”
“The three of them working together can contend against a Grand Knight!”
“The key is that there are many traps set up in the dungeon, and there are other guards, so it’s not easy to sneak in.”
“Karl, it’s up to you.”
“Mm.” Karl nodded, took out a cloth bag from his waist, and shook it towards the air in front.
A stream of dark green gas emerged from the cloth bag, drifting towards the dungeon with the wind.
“Sleeping Dust.”
Seeing the two looking curious, Karl explained in a low voice:
“A type of powder that makes people drowsy, even an elephant can be easily knocked out.”
“Wait a minute!”
They didn’t have to wait too long.
The patrol personnel originally guarding outside the dungeon, as well as the sentries hidden in the dark, fell asleep one after another.
“Let’s go.”
Karl waved his hand:
“As long as we don’t make too much noise, they won’t wake up in a short time.”
“Amazing!” Quincy’s eyes flickered:
“As expected of the alchemist that Miss Lula has praised many times, Karl, your methods are indeed remarkable.”
There were at least dozens of people here, and he had knocked them all out so easily, making him unable to help but exclaim in admiration.
Susan shook her head.
In her opinion, this Grand Knight named Quincy might have good strength, but his personality was too arrogant.
Karl was not just an alchemist.
He was also a Grand Knight!
But Quincy didn’t mention it at all along the way, seemingly not thinking that Karl, who had only recently advanced, was that strong.
Karl smiled but remained silent.
Without the guards’ interception, the three smoothly entered the dungeon, the rugged path leading to the depths of the earth.
The further they went, the darker it became, and they could only rely on the torches on both sides for illumination.
“The potion won’t affect this place.”
Karl gestured:
“Quincy, now it’s time to see your performance.”
“Of course!”
Quincy grinned, reached back to take off the short staff, and with a light shake, it transformed into a long spear.
The silver spear blade emitted a glimmer of light in the darkness, and the cold killing intent also made Susan subconsciously tense up.
A Grand Knight!
No matter how much she disliked him, the other party was a genuine Grand Knight, and his strength would definitely not be weak.
“Who’s there?”
The three’s movements finally attracted the attention of the guards in front. Accompanied by a loud shout, a group of people rushed over quickly.
“Capture them!”
The people who rushed over were holding torches, and in the flickering flames, one by one, skin-and-bones guards came into view.
These people were all pale and thin, their clothes tattered, but the weapons in their hands were still intact.
“Heh…”
Quincy sneered upon seeing this:
“Are you all not getting enough to eat?”
“If you can’t even get enough to eat, how can you fight me?”
“Buzz!”
He held the long spear, and with a light flick of his wrist, the spear shaft vibrated, emitting a low and powerful buzzing sound.
“Kill!”
Accompanied by a low shout, Quincy charged into the crowd with his spear.
The terrifying power of a Grand Knight could easily shatter a huge rock, and flesh and blood were no match for him.
Battle Aura was released.
It also suppressed the group of people, causing them to retreat repeatedly.
Although one side had more people and the other side had fewer, the battle was like cutting grass, and the dungeon guards could not stop a Grand Knight at all.
One figure after another fell to the ground.
“Ah!”
Seeing that the defense line was about to be breached, someone roared towards the sky, their eyes bursting with scorching flames, and then they stretched out their arms and pounced towards Quincy.
Others followed suit, even throwing away the weapons in their hands, rushing over like a bunch of madmen.
What’s going on?
Quincy raised an eyebrow. Holding a weapon they were no match, throwing away their weapons was just courting death, right?
“Be careful!”
Karl suddenly spoke from behind:
“They are going to self-destruct!”
Self-destruct?
Quincy’s heart tightened, the spear shadow suddenly contracted, and his whole body instantly transformed into a rotating turtle shell.
Battle Technique ━ Shell Back Defense!
At the same time.
A guard who had pounced nearby had his body glow, and his insides were like boiling lava, exploding with a loud bang.
“Boom!”
“Boom, boom, boom…”
Explosions rang out one after another, and the splattered flesh and blood were actually wrapped in lava, with a strong impact.
Each of the guards here was a moving bomb, launching a suicide attack on Quincy.
Even though he had been warned and prepared, Quincy’s defense was still teetering under the continuous explosions.
A look of panic even appeared in his eyes.
He…
Wouldn’t he fail here, would he?
“Swish!”
In the chaos of the explosions, a figure quickly swept past.
Karl, holding two broadswords, weaved and swung through the crowd, the sword light flashing, and one by one the guards’ bodies stiffened.
The next moment.
“Bang!”
The guards’ bodies exploded on the spot, but it was not flames, but stones flying everywhere.
The moment the broadswords struck their bodies, the guards’ bodies began to petrify, and in the blink of an eye, they turned into stone statues.
“Bang!”
The broadswords swept again, and the three guards in front flew out together, also turning into stone in mid-air.
After landing,
they turned into scattered rubble all over the ground.
“Swish!”
Karl sheathed his swords, standing in the middle of the field, and the guards who had rushed over had all been killed by him.
“…” Quincy’s expression was stiff, his mouth twitched, and he said with a dry laugh:
“Nice swords!”
“Clap, clap!”
Susan clapped her hands lightly:
“Karl is indeed amazing, these dungeon guards are no match for you at all, and Grand Knight Quincy is not bad either.”
She couldn’t help but put down the other party.
“There are still three tough ones ahead.” Karl looked at Quincy:
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” Quincy straightened his chest, swallowed the blood that was about to surge into his throat:
“I’m fine!”
“You go save people first, I’ll go over and join you after I’ve dealt with them.”
“Okay…” Karl glanced at him, gave Susan a look, and stepped into a fork in the road.
They hadn’t gone far.
They heard a roar from behind, and three Peak Knight-level auras collided with Quincy.
Peak Knights were far inferior to Grand Knights, but these three auras were almost identical, and they were even connected as one.
They actually suppressed Quincy’s aura.
But now their movements had already alerted the dungeon guards, and in order to prevent Connie from encountering any accidents, they needed to find him as soon as possible.
“This way!”
Susan had investigated the situation of the dungeon in advance, and coupled with her concern for her lover, she sped up her pace all the way.
Suddenly, the path ahead lit up.
One by one, iron cages suspended in mid-air came into view.
“Swish!”
Karl’s figure leaped out from behind, jumping high, and swung his sword towards one of the iron cages.
“Clang…”
The moment the broadsword touched the iron cage, the iron bars made of refined iron petrified at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Then, it shattered under the impact of the great force.
“Bang!”
The iron cage fell to the ground.
Susan hurriedly stepped forward and helped Connie, who was covered in wounds, out.
At this time.
Karl was already fighting with the surrounding guards, and under the swing of his double swords, one guard after another fell to the ground.
“Connie!”
Susan’s eyes were filled with tears, and her voice choked with emotion:
“Are you okay?”
“…Do I look like I’m okay?” Connie, his breath weak, forced a dry laugh:
“Help me save that old man nearby too, he’s a Holy Knight who serves the Moon Goddess.”
“His strength is not inferior to mine!”
“Hmph!”
Susan snorted:
“It looks like you’re not in too bad of a shape, you still have the energy to care about others.”
But despite what she said, she still carefully placed Connie down and released the other iron cage.
The Holy Knight in the iron cage had gray hair and was already quite old. He was sitting cross-legged in a strange posture.
Although his injuries were severe, his eyes were still bright and piercing.
“Thank you, young lady.”
His voice was hoarse, and his gaze paused on Karl, who was moving quickly, seemingly a bit surprised:
“Ring of Protection…”
“Susan.” Connie struggled to prop himself up:
“How did you guys get in? What’s the situation with the Flame Island Lord?”
“Of course, we broke in!” Susan rolled her eyes:
“As for the island lord here…”
“You don’t have to worry, Miss Lula and Sea God Hawke have already gone over, it shouldn’t be a problem to take him down.”
“What?” Connie’s expression changed:
“You plan to use force?”
“Otherwise!” Susan shrugged:
“Don’t worry, Sea God Hawke is the number one expert in the Free Port, and besides, Miss Lula is assisting him, even if the island lord here is not weak, he can’t possibly be a match for the two of them.”
“Maybe he has already surrendered and admitted defeat!”
“That’s impossible.” Before Connie could speak, the Holy Knight on the side already shook his head:
“The island lord’s consciousness has been affected by the power of the Evil God, it has been twisted and mutated, and it’s impossible for him to surrender to others.”
“Then he’ll die!” Susan’s eyes darkened:
“Kill the island lord, and the problem can be solved as well.”
“You don’t understand, even Hawke might not be a match for the island lord now.” Connie shook his head:
“If it’s…”
“The situation will only be worse!”
…………
Flame Island.
Main Hall.
At the entrance, two huge fiery red stone lions stood still, as if ready to leap out and display their majesty to the world.
Stepping into the main hall.
What first came into view was the towering dome, on which exquisite flame totems were painted.
In the center of the main hall, there was a huge flame statue.
Below, a red carpet was spread out, and at the end of the carpet was a figure wearing armor, sitting cross-legged in front of the statue.
Hawke and Lula walked side by side into the spacious hall, and even though they were well-traveled, they couldn’t help but marvel at the scene before them.
“Respected Island Lord.”
Lula bowed:
“Lula from the Free Port, offers you my most sincere respect, and wishes you good health.”
“Hawke.”
Hawke lowered his head:
“Greetings, Island Lord.”
“No need to say more, I know why you’ve come.” The island lord, clad in armor, slowly raised his head, his voice deep:
“Send one man and one woman to the island as sacrifices every day, and I’ll agree to let you enter the Endless Sea from here.”
“If you don’t want to…”
“Hmph!”
“If we don’t want to, what can you do?” Hawke frowned.
“One man and one woman.” The island lord chuckled:
“You two are just right.”
Please vote for monthly tickets!!!