novelThe Stellar Core
| ← Ch.806 | Ch.808 → |
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Lucien that Arrogance turned into walked out of the mirror gracefully and slowly; its black shoes glittering.
"If you call the most fundamental conclusion that is based on facts arrogance, then arrogance will not be the name of a devil but that of an angel." Lucien did not attack immediately but observed Arrogance who looked identical to himself except for the countenance in great interest.
Arrogance was still as disdainful as a moment ago."You dare say that there is not the slightest condescension and mockery in your heart? Arrogance is not a feeling but comes from your mind. It's the bias caused by your experiences of success. If you say it is a devil, it will be a devil, and if you say it is an angel, it will be an angel. Therefore, it cannot be blocked by your spells. Were you not arrogant when faced with the wrong arcana theories, or when those weaker than you challenged you? Just admit it. Arrogance is not bad at all. It's a symbol that distinguishes the victors from the losers, like..."
It paused and suddenly raised its right hand while letting out an intricate spell from its mouth.
"Snow Goddess' Forgiveness!"
... Like when you created 'Snow Goddess' Forgiveness', the legendary spell which was close to absolute zero. Were you not proud of it? Did you not feel subtly jubilant when you dealt with the enemy with the spell?
That was arrogance!
With the indescribable gesture, Arrogance performed the ice-type legendary spell on Lucien, as if it were a real but arrogant Lucien!
Its attack came without any warning. The translucent pillars of light, under the restraint of invisible light and grids of darkness, surged toward Lucien.
Lucien, who had been staying on alert, was prepared for the attack. The moment Arrogance raised its right hand, a dark and profound universe appeared on his back, and in the middle of the colorful stars, an enormous fireball emitted terrifying heat.
It influenced the environment as if it were real, immediately vaporizing the red bed and the tawny carpet in the room.
Snow Goddess' Forgiveness was blown into this Atomic Universe. However, under the heat of the sun and the magnificent storm of energy, the magnetic field and the lasers that bound it were contorted and affected. Therefore, the unimaginable frigidity burst out in advance. Stars were frozen one after another, making the dark cosmos even more desolate.
When the light was finally frozen by the darkness, Lucien had already disappeared from the spot.
Before Arrogance was able to take action, the jolly ticking sounds echoed next to its ears, before everything was ended by a crack.
All the glamorous colors of the exquisite castle were gone, leaving nothing but the monotonous monochrome, where the "Lucien" that Arrogance turned into looked like a puppet from an old picture.
Outside of the window, Lucien's figure appeared. Holding the silver and delicate pocket watch, he chanted the spell that led to unusual waves.
"Luxury Cracking!
"Luxury Cracking!
"Soul Smite!"
All the three legendary spells had been attached with "Hand of Uncertainties". The last one was one of the few legendary spells that Lucien picked up recently specifically to deal with spirits, primeval devils, and other enemies who did not have real entities.
Since his destination was the primeval hell, he naturally had to be prepared. Lucien never looked down upon any opponent. Unless he had other purposes, he always tried his best however weak the enemy seemed!
After the three legendary spells were cast, the feeling of frozen time was broken, and the extravagant colors like red and yellow returned. Inside the "old picture", Arrogance cracked nonstop as the magic effects were gone.
All the effects on its body, including "Spell Trigger", had completely collapsed under two rounds of "Luxury Cracking".
Then, after a thud, its body became blurry, and black gas jetted out of its eyes, neck, ears, mouth, and pores, as if a water ball had been smashed by an invisible hammer, with juice splashing everywhere.
"Soul Smite" had heavily wounded and rigidified Arrogance. Lucien certainly wouldn't let go of such an opportunity. He blew out "Silent Blue", which he exchanged with Hellen using "Snow Goddess' Forgiveness".
The black air around Arrogance and Arrogance itself was frozen and caught in the silent and freezing blueness, losing all the activity.
Right when Lucien was about to impose all kinds of seals so that he could bring Arrogance back for further studies, it suddenly put on a weird smile inside the Silent Blue before destroying itself!
Even the Silent Blue could not completely trap it!
BOOM!
A fireball rolled and rose, and the powerful blast swept across the whole castle. The valuable building collapsed as if it were a sand statue on the beach that embraced a tide.
Lucien blinked to the sky outside of the castle. Looking at the burning remains below him, he considered the features of Arrogance.
"It seems that the devil can simulate all my spells and magic effects including the legendary ones, which makes it look like my duplicate. It's very similar to Monster Viken in the Realm of Gates, except that it is not half a level higher than me...
"... It does not have a Moon Timer, so it could not get rid of 'Advanced Time Stop'... Does it mean that the devil cannot simulate the effects of my items?
"... It could not transform its status in my unique way. It's obvious that the nature of the world on such a level is beyond what the primeval devils can touch and duplicate. It can only do it in a similar way to the primeval devils. That's why it could not avoid 'Silent Blue'..."
While Lucien analyzed the situation of Arrogance, laughter burst out in the debris and the wilderness at the same time."It's useless. You can't kill me, because I am you!
"It's also a behavior of arrogance that you cannot treat yourself fairly!"
The laughter gradually died down. Out of Lucien's expectation, Arrogance did not attack and consume his spiritual power with a protracted battle. Instead, it melted into the darkness without giving any more sounds, like a ferocious predator that tailed the prey quietly and held itself back from a fierce attack until the prey was exhausted.
Staying on alert, Lucien observed the environment. It was a wasteland where nothing grew. The dim red blood seemed saturated with blood, giving a painful and miserable feeling.
"The Desert of Pain..." Lucien heaved a sigh. It was almost a "landmark" that every legendary sorcerer who came to the primeval hell had seen before. As the greatest feature of the primeval hell, it had been named by a certain ancient legendary sorcerer as "Desert of Pain".
Lucien continued to fly in the previous direction. After all, if he were scared off by Arrogance just like that, he would never be able to explore the primeval hell.
After flying for a while, the "map" in Lucien's arms suddenly unleashed intense waves.
Taking out the map that the Lord of Mysteries gave him, Lucien saw that the eerie symbols on it wriggled as if alive and pointed at a certain direction.
The special Stellar Core that the Master of Argent hid is around? Lucien thought to himself. Considering for a moment, Lucien decided to take a look at it since there were no other emergencies.
Navigated by the map, Lucien flew in the dim, dark sky for a while until he saw a shaking temple below.
The old temple was very similar to the temple outside of the Blue Gate and carried the style of the primordial times. The dome was supported by enormous stone pillars.
However, the stone pillars of this temple had half collapsed, and the air of aging and rotting was spreading out.
Lucien observed for a long time with magic, before he finally descended and landed. He then walked into the temple.
The wall of the temple was painted with simple but vivid illustrations. They were the pictures of cruel punishments, including whipping, beheading, hanging, mincing, and drowning, as well as the sacrificial rituals that a bunch of human-like creatures conducted with those punishments.
Looking at the shabby paintings, Lucien almost failed to control his feelings of pain and hate.
"Is this the beginning of the summoning of primeval devils? Have the primeval devils drawn them to allure the adventurers?" Thanks to the help of magic, Lucien kept calm. He recorded the paintings while he pressed further in the temple.
Although the temple was enormous, it was nothing but a minor library for a legendary sorcerer like Lucien. Very soon, he saw the brilliant Stellar Core that was placed on the altar of the temple.
The Stellar Core was smaller and brighter than the one Lucien used to make "Moon Timer". The space around was curved inwardly because of its attraction, giving the feeling that it was extremely heavy.
The most unique feature of the item was that it carried certain transcendental air. Through the brilliant core, one seemed able to see the shadow of an enormous planet.
COMMENT
Lucien put on a sincere smile after seeing the Stellar Core, not because the material was precious, but because the specialness of it had allowed him to further approach the truth.
Despite his delight, Lucien was not careless. He began to inspect the Stellar Core and the environment with all kinds of spells, in case it was another trap like the Time Plate, or it was part of the Master of Argent's scheme.
Hardly had Lucien cast his magic when the brilliance of the Stellar Core on the ground suddenly constricted and stretched out into a male in a tight suit. It was exactly Memphiste, the Lord of Mysteries.
"Pleased to meet you, I am Greed." The devil introduced itself with a smile. Then, pointing at its face, it said, "You must've fallen into this guy's scheme."
It was obviously referring to Memphiste.
"Huh?" Lucien sniffed with a smile.
Greed chuckled."Although the guy is not strong, he is exceptional at plotting, and he likes to hurt other people for no reason. You already fell into his trap when you agreed to help him fetch the Stellar Core.
"I know that you did not sign a contract with him, but when you think that you need to come and fetch the Stellar Core, you have essentially handed over the knife to us, the primeval devils."
Lucien's smile was gone, and he listened quietly.
Greed was even more satisfied."Normally speaking, if a top legend like you enhanced yourself with all kinds of spells and entered the primeval hell without any emotional fluctuations, you would've only encountered some illusions and the wandering phantoms that were possessed by us, and you wouldn't have encountered so many of us in a row. However, because you already had the greedy thought that you had to fetch the Stellar Core, there was a gap in your defense that we could make use of very easily!"
Lucien listened quietly but did not give a reply.
"What about it? Isn't his scheme barely noticeable?" Greed said with an exaggerated tone.
Lucien was still silent.
After waiting for a while, Greed asked with a smile, still pretending to be casual, "Are you not mad? Do you not want to take him down?"
"Whether or not what you said is true, will anger help anything? It will only give your old partner, 'Abhorrence', a chance to project into my heart." Lucien finally opened his mouth. His smile was gentle and peaceful, like the tender light from the bright moon.
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