Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Although Lucien could not clearly see what lay within the glass sphere, his mind and instincts screamed at him—

That thing was meant for him.

Lucien drew in a deep breath, slowly stepping closer to the sphere before him.

"So hot..." He frowned, muttering under his breath.

The nearer he came, the higher the temperature rose. Yet strangely... his Chimera Assimilation Method began circulating on its own.

"It seems... this really does belong to me..." Lucien murmured. "But what exactly is it? Fire?"

He tried to press closer, but with every step, the heat grew more intense—so much so that worry and fear began gnawing at him.

"Circulate Chimera Assimilation. Try to use the energy to seize it."

Hearing Lilith’s voice, Lucien’s heart leapt with joy.

"Don’t waste words." Lilith snapped: "Do exactly as I say."

Lucien nodded firmly. He knew his Master, Lilith, had long fallen into slumber due to depleted energy.

For her to awaken now, just to help him, filled Lucien with deep gratitude.

With his Master at his side, his confidence soared. Determination and relief shone in his eyes.

Lucien closed his eyes, pressing his palms together, standing upright as he began circulating Chimera Assimilation with full focus.

Above his head, a gray magic circle formed, floating gently while radiating a faint light.

From the circle, a wisp of white smoke drifted out, slowly inching toward the sphere before him.

The smoke seemed hesitant, wavering at the blistering heat radiating from the sphere.

Lucien frowned, as though he could feel that same scorching temperature through the white smoke.

Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his cheeks, dripping onto the ground.

The smoke crept closer, but the nearer it drew, the fainter it became—thinned as though being burned into nothingness.

The instant it touched the sphere, Lucien’s eyes flew wide open.

Both hands clenched, then opened, releasing a magic seal inscribed with bizarre runes that floated between his palms.

"Hurry!" Lilith barked.

Lucien dared not delay—he thrust his hands outward at once.

The strange runes shot forward, encircling the glass sphere.

At that instant, the glass sphere shattered into countless fragments, a wave of scorching heat bursting outward. From within, a blazing fireball emerged, radiating dazzling light as it hovered in the air.

Suddenly, the fireball shot off into the distance.

Lucien’s brow furrowed as he roared: "Run?! You cannot escape from my hands!"

The white smoke tightened like chains, instantly binding the fireball. Strange runes flared to life, forming a barrier that enclosed it.

With a flick of Lucien’s hand, the white smoke pulled the fireball back toward him.

The fireball, as if possessing a will of its own, slammed violently against the magical prison Lucien had formed.

"Ack!" Lucien grimaced, feeling the energy within his body spiral into chaos every time the fireball struck the runic barrier.

"I will not fail..." Lucien gritted his teeth, his fingers curling as if clutching something with all his might.

The fireball thrashed relentlessly, smashing again and again into the magical cage.

"Pfff!" Lucien spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion paling like that of a man drained of life.

"Lucien..." Lilith’s voice echoed within him: "It is an Exotic Flame, born from natural energy, having developed a will of its own."

"Though its mind is still primitive, its power is immense. You must be careful."

"Yes, Master!" Lucien answered inwardly, his heart steeled by her words.

He clenched his teeth, struggling to maintain the smoke-chains and the runic barrier binding the Exotic Flame.

But its resistance was overwhelming—forcing more blood from his lips, his inner energy roiling violently.

Just as he felt his strength slipping away, a face surfaced in his mind—one he loathed with all his being.

’I cannot fail...’ Lucien screamed within. ’I must surpass him... I must free Selvia... I must protect Professor Lyra and Moonsong from his filthy hands.’

’I must save everyone, and rip off his foul, deceitful mask.’

Lucien roared, veins bulging across his arms like twisted roots, his eyes burning red like flames.

The fireball flinched at his cry, momentarily frozen.

In that moment, Lucien yanked it violently toward himself.

Both of his hands stretched out, gripping tightly onto the cage that enclosed the blazing fireball.

"Agh! Hot..." Lucien grimaced as the flesh of his palms felt as though it were burning away, the searing agony twisting his face.

"Now... use Chimera Assimilation, Lucien!" Lilith barked.

Obeying her words, Lucien immediately channeled the power of Chimera Assimilation, wrapping the fireball entirely within it.

"AGH! GAA!!!" Lucien roared in torment as white smoke erupted from his body, as if something were incinerating him from the inside out.

He forced himself to devour the fireball through the white smoke and the runic cage.

His body turned red, like a boiled shrimp, steam rising off him in thick waves, accompanied by the hissing sound of burning flesh—xi... xi... xi...—as if his very being was aflame.

"GAH!!!" Lucien bellowed, his entire body glowing crimson, radiating light like a living inferno.

A burst of pressure exploded outward, a searing wave of heat sweeping the surroundings, filling the space with smoke and dust.

Moments later, as the haze cleared, a massive runic cage was revealed.

From within, a hand burst through, shattering the cage, reaching outward.

The cage dissolved into motes of light, revealing a familiar figure standing inside.

Lucien stood tall, drawing a deep breath, his face shining with exhilaration.

He raised both hands—one wrapped in tight white bandages, upon which a small emerald whirlwind spun.

On the other hand rested a blazing fireball, radiating scorching heat and brilliant crimson light.

"Master! I did it!" Lucien shouted joyfully, his voice trembling with excitement. "Master! Master!"

But no reply came from Lilith.

A pang of sadness struck him, yet he quickly shook his head, muttering: "No, Master is only too exhausted."

"Now that I’ve grown stronger, I will find a medicine to restore Master’s soul."

"Master Lilith, wait for me—I will surely save you."

Lucien’s heart brimmed with confidence as he pressed forward, continuing to seek greater treasures.

But suddenly, he halted.

"Strange... why do I feel both uneasy, and as though I’ve lost something incredibly important?"

But then, Lucien shook his head. He felt he was simply overthinking.

He had just acquired an Exotic Flame, his strength had grown significantly.

"Perhaps this strange feeling is only because my body has yet to fully adapt to this new power."

Lucien dismissed the thought, tossing aside the unease, and continued moving through the labyrinth.

Elsewhere in the maze, Lathel stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor calm and leisurely, as though he were strolling through a garden rather than searching for something of immense value.

Before him floated a lotus, suspended in the air, radiating an otherworldly light—so breathtakingly beautiful that no words could capture it.

"Found you, Exotic Flame—Netherlotus." Lathel murmured, a greedy smile spreading across his face.

Thanks to the Future Sight Card, he knew exactly where it would appear—and he also knew this treasure was originally meant for Lucien.

Indeed, had Lathel followed the path shown in that future, he would have encountered Lucien at the site of another Exotic Flame.

There, too, an Exotic Flame awaited.

Defeated and cornered, Lucien would have stumbled upon the Netherlotus, a flame of a higher order.

For while both were Exotic Flames, the Netherlotus was on an entirely different level, far stronger than the other by magnitudes.

And naturally, its applications were vastly superior as well.

But all of that had changed, because Lathel had strayed from the path the future demanded of him.

Thus, it was he who discovered the Netherlotus.

"By now, Lucien has likely absorbed that worthless Exotic Flame. In that case... Netherlotus, do you wish to become a part of me?"

As though it understood his words, the Netherlotus quivered, radiating an even brighter violet glow. Around it, two extremes of temperature erupted—one side cold enough to freeze solid, the other searing hot like molten lava.

The message it gave was clear: a warning.

But Lathel only smiled with disdain. For origınal chapters go to nοvelfire.net

"Huh! You have no choice. Do you truly believe... you can escape from my grasp?"