Fire Mage-Chapter 635: Progression

Chapter 635: Progression

"So he’s here... in the Star Tombs?" Charles asked quietly, his eyes glinting with a cold, dangerous light.

Jade nodded.

"He’s leading this expedition. Strong enough to stand against a Demi-God now. Don’t provoke him unless you’ve got a death wish."

They continued forward, the scenery around them shifting into a wasteland of crumbling ruins, twisted vines, and muddy wetlands. The oppressive silence and decay made the air feel colder.

Jade glanced at him.

"So... what’s your plan? Thinking of joining our group?"

Charles gave a dry chuckle.

"Don’t think the other Church members would welcome me like you do, ma’am. I’ll probably part ways once we find somewhere safe."

If my identity’s exposed, the Cardinal might not hesitate to kill me.

"Smart choice," Jade said. "And if you plan to confront Albert, wait until we’re out of this Dungeon."

She took a step forward but stopped, realizing Charles wasn’t moving.

She turned, frowning.

"What’s wrong?"

At the same time, she activated her senses, scanning the area for threats—but found nothing.

Still, she didn’t hesitate. From her space ring, she retrieved a strange blue coin, marked it with an ancient rune, and tossed it toward a crumbled building nearby.

Charles remained still, eyes glowing faintly as he activated his Faceless Eye skill. The future shifted before him, whispering danger. He raised his hand, ready to cast [Golden Shield].

"I don’t see anything," he said slowly, gaze locked ahead. "But something’s coming."

"You sure—?" Jade started, but her words were abruptly cut short.

A crimson line appeared across her throat. A heartbeat later, her head tumbled to the ground.

A dark figure stepped into view, radiating cursed energy. It was nearly seven feet tall, cloaked in tattered black robes, with gaunt limbs and a hunched back. Glowing eyes pierced the gloom, and the ancient blade in its hands shimmered with malice.

As the creature raised its sword to cleave Jade’s body in two, her form shimmered—and collapsed into water.

The liquid splashed over the creature, freezing it instantly.

Jade reappeared near the blue coin she had thrown, encased in a watery barrier.

Charles swiftly retreated, activating [Accelerate Thoughts] to quicken his mind. His Rune Eye flared as he studied the enemy.

I can only see its rank and class... not its abilities. That’s not good.

"Damn it. It’s the Nightmare Guardian," Jade growled. "We can’t fight this thing. We have to run."

Charles clenched his jaw.

"Is it really that powerful? Maybe we can take it down together."

"You don’t get it, kid. It’d take more than ten Legend Rank mystics to kill it. And even if you manage that—it’ll come back. This Dungeon is its home."

It revives... endlessly?

Charles felt a chill run down his spine. He nodded. No use dying here.

Together, they retreated as the frozen monster began to crack and writhe.

Eventually, they stumbled across a small cave hidden behind a waterfall.

"We’ll rest here. Then decide our next move," Jade said, stepping inside.

Charles conjured a floating flame, casting a warm light through the cave’s damp interior. He glanced at her.

"What was that creature? And how do you know it revives?"

Jade’s expression turned cold.

"I don’t hand out answers for free. All I’ll say is: it’ll stay in that ruin and attack anything nearby. Killing it? Only a team of Legends could hope to manage that."

Charles accepted her silence with a nod.

"All right. I’ll rest too."

Jade formed a protective water shield and lay down.

Charles pulled a wooden chair from his ring and placed it near the entrance. Sitting down, he fell into silent contemplation.

That thing must be guarding something important. But how do I kill what can’t die?

He was still too weak.

But he wouldn’t stay that way.

Later, he took out dry meat and vegetables, preparing a simple meal over his flame. The aroma of hot food slowly filled the cave, bringing a moment of warmth to the grim night.

After preparing a simple yet satisfying meal, Charles savored each bite, quietly appreciating the flavors.

Thank goodness I brought enough supplies to cook for six months, he thought with relief.

As he finished, the light outside began to dim. Aware of the dangers lurking nearby, he shifted his awareness.

"Stay alert," he instructed his other consciousness, letting it take control of his body to guard their surroundings.

With his body safely on autopilot, Charles turned his focus inward. Holding the Golden Badge, he soared into the darkened sky of his Inner World and cast a spell. A wave of energy rippled outward, activating the Rebirth Domain. In this realm, time could be bent—and he bent it to its limit.

He soon arrived at the floating hexagonal spell model and directed his gaze to the Golden Badge. Using his [Rune Eye] and deep understanding of fire, he began to study the Lawful Fire essences hidden within. Each strand of essence flickered like a truth waiting to be unraveled.

Hours passed unnoticed. Charles remained immersed, gradually peeling back the layers of the fire’s law-bound nature.

...

A few hours later, Jade stirred from her rest, feeling refreshed. Morning light filtered in faintly. After washing up by the water, she turned to Charles, who remained seated in silence, lost in his meditation.

"Are you coming with me, or going your own way?" she asked, her tone casual but curious.

Pulled back from his Inner World, Charles blinked and rose to his feet. He took a brief pause before replying.

"I’ll stay a while longer, then head northeast."

Jade’s brow twitched ever so slightly.

Northeast? Has he contacted the Sun Church already? Suspicion crossed her mind but faded just as quickly.

"Be careful," she warned. "Corpse Devourers roam that direction." She reached into her space ring, pulled out a folded, worn map, and tossed it to him.

"This is a map of the Twin Lords’ hideout. I stumbled upon it on my last trip but wasn’t strong enough to clear the area. I won’t be heading there again—got a mission elsewhere—but you might try your luck."

Charles caught the map and unfolded it carefully. His eyes scanned the intricate lines and markings, absorbing the valuable details. He looked up with quiet gratitude.

Before turning to leave, Jade offered one final thought. "Stay safe. Maybe we’ll cross paths again in Edhen World."

And with that, she vanished into the distance.

...

Left alone, Charles contemplated his next move. After a moment, he came to a decision.

Let’s improve my Wisdom Power first.

’Genesis, can you gather information about this Layer using your Wisdom Link?’

[Negative, Host. Access to Wisdom Link requires a world with its own will and a civilization advanced enough to store knowledge—books, records, or similar. Though this Dungeon is tied to Edhen World, Wisdom Link cannot be used here.]

"Hmm... I figured as much," Charles muttered under his breath. With no further delay, he prepared to explore.

Outside, the Nightmare Realm pulsed with chaotic energy. Charles roamed carefully, testing his abilities against its denizens. Near a roaring waterfall, he encountered a crocodile-like beast with glinting scales. Rank-5. Dangerous, but not enough to stop him. With swift incantations and precise spells, he brought the beast down.

He moved deeper into the woods, tracking movement with heightened senses. The forest buzzed with life and magic. One by one, he hunted Rank-4 and Rank-5 magical beasts, his spells carving a path through the underbrush.

He avoided Legendary Rank creatures—too risky for now. Instead, he focused on steady progress. Each kill bolstered his Wisdom Power.

By evening, seven Rank-5 and twenty-four Rank-4 Magical Beasts lay slain. His Wisdom Power rose to 301, but it still wasn’t enough to construct new spell models.

As night fell, Charles returned to the cave. Once more, he let his other consciousness guard the body and slipped into his Inner World.

There, seven glowing spell models floated around him. The Golden Badge pulsed in his hand. Using his accumulated Wisdom Power, Charles drew the Golden Shield from it. Activating the Rebirth Domain, he dove deep into the Fire Essences locked within.

His mind anchored to a single strand of fire, and everything else faded. The flames licked at his consciousness, searing understanding into him. Slowly, the Lawful Fire model began to transform, glowing with newly integrated essences.

By the end of that session, Charles had comprehended 47 different Fire Essences.

Charles’s understanding of Lawful Fire had reached a new height. In just one week, he comprehended 370 additional Fire Essence Streaks—and more importantly, grasped their true nature. The breakthrough didn’t just refine his control; it doubled the strength of his Golden Shield.

Even more remarkable was the enlightenment that followed. A flood of insights poured into him, reshaping his very comprehension of Lawful Fire. Without wasting a moment, he began constructing a unique defensive spell: Ignis Sanctuary.