Elden: Ring of Calamity

Chapter 543 Crimson Dragon Curse
The two traveled without any attendants. Olivia, who had just recovered from her injuries, was left behind to guard the camp, and Yuno's envoy was sent back ahead of time, all in order to travel light and be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

As for the specific location of the core area, there is no need for anyone to guide them. Now that Yuno has completed the preliminary preparations for unsealing the magic circle, the scorching and surging rune power in the furnace ley lines is like steam escaping from the edge of a steamer and begins to spread everywhere. Lucia and Katpela only need to slightly expand their mental vision to easily capture that "high temperature" area in the distance that is very different from the surroundings.

“We’re almost there,” Lucia said with a light laugh after a moment of focused attention. “It seems our collaborator is quite cautious. There’s not only the unsealing array ahead, but also fluctuations in the spatial array. He probably set up safety measures in advance, preparing to teleport away while unsealing.”

“For him, cooperating with us is like asking a tiger for its skin. Given his past experiences, he wouldn’t have survived this long without this caution,” Katpera sighed. “What a pity.”

The two did not delve deeper into the topic of Yuno's future. Although Yuno had clearly expressed his intention to submit not long ago, that is how things are. Given that Yuno and the remnants of the Holy Temple could only choose one side to recruit, even if Yuno's current "value" was many times higher, the Ancient Dragon Dynasty would never accept such an ambitious person with no bottom line.

"Let's go." He shook his head.

The remaining distance isn't too far; at full speed, it's at most half an hour's journey. Once this matter is resolved, we can settle accounts with the giants who have lost the power of the furnace.

“Wait,” Katpera suddenly stopped, her expression hardening slightly, “over there—”

Lucia immediately stopped and channeled his mental energy further into the distance. A violent "echo" suddenly echoed in his field of vision, indicating that a target was rapidly approaching!

His eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his feet blasted countless cracks into the rocky ground. His body shot into the sky like a cannonball. The moment he soared into the air, a red light shot out from the northwest, and the two collided suddenly hundreds of meters away!

boom--

Lucia remained unmoved, while the newcomer was sent flying backward dozens of steps. His body trembled for a moment before he shot forward again. The two exchanged blows, and in the blink of an eye, a series of thunderous roars erupted in the sky!

It was a humanoid figure completely enveloped in crimson flames, whose strength and speed were close to those of a peak hero, and whose body radiated a high temperature capable of melting gold and splitting rocks.

Lucia initially thought the other party was some ancestor she had never met before, but the figure seemed to be injured. After only a few exchanges, he spat out a mouthful of blood mist, and his every move clearly showed that he intended to retreat.

On the ground, a black flame ignited in the Queen's eyes. Her delicate hand clenched in mid-air, and a spiral-shaped flame sword shadow condensed in her palm. With a light touch of her lotus feet, she soared into the sky like a startled swan, sealing off the escape route of the other side of the figure without any verbal communication.

Surrounded by two kings, let alone a peak hero who appears to be injured, even Charlegios, who is also a king, would probably be badly injured!
In the nick of time, the figure once again did something that baffled the two of them. It suddenly leaped up, and flames burst forth from its body. Hundreds and thousands of bright lines surged along the blood vessels and spread throughout its body, transforming into a crimson fire dragon with an astonishing physique in the raging flames!

Upon witnessing this extraordinary sight, even someone as composed as Lucia couldn't help but pause for a moment in astonishment.

This appearance formed from flames bears a striking resemblance to the second primordial dragon who perished in the Forbidden War—"Fire Dragon" Rodriguez!

The leaping fire dragon stretched out its four wings, and the power of fire gathered again along the blood vessels on its body. A dazzling flame suddenly appeared deep in its gaping maw!

boom! ! !
After several breaths, the dust and smoke dissipated.

Lucia stood beside the Queen, dispelling the protective spell she had just cast with her right hand. She frowned and stared at the direction the figure that had returned to human form was fleeing. With her left hand, she gently pulled the Queen's wrist and said, "Don't chase after it."

The Queen's wrist, which had been gripped, stiffened. She instinctively tried to pull away, but upon hearing this, she paused, asking, "Why?" "Burning one's bloodline, transforming oneself into a dragon, and temporarily upgrading the limited killing power of mortal fire into the more destructive primordial dragon fire—do you think this sounds like the 'Crimson Dragon Curse'?"

"You mean that person is Yuno? Impossible, the aura fluctuations are completely different."

“It’s hard to say,” Lucia pondered. “But his attack just now was definitely not aimed at us. If the direction of his attack hadn’t been so unexpected, he wouldn’t have had a chance to make a move with our combined attack.”

The queen twisted her wrist twice, quietly pulled it out, tucked it into her sleeve, and hid it behind her back. Recalling the dragon flame that had just surged past the two of them, she did feel a sense of strangeness.

It was as if they were deliberately showing off this move in front of them.

"Let's go." The figure had already disappeared into the depths of the ley lines. Lucia withdrew his gaze, his already tense mind becoming even more wary.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the core area as scheduled.

"Your Majesty, I, Yuno, respectfully welcome you both." Outside the camp, Yuno's etiquette remained impeccable.

At this moment, Yuno changed out of his previous giant noble-style clothing and put on his former bishop's robe. Perhaps because the evil flames could no longer erode his body after evolving into a fire giant, he was not as bloated as most fire bishops. His old robe had become loose and ill-fitting.

Noticing Lucia's gaze, Yuno smiled and explained, "Your Majesty, after today, I will be leaving the Northern Territory. Although this outfit no longer fits me, it is a testament to everything I have experienced on this land over the past fifteen years. Wearing it one last time is a way of leaving some memories of the past."

Lucia smiled faintly and said, "As long as you haven't lost your past skills, what does it matter if a robe that is no longer worthy of you? Before I came here, I heard that your Crimson Dragon Curse technique is the best in the Northern Territory. Now you have the Ash Flame and the Earth Vein Rune. Given time, I'm afraid even that Giant King will not be your match."

Yuno remained calm, only smiling and nodding, saying, "Your Majesty must have met Bishop Hiron. He was indeed the most respected and grateful guide I had since coming to the North. His kindness to me was no less than that of Bishop Pirac. However, we are not on the same page and cannot work together. I regret that we have come to this point, but there is nothing I can do about it."

Lucia waved his hand and said, "Since we've agreed to this cooperation, today we're not here to settle who's right and who's wrong. Lead the way."

"Yes." Yuno bowed and turned to lead the two into the camp.

As he turned around, Lucia suddenly called out to him, seemingly casually, "By the way, besides you, is there anyone else in the world who knows this Crimson Flame Dragon Spell?"

Yuno paused for a moment, a hint of confusion on his face, and said, "The so-called 'Crimson Flame Dragon Curse' is just an exaggerated claim by cultivators. In the end, it's just a trivial skill. Especially in front of you, how dare my little tricks be called a 'Dragon Curse'?"

"But who else besides me knows this? In my early years, when I was in charge of the Watcher Fortress, I taught many of my subordinates the art of prayer, including this one. So many years have passed, and even the sanctuary no longer exists. I can't say how many people have learned its essence, or how many are still alive."

Lucia gave him a deep look and said, "It's nothing, just a casual question."

(End of this chapter)