Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 317 You're a Monster
"This magic works really well."

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

He's lacked ranged attack methods for quite some time now, and seeing Roger's magical combat skills only makes him more envious.

Roger, exhausted, leaned on his sword for support. His face was pale from the depletion of his magic, but a smile still lingered on his lips as he replied:
"How about it? Want to go back and learn a few tricks from me? I'm sure you'll be satisfied with my teaching methods."

Lu Mingfei shrugged and sheathed the greatsword behind his back:

"If I could really learn how you clever people manipulate pyroxene."

He didn't have high hopes for this, since everyone's talent tree is allocated differently.

Moreover, his other magic teacher, Serenity, was also a highly skilled teacher, but he simply couldn't learn from him.

The Forge Knight Theros had reached the pile of remains left by the corrupted tree spirits.

He carefully brushed aside the ashes with the tip of his sword, revealing the golden seed.

Compared to ordinary golden seeds, this seed appeared somewhat dim, and its surface seemed to be shrouded in a wisp of black mist, clearly indicating that it had been polluted by the local environment, but the life force contained within it still remained.

Theros picked it up, and the swirling black aura made a faint hissing sound as it came into contact with the golden light on his armor, as if it had been purified somewhat.

He turned around and handed the precious seed to Lu Mingfei.

He doesn't need this thing.

Lu Mingfei didn't immediately go to take it, but subconsciously looked at Roger first.

After all, the battle was fought by all three of them, so the spoils should be divided among them.

Roger understood his look, smiled, waved his hand, and said casually:
“Take it. I have no witch by my side, and I can’t see the guidance of two fingers. This thing is of little practical use to me except as a research specimen.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingfei stopped being coy, nodded, and took the golden seed from Theros's hand.

"Then I won't be polite."

He carefully put the seeds away, silently counting in his mind that this was already the sixth golden seed he had collected.

No matter what dangers lurk deep underground, this trip is already a sure win, thanks to this seed alone.

"Have you rested enough?"

Lu Mingfei asked, his voice echoing in the empty corridor:
"The real source should be right ahead."

Roger took a deep breath, forced himself to stand up straight, and gripped his rapier tightly, clearly not intending to linger.

But at that moment, the Forge Knight Theros raised his hand and blocked his way.

"Your friend had better stay here."

Theros' helmet turned toward Roger.

"Whether he will die if he goes any further is hard to say. But something 'bad' is bound to happen to him."

His choice of words was very restrained, but the underlying meaning was chilling:

"That is a power that his current soul and body cannot resist. Forcing him to follow will only turn him into a living corpse covered in cursed thorns."

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately looked at Roger.

Roger's face paled even more. He opened his mouth as if to argue something. As a scholar exploring the unknown, having the answer within reach but being prevented from being found was undoubtedly a great torment.

But looking at Theros's expression, which was by no means alarmist, and feeling the oppressive atmosphere ahead, he realized that Theros was not exaggerating.

In the end, all the words I wanted to say were reduced to a long sigh.

"OK then."

Roger's voice was a little hoarse.

He looked up, his eyes pleading:

"Please... make sure to recount everything you saw to me completely. Don't omit any detail."

"I will, I promise."

Lu Mingfei solemnly promised, saying that he could see Roger's disappointment and felt a little sorry for him.

But for the sake of this new friend's life, this is the best choice.

Watching Roger retreat a few steps dejectedly and lean against a broken stone statue, Lu Mingfei turned to face Theros and asked his question:
"Theros, what about me? Why do you think I can withstand the power ahead?"

He knew he was also being corrupted by the curse, only to a lesser degree than Roger.

Theros's masked head turned towards Lu Mingfei, scrutinizing him closely.

"I'll call that curse 'curse of death' for now."

The Forge Knight's voice was deep and slow:
"It takes root and sprouts in the bodies of mortal beings, drawing life force, and eventually transforms into black thorns that pierce the body from the inside out, bringing utter death and distortion." "I can resist because I am blessed by the furnace. My armor and soul are imbued with the power of the hundred aspects of life at its beginning, carrying the eternal blessing of the furnace, giving me a natural resistance to negative forces."

He paused for a moment, his gaze becoming even more serious.

"As for you..."

"Perhaps you yourself are not clearly aware of it, but deep within your life lies a trace... of the same origin as 'the beginning'. Like the power of a furnace, it is the most primal, chaotic and powerful aspect of life."

Although it was very faint, I definitely felt it.

Lu Mingfei was stunned, and he subconsciously scratched his head:

"Is it because...my power is similar to that of the ancient dragons?"

"Ancient dragon?"

Theros snorted coldly, his tone ambiguous, neither confirming nor denying:

"The power of the ancient dragons can be traced back to the Primordial Forge. They were once the rulers of the world, their power ancient and immense. But..."

“But the primordial aura on you is even more ancient than theirs, and even closer to the origin.”

The Forge Knight tilted his head slightly and finally used a simple word to describe his feelings:

"You're simply a... monster."

Lu Mingfei stood there, speechless for a long time.

He recalled certain extraordinary qualities he possessed, and that unfathomable power that sometimes surfaced spontaneously...

He remained silent for a moment, then finally took a deep breath of the stench-filled air to suppress his chaotic thoughts.

Without another word, the two stepped into the stinking mud pit, one after the other.

The thick mud was ankle-deep, making every step incredibly difficult. The stench of decay, mixed with the pervasive "curse of death" in the air, was nauseating.

Lu Mingfei suppressed his discomfort and glanced around, but his attention was more focused on the silent Furnace Knight in front of him.

Theros remained composed, but the aura emanating from beneath his red-gold armor carried an unprecedented level of disorder.

Finally, after traversing the deepest part of the mud and stepping onto the other side of the ground, Lu Mingfei stopped, breaking the silence:

"Theros".

Upon hearing this, the Forge Knight paused, turned slightly to the side, and turned his visor toward him.

Lu Mingfei stared at his helmet, which concealed his expression:

"Let's put aside my own confusing situation for now. Tell me first, what 'familiar' aura did you sense during the fight? You were clearly distracted."

His observation skills were extremely sharp, especially in battle.

He clearly remembered that when the battle began, Theros paused for a brief moment. Although it was quickly covered up by his powerful strength, that flaw did not escape Lu Mingfei's eyes.

"With your strength and experience, you shouldn't hesitate at all when facing an attack of that level."

Lu Mingfei added:

"That aura distracted you."

Theros remained silent, like an ancient statue.

Only the faint golden light flowing through the gaps in his armor revealed the turmoil in his heart.

After a long while, just when Lu Mingfei thought he wouldn't answer, the deep voice slowly rang out.

"...You're right, I was distracted."

He admitted it.

"I sensed an aura... an aura that should never be here. The owner of that aura has long been confirmed dead, solemnly buried, and is now guarded by two leaders..."

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat as he heard this, vaguely sensing something.

He asked:

"Who is it? Explain yourself, Theros!"

The Forge Knight abruptly raised his head, his gaze behind his visor fixed on a distant and noble place.

His voice was heavy as he uttered the name, word by word:
“Ge Dewen”.

"That supreme golden prince, the eldest son blessed with the endless grace of the golden tree, the hero who once forged an immortal pact with the ancient dragon..."

Theros's voice was filled with deep remembrance and sorrow:
"...and in that dark night, in that conspiracy, the first to die."

(End of this chapter)