Chapter 1045: Act 217 – Dawn’s Flame XVIII
The knights raised their swords high, but their cheers suddenly stopped.
This was because an inexplicable tremor filled everyone’s heart.
One by one, they turned around, and what met their eyes was a frozen world. The wind stood still, every leaf drooped; there was no sound of the wind or the chirping of insects. Moonlight poured down through the branches, glistening silver.
It was tranquil and desolate.
Everything in the world fell into silence; the world seemed to calm down, meekly and silently crawling.
On the Sea of Magic, twelve moons dimmed, the surface of the sea without a ripple, resembling a mirror that reflected the colors of the descending sky.
Brendel opened his eyes, his pupils crystal clear.
But at that moment, everyone felt the laws deviating, fearfully drifting away from themselves, as if something was descending. A force, unstoppable, was dominating everything, taking over everything.
The knights instinctively lowered their heads, discovering that beneath their feet lay a multitude of colorful serpents and insects, countless creatures scattering away from the grass. Pebbles unusual spun and trembled on the ground; some fine grains even floated into the sky.
Among the five in the extreme realm, the swordbearer Bradley finally noticed something was amiss. The air was filled with a sacredness he was familiar with, as if he were in the sanctuary of the Temple of Fire, the holy likeness of the sage standing above, gazing deeply at each person.
It was also watching him.
What is this…?
Behind the crystal ball, the Silver Queen could not notice these subtle changes; she only focused on Brendel, waiting for this young man’s answer.
After a moment of silence, Brendel spoke:
“Your Majesty.”
“Neither of us knows how the future will unfold.”
“However, my ideals are quite simple…”
The Sword of the Earth and the Absolute Death vanished from his hands.
He crossed his hands and gently pressed down. Though he held nothing, everyone felt as if the tip of a great sword was occupying the ground.
‘Thud—’
Everyone felt their hearts leap slightly.
A ripple spread across the Sea of Magic, radiating outwards in all directions.
At that moment, all the wizards in the Bankel region were forcibly cut off from their connection to the world of laws.
In numerous great and small sanctuaries in the region, the synchronized evening prayers of monks echoed once more, but the bishops in their gorgeous robes opened their eyes in horror, realizing that from this moment on, no responses came from under Tiamat’s domain.
The bells of the sanctuary rang long—
Countless people awoke from their dreams, drenched in cold sweat. Their dreams seemed to have been devoured, and the realm of dreams, Burnoson, was closing its gates. The witches realized at that moment that the land of witches had vanished, and they had fallen into a common nightmare.
In endless darkness, they saw a golden sword ablaze with flames descending from the clouds, resembling a sun that illuminated the entire sky…
Rustle, rustle, the whole world trembled.
In the Prince of Walhua District, the gathered civilians saw the statue of the King of Fire in the square quivering slightly, the pebbles on the ground rising and falling as if forming a wave.
The windows of the surrounding buildings creaked and groaned, shattering one after another, the sound of glass crashing to the ground filling the air.
The square was filled with terrified screams, and some people began to flee, chaos inevitably breaking out.
“Is it an earthquake?” Cetty tightly grabbed Al’s hand, feeling the low rumble beneath her feet.
Al shook his head firmly.
He frowned, carefully protecting Cetty as they avoided the pushing crowd.
“The sages are angry—!”
Someone screamed in the crowd.
A wave of movement ensued.
The worshippers in the center of the square, holding a ceremony, also paused, looking up together toward a certain direction—
And within the Holy Contipal Palace, the Silver Queen seemed to have finally noticed the abnormalities outside.
She frowned and turned to the person behind her, saying, “Grindow, go check it out.”
The Dragon Queen nodded without expression, turned, and opened the door to the inner hall, disappearing from sight.
Then the Silver Queen turned back.
Her face was as calm as water, her silver eyes reflecting the brilliance from the crystal ball, as if it held another world within.
Indeed, behind the crystal ball was another world—
Because in Brendel’s dark brown eyes, there flickered a dazzling golden flame deep within.
He spoke, his voice resonating throughout the world:
“I don’t care what you intend to do, nor do I care who you are.”
“Whether you are the supreme queen or the dark dragon of the Minren!”
“But—”
“Return Xi to me!”
The humming in the air was the change of laws.
“No!” At that moment, the swordbearer Bradley finally reacted, realizing what had made him uneasy. He drew his long sword, shouting angrily, “Stop him!”
But it was too late.
“Return Xi to me—”
The booming voice echoed above the entire forest.
The deep tremors in the forest had transformed into a roar; not only the pebbles and rubble, but even the trees and rocks emitted low and ancient sounds, resonating a million times as if responding to this declaration.
Responding to the ruler’s wrath…
The treetops creaked and swayed, ready to be uprooted. Rocks had already broken free from the earth’s grasp, flying up into the sky.
A majestic and terrifying aura emerged from the forest, causing the Flame-affiliated knights to change their expressions, drawing their long swords to approach Brendel; yet an invisible force swept through the forest, forcibly pinning everyone to the ground.
Leaving them immobile.
At that instant—
Above everyone’s heads, the dark clouds in the night sky parted, and a dazzling golden light, resembling a newborn sunrise, illuminated the entire sky above the Bankel region.
Reflected in everyone’s eyes was a fiery red light piercing through the boundless darkness, descending straight from the heavens.
That was the light of all things being born.
Bestowed with wisdom from the flames.
At that moment, there was no other color between heaven and earth.
The world of laws trembled violently.
Across the entire Rustra region, in all corners of Bankel, in the west of Mez, in Cloak Bay, and even on the front lines of the Nazhe people, everyone saw this beam of red fire descending from the heavens.
These warriors from another realm all halted their driving constructs, opened their cabins, and looked up at this wonder of the world.
In their eyes, reflected was the golden blazing sun, the sacred fire that had lingered on earth a thousand years ago.
“Praise wisdom!”
The priests of Nazhe raised their hands high, shouting excitedly:
“Praise wisdom!”
The voice rose like the sea, resounding back and forth.
Everything else dimmed, but at that moment, the constellation of the King of Fire shone brilliantly in the southern sky of Vaunte.
Tens of millions of people witnessed this scene.
It was golden red like fire, yet so pure.
Beneath this dazzling radiance, a coach was passing through the woods near Sangbao under the protection of knights, heading toward the Holy Contipal Palace.
Inside the coach, the maiden’s eyes reflected the descending flames, and tears involuntarily streamed down her shining eyes.
She had been cast aside by everyone in this world.
She had never seen her biological parents; in her memories, there was only the cold dark forest, howling beasts, dim fears, and the pale specters in the woods.
She had poured all her trust into wanting a family, but all she received was icy abandonment.
She was humble, insignificant, and did not expect to gain anything.
But all she hoped for was to have a slight bond in this world, yet even that wish had repeatedly fallen through.
“Can I really be important to someone in this world?”
“Of course.” That person smiled and replied.
“Everyone in this world has the right to pursue their happiness.”
However…
This question she had cautiously hidden in her heart finally received an answer that day, an answer that made her so happy she could hardly believe it.
The Lord had not lied to her.
“Return Xi to me—”
That voice echoed above the clouds, resonating over the entire imperial capital.
It was not a vow, yet more beautiful and resolute than any vow in this world.
On the opposite side of the carriage, the mountain maidens had already moved to tears, watching their weeping lord, filled with regret and sorrow.
They once thought it would be fine if their lord married a descendant of the mountain hero.
They even found it hard to understand why their lord resisted the Queen’s decision so fiercely; hadn’t he himself been a mountain dweller?
But at that moment, they understood.
There was indeed someone in this world who dared to confront the entire empire for the sake of their lord.
If he wasn’t a madman, then he must be the most worthy man for their lord’s affection.
What a hero he was…
The maidens quietly reached out, grasping their lord’s hand—although Her Majesty was supreme, at this moment they chose to stand by the latter.
At this moment, a radiant beam of light outside the carriage window resembled the fire of dawn, the flames of dawn.
It would surely illuminate the darkness and bring light.
…
And at that moment, the sword of the swordbearer Bradley finally arrived.
What a sword it was.
It was like a bright and narrow line cutting across the sky, dividing everyone’s sight in two, leaving nothing else in this world.
How could one defend against such a sword?
The knights present found themselves without an answer, feeling that before it, there was only the option of surrender.
Yet Brendel provided them with an answer.
He raised his right hand.
Nothing was in his right hand.
“Clang—!”
A bright line seemed to flash through the darkness, the line that divided the world and extended infinitely actually halted in front of Brendel’s outstretched right hand.
Then all illusions shattered, and the world returned to its original form; the sword in Bradley’s hand became a silver light, striking heavily just a foot away from Brendel.
Creating a long and bright spark.
Everyone held their breath at that moment; some even gasped sharply.
The full power of the Extreme Sword Saint was blocked.
Blocked by such a young man.
Some of the royal guards who witnessed this could not help but pinch themselves to confirm they were not dreaming.
Then they saw a sword.
That sword began to reveal its true form in Brendel’s hand—
Like flames burning in the air, where fire passed, revealed numerous dark red shards sparkling with metallic luster, these shards bound together by an invisible force formed the shape of the sword.
On those shards, small words were engraved in a fragmented manner:
‘Mots vissa tarsie—’
“That’s…”
“That’s the physical form of the Blade of Fire!”
The Flame-affiliated knights immediately recognized the sword.
But in their hearts, a storming voice roared:
The physical form of the Blade of Fire was handed down in the sanctuaries through dense laws, yet this person bore no inscription of the sword; how could the physical form of the Blade of Fire manifest in his hands?
What did this signify?
“Wait, look at that girl!” Finally, someone noticed Andrigraphis nearby.
Everyone’s gaze turned in that direction.
Two swords crossed—
Brendel looked at the swordbearer Bradley in front of him, and the latter’s eyes slightly narrowed. The aged swordbearer’s gaze was aflame with the golden flame in the young man’s eyes.
This is…
He felt a shock within.
Because this was the legacy of the long-lost Path of Golden Flame from a thousand years ago.
The late king had actually chosen him as the heir.
How could this be?
But Brendel paid no heed to his thoughts, only letting out a small sigh before asking:
“Is this your answer, Your Majesty?”
The Silver Queen’s heart skipped a beat as if she had missed something, but she quickly calmed down.
“Your reliance is merely a Blade of Fire?” She chuckled coldly. “But Brendel, didn’t your grandfather teach you how to become a mature man?”
“I am the emperor of the empire; what I say cannot be easily changed—”
“…then there is only one path left for us.”
The Silver Queen laughed in rage, “Arrogant—”
Whether Brendel was arrogant or not, the swordbearer Bradley did not know, but at this moment he struggled to express his thoughts; he wanted to tell the Silver Queen that this young man before her was not just simply restoring the Blade of Fire.
But he could not utter the words, for just at that moment, he caught a glimpse of a golden light from the corner of his eye.
“Blade of Fire!”
Someone among the Flame-affiliated knights shouted out loud.
Andrigraphis finally lost control of the Staff of Fire in her hand; as it flew from the grasp of the Vampire Princess, it shot toward Brendel.
Then, before everyone’s eyes, it fused into the shattered Blade of Fire in Brendel’s hands.
This scene was something even Brendel had not anticipated.
Then he felt a powerful force erupting within his body; he instantly understood what this power was— it was the soul of Odrefice, the power of the Flame Pearl.
In an instant—
The chasm between the side of Truth and the peak of the law vanished completely.
Then the seed of law took root and sprouted, the ultimate principles of elements and order inscribed an indelible mark in Brendel’s heart, and thus he leaped over the door of the spiral pinnacle.
It was barely a second.
He closed his eyes, feeling as if the gentle sea breeze was brushing against his soul, witnessing the spirits of all things being born in the water, gaining bodies from the earth; sheltered by the wind and bestowed with wisdom by the flames.
When he reopened his eyes, the flames in them had dimmed, leaving only a glimmer of golden flames flickering deep within.
Downstream of the laws.
But the momentum was still rising, as fragments of ancient memories merged deep into his heart; that powerful force continued to grow, nearly approaching the middle ground of the laws.
Before it finally came to a halt.
Then he heard a long-lost system prompt:
“Acquired the Key of Fire—”
“Acquired the Holy Sword, the Shattered Amber—”
Brendel did not know what this Key of Fire was, but the second prompt struck deep into his soul like a bolt of lightning. He couldn’t help but stare blankly at the shattered Odrefice in his hands, looking at the sparse lines written on the data panel:
Amber (Damaged)
【Existence】
Attack 214-373
Additional Fire Damage 110-150
+575 Strength
Additional Skills:
Key of the Present: Increases law attacks by one realm.
Wisdom Flame: ‘Dawn’s Flame, the Distinction of the Wise—’, the wielder may display all fire magic from tiers one to eight while attacking.
…
(PS: Brendel wants to save Xi, what I want is obvious. Please support with monthly votes.)
