Red-Fire Crystal

"Hah, such big talk!" Alaric Astor scoffed as he heard Magnus claim that what he had was even more precious than the Thunder Crystal. His eyebrows arched in skepticism, he pointed at Magnus and said, "Then show me. If it's really that valuable, fine. But if you dare bring out some trash, I'll discipline you myself on behalf of our father!"

"Oh... Brother, let's just drop it…" Orion Astor wanted to smooth things over, but Magnus was more direct. He bent down, lifted the wooden box that previously contained the 'intimate medicine' spring palace painting album, and slammed it onto the table next to him with a thud!

"Alright… I'll open it and show you what a true treasure is!"

As Magnus said this, he flipped open the wooden box. Orion, who wanted to stop him, was already too late.

With a "clang!", the lid of the box hit the back of the box, making a crisp sound.

"It's over…" Orion sighed internally, ready to cover his eyes and not look at what was in Magnus's box.

"Hmm…!"

But in the next moment, Orion felt a shock through his body, and his expression changed instantly!

As a practitioner of fire-elemental techniques, Orion suddenly felt a surge of fiery elemental energy emanating from the room. The air became dry and hot, centering around Magnus and, more precisely, the wooden box on the table beside him.

Almost instantly, a fiery red brilliance flashed in the room. Orion, like a raging flame, appeared in front of the box in a flash and reached into it with lightning speed.

The next moment, he held a crystal in his hand. It was the size of a baby's torso, fiery red, emitting shimmering red light. The red brilliance flickered and danced like a floating red flame.

As soon as the red crystal was exposed to the air, the temperature in the room soared by more than ten degrees, as if a massive furnace had been lit inside.

Seeing the fiery red crystal in his hand, Orion was dumbstruck for a long moment before finally exclaiming in awe, "This… this is a Crimson Cloud Crystal!"

"Crimson Cloud Crystal!" The words escaped Orion's mouth, and Alaric was equally shocked.

"Brother, is this… really a Crimson Cloud Crystal?" Alaric was in disbelief.

"Brother, I've longed for this treasure for so long," Orion Astor said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I once had the chance to see it up close at the Dragon City Auction in the capital. A fist-sized Crimson Cloud Crystal was auctioned off to an unknown lone master."

"I never thought I'd see it again. This is undoubtedly a Crimson Cloud Crystal. It's exactly like the one I saw back then, with such a strong fiery aura!"

"It really is a Crimson Cloud Crystal!" Alaric Astor exclaimed in astonishment, fully aware of its immense value. He knew it was worth more than several cities put together, even surpassing the Thunder Crystal in worth.

"Heh heh… Brother, are you satisfied with this gift?" Magnus, watching his brother's enamored gaze, couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Very satisfied!" Orion expressed his excitement and surprise in just five words.

"Alaric and Orion are both martial arts geniuses, naturally possessing forty spiritual meridians. Alaric excels in thunder-element techniques, while Orion is adept in fire-element techniques. Both have aggressive and dominant styles, and thus, their need for powerful weapons is extremely high."

Alaric's Thunder Crystal, formed from the nurturing of postnatal thunder and lightning, was incredibly precious. However, it paled in comparison to the Crimson Cloud Crystal Magnus had given Orion.

This Crystal, nurtured innately within a massive volcano, absorbing the essence of earth fire and condensing into a crystal, contained a powerful fiery energy, a dream material for fire warriors to forge weapons.

Gazing at the Crimson Cloud Crystal in his hand, Orion said fervently, "If I can forge this into a long blade, it could increase my strength by at least two and a half levels. Then, even against a Myster Stage master, I might not win, but I'd certainly have the strength to fight!"

"Ha ha…!" Orion couldn't help but throw his head back in a deep, resonant laugh, his voice booming out of his large frame like a raging flame reaching skyward.

At that moment, Alaric, who had been proudly displaying his Thunder Crystal, couldn't hide his envy. Though his Thunder Crystal significantly boosted his power, it was evidently weaker compared to the boost the Crimson Cloud Crystal offered Orion.

Orion laughed triumphantly for a moment before a question struck him. He turned to Magnus, who was smiling silently, and said, "Hey, smart guy, I was so happy I almost forgot to ask. Where did you get a treasure like the Crimson Cloud Crystal? It's incredibly rare and valuable, how did you manage to get your hands on it?"

Alaric too looked curious, astonished that his seemingly inept brother could procure such a remarkable item, even more valuable than his own Thunder Crystal.

Magnus's face showed a hint of embarrassment at the question.

"You didn't swindle or deceive someone for it, did you? I wouldn't accept it if that's the case," Orion said, noticing Magnus's odd expression and instantly turning serious.

Magnus shook his head quickly. "Brother, what do you take me for? Even if I'm not the most accomplished, as a prince, I wouldn't stoop to such deceitful acts."

Orion eyed him, thinking to himself that other royals might not resort to such means, but with Magnus, it was hard to say.

"If you didn't swindle it, then did you buy it?" Orion was determined to get to the bottom of it, not feeling at ease using the crystal otherwise.

"Huh... Brother, how did you know I bought it?" Magnus looked at Orion, surprised.

"What... you actually bought it with money?" Orion's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Uh... of course!" Magnus nodded emphatically.

"Nonsense! A treasure like the Crimson Cloud Crystal can't be bought with mere money. Little brother, this guy probably used some unsavory means to get it. It could even be a case of murder and robbery! To say it was bought with money, as if we're fools!" Alaric's face showed contempt, thinking the idea of buying the Crystal with money was ludicrous.

"Big brother, that's impossible. Magnus might be mischievous, but he would never stoop to murder and robbery!" Orion defended Magnus, knowing his younger brother's nature well. Though Magnus was lazy and indulgent, he wasn't capable of such heinous acts.

"Hmph, that kid has been crafty since childhood, never using his brain for anything upright. Who knows what kind of disgraceful act he might have committed this time. It's best you don't believe his lies, little brother."

Upon hearing Alaric accuse him of murder and robbery, a flash of cold light appeared in Magnus's eyes, and anger surged in his chest. Maybe the younger Magnus would have feared his elder brother, but not anymore.

Alaric's constant mockery and accusations had already irritated Magnus. Now, to be wrongfully accused of such serious crimes, it was too much to bear!

They say a man can endure, but even patience has its limits. Magnus leapt up from his chair, pointed at Alaric's nose, and started scolding him furiously.

"Alaric, shut up! How did you see me get this Crimson Cloud Crystal? What right do you have to accuse me of murder and theft, saying it's ill-gotten?"

"Do I need to report everything to you? Like, 'Hey big brother, I bought a brassiere for a maid, from which street, which shop, which shelf?' You're really overstepping your bounds. Do you think you're our father? He's not dead yet, so you don't need to play the big bad wolf in front of me!"

"Boom!"

Magnus's tirade came out like rapid-fire, each word hitting hard, echoing in the room and leaving his two brothers stunned and speechless, especially Alaric, who was utterly flabbergasted. He never expected Magnus, usually so meek around him, to burst out like this.

In the next instant,

"Zzzt, zzzt, zzzt!"

A surge of electric current crackled around Alaric. Dense blue currents wrapped around him, forming a network of electricity over his body, like a cloak made of lightning.

His eyes turned a brilliant silver, his entire demeanor as imposing as the Thor from American movies Magnus had seen in his previous life.

"Boom!"

As the electricity engulfed him, a powerful energy surged out, sending furniture scattering like paper in the wind.

"You insolent brat, you're asking for it!" Alaric's silver eyes, like those of a furious thunder god, glared fiercely at Magnus. He transformed into a streak of light, charging at Magnus with a massive fist surrounded by silver arcs aiming straight for his chest.

"Oh crap!" Magnus internally exclaimed, too stunned to react. "This is bad, I shouldn't have provoked him. They say a gentleman uses his mouth and not his fists, but this guy is just a brute!"

As Alaric was about to reach Magnus, suddenly, a fiery red glow flashed in front of him. A tall figure, bathed in red flames like a god of fire descending, stood protectively in front of Magnus.

The fiery figure threw a punch to meet Alaric's attack!

"Thump!"

A muffled sound echoed. Magnus felt a shock against his chest, and even with his Second Cloud level strength, he was sent tumbling back, rolling several times before coming to a stop.

Both men, like thunder and fire gods, were pushed back – Alaric one step, Orion two.

"Big brother, were you trying to kill Magnus?" Orion's eyes blazed with undisguised anger, thinking his brother's attack was excessively harsh.

Facing his similarly tall and now stern-looking younger brother, Alaric felt a chill. Orion, who had just reached the peak of the Yellow Cloud Stage, had managed to withstand his powerful thunder-elemental strike without much disadvantage. His talent in fire elements was indeed extraordinary.

Then glancing at Magnus rolling behind Orion, Alaric scoffed disdainfully. "The little brat dares disrespect me, and I, as his elder brother, can't discipline him?"

"Hmph! You should find out the whole story first!" Orion's stance was unyielding, his formidable aura confronting Alaric's.

"Magnus, confess. How did you get the Crimson Cloud Crystal? If it was through dishonorable means, I won't blame you. After all, you did it for me. I'll take responsibility. You just need to return the Crystal to its rightful owner."

Orion turned to Magnus, giving him a reassuring glance, clearly worried that Magnus was intimidated by Alaric's imposing demeanor.