Chapter 42: Blood in the Flames

"Shit, they even dared to mess with us. I reckon our loss was quite big as well. My Nebula is nearly exhausted," Dongfang Jun cursed, his spiky hair glinting in the light of the dying day, his face contorted with fury.

The others stood around him, their expressions a mix of anger and exhaustion. Sweat poured down their faces, and their breathing was ragged from the battle they'd barely managed to survive. They had fought tooth and nail for this treasure, and now it was finally within their grasp.

"Since they left, let's start harvesting the treasure," said the man with a mole on his cheek, his voice gruff as he wiped blood from his brow. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he gazed at the cracked earth beneath them, where the Fire Seed was hidden.

Just as they prepared to claim their prize, a cold, gloomy voice echoed from the shadows, sending a chill through the air. "I'm sorry, this thing belongs to me."

The four men stiffened, their eyes darting to the source of the voice. From the depths of the ravine, a pale figure appeared. His face was gaunt, with skin as white as snow, and his eyes gleamed with malice from beneath the brim of a baseball cap. He was somewhat handsome, but there was a deathly aura surrounding him, an air of menace that seemed to suck the warmth from the world around him.

"Who are you this time… Hmph, you actually want to reap our prize after we worked so hard for it…" Dongfang Jun's voice shook with barely contained fury as he glared at the stranger. His hand instinctively moved toward his magical focus, ready to fight at a moment's notice.

The stranger's lips curled into a twisted smile as he slowly removed his cap, revealing a grotesque mark burned into his forehead, like a brand used on livestock. His eyes were cold, dead, and filled with a dark hunger.

"You might have heard of my name, Chao He," he said, his voice a low, guttural growl that sent shivers down their spines.

The man with the combed hair took a step back, his face draining of color. "Chao He… It's… it's that Killer Magician!"

Chao He grinned wider, his lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, and his presence alone seemed to suffocate the air around them. "Dongfang Family, right? If I remember correctly, you guys have a girl called Dongfang Qinger. She seemed quite delicious."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence, and Dongfang Jun's face twisted with rage. "You bastard! You actually dare to toy with a disciple of our Dongfang Family?"

"Toying with her wasn't anything special," Chao He said, licking his lips in a slow, grotesque motion. "What I meant was she was quite delicious when I ate her!"

The four men recoiled in horror, their faces going pale as the reality of what he said sank in. Dongfang Qinger had disappeared months ago, taken by this monstrous killer. None of them had imagined the truth was this grotesque, that she had been devoured by this beast in human skin.

Chao He's mad laughter echoed across the ravine, but before any of them could react, something dark and sinister began descending from above. It was like a spider's web, black and thick, invisible one moment and then suddenly there, wrapping around them with terrifying speed.

"I was actually here before all of you. In fact, this Demonic Pit was actually a gift I prepared for our meeting!" Chao He's laughter turned even more maniacal as the black threads tightened around their bodies.

"It's the Curse element, retreat!" Dongfang Jun yelled, his face twisted in panic as he struggled to break free. But it was too late. The black web had already ensnared them, binding them in place, their limbs trapped by the unseen curse.

The other men screamed in terror, thrashing against their invisible bonds, but the more they struggled, the tighter the black silk seemed to wrap around them, draining their strength bit by bit.

"Oh no, we're too late!" A voice rang out from the edge of the ravine, and Tangyue, who had been observing the battle from afar, suddenly stood up, her face pale with realization.

She had intended to intervene, to stop Chao He before he could claim the treasure or kill any more people. But he had set his trap long before she arrived, and now the four men were ensnared in his web, their fates sealed.

The Curse element was one of the darkest and most insidious forms of magic, and Chao He had mastered it to terrifying levels. His Sinister Spider Trap had already reached the third level, making it nearly impossible for anyone trapped in it to escape. The black threads weren't just binding their bodies; they were draining their very souls, bit by bit.

Tangyue clenched her fists in frustration. "If they were a Psychic Element or a Light Element, they might have a chance. But now… they're as good as dead."

She had a duty to save them, but there was nothing she could do now. The curse was too powerful, and Chao He was already far too strong. Her only option was to wait for the right moment, to strike when he let his guard down.

As Chao He turned his attention away from the dying men and toward the treasure beneath them, Tangyue watched with a growing sense of dread. The reservoir had cracked open, revealing a deep, dark hole from which a wave of heat was beginning to rise.

Chao He smiled in anticipation, his hands trembling with excitement as he reached down toward the fissure. "Very good. After I refine this Hellfire, I will be able to do whatever I want with my increased power!!"

The ground rumbled beneath them as a pillar of flame shot up from the depths of the earth. It was a beautiful, terrifying sight, a column of pure, untainted fire that burned with a red so deep it seemed almost black. This was no ordinary flame; it was a Spirit Grade Fire Seed, a Rose Flame, one of the rarest and most powerful types of fire in existence.

Tangyue's breath caught in her throat as she watched the flame rise higher and higher, its heat washing over her like a tidal wave. Chao He's laughter grew louder and more maniacal as he reached out to touch the flame, his hands trembling with anticipation.

Light, who had been standing by her side, watched the scene unfold in silence. His heart pounded in his chest as he saw Chao He beginning to absorb the flame's energy, his body trembling with ecstasy as the raw power flowed into him.

"You don't need my help?" Light asked, his voice low and tense as he turned to Tangyue.

"No," Tangyue replied, her eyes never leaving Chao He. "The opponent is a crazy murderer. I only let you come along as an extra layer of protection, not to fight this psycho."

Light nodded silently, understanding the gravity of the situation. He could feel the tension in the air, the danger hanging over them like a dark cloud. Chao He was no ordinary opponent. He was a killer, a monster, and now he was growing even more powerful with each passing second.

As Tangyue began to form her Star Atlas, Light watched in awe as the patterns of magic spread across the ground around her. Her arms stretched out before her, and a giant spike of shadow magic began to take shape in front of her chest.

The Giant Shadow Spike was one of the strongest imprisoning spells in Intermediate Magic, and as Tangyue released it, the spike shot forward with blinding speed, disappearing into the shadows without a sound.

Light barely had time to react before the spike reappeared, stabbing into the ground beneath Chao He's feet. But it wasn't Chao He's body that had been pierced—it was his shadow.

Chao He's whole body stiffened, his movements frozen as if he had been nailed to the ground. His shadow was pinned in place by the Giant Shadow Spike, and no matter how hard he tried to move, his body wouldn't obey.

For a brief moment, Tangyue allowed herself to relax. The Giant Shadow Spike had worked; Chao He was immobilized, unable to cast any more spells or absorb any more of the Fire Seed's power.

But then, Chao He slowly turned his head, his eyes locking onto Tangyue. A twisted grin spread across his face, and a low, guttural laugh escaped his lips.

"I believe I should have two more charges," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "And one of them is for killing a member of the Magic Trials."

Tangyue's heart skipped a beat as she realized the danger she was in. Chao He wasn't just a killer—he was a monster, and even pinned to the ground, he was still far more dangerous than she had anticipated.