Chapter 1194: Section 1195 Battle Intent
For the Lord of the Flameless, whether he could obtain this human actually was not important.
Even if this human initiated the Transmutation, it was merely the Cruel Scholar invoking his will.
Even when facing the Cruel Scholar directly, the Lord of the Flameless would not be at a disadvantage; he could even use this opportunity to negotiate some conditions, to gain some benefits.
As for Popota’s belief that “only another Demon God can defeat a Demon God,” this view was actually incorrect.
It was also a reflection of Popota’s lack of understanding of high-end combat power.
Demon Gods rarely fight among themselves; even the likes of the Unparalleled Great Demon God, who had previously reigned, would avoid needless waves, let alone He and the Cruel Scholar, both being Great Demon Gods.
Therefore, the Lord of the Flameless did not care whether this human would initiate the Transmutation or not.
Originally, He had planned to teleport directly to Angel’s side, but after Popota’s shouts, He instead slowed down His pace.
Giving Angel ample time to make a choice.
On the other side, Greerwu’s expression, which had been as dead as still water, deathly still and lifeless, seemed untouched by the outside world. But when it heard Popota’s call, its ears twitched.
To use the Transmutation?
Seeming to think of something, Greerwu’s eyes suddenly lit up.
If the Cruel Scholar descended, would it mean that he could drive away or even kill the avatar of the Lord of the Flameless… Even though Greerwu greatly disliked Popota, but just as Popota had said, this was a way out, and by this path, it might even be possible for Lord Aoluxiya’s soul to be restored to its rightful place!
Thinking of this, Greerwu also couldn’t wait to speak.
But just as Greerwu was about to speak, he looked at the motionless shopkeeper in front of him and suddenly hesitated.
It suddenly occurred to him, if really initiating the Transmutation could solve all the problems, then why did the shopkeeper’s demeanor seem so reluctant to start it?
Greerwu’s depth of thought, naturally, was not as profound as the Lord of the Flameless’; he couldn’t discern the nuances at a glance.
But Greerwu could tell that the shopkeeper did not want to use the Transmutation, even his entire body screaming refusal.
Could it be that initiating the Transmutation posed some kind of danger to the shopkeeper?
Greerwu thought of the previous moment when the shopkeeper had risked his life to pull him out of the coverage of the Flame Arrow; thought of the shopkeeper, in a hazy daze, pouring a potion into him to delay the worsening of his injuries; thought of the shopkeeper’s smiling promise to let him participate in an experiential journey…
Greerwu hesitated.
This was probably the first time the “bear child” Greerwu considered someone else’s feelings.
Or perhaps, after the previous ups and downs, Greerwu had also begun to grow up slowly.
…
Although Greerwu did not speak, that hopeful look in his eyes already said everything.
However, neither Popota’s earnest calling nor Greerwu’s hopeful gaze prompted any reaction from Angel; he even lowered his head, making it impossible for them to glean any clues from his expression.
The Lord of the Flameless indeed could see Angel’s expression, but what surprised Him was that the human had not shown any expression at all.
Exceptionally calm.
At other times, such an expression might not mean much, but at this moment, to remain so unflustered seemed quite unusual.
Whether it was the human on the verge of physical collapse, or the young Fire Demon, they both placed their “void” hopes on him. Even the Lord of the Flameless Himself was moving towards him.
In such circumstances, someone else might hesitate, panic, or even become hysterical to the point of madness!
But he, on the contrary, remained calm as if not caring at all about everything around him.
The Lord of the Flameless’s eyes narrowed slightly: it was not that he seemed not to care, but that he truly did not care about everything around him.
Because, it seemed he was not focusing on the outside world, but instead was closing his eyes… muttering softly?
The Lord of the Flameless raised an eyebrow, and the subtle vibrations in the air reached His ears.
“Praise… Shava…”
Some vague words reached the ears of the Lord of the Flameless, but many were incomprehensible combinations of words.
Was it a mumbling similar to that of the Demon Gods? It seemed not, as the Lord of the Flameless felt no energy fluctuations.
Or was it some kind of strange ceremony? The Lord of the Flameless knew that some Transcendent beings practiced ceremonies hailing from the far reaches of darkness, requiring the chanting of long and complicated prayers, or incantations. Then, through these ceremonies, they aimed to achieve certain objectives.
But upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem like any such ceremony either.
Because ceremonies required adherence to many rules: casting materials, locations, actions, Pattern, offering, dedicatory writing, and ceremonial completion all had strict specifications. Even if the ceremony could be condensed to a certain action or a single prayer, there would definitely be a corresponding cycle of energy within.
And this human had no energy making ripples around him.
He was more like some of the nominal believers who shouted slogans emptily, but in practice, achieved nothing.
But the expression of this human was too calm, and he was certainly not one of those fame-seeking nominal believers.
“Interesting,” the performance of this human so far had piqued the Lord of the Flameless’s interest even more. If he hadn’t chosen to initiate the Transmutation, he could have taken him away for research.
With this thought in mind, the Lord of the Flameless continued to walk leisurely towards Angel.
More than halfway there, and only a few dozen meters from Angel, he still showed no sign of movement. This made Popota, who was watching from a distance, look on with despair in his eyes.
Greerwu was also somewhat disappointed, but he had already guessed this might happen, so his feelings were only of disappointment.
No one believed that Angel would initiate the Transmutation at this point. Even the Lord of the Flameless thought the human had given up resistance.
However, the change happened when the Lord of the Flameless was on the last stretch of distance to Angel!
…
There was less than ten meters between the Lord of the Flameless and Angel.
It was then that the Lord of the Flameless suddenly stopped.
Because Angel, who had been collapsed on the ground before, was now shakily picking himself up.
The midline between the two parties was crossed by a fierce wind that carried the pungent smell of sulfur and scattered sparks that floated through the air.
This scene was like a frozen frame.
The pitch-black and deathly still sky, the reddish-brown earth akin to fresh blood, and the bubbling fissure magma… they made up the background of the image.
And the Lord of the Flameless and Angel, each on opposite sides, became the protagonists of this image.
…
Angel struggled to his feet, his limbs still unhealed from being broken despite using the Water of Life. Therefore, as he stood, he appeared extremely odd, like a marionette with its strings tangled.
The Lord of the Flameless gazed at the human opposite Him, a bit curious as to what this human planned to do after exerting so much effort to stand?
Even Popota and Greerwu were somewhat confused at this moment. Why was Angel so determined to stand up?
If he wanted to use the Transmutation, he actually didn’t need to stand; he only had to call the name of the ruthless scholar sincerely in his heart. So, what was Angel planning to do?
In Popota’s mind, even the absurd idea crossed his mind: Could it be that Angel intended to face the Lord of the Flameless himself?
Popota shook his head, dismissing this notion as absurd and even ridiculous. With Angel’s power, to fight the Lord of the Flameless? It would be like an infant wrestling an adult, no, it was more like an ant trying to shake the World Tree!
It was impossible! The gap was just too wide!
Yet, as Popota let go of this thought, he saw Angel, who had kept his head down, suddenly lift it up.
A sharp momentum, like a Flame Arrow, shot out from Angel’s gaze!
This was… a battle intent?!
Popota was stunned; had the most ludicrous thing actually happened? Could it be that Angel truly intended to challenge the Lord of the Flameless?
From the perspective of an onlooker, Popota found the whole thing extremely ridiculous, but he didn’t see that the other protagonist facing off Angel — the Lord of the Flameless — had slowly shifted from earlier ease to calmness.
Popota, not being able to feel it directly, didn’t realize that the fierce momentum when Angel suddenly opened his eyes, carried an unprecedented sharpness, which even made the skin of the Lord of the Flameless tingle with pain.
This was something the Lord of the Flameless nor Popota had felt during their battle.
The Lord of the Flameless vaguely felt that this human had become strange. And all strange things were unpredictable variables, the Lord of the Flameless would not underestimate any “unknown”, which was one of the main reasons He became the Unparalleled Great Demon God.
The Lord of the Flameless flicked a finger lightly, and a wisp of the Flameless Fire curled around His fingertip.
This Flameless Fire could completely engulf the human opposite Him, and once the fire invaded, whether he wanted the human dead or alive would be at the whim of the Lord of the Flameless.
This was also the method that the Lord of the Flameless used to control some worshippers in other worlds.
One could say that the Flameless Fire was a bone-corroding curse as well as the true name marker of the Lord of the Flameless!
The Flameless Fire was aimed at the human opposite.
The temperature in the air suddenly soared.
A strong sense of crisis descended from the heavens, not only enveloping Angel but also making Greerwu and Popota feel the dangerous rhythm.
“Angel, if you really plan to face Him, then don’t hesitate, use the Transmutation immediately! That’s your only chance!” Popota yelled urgently!
Finally, Greerwu spoke, “Shop owner, you… need to think this through.”
Angel still did not reply, but it was then that a bright green Pattern suddenly flashed on his back and grew swiftly in the wind!
The Lord of the Flameless, upon seeing that green Pattern in an instant, felt the sense of weirdness in His heart reach a peak, and He released the Flameless Fire without hesitation!
But in the very instant He unleashed it, the Lord of the Flameless paused suddenly.
Because a pair of eyes, filled with cold intent, suddenly gazed over from a faraway place, crossing the boundaries of time and space, and looked straight at Him!