Gaiaâs Disc
*Skree!* The gigantic bird of fire dashed out of the building. It opened up its wings in a flash of light, and glorious flames shot out from its body as it enlarged in the blink of an eye. Its humongous wings closed, wrapping up the entire city of Tylasus.
The drops of lava with over a thousand degrees of power fell onto its wings, being absorbed by the flames.
When the lava storm passed, the city had emerged unscathed.
A bright light flashed across Leylinâs eyes as he looked at the scene, âSuch a transformation is very similar to that of an ancient Warlock. It looks like the body of this Emberwing Morning Star has the bloodline of the fire phoenix.â
Warlocks were always fond of high-level bloodlines. As for the fire phoenix, Leylin had already seen its incredible power when heâd been trapped in the illusion previously. It was likely at least as strong as the Snake Dowager.
This bloodline posed an irresistible attraction to Warlocks even if it was diluted through sacrifices and projections.
âBefore we launch our plan, I should try to get some of the bloodline of a Morning Star Emberwing. It would be even better if I manage to get it from their leader, Scarlet Eye.â
Just as Leylinâs eyes brightened, the phoenix soared down from the clouds in the sky, revealing several gigantic, hundred meter long silhouettes made of flames.
The fire elementals were the most powerful living beings in the Lava World, and the most populous. They did not have blood or flesh, and instead had bodies covered in fuming flames and rocks. Their eyes were like deathly white flames that arose from the very soul.
âDivineflame Empire! It seems like you lot didnât learn your lesson at Death Grand Canyon!â Scarlet Eyeâs voice boomed across the sky, and the humongous wings wrapped up the giant fire elementals, flinging them away.
Its body rumbled as explosions erupted all over it, but it did not seem bothered at all.
By the time the phoenix vanished, half the flames in the sky had subsided. Leylin widened his eyes.
âThey even have such a method? Are there still people undercover in the leaderâs residence? And does that mean this was a ploy to lure the tiger out of its den?â
Hidden in front of him was Loke. He sighed in relief and pulled out a circular disk as he saw the phoenix leave.
On the surface of this disk were weird runes with countless interconnected crimson lines that formed a vertical pupil.
âHavenât I seen something like this before?â Puzzlement crossed his eyes as he immediately checked with the A.I. Chipâs database. The answer showed up within a second. âA copy of Gaiaâs Disc? Such a technique actually existsâ¦â
Loke stopped at an empty ground in the building. He placed the replica on the ground as he showed a tinge of excitement.
*Ssshh!* The very moment the disc touched the ground, a large amount of sand split apart like it was a stream, revealing a pitch dark tunnel that led underground.
âHere it is! Now Iâm at the weakest part of the entire building. Together with the power of Gaiaâs Discâ¦â Lokeâs eyes grew impassioned. He had endured a lot of humiliation during this mission, and now he could finally succeed in his task!
âThat was good cooperation, but Iâm afraid it wonât be of help.â Leylin saw the agitated Loke enter the underground tunnel, soon to be followed by a gloomy Bowens. This was the superior they had just met that day.
It seemed like Lokeâs luck was at an end.
However, Leylin had one more doubt, âSince they wanted to coordinate between the inside and outside, why donât they just send a Morning Star Magus in, isnât that much simpler? They already sent so many just to attract attention, one more wouldnât be too hardâ¦â
He did not think much of it since that was a question that wouldnât see an answer soon. Instead, he followed the two and entered just as the tunnel closed upâ¦
*Boom!* Schiker entered Leylinâs room.
âInstructor!â âLeylinâ got up from the bed, bowing even with blurry sight.
Schiker first looked around with a cautious gaze, and he looked relieved that Leylin was still around. Soon, he reprimanded the boy, âYouâre still asleep under such circumstances?â
âMaster Bowens and so many of his colleagues are around right now. If they canât solve the problem, what can I do? I might as well just continue sleepingâ¦â
âLeylinâ threw his hands up, seemingly helpless. With the support of the A.I. Chip, every action of this puppet was a perfect copy of Leylinâs behaviour, even its character was flawless. Forget Schiker, even Gilbert was unlikely to be able to notice the difference.
âYouâ¦â Schiker was dumbfounded, but the waves in his heart secretly calmed downâ¦
Inside the underground tunnel, Leylin followed closely after Bowens. He had weakened his breath to the maximum, and not a single energy wave fluctuation broke out. Additionally, Bowens seemed to have put his full focus on Loke, and he did not realise he was being shadowed.
âGaiaâs Disc was used by the Hero Moncordol of the Emberwingsâ legend to lift open the stratum, it is also the powerful weapon which slew the demon king Falsace; this can easily crack open a huge underground tunnel even if itâs just a replica.â
Lokeâs voice trembled in agitation, âThe organisation possessed such a precious weapon that let me avoid triggering numerous traps. Truly, this isâ¦â
As he reached the bottom, blood vessels popped out from under Lokeâs skin, his aura growing berserk.
âThe final layer of defence!â Loke was frantic in excitement as he saw a crimson defensive membrane.
He suddenly attacked, and a huge amount of fire exploded forth from his hands, rushing into the spell formation.
Crackling sounds rang out as the spell formation shook. A terrifying wave of energy was returned in counter, and surged through Lokeâs body. His skin peeled off, revealing the flames burning within.
Lokeâs body had been completely shredded by the formationâs counterattack, revealing a two-meter tall fire elemental, composed of flames and rocks.
The flame surged in all directions, and Lokeâs aura rose to the pinnacle of the Sky rank, the equivalent of a peak rank 3 in the Magus World.
âHmmm? Loke is a fire elemental?â
Leylin was rather surprised. He had always thought that Loke was an undercover agent of the Mobius Organisation, Jupiterâs Lightningâs operations here, but now it seemed like he did not know the length of it. Jupiterâs Lightning had also approached the Divineflame Empire, and had signed some terms of agreement with each other.
After recovering his original appearance, Loke marched up to the scarlet spell formation.
A dot of a golden flame shot out of his body, burning a round opening in the spell formationâs light shield.
Loke turned into a ball of flames, entering from that tiny opening in the spell formation and soon returning to his normal form.
âHahahaha⦠All of Scarlet Eyeâs treasures and secrets are mine for the taking!â As Loke laughed, he explored the chamber. His flaming legs left a black burn mark with every step he took.
He seemed rather familiar with this area, running straight towards the chamber in the centre.
The gigantic chamber was spacious, with nothing around except a large spell formation. Strings of runes interlocked with the energy circuit. It was so refined that a Magus would go dizzy simply by staring at it for a length of time.
In the middle of the formation was a weak red light, itâs energy as it flickered causing Leylinâs heart to palpitate.
âThis aura is so familiar⦠Yes, the firasource stones! Wait⦠itâs a living creature?â The A.I. Chip had made a judgement that threw Leylin into confusion.
âFound it!â Loke celebrated in his excitement. He took out a big black key, walking towards the spell formation.
Just then, a membrane of light blocked his path of return, the surging wave of energy sweeping him onto the ground in an instant.
The gigantic fire elemental fell flat to the ground with a thud, causing the chamber to shake a little.
âWhat happened? Doesnât this place just have a single defensive layer?â Loke touched his head, puzzled.
âObviously it is used to guard against people like you.â Bowens sneered, exiting stealth and walking out from the dark.
âBâMaster Bowens?â Loke was totally taken aback.
âHmm! The leader knew long ago that there was something wrong with you. It seems you hid quite a lot from us.â
The fuming lava hand dropped onto the ground, and the black key was snatched from his hands.
âYou are a very important captive. The leader and Schiker will take great interest in you.â Bowens spoke coldly as the flame on his hands turned into ropes which tied Loke up.
Loke could not fight back against the power of a Star rank. Rather, he was so flabbergasted that he did not even struggle or otherwise resist.
While both of them were unaware of their surroundings, Leylin snuck close to the membrane of light. The A.I. Chip scanned the formation, revealing the entry condition, [Aura of level 10 Fireplume required for access.]
Watching Loke being taken away by Bowens, Leylin followed them out of the basement. He recalled the shadow puppet after returning to his bedroom.
He had lots of questions, âWhat was that red orb in the middle of the spell formation? Bowens settled Loke so quickly, and obviously he wasnât used as bait. Was it merely for Gaiaâs Disc and that black bronze key?â