Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

  Linley and the others, including the Highgod Fiends and Salomon, were all greatly shocked. They all knew exactly how terrifyingly powerful Elquin was; the three Edward brothers weren’t able to resist at all when they had fought. But that queer dagger of Bebe’s had actually forced him backwards.

  But how could they have known…

  “Bebe, that technique of yours…?” Linley was greatly surprised.

  Bebe sent through divine sense, “I’m not that powerful. The person who forced that fellow to retreat was the power of Grandpa Beirut, which had been contained within that spirit-pearl. It can be said that it was Grandpa Beirut who defeated him.” Bebe, in truth, just followed the instructions in activating it.

  Elquin glanced at Bebe, then turned to look at Salomon. “Salomon, in order to protect you, I lost a Highgod artifact which I have been using for a trillion years.”

  Only now did Linley and the others realize…

  That the translucent glove which had been on Elquin’s right hand had been torn apart!

  “Beirut really lives up to his reputation.” Elquin’s heart shuddered. Although he was a reclusive expert, there was still a great gap when compared to the legendary and mighty figure, Beirut, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to prominence.

  Elquin’s heart was filled with anger, and he stared at Salomon.

  A Highgod artifact which he had been nurturing for over a trillion years was incredibly precious to its user. After all, how could a purchased Highgod artifact compare to a Highgod artifact which you had been personally nurturing?

  “I told you. That Delia and that Bebe all have to die!” Salomon growled.

  “I cannot kill that Bebe. The others can die! Salomon, don’t test my patience further.” Elquin said calmly.

  “Fine.” Salomon nodded. “That little rascal can be spared.” In his heart, Salomon still hated Linley the most.

  “Phusro, handle it.” Elquin said calmly.

  “Meow.” The golden kitten meowed gently.

  It was extremely strange. The stone walls of the entire cavern suddenly came pressing down, and the space within the cave immediately shrank in size. The faces of Linley and the others changed dramatically. They saw the stone walls constantly press down towards them, and the other Highgod Fiends immediately began to bellow with rage and strike at the stone walls.

  “Bang!” “Bang!”

  Explosions could be heard nonstop, but their full strength blows could at most chop out a half-meter long hole which would immediately heal.

  In but a few moments, the space of this cavern had shrunk to less than 30%. The mountain walls continued to press them towards that golden magma pool. In other words…every person within the cave no longer had enough space to stand. They had to hover in the air, hover above that golden magma pool.

  Even Elquin and Salomon were hovering there.

  “Delia. Hurry up and use your Deathgod Golem to block below you.” Linley was worried that Delia would be dragged into the golden magma pool.

  “Right.” Delia nodded gently, and then glanced at Linley.

  “Lord Elquin, Salomon, we didn’t interfere. Release us.” Sperry and the other five Highods said hurriedly.

  Salomon, his heart currently filled with fury, glanced at them coldly. “Hmph. All of you can die.”

  “Phusro.” Elquin said calmly.

  “Meow…” The golden kitten purred, a hint of joy seemingly contained within his voice.

  Instantly…

  The previously calm and quiet golden magma pool beneath them suddenly transformed into a large number of giant liquid golden hands which snatched at the Fiends above. Dozens of enormous hands had erupted forth from this golden magma pool.

  “Swoosh!”

  All of the Fiends immediately tried to rely on their speed to dodge. The air above the golden magma pool was filled with countless figures as everyone frantically tried to dodge.

  Only Elquin, Salomon, Nisse, and Bebe weren’t being attacked by any of the giant liquid golden hands.

  “Bebe, you and Delia, stay together.” Linley shouted mentally. “Got it, Boss.” Bebe immediately drew closer to Delia. Indeed, those giant liquid golden hands tried to avoid Bebe and moved away from him.

  However, those giant liquid golden hands would still move in an arcing route to try and snatch Delia.

  By being next to Bebe, though, Delia was in less danger now.

  “If this continues, it won’t end well.” Linley had a terrible feeling, because he knew…that there were no corridors nearby. They could dodge for a time, but they couldn’t dodge forever. Eventually, they would be caught.

  “Aaaah!” Suddenly, a Highgod was seized by one of the giant liquid golden hands.

  Upon one giant liquid golden hand grabbing the Highgod, immediately, the many other giant liquid golden hands surrounded him, then dragged him directly into the golden magma pool. This scene caused the faces of Linley and the others to change.

  “Boss!” Bebe’s frantic voice rang out in Linley’s mind.

  Linley turned to look. It was Delia who was now surrounded by the giant liquid golden hands. Although Delia had Bebe helping out, her own power was simply too weak. In the end, she was still caught by that giant liquid golden hand, and once she was caught, there was no way she could break free.

  “Crackle!” Delia was dragged directly into the golden magma pool. Her feet first entered the pool, and Delia continued to stare upwards towards Linley.

  Linley seemed to have been gone dumb.

  “Linley. Take care of yourself.” Delia’s divine sense echoed in Linley’s mind.

  “Delia!” Linley’s eyes instantly turned scarlet red. He shot down like an arrow, ignoring all else as he charged towards Delia. Linley stared at Delia, and Delia stared at Linley! In this moment, only Delia’s head remained above the surface of the magma pool.

  The two were only ten meters apart from each other. Given Linley’s speed, that distance could be traversed in but the blink of an eye.

  But in that instant, one scene after another of the two being together flashed through Linley’s mind, as fast as lightning.

  In his youth, the two had been class together at the Institute.

  Ten years of parting, then their reunion.

  The Anarchic Lands, their marriage, their child.

  Their arrival in the Infernal Realm. Delia had followed him here without reservations, and they had adventured through the Infernal Realm. Silently, noiselessly, Delia had become the other half of his life. Neither of them could be without the other.

  In the instant she was dragged down into the magma pool, seeing how Linley ignored everything else and immediately charged down, Delia’s tears began to fall.

  “Boom!” Magma sprayed everywhere!

  Linley burrowed into the magma, clutching Delia’s already-submerging body. The earthen aura surrounding Linley immediately covered Delia as well, as a ‘Pulseguard Armor’ formed on Delia’s body. Only, the corrosive power of that golden magma was simply too great. The Pulseguard Armor couldn’t help but begin to tremble and melt.

  Linley frantically used the divine power of his divine earth clone to maintain the Pulseguard Armor.

  Within the magma pool.

  The yellow earthen aura covered Linley and Delia, and a strange type of spiritual energy slowly circled around Linley and Delia’s consciousness. That strange energy was actually able to locate the flaw in Linley’s damaged soul-protecting Sovereign artifact and easily slip through.

  Linley and Delia both begin to grow woozy.

  “Linley. You are such a fool.” Delia’s eyes were filled with tears.

  “We roamed the Infernal Realm together. Even if we die, we die together.”

  Delia was on the verge of losing consciousness, but she still managed to smile. “Linley. I feel very satisfied with the life I have lived.” And then, she struggled hard to raise her head and kiss Linley on the lips, and Linley kissed Delia back. In the last moment before Li
nley lost all consciousness, one scene after another from his youth until now flashed through his mind like lightning.

  His meeting with Grandpa Doehring.

  Killing the king of the Kingdom of Fenlai.

  His fame shaking the world in the O’Brien Empire.

  The founding of the Baruch Empire.

  The adventure in the Necropolis of the Gods.

  The destruction of the Radiant Church.

  And then their adventuring in the Infernal Realm, where his wife had accompanied him until death. When they had arrived in the Infernal Realm, Linley had been mentally prepared to die. After all, in the constant slaughterfield that was the Infernal Realm, anybody could die. Even if he died…he would die happy.

  He was dying alongside his beloved!

  “Me too. I am very satisfied with my life!”

  And then…

  His consciousness was gone.

  Book 15, Priceless Treasure – Chapter 20, Talisman

  “Drip, drip.” The golden magma pool continued to bubble and boil. Those giant liquid golden hands now tried to snatch the three remaining Highgods.

  Only three lucky survivors were left!

  “Salomon, that bastard. Even if we die, we need to make him die with us.” Sperry sent a message with divine sense to the other two. They could already feel that dodging was very difficult.

  “Right. Make him die with us!”

  The Fiends of the Infernal Realm were all mentally prepared for death. Only, they didn’t want to die, and even if they were to die, they wouldn’t let their enemies get off lightly!

  “Swoosh!” “Swoosh!” “Swoosh!”

  The three Highgod Fiends simultaneously charged towards Salomon, but before they even drew near him, that sallow, charred yellow hand once again came slapping towards them. “BANG!” One of the Highgod Fiend’s skull was smashed and exploded apart.

  “Elquin!” The other two Highgod Fiends were shocked.

  Clearly, this Elquin wouldn’t permit them to kill Salomon!

  “Kill his little sister!” Sperry and the other Highgod Fiend, knowing that death was nigh, in their fury decided that they would kill whoever they could lay their hands on. The two Fiends just barely dodged those giant liquid golden hands, then charged straight towards Nisse, hovering there in mid-air.

  At this moment, Bebe was hovering there in mid-air, unmoving. When he saw Linley and Delia be dragged into the magma pool, he was stunned. But then…

  “Boss…isn’t dead!” Bebe’s eyes were filled with surprised joy. “I can still sense the Boss’s soul!”

  The two were connected spiritually. As long as Linley was alive, Bebe would naturally be able to sense him.

  The golden magma pool was only so big. Given the speed of these Highgod Fiends, Nisse was only able to move slightly before the Highgod Fiends arrived in front of her. A blurry, indistinct blade shadow came chopping down, and Nisse’s face instantly turned white.

  “Clang!” A metallic sound could be heard.

  Nisse felt that she was being tightly embraced, and she opened her eyes in shock. “Bebe!” It was Bebe who had embraced her and had taken this attack for her.

  “Aaah!” Because of the counter-force from his chopping attack, that Highgod Fiend was caught by those giant liquid golden hands. Although he frantically struggled, in the end, he was still dragged down by those giant liquid golden hands into the golden magma pool, and not a hint of life was left after that.

  “Crackle…”

  The many giant liquid golden hands spread out like the petals of a floor, directly swallowing the final Highgod Fiend, Sperry, then pulling him into the golden magma pool.

  “Bebe, are you alright?” Nisse said, worried. But as soon as she spoke out, she immediately came to her senses. She realized that Linley had very possibly revealed her big brother’s secret, and that this Bebe had most likely intentionally made friends with her.

  “I’m fine. That bastard actually even used a soul attack.” Bebe’s face was somewhat ashen, but then he was stunned as well. He noticed Nisse’s expression.

  Bebe let out a bitter laugh, then gently release Nissed.

  As Nisse left his embrace, for some reason, she felt her heart ache!

  Bebe rubbed his nose. “I was wrong to think my love was reciprocated.” Nisse, hearing this, felt a miserable feeling in her heart, but this information about the secret being revealed was like a thorn in her heart. “But wait, if Bebe had truly lied to me, he wouldn’t have risked his own life to save me just now.”

  “Take care of yourself, Ninny.” The sound rang out next to her ears, and then…SPLASH!

  Only now did Nisse realize that Bebe had already jumped into the magma pool. Nisse was instantly stunned! In her mind, she could still clearly see that rowdy, playful, but towards her always considerate straw hat wearing youth!

  “Bebe…died?” Nisse felt as though her heart was being ripped apart.

  “Nisse, what are you doing?!” Salomon shouted, while at the same time he flew to Nisse’s side.

  “Big brother, Bebe, he…” Nisse’s eyes were beginning to be covered with a layer of mist.

  Salomon shouted, “What are you thinking? That Bebe did it on purpose. His body is tough, so he knew he would be able to take that blow. He did that on purpose, because it wouldn’t pose any threat to him! You need to remember, Linley is our enemy. It’s a good thing that he died, because otherwise…”

  Salomon’s heart was still filled with hatred.

  “But, but if Bebe didn’t care about me, he didn’t have to save me.” Nisse argued.

  “That’s exactly what he wanted you to think.” Salomon said coldly. “Nisse, that Bebe is extremely crafty and sly.”

  With a rumbling sound, the four walls of the stone cave once more spread out, and the space of the cave expanded once more. Elquin, holding that little golden kitten, landed on the flat ground, and Salomon pulled his little sister to fly over as well.

  At the bottom of the golden magma pool, there was a place where the magma had naturally split open, forming a true, empty space. Linley and Delia were currently embracing each other there.

  “What…what’s going on?” Linley and Delia both woke up.

  Delia immediately used her divine power to repair her body while staring at Linley. Linley shook his head as well. “I don’t know either.”

  And then, Linley and Delia both began to laugh.

  “Linley. I thought I was dead.” Delia said gently.

  “Me too. I thought I was going to die.” Linley felt a warm feeling in his heart. With a wife like this in his life, what more could he ask for?

  After truly having walked on the fine line between life and death, this time, Linley had truly believed he was dead. But who would have imagined that he would survive? This sort of feeling truly was astonishing and shook his soul.

  “Linley.” In Linley’s arms, Delia looked up towards Linley. “After this experience, my heart is calm. Linley, although the Infernal Realm has many dangers, as long as you are by my side, I won’t be afraid no matter where I go.”

  Linley held Delia, his heart filled with joy and bliss. He didn’t say a word.

  “You two, husband and wife, are really enjoying yourselves.” A deep voice rang out in the mind of Linley and Delia.

  Linley and Delia were both shocked.

  “You are…?” Linley spoke.

  “Everyone else who entered this liquefied pool of Goldflame is dead, aside from you two. Even the Highgods are dead.” The deep voice continued.

  Linley and Delia instantly understood who this person was.

  “You are the Volcano Titan?” Linley said.

  “Right. You may address me as Phusro.” The deep voice said.

  “Phusro?” Linley thought back to how the black-robed Elquin had held that golden kitten in his arms. Elquin seemed to have addressed the kitten as ‘Phusro’.

  “You are a member of the Four Divine Beasts clan, but more importantly, the relatio
nship between you and that Bebe is quite deep. Thus, Master ordered me to spare your lives when pulling you into the liquefied pool of Goldflame, so as to temporarily fool that Salomon.”

  “You can wait right here for now. I won’t claim your little lives. I imagine that you know that I can kill you at any time. Don’t go out.”

  And then, the voice disappeared.

  Linley and Delia exchanged a glance, then laughed. Delia said, “Linley, before this, I saw that Elquin was afraid to do anything to Bebe. He wanted to spare Bebe. I was wondering…why didn’t he spare us? So actually, that was this Elquin’s plan all along.”

  Linley laughed as well.

  Indeed, everyone else who had entered the golden magma pool had died, so as to give Salomon a false impression…that anyone who entered the golden magma pool would die.

  Actually, the golden magma pool was under the control of ‘Phusro’. If he didn’t want someone to die of course that person wouldn’t die.

  “This Phusro’s power truly is terrifying.” Linley was secretly shocked. That spiritual energy had gone straight through the flaw in his soul defense. Linley had known all along that powerful Highgods were capable of this.

  But now, he had actually encountered it.

  “Plonk!”

  Suddenly, a figured charged down at high speed through the pool, then straight towards him. Linley could clearly sense the ripples of that soul. “Bebe, what are you doing here?!” Bebe quickly charged down into this area of land.

  “Boss, so you really are alright!” Bebe saw Linley and Delia, and was instantly overjoyed.

  “You guys really are a pain!” Phusro’s voice rang out once more in the minds of the three.

  “Who is he?” Bebe’s face changed.

  Linley explained, “He’s the Volcano Titan, Phusro.”

  “Phusro? Can it be that he’s the kitten?” Bebe’s eyes lit up.

  “DON’T MENTION KITTENS!!!” Phusro’s voice exploded in fury. “Enough. The three of you, obediently stay here and don’t go out. The sound from outside will carry in here. Don’t worry, though…your voices won’t be able to transmit out.”