Chapter 300 - Flamme Sensing Something Was Wrong
Carlo took a deep breath and decided to test the waters.
He stared intently into Ariel's eyes and said in a deep voice, "Miss Ariel, I have already spoken to Lady Flamme about your suggestion last time regarding the use of demonic life force."
"Oh?" Ariel raised an eyebrow, her smile unchanged. "So, what did she say?"
"Lady Flamme did not give a clear answer." Carlo chose his words carefully as he watched Ariel's reaction. "However, Miss Ariel, I'm curious, why did you think of this direction? And it seems you know a lot about demons?"
Ariel chuckled softly upon hearing this. The laughter was pleasant, yet it carried a hint of unease.
Instead of answering the question, she countered with, "Mr. Carlo, don't you think the most interesting aspect of magical research lies in exploring completely unknown directions?"
"But this unknown is far too dangerous!" Carlo emphasized.
"So what?" Ariel tilted her head and asked in return. "What are you worried about? That insignificant pity in your heart? The boundaries between races? Or the fear of the world? But none of these can affect the truest desires of a dying person, can they?"
Yes.
For a dying person, as long as they can survive, they might use demons as raw materials, or even their own kind, or friends and relatives.
"And you, Carlo," Ariel's gaze seemed to penetrate his body, seeing his remaining life force, "you don't have much time left."
Carlo shuddered, his face turning pale instantly.
He had indeed been feeling physically tired and mentally exhausted lately, but he hadn't paid much attention to it, initially thinking it was just due to overwork in his research.
But hearing Ariel say that now sent a chill down his spine.
He sensed himself subconsciously and discovered that his life essence had been depleted far more than he had expected.
Something's not right!
He was extremely careful in every experiment and strictly controlled costs. Was it a risk inherent in the experiment itself? Or did this magic have side effects he was unaware of? But why didn't Ariel tell him?!
Thinking of this, he suddenly looked at Ariel, whose usual smile now seemed incredibly strange to him.
Ariel Solitaire sneered inwardly.
She had already quietly altered several key runes in the temporary magic circle where Carlo had previously conducted his experiments. A test that was supposed to consume one month's lifespan may actually cost two months or even more.
If Carlo were experimenting on other humans, she naturally wouldn't do this, but this idiot is experimenting on his own life force.
To force the other party to abandon his pitiful moral values as soon as possible, Ariel Solitaire doesn't mind giving him a push.
Sometimes, pressure is the best catalyst to push experimental subjects onto their intended trajectory.
She didn't say anything more, just left a meaningful look before turning and leaving.
She knew that once the shadow of death was clearly perceived, the desire to survive would overwhelm all reason and consideration.
Carlo will soon take the initiative to embrace the path to survival she hopes to see.
A human, a human mage obsessed with immortality and filled with inner contradictions, if he were to continuously absorb the powerful yet chaotic life force of the demons from the abyss...
So, how will his body and his soul gradually change?
Will he become stronger? Or will he gradually be corrupted and assimilated by the characteristics of the demon race? Can his will withstand the pollution from the very source of life? In the end... what will he become?
Will it become a demon with human emotions? Or some entirely new, never-before-seen existence?
Ariel Solitaire was very curious. She's really looking forward to that day.
...
Just as she had anticipated, Carlo's inner struggle with morality and risk quickly crumbled under the fear of confirming the abnormally rapid loss of his life force.
He began frantically collecting all information on the demon race's characteristics and devoted himself to researching how to use its life force to prolong his own.
Not long ago, the other party left the Magic Association and officially went to the northern battlefield.
That place was the battlefield between humans, elves, dwarves, and demons, teeming with countless monsters. It was also the best research ground for Carlo to conduct his experiments.
After confirming that Carlo had resolutely embarked on the path she had paved, Ariel Solitaire decided to leave the Magic Association.
A seed full of potential has been planted. She only needs to wait patiently and observe what kind of beautiful yet twisted flower it will eventually bloom into.
More importantly, she had been here for far too long.
As a great demon born shortly after the mythological era and surviving to this day, Ariel Solitaire is highly skilled at surviving in this world.
Not staying in one place for too long, especially in human territory, and constantly changing her residence and name was also one of her survival tricks.
Although there were still many magic books she hadn't read, the thought of Kurtz and Serie returning at any moment filled her with dread.
This exploration should come to an end.
Just as she finished packing her things and was preparing to leave the association tower quietly, she encountered Flamme at the exit, who seemed to have been waiting there all along.
Flamme looked at the baggage on Ariel Solitaire's shoulder, a perfectly timed look of surprise on her face. "Miss Ariel, are you leaving the Association?"
Ariel Solitaire's inner alarm bells rang slightly, but she maintained a calm smile on her face. "Yes, Lady Flamme. My training at the association has come to a temporary end, and I plan to travel around to prepare for the Level 1 Mage assessment."
"I see." Flamme nodded, then asked casually, "Speaking of which, I've seen you coming out of Mr. Carlo's lab quite often lately? Are you discussing some interesting magic?"
Ariel felt a chill run down her spine, knowing that Flamme had become suspicious.
She replied calmly, "We just happened to share some common interest in runes from the mythological era, and we exchanged a few words."
"Oh? Is that so?" Flamme's gaze sharpened. "I have more magical runes from the mythical era. Would you like to stay a little longer? I can lend them to you for your research."
The two teachers had just sent word that they would be returning to the Magic Association soon, so Flamme decided to delay Ariel for a while.
The main problem was that she didn't know the highest-level detection magic her teacher, Kurtz, hadn't taught her, and she couldn't detect anything suspicious with the basic detection magic either.
She always felt that there was something strange about Ariel in front of her, especially when she asked others to search for information about her in the human territory, but to no avail!
This person appeared out of nowhere. There was absolutely no information about her.
If Ariel were an ordinary mage or a magic apprentice, Flamme wouldn't care so much. After all, the human realm is quite vast, and it's normal that sometimes it's impossible to find specific information about a person.
But the fact that Ariel is a mage who has passed the Level 2 mage exam makes things very strange.
"No, thank you," Ariel Solitaire quickly refused. "I would rather study magic in other areas."
Are you kidding me?
If she stays any longer, Kurtz and Serie might come back. If the other party discovers her identity, or even what she did to Carlo, she won't have enough lives to survive.
Moreover, Ariel Solitaire realized that Flamme must have sensed something was wrong, which was why she appeared before her.
"By the way, what type of magical runes did you and Carlo discuss?"
"They're just some magical runes that were common in mythological times."
"Really? I thought you were discussing something more specific, like life energy?"
She deliberately emphasized the words "life energy".
Ariel cursed Carlo in her heart. She didn't need to guess to know that it must have been that guy who told Flamme that it was her idea.
This is why Flamme realized something was wrong.
However, Ariel Solitaire still looked confused, pretending not to know. "Lady Flamme is joking. I am just a second-level mage. How could I have access to such profound knowledge?"
Flamme did not press further, but her suspicions grew stronger.
She recalled the scene when she conducted Ariel's Level 2 Mage assessment. When dealing with her attacks, the other party always seemed to be giving it their all, not entirely for defense, but more like they were trying to suppress or conceal something while defending.
At the time, she thought the other person might be nervous, but now, considering Ariel's contact with Carlo and Carlo's recent strange behavior, a vague guess has formed in her mind.
There's definitely something wrong with this, Ariel!
"Since Miss Ariel is leaving, and I happen to have nothing to do today, I'll see you off," Flamme suddenly said, her tone leaving no room for refusal.
Ariel Solitaire wanted to decline, but under Flamme's unquestionable gaze, she had no choice but to nod in agreement. "Then... I'll have to trouble you, Lord Flamme."
The two left the Magic Association one after the other, walked through the streets of El Capital, and headed out of the city.
Flamme seemed to be chatting casually, but the topic kept inadvertently circling back to the origins of Ariel Solitaire, clearly probing for something.
Ariel Solitaire tried her best to cope, but her unease grew stronger.
After walking for about ten kilometers to a secluded woodland, Ariel Solitaire finally stopped and turned to Flamme, saying, "Lady Flamme, we've come quite a distance. Let's stop here. Thank you very much for seeing me off."
However, Flamme did not respond to her.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly.
Flamme watched her quietly, and a powerful yet subtle magical energy began to ripple around her.
Just now, Ariel's response revealed a pronounced flaw.
"Miss Ariel," Flamme's voice was icy, no longer concealing anything, "the Sieg Plain in the south was completely wiped out by a disaster fifty years ago. There could be no villages there, and it couldn't possibly be your hometown. Who are you, really?"
Ariel Solitaire's pupils contracted, knowing she could no longer fool them.
She never imagined that the Sieg Plain, which she had passed through earlier, had disappeared fifty years ago.
Flamme stopped wasting words and decided to use the most direct method to tear away all the pretense and verify her suspicions.
"Lady Flamme, what do you mean by this?" Ariel Solitaire was still making a final attempt, but her body had already subtly tensed up, and magic flowed silently within her.
"What do you mean?" Flamme sneered, her magical energy fluctuating, ready to strike at any moment. "I'll give you one last chance: confess your true identity!"
Before she could finish speaking, Flamme had already made her move.
She knew the importance of striking first. The last chance she mentioned was just a delaying tactic.
Flamme simultaneously unfurled magic circles with both hands, and several chains made of pure magic appeared out of thin air, rushing directly towards Ariel Solitaire.
This attack was swift and contained an even richer magical power, far exceeding the level of ordinary magicians. Clearly, Flamme was going all out from the start.
However, she did not intend to kill her at this moment. Her main goal was to subdue her.
Seeing this, Ariel Solitaire realized that Flamme was stronger than she had expected.
She dared not delay, and the suppressed energy she had been holding back was suddenly released.
A burst of magical radiance erupted from her body, instantly unleashing a magic circle. Countless sharp light blades flew out from the magic circle, crashing heavily into the magical chains and producing a metallic clang.
The chains released by Flamme were then shattered, and Ariel Solitaire's light blade disappeared into the air due to exhaustion of energy.
"She was indeed hiding her true abilities!" Flamme's eyes grew even colder.
The opponent's control and quality of magic were far beyond what a mage who had just passed the second-level assessment should possess.
"But that's not enough!"
She immediately attacked again, sending countless golden energy arrows towards Ariel from the side and rear.
Upon witnessing Ariel's formidable strength, Flamme changed her initial plan to capture her alive, and now decided to defeat her completely first.
Ariel snorted coldly, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and quickly retreated. At the same time, dozens of black magic bullets shot towards the light arrows and Flamme like machine guns.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The magic bullets and light arrows collided and exploded repeatedly in the air, and the released energy cut the surrounding trees in half and blasted out scorched craters in the ground.
Flamme raised her right hand, and a golden magic shield appeared in front of her, blocking all the incoming light bullets. However, the shield also fluctuated violently, showing the considerable power of the opponent's attack.
But it's still within my means.
"Your reactions are quick, and your attacks are powerful, but your magic has a repulsive quality." From the opponent's attack, Flamme keenly sensed that repulsive aura.
Perhaps because her all-out attack forced her opponent also to go all out, leaving no room for disguise, a dark aura, completely different from human magic, was revealed.
She held nothing back and decided to increase the pressure, determined to expose this girl's true identity completely.
[End of Chapter]