On a rooftop, Morgott, whose eyes had been tightly shut, opened them. He looked up at the distant, fiery edge of Higi Village, then sat down cross-legged.
"What? All done?" Ember, who had been writing furiously on the rooftop, paused for a moment before resuming his writing.
Morgott looked up and glanced briefly, seeing the negative numbers "-3", "-1", "-2", and so on, rapidly increasing under The Lands Between column in the notebook.
Not only that, but after each negative number, there were various detailed reasons.
For example, for "-3", the reason was "resistance harming the populace"; while for "-1", the reason became "deliberately damaging the populace's homes".
Upon seeing this, Morgott silently withdrew his gaze. If Ember was keeping records like that, it would indeed take him a while to finish writing.
"Almost. The aftermath should be handled soon," Morgott said, nodding in affirmation after sensing the messages from his clones.
"Aren't you going to deal with the fire outside?" Ember looked up and saw the raging flames on the outskirts of Higi Village.
"Someone is digging firebreaks," Morgott said, pressing his palms together. His fingernails quickly grew larger and thicker, soon transforming into the shape of a shovel.
"And they're digging very fast," he added, his hands returning to their original state.
"So, does that mean the people of Higi Village are quite good at using Crucible power?" Ember asked, suddenly curious.
Using Crucible power was a strength only Crucible Knights possessed, and even Morgott hadn't been able to use it before.
The former Morgott could, at most, utilize existing features for combat; he couldn't independently control growing limbs.
Now, Morgott could control the remaining Crucible power within him with such ease, and he had Ember to thank for it.
"No, my King, you're overthinking it. They're merely utilizing the abilities they already possess for division of labor."
"They still have a long way to go before they can control Crucible power." Morgott shook his head. The people of Higi Village were, at best, "Omen."
It's just that what grew on them wasn't horns, but various strange things.
"Alright..." Ember lowered his head and started writing again. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he casually asked, "Can you teach them how to use the power within them?"
"In that regard, I don't think I can," Morgott said, looking down at his palms, a rare refusal to Ember.
"As for myself, I can only control Crucible power by relying on the strength left by the King. In this area, Crucible Knights are the experts."
Morgott chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Those red iron lumps?" Ember's writing hand stopped.
What was the number one evil force in The Lands Between? Was it mages? Was it dragons? Was it the Black Knives?
None of them. The number one evil force in The Lands Between was the Crucible Knights.
Those knights, imbued with the power of the primordial Crucible, had long since become non-human entities through continuous refining of their bodies.
Ember even suspected that their red armor was no longer just armor, but a part of their bodies.
Perhaps the evolution of their bodies was no longer limited to the hundred forms of living creatures.
Sixteen Crucible Knights attacking together, how to describe it? Demigods? Are demigods' brains as hard as Crucible Knights' fists?
"Exactly. Crucible Knights can not only teach them how to use the Crucible power within them, but also many other things."
"For example, things like teamwork and combat techniques; they are also more proficient than I am," Morgott continued.
"Oh, I understand." Ember nodded. "Let's wait and see. They're a bit fierce, and bringing them over might have a bad influence."
Why were Crucible Knights considered fierce? Mainly because they couldn't stand others drinking beverages.
Every time Ember intended to restore his health and mana with the Red and Blue Sacred Flasks, the Crucible Knights would rush at him like a pack of chickens, as if Ember had killed their entire family!
Later, when Ember asked the Crucible Knights why, they stammered and couldn't give a clear reason.
According to them, as soon as they saw someone raise their hand to drink something, they couldn't help but want to rush over and interrupt that action, completely unable to control themselves.
Ember thought for a long time and finally categorized "Crucible Knights dislike others drinking beverages" as an unsolved mystery, similar to strange phenomena like left-hand bow techniques and ring-cancel attacks.
Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to solve the mystery in the future!
"My King, Higi Village should be dealing with the aftermath now." Just as Ember was pondering the mystery of why Crucible Knights hated others drinking, Morgott's voice came across.
"That fast?" Ember snapped back to reality, somewhat surprised.
"Let's go take a look together. I didn't expect Inazuma to have so many pests." Closing his notebook, Ember jumped off the rooftop and ran towards the outskirts of Higi Village... "Torajiro!"
"Here!"
"Gin!"
"Here!"
"The Jiangxia Brothers!"
"Here"
... The flames gradually subsided, and a large crowd gathered at the entrance of Higi Village in the otherwise silent deep night.
As the checkmarks on the roster increased one by one, Washizu's expression changed from solemn to relaxed.
"It seems everyone is very clever; no one died." Washizu smiled, waved his hand, and shouted loudly.
"That's great!"
"Village Chief is amazing!"
"Lord Mon is also amazing!"
The villagers' cheers rose and fell. After today's ordeal, everyone in Higi Village had safely escaped, which was undoubtedly heartening news.
The cheering continued for a while before subsiding. Seeing that everyone's excitement had died down, Washizu pressed his hands down, signaling for silence.
He looked up and surveyed the dense crowd in the open space. There were old and young, men, women, and children, all with their faces stained with soot, looking very disheveled.
"Cough, cough!"
After a light cough, Washizu's gentle face became serious.
"Everyone is smart. Since we survived, someone's plan must have failed. It's only right that we ask about it, isn't it?"
"Children, those who can't handle it, please step aside. Next, we need to discuss how to deal with those guys."
Washizu's eyes narrowed, his tone filled with sinister and suppressed anger.
As his words fell, the surroundings plunged into a deathly silence. After all, the villagers of Higi Village were ordinary people; many wouldn't even dare to watch a pig being slaughtered, let alone what was about to happen.
"Go, go, go! Children, go back to sleep!"
"But wasn't our house burned down?"
"You little brat, if it weren't for you, I would have stayed."
... Most of the women reacted upon hearing this. Without much hesitation, they pulled their children and ran far away from here.
Not just women, but even many men, feeling their psychological tolerance was insufficient, silently left the area.
Most of those who remained were people who had just fought or had something important destroyed.
"Is there anyone else who wants to leave?"
Washizu gave a final reminder, but the crowd made no move.
"Good, bring them up!"
Washizu nodded behind him, and then several figures were pulled up from behind the Golden Tree.
They were resistance soldiers, bruised and battered, tied up with ropes, and had long since lost their combat capability.
The most miserable among them was Nojima Kazunari, whose lower body had been cut off by Washizu. And he was also the most eye-catching—how could he not be, being carried like that?
"Speak! Which faction are you from, and why?" Washizu was not polite, kicking each of them to their knees.
The captured soldiers only looked up at Washizu once, and like the crowd in the distance, remained silent.
"Give up. Our will is something you cannot compare to." Nojima Kazunari lay on the ground, sneering.
"Is that so?" Washizu responded indifferently. Then, he drew a wakizashi from his waist and threw it in front of Dan Oni Roku.
"You have a blood feud with them. You do it," Washizu said.
Dan Oni Roku picked up the wakizashi from the ground and, without a word, walked in front of Nojima Kazunari.
"Your will, I'd like to experience it!"
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