The residual Forbidden Fire from the seal was completely absorbed by the Candelabra.
Was the goal of the monster merchant before him these residual embers?
The Well of Eternal Imprisonment contained intelligent monsters, and every action they took was based on their own intellect and will.
Consequently, adventurers had no way of predicting what such intelligent monsters might do.
A Candelabra, and the Forbidden Fire.
This monster merchant named Origami Mane had actually brought a Candelabra to plot for the residual Forbidden Fire sealed here.
The fallen Brock watched all of this.
Being run through the chest wasn't a fatal wound; the wood armor monster was already doing its best to heal the puncture.
However, after such a severe injury, Brock no longer had the strength to act.
His life was now in the hands of this inexplicable Origami Mane, who had ambushed him.
Furthermore, what was that mark on the Candelabra? A Forbidden Fire Blessing Mark?
How could a Forbidden Fire Blessing Mark be so complex?
Origami Mane's scheme for the residual Forbidden Fire was merely for such a mark.
The intricate flame mark descended onto the back of Origami Mane's hand, searing into his skin like a brand amidst wisps of white smoke.
Origami Mane raised his hand, looking at the mark on the back of it with a satisfied smile.
Then, under Brock's shocked gaze, Origami Mane casually grabbed a clump of the dying residual Forbidden Fire nearby.
That frantic Forbidden Fire, brimming with destructive power, sat in Origami Mane's hand, toyed with and manipulated at will.
Yet the fire didn't cause even the slightest burn.
Even holders of the Forbidden Fire Blessing Mark couldn't completely resist the Forbidden Fire.
They merely possessed an extreme resistance to it, preventing them from dying instantly upon contact like others.
“How did you do that?!”
Brock cried out with great difficulty.
Origami Mane shifted his gaze from the fire in his palm to the fallen Brock.
“It seems you're also an adventurer seeking the Forbidden Fire. But an unawakened Forbidden Fire Blessing will only result in you being reduced to ash before it.”
“You adventurers pursue the Forbidden Fire, but all you've seen along the way are its residual embers.”
“Against the true Forbidden Fire, that Blessing Mark only allows you to burn a little longer. You make for decent kindling, at least.”
Origami Mane walked toward Brock step by step as the seal on the Forbidden Fire Sealing Pedestal dimmed.
The fire inside had been entirely taken by Origami Mane. The pedestal's sealing principle relied on converting the power of the fire contained within to maintain the seal itself.
With the fire gone, the seal naturally lost its energy source and faded completely.
“The true Forbidden Fire possesses power far beyond mere destruction and madness.”
“Destruction and madness are only a part of its power—the most potent part, granted.”
“Residual Forbidden Fire is nothing more than the sparks spat out during combustion. Naturally, it lacks the fire's full might.”
Origami Mane continued to approach Brock as he spoke.
Although Brock was severely injured, he hadn't given up on the possibility of survival.
Watching Origami Mane draw closer, he seized a gap in the merchant's speech.
He instantly threw the card hidden in his hand!
Snake Bone of Eternal Imprisonment, summon!
Without a moment's delay, the pure white snake bone pierced through the ground, lunging toward Origami Mane's chest.
Without waiting to see if it hit, the lightning from the Snake Bone of Eternal Imprisonment struck out first.
Dancing arcs of electricity blasted toward Origami Mane's chest.
Ignoring whether the lightning had caused paralysis, a magic circle expanded instantly.
“Ice Arrow!”
The Ice Arrow was cast instantly, consuming all the remaining Frost Magic Water within his staff.
The sharp ice arrow became a blur, flying straight at Origami Mane.
However, it was useless.
Origami Mane didn't pause for a second under the lightning bombardment, casually flicking the arcs away.
Lightning lacked physical form; ordinary defensive measures couldn't resist its strikes.
That instantaneous deflection was precisely the monster merchant's talent: the mastery of spatial abilities.
Since he wasn't paralyzed, Origami Mane could easily deflect Brock's instant-cast Ice Arrow.
Yet Origami Mane didn't do that; instead, he raised his arm and blocked the incoming arrow directly.
The hurtling ice arrow melted in an instant.
Looking closer, Origami Mane's blocking arm had been covered by a thin layer of Forbidden Fire armor at some point.
Under his manipulation, the fire in his hand had actually spread across his body to form armor!
The fire soon flickered out and vanished.
After all, it was only residual Forbidden Fire. Without a Forbidden Fire Container, it was merely a consumable.
Only the true Forbidden Fire could burn eternally.
Brock tried to resist further, but Origami Mane stepped forward and seized him by the throat, lifting him with a single hand.
Brock struggled and clawed at Origami Mane's arm, but it was like an iron clamp. No matter how much he thrashed, it didn't budge.
How could a monster merchant possess such strength?
Ultimately, the Origami Mane before him could no longer be viewed as a mere monster merchant.
“Do you want to buy your life?”
He really was still a monster merchant after all!
Never missing an opportunity to turn a profit, even now!
At this point, what choice did Brock have? He could only squeeze out a sound with difficulty.
Origami Mane nodded in satisfaction and let go.
Brock fell to the ground, coughing violently.
“A first-rank mage. That'll be 1,000 magic crystal coins.”
Origami Mane stated his price.
Brock nearly fainted. 1,000 magic crystal coins? Even if he sold himself ten times over, he couldn't afford that.
And even if he had the wealth, the total supply of magic crystal coins was limited.
Even combining all the magic crystal coins all adventurers in the Well of Eternal Imprisonment had ever found wouldn't reach that amount.
Origami Mane seemed to sense Brock's predicament.
“It looks like you can't pay. In that case...”
Just as Origami Mane was about to strike again, the Forbidden Fire Sealing Pedestal beneath Brock began to stir.
“Hmm, there really were an incredible amount of embers here. Even after awakening a Blessing Mark, the residual fire hasn't been drained yet?”
At that moment, the remaining fire within the pedestal's seal broke through.
The sealing power came from the fire itself; with the residual embers nearly gone, the seal had become incredibly weak.
This instead gave the remaining embers a chance to escape. The fire clumped together, tearing at the seal in a continuous struggle.
Origami Mane watched the seal about to burst and didn't linger; he immediately made his escape.
After all, his Candelabra was full, and he didn't need any more residual fire.
Staying would only lead to trouble. Right now, running was the priority.
Brock wasn't so lucky. He struggled to get up, also wanting to flee.
But the fleeing Origami Mane suddenly turned around and fired two Wood Spikes, instantly piercing through both of Brock's legs.
The rising Brock was knocked back to the ground once more.
Glancing at the fallen Brock, Origami Mane turned and continued his mad dash away.
Meanwhile, the Forbidden Fire breaking free from the seal ignored the distant Origami Mane and lunged straight for Brock.
Rate on N.U.
