The moment Northern called out, fires spread out like air, slowly at first but in the next second, their pace picked up, surging forth like a tsunami of darkness, plunging through every crevice and engulfing all in their path.
These weren't ordinary flames. They writhed and twisted like living shadows, devouring everything they touched with an insatiable hunger.
The black flames spread over the already scorching landscape, turning red-hot lava into obsidian wherever they touched.
Monsters caught in the dark inferno shrieked in terror and agony.
Their cries echoed across the volcanic plain, only to be swallowed by the sinister crackling of the flames.
No matter how they thrashed or fled, the black fire clung to them, refusing to extinguish until nothing remained but ash.
The air grew thick with heat, different from the volcanic warmth.
It was a cold, empty heat that seemed to suck the very life from the atmosphere.
Sulfurous fumes mixed with the acrid scent of the dark flames, creating a choking miasma that spread even faster than the fire itself.
Northern stood, transfixed by the terrifying beauty of the destruction he had unleashed.
The black flames reflected in his wide eyes, turning the world around him into a nightmarish canvas of darkness and dying embers.
This was the renewed version of Chaos Flame now that he had attained a new soul rank.
And he knew for sure that, as long as his soul continues to evolve, his attributes would continue to grow more proficient with him. Chaos and Void both.
The thought of it excited him as he continued to watch.
Raven was in the air, but she had to fly even higher to avoid being consumed by the heat of the black flame; she watched in awe from above.
Even rock formations crumbled, not from heat, but from the very essence of their existence being consumed.
She watched the dark fire continue its relentless advance, entering every corner, consuming everything in its path, even heading for the volcano.
It became clear to Raven that this was no ordinary fire. It was a force of annihilation, a hunger given form, that would not cease until it had devoured every last scrap of life and matter in its path.
Sura also seemed to have realized the same thing, as his face was broken in horror, eyes shaking, he had put away the smoking pipe from his mouth and was looking down with trembling lips.
Everything he built, everything he fought for, all of it was being consumed in an instant.
By an insignificant brat, a creature whose power should not even be able to hold a candle next to his.
Sura froze for a moment,
'But what is that fire… it is so ominous, I have never seen anything like it'
His eyes glared, then he vanquished the thought.
'Damn it all, I'll just kill him.'
He refocused his gaze to pinpoint where Northern was standing, he looked around but couldn't find anything.
Then in a suddenness, Northern's eyes were right in front of his, a hair's breadth away.
Eyes widening, Sura staggered back quickly, tripping over his chair and falling to a sitting position.
Northern was crouched on the demarcation of the balcony, smiling.
He then stepped down and leaned back on it.
"It was you right Sura, it was you."
Sura was still stunned by how Northern had appeared so close to him and he didn't feel him, his gaze was stuck on Northern and mouth trembling in fear.
Northern continued regardless.
"You were the one that lectured me about sword fight. I know that voice of yours. I've been thinking about it since the first time you appeared."
Sura was still stunned, unable to pick up the broken parts of his terror-stricken expression.
He just stared in dismay as Northern spoke.
Northern looked down to the side of Sura's chair, where the smoking pipe in his hands had fallen.
He picked it up and examined it with Soul Eyes.
Name: [Pipe Of Taerun Lor]
Type: [Miscellaneous]
Description: [This is a smoking pipe that was hand-crafted from the cloth of the stars. Taerun Lor gave this pipe to his lover on her pilgrimage since he knows she was an adept smoker. This pipe will help her find her way home to him always]
Order Ability: [Pathfinder], [Voice Projection]
Pathfinder: [Exuding from this pipe is a spectral light of aurora, this light leads to Taerun Lor]
Voice Projection: [The user of this item can project their voice to a particular point using the transmission light of the aurora]
Northern frowned slightly.
'It is quite the item…'
Then he looked at Sura, who seemed to have composed himself enough. His eyes were now fierce and frowning.
Sura picked himself up and snatched the pipe from Northern's hands.
He washed his face with his palm and let out an exasperated sigh.
Then he pocketed the pipe into the large sleeve of his garb.
"You don't seem like a female. Which means this item was not for you. Did you steal it and kill the real owner?"
Northern smiled smugly.
"Looks like I hit the spot." His grin faded slowly. Then turned to a grimace.
"What else again? Judging by how you are always smoking, you must be trying to find a way to somewhere? Where are you going?"
Sura looked at him, his facial expression was getting darker by the flow of the second.
He folded his arms together and then coldly peered at Northern.
Of course, Northern too immediately noticed it. The duration of stunning surprise that the revelation of his true power inflicted on Sura was over.
He still had plenty more stunning surprises to give.
And Sura probably would die from the surprise before they even engage themselves in battle when Northern was done with him.
"You insignificant being…" Sura's voice dripped with strong malice.
"You think yourself a threat to me?" He scoffed, "You are ignorant and foolish. Nothing, there is nothing for you here except for your own death."
Northern's lips parted coldly, his eyes softened with the gentleness and tenderness of a calm sea, he tilted his head a little bit and said calmly.
"I look forward to dying Sura."