It took him a couple of breaths to reorganize all the new information, but the result was shocking: 'So this is not a normal Scarlet Peach but a Celestial Scarlet Peach. A legendary heavenly treasure with marvelous effects. A fruit born from the Burning Tree of the Underworld, which was protected by fire spirits..."
The existence of a fire spirit was dangerous, indeed. What would that creature do if he took more fruits?
'Hmm... He also gave me alchemy concepts... this kind of treasure can remold and repair damaged Chaotical Cores and add the properties of a Divine Elemental Core. It can be used for Alchemy or Forging purposes.'
If Atlas could consume one of them, his path toward Alchemy and Forging Realm could be more unrestricted than ever.
Old Mold, the old dwarf at the Village, had a Divine Chaotical Core of Fire element, and his mastery was genuinely incredible.
Chaotiss shared with his master countless details about its usage in various fields, including alchemy recipes, refining processes, and even formation illustrations. This was a priceless load of more information that made Atlas wonder more and more about its identity.
The first fruit had been obtained without complications, so after giving a deep thought, he moved on to the next one, which was hanging from another branch.
The second and third fruits also ended up in his clutches, and surprisingly, when he was in a higher position, he discovered that those four were not the only one present. In fact, he saw many more hidden among the higher peaks.
Fortunately, the presence of the fire spirit kept him from falling into temptation, and after reaching a quota of four, he returned to Rose rapidly.
When Atlas returned to her side, it was already dawn. He found her still tied and unable to move even slightly.
Hearing someone approaching, Rose opened her eyes, and as soon as she saw Atlas's face, her anger surged again like a hurricane: 'You damned idiot! I thought you would come back to untie me... yet, you left me in this damn state. You're an idiot!!! A fucking idiot!'
'Drink...' Atlas did not respond to the girl's complaints and merely handed her the flask to quench her thirst: 'I found the treasure you wanted... I'll rest for a while, and then we'll look for a way out of this hell...'
'Thank you...' Rose calmly drank the water filled with pure power and then stared at him a little worriedly: 'Why are you acting so strangely? Don't tell me you are still angry about that innocent kiss... You don't expect me to apologize for that, do you?'
Once again, Atlas ignored her and, after quenching his thirst sufficiently, closed his eyes to rest for a moment.
Unfortunately, he was too close to Rose, and his cold attitude infuriated her even more: 'You're... you're...unreasonable. Why are you acting like this? I...'
It had been a while since Rose had found someone as unique as Atlas, especially after spending the last few years searching for a method to save her dear one.
In a few days, that fool had turned her life and certainties upside down, but now, seeing him so aloof toward her, she felt her heart a bit in pain for some strange reason.
'Hey! You won't be able to ignore me forever... Remember that I have branded you with my curse, and it will be impossible for you to avoid my voice... So stop acting this way!'
Atlas sighed very calmly but did not move a muscle.
'Hey...' Rose wanted to call him by his name but suddenly realized she didn't know it. She had been acting like a mischievous little girl without asking his name.
For the first time in a long time, she felt like a horrible person. "Hmm... what's your name?"
After thinking about her arrogant attitude, Rose's tone has become gentler, as if she is trying to make up for her faults, but Atlas remains impassive even in the face of her kindness.
'I...' Rose was very stubborn and tenacious, but for some reason, she shut up, seeing that block of ice ignoring her so calmly.
The silence lasted almost an hour and was so deafening that one could even hear the sound of lava bubbling from its fiery heart.
Atlas reopened his eyes and then approached Rose.
Neither of them spoke. Atlas did not want to talk to her for obvious reasons. Instead, Rose wanted to but was too afraid to ruin their relationship more than this.
Unlike before, he did not bind her in front of him this time. Instead, he tightened the ropes on his back over the Darkisher.
The young man's actions were unmistakable. He had even put away his possessions rather than holding her in his arms again.
Rose wanted so badly to scold, headbutt, or bite him to dispel the bitterness that was slowly filling her heart, but in the end, she restrained herself from doing it and silently shed tears filled with sadness.
|||
Descending with a person on his back was no easy feat, but after a few hours, he reached the ground without any problems.
Strangely enough, the temperature was much more bearable, giving less problem to the duo, who was quickly retreating from this place.
'What a relief... in a couple of hours, I will be able to get out of this damned place...'
The pair continued toward the rocky bridge, which was surrounded by an eerie silence, and reached the island's edge in a couple of hours.
'We are almost there...'
The lava lake had remained placid all along the path as if the fire spirit was still sleeping quietly below, so the young man did not linger any longer and set foot on the rocky bridge without delay.
One step after another, Atlas advanced very slowly, minimizing even the noise caused by the soles of his boots.
Previously, it had taken him a few minutes to cross the entire bridge, but now, knowing that an enemy was resting under his feet, it took him almost half an hour to complete half of the distance.
Rose had also remained alert the whole time even though her body was imploring her to rest again.
The maiden's body, heart, and soul had been worn down by many things, but she did not give up and kept all her attention on the journey.
The two continued silently for a while, but their worst nightmare came true in the end.
GRARLLL!!!
The cave shook intensely...
Sharp rocky pillars started falling from the cave ceiling like deadly spears, battering the floor and shaking the lava below.
GRARLLL!!!
The pair felt their eardrums shake as if struck by the roar of thunder, and blood flowed profusely from their ears.
Screams of pain accompanied the beast's roar, but the difference between the two was so significant that the roar could quietly hide them.
GRARLLL!!!
On the third roar, Rose recovered and, horrified by that sound, brought shock to Atlas's mind with her words: 'Leave me here... and run away. Maybe without me, you will be able to save yourself...'
Although his mind was battered by the beast's roar, Atlas clearly discerned the girl's words and did not know how to respond.
He had come so far because he was carrying out his Nihilir's task, but after hearing those words, his thinking changed slightly.
He had ventured into this world dominated by power and danger to follow his heart and satiate his burning desire for adventure.
How could he abandon that foolish girl in this hell?
The young man gritted his teeth and began to run with all his might, pushing his body to the limit.
Fragments of rock kept falling from the sky. The larger ones were easy to avoid, but some of the smaller ones lacerated his face and the hands he used to protect Rose's body.
'You idiot... You'll never make it... That monster is about to come out... Let me go...'
'Shut up, you fool!" the young man finally answered her, and although his words were not very kind, the answer brought a sliver of joy to her heart.
'You idiot!' Rose whispered a single word and then fell silent.
Enveloped by that delirious world, Atlas continued undaunted along the bridge, but just as they were a few steps away from the end...
BOOM!!!
A giant fireball covered the only way out, and the fourth roar, accompanied by a divine voice, shook the young man's mind...
GRARLLL!!!
"What an insolent little insect..."