GRARLLL!!!
"What an insolent little insect... I will make you suffer the pains of hell for your arrogance..."
Shaken by the creature's roar, the air boiled so much that Atlas felt his tongue burn with every breath he took.
Even space struggled to stay firm under the constant assault from that terrifying temperature.
GRARLLL!!!
The creature's actual features were indistinguishable because they were majestic and imposing flames around him.
GRARLLL!!!
"Hmm... there is also that little fox that had found refuge in the sacred tree... Damn you!"
The creature's roar continued to pierce the eardrums of the two poor cultivators, but unknowing to him, Atlas could understand his words.
The difference in power between them was immeasurable, so Atlas used his brain as the only weapon at his disposal to survive: "Almighty Fire Spirit... it is an honor for us to see your magnificent self..."
Atlas did not hold back and unleashed his tongue as best as he could.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then the flames shrank to a small ball of fire roughly three feet high.
Rose didn't know what was happening, but seeing that sphere approaching them slowly made her heart tremble. 'Hey... what did you do?'
'Keep quiet... That being is not an enemy on our level, so we must reason with him...' Atlas answered hastily in his mind and then glorified the creature again, "Almighty Fire Spirit... Forgive our impudent actions..."
It might have seemed cowardly, but he had to compromise even with his pride in front of such a fearsome enemy.
Within a couple of breaths, the fireball came so close to them that the temperature soared to a frightening level.
Rose could somehow sustain that heat because Atlas was tacking it wholly in her stead, but he found it unbearable.
It was so hot that his skin was roasting.
Sores and excoriation appeared on his face. Still, he controlled the pain and continued observing the creature a few steps away from them.
Twice, the boy had tried to start a conversation with the creature, but strangely enough, the spirit merely observed him in silence, hidden behind its flames.
"Almighty Fire Spirit... Forgive our impudent actions..."
It was his third attempt, yet he spoke despite his throat being full of pustules. He was reaching his limit, but he looked back at the creature without fear.
He hoped for an answer, and sure, a voice came in response, but it was from Nihilr: 'Call him by his name... Falgnis!'
Thousands of doubts bloomed in his head, but that wasn't the right time to question him, so he lifted his chin once again and opened his mouth, showing his bloody teeth: "Almighty Falgnis, lord of thousands of flames... forgive our actions!"
GRARLLL!!!
"Little bug... how do you know my name?"
Being able to talk to chaotic creatures was not so shocking, especially for creatures with high power like this spirit.
But finding out that a wretched human was aware of his real name was unbelievable.
Atlas wanted so badly to talk, but the flames that enveloped him had battered his throat to such an extent that it was difficult even to breathe.
GRARLLL!!!
"What a puny and useless body you humans have..."
Ding!
A strange noise echoed in the cave, and suddenly, the temperature dropped steeply, reaching a tolerable level.
Feeling much safer, Atlas consumed one of his grandmother's infamous Regenerating Potions and waited for the regenerating flames to purify his internal organs.
Cough! Cough!
An alarming amount of blood came out of his mouth, as black as coal. The young man had endured a terrible amount of pain, but finally, he was able to reply: "Almighty Falgnis...your name is well known to everyone in this world..."
GRARLLL!!!
"Don't lie to me... only a few people know my name, and I know that most of them are dead or have left this miserable world... If you dare to lie to me again, I will boil your internal organs for days... and seal your mind inside my most frightening flames... Tell me the truth!"
Rose was no fool, so hearing her companion communicate with the creature, she quickly realized she had underestimated him.
Who knows how many secrets he has and what mysteries lurk in his mind?
Meanwhile, Atlas was undecided on how to proceed.
Should he say he told him the truth?
He was hesitant, and his silence annoyed the creature.
GRARLLL!!!
"I warn you... I can peer into your mind very easily... so do not waste this act of kindness on my part..."
Rose was there with them, so how could he quietly reveal one of his most essential secrets?
Time passed very slowly, but when he felt the temperature boiling once again, he opened his mouth: "Wait!!! I know your name because of this artifact..."
Atlas pointed at his forehead, where the weird artifact had found a home back in the city.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then...
GRARLLL!!!
"What a lucky human... You have found Worfor's beloved artifact, the Knowledge of the Universe, or at least that's what he called him back in the day. But, if that thing is with you, then he is gone, too... Poor fellow..."
Hearing the creature's words, Atlas finally understood why information, which he could not know in any way, flowed into his mind from time to time.
He seemed to have underestimated Chaotiss a bit.
He could not let this opportunity pass him by, so he questioned the creature: "Do you know the other powers of this artifact? What other wonders does it conceal?"
GRARLLL!!!
"Don't be insolent... If you cannot by your own strength reveal its secrets, then you are not worthy... On the contrary, you should be grateful to have obtained such a powerful artifact with your puny power..."
The temperature dropped much more, and the creature's roar shook the cave again...
GRARLLL!!!
"Considering the deep respect I have for the spirit of Worfor... I will forgive your sins. But there must be a price to pay..."
Saving his own life was the priority, so he dared not argue with the creature and listened very carefully.