"What about its consciousness?"
Dangross: "...It vanished."
Angel let out a long sigh, well then, another dead end.
However, the fire-type beings from the same era as Phoenix Cillia should have also met Feng? Even if not, perhaps Phoenix Cillia had at least talked about Feng to them?
If only we could ask them some questions.
Unfortunately, because of Dangross’s spy report, leading to a confrontation with the life of the Region of Fire, it’s unlikely to ask peacefully now.
As for asking Dangross, it hadn’t been born yet when the Old King, Ember Shylia, died.
However, it’s not certain.
We can’t follow normal logic to approach problems; perhaps Dangross really does know? Angel fears the possibility of oversight, so he decides to ask: "Dangross, have you heard of Feng?"
"Who?"
"Mirafil. Feng."
"Who?"
"Do you know who drew the picture on that stone over there?"
"Who?"
Angel, seeing Dangross’s baffled eyes, silently closes his mouth.
With Angel staying silent, Dangross doesn’t utter a word. Its mind feels complex now; this human-like life form seems truly oblivious about Ember Shylia... Could it be the message he sent earlier was true?
Angel ceases probing Dangross for more information; what he knows is roughly enough, and other intel would probably be useless to him.
His current focus is more on the battle overhead and... pondering how this fight should end?
"Hope this fire rain stops soon," Angel murmurs.
...
The battle in the sky continues, yet Earl Mi and Magic Fire Midir are in a delicate state of combat.
Earl Mi, having exhausted energy during the previous battle, is now essentially relying on brute strength to fight.
Sensing Earl Mi is not using energy, Magic Fire Midir also abandons flame manipulation, confronting him directly.
This approach holds one advantage: it prevents chain explosions within the Elemental Tide.
However, even if Magic Fire Midir does not deliberately manipulate flames, it is fundamentally composed of fire. Through repeated collisions, Earl Mi gradually falls into a disadvantage.
Several patches on Earl Mi’s fur are burned due to Magic Fire Midir’s punches, marked by scorched spots everywhere.
The bluish crystal blood has been coughed up more than once by Earl Mi, indicative of cumulative injuries.
Magic Fire Midir, albeit also attacked by Earl Mi, possesses an ability in the Elemental Tide to quickly restore even from catastrophic damage, due to external energy replenishment. Thus, it appears unchanged from its initial state.
As the situation starts to turn unfavorable, with Elemental Tide showing no signs of abatement, Angel begins to discuss specific responses with Earl Mi through the Seed of Distortion.
They must defend against Magic Fire Midir if considering a retreat, especially given its capability for remotely controlling fire rain explosions.
After secret deliberation, Angel and Earl Mi reach consensus.
The best strategy is to overwhelm it to the extent with no energy left to pursue. Coupled with Angel’s Nightmare Illusion concealment, it should obstruct momentarily to offer retreat opportunities.
Upon affirming the plan, Earl Mi once more gets kicked by Magic Fire Midir tens of meters high into the air and halts there.
An invisible aura emanates from Earl Mi.
Magic Fire Midir was intending to chase but, noting Earl Mi’s transformation, pauses with intrigue, watching silently: "Finally getting serious? But your energy is almost depleted, what else can you do?"
Earl Mi remains silent as usual, however, the Blue Lantern Flower on his head sways, belching bubbles that transform... crimson!
With the bubble’s color change, Earl Mi’s true body gets pulled up, transitioning into an energy state.
Earl Mi previously fought in energy state at the ledges; now converting again signals abandoning flesh confrontation, deciding to duel on an energy level.
Seeing this, Magic Fire Midir’s narrow eyes flash subtly, releasing laughter as black armor ignites fiercely, morphing into energy!
Magic Fire Midir’s combat spirit escalates ever higher yet, the moment Earl Mi entirely energyizes, its expression freezes.
Also, Dangross from the ground freezes.
Because it always expected Earl Mi to turn into a snowy white shadow; however, what appears now isn’t a snow-bound icy shadow but a terrifying flaming shadow!
The instant the fiery shadow appears, its aura significantly heightens; with Elemental Tide’s bonus, the energy level matches Magic Fire Midir!
A True Knowledge Level fire life form!
This is naturally the result of Angel and Earl Mi’s discussion; though fire element impacts Magic Fire Midir less than ice, Earl Mi’s energy is nearly depleted, leaving only transformation into fire element as feasible, eliminating exhaustion worry due to Elemental Tide.
Focusing fire abilities to obscure Magic Fire Midir’s perception, Angel then constructs an illusionary realm to delay Magic Fire Midir, granting them withdrawal leeway.
"What’s happening, he... he... isn’t he a spy for Frost Iser? Why, why do I feel only pure flames... impossible..."
Dangross finds the scene before extremely absurd. It was firm on Earl Mi being Frost Iser’s spy due to the intense ice power, which suddenly shifts and Earl Mi turns into a same-species—fire element life form!
How can this be?
Dangross feels its worldview collapsing.
Its prior spy accusations face unmerciful refutation once again.
Although Magic Fire Midir briefly stalls, it quickly collects itself, without expressing too much astonishment towards Earl Mi’s shift to fiery form, only glancing at Angel sidelong before changing into the flame form to engage Earl Mi in a direct fire clash.
The current altercation is evidently more terrifying than prior melee.
Virtually in a blink, the sky erupts with masses of explosions, the detonation reverberating across the entire region, flames dyeing the sky crimson.
Frightening energy plunges from the high skies, lifting dust from the scorched earth.
Moreover, as combat continues, this state perpetuates. The sole unaffected area is the stone bearing the Old King, Ember Shylia’s image.
Angel deliberately instructs Earl Mi to avoid it since it bears the path departing the Tidal World.
As for why Magic Fire Midir intentionally steers clear, perhaps it reveres the respected Old King.