Among the five mage-class statues, Kael had already comprehended the Storm King's mark. The remaining three were the Radiant King, the Earthlord, and the Flame King.
Of these, Kael found the Flame King most intriguing.
As a legendary fire-elemental powerhouse, the Flame King had undoubtedly mastered all six elemental magics—though fire remained her specialty. Since Kael also relied heavily on fire for offense, he believed her insights would be particularly valuable.
The Flame King's statue depicted a tall, striking woman of breathtaking beauty—a face that could topple kingdoms. Her crimson hair cascaded to her waist, and her piercing gaze seemed to cut straight to the soul, radiating overwhelming power.
"Her. The Flame King."
Without hesitation, Kael stepped forward. Surging magic erupted from his body, crashing into the statue.
As the stone shattered, Kael's consciousness plunged into his spiritual sea.
There, the Flame King stood—crimson hair, fiery eyes, her expression calm yet commanding. "So, you're the one who woke me?"
Kael's instincts flared. Her presence felt entirely different from the Storm King's. More terrifying. More profound. Closer to the realm of the Archmage.
This wasn't just speculation—every fiber of his being screamed that the Flame King dwarfed even the Storm King in strength.
"Yes. I awakened you," Kael replied.
The Flame King's gaze swept over him like twin blades poised to split him apart. Then, suddenly, she laughed—a smile so devastating it could rewrite fate. "If you've roused my mark, you'd best be ready for the trial."
Without moving, her staff flicked toward him.
Instantly, every fire element in the vicinity bent to her will. She stood as their sovereign, and the flames prostrated themselves before her.
"How is this possible?" Kael's heart pounded with shock. This was the first time he'd witnessed such a phenomenon. Though he had fused with fire elements and could wield them freely, the Flame King's mastery was on an entirely different level—she commanded their absolute obedience. Her will was an irresistible decree, suppressing Kael so thoroughly that he couldn't even cast a single fire spell in her presence!
"Damn it, I have to endure this!"
Since fire magic was unusable, Kael immediately activated the Wings of the Storm God. In an instant, cyan wings unfurled from his back, multiplying his speed tenfold. With a flash, he barely managed to escape the crushing pressure of the Flame King's aura.
And all this—from just a casual flick of her staff. No incantations. No effort.
"Terrifying. She truly surpasses even the Storm King. Among all the legendary powerhouses I've encountered, the Flame King stands at the pinnacle!" Kael assessed swiftly, his mind racing.
The Flame King arched a delicate brow, faintly surprised. "The Storm King's Wings of the Storm God? No... not quite the same. There are differences." Her terrifying perception instantly discerned the nuances.
Her gaze sharpened as she studied Kael. "I sense traces of two legendary beings on you. The Storm King... and the Water Dragon. You bear connections to both."
Kael's eyes widened. She'd detected the Water Dragon's essence within him—proof of her staggering power.
"Correct. I inherited the Water Dragon's legacy," Kael replied calmly. This was the spiritual realm, and she was long deceased. Secrecy hardly mattered.
The Flame King nodded. "I see. The Water Dragon's successor. No wonder his presence lingers. He was a prodigy—one step from claiming the title of Archmage. A pity he fell at the final hurdle."
At the mention of the Water Dragon, Kael's inner world trembled violently. Before he could investigate, a translucent figure materialized beside him—a middle-aged man clad in feathered robes and a starry crown, his demeanor scholarly yet resolute, hands clasped proudly behind his back.
"The Water Dragon!" Kael's pupils contracted. The apparition before him was none other than the Water Dragon himself.
"Long time no see, boy." The Water Dragon smiled. "I never thought I'd witness this world again."
Kael had watched the Water Dragon's will scatter in the tomb. He'd assumed every last remnant was gone.
"Truly extraordinary, Water Dragon." The Flame King smiled faintly, her gaze steady as she regarded him without the slightest ripple in her composure—as if nothing could unsettle her.
The Water Dragon laughed heartily. "I once heard tales of the Flame King, renowned across the continent for her mastery over fire. They say she single-handedly annihilated three legendary powerhouses, earning the title of 'the Legend Closest to the Archmage.' I've long wished to test that claim!"
Kael stiffened. So that was the Flame King's reputation—no wonder she felt even more unfathomable than the Storm King.
The Legend Closest to the Archmage!
"Then let us spar!"
The two supreme powerhouses clashed instantly.
The Water Dragon's robes billowed as he moved, while the Flame King's crimson hair whirled like living flame.
"Magnificent, Flame King! This wisp of my mark holds only enough energy for one strike. Witness it well!"
"Water Element—Boundless Torrent!" The Water Dragon's attack surged forth, water morphing unpredictably—ethereal yet devastating—as it roared toward the Flame King.
Yet the Flame King stood unwavering. With a mere tap of her staff, she uttered calmly, "Law of Fire: Devour."
Flames coiled around her like loyal subjects, and in an instant, they erupted into a cataclysmic tide that blotted out the sky—swallowing the Water Dragon's deluge whole.
"Flames—be quenched!" The Water Dragon bellowed, pushing his fusion with water to unprecedented heights. His body seemed to merge with the element itself as he lunged.
"Futile. My comprehension of fire borders on the realm of Laws." The Flame King shook her head. A vast, overwhelming power erupted from her, her flames scouring the battlefield and completely nullifying the Water Dragon's assault.
The Water Dragon's strike shattered. His expression darkened with reluctant admiration. "As expected of the Flame King—the title suits you well. To think you've nearly grasped fragments of a Law..."
Laws.
The exclusive domain of Archmages. In other words, only by fusing all six elements and comprehending their Laws could one ascend to godhood!
No wonder the Flame King is so formidable—she's actually grasped fragments of a Law.
Kael narrowed his eyes. This woman is truly extraordinary.
The Water Dragon's power exhausted, his form gradually dissolved into fragments. With one last deep glance at Kael, he vanished from the spot.
The Flame King remained standing, her staff now lowered. A faint smile graced her lips as she spoke: "The path to becoming an Archmage has no end. I was born into a family of mages, began cultivating magic at seven, became a fifth-tier mage by ten, reached ninth-tier by fifteen, fused my first element at twenty, and ascended to legendary status by twenty-five. My talent was peerless—I dared claim it rivaled even Orlando's. Yet even I failed to attain godhood. This road is far more treacherous than you imagine."
"But do not belittle yourself. In that battle just now, it was only my partial comprehension of the Laws that allowed me to overwhelm the Water Dragon so easily."
Kael nodded silently. This legendary woman before him was indeed beyond ordinary.
"Our meeting is fate. And as fellow fire mages, my experience may yet aid you. Consider this my gift. When you one day charge toward the realm of the Archmage, may it lend you strength!" The Flame King's staff flicked through the air, and Kael felt something imprint itself into his mind—sealed away, as if waiting for his power to grow before it could be unlocked.
"Farewell." Her parting smile outshone the heavens themselves. Then, like scattered starlight, her figure dissolved into countless motes of light and vanished.
Back in the physical world, Kael remained still, eyes shut tight, as if plumbing the depths of newfound understanding.