novelraw Chapter 171: Flame Domain
Chapter 171: Flame Domain
Alfred’s first question lingered unanswered in the air, heavy with the tension of the standoff in the desolate landscape of the Death Land. His gaze was locked intently on the two mysterious women who had appeared so suddenly and ominously before him and his group of Ascendants.
The silence stretched on, prompting him to repeat his demand with increased force, his voice rising in both volume and intensity. "Let me ask you one more time, who the hell are you?" he demanded, his tone echoing his growing impatience and frustration.
Ophelia, standing confidently opposite him, responded to Alfred’s inquiry with a sly smirk. The corners of her mouth curled upwards, her amusement at the situation evident. She relished the evident irritation she was causing, finding some twisted delight in the unfolding drama.
Drakina, her stoic and silent companion, remained beside her, a stark contrast with her unchanging expression. Her eyes, cold and observant, meticulously scrutinized every member of Alfred’s group, calculating and analyzing the potential threat they posed.
Alfred’s frustration visibly mounted with their lack of response. His face took on a slight reddish hue, an indicator of his rising anger and indignation. "How dare you..." he began, his voice thunderous and filled with outrage, as he attempted to assert his authority in the situation.
But before Alfred could complete his sentence, Ophelia acted with surprising swiftness. In one fluid, unexpected motion, she raised her gun and fired. The shot rang out sharply, piercing the silence of the Death Land.
One of Alfred’s underlings, caught unawares, was struck by the bullet and fell to the ground, motionless. The stark finality of the gunshot and the sight of the fallen Ascendant heightened the tension in the air.
Alfred, witnessing this unprovoked attack, felt his anger boil over into a mix of rage and disbelief. His hands involuntarily clenched into fists, his knuckles whitening with the intensity of his grip. He began to speak again, his voice laced with fury, "Don’t you know who I..."
However, he was abruptly cut off by Ophelia. She spoke over him, her voice nonchalant, dripping with a dismissive tone that only served to infuriate Alfred further. "I don’t care who you are or what you are. The fact that you’re here means that..."
Drakina, seizing the moment to add to the intimidation, finished Ophelia’s sentence in her own calm but threatening manner. "...you have become our target."
The gravity of Drakina’s words hit Alfred and his group with full force. They tensed up, instinctively reaching for their weapons, readying themselves for what seemed an inevitable confrontation.
Alfred’s frustration boiled over as he witnessed his underlings fall, one by one, to the unprovoked attacks of the two mysterious women. His usual calm demeanor shattered under the weight of their arrogance and the loss of his men.
Without uttering a word, Alfred channelled his anger into a powerful fireball and launched it towards Ophelia and Drakina. His voice thundered across the desolate landscape, "DIE!" The fireball blazed through the air, a bright comet of fury aimed directly at them.
Ophelia, however, was quick to react. With a fluid movement, she aimed her gun at the incoming attack and fired. Her shot hit the fireball, causing it to dissipate into thin air. She looked at Alfred with a mocking smile. "Is that all you got?" she taunted, her tone playful yet laced with menace.
Enraged by her dismissal of his attack, Alfred yelled to his remaining underlings, "Attack them! Now!" His face was contorted with anger, his command echoing with urgency.
Ophelia and Drakina prepared for the impending battle, a sense of excitement visible in Ophelia’s eyes. Drakina, ever stoic, stood ready, her expression unchanging yet radiating a quiet confidence.
Alfred, his face a mixture of rage and determination, stood firm in the midst of the chaos. "You are the first that has made me this angry," he announced, his voice echoing with a mix of arrogance and challenge. "Now, let me show you my true power."
Ophelia, standing opposite him, cocked her head to the side, her eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. "Oh? Showing your true colors now, are we?" she remarked, her voice dripping with a playful taunt. She spun her gun in her hand, her movements fluid and relaxed, almost as if she were enjoying a game rather than facing a dangerous foe.
With a sudden, dramatic gesture, Alfred’s hands struck the ground, sending a wave of energy through the earth. "Flame Domain!" he roared. The ground beneath their feet trembled as his voice echoed, a testament to his power and rage. Instantly, flames burst forth from the point of impact, rippling outwards to engulf the battlefield in a sea of fire.
The flames twisted and turned, creating a mesmerizing yet deadly dance around them. Alfred stood in the midst of it all, a proud smile curling his lips. "Welcome to my Flame Domain," he announced with a triumphant sneer. "Here, every flame is an extension of my will, each ember a servant to my command."
The revelation of his Flame Domain skill marked the true extent of his strength as a Tier 4 Ascendant. This ability didn’t just amplify his power; it synergized with his underlings’ flame-based attacks, creating a formidable army united under the banner of fire.
Ophelia, undeterred by the blazing inferno around her, chuckled lightly. She tapped her foot playfully on the scorched ground, watching the flames as if they were mere fireworks. Her smile broadened, a clear indication of her thrill at the escalating fight.
Beside her, Drakina remained an island of calm in the fiery storm. Her posture was relaxed yet ready, her eyes sharp and focused. She assessed the situation with a warrior’s precision, her face betraying no emotion, yet her eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity.
Alfred, reveling in his power, began to move. Each step he took left a trail of fire in his wake. "Feel the wrath of my flames!" he bellowed, extending his arms. Fireballs launched from his fingertips, each one aimed with deadly precision at Ophelia and Drakina.
Ophelia danced around the fireballs, her movements a blend of elegance and agility. She twirled, ducked, and weaved, her laughter ringing out even as the flames licked at her heels. "Come on, Alfred! You’ll have to do better than that to catch me!" she taunted, firing off shots from her gun in between her acrobatic evasions.
Drakina, in contrast, chose a more direct approach. She moved forward, each step measured and deliberate. With her spear in hand, she deflected the fireballs with swift, precise movements, her face a mask of concentration.
Alfred’s underlings, emboldened by their leader’s power, joined the fray. They charged forward, their weapons enhanced by the Flame Domain, their faces set in expressions of fierce determination.