Chapter 640: Ignis Sanctuary
Charles's grasp of the Lawful Fire Essences achieved a remarkable milestone at this pivotal moment. Within a mere week, his diligent efforts had yielded the comprehension of an astounding 370 additional Lawful Fire Essence Streaks. The sheer magnitude of this achievement was awe-inspiring, doubling the potency and efficacy of the earlier Golden Shield.
Enveloped in newfound enlightenment, Charles stood on the precipice of greatness.
Within the depths of his understanding, he reconstructed the Lawful Spell and created a unique spell called 'Ignis Sanctuary.'
'Although this spell is incomplete and hasn't reached Law power, it can still take on a direct hit from a Peak-Stage Legendary Magical Beast.' Muttering inwardly, he walked out of the cavern and cast the spell.
When invoked, the 'Ignis Sanctuary' spell manifested a powerful and intricate cover composed entirely of Lawful Fire Essence. This golden forcefield-like shield extended outward, encompassing an area of approximately five meters in radius, creating a sanctuary of protection. The radiant flames of the Lawful Fire Essence danced and flickered, forming an impenetrable barrier that could repel malevolent forces and ward off any impending threats.
In the following fifteen minutes, Charles delved into a series of experiments, meticulously observing the effects of the 'Ignis Sanctuary' spell. He studied its workings with unwavering focus, paying close attention to the interactions between the Lawful Fire Essences and their protective properties. Through his analysis, he better understood the spell's capabilities, limitations, and potential applications. Satisfied with his comprehensive study, he finally released the 'Ignis Sanctuary' spell, dispersing the force-field-like shield and allowing the Lawful Fire Essences to return to their dormant state.
While the 'Ignis Sanctuary' provided a formidable safeguard within its boundaries, Charles was aware of its limitations.
The first limitation was its short time limit.
'It activates only for around fifteen minutes.'
The second limitation was its defensive weakness.
Although it also offered exceptional defense against physical attacks, magical assaults, and even curses, he understood that certain specialized spells, such as his Soul Shock spell, could bypass its protective barriers easily.
'I also wonder if this spell could block my 'Purple Fire' and even the 'Dream Related' abilities.'
Despite this knowledge, he remained undeterred, knowing that with further refinement and development, the 'Ignis Sanctuary' could evolve into a formidable Legendary Spell or even a genuine Demi-God Level Spell.
Lost in contemplation, Charles gazed up at the cloudy sky, his mind filled with curiosity and ambition.
'Genesis, how much wisdom power is needed to reach the peak realm of Legend Rank?' he inquired, his eyes focused and determined.
In response, Genesis offered a calm and measured reply,
[It varies from person to person, Host. However, unlike ordinary mages, you possess exceptional capabilities. In the Rebirth Domain spell alone, you managed to comprehend over 15 Fire Laws, and in your subsequent spell, you swiftly grasped 700 Fire Essences. With time, you can even comprehend four or more Fire Laws in each spell, rendering you invincible among those of the same rank. Nevertheless, pursuing fire laws necessitates substantial 'wisdom power' to stabilize your soul. As such, I cannot determine the amount of wisdom power required to reach the peak level.]
"So, you don't know?" Charles shook his head and asked a different question.
"Tell me how much wisdom power is needed for an average Mage to reach his peak rank."
[It should be around 400 to 500 wisdom points, Host.] An instant response came from Genesis.
'Hmm, doesn't that mean I already reached that realm?' But Charles knew this wisdom power wasn't enough for him to construct his new [Ignis Sanctuary] spell completely!
"I can only take things slowly," He muttered solemnly, his gaze fixated on the distant woods. The weight of time bore heavily upon him, and a sense of urgency gnawed at his resolve. The desire to delve deeper into the mysteries of Lawful Fire burned within him, yet time constraints loomed over his aspirations like a shadow.
The realization of his limitations settled upon him like a heavy cloak, and with a resolute shake of his head, he acknowledged the impossibility of his lofty ambitions. Time, an elusive and precious resource, slipped through his fingers like grains of sand, leaving him yearning for more.
'Time, huh? I should also check if I can unravel the chaos flame hidden in the time crystal.'
Reluctantly, he retreated to the familiar confines of the cavern, his shelter from the Dungeon's relentless march.
In the past week, Charles had dedicated himself not only to personal growth but also to maintaining a watchful eye on the world beyond his seclusion. Through the conduit of his 'Purple Word' spell, he remained connected to Head Deacon Colt, the bearer of crucial information. Updates flowed into his Inner World, vividly depicting the Order Church's movements.
It was revealed that six members of the Order Church, eight of the Hawthorne Family, and three of Amber Church had assembled at the Dream Palace, embarking on a formidable quest to conquer a domain presided over by the fallen Priest of Dream God known as Pathmaker. The gravity of their mission did not escape Charles, and he noted that Archbishop Victor had also joined their ranks, his actions thus far displaying no signs of deviation from the norm.
A subtle understanding took hold in Charles's mind.
'From what I have gathered so far, only Order Church and Amber Church seem to be planning on leaving the Dungeon after raiding the domain ruled by Pathmaker. Meanwhile, Hawthorne Family will temporarily ally with Fairchild Family and embark on their journey to the next layer. But when will Victor make his move? He seems to have noticed something is off and decided to act cautiously. Now that I think about it, we have yet to learn about what he is after. Tsk, I should focus on strengthening myself first.'
Furrowing, he summoned a ball of fire, casting its warm glow upon the cavern's recesses, illuminating the hidden recesses of his thoughts.
With purposeful intent, he reached for the Crimson Orb,
With careful deliberation, Charles directed his attention towards the hidden compartment within the Crimson Orb, his fingers moving with purpose as he extracted the delicate snake egg from its confines. As he held it delicately in his palm, the egg radiated an otherworldly evil aura, a vessel teeming with potential and uncertainty.
While contemplating the egg's fate, Charles understood the precarious balance it hung upon. If a new consciousness failed to emerge within a specific timeframe, the soul housed within would relinquish its connection to the mortal plane, drifting towards the next cycle of reincarnation.
The weight of responsibility settled him as he recognized the urgency of finding a suitable consciousness to inhabit the delicate vessel.
At that moment, an image of a particular snake, the Shadow Princess, danced before his eyes. Simultaneously, he also thought of the information Jade mentioned about the Life Church's expenditure on the Dream World.
'After all these years, why am I thinking of that snake?' After becoming a Legendary Mage, his understanding of the future had reached a formidable level.
A suspicion took root in his thoughts.
'Could it be that the formidable opponent, the one whom the Life Church had battled fiercely against in the Dream Realm, held the key to breathing new life into the egg? Shadow Princess was that formidable opponent?'
The prospect ignited a spark of curiosity within him, the desire to uncover the truth burning brightly. A resolve formed, a plan taking shape in his mind. Should an opportune moment present itself, he vowed to seek out the Cardinal of Life to inquire about the fate of the Shadow Princess.
Securing the egg once more within the confines of the Crimson Orb, he carefully stored it in his space ring, a precious treasure awaiting its destined purpose.
Having cast the protective shield of [Ignis Sanctuary], Charles shifted his focus to a fist-sized reddish, crystalline object retrieved from his space ring. Seemingly unremarkable in appearance, little did he know of the profound power it held within.
Intrigued by the object's hidden potential, he held it in his hand, a tingling sensation coursing through his fingertips as he contemplated its true nature.
Closing his eyes, Charles used his 'wisdom power' to probe the inner layer of the crystalline object. As his consciousness delved deeper, he discerned that this was not an elemental crystal but a manifestation of pure temporal energy. However, just as he began to uncover the true nature of the crystal, a peculiar sensation washed over him. His thinking process inexplicably slowed down, leaving him disoriented and struggling to maintain clarity of thought.
Realizing the seriousness, Charles swiftly transformed himself into elemental form, utilizing the [Accelerate Thoughts] spell to accelerate his mental processes. With his perception heightened, he attempted again to probe the crystal's secrets. To his relief, his consciousness encountered no obstacles or restrictions this time.
However, in a sudden and unexpected turn of events, a powerful suction force emerged from within the crystal, drawing his entire elemental form into its depths.
