Chapter 373 – The Awakening of Benlajet

The night at the “Sleeping Dragon” volcano was bitterly cold. Although this colossal entity was a dormant volcano, its thick rock layers had effectively sealed in the crust’s high temperatures. Amid the flying snow of the harsh winter, this mountain that provided people with abundant precious mineral deposits appeared no different from the distant peaks.

However, this was only true from afar.

If a traveler dared brave the cold so extreme it could freeze even nitrogen into snowflakes, they would witness the volcano’s summit, near the crater, covered with vast amounts of scorching fire element raw ore. These element-rich ores continuously radiated intense heat above the cloud layer. The temperature disparity divided the peak into two distinct parts at the cloud line: the lower section perpetually shrouded in snowfall, while the upper portion blazed with searing heat. The area enveloped in clouds, however, maintained a moderate temperature…

Piercing through the cotton-thick cloud layer to reach the upper section of the crater revealed mountainsides glowing crimson with fire element raw ore. Within the crystalline fire element crystals, faint traces of flickering flames could be discerned—a sign of nascent fire element life about to emerge.

Generally, few would venture to the summit of a ten-thousand-meter peak for hard-to-refine fire element raw ore. Moreover, for most creatures below formal rank, the “Sleeping Dragon” volcano’s peak was a hazardous zone rife with explosive fire element energy. Thus, this dormant volcano remained perpetually silent and deserted, with only the crater’s magma slowly churning and boiling.

But today, this long-slumbering mountain finally welcomed two extraordinary visitors… and now these powerful “uninvited guests” stood solemnly facing each other on a level ground at the summit.

Undoubtedly, these “uninvited guests” were none other than the fully combat-ready Ben Lajie and Punk!

Amid the dancing shadows of raging flames, both their mage robes seemed to flutter and swirl along with the inferno.

“Punk Cyan, you… what have you been doing? Do you truly understand your actions?”

Though Ben Lajie’s portly frame appeared motionless, the boiling, swirling fire elements around him betrayed the fat old man’s turbulent emotions. While his tone carried accusation, his gaze remained irrevocably locked onto the enormous magical construct behind Punk.

It was a spherical crystal roughly five meters tall, entirely crafted from premium fire element crystals. The translucent crimson sphere was intricately patterned with web-like energy inscriptions. Merely by resting there, this massive “Fire Element Crystal Orb” began rapidly drawing the crater’s fire elements into itself. Influenced by the orb, the crater’s magma pool—larger than any lake—grew increasingly violent.

“What is this thing? Punk, don’t tell me you’re actually planning to implement that brutality!”

Sensing the tremendous energy coalescing within the Fire Element Crystal Orb, Ben Lajie’s expression grew increasingly grave.However, unlike Ben Lajie’s shocked horror, Punk’s expression remained consistently cold and… indifferent from beginning to end.

Gently patting the Fire Element Crystal Orb beside him that reached temperatures of at least a thousand degrees, Punk’s pupils slowly began to shimmer with traces of azure magical radiance:

“Master Nokani, perhaps you should revisit your ‘Basic Alchemy Course’ and ‘Basic Rune Analysis.’ This is merely a simple ‘Composite Energy-Gathering Elemental Matrix.’ The external crystal is just a simplified version of a Mage Tower’s elemental core. The only difference between it and the cores we use to power standard Magic Towers is—this thing lacks engraved safety restriction runes!”

“You can’t possibly intend to throw this ‘bomb’ into the volcano’s crater! Do you truly not understand? If this volcano erupts, even the distant Mobywise Kingdom will suffer immense disaster. The ordinary people of Maple Leaf Kingdom and Dragon Roar Kingdom would have no chance of survival!”

After hearing Punk’s sarcastic “explanation,” Ben Lajie could no longer contain his fury—by this point in their conversation, Punk’s intentions had become glaringly obvious. Ben Lajie finally abandoned his last shred of illusion and began shouting at Punk in rage:

“Punk, do you think no one will know if you detonate Sleeping Dragon Volcano? Do you believe the Thought of Truth investigation team’s Divination Spells are just for show? This gains you nothing—the price you’ll pay is destined to far outweigh any benefits…”

“No, Ben Lajie. Though it might sound harsh, I must tell you—to me, those Thought of Truth investigation teams who can do nothing but use Divination Spells to track things are indeed just for show! I’m completely confident no one will trace this back to me—except for you, this meddlesome troublemaker…”

Staring unflinchingly at the enraged Ben Lajie, the icy chill in Punk’s eyes grew increasingly profound and piercing:

“…Mr. Nokani, you’re at least three thousand years my senior. Why choose now of all times to ‘rediscover your conscience’? Don’t tell me you want to save Dragon Roar Kingdom. Even if you’ve turned to the path of good, you’re still far from achieving Jiaoni’s level of enlightenment!”

“It’s only for the children’s sake… or more precisely… for little Liwaqi!”

When mentioning little Liwaqi, Ben Lajie’s tone became profoundly solemn.

“Having lost her kingdom, having lost her important protector… little Liwaqi has suffered enough. But at least she still possesses one final treasure—she remains the nominal queen of Maple Leaf Kingdom. As long as Maple Leaf Kingdom’s territory holds value, she’ll never face cruel treatment… But now, Punk…!”

Ben Lajie resolutely took a step forward.

“Punk, you cannot destroy an innocent little girl’s last remaining treasure. You must understand what a symbolic identity means to a princess with no professional aptitude whatsoever—one even the Thought of Truth wouldn’t take in!… I’ve seen those ‘slave princesses’ standing on auction blocks. I absolutely cannot accept little Liwaqi meeting such a fate!”He spoke the final words almost syllable by syllable, Ben Lajie’s plump face hardening like steel. For the first time, this mage who had rarely experienced life-or-death battles resolutely stood before an enemy of equal strength. At this moment, gazing into Punk’s deathly stare, even the last trace of fear vanished from Ben Lajie’s heart.

“Sigh… Benlajie Nokani, what a pity!”

Completely indifferent to the fat old man’s display of resolve and determination, Punk merely sighed faintly from afar:

“To be honest, I didn’t want to turn hostile so soon. After all, every bit of strength is crucial when fighting that fellow Ovakain… But unfortunately, we now have no choice but to cross swords prematurely.”

His calm, breezy words quickly dissipated in the scorching wind, and what vanished from Ben Lajie’s sight along with them… was Punk’s figure.

“Master-Level Conjuration Spell—Mirror Image!”

“…Never mind, Ben Lajie. You were bound to die sooner or later anyway. I’ve had enough of your foolish meddling…”

(End of Chapter)