Reylin glared at the woman, still not sure about her identity.
He believed she was one of the game developers, but another thought popped into his mind. That woman could also be one of the ascended. That would make more sense with how the game developers openly declared they couldn't influence the game at any point.
He let out faint laughter and took another shot, "Why did you bring me here? I don't mind making connections with sexy ladies, but I don't think that's the reason."
"You can't create your own mana, but you can wield mine," The woman said.
And with this, Reylin was sure he wouldn't get along with that woman.
Although she looked far better than Yvonne and was closer to the fire waifu, Reylin had already grown up.
Still, that was just a small part.
"You want me to wield your flames?" He said with an indifferent tone.
"Exactly," The woman nodded, "You will get closer to the flames this way, and I will get the most promising apostle. No one other than me can enable you and your love toward the fire."
"Hahahahah!" Reylin burst out laughing.
He threw a glass behind himself and began thrashing on the chair with his crazy laughter. It lasted for a while, and Reylin didn't stop due to his emotions calming down.
Instead, those heightened, and he extended his hand toward the woman.
He grabbed her hair and surprised her with that move.
"You can touch me?" She asked with widened eyes.
Reylin didn't give any fuck about that question, "I refuse your offer. Apostol? Your fire? I will become the flames itself! My own flames! It's the only future given how fucking good I am. And you have no saying whether I will accomplish it or not. No one has. You can just stay in this room and drink your vodka. Wait as I come and take that spot."
A silence ensued.
If before the woman was sure Reylin wouldn't break the law, him touching her somewhat faltered her confidence. She also realized that her presence didn't exert anything on Reylin. He actually drank due to his curiosity and courtesy!
She couldn't make any deal with him!
The woman realized she had said the wrong words, and nothing could sway this man's heart anymore.
Nonetheless, she said those words, "You will go against the whole world should you refuse me."
"Jealousy knows no bounds. I will make enemies everywhere I go," Reylin let her hair go and demanded a leave.
He didn't want to spend any more time here. Otherwise, he would say much worse things.
"It seems like you've noticed," The woman said, "This is a prison indeed. A prison set up to keep others away from our world. Well, if that's the path you've chosen, I can only have my eyes on you from now on."
[Your existence has been marked by The Ascended - Milkyona]
[Your nickname turns black.]
[Black Nickname - On your death, you will drop your whole equipment and inventory. You will lose ten levels each death, and everyone will know about the rewards for killing you. NPCs will get the ascended's blessing by killing you, and they will be able to level up.]
"Milkyona?" Reylin stared at her name, "I will have you pay the price for it."
"Say those words once you will be able to actually produce the fire mana. That is my domain, and all flames belong to me," Milkyona said.
She then waved her hand, and Reylin disappeared from her room.
But that room was a prison, just as she said, and loneliness rippled in her eyes once Reylin disappeared.
No player could get a ticker to this room, and he was naturally the first.
Alas, Reylin's ambition didn't allow them to start the master-disciple relationship.
-
Reylin returned to the cave.
Like the woman had said, the time was frozen, and the boss HP remained the same. It felt like Milkyona had put a pause on the whole world, then resumed the game...
Reylin looked at his black nickname and chuckled, "It will be an endless slaughter, won't it?"
He thought about it just for a little, however.
Milkyona's words gave some understanding to Reylin.
He had been using the normal mana so far, and that mana was around the whole world. Everyone used the same mana, but a different one allowed one to reach the peak!
"Doesn't that mean that the bitch ascended also goes against the world?" Reylin thought, then switched his attention to flames.
He took out two red gems and rubbed those against each other.
Sparks came out, and those were gems that would be able to enhance the fire equipment. Of course, Reylin had a nice variety from his time in the Northern Rivers Bank, and he didn't lack items related to fire.
Though his quantity was getting lower, Reylin didn't care about it at the moment, "I already can turn foreign flames into MP. I can regenerate mana points."
Reylin chuckled.
From the very beginning, he had been on a good track. He could do what others couldn't and get unlimited mana as long as the flames howled in the vicinity. Thus, he was sure that creating the mana organ would be possible.
Reylin conjured flames out of the orbs and used these to slowly free himself out of the specter boss' frozen effect.
However, the process was relatively slow.
To say nothing of it, the battle with the boss was quite hard. It looked like the boss ridiculed Reylin and that his former confident words amounted to nothing.
Reylin saw his friends getting beaten by the boss and Aria getting hurt by him.
His heart boiled, and anger bloomed within...
[Layla's Flame Notes have been extinguished by your mana.]
"What?" Reylin threw his eyes to the inventory.
The notes were gone, but that wasn't the end of the development.
His feelings were the last thing Reylin needed to trigger the quest!
[Rey Flames Lin' Fire Heart Quest.]
[Grade: Unspecified.]
"That bitch ascended is so fucking blind! Hahahaha!" Reylin burst out laughing!
"Useless! Why are you laughing?! Help us!" Steel Melody shouted from the front! She had a hard time keeping the boss close, and Reylin's laughter riled her up!
He replied, "Give me some time, and I will shower you with my flames."