Chapter 37. Demon in ice.
It has been ten months since Rick and Roni began training with Atlanta. The progress in their strength was enormous, especially for the youngest of the magicians, who was already very strong, but after training with the dragon, he was able to frighten even Eros when he exhaled flame from his mouth. At first, the titan thought he was a dragon slayer, but the dragon denied his words. He only tempered the boy's internal organs so that he would not have any more weak points in front of the fire, and also helped to strengthen his flame, which was not weak anyway.
Of course, Roni does not have the same talent as Rick, but still he was also able to raise resistance to fire quite well, of course he cannot breathe out a flame, but the fact that it has become much stronger is a fact.
Eros also did not stand idle during these months, was able to break through to the level of the master in runes and the first thing he did was put a set of runes on each of the pieces of clothing: increasing the speed of absorption of ether from the air, resistance to elements, and also increasing the volume of magical power. He also made two rings of demon armor that was once defeated and absorbed by Eros, on one he added a rune increasing the detection radius, and on the second, muffling sounds around the owner of the ring. They turned out to be simple, but very strong.
For the rest, he also prepared a set of clothes with a full set of runes, and Kagure a katana, forged by one of the titan blacksmiths using the best steel that Eros had. After that, he inserted wind and fire lacrima into the hilt of the blade, and also applied runes to increase the strength of the blade and a weakened version of the rune of absorption that stood on his dagger. But the last rune took almost all the place on the blade and he could not inflict others, but even this made Eros sweat very much, because at his level he was able to squeeze out only 35% of the power of that rune. And it made him horrified, what kind of monster put it on the dagger and who in general created it?
Basically, such a strong jump in runes, Eros was able to get, only because of the memory of the demon, which is slowly filtered by the red force and transmitted to him. The titan noticed this phenomenon only seven months ago, when he was able to easily apply a third rune to the subject, and earlier he could barely put two and even then crookedly. And for all this time, he was able to absorb only 35% of the volume of Astaroth's knowledge.
But Eros did not limit himself to runes alone, he also got out of the village for 2-3 days a week and went hunting for gangs, and he hid everything that was found with them underground and put the place where the "treasures" were hidden on the map, since so far he has nowhere to store them. During these ten months he "earned" about twenty million. Of course, it could have been better if the titan hadn't been distracted by the runes and Kagura.
With regard to the case of the destruction of the village and the kidnapping of children, it has not made any progress. These bastards never showed up for these ten months, which suggested that among the Rune Knights or the council, there are those who leak information, even if they wait another year, there will be no results. Because of this, an order was received from the council to complete the mission and return all knights to the ranks. And something told Eros that they would no longer appear in Fiore.
***
- And don't look at me like that! - grinning, said Eros, stroking the frowning Kagura on the head, - I'm not leaving you forever and I already stayed in Fiore, according to the plan I should have been to Seven for a long time, and you already know what to do.
- For a long time ...? Rick asked grimly.
- Are you really going to miss? - with a mockery stretched the titan, - You embarrass me ...
- You…!
- I'm just kidding, it's enough to react so vehemently, and not for long five years maximum.
- And this is not long ?!
- I'm not just leaving, and you can contact me at any time, - Eros pointed to the brooch, - At least until I cross the borders of Joya, the connection will be excellent.
- Maybe all the same, you think? Roni said thoughtfully.
The titan shook his head.
- I'll go alone.
- You promised to teach me magic.
- Kagura, you know, tears don't work on me, - Eros said with a grin, wiping the tears that had come up, on the girl's face, - And I taught you everything I know about the magic of Gravity, but I don't own a katana, so you have to find myself a teacher, now in five years I'll be back and you will have to surprise me, at least defeat Uncle Roni, - with a sly smile, he winked at Kagura, she shyly smiled in response, - Okay?
- Yes!
- HEY! The named man exclaimed indignantly.
- And you Roni, as the eldest, act as the commander, the rest I can't really entrust this position, - and unobtrusively looked at Rick.
- Are you talking about me ?! - Rick exclaimed indignantly.
- What are you, "of course not ..."
- HEY! What is this intonation ?!
- I don't know anything, - Eros replied whistling and took out a map, - This is also for you.
Lily took the map and stared at it thoughtfully.
- These marks ...
- The places where I hid all my savings and if you put everything together, there will be about thirty-five million.
- HOW MUCH?!
- Don't shout like that.
- Where does such wealth come from ?! Rick exclaimed in shock.
- Do you think we just traveled all this time?
- So this is where you disappeared at night," Lily said thoughtfully.
- You could have called me too ...
Until the evening, they discussed plans for these five years ...
***
The next day, saying goodbye to everyone, Eros left his team and went on a free voyage. And the next destination of the titan was a frozen demon, which was ten kilometers from the city of Margaret.
He knew very little about the demon, since Eros heard about him while visiting the branch of the magic council, when two knights discussed the changing of the guard around the statue and he was interested. It would be nice to absorb this demon too, then the red power in his body will become stronger and perhaps the volume of black magic power that he can use will become larger.
When Eros was still in his inner world, he studied how the fog and the red barrier work and he was slightly surprised. The fog acted like a sieve, which let that terrifying magical power through itself, getting rid of all negative factors, and red in the role of a storehouse and the stronger it became, the more it could contain.
In those moments when Eros tried to use that magic through force, he risked very much. After all, it is impossible to predict what would happen if those creatures left the pond and that Eros was sure of nothing good.
Therefore, after a little work, Eros made a storehouse out of red energy, where safe black magic power was accumulated ...
***
If earlier Eros and his team covered the path from the Village of the Sun to Margaret in a week, now, it took him only an hour.
Already at a distance of ten kilometers from the destination, the titan saw a large block of ice. He accelerated and a minute later was already standing in front of the statue.
So that he would not be noticed, Eros turned on invisibility in advance, suppressed the magical power and using the ring removed all sounds around him. That would not be found by the patrolling units that were engaged in the protection of the statue.
Through the ice, a large, dark blue humanoid figure could be seen. He had a large torso and two large, scaly arms. Its legs are similar to those of a bird, behind which there were thorns. The demon had long, dark hair resembling a mane, as well as a pair of horns pointing upwards.
"Really a demon ..." A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Climbing on the demon's head, so that the knights below, who could prevent absorption, would not notice him, he put his hand on the ice and slowly began to use the Power of Destruction, destroying the ice.
But still, one thing really surprised Eros, the ice was very strong, so much so that he had to make an effort to move forward.
"The one who froze him was very strong ... but not omnipotent!"
When a small thin layer remained for the titan, the ice suddenly began to react very strangely, as if he was trying to stop the titan by freezing his hand, but Eros easily destroyed it.
"Strange ..." - once again increasing the pressure and when Eros was close to the demon, memories flooded into his head ... He saw an adult woman with short dark purple hair and the same eyes, she was wearing a light brown jacket with a black collar, a red T-shirt and pants that look like jeans.
She stood in front of that same demon, and around her was a burning city and the demon continued to destroy it, releasing rays from its mouth. She was saying something to the two boys behind her back, but Eros could not hear her words. The next moment, the action changed, she stood with her arms crossed in front of her, three magic circles appeared around the demon that bound him, and when the woman spread her arms to the sides, her body was covered with blue magical energy and rays burst out of her, which began to freeze the demon ... The next moment , he saw the sad face of a woman who was looking at him while her body disintegrated in a white glow ... At the last moment, Eros saw three children, two boys and a girl ...
"That's how it is ..." - Eros looked at the ice with a sad smile, that he stopped freezing it and he slowly removed his hand, - I'm sorry, I didn't know that you yourself want to destroy it, - the titan stroked this ice with tenderness, - Hey, how about joining my guild?
But the ice did not react in any way to his words and quickly repaired the hole.
- I will leave it here, - he took out a dagger and began to draw, something on the ice, it took him five minutes to complete his work, - When you completely absorb his strength and life, I will return and help you, but in return you will be obliged to join my guild, do you agree Ur? - she very much reminded him of herself, because the sorceress acted the same as he once did and this made him sympathize with her. This woman was very sympathetic to him with her character.
Touching the ice, he closed his eyes and sat there for about ten minutes, and when he opened it again, a slight smile played on his lips.
- Then I swear that I will help you and you will be able to enter the earth again, on foot.