Chapter 504: Earth Phantom Star: Earth Spirit Grom

The Chaos Sea · Small World. 

This is a tranquil and serene microcosm. 

At this moment— 

"Hmm~~~" 

A stunning woman with fiery red hair and an exquisite figure stirred as though waking from a long slumber. Dressed in flowing crimson silk, she exuded an aura of cold elegance, though her ruby-like eyes now carried a faintly confused expression. She glanced around, seemingly disoriented and unsure of what was happening. 

"Did I sleep for a long time this time?" 

The red-haired woman murmured, her gaze hazy, as if trying to recall what had transpired. 

"Salamander." 

"Long time no see." 

A steady, deep voice interrupted her thoughts. 

Tap! Tap! 

The sound of deliberate footsteps echoed as a tall figure approached. The man was slender yet commanding, dressed in a flowing black robe and wearing gold-framed glasses. His eyes, partially narrowed, lent him an air of refined elegance, like that of a polished gentleman. 

But this polished demeanor was a mere façade. Behind the gentle smile and measured composure was a man adept in subtle and cunning stratagems. 

"Grom." 

Salamander scrutinized the man before her and clicked her tongue in displeasure. "Ugh, you again. I can't stand you. You always look so proper and refined, but deep down, you're as devious as they come. Every sneaky trick you pull is masterful." 

"Hehehe~~~" 

Grom responded with a faint smile. "Salamander, planning and careful deliberation are at the core of everything. Acting recklessly leads only to greater problems." 

"Enough!" 

Salamander waved her hand dismissively, her tone sharp. "I don't care for your explanations. You and I will never see eye to eye. By the way, why are you here this time? Where are Ventini and Sylph?" 

Her disdain for Grom was blatant. Salamander had never hidden her dislike, wearing her scorn openly like armor. 

It wasn't surprising. 

A hotheaded older sister and a composed older brother—an inevitable clash of personalities. Among the four elemental spirits, the two had the most antagonistic relationship. 

Of course, their rivalry was confined to their personalities. As siblings born of the same primordial elements, their bond was as deep as their disagreements were fierce. 

Grom, the eldest brother. 

Ventini, the second sister. 

Salamander, the third sister. 

Sylph, the youngest brother. 

The four had grown together since their inception, supporting each other as they helped nurture their small world. Despite their quarrels, they were united against external threats. 

"Ventini and Sylph…" 

Grom's demeanor shifted, his voice calm yet heavy. He adjusted his glasses slightly and spoke, "Salamander, there has been a change—a significant one." 

"A change?" 

"Hm?" 

Salamander's fiery gaze sharpened instantly, flames flickering at the ends of her crimson hair. "Don't tell me… Is it those humans again?" 

"Those cursed bastards!" 

"I said it before, and I'll say it again. Humans are steeped in an endless abyss of darkness. They're not worth helping. If you'd just listened to me back then, things wouldn't have turned out this way!" 

Her frustration was palpable, her anger radiating like the heat of an inferno. 

Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. 

The four siblings—Grom, Ventini, Salamander, and Sylph—were elemental beings birthed at the dawn of this small world, tasked with fostering its growth and vitality. 

As humanity emerged, the spirits also took on the responsibility of guiding them. But Salamander had rejected this duty outright when she first laid eyes on humans. 

Her reasoning was simple: she saw in their souls a boundless darkness, a darkness so profound that it could not be ignored. From the very beginning, she opposed teaching them, warning her siblings to stay distant. 

But her objections had been overridden, especially by Grom, who had shared many secrets of the natural world with humanity. This knowledge had not only led to humanity's exploitation of nature but had also turned them against the elemental spirits themselves. 

It was this betrayal that widened the rift between Salamander and Grom. To her, everything that had gone wrong was his fault. 

Whether her accusations were justified, no one could say. Grom never offered explanations, and Salamander never dug deeper. It seemed pointless to dwell on past grievances that could not be undone. 

With time, Salamander had retreated into long bouts of sleep, either to avoid her brother or to escape the humans tainted by darkness. 

Now, however, reality forced her awake. 

"So," Salamander said coldly, "it's as I said, isn't it? Those humans have finally turned on Ventini and Sylph?" 

"...Yes," Grom admitted after a brief silence, nodding grimly. 

"I knew it!" 

"I warned you all! Humans are untrustworthy, undeserving of our guidance! Can't you see the monstrous darkness lurking in their souls?" 

Salamander's roar of fury echoed through the space, but Grom simply closed his eyes, offering no rebuttal. 

"You…" 

Her anger simmered down into a heavy sigh. She shook her head, her voice tinged with resignation. "Fine, fine. There's no point in rehashing this now. Just tell me what's happened." 

She knew the past could not be changed. Dwelling on it was meaningless. 

"Humans…" Grom sighed softly. "They've embraced the path of the Evil God. They plan to sacrifice the four elemental spirits to gain its favor and ascend further." 

"They've turned to an Evil God?" 

Salamander was stunned, her gaze turning serious. "Have Ventini and Sylph been harmed?" 

"Not yet," Grom replied. "But they've been injured and are in hiding." 

"Hmph!" 

Salamander snorted, flames flickering around her. "I told you long ago that humans were not worth—" She stopped mid-sentence, shaking her head. "Forget it. Complaining won't help now. Ventini and Sylph are injured. Grom, you know as well as I do that you're the strongest among us, followed by me, with Ventini and Sylph behind. So, what's your plan?" 

Her tone carried a rare note of concern. She knew the gravity of their situation. 

Grom's voice was steady as he answered, "I have a plan. But for it to work, I'll need your help." 

"Help you?" Salamander narrowed her eyes. "And if you fail, then what?" 

She needed to know the risks, unwilling to blindly follow orders from a brother she had grown to distrust. 

Grom shook his head. "Failure is not an option. The Evil God has already set its sights on this world. Survival here is no longer possible. The only solution is to leave—to escape this world entirely." 

"Escape?" 

Salamander's eyes widened. She understood the implications. To leave their world meant venturing into the Chaos Sea, a perilous journey even for beings as powerful as themselves. 

"I've prepared for this," Grom said calmly. "The decision is yours now, Salamander. Ventini and Sylph have already agreed. Don't let your anger cloud your judgment. Staying here is a death sentence." 

His words left her momentarily stunned. 

Then— 

"Hehehe~~~" Salamander chuckled, her fiery demeanor softening slightly. "Oh, Grom, don't treat me like a fool. I'm not stupid enough to stay here and die. Even if I have to toil under someone else, it's better than being annihilated!" 

For the first time in a long while, she smiled—a defiant, mischievous grin that lit up her face.

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