Chapter 31: Who’s Your “Child of Ashes”?

A roaring black flame dragon ascended to the heavens, scorching the atmosphere and stirring up blistering tempests. The intense heat distorted the light passing through the air, rendering the scene shrouded in an ambiguous mirage.

Stone slabs melted, flesh vaporized, and the nervous systems of the Ashen cultists were obliterated in an instant. No screams or wails could escape before they were reduced to pale ash. In the fiery arena, only a pitch-black column of flame remained, darker than night itself, as if it sought to devour the world.

Simultaneously, countless azure-blue notifications flashed across Xaya's mind:

[Fireseed Containment Progress: 100%]

[Skill Prototype: Amaterasu Completed]

...

[Amaterasu]

Attributes: Dark, Curse, Fire, Spirit

Rank: Proto-Super (Quasi-Super Tier)

Proficiency: Basic (0/10,000)

Skill Description: Releases expansive black flames to devastate foes within the user's line of sight, bypassing spatial constraints. Effects include burning, cursing, and spatial rupture.

Warning: The skill's potency scales with consumed spirit energy. Excessive use will significantly drain the user's spirit and impose severe bodily strain. Use cautiously.

...

[10,000 free experience points consumed: Silver's composite skill Amaterasu proficiency advanced from Basic to Mastery.]

[30,000 free experience points consumed: Silver's composite skill Amaterasu proficiency advanced from Mastery to Skilled.]

[Remaining free experience pool: 60,500 points.]

...

[Congratulations! Due to mastery of a new skill, Silver's battle level increased to 30.]

[Silver's rank advanced from Extraordinary (Tier 2) to Commander (Tier 3).]

[Congratulations! Your Soul Contract level has increased to 30.]

[Your third Soul Contract is now unlocked.]

A sharp pain flared in Xaya's left eye. Touching it, he found crimson liquid trickling down his cheek.

"Even the side effects are this accurate? That's insane. Luckily, it's only temporary spiritual fatigue, not permanent vision loss."

Pulling a tissue from his dimensional pouch, he dabbed his eye.

For Beast Tamers, signing a Soul Contract with their beasts granted them amplified physical attributes. The higher the contract's compatibility, the greater the feedback. In exceptional cases, tamers could even access their beasts' skills.

Silver, Xaya's first contracted beast, had accompanied him from the frigid Northland of Silan to the present day. Their bond had long surpassed conventional limits. This deep connection allowed Xaya to test Amaterasu personally as soon as it was perfected.

Though he noticed the cautionary note on its power consumption, Xaya couldn't resist unleashing the skill at full strength to gauge its destructive potential.

"And wow... Not bad for a skill that ate up three Seed of Skills and 40,000 experience points just to reach Skilled."

"Expensive things truly have no flaws; if there's a flaw, it's just me being broke."

Admiring the aftermath of the devastation, Xaya couldn't help but marvel.

Amaterasu was theoretically exclusive to King-tier beasts with superior innate abilities. Yet Silver, two tiers lower, had acquired it prematurely. The "Proto" prefix might persist for now, but reaching the King tier would naturally elevate the skill to its full rank.

Moreover, absorbing the sixth-tier extraordinary material not only leveled Silver up twice but also nudged it to the Commander tier's cusp. Even Xaya himself had broken through thanks to the contract's feedback, reaching the third circle and unlocking his third Soul Contract.

"Not bad at all."

Stretching lazily, Xaya's gaze shifted toward the distant battlefield.

"Time to wrap up this farce."

On the distant battlefield, the three Fourth-Circle Masters noticed the sudden anomaly at Saint Roland Academy.

The Ashen Hierarch held a small metal plate in his hand, its glowing points—representing the lives of the cultists—extinguished one by one until none remained.

Though this tool marked his subordinates' fates, the Hierarch showed no concern for their demise.

In his mind's eye, the divine presence tied to the ritual—an object embodying his god's power—had vanished. No… it hadn't vanished but had fused with the sole human survivor within the ritual grounds.

The Hierarch's expression contorted between shock, rage, fear, and… ecstasy.

"So that's it… That's it…"

"Such a brilliant and blazing soul could only belong to the bloodline of the Lord!"

"The Child of Ashes alone could wield our Lord's flames so effortlessly!"

The molten giant howled one final time as its core crystal shattered under the combined attack of Professor Karn and Colonel Zieg. Its massive body collapsed, its life force rapidly fading.

Unfazed, the Hierarch spread his bloodied arms, standing atop the cooling remnants of the molten giant.

"You're doomed! All of you are doomed!"

"Bow before the Child of Ashes, the embodiment of our Lord's will!"

"All heretics and defiers shall be impaled upon the blazing spear and cast into the deepest abyss of hell!"

The Hierarch's maniacal laughter echoed—only to be abruptly silenced.

As he turned, a black-haired, black-eyed youth stood behind him without warning.

A blade of black flame, ephemeral yet lethal, pierced his abdomen.

The searing fire consumed his organs instantly.

"Looks like Blink and Amaterasu make a solid combo. Another trick up my sleeve."

Xaya whistled casually, kicking the Hierarch's neck to snap it cleanly.

The head soared skyward before the body crumpled off the molten giant's shoulder, landing with a squelch.

"Who's your so-called 'Child of Ashes' now?" Xaya scoffed.