CH: 296 Flames from the Unknown

Thank you legends for your support and contribution.

Thanks to[Stephen Montgomery] for subscribing to my $9 tier!

If you're feeling generous, here's the link: patreon.com/Eden_Translation. I'm back to 60, thanks for keeping me afloat, folks! 🤧

*****

{Chapter: 296 Flames from the Unknown}

"What happened to you? Did you go out streaking in the Sahara Desert? You're completely blackened! Are you trying to cosplay as charcoal?" the White Queen shouted in shock as William staggered into the room, his skin scorched and his body half-burned, barely held together by sheer will.

Alice and Ada, lounging in the pool moments earlier, immediately stood up and rushed to his side, the playful atmosphere vanishing in an instant.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Alice asked, her expression a mixture of concern and disbelief.

"You look like you've been roasted alive!" Ada added, touching his shoulder gently and wincing at the feel of his burned skin.

"I'm fine," William muttered, brushing off their worry with a tired wave of his hand. "White Queen, I need you to analyze something for me." He reached into a frost-locked pouch and retrieved a solid chunk of enchanted ice. Suspended inside the crystalline prison, a black flame flickered with malevolent intensity, seemingly unaffected by its frozen containment.

The White Queen took the ice carefully, her eyebrows furrowing as she examined the dancing, ominous flame. "I've never seen anything like this before," she muttered, rotating the block and watching the way the fire writhed—alive, aware, defiant.

"It's burning inside ice… and it's not going out," Ada said, astonished. "Even a fire master like us can't produce something like that."

The White Queen's eyes began to glow faintly green, scanning the object for any readable data. Complex layers of symbols and equations streamed through her gaze, but her expression only grew more grim.

"This… this doesn't make sense," she whispered. "The flame has no detectable composition. It's like it's beyond our dimension's physics. It shouldn't even exist—none of my data models recognize it."

"What do you mean?" Ada asked, stepping closer.

"I mean it's impossible," the White Queen snapped, frustration breaking through her normally cold voice. "There is no material, no element, no particle signature. It defies analysis. I don't understand how this is even here."

Alice took the ice from the Queen's hands and stared at the unnatural flame within. "If we can't understand it… then where did it come from?"

William sighed and leaned back against the wall, his voice low. "It doesn't belong to this world. That's why our tech and magic can't make sense of it. This flame will only extinguish once it has consumed its target completely. Otherwise… it will burn forever."

Ada turned to him, a storm of questions brewing in her eyes. "What exactly happened out there, William? Your body—your energy—it's all over the place. Who did this to you?"

"I was ambushed," he said coldly.

"By who?" Alice asked, her tone more serious now. "You've been through countless battles, and hardly anyone on Earth could even scratch you. You've read all the plots, all the backstories of this world… Who could possibly be strong enough to get the jump on you?"

William shook his head slowly, the memory of the burning still fresh. "It wasn't anyone I recognized. It wasn't part of any plot I've ever seen. It was someone… or something… entirely unknown."

The three women exchanged tense glances.

"A hidden master," Ada said grimly. "Someone with real power. If they're watching and targeting you, we all need to be more careful. No more casual strolls in the sky."

"Agreed," William said. "This isn't over. That black flame wasn't meant to kill me—it was a test. A warning. The real confrontation is still to come."

"The worst part," Alice added, folding her arms, "is that we can't prepare if we don't even know what we're facing. An enemy in the shadows is the most dangerous kind."

William clenched his fists, and his eyes glinted with fury. "Let them come. When they show themselves again, I'll tear them to pieces. Nobody gets to attack me and walk away unpunished."

Ada softened slightly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Forget about revenge for now. What about your body? You're clearly in pain."

William groaned dramatically and collapsed onto the nearby sofa. "My body is screaming. I'm dying. I'm literally dying. It's over for me…"

The girls rolled their eyes in unison.

"You're yelling like a drama king," Alice said. "If you've got enough strength to shout about dying, then you're probably going to be fine."

"Agreed," Ada said dryly. "Honestly, for someone who just survived an attack by otherworldly black fire, you're acting like a whiny teenager with a sunburn."

The White Queen crossed her arms, amused. "I've run diagnostics. You're healing faster than anyone. Your body's regeneration is already kicking in."

William sat up slightly, putting on a face of exaggerated heartbreak. "You cruel, heartless women. You see your beloved husband burnt to a crisp and all you do is mock me. I gave you my trust… and this is how I'm repaid."

Even as he spoke, faint traces of glowing particles—deformed element particles—moved across his body, knitting flesh back together and repairing damage at a microscopic level. His wounds were healing rapidly, but the memory of pain lingered.

The room grew quiet as the flame continued to burn inside the block of ice, flickering with a life of its own.

The White Queen's eyes narrowed as she studied the data projected before her. "Your body's recovery rate has dropped to nearly half its usual speed. That fire—whatever it was—left you severely damaged."

William nodded grimly, his voice tinged with frustration. "It wasn't an ordinary attack. Whoever or whatever did this wasn't playing around."

Just then, Natasha strolled in casually, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders as she adjusted the sash of the bathrobe draped loosely around her. A trace of amusement danced in her eyes as she glanced at William. "Looks like you've had quite the adventure. But I doubt it was as entertaining as the one I just had."

William's gaze flicked over to her, not hiding his interest. "Trust me, the fun I had doesn't compare to the view in front of me."

Without warning, the White Queen rolled her eyes and grabbed a cloth from the side. "Enough. Cover yourself." She tossed it onto William, who was now halfway recovered. His skin, once blackened and burned from the attack, had regained much of its original tone—unfortunately, leaving certain private parts clearly exposed as they were regenerating.

Natasha crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as her tone grew serious. "Who was it? Who could actually hurt you to this extent?"

William smirked, shrugging casually. "Why would I tell you?"

"You don't have to," Natasha replied smoothly. "It's obvious you have no idea who did it. That in itself is terrifying. Honestly, it makes me wonder if the heavens themselves have had enough of your arrogance. Maybe they finally sent someone to erase you. Your end might be closer than you think."

White Queen chuckled lightly, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Now, now. Don't mind her. She's just so thrilled at the idea of your death, she's had a mental short circuit. Poor thing."

"I don't care who the enemy is," Natasha retorted coldly. "As long as they kill you, I'll send them a thank-you letter myself."

William turned to her with a glint in his eye. "I admire that kind of passion. A woman who'd do anything for revenge... far better than those who'd sell themselves in exchange for peace or power." He threw the last sentence deliberately in Maria's direction.

Across the room, Maria was running intensely on the treadmill, her vest soaked through with sweat, her expression hard as steel. The moment she heard William's jab, her fists clenched involuntarily.

"Damn it… damn it…" she muttered under her breath, teeth gritted as her legs pounded the treadmill. It groaned under the strain, the machine clearly not built for this level of punishment.

"Maria," William called out with mock sweetness, "don't you agree with me?"

"Don't talk to me!" Maria barked, not slowing down for even a second.

With a flash of movement, William teleported to her side, watching her run with exaggerated interest. "Look at you go. Focused, determined, sweating like a champion. It's admirable."

"Get away from me!" she shouted, her voice rising with anger.

"I'm not even touching you. You run your path, I stand in mine. Totally fair arrangement," William said, grinning mischievously.

"You're affecting my concentration just by being here!"

"Exactly. My presence is powerful. I bring light, warmth, and emotional turmoil. Like the sun, I shine wherever I go," William said with dramatic flair. "And let's be honest, the world needs more of me."

"You shine like a tumor," Maria growled. "All you do is irritate people and make them want to tear you apart."

William leaned casually toward the control panel and pressed the speed button repeatedly. The treadmill roared as its pace suddenly spiked to the maximum.

Caught off guard, Maria stumbled slightly, but quickly regained her footing. Her legs became a blur as she gritted her teeth and pushed through, refusing to fall behind despite the sudden strain.

William clapped slowly. "Impressive. I didn't think you had it in you. Maybe I underestimated you, Maria."

Maria didn't respond. Her focus had narrowed to a single point: stay upright, keep running, and maybe—just maybe—murder William later.

The White Queen watched from the background with a faint smirk, whispering to herself, "There's never a dull moment in this house."

*****

You can support me by joining my Patreon and get upto 60 chapters in advance.

patreon.com/Eden_Translation