Chapter 2189: Chapter 2190: Cat and Dog

Angel thought that after Fespnry left, it wouldn’t return. But to his surprise, it came back in less than half an hour.

Moreover, it didn’t come back alone; it was followed by a group of Smokie Fish.

Fespnry fluttered down gracefully, walking with elegant steps into the cave.

Angel put away his puzzled expression, his gaze first falling on the fish floating in the thick smoke behind Fespnry.

Because the temperature in the cave was extremely low, the group of Smokie Fish appeared very inactive, listlessly floating in the smoke produced by Fespnry’s burning fiery feathers.

"I saw these Elemental Sprites on my way, they are also Dangross’s underlings, so I brought them along." After Fespnry explained, it immediately started talking about what it saw outside.

"I just went out to understand, it’s not that Dangross’s followers aren’t coming. It’s because it ran into a problem and can’t spare the time to look for them one by one." As Fespnry spoke, it signaled the Smokie Fish to show their talent.

Unfortunately, the Smokie Fish were not what Angel was looking for, so after a glance, he gestured for them to leave.

Angel: "Can’t spare the time? Did it get into some trouble?"

"Not exactly trouble, but there’s a bit of a historical leftover issue." Fespnry paused for a moment, then continued, "Though Dangross asked me not to tell you, sir, I think it’s better to let you know the general situation."

"Have you ever heard of Duroche, sir?"

Angel nodded, "Is it that Flame Giant? Mr. Magu told me it gained quite a lot from the Elemental Tide."

"Elemental Tide? Oh, you mean World’s Harmony." Fespnry nodded, "Yes, Duroche had a slight unpleasantness with you yesterday, leading to cracks in its Elemental Core. But it was a blessing in disguise; with the enhancement of World’s Harmony, the flaws and defects in its past Elemental Core were restored, becoming even more perfect, and its Spirit Intelligence has improved significantly, no longer as muddled as before."

Fespnry paused, "You’ve seen how Dangross collects followers, right? It injects its flames into other elemental creatures. Generally, newborn Elemental Sprites are easiest for it to subdue because they lack resistance; whereas, mature elemental creatures are difficult unless... that creature’s Spirit Intelligence is low. Duroche, because of its muddled intelligence, was tricked by Dangross to have its flame injected and made a follower."

"Now, with Duroche’s intelligence clear, it remembered Dangross’s past actions after waking up last night and is now planning to settle accounts with Dangross. So, Dangross is busy fleeing and avoiding Duroche’s search, unable to contact its followers."

After listening to Fespnry’s explanation, Angel nodded in understanding. Fespnry’s explanation was plausible, as he had already heard about this from Magu yesterday. From Dangross’s reaction, it indeed feared Duroche’s reckoning.

It seems Magic Midir should be unrelated to this matter. Thinking about it makes sense; after all, he hasn’t started enticing Magic Midir’s people yet.

However, if Magic Midir knew about the situation, it shouldn’t just sit idly by, right? What would it do, or has it already begun to take precautions?

As Angel pondered about Magic Midir, Fespnry continued, "But don’t worry, sir, I just went to Mr. Magu and found Dangross. It dared not go out to find followers, but it sent Kelonkcro to gather followers to meet you, and they should arrive soon."

"Has Kelonkcro recovered?" Angel asked curiously.

Kelonkcro is the hairball creature with the talent of elemental self-explosion. According to Dangross, Kelonkcro was initially its follower and later turned into a good friend.

Fespnry: "Kelonkcro’s ability is elemental self-explosion; under normal circumstances, it would take a month to regain its form and years to completely recover. But with World’s Harmony, Kelonkcro has already reformed its body. Although not fully recovered, it shouldn’t take long now."

Angel’s eyes flickered upon hearing this. Kelonkcro’s flames are very high in temperature and also have a strong elemental self-explosion ability. If he could lure it away, that would be great. However, from Fespnry’s words, it seems Kelonkcro is also special among the Elemental Sprites, having already developed Spirit Intelligence, making it quite challenging to entice away... but not entirely impossible.

Angel was about to inquire further about Kelonkcro’s situation when Fespnry turned its head to look outside the cave.

Earl Mi also timely transmitted a thought; an elemental creature was approaching from outside.

"Here they come, seems like Kelonkcro is quite quick," Fespnry said.

As soon as Fespnry finished speaking, a Blazing Dog rushed into the cave, circling around Fespnry, and under its wings’ caress, it sat beside Angel, panting with its tongue out.

Angel noticed this Blazing Dog was very large, possibly even taller than Angel if it stood on its hind legs.

It seemed this Blazing Dog was about to transition from little elf to mature form.

"It’s Loria," Fespnry called out with festive joy, causing an enthusiastic response.

From the Blazing Dog’s interaction with Fespnry, it was clear they knew each other well.

"It has a name?" Angel remembered that yesterday, Fespnry never named other Elemental Sprites, only referred to them by form.

Fespnry nodded, a hint of nostalgia in its lively eyes, "Yes, I named it myself..."

According to Fespnry, Loria was collected by Dangross as a follower during the same period as it was, with a good relationship since the little elf days. Later, Fespnry matured first, developed Spirit Intelligence, and left Dangross’s command. Before leaving, it named Loria.

"Speaking of which, since Loria is here, Best should be coming soon."

As Angel was about to ask who Best was, Earl Mi sent another message, another elemental creature was arriving.

"Fespnry, didn’t expect to encounter you here; I thought you were still being that errand bird at the volcano." A voice with a tone of dark sarcasm came from outside. At the end of the words, a cat burning with pure dark fire gracefully walked in.

After the Black Cat entered, it ignored Fespnry and stayed beside Loria.

The cat and dog affectionately nuzzled each other, Loria more intimately with the Black Cat than with Fespnry.

Only after a while did the Black Cat stop its actions and lifted its head to look at Angel, "You’re the human, huh? You seem like a decent servant."

Fespnry’s eyes flashed with anger, "Best, Mr. Pat is the most honored guest of His Highness, please don’t be reckless."

Best yawned, scratched its ear with its paw, looking like it couldn’t be bothered to listen.

"Kelonkcro said we’re here to show our talent, but I’m not interested." Best finished speaking, and Loria stuck its tongue out, holding its head high with a proud "I can do it" look.

Best reached out its paw and smacked Loria on the head, "You can’t either!"

Loria bowed its head in grievance, whimpered twice, and nuzzled Best.

Best raised its head haughtily and said to Angel, "Human, though His Highness acknowledged you, to me, your nature is still uncertain. Our talent is our utmost secret, and I’m not interested in showing it unless it’s a duel to the death. Then you’ll see my talent."

"As for now, I’ve come over as Kelonkcro said, as a favor to Dangross, but now we’re leaving."

Best patted Loria, and the latter immediately followed.

Best once again walked away with its graceful cat strides, while Loria stuck out its tongue and guarded beside it like a loyal dog, slowly moving away.

Angel did not stop them. This black cat, Best, seemed highly intelligent and was overtly hostile, making it very difficult to tame; even if it could be tamed, it would presumably require force. For now, it hadn’t come to that point.

Moreover, the flames of the black cat Best were not suitable for Alchemy.

As for the flame dog Loria... judging by the nature of the flame, it did meet his standards, but he didn’t know its Talent, and it was also strictly monitored by the black cat Best, making it difficult to deceive away.

"Mr. Pat, Best’s personality has always been arrogant. Among its peers, aside from Loria, it is cold and alienated from any other elemental creatures," said Fesspan Rui, looking at Angel.

Angel nonchalantly shook his head, showing no interest in Best. He had no masochistic tendencies to intentionally go and tame a haughty cat with flames that were not compatible.

However, he was indeed curious about Best’s situation.

"Best isn’t an Elemental Sprite, right?" Angel asked. Although Best’s physique was even smaller than Loria’s, Angel could sense that its flame energy was extremely restrained, far exceeding the standard for Elemental Sprites, almost on par with Fesspan Rui.

Fesspan Rui: "Yes, Best has already outgrown the sprite phase."

It’s not surprising that it has outgrown the sprite phase. What’s surprising is that despite Best’s tone, it acknowledged Dangross’s message from Kelonkcro.

Could it be that Best is also one of Dangross’s subordinates?

Angel curiously asked Fesspan Rui for proof, and Fesspan Rui nodded: "Yes, Best is now one of Dangross’s subordinates."

Despite having an inkling, Angel was still somewhat surprised by the answer.

In Angel’s view, Dangross’s subordinates were all forcibly recruited. Those who awakened Spirit Intelligence either became adversaries like Duroche or left Dangross’s banner like Fesspan Rui.

Why would a mature elemental creature as intelligent as Best willingly become one of Dangross’s subordinates?

Perhaps noticing Angel’s confusion, Fesspan Rui explained: "Sir may have misunderstood, thinking being one of Dangross’s subordinates is a one-sided unfairness. Actually, it’s not like that, Dangross also provides great benefits to its subordinates."

"Dangross’s flame is very special, even when separated from its body, it can still function. Dangross injects its flame into subordinates, actually giving them a certain self-protection ability."

Fesspan Rui gave a few examples.

When danger approaches, elemental creatures with Dangross’s flame can activate this flame, forming a black shield that guards against external attacks.

Moreover, this black shield can be potent based on the subordinate’s own level.

For instance, if this black shield is used by a mature elemental creature like Best, the defense energy level is based on Best’s strength, making it much more formidable than an Elemental Sprite. Essentially, it’s an additional means of survival.

That’s why being Dangross’s subordinate isn’t without its benefits.

Besides, Dangross rarely asks its subordinates to do anything, equating to pure free-range management, allowing subordinates to simply enjoy the black shield provided by Dangross without having to contribute labor, so naturally, some Elemental Sprites, even after upgrading, have not left Dangross’s banner.

"Best is one such example," Fesspan Rui said. "But Best is a bit different, it has the ability to protect itself. The reason it’s still under Dangross’s wing is mostly due to its relationship with Loria. Their relationship is extremely close, and Best believes that having Loria protected by the black shield is more secure. As long as Loria remains a subordinate of Dangross, it won’t leave."

"I see." Angel nodded in understanding. Previously, during Earl Mi’s battle with Kelonkcro and the battle with Duroche, the black shield appeared. Now looking back, these black shields were indeed Dangross’s life-saving trick for its subordinates.

"Is the black shield Dangross’s talent?" Angel was quite interested in this shield. During Earl Mi’s battle with Duroche, Duroche’s black shield had an extremely high defense intensity, and Earl Mi had to be serious to breach it.

Fesspan Rui: "Sort of, but Dangross has also said that it has other talents. Yet we’ve never seen them, so we don’t know if it’s true."

Angel nodded, musing to himself: This Dangross, although quite troublesome, does have commendable abilities...

After a while, a few more Elemental Sprites arrived outside, so Angel temporarily set aside other thoughts and began to seriously observe these Elemental Sprites.

With no intelligent elemental creatures like Best causing trouble among them, the Elemental Sprites, under Fesspan Rui’s guidance, eagerly displayed their talents.

A day passed, and Angel was dazzled by what he saw.

The vast majority of talents seemed quite promising, just not suitable for him.

Another day went by, now it was Angel’s third day in the ice cave, the day with the highest arrival of Elemental Sprites.

Before nightfall, Angel had observed over a hundred elemental creatures, including two mature ones, the rest were in the sprite phase.

Among them, Angel found one Elemental Sprite to be very promising and extremely to his liking.

That was a Ghostfire Butterfly. Although its flames were somewhat mixed, it could also release high-temperature Pure Fire, and its talent could unleash a Ghostfire Storm and release extreme dark fire to create Magic Mind Illusions, reminiscent of the Heart Illusion style.

It could be said that aside from its slightly mixed flames, this Ghostfire Butterfly was very much to Angel’s liking.

The expectation was over eighty percent, second only to Kelonkcro.

However, Angel still didn’t make a move on this Ghostfire Butterfly, because he learned from Fesspan Rui that the Ghostfire Butterfly’s name was... Youyou Nu.

It was precisely the object of Big Yinba’s affection.

Big Yinba had given it quite a few conveniences, even getting Little Yinba to leave it an earth mark, and it just wasn’t suitable to take away the object of another’s affections now.

Angel decided to temporarily give up on Youyou Nu.

Although he didn’t get Youyou Nu, he still had other options.

That was Kelonkcro.

On the fourth day, Angel saw a few subordinates, all mixed in quality. Some were more outstanding, and if it were in the past, Angel might have considered them. But now, with the emergence of Youyou Nu, Angel’s expectations repeatedly elevated, making these not up to par in comparison.

By noon on the fourth day, almost all the Elemental Sprites had arrived, including the recently recruited Flame Traveling Frog.

It seemed that Dangross’s subordinates were almost all examined.

Still not finding any that caught Angel’s fancy, so Angel finally turned his attention to Kelonkcro.

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