Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 655: Unexpected Discovery

'Unlike the guards, all of them are only Rank-3 beings.' Charles touched the robe, activated the [Veil of Shadows] skill, and slowly blended with the nearby stone pillar's shadow.

With a calculated and swift movement, he also activated his 'Shadow Stealth' skill, instantly plunging himself into invisibility, effectively blending with the shadows that enveloped the surroundings. Concealed from view, he advanced stealthily towards the imposing entrance of the temple; his senses heightened as he surveyed the situation within.

A remarkable sight met his eyes as he approached the temple's entrance. A vast congregation of Corpse Devourers had gathered inside, at least a thousand strong. What was most intriguing was that a significant portion of them possessed only the strength of Rank-2 or Rank-3 beings, which raised numerous questions in Charles's mind.

Despite his curiosity, he hesitated briefly before making a decision. Ultimately, Charles steeled his resolve and entered the temple through the monumental entrance tower, treading cautiously yet undeterred. As he ventured deeper, the grand pavilion appeared, adorned with multiple stone pillars supporting the expansive hall. Within the pavilion, numerous devotees sat, engrossed in conversations with each other, and Charles couldn't help but notice the presence of lively children running and playing amongst the pillars.

The most bewildering aspect of this sight was how the Corpse Devourers seemed to behave like ordinary Karr beings, displaying no clue of their true nature. This observation piqued Charles's curiosity even further, leading him to believe that they lived as if they were from the distant past, exhibiting customs and habits akin to the Karr beings of ancient times.

Eager to unravel the secrets of this peculiar underground city, Charles recognized that he needed to immerse himself in the world of the Corpse Devourers to glean valuable insights. A thought occurred to him—could he transform into a Karr being using the Corpse Devourer's blood?

Intrigued yet unsure of the outcome, Charles furrowed his brows in contemplation and employed the [Purple Consciousness] spell on a specific Corpse Devourer. As expected, his Purple Consciousness manifested itself before the purple star within the Corpse Devourer's Inner World, granting him a glimpse of its essence before swiftly vanishing.

Despite this revelation, he recognized that his shapeshifting ability could not burn the memories of the Corpse Devourer. Their unique souls were intrinsically linked to a mysterious dimension of the Purple Sun, leaving him in deep thought.

But his genuine concern was how to search for the 'bracelet' in this strange ancient city.

After contemplating his next move, Charles departed from the temple, venturing into the unknown expanse of the ancient underground city.

As he stepped onto the clay-paved road, curiosity propelled him to explore further, seeking to uncover the secrets shrouded within this mysterious realm.

To his astonishment, Charles soon realized that the residents of this underground city remained entirely oblivious to the existence of the outside world. They lived in isolation, detached from knowing what lay beyond the confines of their subterranean abode.

As he strolled along the bustling streets, the sight of numerous people engaged in their daily activities caught his attention. Merchants lined the roadside, selling an array of fascinating items, including peculiar accessories, exotic fruits, succulent meats, and an assortment of vegetables that were entirely unfamiliar to him.

The sheer number of inhabitants dwelling in this hidden city astounded Charles. He estimated the population to exceed 100,000 Corpse Devourers, leading him to question whether this entire city was a part of the Dungeon. His furrowed brow betrayed the depth of his contemplation as he pondered the true nature of this enigmatic place.

Intriguing possibilities flooded his mind, including the notion that this ancient city might be a pocket dimension, a realm separate from the conventional understanding of reality. However, Charles couldn't dismiss the perplexing encounter with the Silver-armored guards he had battled earlier. The presence of those guards raised questions regarding the level of awareness among the Corpse Devourers within this peculiar domain. Were higher-ranking Corpse Devourers the only ones privy to the knowledge of the outside Dungeon?

Lost in thought, Charles eventually arrived at a slum-like street situated in the city's farthest reaches. With a specific purpose, he began searching for a suitable target. His intentions were clear—he sought to assimilate himself further into the life of the Corpse Devourers, to comprehend their world, and, ultimately, to find the elusive 'bracelet' that held the key to unlocking the secrets of this cryptic and clandestine realm.

After tirelessly combing through the labyrinthine streets of the underground ancient city, Charles's persistence pays off as he stumbles upon a heartrending scene. Amidst the bustling cityscape, he discovered an orphaned youth, alone and vulnerable, lying inside a weathered and quaint abode made of ancient red bricks. The tiny house's roof, reminiscent of a sheltering coconut tree, was adorned with conical-shaped leaves, lending an air of rustic charm to the humble dwelling.

'He is a perfect target to take over.'

With a simple movement, he suddenly disappeared from where he was before and arrived inside the small room. After that, he quietly looked at the 6.5 feet tall youth sleeping soundlessly on the stone slab and unsheathed the long sword.

Before he could even act, Grace suddenly sent out a sharp blade-like energy and decapitated him in a blink!

As the headless body twitched, bluish-green blood splattered all over the stone slab and dirtied the floor.

"Why did you kill him? I could've tried the 'Burning Thoughts' spell on him to see if I can erase his memory." Charles grumbled.

Instead of listening, Grace absorbed a small amount of the youth's blood and stopped.

A strange monotonous voice echoed in his head in the Runal Language a moment later.

'Horrible.'

"Oh? You can actually talk? I thought you are a mute-" Before he could utter, a sharp pain appeared on his neck, causing him to swallow his words.

'Damn it, this sword is hard to control and quite dangerous too.' Charles conjured the blue flame and healed the wound on his neck first.

Following the intense action by Grace, Charles carefully sheathed his weapon, its gleaming blade now resting. After that, he turned his attention to the decapitated youth lying lifeless.

Seeking to unravel the mysteries of this underground city and the enigmatic beings that inhabited it, Charles knew that creating an identity imprint was crucial. He took a drop of the youth's bluish-green blood and let it drop on his right palm.

A remarkable transformation began to unfold when the drop of blood touched his skin. Charles's once deep-blue hair slowly started to shift in color, transitioning into a vibrant and captivating emerald green hue. Simultaneously, his stature changed significantly, growing taller and more imposing until he stood at an impressive height of 6.5 feet.

Charles's facial features also underwent a metamorphosis, his previously oval face assuming a more striking triangular shape, accentuated by a broad and commanding forehead. Yet, the most extraordinary change occurred at the center of his forehead.

As Charles was in awe, a visible gap emerged between his brows, followed by the formation of an intricate eyelid. In seconds, a strange bluish third eye materialized on his forehead, radiating an otherworldly glow that seemed to hold ancient secrets.

Upon utilizing his newly acquired identity imprint, Charles experienced an astonishing revelation. The world before him now appeared in an entirely different light, diverging from his previous vision. Notably, he could perceive the environment in a broader spectrum, as if he could observe the ceiling without needing to look upward.

However, this newfound perception was accompanied by a puzzling observation. Charles's sharp intellect made him realize that everything he saw through his third eye was in black and white, starkly contrasting the world's vibrant colors as perceived by his regular vision. This enigma furrowed his brows as he sought to comprehend the reasons behind this discrepancy.

As he continued to investigate, Charles discerned that only his third eye displayed the world in this monochromatic manner, leaving him to wonder about the significance of this unique sight.

'Not only that, but this third eye can allow me to see more than ten times as my original vision. Is it a racial trait?'

Despite this peculiarity, Charles managed to harness the power of his identity imprint effectively. He successfully transformed his appearance to that of the Karr youth he had observed earlier, allowing himself a moment of relief.

Amidst these thoughts, Charles couldn't help but draw a remarkable comparison between the Corpse Devourers' ability and his own 'Shapeshifting' skill. It became evident that the Corpse Devourers not only replicated memories and skills but could even imitate their imprinted identities' genetic traits. This realization left him in awe, viewing the Corpse Devourers' skill as an enhanced and evolved version of his shapeshifting ability.

Eager to further explore the implications of this profound revelation, Charles retrieved a mirror from his space ring and carefully affixed it to a nearby brick wall. He used the mirror to observe his transformed appearance, contemplating what to do next.