172 Body of Flame
The twists and turns of the plot really surprised Tang Hao. In his distant memory, Benosio was a man who went crazy in order to study magic and broke into the Grand Forest without permission. As a result, he was trapped in the enchantment of the elves and could not leave. Magician, why have you become the guardian of the great magic circle now?
And judging from Penosio’s words and deeds, it seems that she is not crazy at all!
Could it be that the Arad continent that I entered was actually a parallel time and space?
I couldn't figure it out for a while, but Pinocchio said again: "It's a little late now. You can rest here for one night. We will leave tomorrow."
"Why?" Kirito asked in confusion, "If you want to repair the large magic circle, wouldn't it be better as soon as possible?"
"That's the truth, but the opponents inside are a bit difficult. Especially at night, they can absorb the power of darkness and increase their strength several times. So we will take action early tomorrow morning. This is the safest way."
"The opponent you are talking about is a zombie, right?" Tang Hao said.
Pinocchio glanced at him with a naughty smile on his face, "Yes, it's a zombie. The corpse-thief has a bone prison breath. He is my predecessor in terms of magicians. He was also a powerful magician during his lifetime. Master, loved the forest and nature, but after his death, his temperament changed drastically. He used forbidden magic to summon all the creatures that had died in the Grand Forest as zombies in an attempt to destroy the big magic circle. I This is why I came to Grand Forest..."
"If you want to know about this matter, we can talk about it later. Anyway, come with me now."
After saying that, Penosio turned around and flew forward, feeling quite decisive in his actions.
Kirito and Asuna immediately looked at Tang Hao. Penosio's attitude before and after made them a little undecided. One moment he wanted to kill them, and the next moment he wanted to help them. The contrast between before and after was too huge, and they couldn't help but let it go. People suspected that she had some conspiracy.
"Follow me." Tang Hao shook his head and followed.
From the previous dialogue, it is not difficult to find that Penosio has a somewhat arrogant personality. After all, she is a talented magician with a great future. It is difficult not to be arrogant, and she is indeed much stronger than them. If she really If you want to kill them, there is no need to play tricks, just go head-on.
After a while, everyone followed Penosiu to a fire altar. There were some Goblins working here, but everyone found that they were a little different from the Goblins outside. They neither spoke nor had any expressions. They were just mechanical. Repeat your own work.
"Are these goblins...?" Celia showed a confused expression.
Pinocchio smiled proudly, "They are all magical creatures summoned by me. They are no different from dolls. They don't cry out in pain, don't need to eat, and don't need to rest. They are much more capable than ordinary goblins."
With that said, Penosio snapped his fingers.
Soon, several goblins came over carrying a skinned and washed pig, held it in front of everyone, and then left without saying a word.
"I have nothing to entertain you here. If you want to eat, you can bake it yourself." After saying that, Penosio walked into the fire altar with bare feet, and his whole body was bathed in the blazing flames. This kind of fire was enough to Penoxio seemed to enjoy the flames that burned people to charcoal, with a comfortable expression on his face, and even his skin became more rosy.
"What are you doing?" Asuna looked confused.
"Of course it's to replenish magic power, don't you see?" Penosio stretched out a hand from the fire altar, his bare arm burning like dry wood, "For some reason, my body has Being integrated with the flames, although the power of fire magic is enhanced, but because of this, I can no longer leave the flames. If there is no fire, I will die."
"Why did it become like this?" Kirito asked.
"This started a long time ago..." There was a hint of nostalgia in Penosio's eyes, "I grew up in the Magic Academy. You should know that it was for Shalan, the great magician of the dark elves. An academy established to spread magic knowledge to humans, I am her disciple, probably because I have a better talent and have been taught by Teacher Shalan since I was a child."
"Of course, I didn't disappoint the teacher. I finally graduated from the Magic Academy as the chief graduate. Many people called me a genius. Because I was proficient in fire magic, I was given the title of Burning Pinocchio. At that time, Everyone agrees that I have a great future, and I feel the same way..."
"However, when I was studying at the Magic Academy, I developed a strong interest in the Great Magic Circle, and there happened to be an incident about the Bone Prison Breath, so I didn't listen to Teacher Shalan's dissuasion and took the initiative to come to the Grand Forest. , on the one hand, it is to eliminate the Bone Prison Breath, and on the other hand, it is to study the great magic circle."
"Teacher Shalan thought that I was not strong enough to deal with the Bone Prison Breath, but at that time I was arrogant and thought that as a mere dead man, how could I, as the chief graduate, not be able to deal with it. However, when I finally faced the Bone Prison Breath, When I was breathing down my neck, I discovered that a real battle was not the same thing as a sparring session in the academy. Being inexperienced, I finally lost to the Bone Prison Breath. Just when I was about to die, fortunately, the big magic circle at that time was still there. It can function normally and saved my life at a critical moment, but because of this, I became like this..."
Everyone listened quietly. When they saw a little sadness in Pinocchio's eyes, Kirito boldly asked: "I'm sorry, can I touch you?"
Pinocchio was stunned for a moment, then smiled and handed his hand to Kirito.
Kirito stretched out his hand and put his palm on the back of Penosio's hand, but in an instant, he took it back like an electric shock.
"So hot!"
Kirito frowned and opened his palms, which were already red.
Kirito is a fire elf and has a natural resistance to flames. Even he is like this. If others touch Penosio, the consequences can be imagined.
Celia's eyes dimmed. She finally understood what the sadness in Penosio's eyes meant. After the body and the flame were completely integrated, Penosio was no longer a human being. Let alone hugging and kissing his lover, even the most ordinary ones. Unable to touch her, she could only stay alone in the Grand Forest, with only flames as her companion day and night.
"But, at least he's still alive." Tang Hao suddenly said.
Pinocchio smiled and retracted his arm, "Yes, I should have died a long time ago. It was the Great Magic Array that saved me, so since then, I decided to protect the Great Magic Array. Anyway, my body is other than that. It’s of no use anymore… The only thing I regret is that Teacher Shalan’s teachings and high expectations for me, I’m afraid I won’t be able to repay her in my lifetime.”
"You...have a younger sister, right?" Asuna asked.
"Are you referring to Krach?" Pinocchio smiled bitterly, "My sister is too naive. She once came to Gran Forest to save me, but she accidentally reversed the magic, although she did not merge with the elements like me. , but it led to mental disorder and crazy Ding Dian. Although I wanted to help her, but... she is ice and I am fire. If I come into contact with her, it will only cause one of them to die, so it is better not to see each other. "
Everyone was silent for a while. It was indeed a tragedy that these two sisters obviously had excellent talents and great futures, but because of their carelessness, they fell into such a situation.
However, Binoxiu was obviously used to it, and he recovered quickly and said with a smile: "Okay, that's all for me. Next, I will replenish my magic power to cope with tomorrow's battle. You can do whatever you want. "
Afterwards, Penosio lay completely into the flames.
Tang Hao and others looked at each other, but there was nothing to worry about. They ate some roasted wild boar meat, stuffed their necks, and were ready to rest.
Of course, there is no room for them to rest here. Whether it is a tent or a haystack, they have to build it themselves. Fortunately, it is only for one night, so they can deal with it casually.
In the end, Asuna and Celia got some hay, made a simple bed, and slept on the left side of the fire altar. Tang Hao and Kirito were even simpler, sleeping directly on the bed brought by the goblins. on those wooden boards.
A night of silence.
At dawn the next day, Tang Hao opened his eyes and found that his body had fully recovered, and even his spiritual power was fully replenished. After all, the continent of Arad had sufficient magic power, which was not surprising. If it were his own world, there would be no one. For seven or eight days, it is almost impossible to replenish the spiritual power of this body.
"You guys are awake. I'll give you some water. Let's wash your faces first." Not far away, Celia walked over with a wooden basin in her hand, as virtuous as a wife.
Tang Hao looked at the clear water swaying in the wooden basin and couldn't help but ask: "Where did you get this water?"
Celia put down the wooden basin and pointed outward, "There is a creek next to it. I asked my goblin friend to take me there."
Goblins are indeed your friends, so ten years ago you were imprisoned in a cage by goblins. It was directed and acted by you, right?
Tang Hao complained in his heart, but his movements were not slow at all. After all, he had been sleeping next to the fire altar last night, and his whole body was extremely hot. This basin of water was like giving timely help, and he washed his face comfortably. The whole person feels much refreshed.
"Ah, is there water? I want to wash it too!" Hearing the sound of water, Asuna immediately ran over and took a look, "The president has already washed it... President, you won't get your saliva in it. Bar?"
Tang Hao glared at her and pretended to pour the water away, "Put it out without washing it!"
"Wait, wait!" Asuna rushed up and snatched the tub away, with a bit of disgust on her face, "Oh, I'll just make do with it..."
boom!
At this moment, a flame shot into the sky.
Everyone looked around and saw Pinocchio slowly walking out of the fire altar with his bare feet, with a somewhat evil smile on his face, "It seems that everyone is almost ready, let's go, it's time." Let’s make an end with the Bone Prison Breath.”