Chapter 358 The Fire God
Chapter 358 The Fire God
"Amidst the blazing flames, Agni reigns, the Fire God, illuminator of the cycle of consume, transform, and convey. In their fiery essence, they ignite the rhythm of existence, imparting wisdom through the dance of elements.
Assuming ephemeral forms, they traverse inferno and ember, traversing realms of transition. Attuned to the crackling whispers of flames, they witness rebirth through incineration, embracing the ever-turning wheel of change.
Within the furnace of existence, they revel in the conflagration, a joyful pyre that transcends boundaries, singing incantations of metamorphosis. With every flicker, they kindle warmth and passion, infusing lives with their transformative touch.
Possessing vast insight and ancient knowledge, they foster equilibrium, guarding the balance amidst fervor. With ember-kissed hands, they shape destinies, guiding every ember along the paths of renewal and revelation.
Oh, Agni, the Fire God, your essence sparks enlightenment, granting the gift of renewal, and imparting sacred alchemy. In your brilliance, we find renewal, walking alongside your flames, embracing transformation with reverence.
Endure, Agni, the Fire God, in the flames of time's forge, inspiring us with the eternal cycle. We glean from you the art of transformation and conveyance, within your radiant blaze, existence becomes perpetual renewal."
This is a stanza found in the first letter of the fire elves' sacred scripture. It speaks of Agni's teachings resonating through each flame, illuminating their existence with profound wisdom.
Just as the fire dances through consumption, transformation, and conveyance, so too do the fire elves navigate their lives guided by these principles as beacons of light.
As children of Agni, the fire elves embrace the art of consumption, understanding that to evolve, they must absorb the energy around them. They approach life with zeal, their passion akin to fire that devours all it touches.
However, this consumption is not reckless; it's a deliberate act to gather experience and knowledge, for they know that from each encounter, they will change.
Transformation is etched into the core of their identity. Just as fire reshapes and renews all it encounters, the fire elves embody change as a constant companion.
They understand that transformation is not just change for change's sake, but a process that purifies and enhances. Like fire purifying raw material, fire elves purify themselves through trials, emerging stronger, wiser, and more resolute.
Conveyance is the thread that binds their society together. Just as fire shares warmth, fire elves believe in the power of sharing. They convey knowledge, stories, and inspiration, nurturing a collective spirit of growth.
Their cities are dynamic centers of exchange, where ideas flow like molten lava, and each fire elf plays a role in spreading wisdom.
In the life of a fire elf, Agni's teachings are not merely concepts but tangible embodiments.
Their rituals reflect the devotion they offer to their deity. Their personal growth mirrors the transformative journey they undertake, shedding old limitations for the brilliance of their true potential.
And within their community, they bear the responsibility of passing down their teachings to the next generation, ensuring that this cycle continues.
Gathered around the bonfire, the fire elves find solace and connection. The warmth of the fire that embraces their bodies mirrors the warmth of the knowledge they share, binding them into a network of unity.
In the glimmer of their eyes, in the way they embrace each other, and in their resounding songs that echo like crackling flames, we can witness the embodiment of Agni's teachings - fire that sustains life, that consumes, transforms, and conveys, in the eternal dance of existence.
Similar to the water elves, the fire elves also possess a unique spell faction. The name of their spell faction is the Fibration spell faction. With this spell faction, it can be said that the fire elves are the masters of vibration.
They believe that the origin of fire is a result of vibration and friction. When two objects collide, they create vibration, but this vibration won't become fire without friction.
Hence, vibration and friction are needed to create fire. Thus, the core of the Fibration spell faction can be said to be vibration and friction.
Their sensitivity to friction is what led the fire elves to be the first to discover the secret behind Asura's mantra. This almost resulted in the exposure of Asura's secret and their plan to infiltrate The Second Mana Species War failing.
However, during that time, the war was raging, and the allied elf kings harbored mutual animosity. As a result, the fire elves couldn't make the other elves believe in the secret they unveiled before they were devastated by the traps set by Moku.
The first involvement of the fire elves in The First Mana Species War occurred right after the Battle of Chirp Bay. This battle was so renowned among the elven realms that its story echoed throughout the entire Elven Alliance.
The Battle of Chirp Bay showcased the true might of the water elves. The Soul spell faction became a dreaded specter haunting every mage alive at that time.
Fire elves and water elves lived in distinct regions, and these two elven races had no legendary encounters prior. Yet, when the name of the water elves became resounding, even reaching the ears of the fire elves, a fervent sense of envy and jealousy gripped them.
They couldn't stand the widespread fame the water elves garnered, while knowledge about the fire elves remained confined mainly to their fellow elven races living in proximity. Thus, Agnavaton, the king of the fire elves at that time, decided to join The First Mana Species War.
Unlike the water elves, the fire elves hadn't suffered losses from human attacks. It could be argued that they had never even encountered humans before.
Therefore, while historical records cite various reasons for the fire elves' participation in the war, I personally feel that the primary impetus was their jealousy towards the water elves.
The first war that made the name of the fire elves and their Fibration spell faction known throughout the entire Meer Continent was The Battle of Fire Forest.
At that time, the human alliance forces were attempting to find a detour around the defensive line established by the Elven Alliance.
The battles at the defensive line had exacted a massive toll, with perhaps a meter of ground below it consisting of a pile of fallen soldiers.
With each inch of progress, both sides left behind thousands of lives. A new breakthrough had to be sought before the conflict transformed into an endless cycle of attrition.
This breakthrough was found within a dense forest located to the northeast of the defensive line established by the Elven Alliance. Although quite a distance away, by dividing their forces into two parts, the Human Alliance hoped to diminish the Alliance's defense as well.
This way, at least the stalemate they were experiencing could be resolved without either side losing honor.
The Human Alliance troops, totaling 300,000 soldiers and 80,000 mages, commenced their movement before the sunrise. By the time the sun was overhead, they had entered the forest.
The movement of such a sizable force naturally did not go unnoticed by the Elven Alliance. It didn't take them long to discern the intentions of the Human Alliance.
Similar to the Human Alliance, the Elven Alliance had grown weary of the casualties incurred at the defensive line. They, too, sought to make a similar move, splitting their forces into two parts to resolve the current stalemate. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝔀𝓮𝙗𝓷𝓸𝙫𝓮𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
Agnavaton volunteered to lead this second force. At that time, the fire elves were still a relatively new addition to the Elven Alliance. Hence, it was only natural for Agnavaton to desire some achievements during the ongoing war.
This sentiment was shared among the elven kings, and thus, they granted him the opportunity to lead this force.
The initial plan of the Elven Alliance for the second force was merely to engage in a standoff with the Human Alliance troops before retreating. This way, the forces at the defensive line could also withdraw, and the stalemate could come to an end.
However, unfortunately, Agnavaton never intended to let the war conclude so easily. Bringing a force composed of 80% fire elves, he devised a deadly trap for the Human Alliance troops entering the forest.
He studied the topography of the nameless forest and discovered that it was a peatland, easily susceptible to ignition. Dividing his troops into three sides, Agnavaton ordered the preparation of a massive forest blaze.
With the support of the favorable winds, Agnavaton and his fellow fire elves set up a large magic circle through three directions.
By connecting mana nodes on various sides and using numerous mana stones, he managed to create a spell never seen before, the [Fire Lord].
The [Fire Lord] was a colossal creature formed from flames. By harnessing the mana from the massive forest blaze, the Fire Lord was able to manifest its body in the real world.
As long as there was mana and fire nearby, the Fire Lord couldn't be killed. The rampaging Fire Lord wreaked havoc among the approaching Human Alliance forces.
What should have been a war reaching resolution turned into a retaliatory conflict due to the feeling of deception among the Human Alliance. Consequently, the frontline war escalated to a much more gruesome extent than before.
The Elven Alliance was forced to retreat as they could no longer bear the losses, exacerbated by the Human forces fueled by vengeance.