Chapter 247 Cure "Lyrian! Leaving so early?" Alten shouted through the halls as he followed his friend back to their rooms.

"It isn't like him," Leon said, calmly walking back to his room as well. He left before even Lyrian did and was in front of the other two.

"Yeah... I don't see the need to celebrate as if I just achieved victory or something when I have barely just started," Lyrian said as he made his way back to his room.

Alten caught up to him. Looking at Lyrian with eyes showing almost a hint of concern, Alten spoke, "When would you celebrate, then?" He asked.

Lyrian grabbed the handle of the door, turning his head as he spoke, "I will celebrate when I accomplish my dream. When I rule the world." He turned the knob and opened the door.

Alten didn't say anything. He was slightly taken aback in awe, as Leon simply watched from a few feet away.

"And... also whenever I feel like it, I guess," Lyrian added, stepping inside. "I won't be practicing on BF with you guys today; I gotta do some other... stuff." He said, clenching his jaw as he closed the door behind him.

"Huh..." Alten said, walking to where Leon was standing. As they two made it into their rooms, Alten exclaimed, "I don't know what it is about him, but he is special." He spoke calmly.

Leon gazed at him for a few seconds of silence before retorting, "What are you? In love with him?" He teased before laughing slightly.

"Shut up! You know what I'm talking about!" Alten joined in the laughter as he closed the door to the room behind him.

Lyrian, on the other hand, entered his room only to immediately fall onto his knees. He had been clenching his jaw the entire time due to the immense burning sensation he felt radiating through his entire being.

His shadow hadn't felt any pain, since it literally couldn't, but that didn't mean Lyrian was immune to it either. He knew exactly where it was coming from. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ n0vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Damn it! What the hell did you do in there!?" He yelled at his own shadow, gripping the carpet on the ground. He didn't expect to get a real reply, only gazing at his shadow in confusion and exclaiming in pain slightly.

However, he was shocked to see his shadow move without him. It moved to create the shape of three circles with mouths attached to one body. Three heads, on one torso.

"What is this..." Lyrian questioned, still feeling the searing burn course through his veins. The shadow couldn't think of what else to do to make Lyrian understand.

Finally, it made itself into the shape of a gear flowing clockwise. Lyrian understood what it was trying to say immediately.

"Gear... tell me, what did my shadow do in Purgatory? Why do I feel this heat?"

[Certainly]

[Your Shadow was captured by the Warden of Purgatory; Cerberus The Hound]

Lyrian's eyes widened in shock as Gear's voice sounded in his head. "Wh-what!? What are you talking about right now?"

[After a challenge, your Shadow swallowed the beast in its entirety and returned to the realm.

- The burning sensation is due to Cerberus

- Expected duration of pain if your condition is not changed: Infinite

- Cure: Claculating...

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Cure found!

- Number of cures found: 1]

"Hm. So, then... what's the damn cure?"

[The cure to this pain is from one of your special abilities: Skill Convergence]

[Use the skills, items, and beings in your possession, and create not only a cure but also a new power]

*Ding* [New Quest Formed]

Lyrian didn't have to open the quest tab to understand what it was. Gear had told him as clear as day. Still, it wasn't going to be easy. Not by any means of the imagination.

Lyrian stood up and walked over to his seat before sitting down. Before leaving the banquet, he had obtained the Shadow Jade Pendant; which he placed down onto the table.

Just as he did so, a wave of blazing pain seared through one side of his brain, causing him to wince and exclaim in pain.

"Damn it! I can't think of this pain! How am I supposed to create a new skill--" He couldn't continue speaking, as the pain was unbearable for a split second.

"Arrgh!" He exclaimed, "Stop!" He told himself, clenching his fist. "Don't be foolish. This... is nothing compared to the spiritual aura of the Purgatory floor. Cerberus, your flames--ack!--cannot burn me!" He took in a deep breath.

He focused his mind on one thing, and one thing only; creating a new skill to help him. At that instant, a new canvas materialized before him.

'The art of Smithing always comes in handy. I imagine this is how it feels for a good blacksmith to work in his shop.' Lyrian thought to himself, imagining a great smith hammering away at a fine blade in the midst of a burning furnace.

They too used the art of Smithing to focus their minds away from the flames, discomfort, sweat, and only on one thing; their creation. Now, he would have to do the same.

Gritting his teeth, he pulled himself together and imagined his Shadow Puppet skill. As soon as he did, a small version of his shadow appeared on the canvas.

"Good... but what can I possibly combine it with? What skill? Shadow? No, that would only make for a useless ability..." He continued to think about what to do, as the pain in his mind only seemed to be getting more furious.

He tried to concentrate on other things, but whenever he broke focus, he couldn't help but feel as though he was being incinerated by the flames of Purgatory themselves.

Finally, he felt as though an epiphany had come to his mind. Some would call it an epiphany, others would call it a last-ditch attempt. Lyrian took his Four Arch Daemon Cultivation technique scroll out, placing it next to the canvas on the table.

"You won't allow me to cultivate you, even though I follow all the steps. If that's the case, then I'll just force the Warden of your origin to reap mana for me!" He spoke to the scroll.