Chapter 221: Stelle: Does Paimon Have a Devouring Power Too?
"Paimon! Save some for me!" Stelle cried out, immediately abandoning all pretense of decorum and diving into the fray. The two of them seemed to be locked in a silent, ferocious 'eating contest,' their focus absolute and their dedication unwavering.
Aglaea had clearly anticipated such a scene. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips as she gave a subtle nod to a nearby attendant. The system was flawless; the moment a platter was cleared, a server would glide forward to whisk away the empty dishes, and as if by magic, the table would be instantly laden with a fresh, bountiful spread. They were committed to ensuring these distinguished guests ate to their hearts' content.
The rest of the group couldn't help but chuckle at the spectacle. They, by contrast, were far more elegant, savoring the unique delicacies of Okhema while chatting amongst themselves. Naturally, their conversation drifted back to the thrilling adventure they had just concluded.
March 7th, holding a delicately crafted pastry, tilted her head. "Speaking of which, don't you guys think it's a little weird? Heaven's Scourge is obviously a colossal 'sword,' right?"
"But that final destructive attack it fired looked exactly like a giant 'energy cannon'!" she continued. "So why design it as a sword in the first place? Wouldn't making it look like a cannon turret have been more straightforward?"
Hearing this, Belle swallowed a bite of food and nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, yeah! Now that March mentions it, that does feel a bit off." She blinked, offering her own theory. "Hmm... I think, maybe it's because... the name 'Heaven's Scourge' just sounds more imposing and powerful?"
She couldn't suppress a small laugh. "If it were called 'Heaven's Cannon'... doesn't that sound less grand? A little... strange, even?"
Her amusing conjecture drew a ripple of laughter from the table. Dan Heng, ever the analyst, objectively pointed out that it might be related to the ritualistic nature of its energy condensation and release. Lumine, meanwhile, felt it could be connected to the culture of Amphoreus or the aesthetic preferences of the Titans.
Zhongli, sipping a cup of Okhema's unique floral tea, simply smiled without a word, appearing to find the youths' discussion quite entertaining. Wise also chimed in, guessing it might have been designed to accommodate both close-quarters and long-range combat.
The banquet unfolded in this relaxed, cheerful atmosphere, with food being constantly consumed and just as constantly replenished.
Ultimately, the 'eating contest' did produce a winner.
Despite her valiant efforts, Stelle was narrowly defeated by Paimon's unfathomable 'dimensional stomach.' She rubbed her distended belly, staring at her tiny companion who was still licking her lips, seemingly unsatiated. Paimon's own stomach was only slightly bulging, a fact that filled Stelle with utter disbelief.
"I don't get it..." Stelle murmured, her voice laced with awe. "Paimon, you're so tiny! Where does all that food even go?! You devoured nearly two tables' worth of food all by yourself!"
A wild idea suddenly struck her. "Could it be... you have a natural ability similar to Lumine's [Ethereal Space: Devour]? Is all that food actually being teleported to some alternate dimension?"
Stelle shook her head, momentarily shelving those jumbled thoughts as an even more exciting idea burst into her mind. She abruptly shot to her feet, and though clearly overstuffed, she clapped her hands with infectious excitement, capturing everyone's attention.
"Everyone! Don't rush off to rest yet! Belle—!" She fixed her gaze on Belle, who was calmly sipping her tea. "Quick! Call out your Chimera! And that Blank Tinder! Didn't you say it could evolve? We've got time now, so let's all watch and see what kind of powerful form it turns into!"
Her declaration was met with immediate, enthusiastic agreement. Even Aglaea and Trinnon cast curious glances their way. They had overheard something remarkable, but what exactly was a "Blank Tinder"?
All eyes turned to focus on Belle.
"Oh, right! There's still the Chimera's evolution!"
Stelle's reminder had instantly reignited the curiosity of the group, who had just been preparing to disperse after the feast. What kind of transformation would occur when the mysterious [Blank Tinder] from the chat group's rewards was combined with the adorable Chimera? Aside from the invitation letter, this was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated moments of their trip to Amphoreus.
Belle's own eyes lit up; she was just as eager to see what her new companion would become. The moment they had arrived at the Garden of Life, the little Chimera—whom Belle had affectionately nicknamed "Little Furball"—had been drawn away by the other playful Chimeras and had scampered off to join them.
Belle put her fingers to her lips and let out a clear, melodious whistle.
Before long, a fluffy, bright-eyed little Chimera emerged from the bushes, chirping, "Ow-woo, ow-woo," as it hopped and skipped over to rub affectionately against Belle's leg. It was the very same Chimera with whom she shared a special bond.
Belle smiled and patted its head, then retrieved the faintly glowing, empty [Blank Tinder] from the chat group's inventory. After taking it out, however, she froze.
"Uh... how... do I use this?" She looked from the Tinder in her hand to the obedient little Chimera at her feet, completely stumped. Was she supposed to feed it directly? Or did it require some special ritual? The item description only said it could be used for evolution, not the specific method of operation.
Just as Belle was lost in thought, her little Chimera seemed to sense an attractive power emanating from the Tinder. It looked up and let out a soft, longing cry. "Ow-woo~"
Belle instinctively crouched down to meet her little companion's gaze.
The Chimera took the initiative, stepping forward and gently touching its fluffy forehead to the [Blank Tinder] in Belle's hand.
The instant the two made contact—
The Tinder erupted in a gentle yet brilliant light, floating up from Belle's palm of its own accord. An invisible force simultaneously lifted the little Chimera, suspending it in mid-air.
The [Blank Tinder] began to spin rapidly around the floating creature. Its core, once empty, suddenly flickered to life, displaying countless complex and shifting patterns. Everyone watched with bated breath. The patterns flowed like a river of light, and upon closer inspection, they were revealed to be the totemic imprints of Amphoreus's twelve main Titans, flashing in rapid succession.
It was as if the Tinder was scanning, matching... or perhaps, selecting the most suitable source of power for this tiny Chimera.
The speed of the flashing totems accelerated, faster and faster, until finally, all the patterns snapped into focus. They converged, merged, and ultimately solidified into a single, clear imprint within the Tinder—a sharp and powerful sigil.
This pattern was strikingly similar to the totem that Phainon and the others had collected from the Tinder containing the power of [Strife] after defeating Nikador. This one was just slightly smaller in scale, with subtle differences in its details—a little less ferocious, a little more agile.
Immediately after, the solidified Tinder transformed into a streak of light and, with a soft whoosh, merged directly into the little Chimera's body.
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