Reincarnated as Twins: And Then, I Was the Only One Abandoned - ☆8 The Flame Demon God Agni ①

☆8 The Flame Demon God Agni ① 

Our journey by carriage continued for about two weeks, and we finally arrived at our destination. 

Along the way, we never had to sleep in the carriage. We stayed at inns in town every night. As expected from such a wealthy group, every inn we stayed at was extravagant. 

The rooms were spacious, with soft, luxurious beds and ornate decorations. It allowed me to fully enjoy having a room to myself. The inns’ dining halls served lavish meals every morning and evening. It featured local specialties and rare dishes. 

The ancient ruins in the west lay quietly deep within the forest. 

Lined with massive stone pillars and covered in mossy cobblestone, the place spoke of its former glory. The pillars were engraved with mysterious ancient script. And the weathered carvings silently told their long history. 

At the center of the ruins stood a towering temple. It had two stone statues guarding its entrance. As we ventured inside, a central altar came into view. On the altar rested an ancient golden vessel. It was shimmering with a mystical mana. 

It looked like it would sell for a high price at a pawnshop. But it also felt like taking it would bring divine punishment. 

Elysia and the others carefully advanced, searching for something. They eventually discovered a hidden staircase leading underground. 

Impressive. 

I wouldn’t have noticed any difference in the ground at all. 

“It’s down here.” 

Fia released a small amount of mana forward. It illuminated the surroundings like a lantern. 

Following her light in silence, we descended. 

The stairs were old. And occasionally, the stones beneath our feet creaked. A cold air stung my skin. It sent chills down my spine. 

At the bottom of the stairs was a vast chamber. 

The eerie presence lingering in the air wasn’t just my imagination. 

“Lady Elysia, it seems the undead are lurking here.” 

Gald was leading the group. He warned us. 

His voice carried a hint of tension. We halted, scanning the stone walls around us. Several shadowy figures had begun surrounding us. They were creeping closer without a sound. 

The shadows flickered ominously. Their outlines blurred each time a cold breeze passed through. 

“They appear to be ghosts.” 

Gald drew his sword and took a defensive stance. 

The tension heightened as the shadows gradually revealed their forms. 

“Leave this to me. Fia, protect Lady Elysia!” 

With that, Gald charged into the swarm of shadows, slashing his sword. 

In the darkness, pale blue flashes danced wildly. 

It seemed he was reinforcing his sword with mana. 

So, he’s the type to enhance his physical abilities, huh? 

Shhh! Slash! Shhh! Slash!—The rhythmic sounds of his strikes echoed. 

Huh, so physical attacks work on ghosts? 

Or is it the mana that’s affecting them? 

Gald’s movements were fluid. It was almost like a dance. He deftly evaded enemy attacks and countered with precise strikes. Even as an amateur, I could tell his swordsmanship was top-tier. 

One by one, the shadows disappeared. 

Once they were completely vanquished, Gald sheathed his sword, took a deep breath, and returned to us. 

“For now, their presence is gone. Let’s move forward.” 

He acts all high and mighty, but he really is skilled. 

As we advanced deeper, the ominous, feverish presence of mana grew stronger. 

The air became heavier. It clung to my skin with an increasing sense of discomfort. 

Eventually, we arrived at a massive door. 

Aged and covered in moss from years of neglect, it still retained an overwhelming sense of authority. 

Gald hesitated for a moment before forcing it open. 

With a deep, unsettling creak, the door slowly swung wide. 

Beyond it lay a grand hall. 

There were no decorations—just a vast, empty space made entirely of aged stone. 

The ceiling was so high it felt as though it stretched endlessly. 

The air was even colder, making it clear that no one had set foot here for a very long time. 

At the center of the hall, an unusually dense cluster of mana swirled. 

It felt as if an invisible spring was overflowing. It was filling the entire space with its energy. 

“What an ominous mana……… Now then, I’ll begin. You all, stay focused.” 

With those words, Elysia drew a magic circle on the ground and began chanting.

Her voice was low and powerful. It resonated throughout the space as the magic circle began to emit a faint glow. 

Huh? It’s already starting?? 

“Release your mana into this magic circle.” 

“Wait, wait! Hold on a second. You’re about to summon Agni—then what?” 

I questioned Elysia, who seemed moments away from summoning the Flame Demon God. 

Her chanting paused for a brief moment. And she looked at me in confusion. 

“We’ll summon him, have a conversation, and then proceed with a contract… I suppose?” 

“And what if he attacks us the moment he appears?” 

“Shut up. If that happens, I’ll make him understand with my sword. You just focus on releasing your mana!” 

Gald glared at me with intense eyes and shouted. 

Where the hell does this guy get his confidence from? 

This isn’t like those ghosts from before. 

Is this really going to be okay? 

Whatever, I don’t care. If things go south, I’m running. 

We all directed our mana toward the magic circle, releasing it from our entire bodies. 

Before long, the mana turned a deep red-black. It was writhing like a living creature as it shifted form. 

Then, something enormous emerged. It was engulfed in roaring flames. 

It held a sword of fire in its hands. 

Sparks constantly burst from the blade, and waves of intense heat swirled around it. 

Its towering, flame-clad form was overwhelming—truly, it was the embodiment of an infernal blaze.