Chapter 430 - 429: Recognition

Chapter 430: Chapter 429: Recognition

One after another, they all began to dance.

The entire Undying Fire Lamp seemed like an awakened Ancient Artifact. The nine balls of fire flickered in succession, their light intertwining and casting a dreamlike hue over the entire mobile cottage.

Squidward’s three eyes widened simultaneously.

Its tentacles froze mid-air. Its mouth opened and closed, then opened and closed again. After a long moment, it finally managed to squeeze out a few words, "H-how is this possible?"

Seraphina Sinclair looked up at it. "What’s wrong?"

Squidward swallowed hard, its tentacle pointing at the nine flames, its voice trembling. "The Undying Fire Lamp has existed for so many years, but the flames inside have never danced all at once."

It stared at the hand Seraphina Sinclair had placed on the lamp’s body, its gaze filled with disbelief.

"These flames were all placed here by Demigod-like beings, prepared in advance for their descendants or heirs. Although they are ownerless, Source Fires are inherently proud things. How could one react like this to a human’s touch..."

Realizing who he was speaking to, Squidward quickly swallowed its offensive words.

It mentally slapped itself.

’After all these years, how can I still look down on new Species? Because of this prejudice, I’ve missed out on so many excellent ingredients!’

Squidward’s brow furrowed. It resolved to mend its ways.

Fearing Seraphina Sinclair would misunderstand, Squidward hurriedly explained, "I’m not so shocked because of your human identity! It’s because of the event itself..."

It took a deep breath. "Even if a Demigod came here in person, it would be impossible to make all the flames resonate at once!"

Seraphina Sinclair looked down at the dancing flames, then at her hand. The patterns under her fingertips were still warm, but other than that, she didn’t feel anything unusual.

"I just touched it."

"Honored guest, do you know what this means?"

Seraphina Sinclair raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Squidward took another deep breath, trying to calm itself, but the writhing tentacles beneath its body betrayed its shock. "It means... they’ve all acknowledged you. As long as your body can withstand them, you can successfully absorb them."

Acknowledgment!

The book had indeed mentioned the word "acknowledgment."

In the final Chapter of the book, there was a small, inconspicuous passage of text. Seraphina Sinclair had only skimmed it at the time, but now it surfaced clearly in her mind—

"Source Fire chooses its master; it cannot be taken by force. If one gains the Source Fire’s acknowledgment, the danger of absorption is reduced by seventy percent.

However, from ancient times to the present, those who have gained a Source Fire’s acknowledgment are few and far between.

This is because Source Fires are proud and arrogant; only those with great fortune, great perseverance, and a great destiny can earn their favor."

Seraphina Sinclair’s memory wasn’t originally this good. She could only remember this passage thanks to all the Intelligence Points she had acquired.

Back then, when Seraphina Sinclair saw this passage, she had assumed it was just a Legend that didn’t actually exist in reality, so she paid it no mind.

After all, the book said "few and far between," "from ancient times to the present," and "cannot earn their favor."

’You hear words like that and just file them away. Who would ever think it could happen to them?’

But now...

She looked down at the nine flames still dancing in the lamp, then back at her hand.

Inside the Undying Fire Lamp, the golden Dragon Heart Golden Flame leaped the most joyfully, like a puppy seeing its owner. Although the other eight flames weren’t as excited, Seraphina Sinclair could still feel a faint resonance from them.

Just as Squidward had said, they had all acknowledged her.

Seraphina Sinclair was silent for a moment before looking up at Squidward. "The book says that for someone acknowledged by a Source Fire, the danger of absorption is reduced by seventy percent. What about the remaining thirty percent?"

Squidward’s three eyes blinked in unison, seemingly surprised that Seraphina Sinclair could ask such a calm question at a time like this.

It thought for a moment before answering seriously:

"The remaining thirty percent depends on your own strength. The Source Fire acknowledging you just means it is willing to be absorbed by you and won’t actively resist.

But during the absorption process, the Source Fire’s power will surge into your body, transforming your meridians, bones, and flesh... This process itself is an ordeal.

If your body is a vessel, then the Source Fire is a mass of molten lava.

If the vessel is large and sturdy enough, it can contain the lava and turn it into your own power. If the vessel isn’t sturdy enough... it will be burned through by the lava and reduced to ash."

Seraphina Sinclair understood.

Acknowledgment only meant the Source Fire wouldn’t actively harm her.

But during the absorption process, the sheer force of the Source Fire’s power would still have a massive impact on her body.

She needed a body strong enough to withstand that impact.

"So right now, I..."

"You can’t." Squidward shook its head decisively, its three eyes filled with seriousness. "Honored guest, you’re only C-level right now. Your body isn’t nearly strong enough. If you rashly try to absorb a Source Fire, even with its acknowledgment, your chances of survival are one in ten."

’She has to listen to me!’

Squidward prayed inwardly.

The probability of encountering a creature acknowledged by the Door Key was already low enough. But to see a creature who was not only acknowledged by the Door Key, but also by so many flames...

Squidward hardly dared to imagine how terrifying Seraphina Sinclair would be once she fully developed!

If the Stardust Gallery could get on the good side of someone like this, how could they have been pushed out by the other restaurants to become the system’s partner?

At this thought, a surge of anger rose in Squidward’s heart.

They, the Managers, had to pay out of their own pockets for every single Advanced Meal Voucher that was issued!

’Always losing money... how am I supposed to be nice to the humans who are making me lose it?’

Squidward took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the displeasure in its heart and refocusing its attention on Seraphina Sinclair.

It looked at the human before it, finding her more and more extraordinary. Chosen by the Door Key, acknowledged by nine Source Fires simultaneously, and yet she was just a C-level novice.

If word of this got out, the entire world would be in an uproar.

The Demigods of the various Species would either come to kill her outright or try to recruit her ahead of time. In any case, there was no way the Stardust Gallery would be able to hitch its wagon to this rising star.

Squidward suppressed its thoughts. The most urgent matter was to properly advise this "rising star" and make sure she didn’t destroy her own future!

It was just about to say something when it saw Seraphina Sinclair nod, offering no rebuttal.

Seraphina Sinclair already knew. The book stated very clearly that only those who were at least B-level, approaching A-level, could absorb a Source Fire.

She was only just C-level now. It was indeed too soon.

But Seraphina Sinclair wasn’t in a hurry.

The Source Fires were right there. They weren’t going anywhere. She had plenty of time to slowly grow stronger.

Seeing how calm Seraphina Sinclair was, Squidward felt a growing sense of admiration. It produced a golden card, holding it out to Seraphina Sinclair with two of its tentacles.

Seraphina Sinclair reached out and took it.

Squidward didn’t need to explain. Aside from the text written on it, the card was identical to the one the waiter had given her, and its function was obviously the same.