Chapter 197

197 Burnt Pine Wood

Selma Payne’s POV:

With our previous experience, we brought enough fire, fuel, and a folding bow.

The team members threw fuel into the forest and fired burning wooden arrows. Within a few seconds, the circle of plants around us was set ablaze.

Shrill wails resounded through the clouds. The burning trees frantically tried to leave, but they only spread their misfortune to more of their compatriots. More and more plants were burning. This was good news and bad news. The billowing smoke almost turned this place into a chimney for a chemical plant, and we could hardly see anything.

The wool mask made by the werewolf master had good filtering abilities, so we didn’t choke to death from the smoke. However, the rising temperature was still a tricky problem. Who would have thought a snowy mountain of -30 degrees could turn people into roast chickens?

So far, the first operation to find demonic fragments had failed. We had to get to a place where the fire was less intense. The strong wolves could break a small piece of dense pine forest with a wave of their hands, but it was a heavy burden on their bodies. These pine trees were the creation of the demons, after all. The evil power contained in them could corrode the wolves’ bodies.

I kept devouring the plants around me, regardless of whether they were intact or had been burned into a pile of charcoal. The New Flow performed its duty loyally, irrespective of whether the food tasted good.

Finally, we escaped the sea of fire in a slightly sorry state.

The pine forest was on fire, and the creepy cries were about to become another ghost story in the Rocky Mountains.

It was too dangerous. If I weren’t careful, we would have been turned into barbecued wolf steaks along with the entire forest.

There was one thing that had been puzzling me. Where did the ‘heart’ of the pine forest go?

The plants didn’t look like they were under human control. They were even more intelligent than the forest I first encountered. This meant that their core must be firmly hidden in some corner.

But what was even more suspicious was that even after we burned the entire forest, the hidden core still didn’t respond. Wasn’t he afraid that the pine forest would disappear? Wasn’t he afraid of losing his power for nothing? We were perfect targets for the fire, but it didn’t take the opportunity to attack us.

I fell silent as I looked at the blazing fire in the distance.

The smell of burning wood was very pungent, but to me, what I could touch was a secret fragrance of another level. The alluring, sweet, and fat fragrance of information power didn’t make the flames any less attractive. It was shining like gold in the fire.

He was already here.

I thought.

It would be a waste not to devour it.

And so, before anyone could react, I extended my hand.

Aldrich was the first to notice my strange behavior. He seemed to want to stop me, but with my ‘don’t worry, let me do it’ gaze, he only retreated to his original spot and nervously watched my every move.

Smoke, snow, rotten wood, and dead leaves. The pine forest was reduced to ruins by the flames. I stirred the dust that buried the treasures and carefully searched for the delicious food hidden within.

They weren’t as satisfying as the demonic shards, but they were good enough to be snacks. The light taste was like green tea mixed with water. Although it wasn’t good to drink, it was nutritious.

I closed my eyes and focused on enjoying the moment when power filled my body.

When I opened my eyes again, everything had disappeared. There was no forest or fire. Other than a large area of frozen soil, there was no evidence that a large dense forest had once existed here.

I turned around and saw everyone staring at me, especially Master Kevin. His sparkling eyes made people shiver for no reason.

“What a magical power,” he mumbled in a low voice as if he was disappointed that he did not have a pen and paper to record the data. “Is this the New Flow?”

I nodded helplessly. “Yes, it has the attribute of devouring power. I think we witnessed it yesterday?”

“That’s different.” Master Kevin came over enthusiastically. “Last night, there was so much smoke that I didn’t see anything. But this time is different. It’s mesmerizing with such a complex, precise, and ingenious operation pattern. Moon Goddess, is this the treasure you’ve given to the royal bloodline of the Lycans?”

“Kevin, shut your mouth!” Master Mary suddenly shouted at him and pulled him to the side. “Now is not the time to talk about this. Linda is still in danger. We can talk about it when we get back to the base.”

I was a little surprised at Master Kevin’s outspoken words. I finally understood why Master Mary and Master Hayley emphasized his innocence and academic brain to me.

Did he just reveal my identity without any hesitation?

‘The royal bloodline of the Lycans’, my god! He should just announce that I was Princess Madeline!

My identity was no longer a secret within the small circle, such as Aldrich, Dorothy, Kara, Tracy, and the few werewolf grandmasters responsible for caring for and healing me.

However, this was still a high-level secret that must be kept confidential. If one had seen the madness of the Council of Elders and the wandering forces, it was not difficult for them to understand why my parents had made so much effort to protect my safety.