Summoning the Paradox Flame Butterfly

To Iver's surprise, Isabel and Yulia, two girls who didn't usually have much social interaction, actually got along quite well after meeting.

Although it's unclear how much of it was acting, they definitely became inseparable very quickly after meeting. Lily joined them in chatting, and they seemed to be having a great time.

Iver simply sat quietly to the side, nodding occasionally and adding a few words to indicate that he was still listening.

After a pleasant conversation, it was only natural that Yulia would leave with Isabel.

Although Isabel already had a general idea of Iver 'Iver plan when she drew him before, just in case, Iver reminded her again—if he went missing, don't panic and don't worry about him.

For some reason, Isabel's mood improved after hearing these words.

After Yulia left with Isabel, Iver stood up from his wheelchair and began setting up some defensive rituals in the house.

Although Shadow Fiend is there as a backup, Iver will at least have to retaliate. Any use of supernatural power will leave traces of one's path. If there are no traces of Dedication Path left here, only traces of Path of Transcendence left by Shadow Fiend, then Iver's plan actually has a flaw.

Iver would be better off annihilating them all using only the power of the Dedication Path. That would make sense of him being attacked and taken away by the Shadow Fiend, who was not part of his intelligence network.

Since Iver was going to have the Shadow Fiend do it, it was perfectly normal for traces of Path of Transcendence to remain in his home. He just needed to destroy those rituals before he left.

That's why Iver could use rituals for both defense and counterattack in this attack—after all, he would kill them all anyway.

This is also a completely natural way to silence someone.

This was also the first time that Iver, as a Demon Scholar, had fought a "prepared battle".

His first preparation was a countermeasure against the curse.

Among the newcomers were four Demon Scholar. Although their levels were not high, they were at least at the Third Level. This meant that they might possess the ability to curse.

Without a medium, casting a curse from a distance is extremely difficult. They can only curse the entire house, and the power won't be very strong.

In this situation, using gemstone jewelry can induce a curse.

Iver adorned himself with Sapphire Jewelry. Then he burned black sage on the ground, leaving an "8" with an open top in the ashes.

At the location of the circle, Iver left a strand of his hair and wrapped it around the sapphire ring. At the opening, he placed numerous obsidian stones.

High-quality sapphires can Resist Curse, while obsidian can attract them.

In this way, curses without a specific target will automatically flow to the things most easily cursed.

When a house or area is affected by a curse without a specific target, the elderly and young children are usually the first to be affected, followed by the weak and sick.

Before that, you might feel a little uneasy—for example, the rats and cockroaches in your house die inexplicably, and the chirping of insects and birds in the yard gradually disappears and becomes quiet.

The Avalon knew little about curses, but the Stibnite Person knew more. Star Antimony nobles would place Obsidian Statue in their homes to attract weak curses to them. These cursed Obsidian Statue, in turn, could ward off evil spirits.

Immediately afterwards, Iver began preparing a sniping strategy.

Although in theory they are Demon Scholar and should use some supernatural abilities to attack Iver...

However, there is no rule that Demon Scholar cannot carry guns.

Iver could counter their spells and block the demons they summoned, but he couldn't dodge bullets. So Iver used ritual magic to protect himself.

In this way, Iver's figure becomes hazy and ethereal. Even if he doesn't move, his appearance will constantly change randomly around him. This makes it difficult for projectile spells or sniper firearms to aim at him... effectively preventing sneak attacks from the shadows.

Then came the "Life Storage." Iver spent another two hours performing a complex ritual, transferring about a third of his life force into a Red Apple. He then used Sacrificial Fire Method to heal himself.

That way, when Iver is injured, he can immediately recover his life force by destroying the apple.

Next up is the Paradox Flame Butterfly.

After paying the mana required to summon the butterfly and feeding it some blood using the Shepherding Method, Iver can pray again to restore his mana.

This was Iver's first time summoning the Paradox Flame Butterfly... To be honest, he was a little nervous.

"The Paradox Flame Butterfly..."

"Iver called out softly."

A pure red card appeared out of thin air between his right thumb and forefinger. A butterfly pattern was outlined on it with black lines.

He infused his magic power into it.

Then, flames, like a stream, flowed from the very center of the card. This startled Iver, who instinctively released his grip.

The butterfly card hovered in mid-air, bursting forth with howling flames that formed four fiery wings. A scorching heat, strong enough to distort one's vision, assaulted the senses.

The flames coalesced into four transparent butterfly wings, transitioning from red to deep red, then to purplish-red and black, looking as grim as a setting sun. They also resembled wings that gradually burned from the outermost edge, the outermost layer turning to pure black ash.

When fully extended, the butterfly's wings were a full two meters wide.

And right in the center of the butterfly's wings is a little girl who looks to be only about 80 centimeters tall.

Her appearance was about 50% similar to Yulia's, but noticeably more youthful. Her hair was the complete opposite of Yulia's, a black like burnt ash, but Yulia hairstyle was exactly the same.

However, because she was much shorter than Yulia, her hair, which originally reached Yulia's waist, now reached Julia's ankles.

Her pupils were also red, but not the warm, candy-like red of Yulia's; rather, they were a dull, dark red, like dried blood. And the rest of her body, except for her irises, was not human white, but a matte black.

The Paradox Flame Butterfly wore a black gauze dress that resembled that of a widow, with flames faintly burning along the edges, like burning charcoal. At this moment, it was billowing and dancing with the rising heat, along with the long hair behind her.

A style of black and red. Burning fire and embers. Sunset and night.

This is the impression that the Paradox Flame Butterfly left on Iver.

She looked as if she hadn't slept well, very sleepy. The Paradox Flame Butterfly flew quietly in the air, and after a while, its gaze finally focused, silently turning to Iver.

Iver also a little nervous.

Theoretically, he should be able to perfectly control his beast. But this is, after all, his first beast.

"Do you know who I am, the Paradox Flame Butterfly?"

Iver asked softly.

"...elder brother."

The Paradox Flame Butterfly uttered a hoarse yet gentle whisper, completely different from Yulia's. "I remember you."

"You said I wouldn't die..."

"I survived, brother."

It's like a little girl who's sick and can't make a sound. She can only strain her voice and whisper like she's reading a fairy tale to lull a child to sleep.

Her appearance wasn't too different from the Paradox Flame Butterfly that Iver remembered.

The Paradox Flame Butterfly, the dungeon Dungeon Boss, is a giant butterfly in the normal version. In the center is Yulia, whose body is cracked like porcelain.

However, players later fought two versions of the Paradox Flame Butterfly at levels 50 and 80 respectively.

That wasn't a real event, but a possibility constructed from fantasy. Theoretically, the players didn't actually fight the Paradox Flame Butterfly again, but rather it was a "battle story" constructed by the players telling their own stories to an NPC, who then exaggerated it to a certain extent.

The level 50 version is where Yulia doesn't hold back and fully unleashes the power of the Paradox Flame Butterfly —meaning "there's no possibility of Iver being in the party."

The level 80 version allows for the hatching and development of the Paradox Flame Butterfly into its complete form. This is a limited-time event.

That version of the Paradox Flame Butterfly had black hair and black and red eyes.

But unlike the current Little Butterfly, that version of the Paradox Flame Butterfly was as mature as a twenty- or thirty-year-old Yulia —her long black dress was ablaze with flames, and her butterfly wings were more magnificent. The mechanics not only became more complex and frequent, but also included many new skills.

Hopefully, the Paradox Flame Butterfly will grow to that level in the future...

"Shrink to a smaller size, Little Butterfly. It's too hot like this..."

Iver said softly, "Show me your Follower Form."

The Paradox Flame Butterfly did not reply.

She had only lit a flame—and when the flame completely died down, she became a real butterfly.

It resembles fluttering fallen leaves, or a cluster of butterfly-shaped sparks.

Its entire body was engulfed in golden-red flames as it slowly floated and landed in Iver's palm. Iver slowly closed his hands, but it neither dodged nor hid. Even after his hands were closed, Iver did not feel as if he had touched or crushed anything.

It was as if it were just a phantom.

It wasn't scorching hot, but rather warm.

There's a second chapter today; I'll finish writing it around 2 PM and post it then.