Ogmarton's shout killed any desire to talk. Catherine immediately placed the Dodo she had been holding in the center of the Fire-Fusion Array, while Delkus and Sethin took their designated positions.
A pair of knuckle-dusters appeared on Ogmarton's right hand—the true form of the Fire Origin Fragment. Then the Fire Elemental Monarch raised his right fist toward the sky.
The white clouds overhead instantly turned blazing red, forming ring after ring. Delkus and Sethin likewise raised their hands. Delkus wore the Bracelet of Radiance formed from the Light Origin Fragment on his arm, while Sethin's Wind Origin Fragment was the necklace on his chest. White and azure light flashed, sinking into the ring-shaped fire clouds and casting down beams of tricolored radiance onto the Fire-Fusion Array inscribed on the ground. The already scorching Blazing Flame Hall grew even hotter.
According to Ogmarton, the effects of this fire-fusion ritual varied in quality. If their luck was poor and the infusion of the Origin Mark was less than perfect, its effect on Dodo would be greatly reduced. That was why they needed the power of two Elemental Monarchs to bring the ritual as close to perfection as possible.
Under the power of the three Origin Fragments, Ogmarton's entire body transformed into a dazzling mass of flame and flew above Dodo.
The brilliant flames scattered into burning characters, then turned into droplets of luminous fire that fell upon Dodo's body. Her clothes remained undamaged, but her body gradually turned crimson.
Though Chen Rui knew that Dodo possessed the body of a Phoenix and did not fear flames, and that Ogmarton was saving her, the sight still made his heart tighten. Just as he was growing anxious, he abruptly noticed that Catherine's aura beside him had become strange as well.
Catherine's calm, water-like gaze