I Died and Became a Noble's Heir-Chapter 519: Azure Flames

Permanent immunity to fire would neutralize Mira's combat effectiveness entirely.

Her Contractee state enhanced fire damage by three hundred percent, but that multiplication became meaningless if the target couldn't be damaged by fire at all.

But it would also prevent him from being healed by fire-based restoration magic.

It would fundamentally alter how his body interacts with heat.

Jack's finger pressed Fire.

[Confirm Purchase: Elemental Immunity (Fire) - 50,000 Skill Points?]

[YES] or [NO]

He pressed Yes without hesitation.

[Purchase Complete]

[Skill Points: 53,994 → 3,994]

[Elemental Immunity (Fire): ACQUIRED]

The change wasn't visible.

There was no overt display or dramatic alteration; rather, Jack experienced a fundamental shift within his cellular structure.

Then another notification appeared, unexpected and carrying implications Jack hadn't anticipated.

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: First Elemental Immunity]

[Reward: Cooldown Reduction Buff - 50%]

[All skill cooldowns permanently reduced by half]

[Note: Next Elemental Immunity purchase cost: 100,000 Skill Points]

Jack's eyebrows rose fractionally as he processed the reward.

Fifty percent cooldown reduction across ALL skills meant abilities that required five minutes between uses now only needed two and a half.

Skills with hour-long cooldowns were suddenly available every thirty minutes.

The strategic implications were staggering.

But the doubled cost for the next immunity was equally high.

The System encouraged diversification but punished it with exponentially increasing prices.

Jack dismissed the notifications and turned his attention to Emberion, who'd been watching with patient amusement.

"Are you serious about that contract?" Jack asked, his voice steady despite the blood still dripping from his wrist.

Emberion's molten eyes gleamed with dark humor. "I am. But I don't believe you're actually immune. The claim is too bold. You've either misunderstood what you purchased, or you're engaging in wishful thinking."

"Then let's test it," Ren suggested, his star-bright eyes showing interest despite his earlier fury. "I can use fire magic. Not my specialty, but sufficient for demonstration purposes."

The ancient hero raised one hand, and blue flames erupted from his palm.

Not the orange-red of normal combustion, but azure fire that burned hot enough to make stone beneath Ren's feet begin glowing.

Blue flames were legendary in their properties. They couldn't be extinguished except by their creator.

They burned hotter than normal fire by orders of magnitude. They ignored most magical resistances because their nature transcended simple heat.

"These flames," Ren explained, his tone carrying clinical detachment, "burn at temperatures sufficient to melt through dragon scales. If you're truly immune, they won't affect you at all. If you're not..."

'Not your specialty?? What bullshit is that? Not everyone can use blue flames.' Jack thought.

He left the implication unfinished, but everyone understood.

Blue flames against unprotected flesh would cause catastrophic damage, potentially killing Jack outright if his immunity claim was false.

Ren moved closer, his blue flames held casually in one palm. "Your wrist is still bleeding. I'll use this to seal the wound. If you're immune, you'll feel pressure and heat but no pain. If you're not immune..."

Again, the unfinished sentence carried weight.

Jack extended his bleeding wrist without hesitation, golden eyes tracking the blue flames with interest.

Ren's hand moved, azure fire pressing against the ragged wound where Jack's hand had been severed.

The flesh sizzled. Cauterization happened instantly, blood vessels sealing as extreme heat forced tissue to contract and harden. The smell of burning meat filled the air; it was acrid and unpleasant to smell.

Jack watched the process with clinical detachment, his expression showing interest rather than agony.

There was no burning sensation beyond awareness that something very hot was touching his skin.

Just pressure and heat registering through nerves that reported temperature without suffering damage.

Ren held the flames against Jack's wrist for five seconds, ensuring complete cauterization.

When he pulled back, the wound was sealed. It was ugly and scarred, but no longer bleeding.

"Nothing," Jack said, his voice carrying satisfaction. "I felt the heat. Registered that something extremely hot was touching my skin. But no pain. My flesh didn't even redden beyond the cauterization itself."

He met Emberion's molten eyes directly. "Satisfied?"

The magma dragon's expression shifted from amused skepticism to genuine shock. His massive head tilted, studying Jack with such an intensity that his whole demeanor changed.

"You're actually immune," Emberion said slowly, as if testing the words for accuracy.

The dragon's molten eyes blazed brighter. "Very well. I gave my word. If you could become immune to fire, I would contract with you immediately."

Emberion's massive form shifted, lowering his head until his eyes were level with Jack's. "I have three conditions. Meet them, and my power is yours to command."

Jack nodded, waiting.

"First," Emberion's voice carried the weight of ancient grudges, "make me strong enough to fight Typhon. I don't need you to defeat my father for me. That pleasure must be mine. But I require power sufficient to challenge him on equal terms."

"Second," the dragon's eyes gleamed with vindictive satisfaction, "when I finally face Typhon, when I prove myself superior to the Dragon King who cast me aside as worthless... I want to eat his heart while he's still alive. I want him to watch as I consume the organ that sustained his pathetic existence, to feel his essence becoming mine."

The request was dark and carried hundreds of years of accumulated hatred.

"Third," Emberion's tone shifted, becoming almost wistful, "I want to see Malakai one last time. To speak with the Soul Warden who created me, who gave me purpose when my own father saw only weakness."

The last condition made Jack's mind reel.

He'd suspected Malakai survived in some form. The system had implied as much before.

But hearing confirmation that the greatest Soul Warden in history existed somewhere, somehow, made the reality hit harder.

"I'm not sure how," Jack admitted, honesty overriding diplomatic deflection. "But when I find a way, I'll make sure you can meet Malakai again."

"It's easier than you think," Emberion responded. A discernible sense of satisfaction was evident in his tone. "By forming a contract, I can traverse the Soul Realm with you. Malakai exists there. He's not dead, not alive, but present in ways that transcend normal existence."

The information surprised Jack, but he filed it away for later analysis.

Any knowledge about the Soul Realm was valuable, potentially crucial to understanding his own abilities.

"I agree to all three conditions," Jack said without hesitation. "I'll work to make you strong enough to challenge Typhon. You'll get your chance to consume his heart. And I'll find a way to bring you to Malakai."

Emberion's expression showed satisfaction that transcended simple pleasure. "Then we have accord. Extend your hand."

Jack raised his right hand, the one still intact.

"Pierce your palm," Emberion instructed. "Dragon contracts require blood to seal. Your blood will bind us at the most at the most basic level."

Jack sharpened his nails from his demonic transformation. He pressed against his palm and pushed until skin broke, and blood welled from the small wound.

Emberion lowered his massive head, opening his jaws to reveal teeth the size of greatswords that went back at least six rows and a tongue that glowed bright orange

Jack's hand moved forward, blood dripping from his palm onto Emberion's tongue.