Flying towards the blue sun on the horizon, Olini felt an indescribable excitement in his heart.
Even though he hadn't gotten close yet, he could feel a kind of powerful energy that was completely different from magic. If these energies could be slowly released and transformed, maybe the planet could be powered up and become stronger.
Although it's just a remote hope, it's still hope.
However, on his journey towards the blue sun, he saw a very unfamiliar Faltinian, standing on the ground waving at him. The person's fingers were still holding a burning short stick, not knowing what it meant.
The blue sun ahead was constantly emitting strong radiation, which was harmful to the body. So after some thought, Olini landed on the ground, wanting to ask the unfamiliar fellow if he had any discoveries.
Maybe he saw how the explosion happened, maybe he had a different understanding of this energy phenomenon than himself.
The Faltinians were all firmly opposed to Dormammu, and the resistance organization was even out in the open, so there was no need to hide any subversive activities and actions, and there were no traitors among the tribe.
Dormammu actually knew that these people always wanted to stir things up, but he found it rather interesting instead.
Just like watching a group of ants trying to resist a god, he gave the Faltinians a chance to resist him.
Thousands of years have passed, and the Faltinians have made dozens of attempts, none of which succeeded. The plans were thorough, the arrangements were tight, and even manpower was abundant, each time seeming promising.
But once Dormammu descended, yawning, the heroic ancestors were extinguished like candle flames.
The gap in strength was like an insurmountable chasm, not something the Faltinians could overcome on their own. They went forward and launched futile revolutions time and again, only to end in failure again.
Later, Dormammu even regarded this as a performance. If the Faltinians could injure him a bit of Dark Matter, he would even grant the survivors a considerable amount of energy, encouraging them to continue resisting.
Olini, now on the ground, observed the unfamiliar fellow. The other had long red hair tied with a black hairband, and a very strong build. His physique and aura were full of pressure.
For some reason, Olini felt that this person had gone through something, and it was something very dark.
Thinking of this, he was puzzled. If there was such an extraordinary person living nearby, he would certainly know them, but why didn't he have any impression at all?
However, as he pondered carefully, the stranger's aura suddenly changed, a smile appeared on his face, snuffed out the short stick in his hand, and greeted him warmly.
"You came, brother?"
"???"
Olini was puzzled. He was sure that he had no blood relation with the stranger, why had he become a brother?
Wait... why was this fellow speaking Earth's language?
As Faltinians who often did business with the Main Dimension, they had been in contact with the Celestial Dynasty's warlocks for thousands of years, naturally understanding Chinese. But between the tribe, language was unnecessary for communication.
In the Flame Elemental form, they could transmit messages through the temperature and brightness of the flames, while in human form they relied on magic communication. Language was a very inefficient means of communication.
"Are you human?"
Olini did not show a guarded expression; rather, he acted very curious, like discovering a New Continent, inquiring in ordinary speech with a southwestern accent.
Su Ming nodded. Since he couldn't speak the Faltin language, it was naturally obvious as soon as he spoke, so he straightforwardly admitted, "That's right, I'm a genuine Earth human, from the Main Dimension's Supreme Mage."
"Okay, stop talking first." Olini looked around nervously, grabbed his hand, made a hand seal, and drew a circle on the ground with magic: "Come in quickly, Dormammu might come."
His spell created a round black hole in the solid ground. He jumped down first and then poked his head out to beckon Su Ming to follow.
Seeing how skillfully he opened the hole in the ground, Su Ming was very pleased. Being good at tunnel warfare shows foresight.
Moreover, he had even gone inside the Eclipse Star energy body before, so the Faltin Planet should be no different. It's just that Eclipse Star was composed of light and emotion, while Faltin was high-concentration magic energy, but eventually couldn't harm him.
Yet, things differed from imagination slightly.
The next phase was a slide-like journey, the hole below connected to twisted tunnels, the passage walls were very smooth, and the surroundings were glowing orange-red.
What made Su Ming a bit uncomfortable was that this thin red passage spontaneously moved, compressing the two downward, making him feel like he was in some creature's esophagus or intestine.
In sum, it was a very disgusting journey, the only advantage being that there wasn't any mucus around, not as bad as it could be.
A few minutes later, with two 'puh! puh!' sounds, both landed, arriving in the residential area within Faltin Planet.
The planet's surface was too smooth, plus Dormammu would occasionally come to spy, so everyone lived underground. Unless seeking business opportunities, no one would go to the surface.
"Alright, it's temporarily safe here." Olini reverted to the form of the Flame Element, looking like a burning Halloween jack-o'-lantern, and even made a very human-like expression of relief.
Su Ming also let Deathstroke transform back into black and yellow armor, glanced around, only to see a long straight street flanked by dwellings that resembled cave houses.
He noticed other Faltin People approaching, and merely nodded, patting his elbow: "What magic did you just use?"
"Faltin Teleportation Technique, are you interested?"
Having heard that the other party was the Supreme Mage of the Main Dimension, although a bit surprised that he didn't know about the Faltin Teleportation Technique, Olini warmly introduced it.
Who knows, it might be promoted in the future? A Supreme Mage should have some influence, right?
The casting cost of the Faltin Teleportation Technique is smaller than any Demon God's teleportation technique, and the incantation is shorter, just that the teleportation speed is slightly... no, it's indeed a bit slower; a hundred kilometers in a straight line takes around five minutes.
But isn't it a teleportation technique after all? It's not claimed to be Instant Transfer Technique, Faltin People are very honest in this aspect.
Su Ming tapped his mask, and as Deathstroke retreated, revealing his face.
He looked utterly disinterested: "What I want to say is, your technique uses the dimension Faltin is in, bridging two spaces, transporting through compression; the principle is fine, but I fear ordinary carbon-based beings might not appreciate it."
"Why is that?"
Olini forgot to ask what the Supreme Mage was here for and instead became concerned about product problems.
"Carbon-based beings have eating or excretion behaviors, the teleportation process felt exactly like that; honestly, if I had known I'd experience such a journey, I wouldn't have jumped in."
Su Ming scanned the Faltin People settlement with dead fish eyes, thinking even Earth's underground creatures might have better places than here, this place had nothing but cleanliness as its only merit.
Upon hearing his words, Olini floated up and down twice, showing a look of sudden realization with flame parts forming facial features:
"Ah, I see, easy to relate oneself to waste matter, no wonder non-elemental races dislike this magic, deeply sorry, we struggle to understand the life habits of carbon-based beings. Our human shape was forced by Dormammu, it doesn't really matter."
"I understand, you're elements." Su Ming observed more fireballs gathering for a closer look, continuing, "You look handsome and extraordinary, I have some very important matters to discuss, could we find somewhere private?"
The floating fireball's pumpkin-like big black mouth pulled into a smile, Olini was surprised that the Supreme Mage had such perceptive eyes.
Well, indeed, he was the most handsome among the Flame Elements.
After all, whether it be the flickering flame frequency, those black-hole-like eyes, or the occasionally falling energy embers, they all deeply betrayed him, akin to a Fixed Star in the Dark Dimension—so striking, so outstanding.
"The Supreme Mage truly has an eye." Olini felt immediate camaraderie with Deathstroke; many carbon-based beings simply don't understand aesthetics, nor do they understand inter-racial differences, and now he's finally found someone who does: "Please, this way, my home is over there, let me host you."
"Please." Su Ming followed him, feeling a bit thoughtful.
He just talked off the cuff, similar to street fortune-telling tricks; could the other be taking polite words seriously? So simple-minded?
Yes, must negotiate some terms, missing this chance would be too regretful.
Olini seemed to have some status or be somewhat well-off among Faltin People; his cave was slightly larger than others', if others had four or five square meters, his was about ten, quite impressive.
But Olini's so-called home had no doors or furniture, looking like a cat-ear hole dug out from the wall, merely a wind shelter. Su Ming was flabbergasted, no place to sit, only able to stand and speak with the fireball.
"...Your home is very large." Su Ming looked at the dwelling that could be traversed in two steps, not knowing what to compliment.
Olini floated with joy: "Is it? This was left to me by my father, it's the finest palace on the Faltin Planet, you see the curvature of these walls matches Cosmic Energy wave amplitudes."
"...Uh-huh."
Su Ming took a deep breath; Faltin People don't pursue material things, these walls and houses are energy constructs, they don't care about external things.
"By the way, I've heard carbon-based beings visiting others should be hosted with food and drink, please wait."
After speaking, Olini made 'humming' sounds in mid-air, the entire sphere glowing red as if it would explode, but within seconds, from his pumpkin-like body's bottom side, a cherry-sized, glowing little orb fell.
He picked up the orb, using magic to float it before Su Ming: "Please, this is the Flame Energy Condensed Body I generated, very nourishing."
"Hiss..." Su Ming felt a déjà vu in Olini creating food, knowing it's not quite the same thing, yet still gross. Nonetheless, without hesitation, he took it, handing the small orb to the Magic Floating Cloak, saying: "Thank you for hosting, let's move on to business."
The pumpkin lantern steadied himself, a smiling face retracting considerably: "Please, Supreme Mage of the Main Dimension, Faltin is listening."