Azeroth Monster Manual

“I'll tentatively name this kind of divine creature 'A-Wart,' taking the first characters from Argama Gan and Warthog…”

“What the hell is A-Wart…”

Baelovar, looking constipated as he watched his grandson spout nonsense on stage, and who had just been promoted to the richest man in Quel'Thalas… or rather, the grandfather of the richest man, was filled with mixed feelings.

After all, such a "vulgar" topic was quite shocking to the noble and elegant elves.

Baelovar glanced at the Sun King, who was listening with great interest, and put away the 'Seven Wolves' belt from his waist.

“Perhaps you still have some doubts about A-Wart, so I will now demonstrate its value to everyone.”

Aier manipulated the mage hand to take an adult A-Wart from his assistant Frankie's mechanical arm. Without any visible action, the beast, with its dull eyes, twitched twice and died completely.

Taking out a skinning knife with intricate elven patterns, he dissected the calf-sized beast with the skill of a master butcher. The blood flowing from A-Wart's body did not splatter everywhere as one might expect, but instead, under Aier's precise control, turned into a blood sphere floating in the air.

“Don't throw away the pig blood. Once it solidifies, coat it in breadcrumbs and fry it. The kids next door will be crying with envy.”

Baelovar's hand returned to the 'Impact Belt' on his waist, barely able to contain the primal force within him.

A chorus of disgusted retching arose from the crowd below. After all, the elegance ingrained in their bones made them naturally resistant to what Aier was presenting. However, not a single elf left the venue, enduring their discomfort to continue watching.

A translucent pure water elemental was summoned from the elemental plane.

“Humble mortal, I am a servant of Duke Hydraxis…”

“Wash the pig skin and pork clean. Oh, and remember to scald the pig hair off.”

Water Elemental: … It's Lord Aier, never mind then.

While the pure water elemental was cleaning the pig skin and pork, Aier magically produced a pile of bottled seasonings and a modified pressure cooker.

…

“Cut the scallions and ginger into sections, dice the pork belly, pour in some Serenity Pollen, pour in some Soothing Grass…” Simmer over low heat for an hour and a half.

Aier snapped his fingers, and an orange-red flame lit up under the pressure cooker. Without the original intensity of the fire element, the flame's temperature was controlled just right, neither high enough to melt the bottom of the pot nor low enough to prevent the food inside from cooking.

“Saloerian, quickly stop Lord Baelovar! I can barely hold him back…”

Anasterian desperately held down Baelovar's hand, which was waving the 'Impact Belt,' and hurriedly called out to Saloerian, who was sitting in the back row.

Saloerian Sunstrider: The scene is too beautiful, should I avoid it…

…

“There's still plenty of time. Next, I'll choose two lucky audience members to answer questions. Okay, you.”

Aier wiped his hands and nodded to the little girl who had just stood up.

“Mr. Aier, this pot is so strange. Why is its belly round and wearing a little hat?”

The little girl asked innocently, biting her finger.

Kael'nel Flameweaver, sitting outside the arena: Damn it! A brat got there first! I have a very important question to ask Lord Aier…

“Oh, you asked a good question, little comrade. This is the latest pressure cooker developed by our Salonian Workshop. The principle is to simulate a high-pressure environment inside the pot. By applying pressure to the water, it can reach a higher temperature without boiling. The most direct result of this is that it can speed up the efficiency of stewing food, especially meats that are not easy to stew, such as direhawk ribs…”

Aier smiled freely, leaving the little girl in a daze.

“One more question. Hmm, I remember you, Kael'nel, right? Please ask your question.”

Kael'nel: I feel like something strange has mixed in.

“Lord Aier, can you demonstrate the magic resistance of A-Wart leather for us?”

“Of course, please come on stage.”

Kael'nel walked excitedly onto the high platform, standing in front of the high elf teenager, who was not even shoulder-height, and was uncharacteristically restrained.

“Judging from the magical fluctuations you emit, you should be a high-level fifth-circle mage, right?”

“Yes.”

“Majoring in fire magic?”

“Yes… yes, Lord Aier.”

“Have you inscribed the fifth-circle spell Flamestrike?”

“Of course.”

Mentioning his specialty, Kael'nel breathed a sigh of relief. Standing in front of this adolescent, he actually felt a pressure similar to that he felt when facing Dean Faelin, knowing that Dean Faelin had already advanced to Archmage in her second millennium.

“Release Flamestrike on this piece of A-Wart leather.” Aier took the pure water elemental-cleaned leather and placed it at Kael'nel's feet.

“Here? The intensity of Flamestrike will…”

Before Kael'nel could finish speaking, Aier waved his hand impatiently, signaling him to go ahead.

“Alright, Lord Aier…”

Kael'nel sighed helplessly. After saying that, he raised the magic wand on his waist and loudly chanted the spell.

“Flame storm!”

As the obscure Salas language chanted to the last syllable, the fire element began to riot. Except for under Kael'nel's feet, the entire high platform was shrouded in a sea of fire. In the center of the Flamestrike, where the A-Wart leather was placed, there would occasionally be bursts of scorching explosions.

The audience below exclaimed in unison. Even as citizens of Quel'Thalas, a magical kingdom, where even three-year-old children know level 0 cantrips, the average person could not simply see a level 5 war magic spell at any time.

Kael'nel stood on the edge of the Flamestrike, anxiously jumping up and down, regretting his actions as he watched Aier's vague figure in the sea of fire.

Kneeling weakly on the ground, as a fire mage, he had only learned some low-level ice magic such as water conjuration. Facing the raging fire on the high platform, he was helpless.

“Damn it, how could it be an exceptional performance when it's an exceptional performance? I'm really done for this time…”

…

“If you don't act, your precious grandson will be burned to ashes!”

High Priest Fendelohr looked at his old friend anxiously.

"Hmph, it would be best to burn that brat to death…"

"That's a Fifth-Order War Magic! At such close range, even a Magister would have to avoid its edge. If you don't go, I will!" With that, he was about to rush onto the high platform.

"That kid is my grandson. Let's wait and see," Belovar said confidently, stopping his old friend.

"Your Majesty…"

Salorean stood before the Sun King, somewhat puzzled.

"Might as well see how much skill our Soul Mentor has."

Anasterian watched the increasingly raging fire on the high platform with interest, without making the slightest move.

…

The entire manor was in chaos. Anseron, with his apprentices, was anxiously trying to appease the public's emotions, but with little effect.

Just then, the raging fire that had been crackling just moments ago was instantly extinguished.

"That's about it. Fifth Circle Flame Storm, the intensity is… barely satisfactory, but it's enough for experimentation."

The elven youth bent down and picked up the already charred Argiope, carefully examining it.

Kainel looked at the youth in the distance in disbelief, unable to say a word for a long while.

After a moment, as if awakened, he staggered madly towards the center area where the Flame Storm had just raged.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

He looked at the smooth ground, where there wasn't the slightest trace of being charred.

"How could it be, how could it be?"

"No, no, it must be an illusion. You can't fool me."

Aier helplessly waved his hand, signaling Anseron to take him away.

Anseron pulled Kainel away with a look of surprise and doubt.

"This is an illusion! What are you hiding?!"

This pitiful man, whose worldview had been shaken by the scene before him, was still shouting loudly, and was soon dragged away by two strong elven apprentices.

The audience below was also appeased by Anseron one by one and sat back down.

It was as if nothing had happened, except for the charred pigskin in Aier's hand.

"I'm very curious, how exactly… did you do it?"

As a Grand Magister, Anasterian had a thousand ways to escape, and he could even instantly extinguish the burning flames, but he admitted that he couldn't end it all like Aier, reversing time.

"It's just a small Time Reversal spell, just a small manipulation of the spell's coverage, not letting it affect the Argiope on the ground, just… isn't it easy to do with hands?"

Anasterian: Where's my belt?

"This is bronze…"

Before Anasterian could finish speaking, Aier winked at him and made a "shush" gesture.

"Your Majesty must have many questions. After things are over, I will personally visit you."

The Sun King had to hold back all the words he wanted to say.

Aier held up the Argiope, which was charred on the outside but intact on the inside, and showed it to the crowd.

"I believe everyone has already understood the value of this Argiope just by looking at it. Its magic resistance is beyond doubt. Even a Fifth Circle War Magic can't do anything to it. Imagine it, the road to wealth is right in front of your eyes…"

"Crap, the meat has been stewing for too long and is about to melt."

Aier hurriedly turned off the fire under the pressure cooker and carefully opened it.

The crowd below: You son of a b*tch, continue talking! We've already taken off our pants, and you're telling me the meat is cooked?

While taking out the iron pot, Aier didn't forget to continue explaining:

"What's the most important thing about braised pork? Of course, it's the sauce. Ground elder and clover are essential, they're best for removing fishiness and nourishing health. Dragon's Breath chili should be added sparingly, it's the best for enhancing flavor…"

Belovar, enjoying the strange gazes around him, wished he could die.

"I'm truly ashamed, truly ashamed…"

Aier: As long as the embarrassment can't catch up with me, it's others who are embarrassed.

Time passed quietly. The entire manor seemed to have been released with a freeze spell. The dumbfounded crowd stared at the elven youth on the stage, who was having a blast.

"Your Majesty, this is yours, and you, you, you, you, catch it, don't burn yourself."

Aier busily distributed the finished dishes to the important figures in the VIP seats, and then came to the ordinary seats to distribute more than a dozen servings to the audience in the front row, until his hands were empty.

"Eat, don't just stand there. It won't taste good when it's cold."

Ignoring the gazes around him, Aier took a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth.

"Woo, delicious! Just the right amount of spiciness, plus the earthy fragrance of ground elder and clover. The rich, non-greasy fat melts in the mouth, even the lean meat is so chewy. Life is worth it…"

At first, Aier tentatively picked up a small piece and slowly savored it, but gradually the speed became faster and faster, and the sound of eating resounded endlessly.

"Gulp."

An elven commoner who received a piece of meat looked at Aier, who was devouring it, and swallowed hard. He trembled as he picked up his fork, but hesitated.

"Are you crazy? This is pork, pork! How can we noble Quel'dorei eat such dirty… ah, it's so fragrant."

"Damn it! This is mine."

"Give me a piece."

"Let go, you despicable thief…"

At first, the crowd was quite disdainful, but when they saw Aier sitting on the stage, eating without a care, and smelled the sweet aroma in the dish, they couldn't help but start feasting.

The people in the back row couldn't bear to watch the dozen or so elves in the front who had received meat, and they all rushed forward to snatch it. The commoners who had just been appeased by Anseron were once again on the verge of losing control.

"Belovar, you just…"

Grand Magister Belovar, with his white hair and beard, cautiously stuffed the last piece of meat into his mouth.

"Old geezer, who was it just now who said Aier was grandstanding?"

The Sun King thought sullenly, then turned to look at his Chief Guard.

Reluctantly, he divided the last piece of meat in the dish in half and put it in the Sun King's bowl.

Salorean: In the end, I'm the only one who bears everything.