Warlock Apprentice

Not only did Odeclass, Fafnir, and Baltica sense the ripples traveling across the vast distance of space-time, but within the Abyss, many other powerful beings were also quietly perceiving it.

Some ignored it entirely, some dismissed it with disdain, others listened solemnly, and a few even turned their gaze toward that distant place.

After all, to them, the source of this ripple was all too familiar.

Angel had no idea that so many in the Abyss were paying attention to Toby. At this moment, he was immersed in the joy of Toby’s advancement.

After emerging from the cocoon, Toby retained his terrifying Snake Bird form. The first thing he did upon coming out was fly over to Angel and Greya, excitedly expressing his joy at leveling up.

He cried incessantly in front of them, as if pouring out his feelings about the advancement. Although Angel and Greya were hearing the Snake Bird’s voice for the first time, Toby’s familiar tone, rhythm, and pauses made it easy for them to infer what he was saying.

Roughly, it was disbelief and happiness.

The more Toby spoke, the more excited he became. Eventually, he twisted his serpentine head and darted into the depths of the Void, causing a ruckus there. He was simultaneously venting the oppression he had endured during this period, expending his surplus energy, and familiarizing himself with his new body.

Angel didn’t stop him, instead hovering nearby, observing the changes in Toby’s strength.

However, it was evident that Toby hadn’t yet explored his new abilities—he was like a child with a new toy, excitedly screeching and playing.

Watching for a while but unable to discern much, Angel decided to let it go. After all, there was plenty of time in the future to study the Snake Bird’s power.

As Angel was watching Toby, he noticed that Greya hadn’t said a word. When he turned to look at her, he saw her gazing at Toby as well. Though she wore a smile, a trace of complexity was hidden in her eyes.

”What’s the matter?” Angel asked Greya through the Mind Ribbon.

After some hesitation, Greya shared her doubt: ”When Toby approached me earlier, I seemed to feel something familiar.”

She didn’t elaborate on what that feeling was but summarized it as an aura. She thought that this aura was very similar to the visceral aura once exuded by that legendary magical creature.

When Toby previously transformed into a Gryphon, he had already displayed a faint aura, but it was vastly different from the one emanating from the legendary magical creature she had encountered in the past. Because of that, Greya hadn’t dwelled on it. But now, after Toby’s transformation into a Snake Bird, his aura seemed to have ”leapt” as well, growing more and more in alignment with that of the legendary magical creature.

”The more tribulations Toby goes through, will his aura become even closer to that of the legendary magical creature, until one day...”

Toby becomes it.

Though Greya left the thought unspoken, Angel understood. The fleeting legendary aura earlier, coupled with Toby’s increasingly similar aura, had prompted Greya to make connections she couldn’t shake. This lingering suspicion nagged at her still.

”Toby is Toby. He will never change,” Angel said. ”Even if things do develop as you fear, it doesn’t matter. The road ahead is long, and there’s plenty of time to resolve it.”

After all, every problem has its solution.

Greya nodded. ”I hope so, too.”

”Perhaps there’s another possibility—that Toby’s original consciousness, perhaps, originally belonged to that legendary magical creature. It just hasn’t fully awakened yet.” A sudden voice intruded into their conversation.

Turning around, they saw Sanders, clad in a gentleman’s suit, strolling toward them elegantly. His words made it clear he had no qualms admitting to eavesdropping on their discussion via the Mind Ribbon.

”Toby turning into it might actually be the correct path,” Sanders remarked, voicing a chilling hypothesis.

”No, Toby is not the same as it!” Greya immediately retorted.

”How can you be certain they’re different? You merely obtained the viscera of the legendary magical creature; you’ve never come into direct contact with it, so you don’t truly understand it,” Sanders paused. ”Of course, this is merely a supposition on my part. There is a significant chance it’s an incorrect assumption. However, since you’re already discussing its future, you can’t avoid considering this possibility.”

”Furthermore, Greya, you must also be aware of this: other than Toby, have you ever created any other being with self-awareness?”

The answer was no.

Aside from Toby, Greya had never created another lifeform with complete self-awareness.

Whether it was the Twisted Paramedic Worm or the Fragmented Mayfly, both were products of her Creation Magic, yet they were merely functional beings devoid of self-awareness.

Sanders’ words left Greya silent. As a Wizard with vast knowledge, she had conducted numerous experiments. It was nearly impossible for her logical chain of reasoning to be flawed. Naturally, she had also considered the scenario Sanders was describing. Yet it was precisely that possibility which was the source of her true unease.

Greya had wanted to bury this unease deep within. But now that Sanders had laid it bare, she was forced to confront it directly.

As Sanders and Greya discussed this, Angel, too, was pondering the issue.

The primal consciousness represents the most rudimentary part of a being—an inherent tendency to satisfy desire. This intrinsic craving gradually forms the framework of awareness.

Toby’s current Tribulation of Five Flavors seemed somewhat akin to a journey of searching for—or awakening—his primal consciousness.

If what Sanders said were true, Toby’s trials might indeed be in pursuit of the source of his primal consciousness. And that source could very likely be the legendary magical creature itself.

”This is merely one possibility among many, and the likelihood is low. However, as my mentor suggested, its existence cannot be dismissed,” Angel added. ”Even so, if this possibility turns out to be true, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Angel’s words drew their attention.

”A fully-formed consciousness doesn’t consist solely of the primal desires it’s based on. Its higher framework also includes emotions, experiences, and subjective feelings influenced by objective realities.”

”So, even if it is it, Toby will still be Toby.”

Angel’s perspective leaned toward idealism. Yet, it was a soothing balm for Greya’s anxious, parched heart.

Everything has variables. Even if Toby’s consciousness is indeed rooted in that legendary magical creature, so what? It is itself; Toby is still Toby.

Greya, who had been silently sparring with Sanders, now fell quiet, glancing at Angel with a grateful expression.

”Sometimes, it’s hard to tell who’s lived for centuries,” Greya sighed, looking at Angel. ”You seem to understand things more clearly than I do.”

As they discussed Toby’s distant and uncertain future, Toby himself was having a blast. He darted up and down in the Void, waving his long tail like an inexperienced fledgling experiencing flight for the first time, treating the Void as his playground.

In the midst of Toby’s carefree frolicking, he failed to notice that, in one corner of the Void, a rift was slowly unfurling.