Warlock Apprentice

If this is true, where do these emotions controlled by Toby come from? Are they derived from Extreme Resentment Thoughts? Or something else?

While Angel was still speculating, Haley’s distant screams gradually grew hoarse, and eventually fell completely silent.

At the same time, the red light obscuring everyone’s view slowly dissipated.

When the illusion completely vanished, the scene that came into view surprised everyone.

Haley appeared to have fallen into a state of emptiness, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, curling herself into a ball, completely motionless. Behind her stood a massive python with a cold, indifferent gaze. Its dark wings flapped slowly, exuding an air of profound and oppressive power.

Looking into Haley’s vacant eyes, everyone understood—the final victor was still Toby.

And judging by appearances, Toby had won effortlessly. At the very least, Toby bore no visible injuries.

Greya finally exhaled in relief, but as the tension ebbed away, a sense of astonishment surged within her. She had been prepared to lend assistance at any moment. After all, with so many members from the Profound Alchemy Association attacking, and Toby having just advanced, no one could predict the extent of Toby’s enhanced abilities.

Yet now, it appeared Toby didn’t need her help at all, resolving the situation perfectly by himself. It was worth noting that if Greya herself had been surrounded by these people, achieving victory as effortlessly as Toby likely wouldn’t have been so easy.

Greya’s heart swelled with relief, admiration, and a trace of unexplainable pride.

After all, Toby was her creation. Achieving this level—how could Greya not feel proud? But alongside the pride, a sense of urgency crept in as she realized Toby’s current strength was nearly on par with hers.

If Toby surpassed her in power, training him further would lack justification. She needed to improve quickly. Her highest priority now was to find her long-lost physical body.

Angel, on the other hand, didn’t share Greya’s complex emotions. After all, Toby had often been stronger than him in most circumstances. Seeing Toby display such extraordinary power again was something Angel had grown accustomed to.

Angel’s strongest feeling at the moment was unbridled joy at Toby’s transformation.

The persistent issue that had troubled him most recently was Toby’s imprisonment by Extreme Resentment Thoughts. Now that Toby had successfully overcome his tribulation and his abilities had undergone such a profound transformation, Angel felt a tangible weight lifted from his heart.

Even if he had vaguely sensed traces of a ”potential new tribulation,” that was an issue for the distant future; why linger on it now?

As for Sanders, he was very satisfied with Toby’s advancement. Though Toby was a creation of Greya’s alchemy, Toby wasn’t truly part of the Candy House. Toby seemed more inclined to follow Angel, effectively adding an Official Wizard Level power to the Illusion Demon Island. Moreover, gauging by strength alone, Toby probably surpassed even Flora.

The Illusion Demon Island’s strength was reinforced once again, and this delighted Sanders.

The positive mood radiated by the three of them, coupled with Sanders intentionally relaxing the Illusion Node, finally allowed Toby to sense their presence.

Initially focused on Haley, Toby now raised his head and looked toward the distance.

Though Toby still couldn’t see anything, he had already detected their aura. Why Angel and the others remained hidden was irrelevant to Toby. His greatest wish at the moment was to pour out his grievances to his little master.

And Toby did exactly that—but to ”pour out grievances,” he couldn’t use such an imposing form.

It wasn’t that the massive form was bad, but presenting his plight in the majestic Snake Bird form—even with the most pitiful tone and the most aggrieved expression—lacked credibility.

Thus, Toby’s first task was to revert to his Seabird form.

Though the Seabird form wasn’t his most powerful state, it was the shape in which Toby could freely act spoiled in front of both Angel and Greya. It was a form he absolutely cherished. Furthermore, maintaining the Seabird form didn’t require expending energy, making it exceedingly comfortable for Toby.

Still, this marked Toby’s first attempt at shape-shifting into the Snake Bird form with a fully conscious mind. Returning to his previous shape required some time for adjustment.

Toby began mentally recalling the Seabird form. As he gained more control over his flesh and blood, his bodily energy slowly retracted. In reality, this manifested as Toby’s body disintegrating like sand, gradually dissipating.

Angel and the others were aware that Toby was preparing to revert to the Seabird form, and thus weren’t overly concerned.

However, just as everyone had relaxed, Haley—who had been curled up silently—suddenly raised her head.

Though Haley’s spirit had been crushed, her years of devotion to the Profound Lord and her innate potential meant that the Profound Lord had willingly left part of his power within her.

Their assumption was correct—Haley had indeed lost. But within her body lay remnants of the Profound Lord’s power. While its quantity was limited, its level far surpassed Haley herself, and no one had initially detected it.

Thus, this power sustained her, pulling her back from the abyss of despair.

She noticed the red-light world had vanished, and the Snake Bird stood before her. Though she couldn’t comprehend why the creature’s massive body was dissolving, Haley immediately recognized one thing—this position and timing were perfect for delivering a fatal blow!

Even if the Profound Lord had given up on taking the Snake Bird as a sacrificial offering, Haley herself hadn’t relinquished that ambition. Her actions weren’t driven by faith but by the cumulative injuries to her pride.

This Snake Bird had toyed with them from beginning to end. Such humiliation was something Haley absolutely couldn’t tolerate.

Only by killing it could she assuage the hatred in her heart!

With that thought, Haley didn’t hesitate—she attacked Toby directly, aiming for its eyes once again!

Haley knew Toby was surrounded by a gravity meridian that burned her with jealousy, so this time, she poured all her strength from the Magic Vortex into her strike. In the void around her where there were no other creatures, she could recover slowly after killing Toby.

The energy stored in the Magic Vortex of an Official Wizard was truly terrifying.

Breaking through Toby’s gravity meridian was absolutely achievable.

As Haley launched her assault, the resulting pressure didn’t escape Angel and Greya’s notice. Toby, currently mid-transformation, was essentially defenseless, making it highly likely Haley’s sneak attack would succeed!

Thus, without hesitation, they prepared to leave the illusionary realm to support Toby.

However, their reaction still lagged behind Haley’s actions. Even with instantaneous movement, Haley had already completed her attack.

In this precarious moment, just as Haley believed success was within her grasp, an unexpected turn occurred.

Though Toby was indeed in a stage of immobility, he was far from undefended.

Toby, well aware that Haley was exerting her full strength, knew that the gravity meridian alone might not suffice to stop her. But that hardly mattered—as long as his response was faster and fiercer than her attack, victory would remain his!

And Toby still had one Snake Bird ability that remained unused—

Though half of the Snake Bird’s body was already gone, its head had yet to dissipate. Without moving a muscle, Toby opened his lips and exhaled a mist of pitch-black fog.