Warlock Apprentice

Popota was still babbling on, completely immersed in his own world, oblivious to the fact that his skin was starting to crack under the scorching sun. At the same time, a foul-smelling liquid mixed with viscous green pus and sweat kept dripping down, only to evaporate on the scorching sand, filling the air with a putrid stench.

Five minutes later, Popota finally stopped talking. Because he saw his entire body covered in cracked skin and evaporating flesh and blood.

”Did I really not notice that my sense of smell and pain are gone? Am I about to collapse?”

Complex emotions flickered in Popota’s eyes, a mix of bewilderment, fear, and dread.

No matter how many times he had imagined the scene of his own death and prepared for it, in this moment, he still felt apprehension and fear.

For some people, death is not the end but a symbol of another kind of freedom, a release from constraints. But for Popota, death meant that his soul would be forever imprisoned by the Demon God. Just the thought of eternal perdition made Popota terrified.

Popota even considered obliterating his soul completely, but he lacked the courage, and shackled by the Demon God’s contract, he was powerless to do so.

Now, he could only watch helplessly as the flesh and blood on his body evaporated, eventually leading to extinction.

Death was inevitable, and after experiencing prolonged fear, Popota finally resigned himself to his fate. Regret and remorse were in his eyes, ultimately transforming into helplessness and acceptance.

As his body grew weaker, unable to view the carousel of memories anymore, Popota finally walked out from the metaphorical ’forest of self’.

Popota looked at Angel and whispered, ”Sir, the time is near.”

Angel nodded, acknowledging Popota’s words.

”My life has been a complete mess. Most of the time was spent searching and losing.” Popota said, ”At first, my sister and I depended on each other, living aimlessly because we couldn’t see a goal. Later, I found my goal in the ancestral legacy—restoring the glory of the Baiyuan Clan, and I really thought I had found my lifelong direction. But I didn’t expect that after finding this so-called goal, I lost my dearest sister.”

”After that, I began searching for my sister, searching for the future, searching for a way in Prophecy that could give me strength, and I lost myself, lost my soul, and lost my original intention.”

”After going through so much, I now realize that the most peaceful moments of my life were during the period when I had no goals... and during these months inside your bracelet.” Popota showed a self-mocking look: ”The former is because there is no trouble for goals, and the latter is self-exile knowing I cannot reach the goal.”

”Looking at it now, my life’s pursuit was all an illusion dream, and I still enjoy being a carefree person.”

”But there’s no chance now.”

Saying this, Popota seemed to be confessing to his past self, falling into a long silence. After a while, he continued: ”Sir, thank you for your care during this time.”

Angel only quietly stared at Popota, waiting for his words.

”This morning, fortunately, another Transforming Soft-bodied Insect hatched, and I have already isolated it in the Insect Nest. Also, I have recorded the insights on nurturing Pliant Worms that my sister and I researched during these days into a book, which I placed on the table for you to check anytime.”

Popota continued to ramble about: ”Although the Transforming Soft-bodied Insect doesn’t require costly nurturing, it may still die if not tended to for a long time. So, if you plan to continue nurturing Transforming Soft-bodied Insects after my death, try to find someone to replace my position as soon as possible.”

”Also, if the mother insect isn’t continually stimulated, she will likely lose the ability to produce Transforming Soft-bodied Insects. But if stimulated too frequently, it will also consume her lifespan, which is counterproductive...”

Popota talked a lot about the Transforming Soft-bodied Insect, probably trying to ignore the collapse of his body.

Angel looked at almost the entire body of Popota, which was starting to fester, and gently nodded: ”I understand.”

After a pause, Angel looked at Popota: ”Is there anything else you want to say?”

Popota paused for a moment before saying, ”Although my sister always told me not to trouble you because of her, I’m still not able to let go of her until the end. I can no longer watch over her, but if you can help her, I’ll be content.”

Angel: ”Hua also helped me once before, so whether from a standpoint of interest exchange or emotion, I will do my best to help her.”

”Thank you.” Popota wanted to express his gratitude with a smile, but just as he smiled, a piece of skin along with flesh fell from the corner of his mouth.

Angel: ”Besides that, do you have anything else to say?”

Popota thought for a moment, ”Besides my sister, I care most about Dororo...”

Mentioning Dororo seemed to remind Popota of something, and he paused suddenly. After a while, he shook his head: ”I originally wanted to... but never mind, Dororo has his own thoughts, and my dreams or the burden of the Baiyuan Clan might not should be imposed on him.”

”Now I only hope that Dororo can live on since he is the last of the Baiyuan Clan. Even if he cannot become the hope of eternal night, he should not become the despair of a dead end.”

At this point, Popota looked at Angel: ”However, I don’t need to worry about this. Besides, I believe you will choose the best path for Dororo. After all, he holds you as the most profound and indelible faith in his heart.”

By the time he finished speaking, Popota’s whole body had entirely disintegrated. He looked like a skinned Corpse Ghost in a laboratory, frightful and horrifying.

Angel was silent for a moment: ”It’s almost time.”

Popota lowered his head, looking at his ”exposed” organs and skeleton, somewhat self-mockingly: ”I must look hideous now; fortunately, my sister didn’t see this scene.”

Afterwards, Popota looked at Angel with a voice only he could hear, he softly said: ”Thank you, sir... farewell forever.”

After finishing, Popota closed his eyes.

He could see that he was only a step away from death.

Because, in the Mind Space that didn’t exist in the present world, cracks also appeared. At the same time, a thick black mist floated out from the cracks.

As the black mist spread, a halo shaped itself in the center of the black mist.

It was like a Solar Eclipse.

This was the Deep Mark, the real name sign of the Unparalleled Great Demon God’s Deep Lord.

The last time it appeared was when Popota borrowed the Deep Mark to exhaust all his potential and fight desperately; but this time its appearance meant...

It was time for him to pay the price for the Demon God contract.