Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2160: Chapter 2161: Lady Cilla’s Special Ability

Angel was taken aback: ”95%? Has it regressed?”

As he was thinking this, Frode’s state of decay continued to regress, 94%, 93%, 92%... and quickly fell back to around 90%.

Then, it paused at this point for about ten minutes and continued to fall.

This time the descent was rapid, 90%, 80%, 70%... like a vertical drop, reaching the bottom before Angel could react.

When the numeric values in the digitized view reached 0%, all signs of decay on Frode’s body disappeared, returning him to a normal soul state.

Seeing this scene, Angel was basically assured: it was stable now.

Once the decay vanished, there were essentially no more difficulties. All that was left was a gradual process, slowly metabolizing the death energy within until the first soul trick could be piled up.

A day later, the death energy in Frode’s body was almost consumed, but he still hadn’t awakened.

”Even after all the death energy is consumed, he still hasn’t managed to cultivate the soul trick?” Angel was a bit surprised. Normally, learning the first soul trick would only consume about 70 to 80% of the death energy.

But thinking back, it seemed reasonable. After all, Frode’s first soul trick was attained from Lady Cilla, and it’s normal for this kind of special soul trick to consume more death energy.

”I remember Nis told me before that in such situations, Frode couldn’t handle it on his own and that a protector was needed... The first step should be to remove the spiritual power field.” Angel muttered to himself while waving his hand to retract the spiritual power field around Frode.

”The second step is to allow Frode to absorb external death energy to support the internal consumption, otherwise Frode will begin to deplete his soul force, ultimately draining himself dry.”

With the spiritual power field withdrawn, the surging death energy immediately enveloped Frode.

However, now that Frode’s soul body was flawless, the death energy just floated around him without being absorbed.

”The third step, help Frode open his soul.”

Angel took a step forward, appearing beside Frode, and gently traced his finger on Frode’s brow. A wound leading directly to the core of the soul body appeared on his forehead, becoming an entrance for the surrounding death energy to enter Frode’s body. A large amount of death energy began to be absorbed by Frode.

Once Angel confirmed the death energy was entering Frode’s body and that Frode’s stalled cultivation resumed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

This soul opening seemed simple and rough, but it actually tested the trust between the soul opener and the protector. If either side hesitated, the final result was bound to fail.

Fortunately, the trust between him and Frode was complete; it wouldn’t work with anyone else.

After Frode restarted his practice, half a day passed before he finally stopped absorbing external death energy. This indicated that the death energy for cultivating the soul trick was sufficient.

Angel re-established the spiritual power field to prevent excessive death energy from causing any accidents.

After completing all of this, Angel could finally consider his duty as protector accomplished. The rest was up to Frode to awaken.

Two hours later, as dawn broke on a new day, Frode’s tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

In that instant, Angel seemed to see two green flames flickering in his eyes. But soon, Frode retracted his strange expression and returned to calmness.

Now, Frode looked no different from three days ago; his soul hadn’t fundamentally changed.

However, the death energy that previously lingered around Frode had completely disappeared.

Along with it, his previously gloomy and silent demeanor turned sunny again – though it was strange to describe an undead with ”sunny,” that’s how Angel felt.

Moreover, without the shackle of death energy, the upper limit of Frode’s soul body core would also be expanded. This meant Frode’s bottleneck was broken, and he would not encounter obstacles in continuing his practice for a while.

After confirming Frode was alright, Angel was most curious about what soul trick Frode inherited from Lady Cilla?

Angel speculated that it was most likely Soul Blind. Before, Lady Cilla used Soul Blind at Star Lake Castle against little Sam.

However, even if it was Soul Blind, it should have some differences from the ordinary Soul Blind.

As for what the differences would be, Angel temporarily did not know. Because before, Lady Cilla never utilized the special aspects of Soul Blind while toying with little Sam.

This question would have to wait for Frode to explain himself.

Half an hour later, after Frode fully healed the wound on his brow caused by Angel, he walked up to Angel and respectfully bowed, ”Thank you, master, for your protection.”

Angel nonchalantly waved his hand, then eagerly voiced his curiosity, ”What soul trick did you acquire this time?”

”Soul Blind.”

The answer was unsurprising. Angel was more concerned with how this Soul Blind differed from the usual one.

Frode was about to explain when Angel interrupted, ”No need to explain yet; just use it on me once, so I can feel it myself.”

Frode nodded and activated the small trick hidden within his soul core.

In Angel’s perception, strange soul ripples appeared around Frode. When the barely noticeable ripples passed through Angel, he sensed a slight disturbance in the surrounding space.

Angel glanced around. He was still on the altar, next to Frode, and everything seemed unchanged.

Thinking for a moment, Angel started to walk down the altar’s steps. But as he began to descend, he noticed the steps continuously extending... meaning that, under current conditions, he would never reach the bottom.

Since a luminary spell shined overhead, allowing Angel to clearly see the changes, if in pure darkness, it would obscure the victim’s senses, leading them to get hopelessly lost.

This was Soul Blind.

In Jon’s words, it was like the ”wall of ghosts.”

As an illusionist wizard, Angel could almost immediately perceive the nature of Soul Blind and could easily dispel it.

However, Angel didn’t dispel it, continuing to feel Soul Blind, as he hadn’t yet noticed any unique aspects of it.

But even upon careful observation, Angel still found nothing special.

At this moment, Frode’s voice sounded from behind, ”Master, feel free to continue descending the steps.”

Angel understood this as a hint from Frode.

Without hesitation, Angel followed Frode’s advice and kept descending. Without breaking Soul Blind, the steps he should have traversed—originally just thirty-six steps—felt like an infinite loop.

After descending about a hundred steps, Angel faintly sensed some changes, though they were not obvious.

Another hundred steps later, Angel stopped. The stirrings in his soul finally made him notice something amiss.

”As long as one is entrenched in Soul Blind, it can influence the Land of the Soul?” After traversing two hundred steps in Soul Blind, Angel clearly felt the agitation in the souls within the Land of the Soul.

If not actively restrained, the soul will involuntarily be pulled out of the body.

Is this the unique aspect of Frode’s Soul Blind?

Angel looked at Frode, who nodded: ”Yes, as long as the subject cannot break the Soul Blind and continues to cycle through it, they will unknowingly undergo astral projection, with their soul body continuing to be trapped within the Soul Blind.”

Frode paused: ”However, this only targets low-level and mortals; for advanced apprentices, the effect is mediocre. They can sense the disturbances in the Land of the Soul and won’t continue to roam within the Soul Blind. For an official wizard, it’s completely useless.”

”Silently and unnoticeably causing someone to die by soul separation does have a kind of Illusion Kill Technique feeling,” Angel mused: ”It seems little Sem was really lucky before; if Lady Cilla hadn’t wanted to torment and kill him, just the soul separation effect alone, he wouldn’t have lasted.”

Angel personally felt that this effect was still decent, basically equivalent to a third-level trick combining control, separation, and attack.

If truly used, although it cannot cause a third-level apprentice to separate their soul, trapping them and preventing them from leaving is easy.

With this skill, Frode can already be compared to the former ’Dream Reader.’

No wonder it’s the ability of a special undead.

While Angel was thinking this, Frode added: ”Soul separation is actually just the first unique feature of this trick.”

Angel looked over in surprise: ”You mean the Soul Blind has a second special ability?”

Seeing Frode nod, Angel didn’t inquire further, and again tried to sense the surrounding Soul Blind... however, he didn’t feel anything special.

Given Angel’s current abilities, the fact that he couldn’t sense anything special suggested only one explanation.

”Is the second special ability triggered only after soul separation?”

Frode nodded and straightforwardly said: ”Yes, for those who experience soul separation in my Soul Blind, I can possess their body.”

Angel suddenly lifted his head: ”Possession? Soul separation plus possession?”

Frode nodded: ”Yes, possession is possible. However, it’s clearly different from soul trick possession, because the soul of the original owner has already left. The body I possess is essentially half-dead. My possession is more like a living dead; in the short term, there’s no difference from a normal person, but over time, the body will die from soul exhaustion. Once it decays, I will have to leave.”

Frode shrugged: ”I don’t really see much advantage in this possession; the only benefit might be experiencing the joys of living again, such as trying the food of the living.”

Even with Frode’s explanation, this possession has many limitations, but it remains a unique feature.

With a Soul Blind having two follow-up abilities, broadly speaking, this is almost equivalent to three soul tricks. Moreover, both the soul separation and possession effects are decent. Don’t underestimate possession just because Frode thinks it’s useless, as there are things living people can do that the undead cannot. Therefore, even if only for a short time, experiencing life as a living person is far better than being completely undead.

Moreover, if soul sharing is possible, similar to how Greya occupies another’s body with dual souls, the body might not wither and die. Though finding someone willing to soul share is difficult, Frode lacks the powerful soul of Greya that can easily seize control.

Angel: ”Regardless, this is already a very perfect soul trick. A great help to your strength.”

Frode nodded, knowing well he had gained significantly and would definitely need to compensate Sem well.

Angel: ”Since you’ve learned the soul trick, it’s time for us to leave. These days, Star Lake Castle has been quite lively...”

Frode didn’t know what Angel meant by lively, but he didn’t ask, figuring he’d find out later.

Dismissing the Soul Blind, Frode followed Angel out of the cave.

Standing at the entrance, Frode paused slightly, glancing back at the altar still shrouded in eerie winds: ”The death energy here is like an ocean; my consumption barely affects the total amount of death energy...”

”Hmm, Adar and Shanni can also come here to practice soul tricks later, but with you escorting them.”

Frode nodded: ”I understand.”

Adar and Shanni will surely learn soul tricks step-by-step, and he as an escort is sufficient without troubling Angel.

”Let’s go.” Angel said softly, disappearing into the dark tunnel.

Frode followed suit.

...

Back at Star Lake Castle, Frode finally understood why Angel said it was ”lively” here before.

Because Neya brought two obviously noble boys and girls to Star Lake Castle.

At this moment, Neya was urging the two as they cleaned the castle, also taking care of Sem’s daily meals, who was suffering from depleted blood energy.

After some inquiries with Neya, Frode learned that these were the newly appointed young King and future Queen of the Silver Heron Royalty.

The reason they were brought here to do hard labor was primarily because Neya wanted to resolve the feud with Sem’s family.

Neya had already heard from Frode all about how Sem dealt with Lady Cilla. Sem’s decisiveness and wisdom greatly impressed Neya.

Moreover, Neya could see that Angel held Sem in high regard.

Sem would certainly join the Barbarian Cave in the future, being already very wise and gaining Angel’s attention. If he received any opportunities from Angel, he might have a chance to become a wizard.

Such a great potential seed, because of the previous generation’s mess, though sharing the same Saint Sem ancestry, held hatred towards the current royalty, which troubled Neya greatly.

Neya couldn’t suppress Sem under Angel and Frode’s protection, so she had to try to win him over and resolve the animosity.

These two youths were both royal dignitaries and once had a good relationship with Sem as children.

Thus, Neya brought them along.

Frode didn’t have much to say about Neya’s approach; it was a matter for Saint Sem’s descendants, and as an outsider, why should he interfere?

However, he did owe Sem a favor. After considering, he said to Neya: ”The feud within your family isn’t for an outsider like me to comment on, but if you think from Sem’s perspective, relying solely on smooth talking, old ties, and cleaning the castle to resolve the hatred for a fallen family? Do you think it’s that easy in this world?”

”Even if Sem agrees now, when he matures and thinks back, do you think he won’t feel you just fooled him?”

Frode’s meaning was clear: just talk and emotional manipulation, with no benefits, and why should Sem forgive?

Frode purely intends to help Sem get more benefits. Although Neya is a Wizard Apprentice, as a royal, with secret control over the entire Revelation Continent, she undoubtedly holds many resources.

If she offered even a little, it would be more than enough for Sem to digest in the early stages.

Of course, whether Sem forgives or not is up to him. Even if unforgiven, it wouldn’t prevent him from taking the benefits, which are deservedly his.

After speaking, Frode no longer paid attention to Neya and returned to his room. Having been absent from the Wilderness of Dreams, he had a mountain of affairs awaiting his attention.