Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2419: Chapter 2420: The Story of No. 01

No. 01 had finally found the bloodline he had longed for, but now another problem lay before him.

This magical creature was unfamiliar to him.

In other words, if he were to inject this creature’s bloodline into his body, he would face unknown risks.

Bloodline Wizards indeed possess various secret techniques to reduce fusion risks, but that is based on known bloodlines. For unknown bloodlines, even using secret techniques might have no effect.

Therefore, if No. 01 were to truly blend this magical creature’s bloodline into himself, he might die on the spot.

Yet, despite this, No. 01 did not hesitate. The desire for that bloodline gave him an immense confidence, making him believe he could definitely control it.

The final result was as No. 01 expected—he succeeded.

However, he did not know that this was also the beginning of his nightmare.

The reason was simple: the identity of that magical creature was not simple.

This magical creature was a third-class citizen of Phantom Spirit City. It appeared in the coffin in those ruins because it was using a secret technique to rest and advance there, and unluckily, it got ”eaten” by No. 01 in its half-dazed state.

Phantom Spirit City, fully named ”Gluz Deward’s Phantom Spirit City.” The name reveals that it is actually owned by Gluz Deward.

In this city, many magical creatures live. Most were collected from various worlds by Gluz Deward, while some came seeking refuge. Gluz Deward divided these magical creatures into three citizen classes, with the top of the pyramid being the first-class citizens, also known as the upper citizens.

Though it’s called a city of magical creatures, to outsiders, it more resembles Gluz Deward’s private garden, and thus, it doesn’t have a good reputation.

Despite the poor reputation, it must be said that Gluz Deward is extremely protective of the city’s citizens.

If any citizen suffers harm, Gluz Deward will use every means possible to retaliate.

And No. 01 devouring a third-class citizen’s magical creature bloodline happened to cross Gluz Deward’s red line.

Nightmares loomed over No. 01 during the next period, as Gluz Deward used various methods to hunt him. Although No. 01 escaped each time, this was just Gluz Deward’s cat-and-mouse game; he wouldn’t kill directly, but would rather torment No. 01, making him believe he had escaped only to be pushed into darkness again the next moment.

In moments of despair, No. 01 thought of joining some major organizations to evade Gluz Deward’s hunt, but to no avail.

Gluz Deward, among the Legendary Wizards, was among the top tier, being close to ringing the Miracle Sound.

Confronting such a powerful Legendary Wizard, no organization was willing to face him, especially since No. 01 hadn’t even set foot on the path of True Knowledge.

Later, by chance, No. 01 joined the Lacey Association.

Though Lacey Association couldn’t block Gluz Deward, its network was extensive, and it knew some special ”walkers.” By some means, No. 01 was transported away from the Origin World to the distant Southern Domain.

Although reaching the Southern Domain didn’t guarantee his safety, at least Gluz Deward wouldn’t find him soon.

All No. 01 needed was this ”short period,” as he was constantly hunted and toyed with in the Origin World, unable to improve himself or find a way to counter Gluz Deward’s pursuit.

He wanted to seize this time to improve himself or find a way to block the ”pursuit mark.”

By now, decades had passed.

No. 01 believed he could make good use of his days without being hunted, but he overlooked a key point—he was not a talent-driven wizard. His abilities did improve somewhat over these decades, but the advancement was painfully slow.

Moreover, the Lacey Association did everything to make No. 01 act with great caution, preventing him from causing big trouble in the Southern Domain, which would affect their experimental progress. This also constrained No. 01’s room for improvement.

Eventually, he achieved nothing, staying stuck before the path to True Knowledge and unable to find an effective way to block the pursuit.

If he had more time, he might still have a chance, but intelligence told him he was running out of time.

Communicating continuously with No. 01 was an unknown entity, temporarily called ”Beast Mark,” as the envelopes it sent bore a beast-shaped symbol. Beast Mark seemed very knowledgeable about Phantom Spirit City and had clearly investigated the movements of Gluz Deward, the ”City Lord.”

In a recent letter, Beast Mark told No. 01 that Gluz Deward mentioned the fugitive No. 01 again at a recent citizen assembly and had pinpointed No. 01’s whereabouts.

Though Gluz Deward didn’t mention any upcoming actions, No. 01 realized his peaceful days were over.

He would return to that endless wasteland of despair, barely surviving between the chases and escapes.

After enjoying decades of peaceful life, just the thought of facing that dark past again drove No. 01 insane.

No. 01 knew that with his own energy, fighting Gluz Deward was like a mayfly fighting a large tree—utterly futile.

Even the Lacey Association couldn’t rival the massive Phantom Spirit City.

Understanding he had nowhere to run and no path to live, No. 01 made a decision:

Since he was going to die anyway, he would die with significance. Before his death, he would go mad and make the lofty, arrogant, and self-assuming Gluz Deward taste the pain of loss.

And he had a way to achieve this.

During his time in the Southern Domain, though his strength improved little, it didn’t mean he achieved nothing. He discovered a hidden message related to Gluz Deward.

—The Devil’s Sea is called a forbidden area not just because of its violent weather but also due to some inexplicable extraordinary disasters. During No. 01’s investigation of the Devil’s Sea, he found that the reason behind the extraordinary disasters and its designation as a forbidden area was actually a magical creature.

This magical creature was called Seiz.

It was the king of the sky, the overlord of the sea, and the disaster-bringing Calamity Beast!

In its time, Seiz completely dominated the Devil’s Sea; even then, the Legendary Wizards of the Southern Domain dared not enter lightly.

Yet, one day, Seiz suddenly vanished.

With Seiz’s disappearance, the Devil’s Sea transformed from a closed state to the semi-forbidden zone it is today.

Regarding Seiz’s disappearance, there were many rumors in the Southern Domain, but no one knew the specifics. But No. 01, with his understanding of Phantom Spirit City, guessed the truth behind the scenes.

Phantom Spirit City, though divided into upper, middle, and lower citizens, had further divisions within each class. Among upper citizens, those favored by Gluz Deward were granted the title of ”Diamond Citizens.”

And No. 01 happened to know a Diamond Citizen named ”Seiz” in Phantom Spirit City.

Presumably, Seiz left the Devil’s Sea because Gluz Deward ”captured” it.

After learning that Seiz of Phantom Spirit City had left the Devil’s Sea, No. 01 became interested in Seiz’s lair. After all, Seiz was a powerful Extraordinary Life, and he thought he might find some treasures there to enhance himself.

Ultimately, whether he found any treasures, No. 01 didn’t mention, but he did find a Sea Beast cub.

Based on various clues and details, the Sea Beast cub is likely Seiz’s bloodline.

At this point, what Number 01 intends to do has become very clear.

Since he has no way out, he plans to destroy the bloodline of the Diamond Citizen lineage. Given Gluz Deward’s attitude towards the Diamond Citizens, it will definitely cause him great pain.

With more messages from the Beast Mark, Number 01 learned that the pursuit team was closing in, so he began to take action.

Using the organs of young Sea Beasts as the final experiment subject, Number 01 gathered all the combat personnel and launched an attack on The Nest.

...

After reading the letters between the Beast Mark and Number 01, Angel finally understood why Number 01 had suddenly become uncharacteristically aggressive and why he was superficially complying with the Lacey Association.

Because the external pressures forced him to make such a choice.

He had no longer any regard for the consequences.

He just wanted to go on a frenzy, and by hunting the young Sea Beasts, take a bite out of Gluz Deward’s flesh.

But will it actually have an effect? Or is it just Number 01’s imagination, and Gluz Deward may not actually care? The answer is unknown, but it’s clear that Number 01 no longer cared. Even if it’s an illusion, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Angel felt a slight sense of lament for Number 01’s situation, but that was all.

Putting down the letters, Angel opened the Mind Ribbon, preparing to inform Nis and the others of the situation here.

After all, Number 01 was preparing to hunt young Sea Beasts, and if Gluz Deward would indeed rage over this, it would be best for them to quickly distance themselves from here and definitely not get involved.

As soon as Angel opened the Mind Ribbon, which had been blocked for a long time, he immediately heard a voice coming through.

But it wasn’t the usually talkative Nis; instead, it was... Reynaud.

”It’s that feeling again, moving... Oh, it seems to have gone above us,” said Reynaud.

”Above us, you mean the first, second, third floors?” Nis exclaimed.

”It seems so.” Reynaud continued, ”How could it be moving on its own?”

”Did Angel take it away? After all, Angel was on the fifth floor before,” Kanter speculated.

Nis said, ”Possibly, let’s ask Angel. Toby, are you there? If so, call Ange...”

Before the words were finished, Angel spoke, ”I’m here, what happened?”

”You were there originally? Didn’t you hear?” Nis asked in surprise.

Kanter said, ”Let me explain. It’s Reynaud; he just deepened his perception of his body and sensed that it seemed to be moving. Initially, it was on the lower five floors, but now it seems to have moved to the upper floors. Angel, did you take his body away?”

As Kanter’s words fell, a series of thoughts flashed through Angel’s mind, thoughts he had previously overlooked but now exploded all at once.

Yes, Reynaud’s body!

Before, he always felt like he was forgetting something, and now he realized it was Reynaud’s body!

But why did he overlook it?

Angel furrowed his brows and temporarily pushed the question aside. What he needed to think about now was what happened to Reynaud’s body?

Angel quickly organized his thoughts.

Before he came to the fifth floor, he thoroughly checked the main control node and did not find Reynaud’s body.

Moreover, apart from that strange shadow demon, there was no other living creature on the fifth floor... no, there was one more, the Mist Shadow.

The Mist Shadow can possess bodies.

Reynaud also said, the body was moving, from the fifth floor to the first floor.

Angel suddenly realized... Reynaud’s body may have been occupied by the Mist Shadow.

”Ugh—” Angel couldn’t help but gasp. After killing the shadow demon, he thought he was safe, that the Mist Shadow couldn’t find a creature to possess, but he hadn’t realized he had forgotten about Reynaud.

Reynaud’s body still had activity, so it counted as a living being. The Mist Shadow could completely possess Reynaud’s body!

”A mistake.” Angel rubbed his temples and explained his deductions.

Nis said, ”You, you actually forgot about Reynaud’s body?”

Angel himself found it strange how he suddenly overlooked this matter.

Kanter said, ”These things are not important. Now that the Mist Shadow has possessed Reynaud’s body, we should focus on finding it as soon as possible.”

Nis said, ”The tricky part is the Mist Shadow seems capable of blowing up its host’s head at any time. Previously when it possessed the Flame Scale Summoned Demon, didn’t it blow up its head? Even if Angel finds Reynaud, it’s likely to blow up the head, and even if it doesn’t escape, Reynaud’s body could be useless.”

Nis pointed out a key issue, which made Reynaud’s face turn pale.

Seeing Reynaud’s pained expression, Nis smiled and said, ”However, it doesn’t matter if the body is dead; the soul is where it truly begins. Follow me, and I’ll show you what the climax of the soul means.”

Ignoring Nis’s teasing, Angel said, ”Let’s deal with the head explosion problem once I find it. I’m going back to check the first floor’s main control node now.”

After a pause, he added, ”By the way, there’s something else I need to tell you all. I found some letters in Number 01’s hidden room.”

Angel was about to recount the contents of the letters to them while returning to the first floor.

But as Angel mentioned the ”letters,” he instinctively glanced at the envelope, which was sitting on the experiment table... and in the next moment, his gaze was drawn to the experiment table before him.

In the center of the experiment table was an empty rectangular space, and the letters had been swept to the side.

This empty space... seemed like it could fit a person?

As this thought emerged, Angel recalled when he entered this hidden room, a large amount of white frosty mist poured out, and the room was extremely cold.

Maya had explicitly stated in her prophecy regarding the whereabouts of Reynaud’s body that it was in a very cold place.

Recalling that he didn’t find Reynaud’s body while monitoring the fifth floor through the main control node, and the only unmonitored place on the fifth floor was the hidden room, the answer became clear.

Reynaud’s body was originally in the hidden room all along, laid out on this experiment table!