Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2486: Chapter 2487: Reinforcing the Barrier

The chaos at the Star Pond Ruins has lasted for two days and nights.

As time passes, the chaos at the Star Pond Ruins not only doesn’t abate, but the barrier maintaining the Star Pond Ruins grows increasingly weaker.

Of the three Observation Pavilions within the Star Pond Ruins, two have already lost their luster.

If the lights of the last Observation Pavilion are also covered by the Mist, it means the barrier of the Wall of Condensed Light will be completely broken.

”How much longer can it hold?” It was Lord Rhein who spoke, as he stood outside the barrier, the flickering light arcs of the Wall of Condensed Light reflecting on his face, clearly revealing the heaviness in the alternating light and shadow.

”News from Granny’s side has arrived, Minavaro’s size has increased again, and the surrounding chaotic Mist is eroding the barrier faster than the energy Granny is inputting. Based on calculations...” Wallace listened to the data coming through his earpiece, his complexion turning slightly pale: ”The Wall of Condensed Light can only be maintained for... two more hours at most.”

The other wizards around, upon hearing that the barrier had only two hours left, looked somewhat troubled. Once the Wall of Condensed Light shatters, it means that those terrifying creatures inside will be completely unleashed.

Previously, they didn’t know what kind of monsters were suppressed within the ruins, but after these two days of battle, they deeply understood just how terrifying those monsters were.

Especially the tentacle monster named Minavaro, it continuously spread a madness disease like a plague, and the speed of this contagion was extremely alarming. Even hearing its murmurs would drive apprentices insane. If one were tainted by the Mist within the ruins, even Official Wizards couldn’t be immune to this madness.

To date, six wizards have already succumbed to the madness disease.

Although Lord Tree Spirit managed to suppress it in time, preventing further spread of the madness disease, they have yet to find the cause of the madness disease, and it’s still unknown whether these six wizards can be saved.

In such a situation, knowing that the Wall of Condensed Light can only be maintained for two more hours left everyone a bit helpless.

They’re not afraid of fighting; it’s just that if the Mist inside spreads, it will inevitably cause a terrifying disaster. Even if the Barbarian Cave could avoid the Mist through the Mirror World, what about the tribes on the plateau? What about the humans of the Underworld Kingdom?

When everyone was feeling downcast, Rhein said, ”Two hours is enough.”

”Enough? Do you mean... is he coming?” Wallace looked at Rhein, seemingly guessing something.

Rhein nodded gently at him: ”Yes, the Fire Charm Witch had contacted me before, she’s reached Winsbills and has contacted Esos. Unless something unexpected happens, Esos will arrive soon.”

Upon hearing Esos’s name, everyone’s expression relaxed a little.

Though Esos is merely a wandering wizard, there are powerful figures among wandering wizards, and he is one of the outstanding ones. As a True Knowledge Wizard of the Space Series, Esos received Bazel’s legacy. Not only is he powerful, but the barriers he constructs are also renowned throughout the Southern Domain.

The Wall of Condensed Light was constructed by Esos at Rhein’s request.

As long as Esos arrives, even if he can’t immediately repair the Wall of Condensed Light, he can delay its shattering, giving them more time to resolve the monsters or... address the aftermath of the barrier breaking.

Ten minutes later, the Fire Charm Witch and a masked man with twisted patterns appeared near the Star Pond Ruins.

After the man appeared, he nodded gently at Rhein, without much chatter, he directly approached the Wall of Condensed Light and extended his hand to sense it.

The man was ”Voidwalker” Esos, a long-standing friend of Rhein.

After a few minutes, Esos, looking grave, approached Rhein.

”How’s the situation?” Rhein asked.

”Three spatial nodes have already broken two, and the only remaining spatial node is still relatively sturdy, with energy flowing in like a torrent. Is it Sanders, or Horus?”

”Neither, it’s Ironclad Granny’s avatar guarding there.”

”So it’s her.” A knowing glint flashed in Esos’s eyes; Ironclad Granny had been in seclusion for many years, but being a wizard who lived a millennium, she knew well the events of the past and naturally understood just how formidable Ironclad Granny was.

After his musings, Esos continued: ”However, although the last spatial node can barely support the barrier’s operation, I see the consumption rate of the barrier has already exceeded its limit, the situation isn’t very promising.”

”Can you repair the Wall of Condensed Light?”

Esos shook his head: ”Repairing it is certainly out of the question. But I can try to reinforce it, which could extend the time before the Wall of Condensed Light shatters.”

”How long can you delay it?”

”Based on the current rate of consumption, it might last up to two days. But if the consumption rate increases, it’s hard to say.”

Rhein was silent for a moment, then nodded to Esos: ”Then reinforce it first.”

After a pause, Rhein added: ”After reinforcing, is it possible to construct a new barrier outside the Wall of Condensed Light?”

”The spatial nature around here has become unstable, and constructing a new barrier would require expanding the area. You’d need to encompass several miles around; are you sure you want to construct it?”

Large barriers consume an astonishing amount of materials, moreover, the surrounding space is unstable, which might prevent the barrier from achieving the same effect as the original Wall of Condensed Light. At most, it could only serve to buy more time.

”Absolutely.”

Esos nodded: ”I understand.”

Thereafter, Esos said no more, beginning directly to reinforce the Wall of Condensed Light.

As he reinforced it, Rhein directed the Fire Charm Witch to take some wizards to the Black Demon Country for personnel evacuation.

Although the Barbarian Cave alone wouldn’t fear the consequences if the Wall of Condensed Light shattered, there was an entire nation of humans nearby, compelling Rhein to take action.

Esos, worthy of being a master of barriers, took only half an hour to finish reinforcing the Wall of Condensed Light.

Esos was quite satisfied as he looked at the newly radiant Wall of Condensed Light. Perhaps due to higher quality materials, this time performed even better than he had imagined.

”As long as the internal consumption rate remains at the current level, it can hold for at least three days,” Esos said.

Hearing Esos’s proud tone, Rhein finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Three days meant more operable space. Even if constructing a new barrier, there would be more ample time.

”Do the barrier’s permissions remain the same as before? Will it trap those inside?”

Esos was puzzled: ”Besides Ironclad Granny, is there someone else inside?”

Ironclad Granny would undoubtedly hold on until the last moment, so Rhein clearly wasn’t referring to her.

Rhein nodded: ”Greya is inside.”

”Greya?” Esos thought for a moment, then realized: ”The one from the Candy House? The golden Barbie?”

Rhein nodded.

”What is she doing in there?” Esos frowned.

”It’s a long story. Just assume there’s food in there that interests Greya.” Rhein mentioned Greya with some helplessness. Originally, when the mist started to diffuse inside, Rhein had asked all the wizards to evacuate, but Greya did not leave; she was quite interested in the little fatty named Davasia inside.

After all, Greya wasn’t from the Barbarian Cave, and Rhein couldn’t force her to evacuate, so he temporarily handed her over to Ironclad Granny.

”If she wants to come out, she probably can only evacuate with Granny in the end. Because my method to reinforce the barrier is closed, unless the barrier is destroyed, she might not be able to come out for a while.”

Rhein: ”Since that’s the case, she can only continue to stay by Granny’s side.”

During their conversation, Wallace received another transmission from Granny.

Wallace: ”Another monster has appeared in the ruins. It looks like a long-haired woman, but her face is completely obscured by her hair.”

Upon hearing Wallace’s description, Rhein immediately associated it with the figure’s identity: ”It’s Misty Goldlady, guarding Duling Garden. Her power should rank last among the few leaders.”

However, even if Misty Goldlady’s power ranks low among the monsters, she can’t be underestimated.

After all, it’s a being from the Nightmare Realm.

Rhein looked at Esos: ”Looks like the consumption of the Luminous Wall is going to accelerate. I wonder how long the barrier can hold?”

Esos didn’t answer directly but sensed the barrier’s consumption before speaking: ”The additional consumption isn’t too large; it should hold for another two days.”

Hearing Esos say this, Wallace also breathed a sigh of relief, but to be safe, he still asked, ”Are you sure the barrier won’t be destroyed?”

”Don’t worry, it won’t.” After speaking, Esos explained: ”Currently, there are only two ways to directly destroy the barrier. The first is to use special tools or sneak out of the barrier directly.”

”Since the monsters in the ruins haven’t come out for two consecutive days and nights, it shows there aren’t any similar tools, so we can rule this out.”

Wallace: ”Then what’s the second method?”

”The second method...”

Just as Esos was about to speak, a loud crackling noise was heard. He quickly turned around and saw the newly reinforced Luminous Wall suddenly beginning to split open with cracks.

At the top of the barrier, a sky-piercing mist was crazily spreading.

Clearly, a hole had appeared at the top of the barrier, releasing the mist inside.

Esos and Rhein exchanged a glance and simultaneously took to the sky. In their field of vision, they could clearly see two black and white figures, like meteors, drilling into the hole above the barrier.

”It’s the black and white maids that escaped earlier!” Wallace also flew up at this moment, exclaiming.

Clearly, the barrier was destroyed by the black and white maids.

Esos looked at the breached barrier and silently said, ”The second method is breaking it from the outside...”

Wallace: ”Now saying this is too late.”

Esos also felt helpless; how could he have known that other monsters from outside would come to destroy the barrier? He looked at Rhein, who sighed: ”It’s not your fault; it’s our oversight...”

After a pause, Rhein looked at Wallace: ”Notify Ironclad Granny; there’s no need to guard it anymore, prepare for... battle.”

When the words fell, an invisible pressure began to diffuse around. The mist spreading from the barrier’s exit was swiftly gathered by this pressure, preventing it from spreading directly.

Wallace also sensed the aura Rhein released, he nodded with a solemn expression: ”I understand.”

Since preparations for battle were underway, Rhein, naturally, couldn’t just watch from the outside. As the strongest present, he would be the first to enter the Star Pond Ruins to suppress the three monsters inside.

But before that, Rhein had one more thing to do.

He looked at his old friend Esos: ”This matter is unrelated to you; you should leave here first.”

Esos: ”I can help you.”

”The situation here is very complex; you staying isn’t what I would wish to see.” Rhein sighed. If he could win the battle decisively, he wouldn’t mind Esos’s assistance, but the monsters inside the Star Pond Ruins are far from just the three present. Especially Minister Nuka, if it shows up, it would be a disaster comparable to the descent of a Demon God.

Esos wanted to say something, but ultimately nodded. Since Rhein had spoken like that, as an outsider, it wasn’t a wise choice to meddle in this matter.

Just as Esos was about to leave, Wallace suddenly exclaimed, ”Huh.”

”Lord Rhein, Granny transmitted that all the monsters have returned to the ruins, not a single one came out.”

Rhein heard Wallace say this and lowered his head in puzzlement.

The mist enveloping Star Pond Ruins had started to slowly dissipate at some unknown time, even with a layer of broken barrier obstruction, Rhein clearly saw that there were no monsters left below in the Star Pond Ruins.

Only two damaged Observation Pavilions remained, along with the one still glowing faintly that Ironclad Granny was guarding.

All the monsters had vanished.

No, actually there’s still one!

Rhein looked towards the center of the Star Pond Ruins, where the entrance to Xinnai Land was. Though there were no monsters visible above the water, under the water, at the passage entrance to the Misty Candle Corridor, sat a gigantic spherical flesh mountain, munching on a lollipop while gazing outward.

Davasia!

Though Davasia was still there, he hadn’t appeared outside the ruins. He was in the border area between Xinnai Land and Star Pond Ruins.

If Davasia stayed there and didn’t come out, Rhein wouldn’t go in; according to conventional terms, it indeed meant that the monsters of Star Pond Ruins had vanished.

But why did they disappear?

Why did they come out in the first place?

Was it because the black and white maids had finished what they wanted to do, so they all returned to Xinnai Land?

Just as Rhein was bewildered, his ear suddenly twitched.

He heard a bizarre wind sound swiftly descending from the sky, toward their location.

Rhein raised his head in confusion and focused his gaze.

A figure, silhouetted against the twilight glow, was rapidly descending from the sky.

With Rhein’s dynamic sight, he could clearly capture the true appearance of that figure. However, upon seeing the other’s face, his expression became somewhat peculiar.

”...Angel?”