Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2487: Chapter 2488: Bell

A few minutes earlier.

Angel followed the Dalmatian and the black-and-white maids through the mystical steel door, and instantly traversed a great distance, returning from the Devil’s Sea to the Pamiji Plateau.

Once the door vanished, Angel did not leave immediately but instead looked at the black-and-white maids.

”You go back to Xinnai Land first.”

The black maid frowned slightly: ”Lady Shava?”

Angel softly stroked the head of the Dalmatian in his arms and gently said, ”I still have some things to discuss with it. Once we’re done, I’ll take it back.”

Black maid: ”But...”

Before the black maid could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by the white maid. She gently held the black maid’s hand and shook her head slightly, then looked at Angel, bowed respectfully, and said, ”As you command, my lord.”

With that, the white maid and black maid exchanged a glance, seemingly coming to a consensus. They gave Angel a graceful bow and then turned into black-and-white brilliance, descending from the sky like comets.

After the black-and-white maids left, Angel turned to look at the Dalmatian.

The Dalmatian’s eyes were sparkling, and it seemed slightly excited as it barked at Angel, ”Woof woof woof.”

This time, Angel understood what it meant.

”Don’t act so excited, I didn’t keep you here to ditch them and run away with you.” Angel grumbled, tapping the Dalmatian’s nose.

The Dalmatian dejectedly lowered its head, whimpering.

Angel didn’t comfort it but instead took out a stone the size of a baby’s fist from his bracelet.

The stone looked ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that it seemed to glow with a silver shimmer internally.

The Dalmatian seemed to sniff the stone’s scent, lifting its head and looking puzzled: ”Woof woof?”

Angel paid no heed to the Dalmatian and instead summoned Dangross from his bracelet.

Dangross had been put into the bracelet to accompany Toby when the Spirit of Disorder was about to take shape earlier. Now, having left the narrow bracelet space, it was momentarily bewildered.

Wasn’t it just on the sea surface not long ago? How did it suddenly end up in the vast snowy plains in the sky?

Angel had no time to explain to Dangross and pinched its index finger: ”Don’t just stand there, release a bit of your flame, and mind the temperature.”

Dangross instinctively followed Angel’s instructions.

When a steady flame appeared before Angel, he promptly tossed the stone into the fire, instructing Dangross to watch the heat while swiftly using Alchemy to shape the stone.

As the stone changed shape within the flame, strange illusions began to appear around them.

”What’s that? A cat-headed sheep?” Dangross curiously observed an illusion nearby, featuring a peculiar cat’s head with a sheep’s body.

”Ignore it and focus on controlling the fire.”

”Controlling fire isn’t hard, I can easily handle it. But can you explain that to me?” Dangross climbed onto Angel’s shoulder, asking curiously.

Seeing Dangross indeed had control over the fire as he requested and was quite at ease with it, Angel thought for a moment and said, ”I don’t know what that is either. It’s just some random illusion, you can disregard it.”

”Then why are there illusions?”

”Because what you’re melting now is called a Mare Stone.”

These illusions aren’t any grand alchemical phenomena; they’re simply small tricks activated autonomously by melting the Mare Stone. If you use proper magic power to activate a Mare Stone, it wouldn’t produce these small illusions but might create a small to medium-scale illusionary realm.

When Angel was still a mortal, he traveled on the Bauhinia Vessel to Flourish Continent, and there was a small Mare Stone on the ship prow’s sculpture. Whenever they encountered threats too powerful to resist, the guardians of the Bauhinia Vessel could activate the Mare Stone to create an illusionary realm and escape danger.

However, within the Southern Domain, Mare Stones are very rare materials. Using them to create illusionary realms on the Bauhinia Vessel was an extravagant usage, but given that the Bauhinia Vessel was backed by the Sky Mechanical City, they didn’t mind spending on it.

While explaining the function of the Mare Stone to Dangross, Angel swiftly shaped it within the flame.

Without the need for engraving a Magic Pattern or fusing with other materials, simply shaping it was a quick process.

In less than three minutes, the Mare Stone was shaped according to Angel’s intention. And what it turned into was a rather mundane item —

A bell.

After crafting the small silver bell, Angel began imbuing it with the Art of Nightmare Illusion, constructing the internal illusion node.

Once everything was done, Angel looked at the Dalmatian.

”Consider this a parting gift for you,” Angel said as he placed the small silver bell under the Dalmatian’s neck.

Once the bell was in place, tiny transparent loops grew from within, fastening neatly around the Dalmatian’s neck.

The silver bell on the fluffy little Dalmatian made Angel nod in satisfaction.

The reason he sent away the black-and-white maids was to make this bell. After all, if he crafted it in front of them, his portrayal of Shava would crumble.

The reason for crafting the bell wasn’t all that complex, purely because he liked it and decided to make it.

Additionally, since the Dalmatian had given him a Mysterious Spirit before, this could be considered a return gift, though their values differed immensely.

”Inside this bell are some movie illusions related to little dogs... well, you can think of movies as stage plays. If you’re bored, you can activate them to pass the time.” Angel paused for a moment, ”Also, this bell incorporates the Nightmare Illusion Dream Technique. If you come to the Southern Domain next time, you can try activating it to contact me.”

In essence, this bell is a ”Shadow Box + Log-in Device” combination.

To avoid the Dalmatian being detected by other creatures in the Nightmare Realm for its otherworldly aura, which could cause trouble, Angel deliberately chose the Mare Stone as the material. Otherwise, he could have crafted it with the most common Demon Bloodstone.

Of course, compared to the Dalmatian’s gift, this wasn’t precious at all, but it was still a token of Angel’s regard.

After putting the bell on the Dalmatian, Angel passed his hands through its forelimbs, lifting it until their eyes met.

”How is it? Do you like it?” Angel looked into the Dalmatian’s shiny dark eyes.

The Dalmatian glanced down at the bell, its eyes glimmering brightly: ”Woof woof!”

Angel discerned excitement in the Dalmatian’s barks.

”As long as you like it.” Angel paused, raising an eyebrow, ”Turns out, you can make me understand your barks completely.”

The Dalmatian looked startled, then quickly feigned innocence: ”Woof woof!”

Alright, back to not understanding again.

Angel chuckled and didn’t bother with that detail. He was indeed worried the Dalmatian might not appreciate the bell; as long as Wang Wang liked it, his efforts weren’t in vain.

”Alright, I’ve given you your present, now it’s time for you to head home.”

The Dalmatian immediately whimpered, putting on a remorseful expression.

Before, Angel might have tried to comfort it, but having witnessed the Dalmatian’s sly nature, he suspected this display of sorrow might just be a performance to elicit his sympathy.

So, Angel didn’t look into the Dalmatian’s eyes, to avoid being bewitched by it, and directly embraced it, descending from the high sky.

The reason for not saying much was also due to another concern; Angel was quite worried about the current situation over at the Star Pond Ruins.

Although he instructed the black and white maids to return to Xinnai Land first, who knows if they might encounter conflict with the Wizards outside the ruins halfway. With the abilities of the black and white maids, ordinary Wizards really can’t measure up.

To prevent any accidents, Angel descended faster and faster.

Like a streak of colorful rainbow wrapped in the fierce wind, he descended from the sky.

Just as Angel got closer and closer to the Star Pond Ruins, he suddenly noticed a few familiar figures standing in the air above the ruins.

In the center stood none other than Lord Reine.

Moreover, Lord Reine also immediately noticed the sound of the wind above and looked up:

”Angel?”

...

A moment later, within the once again tranquil Star Pond Ruins.

Angel, holding the Dalmatian, sat in the only Observation Pavilion still glowing with light.

Across from him were Lord Reine, Tree Spirit, and Ironclad Granny.

At this time, although the three pairs of eyes opposite were looking at Angel, their sidelong glances couldn’t help but rest on the Dalmatian... Had they not already learned from Angel that the Dalmatian is a powerful mysterious creature capable of swallowing even a Legendary Wizard, they wouldn’t have just used such veiled looks to scrutinize it.

”...Encountered an Observer... The black and white maids went out to find the Dalmatian, and that’s basically the situation.” Angel briefly explained the situation.

As for the Observer, Angel just mentioned it in passing without delving into the topic. He also didn’t mention Gluz Deward and Polo Ye.

It wasn’t that Angel was unwilling to elaborate, but rather that now was not the time for these trivial matters.

Since it concerns the ruins, let’s solve the ruins’ matters first.

”So you’re going to take... it, to Xinnai Land now?” Reine asked after a moment of silence.

Angel: ”I just saw Davasia at the corridor entrance, I’ll hand the Dalmatian to Davasia, I won’t go in.”

Hearing Angel say this, Reine let out a sigh of relief. If Angel also went to Xinnai Land, with its dangers, who knows if he’d be able to come back.

As for Angel’s ”status and identity” in the Nightmare Realm, although Reine wasn’t too clear on these, he had heard from Sanders long ago that they were all false. Since they’re false, they’re liable to be seen through.

Therefore, Angel should avoid entering Xinnai Land if he can.

”When do you intend to return it?” Reine asked again.

Angel looked at the Dalmatian in his arms, and although he was quite reluctant, he said: ”Right now.”

”Then I’ll escort you.” Reine stood up, intending to accompany Angel.

Angel hastily waved his hand: ”No need, I can go by myself.”

”But last time, in that corridor...”

”Last time, I ran into a Void Traveler and got spotted by Misty Goldlady, it won’t be such a coincidence this time.” Angel explained.

”Can you handle that meat mountain called Davasia by yourself?” asked the granny, who hadn’t spoken until now.

In response, Angel confidently said: ”Don’t worry, no problem.”

If it were others, including the black and white maids, Angel would have found it a bit difficult, given the need to maintain a false persona. But with Davasia, Angel was quite confident.

Davasia seems fierce, but in truth, is a very pure creature.

Of course, pure doesn’t mean kind. But purity allows Angel to deal with it more adeptly.

Like the previous white maid, who seemed to hold Angel in high regard, dealing with her was actually more exhausting than with the black maid.

He much preferred Davasia, such a ”little cutie.”

Seeing Angel insist on going alone, Reine was silent for a moment before nodding: ”Be careful yourself.”

Angel signaled reassurance, then prepared to take the Dalmatian to the ruins corridor.

However, just as he had taken a few steps out of the Observation Pavilion, he suddenly thought of something, and quickly returned.

Under the curious eyes of the onlookers, Angel said: ”By the way, I suddenly remembered something, did my mentor mention that quite a few Wizards were affected by Madnavaro?”

At this, everyone’s expressions turned a bit solemn.

Madnavaro was the tentacle-laden creature that had shrouded the entire Star Pond Ruins in mist. Everyone touched by the mist succumbed to madness disease. To this day, they hadn’t found a way to cure it.

”Yes, why did you suddenly bring it up? Do you have a way to cure them?” Tree Spirit looked at Angel.

Angel didn’t give a direct answer but said: ”Can I see them first?”

”Madness disease is contagious. To prevent large-scale spread, those infected are temporarily confined within my body.” Tree Spirit: ”If you want to see them, you’ll need to return to Barbarian Cave first.”

Angel was about to speak when Ironclad Granny interjected: ”No need to make a special trip back; I have an infected one here. If you want to see, I can release it.”

Angel quickly nodded.

Ironclad Granny motioned for everyone to step back, and with a spread of cold mist, a special transparent box appeared in the center of the Observation Pavilion.

Inside the box stood a woman Angel was very familiar with.

”Greya?”

Ironclad Granny nodded: ”Because of Davasia, she insisted on staying within the ruins and ended up touching the mist, so I had to seal her in this.”

While Ironclad Granny spoke, Greya inside the transparent box had bloodshot eyes, her face veined and contorted, furiously attacking the glass walls.

She appeared mad, devoid of reason, harboring only a bloodthirsty killing intent toward any creature, hence they referred to it as madness disease.

Angel circled the transparent box, sensing Greya’s condition slightly, frowning deeply.

He had earlier thought madness disease might be akin to parasite dots and perhaps could be dispelled with the Power of Nightmare Illusion, but upon close inspection, he found that this madness disease was entirely different from the parasite dots.

It’s a real disease, not an anomaly caused by parasites.

”Well? Do you have a way to heal her?” Tree Spirit asked out of curiosity.

The other people also looked at Angel, for in their eyes, Angel often performed miracles; perhaps he could work another miracle this time?

Angel didn’t immediately answer Tree Spirit’s query but lowered his head to the drowsy Dalmatian in his arms:

”Hey, stop sleeping, wake up.”