Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3049: Chapter 3050: Substitute Technique

On the other side, despite Sharon the Witch’s shock, her rationality remained unaffected.

She was well aware that once the space seal was broken and without the constraint of a contract, Dox and Angel would inevitably make a move against her. So, when Dox turned into a red light and rushed towards her, she immediately responded.

Sharon the Witch created a space thought membrane around her.

This was a third-level trick. Although it was much inferior to spell techniques like the Light Air Shield, the ability to create a defensive thought membrane almost instantaneously in a hurry was a testament to Sharon the Witch’s quick reflexes.

In Sharon the Witch’s mind, the space thought membrane was certainly incapable of completely blocking Dox’s attack. However, Dox being a prophecy system wizard, his offensive capabilities shouldn’t be too strong... Even in the worst-case scenario, even if Dox had a very strong bloodline art, under the hindrance of the curse, he might not be able to unleash much power.

Therefore, even if the space thought membrane couldn’t become a decisive key, it should be able to withstand Dox’s attack for two or three seconds.

The seconds gained would be enough for her to safely cast a Light Air Shield on herself.

By then, it would be difficult for Dox to break through her defenses.

It was precisely because Sharon the Witch had such a step-by-step plan that she wasn’t too afraid of Dox. Compared to Dox, she was more wary of Angel.

As a fellow mage from the same series, Sharon the Witch was well aware of the might of space series spell techniques. Even more so, Angel was a space mage with a powerful legacy. Facing such an enemy, carelessness could lead to severe consequences.

Thus, the majority of Sharon the Witch’s attention was on Angel.

However, Angel’s actions puzzled her.

He didn’t seem to be releasing space sorcery or using spatial abilities for a sneak attack but was instead creating a large number of peculiar green light patterns.

Sharon the Witch had never seen such green light patterns before, and they didn’t generate any energy traction with the space fissures she had released around.

No energy similarity meant these green light patterns were not spatial abilities.

If not spatial abilities, then what were they? Moreover, why was Angel spreading these green patterns near the space gate?

Before Sharon the Witch could figure out any clues, she was forcibly interrupted.

Because Dox’s attack arrived.

According to her original plan, Sharon the Witch used the thought membrane to block Dox’s assault while seizing the opportunity to cast the Light Air Shield. But plans couldn’t keep up with changes, as the strength of the space thought membrane wasn’t as robust as she had imagined—or perhaps Dox’s attack exceeded the membrane’s tolerance limit.

It didn’t even withstand half a second, let alone two or three.

Dox’s blood-imbued fist barely touched the thought membrane when it melted away like ice under scorching flames, vanishing instantly without resistance.

This sudden unexpected event forced Sharon the Witch to change her tactics.

She immediately ceased the energy condensing the Light Air Shield, and using the talent of ”low-consumption rapid change” inherited from her inexpensive mentor, she transmuted the already gathered energy into another less consuming trick—an air curtain.

Dox’s blood-filled fist hit the air curtain as if striking a curtain woven of air, unable to exert force.

However, Dox’s blood power completely surpassed the air curtain’s limit, and in less than a second, the air curtain was utterly shattered.

Amidst the distortion of light and a low voice filled with confusion, silence fell again around.

It seemed Sharon the Witch had taken the opportunity during the appearance of the air curtain to disappear.

A single failure didn’t disappoint Dox; instead, it made him even more excited. With a strange shout, the blood light surrounding him suddenly thickened, with a tendency to radiate.

It was as if Dox had suddenly transformed into a man of blood, bearing a blood-red halo.

As soon as this blood-colored halo appeared, Sharon the Witch felt a sense of crisis. She hadn’t even had the chance to analyze what kind of ability it was before the effect of the halo exposed her.

Initially hiding behind Dox using light and shadow, Sharon the Witch sought to buy time by exploiting the blind spot of perspective. However, the halo directly revealed her location, leaving her with no choice but to interrupt her casting and switch to the Substitute Technique.

The Substitute Technique, a third-level space trick, allows substitution of oneself with a pre-prepared spatial artifact to absorb damage.

The effectiveness of the Substitute Technique was undoubtedly powerful, but as an over-modeled trick, it also had very stringent restrictions: first, it cannot substitute for death; second, the substitute object must be carried closely, with an effective time of half an hour, necessitating re-setting after exceeding the time limit; third, the effectiveness of consecutive substitutions incrementally decreases, with the injuries gradually feeding back to the user.

Despite its limitations, once released, it could buy some buffer time with the substitute.

The substitution object set by Sharon the Witch was a Substitution Glyph Stone Pillar with a human face pattern.

So, when Sharon the Witch used the Substitute Technique, her figure immediately vanished, replaced by a Substitution Glyph Stone Pillar at her original location.

However, as soon as the substitution stone pillar appeared, Dox smashed it to pieces with a punch, leaving Sharon the Witch in shock. If she had been a second slower in releasing, she would have been struck by Dox, and being hit wouldn’t be a simple injury.

At this point, Sharon the Witch realized she had underestimated her opponent.

This wizard named Dox wasn’t just an expert in prophecy; his research and development into bloodline powers were on par with his expertise in divination.

This was a multi-skilled wizard!

Furthermore, despite being under a blood curse, Dox could achieve such speed and power, surpassing even most bloodline wizards.

The previously appearing Yaji, also a bloodline wizard, was simply overshadowed by Dox.

Recognizing her miscalculation, Sharon the Witch immediately adjusted her strategy.

She left a small portion of her consciousness to monitor Angel, ensuring she’d notice if he attacked; meanwhile, all her primary awareness was locked onto Dox.

Dox was a significant problem, with his overpowering bloodline abilities needing quick resolution ... or restraint.

Sharon the Witch’s mindset shifted quickly in the face of a formidable and versatile wizard like Dox, with no hint of retreat... even if she couldn’t handle Dox, it didn’t matter, as her two allies were already on their way.

Once they arrived, the control would naturally return to her hands.

Hiding once again after using the Substitute Technique, Sharon the Witch identified her current goal: to make use of the time gained by the Substitute Technique to find a way to activate the Light Air Shield, and sound the horn of counter-attack!

...

Meanwhile, Angel, who had been ignored by Sharon the Witch, was gazing at the other side of the battlefield with fervent eyes.

”Found it! Found the avatar of the Speedy!”

Angel’s purpose for coming here wasn’t to confront Sharon the Witch but to find the Speedy’s avatar!

Initially, Angel planned to coordinate with Earl Mi and the Speedy to stealthily approach Sharon the Witch and then search for the Speedy’s avatar hidden on her.

However, before he could begin, he’d already spotted the Speedy’s avatar.

—It was inside the Substitution Glyph Stone Pillar!

The Substitution Glyph Stone Pillar inherently contained spatial energy, so when shattered, its internal energy would spill out. It was at the moment when Dox shattered the substitution stone pillar that Angel, through the Speedy’s perception, discovered a faint breeze of consciousness escaping from the stone pillar’s core.

This was indeed an avatar of the Speedy... one of them.

Angel had considered countless places to hide the Swiftling duplicate, but he hadn’t expected that the Sharon Witch would hide the Swiftling duplicate in a substitute object.

However, upon thinking it over, it actually made sense.

Angel had gained a vast amount of spatial knowledge from the Dalmatian, which naturally included information related to substitute objects.

A substitute object inherently contains spatial energy, so if the Swiftling duplicate was hidden inside one, it was entirely possible. The spatial energy cut off perception and restricted the Swiftling duplicate’s escape.

This is also why Angel had brought the Swiftling all the way here but still hadn’t perceived the specific whereabouts of the Swiftling duplicate. It was because it was obscured by the spatial energy of the substitute object.

Determining the location of the Swiftling duplicate made him both happy and conflicted.

Happy, naturally, because he had found the Swiftling duplicate; conflicted, because there were a total of six strands of the Swiftling duplicate trapped in Paradise Land, and only one strand had appeared so far, with the other five strands of breeze still missing.

If one were to infer from the situation of the first strand of breeze, it was highly likely that the other breezes were also inside substitute objects.

In other words, if he wanted to obtain the other five strands of breeze, he would still have to make Sharon Witch release the Substitute Technique five more times consecutively.

This was actually somewhat difficult.

Angel also knew the constraints of the Substitute Technique; casting it multiple times in a short period would gradually weaken its effect and even feedback injuries to the caster. Sharon Witch couldn’t possibly use the Substitute Technique knowing its effect had been weakened.

According to Angel’s estimation, even if Sharon Witch were to use the Substitute Technique, it would most likely be limited to two or three times at most, no more.

And could he get all the Swiftling duplicates with three times? Unless Sharon Witch had stored multiple Swiftling duplicates in the same substitute object.

Is that possible?

Angel personally felt it was unlikely.

He had previously wondered why the Sharon Witch would collect Swiftling duplicates.

Sharon Witch certainly didn’t collect them just because she discovered the Swiftling. She must have other ideas or plots.

The Swiftling’s duplicates are strands of faint-conscious breeze... what do they resemble?

Previously, when Angel inquired of the Sea Eagle Wizard, he likened the Swiftling duplicates to ”Wind Elemental Sprites,” but in reality, the Swiftling duplicates were not like Wind Elemental Sprites.

They were more like a precursor to Wind Elemental Sprites, the start of Elemental Life, or called a fetus, larva, or newborn... etc.

They gave some feedback on awareness, but they were quite pure elements.

As long as there is an opportunity or more elements are gathered, they could evolve into Elemental Sprites.

Elemental creatures are actually quite rare in nature, and Sharon Witch might have seen the faint consciousness within those strands of breeze and thought they could evolve into Elemental Sprites, so she collected the Swiftling duplicates.

If this is the answer, the Sharon Witch’s purpose would be to obtain Elemental Sprites, so it was unlikely she would put these conscious breezes together.

Six strands of breeze evolving together significantly increases the probability. Putting them together could lead to self-devouring, reducing the chances of evolution.

So, the most likely choice is for Sharon Witch to store each of the six strands separately to maximize benefits.

Thinking of it this way, one substitute object corresponding to one strand of breeze might be the truth.

In other words, to obtain all Swiftling duplicates, one must inevitably break the other five substitute objects, which... is too difficult.

Getting Sharon Witch to cast the Substitute Technique five more times is somewhat unrealistic. So now, there is only one other method—

Find out where the substitute objects are?

Substitute objects cannot be stored in spatial artifacts, so they must be carried personally. However, Sharon Witch is entirely covered by a cloak, and it’s impossible to see what’s beneath the cloak.

So perhaps the first thing to do is destroy Sharon Witch’s cloak?

Although Angel thought this, he didn’t actually take action. Dox had now transformed into a red streak of light, hard to catch with the naked eye, growing more excited the more he fought, and Angel’s interference now would likely only be a hindrance.

So, it’s best to watch and see how the situation unfolds.

Additionally, there’s no need to directly confront the Sharon Witch yet. In fact, just by employing some methods, they might be able to force Sharon Witch to use the Substitute Technique.

Of course, Sharon Witch can still use the Substitute Technique now, but it’s hard to say later.

However, there will be future ways. The current method is to release as many of the Swiftling’s duplicates from the substitute object as possible.

...

After Sharon Witch stealthily retreated using the Substitute Technique, Dox immediately released a blood-red halo, attempting to use the halo effect from before to force Sharon Witch out.

But Sharon Witch had gotten smart this time.

Before, for easier counterattacks, she had used the Veil Trick and stayed behind Dox, so when the blood-red halo hit, she was caught in it.

Learning from her mistakes, Sharon Witch now ran straight to a place a hundred meters away from Dox. Here, she did not have to worry about being swept by the halo and could quietly concentrate on condensing the Light Air Shield.

Even though the Light Air Shield might produce movements when fully condensed, drawing Dox’s attention, by that time, it would already be in its completion phase, almost impossible to interrupt.

With the Light Air Shield on, Sharon Witch wouldn’t fear a Dox who was cursed.

While Sharon Witch was secretly accumulating power, she didn’t notice that among the green light patterns swirling around the arena, a few were slowly moving closer to Dox.

Actually, Dox himself hadn’t noticed until those green patterns were nearly close to his eyes, at which point he suddenly realized.

But realization aside, Dox did nothing.

He recognized them as Illusion Nodes released by Angel... though their aura was different from regular Illusion Nodes, the final effect was similar.

The green patterns, bouncing along, integrated into Dox’s right eye.

Dox felt no discomfort, only a slight soothing sensation in his right eye.

But why would Angel integrate the green patterns into his eye?

Dox, puzzled, looked up... and then discovered several thickened, enlarged green arrows.

Dox blinked his eyes, realizing only his right eye could see the green arrows, while the left eye saw nothing.

So these green arrows were something Angel specifically conjured up?

Dox followed the direction the green arrows pointed, and eventually, the arrows led him to a place a hundred meters away.

There was a green humanoid outline, and above her head, a much larger, thicker green arrow pointed right at her, as if fearing Dox wouldn’t notice.