Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2255: Chapter 2256: Different Paths

The crowd turned towards the voice and saw a handsome, tall man appear beside them.

”Sanders?” Dumatin looked at the newcomer, raising his eyebrows slightly: ”Why are you here?”

Sanders said nothing, but gave a sidelong glance at Angel nearby.

Angel coughed and said, ”Just a short while ago, I sensed my mentor entering the Wilderness of Dreams, so I changed his entry point to here.”

After saying this, Angel muttered softly, ”However, I didn’t expect the timing of the mentor’s entry to be so coincidental.”

Sanders said lightly, ”It’s not a coincidence; I sensed something unusual.”

Lately, Sanders has been calculating details for Sumishe’s assumption of authority, and he hadn’t planned to enter the Wilderness of Dreams. However, just moments ago, a warning alert from the ”Energy Level Limitation” he set up reached him.

”Due to the special nature of New City, I extracted energy currents from thousands of miles around to construct a region of about one thousand Lus centered on New City.” Sanders: ”But just now, in just a split second, the energy domain near New City dropped from a quasi-middle magic region to a micro-magic standard.”

As the Energy Authority Controller of the Wilderness of Dreams, Sanders sensed something was amiss and entered the Wilderness of Dreams immediately to investigate.

Coincidentally, Angel had marked Sanders, so he was first to know of Sanders’ entry and transferred him here.

Rhein didn’t concern himself with when Sanders entered or exited, but asked, ”Are you sure that floating fireball is the cause of the reduction in energy standards?”

Sanders nodded affirmatively: ”Yes, I am sure.”

As the current energy authority of the Wilderness of Dreams, Sanders’ words naturally earned Rhein’s trust.

”What exactly is that fireball and why does it absorb so much energy?” Rhein asked in confusion.

Sanders looked at the young man beside him: ”That question should be directed to Angel.”

In fact, he vaguely sensed the commotion within the fireball and had some guesses in mind. But for the specifics, Angel needed to explain, as only Angel could influence the Wilderness of Dreams to such a great extent.

Angel chuckled: ”Didn’t I already mention the answer earlier?”

Sanders was late to arrive and didn’t know what had transpired. However, the others seemed to have some thoughts and fell into contemplation.

After several seconds, Ironclad Granny chuckled softly: ”Earlier you asked us why we thought you wouldn’t encounter non-water elemental creatures. Between the lines, didn’t it imply that you encountered more than just water elemental creatures?”

”Moreover, as soon as you said that, the fireball appeared.”

”So, does this fireball represent an elemental creature with another attribute? A fire elemental creature?”

Seeing Ironclad Granny announce the answer, Angel did not refute: ”Granny is correct.”

Indeed, including Dumatin, the others had already guessed this answer, but they remained somewhat skeptical: Nowadays in the Wizards’ Realm, wild elemental creatures are very scarce. Angel encountering a water elemental creature already seemed like incredible luck. Now, being told that Angel not only encountered a water elemental creature but also a fire elemental creature seemed truly unbelievable.

”Did you really encounter a water elemental creature and a fire elemental creature?” Dumatin’s tone still carried disbelief.

Angel nodded: ”Isn’t the reality quite evident?”

Rhein at this point also asked: ”Are you sure you haven’t left the Wizards’ Realm?”

The extreme environments in the Wizards’ Realm capable of birthing elemental creatures are basically monopolized by various Witcher Organizations. Therefore, many wizards venture to other worlds in search of elemental creatures.

Angel encountering two elemental creatures of different attributes at once made Rhein suspect he might have left the Wizards’ Realm.

Angel: ”I’m still in the Wizards’ Realm, but I stumbled upon a fortuitous opportunity.”

Since the opportunity involved personal privacy, Rhein refrained from probing further but couldn’t help muttering: ”You wouldn’t have stumbled upon some sage’s ruins, right? Elemental creatures in those ruins, without a master’s constraint, are exceptionally cunning. You better not let them fool you.”

Angel: ”Not a ruin, but indeed discovered through information left by a certain wizard... regarding this fortuitous opportunity, you’ll know in a few days, and in the future, I might need Lord Rhein’s help.”

Rhein was a bit surprised: ”What opportunity would require my help?”

Angel did not answer, but Sanders watching Angel’s mysterious smile had a fleeting sense of apprehension.

Could this kid have caused another major upheaval?

Reflecting on the incidents caused by Angel during his growth, Sanders felt a headache developing. Angel, in the eyes of others, seemed the least worrisome, yet only Sanders knew this guy was even more troublesome than Sumishe and Flora.

Sanders lets Sumishe and Flora grow wildly, hardly bothering to think about them. But with Angel, whenever he left alone, Sanders would intermittently think of him, fearing he had caused another big issue.

Even with the reputation of defeating the Southern Domain, facing the various deeds Angel committed, Sanders felt anxious, even contemplating telling him silently: I’m just a Second Level True Knowledge Wizard, not a Legendary Wizard. Much of what you do, I’m already struggling to handle...

Thinking of the Queen in the Nightmare Realm, then the Demon God’s descendant lying in space, along with the body of the Demon God’s avatar.

These are all entities Sanders cannot provoke, yet Angel keeps stirring the hornet’s nest one after another. Although the endings were fortunate, the process was terrifying; one wrong move, and not only Angel but the entire world might have to pay the price.

Thus, hearing Angel’s words at this moment, others didn’t think much, but Sanders felt a vague unease internally.

Yet, since he’s his student, Sanders couldn’t undermine him in front of others. He could only suppress his desire to shake Angel’s shoulders and remained silent.

While they conversed, the floating fireball in the distance began to show new changes.

The fireball started to continuously shrink, with a large amount of fire element energy compressed into the interior, finally sketching out a fiery red figure in mid-air.

Seeing the current situation, the others understood why Angel needed to shield the rain. All the flames on the fireball would eventually serve as nutrients for that fire elemental creature. If the rain were allowed to extinguish the flames, constructing the fire elemental creature might become problematic.

”The questions we had earlier now have an answer. Even without the foundational support of the elemental laws of reality, we can still construct the body of an elemental creature,” Dumatin remarked as he observed the increasingly distinct outline of the fire elemental creature in the distance. ”However, it seems the energy consumption is quite significant.”

Sanders replied, ”If every elemental creature requires this much energy consumption, the current Tidal World cannot accommodate too many elemental creatures entering at the same time. Moreover, each time an elemental creature enters, there must be a waiting period for the energy in the Domain Field to recover before proceeding to the next one.”

Dumatin stated, ”It seems that allowing a large number of elemental creatures to enter the Wilderness of Dreams is not feasible for now. However, water element creatures seem to follow a different procedure?”

Dumatin cast a dim glance toward the raccoon absorbing the residual veins on the other side.

Sanders also noticed that raccoon, and with Angel’s explanation, he roughly understood the situation.

The birth of the water element raccoon did not consume virtual magic power but followed another path.

Rhein commented, ”Before I left, I took a look at the Law Core of the Tide Wave Garden. The consumption of the law veins is nearly negligible. Furthermore, the Law Core has already fused with the authority of the Wilderness of Dreams itself, so even if a portion is consumed, it will slowly replenish over time.”

Dumatin said, ”So, at present, it’s possible to allow a large number of water element creatures to enter the Wilderness of Dreams. But other elements can only be opened to a limited extent.”

”That seems to be the case,” Angel agreed with this view. He originally wanted to find an opportunity to bring the group of wind element subordinates into the Wilderness of Dreams, but now it seems they’ll have to wait a bit longer.

After another two minutes, the floating fireball gradually disappeared, revealing before their eyes a—small fire frog.

”This is the fire element creature; it seems to be an elemental sprite,” said Ironclad Granny, with a tone carrying a hint of affection.

The vast majority of creatures in their infancy stage naturally carry a cute aura. Elemental creatures are the same; most elemental sprites are very cute... except for Dangross.

This small fire frog wasn’t much larger than an adult’s fist, with a flamboyant fiery red maple pouch on its back, resembling a little backpack, like a child about to set off on a trip.

Compared to the raccoon on the other side, which had already reached the chest height of an adult, the small fire frog was clearly more endearing.

”Actually, these two elemental creatures are roughly the same size in the outside world,” Angel murmured. ”Both are mature elemental creatures.”

”So it’s not an elemental sprite,” Dumatin squinted his eyes. ”Which means, elemental creatures formed through law veins and those formed by the convergence of virtual magic power have different starting points at birth.”

Rhein commented, ”No matter how you compare, this water element creature is much stronger than the fire element creature. It seems that to bring elemental creatures into the Wilderness of Dreams, it’s best to first incorporate more Witchcraft Gardens.”

At this point, Rhein turned to look at Angel, the implication clear.

Angel responded, ”I understand; I’ll return to the Barbarian Cave once I finish handling matters here and will accompany Lord Reine to borrow a Witchcraft Garden.”

Rhein nodded in satisfaction, knowing that for Angel to achieve greater accomplishments in the future, it is best not to overly constrain him; yet the thought of such a brilliant talent constantly navigating the treacherous world outside made Rhein somewhat anxious. Thus, he privately hoped that Angel would return to the Barbarian Cave soon.

At this moment, Ironclad Granny remarked, ”That small fire frog seems to have seen us; shall we go take a look?”

At this sound, everyone looked over and realized the small fire frog had awakened and was perched on the leaf of a shrub, curiously peering in their direction.

Clearly, the fire elemental creature appeared later, but its awakening was faster than the water elemental creature. This fact indirectly indicates that the starting point for the water elemental creature is much higher than that of the fire elemental creature.

Everyone proceeded to head toward the vicinity of the brush.

Even though they were accustomed to elemental creatures in the outside world, this first elemental creature to arrive in the Wilderness of Dreams from reality still elicited their curiosity.

According to their assumptions, since the small fire frog is an elemental creature, and elemental creatures traditionally hold little affection for humans, their approach would likely trigger caution from the small fire frog.

However, to their surprise, even as they drew within a five-meter distance of the small fire frog, it showed limited caution, its eyes brimming with curiosity.

Nonetheless, as Dumatin approached within three meters of the small fire frog, it began to recoil in retreat.

”Three meters is clearly its alert line,” Ironclad Granny remarked with a trace of astonishment. ”Such close proximity is truly surprising.”

It’s worth noting that in the outside world, encountering an elemental creature—a distance a thousand times three meters would still fall within their alert range.

This small fire frog appeared as naive as a newborn infant, exhibiting no wariness of the external world, instead filled with curiosity.

Had Angel not stated it was mature outside, Ironclad Granny might genuinely have believed it to be a newborn sprite.

Ironclad Granny held an indulgent affection for the small fire frog, refraining from further closeness when it showed signs of alertness. However, this was not the case for Dumatin, who saw the small fire frog as merely an object of research, with no intention to halt his steps. He quickly closed the distance, effortlessly grasping the small fire frog in his hand.

The small fire frog was startled, and the flamboyant fiery red maple pouch on its back instantly released a torrent of flames, burning Dumatin’s hand.

This level of flame had little effect on Dumatin in the real world, but in the Wilderness of Dreams, he distinctly felt a scorching pain.

Yet Dumatin remained unafraid, knowing that although his energy level was much weaker in the Wilderness of Dreams, he possessed other means!

He promptly produced a skin scroll capable of sealing energy, and with a flick toward the small fire frog, a cage of transparent energy ensnared its form.

Under the power of the sealing scroll, all energy was confined, and the small fire frog could only submit meekly to Dumatin’s grasp.

While the small fire frog was rendered powerless, its pitiful demeanor drew a slight frown from Ironclad Granny beside them. ”You are being too rough,” she said.

”In any case, it’s destined for experimentation; is there really a need for tenderness?” Dumatin replied nonchalantly.

Angel stepped forward, taking the sealed small fire frog from Dumatin, and gently stated, ”Although I agreed to let you study the relationship between elemental creatures and the Wilderness of Dreams, I still hope your research will gain their voluntary cooperation, rather than relying on coercion. Also, please strive to avoid harming them.”

Angel wasn’t attempting to appear virtuous. In his view, the elemental creatures of the future Tidal World would inevitably ally with the Barbarian Cave.

Before forming an alliance, it would be beneficial for both parties to display greater goodwill toward each other.

Even the opinion of a small fire frog might potentially influence certain choices of the Element Lords in the future.