Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2283: Chapter 2284: Inner Ring

The strange space, though Wang Wang claimed not to know it thoroughly, had been dealing with it since its birth and was very familiar with the various rules there.

And these rules are ironclad, impossible to violate, completely different from the Void Regulations.

For example, the concept of time in the strange space is more akin to a subtle metric. It’s like the vertical axis line on a coordinate axis, sometimes stretched, sometimes compressed. Although the total elapsed horizontal axis is the same, the sensations of the creatures on this axis differ greatly.

Take this shuttle, for example. Wang Wang felt like it had been shuttling for at least three to five minutes in the strange space. But in terms of Void time, it might have been only a few seconds or a dozen seconds.

Then there’s the concept of thinking, which is perfectly fine in the Void. But in the strange space, it’s like some special symbol that attracts an opposite symbol with its own affinity, and this opposite symbol often represents incomprehensible danger.

Therefore, one cannot think in the strange space, as it would lead to unforeseen consequences.

However, perhaps due to the different rules of time and space or other reasons, organisms entering the strange space all enter a non-thinking ”static” state, which is similar to a ”time stop” where all perceptions cease, and thinking doesn’t occur.

Wang Wang understood this point, which is why it didn’t explain the ironclad rules of the strange space in detail when it took Angel on the shuttle. In Wang Wang’s view, Angel would be unable to think upon entering the strange space. But to its surprise, reality was not as it expected; Angel could not only think but also perceive, which nearly led to an irreparable aftermath.

Previously, there was no time in the emergency within the strange space to investigate the cause. But now, having returned to the Void, Wang Wang was naturally curious about what happened.

Wang Wang itself could bypass some rules of the strange space to a certain extent due to its special talents and physique. How did Angel do it? Why wasn’t he affected by these rules?

Facing Wang Wang’s doubts, Angel couldn’t give an absolute answer.

Angel’s own speculation, he still thought it related to his past experience with the Eye of the Sky.

But this is only speculation, without any basis. Moreover, regarding the Eye of the Sky and The Gate of Void, Angel couldn’t tell others, even if this ”other” were only a Void Traveler.

So, after thinking it over, Angel also showed a puzzled look: ”I don’t know the reason either.”

He wasn’t pretending, as it was indeed what he felt inside.

Wang Wang pondered for a moment, personally inclined to believe Angel. Because from Angel’s recklessly thinking in the strange space alone, one could tell that it was his first time there; otherwise, he wouldn’t disregard its rules.

Since it was his first time there, it’s indeed possible not to know the reason.

”Perhaps it’s your special talent or physique?” Wang Wang thought and said.

”I’m just an ordinary Wizard. Perhaps I have some talent in cultivation, but as for the talent in that strange space, personally, I didn’t feel anything special,” Angel said honestly, as he didn’t feel anything peculiar about his body during his time in the strange space.

But Wang Wang thought otherwise.

Thinking and perceiving in the strange space is already quite special.

As for Angel claiming to be an ordinary Wizard? Wang Wang didn’t believe it. If Angel were indeed ordinary, why would a Dalmatian be so concerned about him? Moreover, it hadn’t forgotten that the terrifying Gentleman, who faced even the Liajani Devil Whale—such a Void calamity—with composure, treated Angel with great respect.

Angel must have something special.

However, due to the Dalmatian’s warning, Wang Wang dared not inquire, only silently hiding the thought in its heart, hoping to observe Angel’s situation in the future, through both the network and its fellow tribe member staying by Angel’s side.

...

Since Angel indeed seemed unfamiliar with the strange space, Wang Wang, despite its doubts, could only put them aside for now.

Angel was very curious about that strange world, attempting to get answers from Wang Wang, but Wang Wang didn’t know much either. Due to long-term contact, it knew some irrefutable ironclad rules, yet analyzing that world from a macro perspective or observing the underlying details of that space were beyond Wang Wang.

Besides, currently being in the Treasure Land, with its intricate circumstances, Angel had to temporarily put aside his curiosity about that strange world and focus on the present situation.

Angel glanced around. Apart from the Spatial Tempest behind indicating a change of location, the external environment was indistinguishable from other Voids.

The same darkness and gloom. Neither touching the sky above nor the earth below, void and profoundly deep.

However, it’s not completely without anomalies.

Angel’s gaze fixed on the depths of the dark Void: an oppressive feeling emanated from there, a sensation impossible to perceive in other Voids.

Wang Wang also noticed where Angel’s gaze landed, and spoke with some trepidation: ”It’s this aura that makes me feel an overwhelming fear far greater than that caused by the Liajani Devil Whale... Previously, when I came here, I didn’t even dare move.”

The aura Wang Wang mentioned, Angel didn’t feel it, only sensing the oppressive feeling.

Moreover, this oppressive feeling seemed vaguely familiar to Angel.

He pondered for a moment but couldn’t pinpoint where the familiarity originated.

”It should be the great distance causing my perception to be somewhat faint; perhaps getting closer might reveal more?” Angel murmured softly.

Wang Wang: ”You want to get closer?”

Angel nodded: ”Yes, my destination this time is that depth, I need to go check it out no matter what.”

After a pause, Angel turned to Wang Wang: ”Do you want to come with me? Or will you wait here until I return?”

After a moment of hesitant contemplation, Wang Wang finally said: ”I’ll go with you anyway. If there’s any danger, at least I can take you away through a shuttle.”

Although personally more inclined to stay and wait, Wang Wang was still beside Angel. If anything happened to Angel, the Dalmatian would surely blame it.

At least, before leaving, it hoped nothing would happen to Angel.

So even though the terrifying aura sent shivers down its spine, it still decided to follow Angel and take a look first.

Angel smiled gratefully: ”Thank you for the trouble.”

The dark void, appearing endlessly vast. But Angel knew this seemingly calm void isn’t very large, likely spanning only a few hundred miles.

The upper and lower regions seemed endless, but spending some time either ascending or descending would inevitably encounter an intercepting Spatial Tempest.

They were currently like being in the hollow mid-space of an empty sphere.

After carefully perceiving for a moment, Angel chose the direction from which the oppressive feeling emanated and flew together with Wang Wang.

Concerned about potential traps or incidents, Angel didn’t fly at full speed, only slightly faster than normal speed. Wang Wang agreed, as the closer to the center they got, the stronger the terrifying aura, and the current pace allowed it some adaptation time instead of immediate breakdown.

After flying for about half an hour, the void remained unchanged, and the trap Angel had imagined didn’t exist.

Perhaps Feng finally grew a conscience? No longer setting up malicious traps, but genuinely allowing him to find the treasure?

Angel was very skeptical of Feng’s limits, but at least for the moment, there was nothing wrong.

And as they delved deeper, that sense of oppression grew stronger. Although it hadn’t yet caused substantial harm to Angel, it might become insurmountable if it continued to intensify.

Angel had already noticed that Wang Wang, whether sensing the threatening aura or the oppression playing tricks, was trembling all over. And there was still quite a distance to the source of the oppression.

”Can you still hold on? If not, you can hide in my spatial bracelet,” Angel said.

Despite Wang Wang’s severe trembling, it shook its head without hesitation: ”No... need.”

Angel nodded, not persuading further, and continued deeper.

Initially, they still communicated, but now with Wang Wang trembling violently, the communication naturally ceased.

They continued silently, advancing for another hour or so.

In the unchanging dim void, a different hue finally appeared.

Angel saw that in the depths of the darkness, a light spot seemed to appear. Because it was so distant, it looked like a star with a faint flicker.

In any other place, Angel might have ignored it. But this was the void, an eternally black crevice. Spotting a light, no matter how dim, was exceptionally striking.

It’s like a black dot on white paper, where attention naturally focuses on it.

Although it’s currently unclear what exactly the light spot is, its appearance might be related to the Treasure Land... Could it be where the treasure is?

In this vast void, changes are welcomed; the fear is in its lack of change. The appearance of the light point also calmed his previously unsettled heart a bit.

And as his heart calmed, Angel heard a panting sound next to him.

Turning back, he saw Wang Wang trembling even more fiercely. The translucent liquid within its body, though stable even in a strange world, started fluctuating, making a rustling sound.

”Can you still hold on?”

Wang Wang didn’t transmit any information waves, but after a long pause, slightly nodded its head towards Angel, indicating it could still hold on.

Angel hesitated for a moment but didn’t persuade it further, nodding to signal to continue forward, though he slowed down even more.

The journey that originally took five minutes was deliberately stretched to half an hour by Angel.

As they moved deeper, the distant point of light seemed increasingly bright, and at the same time... Angel saw a second point of light. That light spot seemed even further away, with a similar brightness to the initial point, slightly dim due to the distance.

Soon, the third point of light... the fourth point... up to the tenth point of light, all appeared within Angel’s sight.

With the growing number of light spots, Angel knew he was getting closer to the endpoint. However... Angel looked back at Wang Wang, wondering if it could still persevere?

Just at the moment Angel looked back, Wang Wang raised its eyes.

In an instant of eye contact, Wang Wang finally transmitted a faint information wave: ”I can’t move forward anymore, that aura is too terrifying.”

From Wang Wang’s perspective, that terrifying and dangerous aura had almost materialized, enveloping it everywhere, trying to invade its body and erode it entirely.

Angel couldn’t perceive the ”dangerous aura,” but the sense of oppression was indeed growing more severe, he understood Wang Wang’s choice.

”Shall I put you into the bracelet?” Angel asked from a distance.

Wang Wang wanted to refuse but the outside world was simply too terrifying, and staying here it probably couldn’t last much longer, so it nodded slightly.

Angel separated a small area inside the bracelet, then constructed a Mist Illusion like he did for the Kulakuka Tribe, placing Wang Wang inside the illusion.

Once Wang Wang entered the bracelet, its trembling body finally calmed a bit. Despite the private space being not particularly secure, at least that terrifying aura couldn’t penetrate it.

After putting Wang Wang into the bracelet, Angel no longer needed to deliberately restrain his speed, so he accelerated slightly, flying towards the nearest point of light.

During the journey, Angel noticed that the surrounding oppression suddenly began to increase rapidly. This increase was no longer the initial gradual climb, but a compound escalation; even Angel’s physical body was beginning to feel the difficulty.

However, the sudden intensification of pressure allowed Angel to capture a flash of insight.

Before this, he always felt that the pressure here was familiar, but couldn’t recall where the familiarity came from. Now, he had a vague guess.

This oppression didn’t seem to be coming from some creature.

Rather, it came from a will.

Not the grand will shared by the Pan-Dimensional Plane, but the World Will, or a more minor Continent Will.

Back when Angel was on the Continent of Yuantan in the Abyss, he felt a similar sense of oppression. However, back then, the Continent of Yuantan was on the brink of collapse, yearning for aid, and Angel, as the savior of the Continent of Yuantan, felt more love from the Continent Will than oppression. Hence, Angel didn’t immediately recognize the source of the oppression here.

Now, even though he had a realization, Angel still felt confused.

Why would a World Will appear here?

Could there possibly be a world here? Angel couldn’t believe that a world could be this small, existing inside the inner ring of a Spatial Tempest.

Moreover, this place is incredibly close to the Tidal World... Angel paused in thought.

No, it’s not that this place is close to the Tidal World, it’s part of the Tidal World!

This is the corresponding void of the Tidal World, and according to the division plan, this indeed is the Tidal World!

Could it be that the World Will he sensed belongs to the Tidal World?

In this vast void, a wisp of the Tidal World’s World Will exists?!