Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2334: Chapter 2335: New Mirror Image

Angel walked in the gusty Earth Cavern.

The increasingly dense death aura seemed to have transformed into shadow creatures, constantly howling, rolling, surging, with the misty black smoke like monster claws repeatedly trying to invade the area around Angel, testing the final threshold.

However, under the effect of the Purifying Field, all death aura was blocked, and no black fog could approach Angel.

Angel passed the rectangular stone platform and slowly walked to the center of the Earth Cavern.

Stepping up the stone stairs, it seemed like there were haunting screams in his ears.

As he reached the top of the altar, the screams grew nearer, as if they were right behind him.

Angel did not turn around.

But if someone were here at this moment, they would clearly see, behind Angel stood a gloomy woman whose long black hair covered most of her face. She tilted her head, her hair slanted to reveal her frightening red eyes.

Staring intensely at Angel, her bony and pale hand, with pitch-black nails, extended, probing toward Angel’s back.

No matter what movements the woman made, Angel still did not turn around, only slightly leaning forward, gazing at the stone slab on the altar.

”Hmm.” Angel suddenly let out a sound of surprise.

The woman behind him froze instantly, as if terrified, and immediately retreated into the black mist of death aura, her figure merging with the mist, watching Angel with those scarlet eyes.

Angel reached out to touch the stone slab on the altar, the symbols and patterns on it clearly visible.

”A concentric circle, hexagon... most importantly, the characteristic symbol of the Steven Safety Zone.” Angel murmured: ”Unexpectedly, ’you’ really achieved this step.”

As Angel spoke the term ”you,” the endless black hair of the woman in the black mist instantly rose, just like a black cat whose tail was stepped on, fur bristling, letting out a piercing scream, enveloping in rolling black mist, rushing, waving the sharp black nails, darting towards Angel.

It was only then that Angel slowly turned around.

Watching the black-haired woman rushing toward him, he showed no reaction. Even when the sharp nails touched his chest, he did not move.

The black-haired woman passed through his body.

Then with a ”thud,” the mist constituting the black-haired woman vanished instantly. Yet Angel remained unaffected.

Angel sighed lightly: ”Your illusion technique is lacking, the undead are composed of mixed soul energy, covering merely with a layer of death aura outside hasn’t created any energy fluctuations, probably can’t even fool David.”

”However, better than yesterday’s attempt, at least you understand to accept my advice, knowing that attacking would cause energy leakage, stirring up the death aura.”

Angel’s voice spread within the empty cavern, seemingly teaching the illusion technique, but the presence lurking in the darkness didn’t listen at all, staring viciously at Angel on the altar with scarlet eyes.

Clearly only emitting the green light of death aura, yet standing on the altar, Angel was as brilliant as the scorching sun, making it both hate and fear.

Angel’s head slowly turned towards a certain direction, still speaking: ”I’ve found you. That gaze wasn’t controlled well, easily discovered~”

Angel looked at the part where the black mist was rolling, clearly feeling that the malicious gaze was coming from there.

”I’ll give you another chance. Hope this time, won’t let me down.”

Having said that, Angel didn’t enter the black mist of death aura, but continued to turn his head, watching the patterns on the stone platform.

Though he appeared calm, internally he was actually quite surprised.

Those two bizarre symbols like worms were surprisingly replicated by ’Mirror Grudge.’

Indeed, the presence hidden in the darkness was the captured ’Mirror Grudge.’ And here wasn’t the real Earth Cavern, it was actually a mirrored space created by the Mirror Grudge.

To study the abilities of the Mirror Grudge, Angel brought multiple mirrors to the Earth Cavern, then released the Mirror Grudge, intending to directly experience the capabilities of the Mirror Grudge itself.

Every time, Angel would enter the mirrored space, feeling the atmosphere here, trying to analyze its underlying logic.

In previous encounters, the Mirror Grudge would directly attack Angel, but each time it was easily suppressed by Angel.

Even though Mirror Grudge’s intelligence was extremely low, after being suppressed multiple times, it realized Angel wasn’t easy to deal with and started looking for other methods. Thus, it created various illusions to probe, like the previous black-haired woman which was a manufactured illusion.

While the Mirror Grudge was probing Angel, Angel was consistently exploring the inner workings of the mirrored space.

Today, before entering the mirrored space, Angel had a sudden idea, and in the real Earth Cavern, he put the stone slab back on the altar, wanting to see if the Mirror Grudge could replicate the stone slab through the mirror simulation of the cavern environment.

As it turned out, the mirrored space truly simulated every detail of the Earth Cavern. Even the symbol of the Steven Safety Zone was replicated on the stone slab.

This really surprised Angel. Even Angel using illusions couldn’t restore these two symbols within illusions, yet the Mirror Grudge managed somehow.

Was it due to the mirrored space? Or because of its undead nature?

Angel leaned towards the former.

After all, Frode is also a soul, and he couldn’t remember that symbol. In essence, Mirror Grudge and Frode are quite similar, if Frode couldn’t remember, how could Mirror Grudge?

Therefore, it must be related to the mirrored space.

This was the first capability Angel saw outside of the ’Dream Conch’ that could restore Quest World’s text.

Although many questions remained unanswered, today’s achievement was significant; this is a unique ability belonging to the mirrored space. Gather more data, and bit by bit, analyze, ultimately grasp the true underlying logic of the mirrored space.

Angel observed the stone slab for about three minutes before retracting his gaze.

”I’ve given you some time to prepare. This time, what surprises will you bring me?” Angel muttered lowly, while turning to walk down the staircase.

Thirty-six steps on the staircase, Angel walked very slowly, regrettably, until landing, the Mirror Grudge didn’t take action against him.

”More cautious now.” Angel considered: ”Is it an improvement in battle wisdom, or the restoration of spiritual body awareness?”

Probably the former.

It’s incredibly difficult for undead to possess consciousness. Not every undead has Mandhela’s luck.

Mirror Grudge didn’t take action, Angel was unconcerned, continuing to stroll through this mirrored space.

After wandering in the Earth Cavern for a while, the Mirror Grudge still didn’t take the bait.

”Is it hiding in another cavern?” Angel murmured, heading towards the only entrance and exit of the cavern.

Just like back when Mirror Grudge controlled Little Sem in Star Lake Castle, the cavern it created is actually multiple, if numbered, cavern number 1, cavern number 2, cavern number 3...it can be numbered up to cavern number 9.

Creating 9 mirrored spaces is the Mirror Grudge’s capacity limit, though there are only 9, the Mirror Grudge can make them exist in a circular form, so those ignorant of the truth entering the mirrored space will endlessly cycle through the 9 mirrored spaces, believing this is an infinite mirrored world.

However, Angel had already figured out the maximum capability of the Mirror Grudge, so even if he stepped into the circular earth cavern, he wouldn’t get lost.

What’s more, Angel was an Illusionist Wizard. Although the mirror space possessed spatial properties, it was more significantly an illusion, so finding a way out was not difficult for Angel.

As he walked to the entrance, there lay a long narrow passage behind him.

Based on his experiences from the past few days, walking through this narrow passage should lead to another earth cavern.

”Let’s temporarily call it Earth Cavern No. 2... will you be hiding in Earth Cavern No. 2?”

Angel stepped into the long narrow passage.

Upon entering the passage, Angel noticed something amiss. Typically, the passage was at most a dozen meters long, allowing one to see the other end’s cavern mirror image.

But this time, as Angel entered the passage, he found it stretching on endlessly, shrouded in darkness with no signs of an exit.

”Has the mirror space been altered?” Angel mused, ”Interesting, could this be a new operational logic of the mirror space?”

He had already explored the basic logic of the mirror space over the past few days, and now he needed to seek deeper, undiscovered logic.

Therefore, instead of feeling fear when seeing a passage different from the past few days, Angel felt a growing interest.

Tap tap tap—

After walking for about half a minute, Angel saw the exit of the passage.

The pale moonlight shone on the ground, revealing a deep and silent forest ahead.

However, on either side of the forest were towering dark trees and steep cliffs, and the only road was engulfed in a black mist, obscuring its ultimate destination.

Standing at the exit, Angel closed his eyes and took a deep breath, clearly sensing the flow of air and the lingering scent among the trees.

”Almost deceiving... no, this could be real.” Angel thought, ”The mirror has projected the real world, creating this mirror space.”

”That is to say, the mirror space can be more than just the scene projected by the current mirror.”

If the scene was according to the current mirror’s projection, then the mirror space would only show earth caverns. The appearance of a forest here meant that the mirror space didn’t have to reflect the mirror’s image.

This was a new operational logic.

”Where could this forest be?” Angel pondered, observing the surrounding plants, ”It doesn’t seem like it’s in the Central Empire, or even in this season.”

The mirror space must have real-world counterparts, existing somewhere in reality. It was likely a place the Mirror Grudge had experienced.

Creating such a mirror space intentionally might suggest that it believed this was the place where there was a chance to overturn its fate.

Angel emerged from the passage, glanced at the towering cliff walls on either side... he could fly up if he wanted, but there was no need.

He wanted to see what ”surprise” the Mirror Grudge might have for him.

So, Angel proceeded along the only road.

The ubiquitous fog shrouded this path. However, Angel noticed there were no energy fluctuations within the fog, nor any oppressive scent of death; this was likely natural fog.

Or rather, when the mirror projected this real-world scene into the mirror space, there was already fog present.

Angel traversed this narrow, winding road for several minutes, seeing no sign of attack, not even a shadow of the Mirror Grudge.

Until Angel arrived at a lakeside meadow, where he finally discovered the presence of the Mirror Grudge.

This was a lake surrounded by dense, dusky forests. The lake was vast, its surface darkly shadowed, with fog still lingering but slightly thinned by the lake breeze.

Standing by the lakeside, Angel could see an island in the center of the lake.

While he couldn’t clearly discern the situation on the island, he could sense chaotic death auras emanating from it.

Within the aura of death was a malicious, cruel gaze directed at Angel.

Without a doubt, the Mirror Grudge was on the island in the lake.

Angel speculated that something tricky must be on that island; otherwise, the Mirror Grudge wouldn’t go to great lengths to construct such a mirror space and intentionally lead Angel there.

Nevertheless, even if Angel suspected the island might pose problems, he felt no fear and directly stepped into the lake.

Given his abilities, the lake water posed no obstacle to Angel; he simply walked across the surface.

Soon, Angel viewed the full outline of the island.

Contrary to the perilous scenario he imagined, the island was very small, visible in its entirety at a glance.

The island lacked any vegetation, a barren expanse, with only a circular, layered stone platform.

Along the edge of this circular stone platform, at intervals, stood tall, decayed poles, each with a human head hanging from it.

There were six poles in total, five of which had heads hanging on them.

The scene appeared exceptionally gruesome.

The Mirror Grudge stood in the center of the stone platform, glaring malevolently at Angel.

”Yet another sacrificial platform, another human sacrifice ceremony.” Just by looking at the setup of the stone platform, Angel discerned it was a site for an evil ritual.

”Is this the sacrifice you’ve orchestrated in Dawn Town of the Silver Covenant Mainland?” Angel regarded the Mirror Grudge.

Of course, the Mirror Grudge couldn’t reply.

Angel surveyed the sacrificial platform, his gaze settling on the sole pole without a head: ”Is that place prepared for Little Sam?”

Upon hearing Little Sam’s name, the Mirror Grudge’s resentment surged, its dark aura becoming visibly pronounced.

”It seems so.” Angel nonchalantly observed the Mirror Grudge’s change, continuing, ”But unfortunately, Little Sam is not one of those slaves you can manipulate at will.”

The aura surrounding the Mirror Grudge grew even more terrifying.

Angel, seemingly oblivious, continued at his own pace: ”You stayed here, not fleeing or escaping. Do you think here you have certainty of victory?”

”Why is that? Do you think this sacrificial platform can grant you power?”

”What could be the source of that power?”