Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2446: Chapter 2447: The Winds Rise Again

Angel was also attracted by the loud noise.

Looking in the direction of the sound, the source of the noise was the mysterious fruit on top of Number 03’s head!

The moment the fruit emitted the sound, it also shook slightly, and its peel began to turn red.

”Thump—”

The second sound, after a minute’s interval, rang out again. It still echoed across the sky, wrapped with a peculiar and terrifying wave of air, sweeping over a vast area of the sea. Furthermore, the mysterious aura, which had been suppressed and hidden by the pull of attraction all this time, started to disperse with the sound.

”This sound seems somewhat like a heartbeat?” Angel murmured softly.

Heartbeat? The Observer glanced at Angel. The metaphor was indeed fitting, but could a fruit actually have a heartbeat?

”Sir, is the fruit about to mature?” Angel asked.

The Observer pondered for a moment and said, ”Can’t be certain. It seems like it’s about to enter another metamorphosis. Maybe this metamorphosis represents a new growth phase, or perhaps, it’s about to mature.”

”So what should we do now?”

Observer: ”Nothing needs to be done, quietly wait.”

Angel nodded and didn’t ask further questions. As the Observer suggested, he quietly watched the fruit in the distance.

The fruit could undergo new changes at any time, and missing its disorder would make Angel’s return futile. Therefore, at this moment, Angel discarded all other miscellaneous information and focused solely on the mysterious fruit.

A minute later, the fruit emitted another sound.

With the loud noise falling, the power to draw the flesh and blood of sea beasts grew increasingly strong. The wave that Number 03 was standing on, originally only tens of meters high, began to slowly rise.

At this time, Number 03 was not controlling the wave, but was standing atop a crimson column of water. Beneath the column was a blood-colored sea, appearing both evil and enchanting.

More sea beasts perished, expanding the blood-red sea even farther.

The rhythmic ”Thump” sound continued to ring out. It was now both the ”heartbeat” rhythm of the mysterious fruit and the death knell for batches of sea beasts, as well as the roar boiling the sea.

Angel did not know how far the sound could influence, but in the area where they were, the whole sea was agitated, as if it were boiling water.

Blood water kept bubbling, resembling a crimson lava.

The ”Thump” sound continued, and in places beyond Angel’s sight, mysterious fluctuations spread with the boiling sea, extending beyond the Mist Belt, toward farther oceans.

This strange scene quickly caught the attention of others.

In a secret watchtower near Sidro Island, a graceful woman with purple long hair arrived at the top of the tower.

She was dressed in a fitted black evening gown, standing on the terrace at the top of the tower, gazing into the distance.

”The second time today, the sea has boiled again.” The purple-haired woman frowned: ”What on earth is happening?”

As the purple-haired woman pondered, a wave rushed at her forcefully. Her long curly purple hair flew back and her skin stretched backward with the force.

However, she did not shield herself from the wave but instead extended her spirit tendrils outward.

After a while, as the wave gradually weakened, she stood dumbfounded on the spot...

”Is this mysterious fluctuation?”

The purple-haired woman suddenly raised her head and looked intensely toward the Mist Belt, realizing that the mysterious fluctuation was coming from there.

”Such violent and uncontrolled mysterious aura doesn’t seem to be manhandled. It feels more spontaneous.”

Spontaneous?

”Could it be that after Silver Palm Island, another mysterious object is about to be born in Devil’s Sea? Or perhaps, this is the mysterious object of Silver Palm Island?”

No matter the situation, going over to take a look would reveal the truth.

The purple-haired woman waved her pale arms, with black feathers growing rapidly beneath them visible to the naked eye. The feathers were elegantly formed and long, complementing the swinging of her arms like swans intertwining in a lake.

Her wings spread out, and dressed in a dignified gown, the purple-haired woman flew into the sky. After circling twice over the watchtower, she did not fly away immediately but transmitted a sound into the tower interior: ”Helen, activate the information tower at Shaloo Ridge immediately, inform Mrs. Pe that a mysterious object might be emerging from the Mist Belt. I’m going to check the situation.”

A slightly chubby adult female walked to the watchtower window, gesturing a reassuring sign to the skyward silhouette of the swan-like woman.

”Si Man, I’ll handle this side, you be careful yourself.”

The swan-like woman, Si Man, smiled gently at her close female companion: ”Don’t worry, I won’t be reckless. If Mrs. Pe comes, remember not to confront her, and the welcoming ceremony is to kiss her toes three times... I know you might not accept it, but please, for yourself and for our future.”

Helen nodded: ”I understand.”

Si Man said no more and streaked a white mark across the night sky, flying at an unrivaled speed toward the Mist Belt.

Si Man and Helen were just a shadow of the transcendent crowd receiving the mysterious aura, and many more transcendents sensed the extensive spread of mysterious fluctuations.

Among them were also some transcendent trade guilds conducting business in Devil’s Sea.

Most of these trade guilds had backgrounds tied to the White Shell Marine Transport company. They immediately relayed the news to Sky Mechanical City.

Devil’s Sea Mist Belt suspected of a mysterious object’s emergence!

As one of the major trade hubs in Southern Domain, Sky Mechanical City diligently spread the message. It did not take long for several wizard organizations to receive the news.

Although a mysterious object is extremely significant, due to the precedent of Silver Palm Island, many wizard organizations have become more rational and did not dispatch large forces to explore.

However, a mysterious object ultimately represents profound heritage. Even though no organized expedition took place, one or two wizards were sent,

opening a Plane Corridor to the direction of the Mist Belt.

For a time, nearby the Mist Belt, transcendents began to gather sporadically.

At this moment, Sanders and others, who had just left the Mist Belt, also noticed the tense atmosphere surrounding them.

”Earlier, someone with a bird-beak mask, half of his body mechanically altered, flew over us.” Cindy spoke softly: ”I feel like he glanced at us, has he discovered us?”

Nis: ”That’s Magus Stone from the Lida Society.”

Cindy exclaimed in surprise: ”Master Magus Stone?”

This wizard is usually very low-profile, yet quite renowned, obvious from his title: member of the Research and Development Institute.

Indeed, this is a veteran Alchemy Master specializing in mechanical transformation.

”It’s him. With Illusion Demon Lord’s illusion technique concealing us, he shouldn’t have directly discovered us. However, as the leading figure in mechanical alchemy, Magus Stone is extremely sensitive to all mechanical alchemy creations. Many of the machines we use in daily life were developed by him, perhaps he sensed the mechanical aura and thus looked below.” Kanter spoke, though he had no personal ties with Magus Stone, his level allowed him to naturally understand some secrets.

”Maguston’s direction is towards the Mist Belt... He must sense something peculiar there, but he hasn’t come to investigate. It seems his desire for the Mysterious Object surpasses everything else.”

Nis squinted his eyes: ”Maguston stays in Sky Mechanical City year-round, and even he has received the news. It seems the news of that Mysterious Fruit has spread widely.”

Kanter nodded: ”Probably. The Mysterious Object has appeared again in the Devil’s Sea, and it might lead to another bloodbath like Silver Palm Island.”

Sanders said calmly: ”With the lesson from last time, not many will come. But those who do, if they don’t have the means, might end up with more casualties than last time.”

After all, the incident at Silver Palm Island involved a Mysterious Object that seemed controllable. The danger among Wizards stems more from their peers than the Mysterious Object itself.

But this time, the Mysterious Fruit seems to be falling into disorder.

For most Wizards in the Southern Domain, the term ’disordered object’ is unfamiliar, and they don’t understand its terror.

Once it enters a disordered rhythm, these Wizards might not survive.

”Regardless, many Wizards know the news, and there will likely be many entering the Mist Belt... Will Angel be affected?” Ferro sighed.

Ferro’s words caused the group’s mood to darken slightly.

In their view, Angel’s choice to return was a mistake, and he might remain there forever.

Sanders: ”Angel’s situation is different, he... probably won’t be in danger.”

”As for whether the Wizards entering will affect Angel, I personally believe it won’t. They might even help Angel.”

After all, the disordered object has not matured, and nobody knows its exact effects. The more people, the more will enter the disordered rhythm. Since time can’t reveal its effects, perhaps human sacrifice will reveal its effects and limits sooner.

Angel has Domain Field assistance, and ”external aid,” so as long as he can last until the disordered object’s effects are clarified, his chances of survival are higher than if he were alone.

These were Sanders’ thoughts, but he hadn’t shared them, as the others were unaware of Angel’s external aid.

”Don’t worry about Angel; since he made his choice, he must bear the consequences. I trust he knows what he’s doing.” Sanders paused and looked at Nis: ”By the way, Nis, aren’t you tired?”

Nis: ”???” Why would I be tired? How did this suddenly involve me?

Sanders squinted his eyes: ”I believe you should be tired.”

Nis: What do you mean ’you believe’? Shouldn’t it be ’I think’?

Ferro glanced at Sanders, then looked back at Nis, seeming to understand something: ”Yes, yes, Wizard Nis, you’ve been in the lab, facing allure; you’re definitely tired. How about a break to recharge?”

While Ferro spoke, Sanders looked into the distance, seeing another Wizard enter the Mist Belt. He muttered quietly, ”Hopefully, the Barbarian Cave folks won’t come... the Mist Belt is a giant trap now.”

With Ferro’s persuasion and Sanders’ muttering, how could Nis not understand Sanders’ intention at this point—

Go to the Wilderness of Dreams and inform the Barbarian Cave folks not to get involved with the Mist Belt; it’s a giant trap here!

Realizing this, Nis coughed twice: ”You guys are right, I am a bit tired. I’ll rest inside the Spirit Armor, just a small rest.”

With that, Nis summoned a Bone Armor Knight and lay inside the armor.

With the bone armor on, external chaotic messages vanished, and he fell into slumber.

Kanter watched this odd scene, confused: What are you doing?

Nis seemed fine, so why suddenly tired?

If anyone should be tired, it’s me, being influenced by the Mysterious Fruit’s allure for half a day!

In Kanter’s speechlessness, Sanders gently patted Kanter’s shoulder: ”Many things can’t be explained to you now, but soon, very soon, you’ll understand.”

He finished, silently adding in his heart: Of course, all of this assumes Angel returns safely.

”Let’s go, we continue forward.”

Finished speaking, a giant ship slowly sailed into the distance.

On the ship, besides Sanders and others, were many mortals.

And this ship was the Moonlight Map Bird.

...

The ”thud” sound had a rhythmic start, sounding once a minute, with each sound the fruit swells a bit, turning crimson.

As time passed, the frequency of ”thud” sounds shortened, from a minute to fifty seconds, and gradually shortened to thirty seconds.

This shortening process continued for half a day.

At the current pace, in another half day, the frequency might become once a second or even more.

By then, the fruit may enter the next stage of metamorphosis.

...

During the waiting period, no one spoke, not even Polo Ye in the distance, no longer focused on Angel, but like the others, fully attentive to the fruit’s pulsation.

Angel started similarly to others, but as more people arrived, his focus slowly shifted.

When the mysterious aura started to seep out, Angel guessed it might attract people.

But he didn’t expect more people than he had imagined.

Among them, many were familiar faces.

Like the person nearby, about twenty nautical miles away, with a bird-beak hat; Angel knew him well.

Maguston.

Being a member of the Research and Development Institute, Angel naturally knew his name.

Back when Muse nominated Angel for the Institute, Maguston was clearly a dissenter.

This wasn’t because Maguston resented Angel, but due to different stances.

Although Maguston is an Alchemist with Lida Combination Association, belonging to the Frostmoon Alliance witcher organization. Effectively, he’s part of the Frostmoon Alliance.

Angel and the Frostmoon Alliance have tension, so Maguston’s stance aligns with them.

Apart from Maguston, Angel also spotted another familiar Wizard.