Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2606: Chapter 2607: Soul of the Demon

As everyone approached the fourth narrow passage, the pale blue flames in the wall sconces suddenly surged as if doused with scalding lamp oil.

In just an instant, the flames soared to a height of two or three meters, then, like a painter’s sketch, the outlines of two human-like creatures were delineated by the pale blue flames.

”Such strong malice...” Angel murmured.

”If the undead didn’t have such strong malice, they wouldn’t be undead,” Dox responded.

”No, this kind of malice feels different, this aura...” Angel spoke halfway and didn’t continue, instead narrowing his eyes and staring intently at the two human-like silhouettes, secretly guessing their identities.

Undoubtedly undead. That was the consensus among all the Official Wizards present.

When these two were still mimicking fire, they had already felt the heavy presence of death. The fire in the sconces was clearly undead fire mimicked by the undead.

However, Angel had seen many undead and was familiar with their aura. It was a kind of pure and direct malice, whereas the malice in front of them felt mixed with a different kind of aura.

This aura seemed familiar to Angel.

While Angel was pondering, the left undead’s half body already started emerging from the mimicry fire, seemingly eager to attack them.

Yet everyone was stunned as they looked at this half-emerged undead.

They had originally thought it was a human undead, but unexpectedly, it was the undead of a fallen human-like creature.

This undead had two huge fan-like ears, and its nose resembled a sliced onion with two black dots on it. Simply put, it was... a pig’s nose.

As for the other parts, they appeared similar to humans, but felt somewhat different, although even Dox couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the difference lay at the moment.

Dox shifted his gaze to the slate in Vay’s hand, hesitating whether to inquire about the Black Earl.

However, before Dox could speak, Angel’s voice had already reached everyone’s ears.

”Demon souls...”

Everyone was stunned, especially Dox, who pointed at the pig-headed creature clawing its way out on the other side and said, ”You mean this pig-headed thing was a demon when alive?”

”Yes, to be precise, a Half-Blood Demon.” Angel paused, ”If you think the one here doesn’t resemble it, you can look at the one on the right.”

Dox followed Angel’s finger pointing to the right sconce. The one on the left was eager to emerge, but due to struggling, only revealed half its body; the one on the right was not in haste and gracefully stepped out from the pale blue flames, its movements leisurely and elegant.

Soon, the undead on the right emerged first. Its appearance still resembled a human, but its pupils and eye whites were inverted, and behind its ears grew conspicuous curled horns.

Moreover, a black demon tail hung behind it.

”This is...” Dox had been to the Abyss but hadn’t had much contact with demons. First, the overall power of demons was too strong; second, Dox mainly visited surface Stronghold Cities, where mostly Little Demons resided nearby.

So, even though the one on the right showed demon traits, he still couldn’t identify what kind of demon it was.

”A hybrid of a curled-horn demon and Abyssal Natives,” Angel said softly.

Dox recalled the demon anthology and indeed, the horns on this seemingly elegant undead matched those of a curled-horn demon.

Dox then pointed at the one on the left and asked, ”And what kind of demon hybrid is this pig-headed one?”

”Pig Demon People,” Angel said confidently.

”Pig Demon People, just by the name it sounds weak, probably similar to the Barbarian pig-headed ones, thriving through prolific reproduction?” Dox muttered.

”I seem to recall hearing an adult mention Pig Demon People some years ago.” Suddenly, Vay spoke up, ”It was said they fought Monty in a battle?”

Pig Demon People able to battle Monty? The disdain everyone initially felt for Pig Demon People vanished in an instant.

Who was Monty? A Third Level True Knowledge wizard, the strongest in the Southern Domain. If able to battle Monty, Pig Demon People must be high-order demons, surely?

”If you cannot remember what I said, you might as well shut your mouth.” The Black Earl’s voice sounded from the slate.

”L-Lord, did I say something wrong again?” Vay stammered, unsure.

The Black Earl snorted, unwilling to respond.

At this point, Angel chimed in, ”What the Black Earl mentioned probably refers to Morheim.”

Upon hearing the name Morheim, Vay and Kaier showed no particular reaction, but Dox appeared solemn.

The name Morheim was renowned throughout the Wizards’ Realm, a name so intimidating it invoked fear upon mention.

The reason for its famed reputation was because it had been involved in an epic and documented battle with Monty, acknowledged as the Southern Domain’s strongest.

That battle ended with Monty victorious and Morheim fleeing, albeit sacrificing an eye.

Due to that battle, Morheim became famous throughout the Wizards’ Realm, known as an untouchable figure with a slender, pale appearance and a curly tail behind.

”Yes, I only casually mentioned that some suspect Morheim to be a Pig Demon People, not that Pig Demon People battled Monty.” The Black Earl said, glaring with flared nostrils at Vay.

Embarrassed, Vay scratched his head, ”It seems that’s right, I-I remembered wrong.”

If Vay had been correct, everyone would have taken Pig Demon hybrids more seriously. Now, knowing the truth, they sighed in relief.

However, at this point, Angel spoke up in support of Vay, ”Actually, Vay wasn’t wrong either.”

Surprised by being named, Vay gazed at Angel in disbelief; Angel looked at the Black Earl. ”Morheim is indeed a Pig Demon People.”

”How can you be so sure? Even Monty, who obtained Morheim’s left eye, couldn’t confirm its identity.” The Black Earl seemed puzzled as to why Angel was so certain.

”I saw Morheim once in the Abyss,” Angel said. ”I’m sure it’s a Pig Demon People.”

As for how he confirmed it, Angel didn’t elaborate, as it would involve talking about his store in Lassudral and Fafnir the Abyssal Dragon, making the explanation tedious.

”You saw Morheim and survived?” Dox asked in amazement.

Angel lazily replied, ”Yes, I saw Morheim, and I’ve seen the Lord of the Flameless too, and I’m alive and well, what’s the big deal?”

Dox suddenly didn’t know what to say, vaguely recalling Angel’s notorious gossip: ”Nothing, just curious, curious.”

The Black Earl didn’t question further how Angel ascertained it, merely said flatly, ”Morheim’s species being confirmed is indeed quite significant news.”

”Too bad, even if you submit it, no one would believe it. Otherwise, this manuscript fee would be worth several hundred Magic Crystals, right?” Dox casually inserted.

Everyone: ...This must be what you’re really thinking. Otherwise, why are you so fixated on the manuscript fee?

Seeing the strange looks from the crowd, Dox remained unfazed, even cheekily stating, ”Yes, that’s exactly what I think. After all, Angel doesn’t lack those Magic Crystals, but I do! However... it’s frustrating, what I say has no proof or weight, no one would believe it.”

While everyone was shocked at Dox’s thick skin, an ignored Demon Soul suddenly spoke.

”The people here this time are even more reckless than the last time. Little pig, you might as well stop struggling, since you’ll have to let them pass eventually.”

The speaker was a Demon Soul with curled horns.

Hearing the undead suddenly speak, and with a clear logic at that, the conversations halted instantly, with all eyes on this Half-Blood Demon.

”You... can talk?” Dox looked at the Demon Soul in confusion.

”To ask such a question suggests that the study of Demon Souls and undead by latter-day Wizards is far from adequate.” The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon spoke in a tone similar to humans, even with an old-fashioned noble flavor, which matched its elegant demeanor.

”Do you know what was once at the end of this road?”

Angel: ”Hanging Jail Stairway?”

Curly-horned Half-Blood Demon: ”You, a rude person, seem to know quite a lot.”

Rude person? Angel looked puzzled, when did he become rude?

The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon said, ”Since you know it’s the Hanging Jail Stairway behind, you should understand that we, as guards, cannot be the kind of undead that can’t distinguish right from wrong.”

”Of course, little pig might be a bit dumb, but it listens very well, especially to me.”

Following the gaze of the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon, the crowd noticed that the pig-headed Half-Blood Demon, which had struggled previously, was now restored with flames, quietly burning on the wall’s candle holder, truly resembling a fire.

”Now, you can proceed.” The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon gestured for the crowd to move forward.

”You’re the guard, you’re just letting us in?” Angel asked.

”My loyal Dominator has left, this city has turned to ruins, Hanging Jail Stairway no longer needs guarding, so my guard duties are temporarily over.”

”Temporarily over? Do you mean Naraku City has a chance to regain its glory someday?”

Curly-horned Half-Blood Demon: ”Rude person, and other visitors, I know your hearts have many questions, just like visitors hundreds and thousands of years ago, but unfortunately, I won’t answer any of them.”

”No need to threaten me; through these ten thousand years, little pig and I haven’t been extinguished, and there’s a reason for that, at least here, you cannot kill me. Of course, I can’t harm you either. So please, move forward, don’t waste time on me.”

Dox frowned deeply, this curly-horned Half-Blood Demon was polite throughout, yet truly irksome.

”Just an undead, couldn’t kill you, can’t I exile you?” Dox muttered quietly.

The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon across smiled faintly, without moving.

Angel held Dox back: ”It’s bound with the whole Magical Energy Array. As long as the array is intact, they won’t die. If you use Exile Technique, the array will directly rebound to you, and the exiled will be you, not it.”

The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon glanced at Angel: ”Looks like I need to praise again, rude person, you know a lot.”

Angel: ”However, the Magical Energy Array is both their protective shell and their shackle lock.”

Angel paused, looking at the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon: ”You and your partner’s activity range shouldn’t be very large.”

”The meaning of guarding is to protect and defend, not to chase and kill.” Curly-horned Half-Blood Demon, ”Therefore, there’s no need for a large activity range.”

”Being trapped here for ten thousand years, don’t you feel bored?”

Curly-horned Half-Blood Demon slightly curled its lips: ”Are you trying to use this topic to make me talk? I said, I won’t tell you anything. As for boredom or not, like those two Gargoyles ahead, once asleep, they don’t care about boredom.”

”Turns out undead can sleep too?” Dox interjected, but no one paid him any mind.

At this moment, Black Earl spoke: ”Have you heard of Mirror Demon God?”

Curly-horned Half-Blood Demon: ”What, you won’t give up questioning? I said, I won’t answer your questions.”

Angel: ”Then you should recognize Franklin?”

The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon raised its brows: ”Do I need to praise this rude person a third time? You know plenty.”

After speaking, the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon fell silent again.

Everyone watched the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon with a sense of helplessness.

If they could beat it, making it behave, it would be better than this.

Because the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon, having stayed in Naraku City for ten thousand years, certainly knows lots of secrets, but now we can’t fight or ask anything out, which is very frustrating.

Among them, Angel was the most helpless, because he could sense emotional fluctuations. Though the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon seemed to be conversing with them back and forth, it had no emotional fluctuation.

Even when mentioning Franklin, the former Dominator of Hanging Jail Stairway, there was no emotional rise in the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon.

It is a tough character.

Angel pondered for a moment: ”Seems like you can see through our tricks, alright, we’ll leave immediately, wish you and your companion a sweet dream. But before leaving, I have one last question.”

Just when the curly-horned Half-Blood Demon was about to refuse, Angel quickly continued:

”Rest assured, I won’t ask you anything about here, I ask a personal question... why do you call me a rude person?”

Indeed, Angel had given up on further questioning, not wanting to waste more time here, especially as Black Earl just informed him in the Mind Ribbon that there was an issue with the scent location.

Thus, Angel genuinely intended to leave, but before departing, he felt a bit indignant.

Others were just visitors, why did he become a rude person?

”Do you care about this question?”

Angel nodded: ”I do care. So, you decided not to answer, letting my mind itch?”

The curly-horned Half-Blood Demon chuckled, ”No, I won’t answer other questions, but this question, I’m more than happy to explain.”