Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2217: Chapter 2218: Tri-headed Lionhound

Angel was unaware of the "Three Major Wind Generals" of Storm Ridge, but he was very attentive to these three creatures, whose bodies were much larger than other wind creatures.

In terms of pure strength, the strength of other wind creatures varied greatly, with the vast majority at the peak of the apprentice level, and barely reaching the official wizard level with the aid of the swirling clouds. But only barely; their combined attack was formidable, capable of piercing through the Cloud Sea, even forcing Angel to retreat cautiously. Yet, once separated and each trapped in an illusionary realm, their strength was significantly diminished compared to their combined attack. At least Angel believed that, without external interference, he could trap them for several hours without any trouble.

However, when it comes to the Three Major Wind Generals, another standard is applied.

The Three Major Wind Generals were not only massive in size, but their energy levels also reached a level similar to Angel. Their standard was at the official wizard level. In the outside world, Angel would have had a great deal of confidence using only external illusion nodes to trap them in an illusionary realm. But now, with the Wind Element extremely dense in the Cloud Sea, he could trap them for a short period, but once they realized and recklessly absorbed the nearby Wind Element, using higher energy level attacks on the illusionary realm, they could still manage to break free quickly.

So, facing such opponents, one cannot simply rely on external illusion nodes to trap them; Heart Illusion Techniques must also be employed.

And to use the Heart Illusion Techniques, it is best not to face multiple foes at once, but to conquer them one by one.

After trapping the other wind creatures, Angel once again distanced himself and moved to a new battlefield, aiming to fulfill this objective.

Of course, the Three Major Wind Generals are not the strongest among this group of wind creatures; Hurricane is. Its strength has already reached the True Knowledge level, but it’s just a level of power; its inner state, combat experience, and way of energy utilization remain inadequate.

If Hurricane were another wizard’s elemental partner, nurtured and developed by a wizard, Angel wouldn’t dare provoke it head-on. But as it stands, Hurricane is entirely wild, and even Angel has the confidence to face it alone without falling behind; especially since facing Hurricane is Earl Mi, whose real combat power surpasses that of most True Knowledge Wizards.

With Earl Mi restraining Hurricane, Angel is very assured. Once he tackles the Three Major Wind Generals here one by one, he believes the battle should not be too difficult when facing Hurricane together then.

Angel glanced at the distant battlefield of Earl Mi, ensured that Earl Mi wouldn’t make mistakes, then focused his thoughts solely on how to neutralize the Three Major Wind Generals.

With Angel stirring up a dense mist, the Three Major Wind Generals did not yet know that the other wind creatures were already trapped in an illusionary realm and continued to chase Angel at full speed.

Once they realize and break open the surrounding illusionary realm with full force, things could get troublesome.

Therefore, Angel must resolve them one by one before they react and go to aid the other wind creatures.

Reaching a relatively wide area, Angel’s figure suddenly melded into the dense mist, disappearing for several seconds.

The Three Major Wind Generals did not think too much of it, as the surrounding mist was too thick, occasionally obstructing their vision, making appearances and disappearances a regular occurrence. This time, Angel disappearing for a few seconds was likely due to the mist’s cover; as long as the direction was correct, there would be no problem.

Sure enough, Angel’s silhouette soon reappeared ahead, prompting them to continue the chase.

They didn’t notice, due to the fog’s obstruction, that two Angels had appeared up ahead. One Angel led two wind generals to the right; the other, shrouded by the ethereal mist, was seen only by one wind general, which then unhesitatingly ran to the left.

This lone wind general was Angel’s first target to conquer individually.

After another minute of running, Angel stopped and turned to face this lone wind general.

This lone wind general was a tri-headed Lionhound. Seeing Angel stop, it slowed down as well, and in the eyes of its three heads, there was a clear expression of hatred.

The head in the center stared fixedly at Angel, "Have you finally run out of energy?"

Angel did not reply, merely saying calmly, "The time has come."

The time has come? The Tri-headed Lionhound momentarily did not grasp the meaning of this sentence until the right head suddenly spoke: "Main Head, we should notice that Chimera and Kraken are missing."

The left head also spoke: "The Tail Head is right. I sensed the surroundings; there is no presence of Chimera and Kraken, and the mist here is somewhat peculiar, with the feel of the countercurrent wind suppressed to the lowest point."

The words of both the Tail Head and the Deputy Head made the Main Head in the center start to pay attention to the surrounding environment, and sure enough, the companions were indeed missing, and the mist seemed unusual.

Tail Head: "Perhaps this is the enemy’s scheme to separate us and then defeat us individually. I suggest the Main Head should consider leaving here first, be cautious in battle."

Deputy Head: "The Tail Head makes sense, but I didn’t feel too massive an energy presence from the enemy. His strength is still unknown, so we can try probing first. Of course, Main Head, you might also choose Tail Head’s suggestion, be cautious to avoid mistakes."

The Main Head’s eyes flickered, considering the suggestions from the other two heads.

Angel witnessed their conversation, a glimmer of dark light flashing through his eyes. The reason he first chose this Tri-headed Lionhound among the Three Major Wind Generals was that during the escape, he sensed that each head had slight differences in their eyes, with the Main Head’s gaze being the fiercest, the Deputy Head’s relatively moderate, and the Tail Head’s eyes filled with the spark of wisdom.

In the Tail Head’s gaze, he vaguely saw the shadow of sages from various lands. Thus, he speculated that each head of the Tri-headed Lionhound might have its own function, with the Tail Head probably responsible for strategy.

A simple brute is not fearsome, but if a brute has a sage assisting, their role on the battlefield is far from simply one plus one equals two.

Therefore, Angel targeted this Tri-headed Lionhound as the first to be conquered.

From the conversation of the three heads, Angel was very relieved that his choice was correct; the Tail Head indeed appeared to be strategic, the Deputy Head’s wisdom was also high, but the Main Head, which controlled everything, seemed somewhat slow.

Tail Head: "My intuition tells me, if Main Head doesn’t make a decision, we might not be able to leave."

The words of the Tail Head increased the Main Head’s contemplation, yet it still had not determined its decision.

The Tail Head sighed; if Chimera and Kraken were here, they would surely heed its advice, but the Main Head was always hesitating, afraid its position would be replaced by the two Deputy Heads, so it never decided.

Deputy Head: "He’s already coming."

Only then did the Main Head suddenly lift its gaze to find the enemy indeed appeared directly in front of it, and behind the enemy, many white misty tendrils had grown. At first glance, they looked like Kraken’s tentacles, but the energy they wrapped around was even more astonishing than Kraken’s.

When those "white tendrils" swung towards the Tri-headed Lionhound, at this moment, the Main Head could no longer choose cautious combat, it suddenly swirled, using its three thick tails to brush away the white tendrils. Then, the three thick tails split into three directions, rotating wildly like turbines.

Endless flowing wind was drawn into the three turbines, then through an inexplicable transformation, these winds became powerful wind pillars, releasing from the center of the turbines.

The three turbines, with increasing time intervals, emitted wind pillars at different times. This rendered the wind pillar attack into one that could be released relentless, providing no gaps for potential defense, thus turning the Tri-headed Lionhound into an almost permanent enhanced effect: a self-propelled wind pillar cannon.

Moreover, the Tri-headed Lionhound itself can also use other abilities to attack, which forces Angel to dodge the wind pillars while grappling with the Tri-headed Lionhound.

Angel and the Tri-headed Lionhound tangled for a while and quickly discovered the source of the Tri-headed Lionhound’s abilities.

Once entering combat mode, the main head almost monopolizes all wind control abilities, while the secondary and tail heads close their eyes, only releasing various wind attacks when requested by the main head.

The reason the secondary and tail heads have their eyes closed is also discovered by Angel during their skirmishes; the main head is specifically responsible for combat, while the secondary and tail heads control the battle pace, such as the launch intervals and directions of the wind pillar turret.

In other words, the Tri-headed Lionhound’s three heads each have their role, working together. This is how it achieves the permanent enhancement of the "self-propelled wind pillar turret".

Honestly, the Tri-headed Lionhound’s abilities are quite impressive.

However, what Angel refers to as abilities isn’t the self-propelled wind pillar turret, but rather the Tri-headed Lionhound’s ability to multitask. It can simultaneously manage the Wind’s Force within its body, release, and absorb.

If this ability was developed by a Wizard, it would be enough to elevate the Tri-headed Lionhound’s combat power to an incredible level, becoming a true human cannon, washing away all obstacles with its cannon.

Nonetheless, the Tri-headed Lionhound developed the ability itself, even with the "wise" tail head, its vision and knowledge aren’t up to par, resulting in it developing this bizarre "self-propelled wind pillar turret".

It seems powerful at first glance, with endless attacks, but the weaknesses are quite obvious. Whether it’s controlling the pace or directly countering a head’s core, it can easily throw them into chaos.

Such a supreme talent ends up developing an ability like this, it’s somewhat regretful.

However, the Tri-headed Lionhound is currently an enemy, and Angel is quite grateful that their level isn’t sufficient, otherwise he would have been the one fleeing today.

After pinpointing the weakness, Angel starts to master the battle tempo and quickly initiates an attack on the Tri-headed Lionhound.

Sure enough, once the rhythm is controlled, the Tri-headed Lionhound immediately falls into disarray, but with the cooperation of the tail and secondary heads, the main head eventually regained its balance, ready to switch tactics for a new round of attack.

Judging by Angel’s speculation on the main head’s combat behavior, switching tactics would likely involve two options: enhancing technique or boosting attack power.

If it could enhance technique, it would have done so already, so it can only be increasing attack power.

As for how to increase it? It’s likely still working on that self-propelled turret.

Previously, the self-propelled turret was seamlessly connected with three turbines, allowing the wind pillar to maintain permanently; however, like that, even if the three turbines ran continuously, it was only a single wind pillar.

Angel speculates that the main head aims to enhance the attack by turning the wind pillar into two, or three?

His speculation quickly received feedback: It was correct.

The main head started releasing all three turbines, unleashing three wind pillars, instantly tripling the power.

However, upon seeing this, Angel secretly shook his head. Although the power indeed increased threefold, the three turbines must release simultaneously to achieve such an effect. From the previous battle, it is already apparent that the turbines can become fatigued. Releasing all three turbines simultaneously prevents them from rotating for rest; once the wind pillar ends, the Tri-headed Lionhound will inevitably enter a window period.

And the window period is the best time to deal with the Tri-headed Lionhound.

A minute later, the triple wind pillar gradually vanished. The Tri-headed Lionhound’s three tails at this time drooped limply behind, as if utterly drained.

At least within half a minute, the Tri-headed Lionhound could no longer release wind pillars, and this was Angel’s opportunity.

Angel exploded with terrifying energy, made several rapid advances, navigated through several gusts, and reached the Tri-headed Lionhound’s front in less than fifteen seconds.

In the main head’s horrified gaze, Angel extended his index finger and lightly tapped the main head’s brow.

—His slightly clumsy Heart Illusion could only touch at close range.

As the finger touched the brow, the pre-constructed Heart Illusion model emitted a bright glow, traveling along the magic power conduit, directly entering the Tri-headed Lionhound’s body.

With visible speed, the main head’s gaze transformed from horror to dazed, finally plunging entirely into confusion and a vacant state.

The secondary and tail heads also witnessed this scene with their own eyes, moreover, as the second and third privileges of the Tri-headed Lionhound’s body, they detected the anomaly within.

"How could this happen? What did you do?" The secondary head exclaimed.

Angel ignored the secondary head and instead looked at the tail head, whose eyes yet remained clear and spoke with silence: "Your previous advice to the main head was rather wise. However, I want to tell you, even if at that time the main head had followed your suggestion, the result would have been the same."

This statement was meant to be shared before the battle, but Angel’s experience tells him that boasting before a fight often backfires. Now that the situation is settled, saying it poses no harm.

After saying this, Angel again tapped twice, touching the brows of the secondary and tail heads.

He didn’t know if the secondary and tail heads would replace the main head as the main consciousness after it enters the Heart Illusion; to avoid mishaps, he chooses to deal with them first.

Thus, the Tri-headed Lionhound is enjoying a triple Heart Illusion addition.

Once the Tri-headed Lionhound was bewildered by the Heart Illusion, Angel felt confident enough to place the Tri-headed Lionhound into the initial outer Illusionary Realm.

The Heart Illusion isn’t easily broken; not even Hurricane or the other two Wind generals can, in a short time, summon the Tri-headed Lionhound from this outer Illusionary Realm. So, in this battle, the Tri-headed Lionhound is effectively done.

Angel watched as the Tri-headed Lionhound’s confused silhouette moved away, and he let out a brief sigh of relief.

Considering the presence of the tail head, he had been prepared to use Special Ability, but found it unexpectedly simple, managing to control it with the most rudimentary Heart Illusion.

However, had the main and tail heads switched places, resolving the matter would have been much more difficult. Yet fate played its hand; the main head of the Tri-headed Lionhound was unfortunately a brute, somewhat distrustful of the tail head, which allowed Angel an easy victory.

Having dealt with the Tri-headed Lionhound, Angel turned his gaze elsewhere.