Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2453: Chapter 2454: The Final Step

Angel observed Maguston carefully, trying to see how he resisted the fruit’s allure.

However, after observing for a while, he couldn’t discern any trick.

It wasn’t that Angel’s observational skills were weak, but the current situation didn’t allow him to extend his spiritual tendrils, making it hard to fully understand with just sensory observation.

Yet, even though nothing was apparent externally, Angel vaguely felt a familiar yet unfamiliar aura quietly emanating from Maguston’s position.

"A very faint mysterious aura," Angel muttered to himself, detecting a slight mysterious aura on Maguston.

Compared to the overwhelming waves emitted by the Mysterious Fruit, the mysterious aura on Maguston was as weak as a leaf boat in a storm, perpetually on the brink of destruction.

"Is it a Mysterious Object? A Mysterious Object that can ward off attraction?"

Angel continued to analyze, and just as he finished speaking, the Observer beside him said, "It’s rare to find a Mysterious Object specifically targeted against another Mysterious Object in this world."

Does such a Mysterious Object exist? Naturally, it does. However, such a coincidence occurring at this moment was something the Observer did not believe.

"Then how does Maguston ward off the attraction?" Angel asked curiously.

The Observer glanced lightly at Maguston, a formless distortion flashed in his eyes.

After a while, the Observer withdrew his gaze: "It’s not a complete Mysterious Object, just a failed product, or rather, a semi-finished product."

"Half-step Mystic?"

"If you wish to call it that, so be it." The Observer nodded indifferently, "Moreover, this semi-finished product is not specifically for warding off the attraction. It’s aimed at space, and it seems to stabilize and isolate a part of the space."

The Observer paused and continued, "However, simply isolating space doesn’t eliminate the attraction; it can only reduce part of it. The reason he’s held on until now is because of the Body of Falsehood."

Angel: "Body of Falsehood? Did Maguston hide in the gap between the Void and reality?"

The Observer nodded, "Yes, he’s using the effect of the semi-finished product to isolate space, temporarily reducing the attraction, allowing him to employ the Body of Falsehood. Upon forcefully entering the false state, the influence of the attraction is naturally limited."

So that is how it is. Angel nodded in sudden understanding.

It’s a decent method. Although not as one-off as President Zhuguang’s, entering the false state not only lets Maguston evade the attraction but also allows him to return to reality at any time, making his influence on the Material Realm far more significant than leaders like Zhuguang. However, the Spell Technique of the Body of Falsehood is fairly simple for Space Mages, but for mages of other branches, it’s quite challenging. Maguston managed it because he inherently possesses a space-related talent, something difficult for others to replicate.

"Perhaps he saw the state of Zhuguang and the others over there and thought of using the Body of Falsehood to evade the attraction." The Observer speculated on Maguston’s line of reasoning, admiring his adaptive thinking. However, amidst his admiration, there was a tinge of regret in his eyes: "But while this method allows him to escape from the attraction, it isn’t sustainable."

"After using the Body of Falsehood, maintaining the physical body in the gap of the Void requires excessive computing power, which is extremely draining on the mind. Magic Power and spiritual power can be replenished by other means, but the mental drain is hard to compensate for in a short period."

In other words, it is almost impossible for Maguston to maintain the Body of Falsehood continuously.

Currently, he’s caught in a predicament where if his mind can’t hold up, he will inevitably fall back to reality. Once back in reality, he surely faces death.

It’s a deadlock unless Maguston can return at the moment when the Mysterious Fruit surpasses its limit and advances to the rank of Disorderly Object, then forcibly open the Plane Corridor to escape, giving him a slim chance of survival.

However, seizing the right moment isn’t easy; moreover, whether Maguston can hold on until that moment is uncertain.

Time continues to pass.

"I’m unwilling, I’m unwilling—" A loud shout echoed from afar, coming from a mage situated near the periphery.

His roar did not signify a chance at survival; it indicated that he had reached his limit.

Mages who could still hold on wouldn’t casually speak, not wanting to release that breath of tenacity in their hearts.

Sure enough, after this mage’s angry roar, the clarity in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by crimson. At that moment, he seemed like a red-eyed demon, striding rapidly towards the Mysterious Fruit.

The outcome was self-evident, the blood rain blossoming all around said it all.

Before this, many mages had already died, but his death was still symbolic.

Because his name was Modi.

From the Heavenly Tree, known as the "Wheel Warlock" of the famous "Flower and Moon," importantly, he was a... True Knowledge Wizard.

Even though Modi had only just managed to step onto the path of True Knowledge, with his potential almost exhausted, leaving little room for advancement, he was still a True Knowledge Wizard, the first to die in this upheaval.

His death became a flag demarcating dawn from dusk. Clearly telling others that the sky had changed.

Even True Knowledge Wizards had no chance of escape in this bloody feast.

The despair surged rapidly through most of those remaining due to Modi’s death.

In this ever-oscillating uncertainty, with no clear path ahead, several other mages could no longer hold on, their eyes turning red as they charged resolutely towards the Mysterious Fruit.

Once the dam of death breached again, it wasn’t merely one or two that were overwhelmed. More mages followed in Modi’s footsteps.

The Mysterious Fruit grew even more radiant.

The red light it emitted was as dreamlike as a jewel transcended.

But this jewel-like radiance appeared to others as a deadly yet beguiling poison.

Watching this scene before him, Angel heaved a deep sigh: Previously, he thought that with President Zhuguang’s persuasion, perhaps the crowd here would largely disperse.

Indeed, they were largely diminished.

However, this "diminished" wasn’t leaving the Mist Belt but had entirely departed from the world.

In mere minutes, only two or three out of ten remained, and in the foreseeable future, even these remaining mages would further dwindle, until everything settled down.

Thump—Thump—

The rapid heartbeat sounded from the Mysterious Fruit.

Its frequency almost reached a beat per second, and a thick white mist began to swirl around the Mysterious Fruit, distorting the surrounding air.

Seeing this, Angel and the Observer almost immediately judged, "The Mysterious Fruit is about to mature!"

Not only they had this insight, but others also discerned some clue.

"It seems like the situation is about to change," said Diescher, breaking the long-standing silence that had settled over them after watching one wizard after another die.

Even Rivetta, whose abilities were limited, could see that the Mysterious Fruit was undergoing Transmutation: "Is it changing for the better?"

"Whether it’s for the better or worse, I don’t know," Diescher paused, glancing slightly towards Angel and Polo Ye, and whispered, "Perhaps only ’they’ know..."

Diescher’s judgment was based on the current reality.

For so long, the hidden figures hadn’t made a move at all. Diescher’s analysis was that their hesitation actually meant the "time was not yet ripe."

Since the hidden figures believed it wasn’t time, it indicated they had some understanding of the Mysterious Fruit.

They must be waiting for a certain change, waiting for the moment when the "timing" is right.

And now, with a slight change in the state of the fruit, perhaps that’s the moment they’ve been waiting for.

"Do you have any thoughts, Lord Zhuguang?" Diescher turned to look at Chairman Zhuguang.

Chairman Zhuguang shook his head: "No thoughts, but regardless of the ultimate direction, as long as there’s a change, it’s ultimately good."

In his heart, Chairman Zhuguang leaned more towards "the worse," but he felt that even if it got worse, as long as it changed, it was a chance.

Before the Mysterious Fruit underwent Transmutation, it was a continuous stream of deaths, with no resistance at all.

Perhaps with the change in the Mysterious Fruit, the wizards present would have more chances to survive. Even if it turned worse, as long as there’s change, there’s a chance to find life amidst chaos.

Angel also heard Chairman Zhuguang and the others’ conversation. To those who were unaware of the truth, seeking life through change and survival amidst chaos seemed to be the only hope in the current tense situation.

But, the so-called survival amidst chaos here, the "chaos" is actually an orderly chaos. Only in this way can life be found within the pattern of order.

What they didn’t expect was that before the Mysterious Fruit matured, it was orderly. The "chaos" after the fruit matured would be true disorder.

At that time, even the Observer, even Polo Ye, and Gluz Deward wouldn’t have absolute confidence in surviving.

Everything depended on what effects would occur once the Mysterious Fruit lost its order.

Everyone was waiting for the moment when the Mysterious Fruit underwent Transmutation; however, what they didn’t expect was that the Mysterious Fruit was on the verge of "change" but never took that further step.

"Just missing that final kick, shoo loo~"

A soft and tender voice came from afar.

Only to see Polo Ye’s form emerging from hiding, immediately drawing the attention of Chairman Zhuguang and the others. They had always assumed that the big shot with the pink tentacle was a massive creature, but when it finally appeared, it turned out to be a pink octopus, cute and doll-like with a voice like a baby.

Seeing Polo Ye’s appearance, Rivetta even had a small red love heart in her eyes... This was her favorite style.

"Do not belittle, do not stare directly, maintain respect, and maintain awe," Chairman Zhuguang hurriedly whispered.

Rivetta quickly realized and lowered her head. Polo Ye wasn’t some doll, but a big shot capable of easily dragging the Cloud Whale and smashing it against the Mysterious Fruit— a terrifying existence.

Polo Ye didn’t mind Chairman Zhuguang and the others’ hushed conversation, it didn’t even focus its attention on them.

It merely stared intently at the Observer’s location.

"Observer, you don’t want to wait forever, right? Why not let me save you some time, shoo loo shoo loo~"

The Observer’s voice drifted out from the twisted domain, not only reaching Polo Ye’s ears but also the ears of everyone present: "I warned you, don’t overstep bounds in the Southern Domain. Whatever you want, you can take, but once you cross the line, you will naturally suffer the consequences."

"If you really want to speed things up, don’t you have a bargaining chip in hand? Didn’t you come to the Southern Domain to capture him?"

The Observer’s words to Polo Ye revealed to everyone that there was more than one hidden big shot present.

Moreover, from the Observer’s tone, it seemed he was trying to protect the lives of other wizards, while Polo Ye, who came from the "Outer Domain," clearly didn’t share the same agenda as those present.

This judgment made Rivetta involuntarily cast a look of joy towards Angel and the others’ location.

The existence named "Observer," could it become a breakthrough for the other wizards present?

The answer is... no.

Even though the Observer stopped Polo Ye from killing to fill the "final kick," as an Observer, he had no reason to assist those present.

If he really wanted to help, he wouldn’t have stood by and watched so many wizards die.

Polo Ye: "Shoo loo~ I didn’t expect you to remember him~"

The Observer sneered softly, without responding.

Polo Ye extended two tentacles, making a gesture of "helplessness": "Alright, I was planning on bringing him back to Phantom Spirit City, handing him over to Lord of the City for punishment. Alas, shoo loo, but now that things are so deadlocked, and you won’t let me kill anyone, I’ll use him as the last brick before the fortress is built."

Polo Ye spoke pitifully, but in reality, it didn’t care about 01’s life or death at all.

The reason it captured 01 was originally to test the Mysterious Fruit. However, its plan was to use 01 to test the disorderly Mysterious Fruit, but now since it still lacks a bit, using 01 to fill the gap isn’t impossible.

After speaking, Polo Ye pulled out the bound 01 from the shadows.

Seeing himself about to be thrown out, 01 quickly said, "Wait, I still have value!"

Polo Ye: "Value? What value?"

01: "I, I...I can provide intelligence on the Lacey Association."

Polo Ye chuckled: "Shoo loo, the Lacey Association? Just that?"

The Lacey Association is indeed a secret organization, but compared to the Phantom Spirit City, it’s far inferior. A giant looking at the sky would hardly care about a dwarf at its feet.

Seeing that Polo Ye seemed ready to toss him out again, 01 hurriedly said, "Wait a minute!"

"What do you want to say now?"

01’s eyes rolled, sweat forming on his forehead, but he couldn’t think of a reasonable excuse. Just as 01 was about to despair, he suddenly looked into the distance.

"Sir, look over there, over there, a wizard can’t hold on any longer, at most one minute!"