Chapter 1563
Chapter 1563: Section 1564 Transformation Chapter 1563: Section 1564 Transformation Greya touched Toby, who was perched on her shoulder as an ornament, and said to Sanders, “Last night, as soon as Angel returned, he handed Toby over to me and secluded himself, saying he was preparing to transplant the skin of a Transforming Soft-bodied Insect.”
As she spoke, Greya glanced back at the wall clock, where the time pointed to twelve noon: “According to the time, it should be ending now, right?”
Sanders was taken aback for a moment upon hearing it all started last night. He walked slowly to the wall clock, stared at the time for a while, and then spun around to sit on the sofa.
Greya looked at Sanders with confusion: “What's wrong, do you need him for something?”
Sanders nodded: “Indeed, I do have some matters to discuss with him.”
However, Sanders did not specify what these matters were. As an outsider, Greya didn't think it appropriate to pry further, and the topic seemed to come to a close there. She wanted to bring up other topics to avoid the awkward atmosphere, but Sanders was almost silent, occasionally responding with a “Hmm” to her attempts at conversation.
Greya endured the dull atmosphere for ten minutes before deciding not to continue any longer.
Though one could respond to coldness with coldness, there was no need for it.
Just as Greya was about to find an excuse to leave, Sanders suddenly spoke up: “Don't you find it tiring, being like this?”
Greya's face filled with confusion at his nonsensical remark: “How am I? Tired? I'm not tired. Or are you talking about… being emotionally tired? Indeed, I felt a bit drained after watching the shadow box plays.”
While speaking, Greya kept her gaze on Sanders and noticed that although he was speaking to her, his eyes were not looking at her, but seemingly through her at someone else behind her.
Greya turned her head in suspicion.
There was nobody behind her–just a decorative iron stand and a mechanical wall clock with a copper pendulum.
“Are you talking to me?” Greya asked.
Sanders's gaze remained quietly on something beyond her, and after a full two minutes, Greya heard a rustling noise from behind.
Was there really someone behind her? Startled, Greya looked back in surprise.
Before the mechanical clock on the wall, ripples spread out like water, stirring the stagnant air.
Greya narrowed her eyes and whispered, “Illusion Technique…”
Right in front of the mechanical clock was an Illusion Technique.
When had an Illusion Technique appeared behind her without her noticing? While Greya was introspecting, her gaze was drawn to something behind the Illusion Technique.
Behind the Illusion Technique, another mechanical wall clock emerged. This time, however, the clock lacked glass.
Clearly, the previous Illusion Technique had created a false piece of glass to conceal the interior of the clock.
But why would one conceal the inside of a clock? Greya's gaze finally settled on the clock's minute hand, which had abruptly stopped moving. After she watched it intently for a while, the minute hand seemingly became embarrassed and began to change, slowly emerging from the clock face.
The slender minute hand floated out from the dial, transforming midair into a pure white feather, which gracefully swooped a few times in the air before landing on the high platform. As the feather came to rest, it underwent a second transformation, turning into a young man dressed in a white suit.
At first, the young man was only the size of a palm, but in the blink of an eye, he grew and stretched countless times over to reach a normal height.
The golden-haired, blue-eyed young man sat on the stand, avoiding Greya's probing gaze, and said somewhat sheepishly to Sanders, “Mentor, good afternoon. Uh… actually, you get used to it, it's not so tiring.”
This person was indeed Angel.
“So, you've been pretending to be the clock hand this whole time?” Greya asked coldly, narrowing her eyes.
Angel gave an awkward smile: “I just wanted to try out the Transformation Technique.”
Greya gave Angel a cold look: “There are plenty of ways to test a Spell Technique, you came here specifically to mess with me, right?”
Angel hurriedly waved his hands: “No, I actually just got here.”
“Just got here?” Greya looked incredulous.
After a moment of hesitation, Angel said, “I came during the second half of your shadow box play, right when you were criticizing the scarecrow for lacking texture, so you didn't notice me.”
Greya recalled that moment–her entire focus was indeed on critiquing the play, and she had not noticed anyone else.
Moreover, if there really had been someone around, the Butler would have detected it. She indeed let down her guard at that time.
Greya spoke coldly: “It's fortunate that I was only watching the shadow box play. Had I been doing something else, like changing clothes…”
Angel was confused: “???” Who would change clothes in the hall?
Greya continued: “It's one thing for you to turn into a clock hand, I can still recognize a Transformation Technique. But the fact that you also added an Illusion Technique to conceal your movements, who knows what improper things you planned to do.” After her stern accusation, her tone suddenly shifted: “Of course, I can let it slide, but on one condition…”
Greya reached out and caressed the box in her palm–the shadow box play.
Greya's gestures were an unmistakable hint. Angel immediately understood and added, “I've just reviewed 'The Bloody Nightmare of Toy Island,' and indeed, there are some discrepancies. Thus, I will refine a new one following the storyline of that tale.”
Greya nodded in approval and tossed him a “you're very understanding” look. Then she turned and walked away, “Your mentor must be looking for you; I won't disturb you. I'm off to train Toby. However, you must not forget the promise you made.”
Greya took advantage of the situation and quickly made her exit.
It was only after Greya had left that Sanders said, “It seems that your shapeshifting technique is a success.”
The description of the shapeshifting technique is that it can be as small as a mosquito or as large as a Titan.
In reality, however, there are not many who can shrink to the size of a mosquito using the shapeshifting technique. The majority of wizards can only downsize to the stature of the Kulakuka Tribe using their shapeshifting techniques.
Now, having just transplanted his skin, Angel could transform to the size of a pinhead, which is already at the maximum limit for most wizards, suggesting that his shapeshifting technique was a success.
“Was the change in the needle just now the limit of your shrinking?”
Angel nodded, “It is the current limit.”
The constraints on the ultimate form of shapeshifting are energy and the quality of the transforming soft-bodied insect skin. Angel's answer “at the moment” meant that his limit would rise correspondingly as his power grew deeper in the future, making it foreseeable to shrink to the size of a grain of sand.
However, Angel didn't care much about becoming as small as a grain of sand for the time being; as long as he could shrink enough to enter the Tidal World, he was satisfied.
“And what's the limit to how big you can get?”
“I haven't tested it yet, but I should be able to grow to about five or six meters tall,” Angel estimated.
“The shapeshifting technique is extremely important for wizards, and its applications are diverse, so it's best to do a thorough test,” said Sanders, pausing for a moment. “However, it's enough for you to keep track of your shapeshifting technique. I came to find you for another matter.”
Under Angel's gaze, Sanders slowly said, “Not long ago, I saw Lien.”
Wilderness of Dreams, Originheart City.
At the top level of the Sky Tower lay Frode's office, though at the moment he was bowed, exuding an air of caution and wariness, even writing with great care as to not disturb the person opposite him–
The “Illusion Master” Sanders.
Even though Sanders did not possess special abilities in the Wilderness of Dreams as he did in reality, his very presence exuded a powerful and intimidating aura that commanded respect.
Sanders was carefully reading a booklet at the moment.
Titled “Anomalous Events Investigation Report,” it was compiled by Frode and served as a supplement to the “Observations of Dream Wilderness.”
All the sources in the report were provided by the Anomaly Investigation Group. Frode established this special task force to collect and document strange occurrences within the Wilderness of Dreams.
Frode's motive for setting up the Anomaly Investigation Group to find these exceptional records was to find the piece of authority that unintentionally escaped when Angel merged with the Principal Body of the Nightmare Realm.
However, the Anomaly Investigation Group had existed for some time now, and most of the exceptional records they provided were dismissed by him as rumors.
Even those that were not rumors presented great difficulties to verify. At least up to now, Frode had not found any leads related to the escaped authority.
Today, Frode had intended to finish his routine work before meeting with Jon to discuss and refine the task left by Angel–the planning of New City.
Yet, to Frode's surprise, Sanders paid him an unexpected visit before he could finish his work.
Facing the War God of the Southern Domain, Frode was filled with trepidation, not daring to refuse any of Sanders' requests. Hence, when Sanders asked to see the “Anomalous Events Investigation Report,” he handed it over.
But after handing it over, Frode felt somewhat regretful.
It was not that he was unwilling to let Sanders see the report, but rather that many of the extraordinary events recorded in the “Anomalous Events Investigation Report” were trivial household matters, including some bizarre gossip. Would Sanders, with his refined taste, get angry after perusing these tawdry incidents?
As Frode apprehensively anticipated, he discovered that Sanders showed no fluctuation in emotion; rather, he was engrossed in the report with the meticulousness of someone reading the works of a great author.
An hour swiftly passed by.
Finally, Sanders put down the “Anomalous Events Investigation Report.” He pondered for a moment, then looked at Frode and asked, “Apart from these, are there any other reports?”
Frode shook his head, “No more, the entire collection of anomalous events investigated by the Anomaly Investigation Group is right here.”
After a pause, Frode cautiously inquired, “May I ask Your Excellency, what exactly is it you are looking for?”
Sanders frowned slightly, “This is the report you list; you're asking me what I'm looking for?”
Frode was taken aback, “Does Your Excellency mean the escaped authority?”
“Of course,” Sanders said, casting an odd look at Frode.