Chapter 1572
Chapter 1572: Section 1573 Mist of Sin Chapter 1572: Section 1573 Mist of Sin Sanders: “Ability Tree? Is this a new authority you've acquired?”
Angel nodded and started to explain to Sanders about the Ability Tree.
When Angel deciphered the information of the new authority, it was as if a seed had been planted in his mind; this seed swiftly broke through the soil and, in the blink of an eye, grew into a towering tree.
This lush, expansive tree didn't bear leaves but instead was covered with countless spots of light representing different authorities.
In short, the so-called Ability Tree is essentially a tree-like structure of authority distribution.
All the authorities within the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain are recorded in this structure, cataloged into different branches, and spread throughout various corners.
“All authorities?” Astonishment flashed in Sanders' eyes.
“From the looks of the information at hand, it is indeed all authorities. However…” Angel paused, appearing somewhat embarrassed, “However, the vast majority of these authorities are concealed and cannot be explored. That's because, unless they are obtained, they cannot be displayed.”
This meant that the “ink-splattered” information Angel previously saw did not indicate he lacked the necessary strength or depth of knowledge; it was simply because these authorities had not yet been acquired.
Currently, on the tree-like structure, Angel was only able to inspect three authorities.
The first was a subsidiary authority under the pseudo “Law of Space”: “Gate of Dreams.”
The second, ranked alongside the Gate of Dreams, was also an authority Angel had acquired, “Gatekeeper.”
The third was a subsidiary authority under the pseudo “Law of All Things”: “Mist of Sin.”
At the moment, only these three authorities are accessible for inspection on the Ability Tree. The rest of the branches are shaded in darkness, neither revealing their names nor permitting any exploration.
“Does it mean that all authorities separated from the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain can be inspected on the Ability Tree?” Sanders asked.
Angel nodded: “According to the information I have received, that seems to be the case. But to be more accurate, only those authorities that have taken effect in the Wilderness of Dreams can be inspected.”
Here the term “inspect” refers to the operation and manipulation of all the authorities recorded on the Ability Tree.
Take, for instance, the Gate of Dreams.
Angel could inspect the Gate of Dreams on the Ability Tree, and upon focusing his thoughts on the point of light, he immediately accessed the relevant information: possessing this authority allows one to dominate the entry location of external objects into the Wilderness of Dreams.
According to some settings of the Ability Tree, he can also manipulate these authorities to a limited extent through the Ability Tree.
However, since the Gate of Dreams is an authority Angel had already acquired, he can control it directly without needing to use the Ability Tree.
“Since you can control these authorities, what about this Mist of Sin? It should be the authority that was previously scattered, right? What is its status? Can you manipulate it?” Sanders inquired curiously.
Angel then focused his attention on the “Mist of Sin.”
Since the ones he could inspect were already effective in the Wilderness of Dreams, aside from the Gatekeeper and the Gate of Dreams, the Mist of Sin must be the scattered authority.
That is, the dark fog they had seen before.
If authorities were to be categorized as light and dark, the Mist of Sin, judging by its name, would be attributed to the dark side. It is a subsidiary authority under the pseudo Law of All Things. The Law of All Things is a very broad-ranging law. It even intersects markedly with other major laws, just as Greya's Creation was once called the Law of Creation, yet it can also be considered part of the Law of All Things.
Angel was curious about its function.
“Mist of Sin: Possessing this authority enables the birth of predators within nightmares, nefarious creatures.”
Predators within nightmares? With a puzzled expression, Angel carefully started to read the information related to Mist of Sin under the branches of the Ability Tree.
After reading, he was stunned for a long time. He had never expected that the authority he had initially scattered would be this kind of power!
The so-called nefarious creatures, as documented, are predators within nightmares. Frode had guessed correctly; these nefarious creatures indeed fall under a special category of Dream Realm creatures. Their purpose for being born is to plunder.
The targets of their plundering are all Dreamland Inhabitants, including those who enter the Dream Realm, humans.
Angel frowned and continued to explain to Sanders, “For the inhabitants of the Dream Realm, nefarious creatures represent a significant crisis. They come in diverse forms and possess varied abilities. Moreover, they develop individual strengths based on the amount of nefarious energy.”
“Based on their own condition, they can be divided into three growth stages: the nascent phase, the growth or predator phase, and finally the mature phase.”
During the nascent phase, which is right when they are born from the black fog, they already possess a certain level of strength.
Growth period, also known as the plundering period, entails occupying the bodies of other Dream Realm creatures and gradually merging with them. A clear sign of reaching the mid-stage of fusion is the ability to leave the Mist of Sin behind.
Mature period, completely replacing Dream Realm creatures and constantly growing by absorbing the energy of nightmares.
Sin force creatures almost never get completely exterminated; even if killed by someone, they would re-enter the Mist of Sin and rise again in a new cycle of Samsara.
The Mist of Sin is very close to Originheart City, and the creatures born from the Mist of Sin are natural enemies to all creatures of the Dream Realm. Hence, the residents of the Dream Realm are naturally their targets for plunder. This can be said to be a very serious crisis.
“How did we manage to dissipate such a dangerous Authority,” Angel felt a bit of a headache.
After listening to Angel's description of the Mist of Sin, Sanders fell into deep thought, and after a long time, he asked, “Can you control the Authority of the Mist of Sin through the Ability Tree?”
Angel: “I can only control the sinful creatures produced by the Mist of Sin to a limited extent, but I have no complete control over the Mist of Sin itself.”
Although Angel can control the creatures of sin force, there are far too many of them, and it's impossible for Angel to control them all the time; there's neither the time nor the energy.
Angel paused, “I also discovered from the information of the Ability Tree that although I can't completely control the Authority itself, I can strip and reclaim activated Authorities through the power of the Ability Tree.”
“That is to say, if someone acquires an Authority from the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain, I can directly strip and reclaim that Authority from them.”
“Of course, there are limitations. The stripped Authority will return to me, and if my own strength is not enough, these Authorities will burst me.” Just like when Angel was an Apprentice, he could only obtain two Authorities, any more would be impossible. Because his own power was not enough to sustain so many Authorities.
Sanders: “This is not a restriction for the Ability Tree itself. It restricts the person who controls the Ability Tree, that is, your strength.”
Angel nodded.
Sanders contemplated, “Since Authorities can be reclaimed, is it possible to reclaim the Mist of Sin as well?”
Angel showed a wry smile: “No, the premise of the Ability Tree's ability to reclaim Authorities is that this Authority must have been obtained by a creature of the Dream Realm or by humans.”
“Authorities given back to the Wilderness of Dreams cannot be reclaimed.”
The Mist of Sin was an Authority that Angel had originally dissipated, which had already been given back to the Wilderness of Dreams.
In effect, the Mist of Sin has become a part of the Wilderness of Dreams itself.
And the Ability Tree, in fact, was created based on the Wilderness of Dreams. Speaking in terms of a hierarchy, the Wilderness of Dreams is the master and the Ability Tree is the servant.
Under such a scenario, how could the Ability Tree possibly strip away Authority that has been delivered to the Wilderness of Dreams?
This was also why Angel felt troubled.
The Mist of Sin would bring a very serious crisis to the residents of the Dream Realm. Unfortunately, Angel had no solution for the Mist of Sin.
After a while of reflection, Sanders said, “Humans living in a safe environment will slowly become lazy and shun hard work. Having a danger close by to stimulate them can also make them cherish the present. From this point of view, it's actually not bad.”
This is, in fact, the mindset of being prepared for danger in times of safety.
Sanders continued, “Moreover, since the Mist of Sin is one of the many Authorities, this also shows that from the perspective of the Wilderness of Dreams, having sin force creatures is definitely not a bad thing. Perhaps they bring crisis to the residents of the Dream Realm, but if used well, it can also become a sword for defending against external enemies.”
For humans as well as the inhabitants of the Dream Realm, sin force creatures represent a crisis. But if one abandons the moral high ground constructed by humans and simply looks at it from the perspective of the Wilderness of Dreams, sin force creatures are actually not a crisis.
Just like the Extreme Sect, the majority of Wizards hate them bitterly, but from the perspective of World Will, the existence of the Extreme Sect naturally has its reasons.
Angel understood what Sanders meant, and he sighed, “That being said, it would be better if I could control it at any time.”
“That may not necessarily be better; perhaps freedom to develop could create miracles,” Sanders casually replied, “Besides, you may not be able to control the Mist of Sin, but you can still control the sin force creatures to a limited extent, which is also quite good.”
Angel could only think that way, and since he now possessed the Wilderness of Dreams, he would inevitably need to consider things from the perspective of the Wilderness of Dreams.
With this in mind, Angel nodded, “Still, I need to talk to Frode later and tell him to be careful.”
Using the matter of the Mist of Sin as an opportunity, he also more or less explained some of the functions and effects of the Ability Tree.
Sanders concluded, “Although there were some twists and turns, you gaining the Ability Tree this time is definitely the most valuable.”
“The Ability Tree is also considered an Authority, but since it can display all Authorities in its tree-like structure yet conspicuously does not show itself, this also says something,” Sanders slowly said, “Perhaps you are right.”
“The Ability Tree is not merely a Core Authority; it is an existence similar to World Will, the heart that connects all Authorities!”
Sanders, unable to hold back his feelings, exclaimed, “The Scroll of Fortune truly lives up to its name, although it has brought some troubles, the gains it has provided are indeed the greatest benefits in the immediate term!”