Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2585: Chapter 2586: Passage

After Angel descended from high above, the air fell into silence. Everyone watched Angel silently, with no one speaking.

The reason for this situation was the apprentices were afraid to speak, Dox felt embarrassed as he seemed like a useless person, and the Black Earl was too emotionally conflicted to speak. Additionally, he had praised Angel not long ago, and now if he were to speak, it would only be more praise, which made him uncomfortable for some inexplicable reason.

Angel, unaware of everyone’s differing thoughts, saw no one speaking, so he decided to speak himself.

"The Magical Energy Array is now activated, and it seems it won’t be concealing itself anytime soon," Angel said. "Even if it is hidden with illusion techniques, once the Traveling Merchants come to do business, they will definitely detect something unusual. The Hero Squad might need to relocate their base in the future."

After Angel finished speaking, he sighed slightly.

Everyone looked deadpan: ...breaking the silence, you actually focused on those ordinary people first.

"Vay, tell the people outside about the situation inside. I suggest they move away promptly... also, you can agree to some reasonable requests they might have."

The one speaking wasn’t Angel, but the Black Earl.

After the Black Earl spoke these words within the Mind Ribbon, in his view, it also served as a way to express support for Angel. It was basically—

Don’t want to praise you, but can support some of your foolish opinions.

Angel didn’t know the Black Earl had such a proud side, but the Earl’s suggestion coincidentally matched his thoughts, so he didn’t oppose it and even felt more agreeable toward the Black Earl.

Rhein and the Black Earl are old friends for many years, which seems to have its reasons.

Though I don’t know what temperament the Black Earl’s True Body has, at the very least, his nose is currently a good collaborator.

Having resolved the Hero Squad’s matters, Angel looked up at the glowing Magical Energy Array overhead: "I originally thought this Magical Energy Array might have a short-distance transportation effect, transferring people deep inside the maze. But judging by the already revealed magic patterns, with very few space-related Magic Tattoo Horns, it’s not a Teleportation Array, but a kind of decryption array."

"Decryption?" Dox finally found an opportunity to assert his presence.

Angel: "It’s using the Magical Energy Array to decrypt another Magical Energy Array."

The true depths of the Underground Labyrinth, the Magical Energy Array is vast and complex, operating for millennia, attesting to its strength. Even a millennium later it’s still so, utterly decrypting it a millennium earlier is obviously even more impractical.

However, these followers of the Mirror Demon God discovered a loophole in the Magical Energy Array not completely covered, creating a "lever" with the Magical Energy Array for the Magical Energy Array, secretly prying open a passage.

Simply put, this Magical Energy Array is like an insignificant little worm attached to the enormous Magical Energy Array, as long as it’s not overdone, it won’t attract internal attention.

This shows that the mysterious person who chose the site for the Underground Church was definitely not simple.

The person who built this Magical Energy Array, on the other hand, wasn’t skilled, encryption measures were quite weak, and the energy projection from the lectern as the main controlling magic pattern was rather obvious.

However, this turned out to be beneficial for them, as it didn’t take much time to find a suspected usable underground passage.

"Now we should try this Magical Energy Array, but after so many years, we don’t know if it’s still usable," Angel said and turned to the others: "By the way, before activating it, I’d like to remind you, although this Magical Energy Array isn’t particularly complex, it is embedded into the Magical Energy Array in the Underground Labyrinth, and once fully activated, there will inevitably be energy fluctuations escaping."

"I don’t know how strict the Merchant Organization is in monitoring energy fluctuations in The Garden Labyrinth, but once we enter this passage, there’s a high chance of being discovered by them."

"So, if this passage is indeed usable, after we enter, we should expedite our exploration. If we encounter any magical creatures, if possible, bypass them and don’t waste time," Angel turned his gaze towards Dox, since this guy is a Bloodline Wizard, once fighting starts, he might never stop, so he advised him in advance.

"Also, if you encounter murals or characters suspected to be ancient relics, refrain from stopping to study them. If you really can’t resist, bring a Photostone and study it later if necessary," Angel this time directed his gaze to Kaier.

Kaier also understood that Angel was talking about him, and quickly nodded: "I understand."

As for Vay and the Black Earl, Angel said nothing, as the Black Earl’s experience and knowledge exceed his own, ensuring he can handle himself and Vay.

"If that’s the case, should we lay some obstacles here to block the Merchant Organization?" Vay suggested.

Angel: "Whether there are obstacles or not doesn’t matter, but we can leave some guidelines for the successors. I’ll set them up."

With that, Angel casually flicked a breath of Nightmare Illusion, swirling around the Magical Energy Array.

"That’s it? Shouldn’t there be some poison or something, like that mushroom-growing one..." Dox muttered beside him.

Angel cast him a glance, to which Dox responded with a silly smile. Dox indicated that he knew about the Princess Castle situation and that Angel duped him into going there without good intentions.

Dox naturally wasn’t threatening Angel with this matter; mentioning it now was actually a form of candid expression.

Want to hold big... cough, want to befriend, any points that might cause conflict, suspicion, or issues should be candidly met, preventing these small matters from snowballing larger, making them harder to resolve later.

"No more of that poison," Angel said blandly.

"Then perhaps a powerful trap instead? I have a few self-destructing Puppets here, should we hide them in the Illusionary Realm? They might not kill an Official Wizard but can probably severely injure them," Dox suggested again.

Before Angel could respond, the Black Earl interjected: "No need. Setting the traps you mentioned would show your lack of confidence."

After speaking, the Black Earl added: "Angel did well, no need for flashy tricks."

The others didn’t see what Angel did within the Nightmare Illusion, but the Black Earl, very familiar with Sanders and aware of the Nightmare Illusion he created, discerned the guide Angel left in the Nightmare Illusion.

Yes, only a guide, without traps, nor intentionally misleading illusions.

The guide was straightforward—just a few words: explaining the background of the underground structure; stating the Magical Energy Array was repaired by them, the lectern was made by him; also included was a sentence on Transcendent matters to be resolved by Transcendents.

Aside from the last sentence, which instructed successors not to trouble the Hero Squad, everything else was laid out flat, with no subjective opinion, purely a "guideline."

Simply put, the choice was given to the successors. Whether you believe it or not, it’s up to you. I’ve fixed the Magical Energy Array, but whether any afterhand was left, you need to judge and decide.

If someone particularly suspicious, naturally they’ll carry out various checks, which actually just delays time.

Of course, if someone both suspicious and ruthless decides to test directly using lives, the encounter could occur sooner, and by then, even if they were killed, Angel would have no objections.

In essence, their strength is already superior to that of the Merchant Organization, why fear them? Just don’t want disruptions.

Angel’s approach gave ample face, also subtly anticipating the opponent’s mindset, filled with strong confidence simultaneously.

Because his guidelines were all true, he didn’t make any afterhand for the Magical Energy Array.

This approach aligned closely with the Black Earl’s intentions.

Dox’s approach might effectively prevent pursuers, but given they are unafraid, there’s no need for such premature violent tactics, which would instead seem lacking in confidence.

Of course, the above is the Black Earl’s preconceived notion.

Does Angel really think like that? Actually...quite similar.

However, the reason Angel doesn’t use lethal traps is not because "it would undermine his confidence," but rather because the actions of the Merchant Organization have not actually crossed Angel’s bottom line before this.

Moreover, from the mouths of Merchants and Magic Craftsmen, Angel does not feel that the Merchant Organization is overly domineering.

Although they acquire transcendent items from adventure groups, earning huge profits, they don’t forcefully obtain them, but rather achieve their goals through transactions. Otherwise, the weapon made from rare human-faced eagle Demon Bloodstone in Crow’s hand would not be preserved.

In Angel’s view, the Merchant Organization has merits.

They may regard adventure groups as tools, but the adventure groups, due to their affiliation with the Merchant Organization, have gained considerable rewards. Many people in the Hero Squad have earned enough gold coins to last a lifetime in a short period and left here to return to a prosperous, ordinary life.

On this level, Angel does not dislike the Merchant Organization.

Without obvious aversion, he did not use lethal traps but rather guided them, which was both misleading and a statement of self-attitude.

...

"What should we do next?" Vay looked at his friend Dox.

"Even your master thinks this is good enough, what else can be done? No more traps, just leave it like that." Dox seemed helpless, but his eyes were slightly excited.

If the Merchant Organization really catches up, he will have a reason to take action.

Before this, he was acting like a useless person, led entirely by Angel and the Black Earl. But if the Merchant Organization catches up, he, the strongest of the same-rank Bloodline Wizard, will have a chance to use his skills. Then, stopping the tracker would be his responsibility, and he wouldn’t have come here in vain.

This is Dox’s true thought, but if Angel and the Black Earl could hear it, they would probably sigh deeply.

Dox did not come as a useless person. His spiritual perception is like a lighthouse in the mist, guiding their way forward.

In other words, Dox’s importance is no less than theirs, only he himself hasn’t realized it yet.

"Let me activate it. If there’s an accident with the Magical Energy Array, the master should protect Vay and Kaier." Angel walked up to the desk and said to the Black Earl.

The Black Earl had no objections and moved to the side. While Vay looked at Angel with even more admiration, thinking he considers his safety even in times like this, this is truly a great wizard.

After Angel steadied himself, he took a deep breath and placed his hand on the main magic pattern.

Previously, the Black Earl only activated the manifestation of the Magical Energy Array, but this time, it’s a complete activation of the array.

As magic power poured into the main magic pattern, before long, a beam of light shot towards the top of the Magical Energy Array. This time, instead of slowly revealing the patterns, it directly lit up all the magic patterns.

The entire Magical Energy Array emitted dazzling light in mid-air.

Whether the Magical Energy Array is effective depends on this moment.

The light was incredibly bright, with the pervasive energy causing force field fluctuations in the entire underground church. Walls peeling, dust swirling, pots and pans clattering... all these were caused by energy fluctuations.

When the energy dissipated to the extreme, a faint black hole appeared at the lower-left corner of the Magical Energy Array.

"Is this a failure?" Vay asked somewhat puzzled.

"It’s not a failure, that’s... a passage." Dox looked at that black hole, speaking softly.

"Go in, there’s no space fluctuation, it won’t cause any major problems." The Black Earl said.

Everyone nodded, accompanied by the Wind’s Force given by Speedy, they flew up into the sky.

When they were below, they saw the black hole appear at the lower-left corner of the Magical Energy Array, but when they truly reached the sky, they discovered that the black hole wasn’t appearing in the Magical Energy Array, but at the spire behind the array.

Three spires, one large and two small. The large spire is the main trunk of the Magical Energy Array; the small spire on the right is where the inscription card "Purification of the Goddess" is placed; and the left spire, which is where the black hole is located, is the real passage into the Underground Maze!

Without hesitation, they flew directly into the black hole.

...

Meanwhile, in a certain metal structure outside the Garden Labyrinth, a group of people wearing uniforms with "Merchant" written on them ran towards the energy response area.

The energy response area is a giant sand table.

The sand table simulates the entire Garden Labyrinth.

At this moment, in a corner of the sand table, a faint light is emitted. And this place is precisely where the underground church is located.

"There’s an energy response!"

"This energy response isn’t big, but it’s strange. It’s not something caused by a magical creature emerging from the underground."

"Does anyone know which adventure group is nearby?" The speaker wore a white mask with a strange "Merchant" character written on it. From the attire and aura, it’s clear it’s the leader of this group of merchants.

"I know, that’s where the Hero Squad’s supply depot is located. I went there once before; it’s an underground structure."

"Is the energy response directly appearing in the underground structure?" The white mask pondered for a moment: "That’s interesting."

"We inspected that underground structure before and found nothing."

After hearing that, the white mask said indifferently: "Remember my advice, don’t hold absolute confidence in your judgment. Truth will never be where you can see it."

Whether the white mask’s words are correct, let’s set that aside. But it reveals the faction he stands for in pursuing "truth" - the Idealist faction. It believes truth is a concept of the mind, not a tangible object. Pursuing truth is actually seeking oneself, exploring the limits of one’s knowledge.

This type of truth enlightenment is the most typical academy faction thinking.

"I was too narrow-minded." One of the merchants placed his hand over his chest and half-knelt to show gratitude to the white mask.

The white mask glanced at him, knowing he was still inwardly unconvinced. He said lightly: "Come on, it’s you. Come with me and see if your judgment is correct."

"This energy fluctuation probably doesn’t need the master to come forth. Just send two squads over....."

"No matter, I have a premonition that something interesting will happen there."