Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1500: Section 1501: The Snail Chapter 1500: Section 1501: The Snail “Big brother doesn’t know the ending either…” Hua Que hung her head in dejection.

Although this special stage play was a bit scary, especially the sound effects combining with the sudden visual shocks that often startled Hua Que, after experiencing this stage play, Hua Que didn’t feel uncomfortable. Instead, she began to miss that wonderful aftertaste.

It was a rare treat to see a stage play she liked, yet not be able to know the ending, which Hua Que found very regrettable. Moreover, she really wanted to know what that piece of sky Alex pursued–the world beyond the cage–looked like?

If she did as Angel said and used her precognitive abilities to investigate… Hua Que wasn’t actually opposed to it, but her ability to foresee was somewhat hard to control.

And she didn’t know if she could see the ending?

On the other hand, Popota, who was worldly and knowledgeable, found the story of this special stage play just okay in his eyes. However, the prominence of the music and visuals, combined with the fact that Popota had never seen such artistic expression used to perform a stage play, left him shocked as well.

But compared to Hua Que’s fixation on Alex’s ending, Popota was more interested in what conclusion befell the self-proclaimed Time-Space Traveler.

In this special stage play, this Time-Space Traveler, whose face was unseeable, shrouded in a strange radiance.

As a live plug-in for the protagonist Alex, he ended his short journey in a heroic manner.

Where did the Time-Space Traveler finally return to? What was his ending? If, as Angel said, this is a true story, then who does the Time-Space Traveler represent?

Popota voiced his confusion openly.

Angel laughed it off: “When I heard the story, I didn’t ask about its ending. But, the Time-Space Traveler, just the name itself sounds amazing, doesn’t it? A sorcerer that transcends dimensions, a traveler who roams through time and space. Maybe he is everywhere, maybe he is also beyond the confines of time and space, quietly listening to your doubts.”

Angel’s explanation was vague, and naturally, Popota listened in confusion.

However, as Hua Que listened with pricked ears to Angel’s joking remarks, she suddenly had an epiphany.

Her special ability, dormant within her Soul Body, slowly stirred from the abyss. As this power activated, a vision flashed before her eyes.

The content of the vision was a blurry figure.

The Time-Space Traveler, whose features were unseen, cloaked in brilliance, stood silently against the backlight. He bowed his head and whispered to a startled Alex, “If one day you can leave the cage, perhaps we will have the chance to meet again.”

This scene was part of the special stage play.

Based on the image alone, there was no change at all. But when she added the voice, Hua Que paused for a moment.

This voice was not the voice of the Time-Space Traveler from the special stage play–this clear and melodious male voice, she was all too familiar with…

Hua Que looked hesitantly towards Angel, who was smiling not far away.

Perhaps feeling Hua Que’s gaze, Angel turned his head and asked, “What is it?”

The voice was gentle and pure, pleasing to the ear.

Hua Que was momentarily confused, but the next second, she was instantly clear-headed, a radiant smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

“It’s nothing. I just think big brother’s words are very true. A traveler who roams through time and space must be an incredibly powerful existence! And I believe that his ending must be a good one–he is so powerful, he will surely embark on a new journey beyond time and space!”

Hua Que’s sudden intense agreement not only further confused the already bewildered Popota but caused the boastful Angel to blush slightly.

Angel coughed twice to pass off his discomfort in expression: “Cough cough… have you managed to see Alex’s ending with your ability?”

Hua Que shook her head: “I haven’t seen it yet, but if I do see the final ending, I will find a way to inform big brother no matter what.”

Angel: “Actually, I am just a little curious; whether or not I know the result isn’t important, you don’t need to go to such trouble.”

But Hua Que insisted: “This is also the regret of the Time-Space Traveler. Maybe one day big brother will meet the Time-Space Traveler, and then he can tell him about Alex’s ending!”

Angel always felt there was an underlying message in Hua Que’s words, but after all, it was Hua Que’s kindness, and Angel wouldn’t refuse it. He stroked Hua Que’s hair, smiling: “Alright, I’ll wait for your news.”

With that matter concluded, Angel packed up the “Cage of Shadows”–which was the equipment for playing the special stage play.

Angel, looking at the two still immersed in the aftertaste of the stage play, was actually quite pleased with himself. It seemed that this attempt of his had not been too bad; the scene transitions, the impact of the camera, and the integration of music had been quite effective.

Perhaps in the future, he could open an immersive drama theatre in the Wilderness of Dreams that would surely be extremely popular.

“So, after such a fantastic performance, do you feel more relaxed now?” Angel looked towards the siblings who were still whispering and discussing the plot.

“Not at all,” Popota turned his head, his complexion paler than after a night of staying up. The stage play’s occasional scares aside, the curiosity about the ending completely captivated Popota’s thoughts, leaving no room for relaxation.

“That’s a real pity,” Angel said offhandedly, his expression showing no sign of regret, “Since you’re not relaxed, then we’ll have to continue with work. I just sensed that the egg in the insect nest seems to have signs of hatching.”

Angel’s words instantly shifted the expressions of both Popota and Hua Que. Although their minds were still partially on the special stage play, the most pressing matter was the egg; they had been working towards this moment for many days!

All the people present turned their attention to the insect nest.

In a small room next to the mother bug was a special egg, sticky and connected to a viscous tube. This tube, which linked to the mother bug, was specially designed to supply the egg with nutrients.

The reason it’s considered special is because other insect eggs, within the mother’s body, have an excess of nutrients. However, this insect egg, even after being born, still lacked a significant amount of nutrients, which led to it not only being soaked in Axo’s essence blood but also having a special nutrient tube inserted into it.

This insect egg, until not long ago, had not shown any signs of life, much like a dead egg.

But a few minutes ago, Angel’s spiritual power perception, which he had been keeping within the nest, detected a slight movement from this insect egg. At the same time, a small crack appeared on the eggshell.

As everyone’s attention was focused on the eggshell, the crack grew larger.

With the widening of the crack, an extremely faint “pop” sound reached everyone’s ears. The nutrient tube that had been attached to the egg now slowly fell off.

And where the nutrient tube had fallen off, there appeared a small opening.

Following the appearance of the small opening, a strange pliant worm finally crawled out slowly.

“Huh?” Popota: “The shape and color of this pliant worm are so strange; it looks like…”

Could it be that it wasn’t the Transforming Soft-bodied Insect they were expecting?

The pliant worm before them was the most bizarrely shaped of all the pliant worms they had hatched. The previous Phantom Limb Pliant Worm, at least, looked like an insect, but this one looked like a blob of thick snot.

With its greenish gummy color and limp form, had it not been moving, it would have been mistaken for some disgusting viscous fluid.

Popota had seen pictures of Transforming Soft-bodied Insects, and this blob looked nothing like them.

This blob instead resembled the initial appearance of a pliant worm’s mother at birth. Surely they hadn’t hatched a mother, had they? But that wouldn’t be right; pliant worms aren’t social creatures. Besides, this blob was at least twenty times smaller than a mother pliant worm at birth.

“Is it another failure?” Disappointment flashed in Popota’s eyes as he turned to look at Hua Que.

There was a contemplative look in Hua Que’s eyes: “Something’s strange.”

Angel: “What’s strange?”

“The form it’s taking now isn’t what I saw in the vision.” What Hua Que referred to as ’the vision’ she ’saw’ was actually the premonition she had observed.

Considering for a moment, Angel said, “It’s not necessarily a failure. The Transforming Soft-bodied Insect is named ’Transforming’ precisely because it implies that it can transform at will. The images of Transforming Soft-bodied Insects you’ve seen might just be what they choose to present to humans, which might not reflect their true form.”

Popota: “Are you suggesting that this blob of snot is the true form of the Transforming Soft-bodied Insect?”

Angel: “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just emulating the shape of the mother worm, but we can perform a stress test.”

Sanders was alone in the study, his hair as meticulously combed as ever. Sitting before a fireplace teeming with flame spirits, he was quietly reading a hardcover book.

When Angel arrived, this was the scene he encountered.

“These past few days you’ve been at the testing ground, Kimberly has been mentioning you daily,” Sanders said, lifting his head to look at Angel.

“What about?” Angel sat down opposite Sanders at his gesture.

“I heard that Kimberly has been pestered by inquiries sent through Black Castle’s correspondents from various magazines, all asking about your promotion. It’s driven her to the edge, so much that she’s completely cut off contact with the outside world,” explained Sanders.

Kimberly wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs, and now with Isabella in isolation and recuperation, she had no choice but to shoulder the responsibilities of Black Castle. The castle was already in dire need of reconstruction, which was enough of a hassle for her; the addition of these repetitive inquiries made it understandable for her to complain.

“Did she say anything?”

“No. She said she would not overstep her bounds. Anyway, once you show up, things will settle down,” Sanders said.

Angel nodded. As long as he could determine the nature of the pliant worm, he should, barring any unexpected circumstances, accept the task from Headmistress Muse. Once he made an appearance at the New Star Competition, many questions would naturally be resolved.

“What brings you to me today? Ready to share your findings from the testing ground?” Sanders put down the book, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “Or perhaps you’re here for a fight, to showcase the residual effects of your spell invention?”

Angel gave a wry smile, “My Gate of Void is only really useful in combat for spatial displacement, which you forced me to demonstrate before… I’m still puzzled by the new characteristic, quite befuddled, really. But, I can almost certainly say it’s a kind of supportive functional Spell Technique.”

Sanders scrutinized Angel carefully, certain he wasn’t lying: “The Gate of Void, did you name it?”

“Yes.” Angel looked at Sanders, waiting for his evaluation.

Sanders pondered for a moment: “It seems that fate is still fair.”

Angel: “????”

“While you have great talent, your aesthetic sense for urban planning and ability to name things could be… questioned,” said Sanders.

Angel: “I’m just pragmatic.”

With a mischievously curved mouth, Sanders said, “I haven’t forgotten your nickname from the Sky Tower days. Need me to spread the word for you?”

“Let’s not,” Angel coughed twice, cleared his throat, and forcibly steered the conversation back: “I came to see Mentor because of the pliant worm. The new pliant worm has hatched, but we are still unable to determine its identity.”