Warlock Apprentice

”If becoming stronger is possible, it’s indeed a good thing.” Angel looked at the center of the energy vortex in the distance and murmured softly.

Greya nodded lightly, without replying. But she knew very well that the desire to grow stronger had always been Toby’s obsession.

Ever since arriving at Sky Mechanical City and beginning the training for Toby during this period, Greya could see that although Toby detested the training itself, it had never disobeyed her.

This was very different from how Toby used to be. Before meeting Angel, Toby lived like a mischievous Demon King in Barbie Restaurant, utterly rejecting training. Even if Greya forced it, Toby always had various excuses to escape. Every time faced with Toby’s pitifully pleading expression, Greya couldn’t bear to be harsh and ended up giving up.

But now, Toby seemed like a completely different bird, actively cooperating in training, actively wanting to grow stronger.

Greya glanced at Angel beside her through the corner of her eye: all of this was because of Angel.

Though Greya had never asked Toby directly, she knew the answer was undoubtedly connected to Angel. Perhaps Angel’s strides were too big, and Toby felt it couldn’t keep up; or perhaps something happened during their journey that made Toby want to become stronger—not just to protect itself, but to protect Angel as well.

Toby’s determination was clearly written on its face every time she trained it.

The close bond between Toby and Angel occasionally made Greya feel a twinge of jealousy, but when she thought it through, she found solace. Though Toby was born in Barbie Restaurant, its growth—from weak to powerful—was built alongside Angel, as constant companions. Toby’s attachment to Angel was almost love at first sight, and Angel, in return, treated Toby with respect, never seeing it as merely a pet and never signing any harmful Magic Pet contract, instead viewing it as his closest and most dear partner.

The bond of shared growth and mutual respect—that was likely the reason why Angel held such a significant place in Toby’s heart.

Although Greya could also offer mutual respect to Toby, she couldn’t replicate the experience of shared growth. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to accompany Toby; rather, Toby’s feelings toward her were more akin to those of a child toward a mother—ever filled with love and admiration, but unable to accompany forever. Children grow up, find their own partners and lives. Realizing this, Greya had decided back then to let Toby leave Barbie Restaurant and follow Angel.

Reality proved she made the right choice. Beside Angel, Toby had finally begun its journey of growth.

”Even though I understand, my heart still feels a little sour,” Greya said softly.

”What did you say?” Angel turned back to look at Greya in confusion, not understanding.

Greya shook her head. ”Nothing, I was just moved looking at how far Toby has come.”

Angel thought Greya was referring to Toby’s transformation, and he nodded in agreement. ”Toby’s changes are indeed significant. After enduring this ordeal, I reckon its transformation will be even greater.”

Greya smiled but did not respond further.

Time passed. Another half hour slipped by as the energy surrounding Toby grew increasingly terrifying, and the space itself began to destabilize, leaving visible traces of distortion.

The expanding range of the spatial distortion forced Greya and Angel to retreat further once again.

Now, the center of Toby’s advancement had become a massive cocoon formed by swirling energy, continuously rotating. The interior was obscured from view, but its grandeur was unprecedented.

In this moment, Angel felt a bit fortunate that he chose to let Toby undergo its ordeal in the Void. Had it taken place in Sky Mechanical City, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

”I wonder how much longer this energy needs to accumulate.”

While Angel was pondering, Greya suddenly said, ”It’s here.”

Angel initially didn’t understand what Greya meant by ”it’s here,” until an overwhelming, divine-like pressure descended upon them. Then, Angel realized Greya was referring to... the World Will.

Even though it was just a tributary of the World Will, the terrifying aura still left Angel and Greya deeply shaken.

The World Will lingered only briefly, its presence akin to an ancient and indifferent god, casting a light gaze in their direction before swiftly withdrawing.

The disappearance of the World Will, however, attracted some attention.

For example, at this very moment, several cracks simultaneously tore open in the Void, and through these cracks, figures stepped out one by one.

Because this portion of the Void corresponded to Sky Mechanical City, those emerging were all wizards from Sky Mechanical City. After stepping out, they exchanged puzzled glances, discussed in low voices, and ultimately directed their gaze toward the distant ”cocoon” and Angel.

Their focus on Angel could be attributed to two reasons: first, Angel appeared to have been the earliest arrival in the Void, suggesting he might know the identity of the advancing entity nearby; second, Angel’s status and identity.

Angel also noticed these gazes, but he ignored them, keeping his attention fixed firmly on the distance.

Greya, however, surveyed the surroundings and used the Mind Ribbon to speak to Angel: ”Be cautious around these people; there are quite a few ruthless individuals among them.”

Angel understood Greya’s concern. To others, Toby was a delectable prize, especially after its advancement, which would elevate it to a wizard-level magical creature, an entity bound to rouse greed in certain individuals.

Some of these wizards might harbor ill intentions toward Toby.

Still, Angel wasn’t too worried. With him and Greya present, none of these individuals would attempt anything reckless without carefully assessing their own strength first. Moreover, even without their intervention, Toby itself was hardly defenseless. Back when Toby was merely an apprentice, its manipulation of the Gravity Meridian already gave it a speed advantage over official wizards. Now, with its advancement granting the swifter Snake Bird form, Toby’s ability to escape was unmatched—even Angel couldn’t catch up with it.

Compared to these wizards, Angel was more concerned about another set of hidden gazes.

When the World Will descended, Angel immediately sensed several faint and obscure gazes scanning them. However, these gazes did not originate from the wizards who had just appeared; they came from deeper in the Void...

Were they magical creatures from the depths of the Void? Or perhaps entities from more distant realms, taking notice of this event?

Whatever the case, such beings were unlikely to be easy to deal with.

...

The arrival of the World Will had drawn a crowd, but it also signaled one undeniable fact—

Toby’s advancement this time was far from ordinary... A regular advancement wouldn’t have garnered the attention of the World Will.

As emotions swirled in their hearts, the energy surrounding Toby finally reached a peak.

From within the ”cocoon,” a deafening roar suddenly erupted.

Anomaly had finally descended.