Warlock Apprentice

Layers upon layers of scarlet mist unfolded, majestic and boundless, stretching endlessly into the horizon.

As everyone speculated on the true composition of the red mist, a shadow suddenly emerged from within.

It was the head of a Gryphon—a form strikingly similar to Toby’s appearance at first glance. However, its eyes exuded an indifferent sharpness, carrying an air of supremacy that looked down upon all living beings with imposing arrogance.

Soon after, another shadow surfaced from the red mist. Initially, Angel assumed it would be the Gryphon’s body, but it wasn’t. The Gryphon revealed only its head, its body still concealed within the mist, leaving only faint traces to infer its outline.

If the shadow wasn’t the Gryphon’s outline, then what was it? With this question lingering in his mind, Angel scrutinized the scene more carefully. Soon, the shadow began to hint at its true nature.

A serpent’s head emerged from the opposite side, adorned with fleshy crimson growths resembling a crown, while its blood-red vertical pupils mocked the world with a sardonic gaze. Though its size was slightly smaller than the Gryphon’s head, the impact it carried was no less striking.

”The scarlet mist must be this round of prophecies,” Greya paused briefly and continued, ”However, within the red mist, we see both the Gryphon head illusion and the Snake Bird head illusion. Could it be that this prophecy is expressing Toby’s two existing forms?”

Angel’s previous promotion had triggered a prophecy, represented by a door sprouting in the Void. This time, Toby’s prophecy seemed to merely showcase its forms within the blood mist?

While Greya was still pondering, Angel spoke contemplatively, ”Honestly, what intrigues me more is why it only shows the heads.”

Both the Gryphon and the Snake Bird revealed only their heads. Judging from the rippling movements of the blood mist, it seemed unwilling to expose their entire bodies.

As they were caught in a web of confusion, another shadow appeared to one side of the blood mist.

It seemed as though another figure was about to emerge, and from the outline, it looked like... another head?

Greya and Angel exchanged a gaze filled with surprise and uncertainty. If the Gryphon and Snake Bird represented Toby’s two current forms, then what could the third head signify?

Could this be Toby’s next transformation?

As they awaited the emergence of the third head, it only ascended to the surface of the red mist without fully revealing itself. They could see only a rough outline—smaller than the heads of the Gryphon or Snake Bird, with a slender neck bearing graceful curves.

They waited a while longer, but the head still refused to surface from the mist.

”It looks like it won’t fully emerge,” Angel remarked. ”Though, seeing this far, I have a small hypothesis about the prophecy.”

”What hypothesis?” Greya asked, curious.

”Initially, I thought like you—that this prophecy simply depicted Toby’s two existing forms. But upon seeing the third head, I noticed something.” Angel pointed toward the center of the red mist. ”Look closely. Though the three heads appear in different locations within the mist, the shadows of their outlines seem faintly connected.”

Greya’s pupils narrowed slightly. ”You mean... these aren’t separate forms, but rather part of a single entity?!”

Angel nodded and softly said, ”Perhaps this is the ultimate form that Toby transforms into after fully activating its bloodline. At the moment, only the Gryphon and Snake Bird bloodline information have been fully triggered, which is why only these two forms are visible.”

”As for that third head, its faint outline is discernible here...” Angel’s gaze sharpened, ”Perhaps it means... its appearance won’t be far off.”

Greya’s expression grew solemn upon hearing this. ”Are you suggesting... the third tribulation?”

Angel nodded knowingly. ”Prophecies often reveal hidden truths. If my theory holds, Toby’s third tribulation may indeed be on the horizon. After all, we’ve felt traces of its presence previously...”

Greya, too, recalled the fleeting, heavy emotional surge during Toby’s prior tribulation—a sensation distinct from rage or envy, yet equally extreme. Seen in this light, Angel’s speculation might be correct.

”But Toby’s second tribulation has just passed, so why would signs of a third appear so quickly?” Greya questioned.

Angel shook his head, unsure of the answer. ”Perhaps something unusual happened during the last tribulation.”

Greya remembered the pleading ”desire to explain” in the eyes of Toby’s Snake Bird form during the previous tribulation. Perhaps a disruption truly had occurred, prompting such emotions. Otherwise, why would Toby display such an expression?

”Regardless of whether my hypothesis proves accurate, this isn’t a matter for immediate consideration. For now, let’s set it aside.” Angel cast his gaze toward the majestic expanse of the red mist, pivoting the discussion. ”Though I must admit, the sheer scale of the shadow’s outlines within the prophecy is quite staggering.”

This seemingly implied that when Toby achieved its complete form, it would manifest as a colossal beast stretching across the Void.

Greya temporarily set aside the troubling topic, responding in kind to Angel’s lighter remark. ”Frankly, I much prefer the small, original form over the bulky version.”

”I’m sure Toby would agree,” Angel chuckled. ”After all, a body that large would never fit into a pretty princess dress.”

Greya’s lips curled upward involuntarily. Though Angel’s remark wasn’t inherently funny, its earnest absurdity couldn’t help but evoke an image of a titanic beast clad in a frilly pink gown—an entertaining thought that stirred a faint smile.

As their conversation meandered, the red mist solidified, ceasing to expand or shift. Simultaneously, the cocoon beneath the mist began to fracture.

More precisely, a fissure appeared within the energy vortex—a modest crack at first, gradually widening and tearing apart.

As the fissure expanded, the outline inside the cocoon grew clearer. Purely through observation with the naked eye, one could already discern the massive Snake Bird head, mirroring the character of its corresponding prophecy in the blood mist above.

This signified the conclusion of Toby’s advancement—the moment it emerged from the cocoon, this cycle would end.

For Toby, each tribulation brought substantial enhancement to both its physical self and bloodline, allowing its promotion to progress smoothly and without incident. Such serenity stood in stark contrast to human Wizards, whose promotions demanded nine parts struggle to one part survival.

As Toby’s advancement reached its final phase, Angel subtly shifted his relaxed demeanor, remembering the multitude eager to covet Toby’s flesh and power...

”Huh?” Angel, lost in thought, glanced around his surroundings and discovered the previously prying Wizards had quietly vanished.

Not everyone had left, though—two figures remained nearby. Angel recognized them immediately. One was Sky Mechanical City’s joint City Lord—the ”Mechanical Beast Emperor” Rosen. The other was Sanders.

Sanders and Rosen seemed to have arrived unnoticed by Angel earlier, and now the two stood together, conversing about something.

Angel didn’t interrupt them and directed his focus elsewhere.

Greya soon stepped in to clarify Angel’s observation. ”When the red mist prophecy peaked and its Legendary aura receded, most of those troublemaking Wizards fled. Your Mentor and Rosen likely arrived just after that—they must’ve sensed the aura.”