Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2010: Chapter 2011: The Threshold of Light and Darkness

Star Pond Ruins.

As the moonlight gradually covered the starlight reflected in the shallow pool, the three Observation Pavilions distributed over the Star Pond began to absorb the rippling glimmers. The absorbed light eventually condensed at the top of the pavilions, simultaneously emitting a ray of light towards the other Observation Pavilions.

When the light rays connected all the pavilion tops, an invisible Barrier, nearly impossible to see with the naked eye, completely enshrouded the Star Pond Ruins.

Wallace floated above one of the Observation Pavilions, calling out towards Rhein standing at the center of the Star Pond: ”As expected of the Observation Pavilion designed by Esos, the spatial nodes are perfectly divided at the optimal points. I haven’t noticed any anomalies here, and the estimated impact endurance can reach the peak level of Second Level True Knowledge.”

Ironclad Granny didn’t fly into the air; she still sat inside the pavilion, her lips slightly moving: ”No problem on my end either.”

After confirming that the other two Observation Pavilions could remain operational, Rhein looked to the center of the Star Pond. Through the real surface of the water, he saw the deep and mysterious passage of the Other-dimensional Space.

Just as Rhein previously observed, there was nothing unusual in the areas illuminated by starlight. Nor did he see the shoe-wearing creatures Sanders mentioned last time; however, this doesn’t mean the passage is safe.

In the pitch-black shadows untouched by the light, there might lurk dangers that are hard to detect.

”What are you still thinking about?” As Rhein pondered the observation of the passage, Tree Spirit’s lazy voice came from behind him: ”Don’t forget, once the Wall of Convergence is activated, the consumption of Magic Crystals per minute is in the tens of thousands.”

Tree Spirit seemed to only be rattling off numbers, but the sense of urgency was obvious.

Rhein glanced at Tree Spirit, said nothing, and reached out to gently touch the water’s surface.

As ripples spread across the surface, Tree Spirit dismissed his relaxed demeanor, while Wallace and Ironclad Granny in the distance also looked solemn.

They couldn’t see the aura of the Nightmare Realm rising to the sky, but they knew the appearance of the ripples meant that... the passage to the ruins had opened.

”I’m going in,” Rhein said without fluctuation in his voice.

”Alright, be careful,” Tree Spirit’s voice turned from lazy to serious.

Rhein nodded, leaped, and jumped into the ripples. As if breaking through a film of water, Rhein was standing in the pitch-black, mysterious passage in the blink of an eye.

From the outside, it seemed to be a descending tunnel. But once inside, gravity seemed to adjust automatically, and he was solidly standing on the ground.

This also indicates that the ruins beneath the Star Pond are not within reality, and its only intersection with reality is the water film behind him. Its True Body remains hidden in the unknown Void.

Rhein didn’t look back but closed his eyes to sense the surrounding conditions.

As before, spiritual power could not penetrate the walls. What’s behind them was unknown, likely because the Magical Energy Array within the walls was still operational. With Rhein’s power, he could break through the walls, but doing so would inevitably trigger a backlash from the Magical Energy Array, and what would happen afterward would be unpredictable.

Besides, breaking through the walls would surely alert the Nightmare Realm creatures in the ruin’s core, and his goal this time wasn’t to clear them out. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Rhein had no intention of destroying the ruins.

The exploration with spiritual power could only delve deeper, but upon reaching the boundary of light and shadow, it could go no further.

On the dark side of that boundary, it seemed to contain the most solid mental barrier, which couldn’t be penetrated by spiritual power alone.

Although the areas he could explore were limited, Rhein could at least confirm that there were no dangers within the range of the light.

Despite the range of illumination seeming visible at a glance, that wasn’t the case. Last time, when Rhein came to this passage, he detected some strange, snot-like creatures invisible to the naked eye within the illuminated range. These transparent snot creatures, upon sensing Rhein, launched an attack on him, yet the attack was so weak it caused no harm. Startled at their ineffectiveness, they leaped and vanished into the air.

No matter how Rhein searched, he couldn’t find where this group of snot creatures went. Later, after some research upon returning, Rhein determined they were called: Void Travelers, a peculiar existence inhabiting the Void.

The literature had few records since Wizards rarely encountered them and couldn’t capture them even if they did. It is only known that they drift aimlessly in the Void.

Another reason Wizards don’t pay much attention to them is that Void Travelers are very weak and unlikely to cause significant harm even to an Apprentice.

Because Rhein had encountered Void Travelers before, he remained cautious, wondering if other monsters might be lurking in places invisible to the naked eye.

After confirming there were no dangers within the range of the light, Rhein proceeded forward.

Shortly, Rhein arrived at the juncture between light and shadow. He paused slightly; the shoe-wearing creature Sanders saw before appeared here.

Rhein only hesitated for a moment before continuing; his figure soon submerged into the darkness.

Outside, Tree Spirit, observing Rhein’s movements, whispered softly after Rhein disappeared into the dark: ”Hopefully, there won’t be any changes in the ruins.”

After entering the darkness, Rhein didn’t encounter the rumored shoed creatures, but it was slightly different compared to his previous entry—

A meter ahead of him, a giant head floated mid-air, drooling foul-smelling saliva at him.

The ground showed traces of corrosion from the saliva, and behind the head, some vague shadows swayed, with blood-red eyes glinting cruelly and grimly in the darkness.

This once-peaceful passageway had unknowingly become filled with terrifying Magical Creatures!

...

Angel received Tree Spirit’s message close to the stroke of midnight.

Emerging from the ruins, Angel saw Tree Spirit deep in thought under a tree.

Upon hearing Angel’s footsteps, Tree Spirit slowly lifted his head: ”You’re here; I should go notify Sanders first...”

Angel shook his head: ”No need, I’ve already informed the Mentor; he’ll be here shortly.”

Tree Spirit was taken aback: ”You told him?”

Seeing Angel nod, Tree Spirit was bewildered... When did he say that?

He was there the whole time and didn’t see Angel communicating with Sanders. Even sending a Illusion Technique message would have been visible to him.

Could it be—is Angel’s distant voice technique capable of piercing the Mirror World now? That’s unlikely; even Rhein attempting to send messages through the distant voice technique to the Mirror World would be detected by Tree Spirit, let alone Angel.

Was Angel just bluffing him?

While Tree Spirit was filled with confusion, footsteps echoed from behind him.