Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2073: Chapter 2074: Rainbow Mountain

The sound of footsteps came from afar.

A black stone that was freely rolling around the abandoned streets of the Rosy District suddenly stopped upon hearing the footsteps, pretending to be an ordinary stone.

Angel and the Boiling Gentleman stepped over this small stone.

After Angel stepped over it, he seemed to sense something and halted. The spiritual power used for vigilance behind him provided him with a strange perspective.

He saw the previously unremarkable black stone suddenly start to roll. As it rolled, the ground displayed black traces. These dark marks initially seemed inconspicuous, but upon closer inspection, they were found to be not merely marks, but made up of swarms of tiny black insects with double wings.

These black insects appeared insignificant, but upon seeing their true nature, Angel’s expression subtly changed.

He had previously looked through the manuscript left by the legendary Wizard ”Heart of the Swarm,” Insercott, in Nis’s library when breeding amoebas.

In Insercott’s manuscript, there was a kind of insect named Karnon beetle that occupied an important section. Insercott even wrote an entire category specifically for Karnon beetles.

These insects, as small as dust particles, are not so powerful when alone. But when they gather together, even consolidating to the size of a water droplet, they can devour the flesh of dragons and drink the blood of demons.

Karnon beetles can be said to be the true symbol of swarm consciousness.

Insercott’s nickname, ”Heart of the Swarm,” stemmed from his fondness for studying swarms with collective consciousness and calm execution ability. Karnon beetles were one of the transcendent insect swarms most praised by Insercott.

Unfortunately, this terrifying swarm has vanished over time, disappearing into the river of history.

Angel had felt somewhat nostalgic when initially flipping through the Karnon beetle section. Because Karnon beetles had a Third Tier fixed combustion reaction, which could serve as a unique high-order alchemy fire for alchemy, but with the extinction of Karnon beetles, the fire produced by this Third Tier fixed combustion reaction disappeared as well.

Angel did not expect to see the Karnon beetle again here.

At this moment, Angel couldn’t muster any sentiment but instead was filled with deep anxiety. Karnon beetles are insects with extremely high potential; the more the swarm, the more terrifying the destruction.

Such a large number of Karnon beetles would absolutely be a disaster if they appeared in the outside world.

Even if Rhein himself led a team to kill these Karnon beetles, they might not be completely exterminated, and could even cause turmoil.

Compared to Phantom Performance and Mist Charm, the damage potentially caused by Karnon beetles is even more direct.

With so many Karnon beetles here... Angel dared not imagine the havoc they would wreak after leaving the Star Pond. The only consolation is that Karnon beetles probably require the Nightmare Realm’s aura to fully exhibit their power.

”Lord Shava?” said the Boiling Gentleman, turning his head. Although his face couldn’t be seen, his tone indicated curiosity about why Angel paused.

Angel’s footsteps halted for about two seconds, but countless thoughts were swirling in his mind.

”Nothing.” Angel’s expression remained unchanged as he continued forward, as if nothing had happened.

The Boiling Gentleman glanced behind Angel, seeing the swarm of Karnon beetles, a flicker of doubt in his eyes: aren’t these ordinary magical insects? Is it worth Lord Shava intentionally pausing?

Though there was doubt in his heart, the Boiling Gentleman did not inquire. Seeing Shava proceed forward, he temporarily rested his curiosity and resumed the journey.

Angel walked calmly throughout the journey, but internally, ripples continuously arose.

He hadn’t yet shaken off the shock given by Karnon beetles when he sensed some terrifying aura within the mist-shrouded abandoned houses around him, some of which revealed parts of their true forms.

And those that slightly revealed themselves were all powerful magical creatures, which could almost be recorded in the legendary section of ”Where Are The Enchanted Beasts.”

If these magical creatures came into reality, the destruction they would cause would be no less than that of Karnon beetles!

Perhaps noticing Angel occasionally casting his gaze on the surrounding houses, the Boiling Gentleman casually explained, ”All the creatures here are projected from the Rosy District, but they’re quite ordinary, as more characteristic creatures choose to be like Rose Baron, unwilling to project here.”

Angel’s inner dialogue: ”...” These magical creatures capable of wreaking havoc in the outside world are merely ”quite ordinary” in the Boiling Gentleman’s words?

Upon careful thought, it seems reasonable.

Angel had visited Naraku City before, spotting numerous magical creatures in its underground aqueducts, ranging from apprentice level to official wizard level. And Naraku City is on the outskirts of the Nightmare Realm; magical creatures are already like this. If slightly closer to the core area of the Nightmare Realm, the creatures are likely even more terrifying.

The Rosy District in Xinnai Land is probably closer to the core area of the Nightmare Realm, so the strength of creatures would naturally be higher.

Though Angel could understand this reasoning, truly accepting these terrifying magical creatures peacefully coexisting here was still somewhat difficult.

Yet the Nightmare Realm is the Nightmare Realm after all; following reality’s logic here is entirely unnecessary.

There’s no complete logic here, only endless absurdity and unfathomable oddity.

Perhaps after witnessing numerous terrifying magical creatures, Angel’s mood gradually calmed toward the end. To be precise, it wasn’t genuine calm, but rather numbness.

Since these creatures had no intent to attack them, he might as well consider it a visit to the zoo.

For about ten minutes, they walked through the abandoned Rosy District. As they approached a still long street, the Boiling Gentleman suddenly halted, leading Angel off the path to a pitch-black riverbank.

The river channel contained water as black as ink. Angel was entirely unconcerned about why the water was black, for he saw several giant skeletons in the riverbed. Despite being dead, these skeletons exuded an imposing aura.

These skeletons were perhaps the price of curiosity.

Angel simply followed the Boiling Gentleman, refraining from curiosity to survive longer in this eerie world.

Not too long after following the river, Angel saw a bridge emitting iridescent hues.

This bridge, resembling a rainbow, stood out brightly amid the gloomy, abandoned Rosy District, inherently attracting attention with its aura.

If Angel were exploring alone at this moment, he would absolutely not rush onto this bridge. The more conspicuous a presence, the more potential for deception.

However, the Boiling Gentleman halted at the bridge’s edge, suggesting their next step was to cross the bridge.

The Boiling Gentleman didn’t immediately proceed to cross the bridge, waiting for a few seconds. With a subtle tremor of the ground, a glowing stone monument emerged ahead of the Rainbow Bridge.

The stone monument grew a mouth, speaking at length:

”Rainbow Mountain is a sacred territory of food. To step into Rainbow Mountain, you must first answer three questions! If answered correctly, you’ll be permitted to cross the bridge; if wrong, you’ll still enter the mountain, but as ingredients...”

After finishing speaking, the stone tablet grew eyes, ready to observe those crossing the bridge.

When the stone tablet saw the Fecitious Gentleman, it had no reaction. It naturally recognized the Fecitious Gentleman, but rules are rules, and one still had to comply with them to cross the bridge.

However, when the stone tablet looked at Angel, its gaze suddenly halted.

...

”What is one plus one?”

”What is the name of the mountain behind me?”

”What color is the water in the canal?”

When Angel stepped onto the Rainbow Bridge, he was still a bit puzzled. He originally thought the three questions from the stone tablet were going to be very difficult, but unexpectedly, they were so simple? The answer to the second question was even a phrase the stone tablet had mentioned earlier!

The Fecitious Gentleman, seeing Angel’s expression, roughly guessed what he was thinking.

”Actually, if Lord Shava gave the wrong answer, saying the water in the canal is rainbow-colored, it would still let you pass.” The Fecitious Gentleman said lightly: ”Because, you are Lord Shava.”

If it were someone else crossing this bridge, the questions from the stone tablet would definitely leave them scratching their heads without an answer.

Even the Fecitious Gentleman himself, wanting to cross this bridge, would be asked some profound questions.

However, the Fecitious Gentleman usually wouldn’t cross this bridge. He had other passages to reach different areas of Xinnai Land. This time, he took this route simply to escort Lord Shava to inspect the progress of Xinnai’s arrival.

This was a task secretly arranged by Lord Nuka in order to help Lord Shava gain a deeper understanding of the area, with the hope that Lord Shava would agree to the banquet on the future Festival of the Moon.

Although the Fecitious Gentleman himself wasn’t part of Nuka’s faction, since he was in Xinnai Land, he had to follow some of Nuka’s words. The tasks assigned by Nuka this time were not too arbitrary, so the Fecitious Gentleman naturally did not refuse.

After hearing the Fecitious Gentleman’s words, Angel was initially stunned, then calmed down, and his confusion was resolved. No wonder the questions were so simple; it was still a matter of Shava’s identity.

From Duling Garden to here, this journey proved that Shava’s identity was extremely useful within the Nightmare Realm’s community. This was perhaps the biggest insight he gained after entering this ruin.

After all, Angel didn’t consider himself Shava, so when he realized this, his mood was somewhat subtle. But as the beneficiary, he quickly adjusted his mood to face the journey ahead.

...

As they stepped onto the Rainbow Bridge, a faint mist appeared around them. When they walked down from the bridge, the mist immediately vanished, and in front of them appeared an undulating mountain.

Angel glanced back once, the Rainbow Bridge was still there, but the other side of the bridge was a forest, and below the bridge, the water was no longer black, but pink.

Previously, near the canal in the Rose District, Angel clearly saw that the other side of the canal was also an abandoned city area, and the opposite of the Rainbow Bridge was definitely not any Rainbow Mountain.

But now that they had crossed the bridge, everything had changed drastically. Obviously, that bridge, like the chimneys of Duling Garden and the mushrooms in Rose Castle’s garden, was a medium connecting other regions.

Angel now also understood that each region here had no direct route to another region but required a medium.

And these mediums, even if you can find them, aren’t so simple to cross.

The chimneys of Duling Garden, with the power of madness possessed, required the consent of madness to leave; the mushroom in Rose Castle’s garden, since its mouth was the passage, could either become a passage or swallow them; To cross the Rainbow Bridge, they also had to undergo the baptism of three questions...

This land projected from the Nightmare Realm, Xinnai Land, the more Angel understood, the more he felt powerless.

He might be able to traverse unhindered by taking advantage of his identity. But if it really came to the point of war, human wizards estimated it would be difficult to penetrate this core area.

The Fecitious Gentleman saw Angel standing still, thinking his inferred intentions for the tour were seen through, and hurriedly said: ”Lord Shava, once past Rainbow Mountain, you reach the Candle Mist Passage.”

Angel drifted back to reality, nodded: ”Then let’s go.”

The Fecitious Gentleman led Angel towards the distant Rainbow Mountain.

The reason it’s called Rainbow Mountain is because this high mountain is surrounded by various rainbow-colored rings, these rings look like multi-colored cotton candy, giving off quite a girlish vibe.

However, Angel knew there was no girl on this Rainbow Mountain, but a glutton akin to a meatball: Davasia.

Speaking of which, what made Angel have the most favorable impression of the previous banquet was probably Davasia. Although he clamored to turn the Lunatic Tome into rainbow candy as soon as he appeared, as long as he was provided food, regardless of taste, he devoured it eagerly.

This pure yet persistent desire, compared to the complex inner worlds of the other guests, was truly a breath of fresh air.

Angel found it relatively easy to deal with.

However, this good impression was only relative to that specific banquet; in a broader context, it wouldn’t hold up.

After entering the Rainbow Mountain area, the first thing they saw was a large number of fruit-bearing trees. These fruits smelled sweet, but if you looked down, you would find that beneath these fruit trees were corpses struggling and reaching out.

Angel could sense traces of illusion techniques near the fruit trees, thinking that these trees used illusion to deceive and lure humans, eventually killing them to become nutrients for the fruit trees.

As a wizard of the Illusion Series, Angel wanted very much to sense what kind of illusions these fruit trees could produce.

However, when he and the Fecitious Gentleman stepped into the orchard, there was no sign of any illusion attack, obviously, their identities once more granted them ”immunity.”

Passing through the orchard, they came to the foot of the mountain.

Angel thought they needed to climb the mountain, but the Fecitious Gentleman didn’t lead him into the forest, but to one side of the foot of the mountain, where there was a protruding stone platform.

Angel noticed there were many patterns engraved on the stone platform.

And these patterns were all magic patterns!

In the domain of Nightmare Realm creatures, there’s actually a stone platform with magic patterns?

These magic patterns were extremely complex, and a glance could cause dizziness. However, Angel, as an alchemist specializing in enchantment, had a strong ability to analyze magic patterns. He quickly found the patterns within the bewildering magic patterns.

This should be a short-distance teleportation circle.

Angel wasn’t very surprised by this outcome, but what he was concerned about was the trajectory of the magic patterns of this short-distance teleportation array, which gave him a sense of familiarity.