Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2754: Chapter 2755: Beibei’s Debut

The sound came from the Wicked Woman. At this moment, she had almost pressed herself against the outer dome, her eyes wide open, staring fixedly at the gray-black robe on Kaier’s body.

”What’s wrong?” Gray Merchant looked towards the Wicked Woman, puzzled.

”That clothing... that clothing... there’s absolutely no mistake...” The Wicked Woman muttered to herself, entranced as if she had entered her own world, completely unresponsive to the outside.

Gray Merchant didn’t know what was happening with the Wicked Woman, but through her muttering, he too focused his attention on the gray-black robe; with just a glance, Gray Merchant’s brows slightly furrowed.

With the naked eye, the robe seemed ordinary beyond ordinary. But when he observed it through the lens of spiritual power, a startling transmutation appeared.

The robe was like the filth fallen into crystal-clear water, constantly spewing pitch-black smoke from within.

Looking closely, the robe resembled an Abyssal maw, with an eerie darkness within, the black mist laced with malice continuously seeping out from the maw.

This black smoke, detectable solely through spiritual observation, was not unfamiliar to Gray Merchant. The resentment energy, hatred, and unwillingness of a powerful Magical Creature in life, manifest posthumously, would produce this malice-like black mist.

For humans, exposure to such malice is highly damaging, not only transforming their personalities to become violent and cruel, but over time, they would be completely engulfed, becoming mere shells of indiscriminate slaughter.

However, for Transcendents, this malice caused limited harm. If combined with the past resentment spirit of a powerful Magical Creature, it might cause backlash to the Transcendent, but this robe clearly lacked such a spirit, and pure malice wouldn’t affect the user much.

Based on this information, it could be speculated that this black robe is likely made from the hide of a certain powerful Magical Creature.

Exactly which creature, Gray Merchant could not yet discern. However, with the malice overabundant and spilling outwardly, that is exceedingly rare. Either the creature was unimaginably powerful in life, or it underwent unprecedented torment before dying, its unwillingness and hatred erupting furiously prior to death, influencing even posthumously. But even in such cases, the creature’s strength would not be weak.

Thus, a hide from such a creature is incredibly valuable, certainly not something a mere apprentice could produce.

If this Magical Creature had any notable background, its value would be even more terrifying.

If no accidents occurred, this Magical Creature’s hide should be supported by a Wizard on the opposite side, perhaps... originating from the Noah Family. If indeed from the Noah Family, given their vast family strength and foundation, acquiring the hide of a powerful Magical Creature is not difficult.

Though Gray Merchant could perceive the peculiarities of this robe, he still had many unresolved questions regarding the effects of the robe and the Wicked Woman’s reaction.

What did the Wicked Woman discover to be so astonished?

What use does the robe Kaier presented have?

The first question couldn’t be answered immediately, but for the second, by continuing to observe, the answer should become evident.

...

On the arena.

After donning the robe, Kaier executed his spell without the slightest hesitation, the spatial fluctuations around him reaching an almost visible magnitude, light and shadow distorting, with obvious spatial layering.

It was the first time Kaier’s spell-casting generated such vast spatial fluctuations, seemingly indicative of him casting a potent spatial trick.

The Shepherd noticed, heart slightly puzzled; prior attempts by Kaier to cast Space Rift were all interrupted by him, and now directly casting a stronger spatial trick? If interrupted, the chance of backlash is much greater than casting Space Rift, and once backlashed, Kaier would be gravely injured if not dead.

”Is it a do-or-die attempt, or rather...” the Shepherd pondered, scrutinizing Kaier’s robe: ”Another assurance?”

If indeed the latter, it’s likely related to this robe.

The Shepherd couldn’t see through this robe, but being brought out with such gravity by Kaier, and immediately casting a High-level trick, required cautious confrontation.

Caution doesn’t mean retreat. Earlier, during the battle with Noah Family’s apprentice, the Specter could have continuously ambushed and exhausted the opponent’s energy, but later caution gave the opponent a chance for Restoration, leading to total defeat.

Therefore, even though the Shepherd remained cautious, he didn’t pause his assault on Kaier.

However, this time, instead of attacking directly, the Shepherd slowly raised his right hand, pointing to the sky, and softly commanded, ”Beibei!”

With his voice, where his finger pointed, a majestic spectral hound began to materialize.

This was a majestic black-backed, brown-pawed shepherd dog, nearly as large as a human youth, exceedingly tall among shepherd dogs.

On appearing, it captivated everyone’s attention, seemingly proud, immediately preparing to raise its head to howl, showcasing its ”wolf-blood boiling” grandeur.

Yet, just as it lifted its head, something felt amiss.

Its footing felt oddly insubstantial, as if stepping on air!

Confused, it lowered its head.

The dog’s eyes widened in shock; this was no illusion of stepping on air, it was genuinely suspended in mid-air!

Its round eyes filled with fright, its ears flapping wildly, as if attempting to use them as wings, but unfortunately, its body was too large, ”Ear Wings” couldn’t support its weight. The next moment, with a wail, the spectral hound plummeted from mid-air.

Bang——

With a loud thud, the spectral hound lay sprawling on the ground, eyes swirling, mouth askew, tongue lolling out involuntarily, appearing thoroughly ”broken.”

Yet, the Shepherd ignored the spectral hound’s pitiful state, extending his palm, within which wind spirals visible to the naked eye emerged.

”W-wait a second...” The spectral hound suddenly stood up, astonishingly speaking human language.

Still, the Shepherd feigned not hearing, the spiral wind shot out swiftly, striking the Shepherd’s body, causing the spectral hound to spin out like a windmill blade.

”You bastard, you won’t die well!” The spectral hound roared as it flew straight toward the spell-casting Kaier.

The Shepherd clasped his hands together, muttering softly, ”Don’t blame me, forced by necessity... If your entrance could be understated, your self-introduction brief, I’ll ensure you enter next time with them.”

Previously, while none comprehended why the Shepherd was so hard on the spectral hound, hearing his whispers, they seemed to grasp something.

Apparently, this was a... boastful spectral hound?

The spectral hound continued bellowing mid-air, an image seemingly rendering the Shepherd embarrassed, as his fair face turned flushed. Loudly declaring, ”If you’d shut up, I’ll make you a hat from Baby’s fur.”

The sheepdog’s initially fierce eyes suddenly lit up: ”Don’t touch my baby, use Hei San’s fur, I dislike it the most, and my baby still loves it the most. I must strip it bald!”

Shepherd: ”Alright...”

Upon hearing the shepherd’s promise, the sheepdog Beibei immediately perked up, regaining control over its previously erratic body, stretching itself out in midair. Then, it fixed its gaze on Kaier: ”It was you, wasn’t it? How dare you lay a hand on my baby? I’ll make you pay for this!”

The shepherd behind it silently added, ”The baby is fine.”

The sheepdog paused, quickly changing its tone: ”Though the shepherd is a jerk, only I get to mess with this jerk! I will make you pay!”

Shepherd: ”I’m fine too.”

At this point, the sheepdog stopped speaking and directly transformed into an arrow, charging at Kaier.

From an outsider’s perspective, Kaier hadn’t moved, seeming to gather strength for spellcasting. But in reality, Kaier had already finished the spell.

In fact, Kaier had completed the spell when the shepherd summoned that strange sheepdog, Beibei.

The reason for his apparent inaction was something else.

Now, with the sheepdog charging toward him, Kaier naturally couldn’t just sit still. He immediately cast the trick he had prepared.

Before Kaier, two spatial rifts appeared out of thin air... or rather more accurately, it was half a Space Rift and an extended version of a space crack.

In the front, there was a horizontally splitting Space Rift with a wide gap, enough for a human to enter. This was why it was called a ”rift” rather than a ”crack.”

It’s called a ”half” Space Rift due to its limited length; though it can let a person pass, it would only suit a child or a bent-over youth, essentially a ”crude version” of a regular Space Rift. To call it a half might be an overstatement; a third or a quarter would be more accurate.

The other space crack was much slimmer and at least ten times longer than a typical crack, and its 3D angle was exceedingly tricky.

The crack spiraled like a robust withered root, encircling Kaier tightly, the only path through it passing the half Space Rift in the front. Anyone rashly entering would be shredded by the space crack; even if one dodged the crack, they might be swallowed by the Space Rift.

It’s fair to say this was a space trick combining offense and defense.

The sheepdog Beibei likely didn’t expect Kaier’s spellcasting speed to be so astonishing; its charging speed was too swift, leaving no room to stop.

The sheepdog charged straight into the ”birdcage” formed by Kaier’s cracks.

Screams echoed from the sheepdog’s mouth.

When the sheepdog charged, Kaier had already stepped back a few paces to avoid the impact. Yet, Kaier hadn’t moved out of the range of the space cracks, so he wasn’t far from the sheepdog, witnessing it charge into the space cracks himself.

As the cracks formed a ”birdcage,” the sheepdog’s body was sliced into eight pieces as it failed to halt in time.

Visibly, the sheepdog was dismembered, its head even split into several pieces.

Yet to Kaier’s amazement, the sheepdog’s ”mouth,” alone on the side, continued to howl, as if its now fragmented body still felt pain.

What happened next stunned Kaier even more.

The sheepdog’s ”fragments” began to tremble, fitting together like puzzle pieces, each seeking its mate.

Soon, a complete sheepdog stood before Kaier once more.

However, Beibei still howled, its anguished cries revealing that the tearing and reformation of its body truly hurt the sheepdog.

Despite the pain, the sheepdog hadn’t forgotten its objective. It had suffered once, and having finally breached the space cracks, it wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

The sheepdog bravely endured the pain, charging at Kaier again.

The next second, the sheepdog’s eyes widened once more.

”Why?!”

Before it appeared another space crack, even longer than before! Moreover, it was splayed like a ”ribbon,” carelessly arranged by Kaier: twisting, turning, looping, its disordered state akin to yarn after a playful kitten.

Even with a swift response, the sheepdog couldn’t avoid being disassembled by the new space crack.

Agonizing howls erupted again.

A few seconds later, although the sheepdog recomposed itself, it withdrew, afraid to advance and retreated to a crack-free spot, shouting loudly: ”I surrender, I’ll join your side, I hate that jerk too, let’s team up and take him down! Brother!”

Kaier, Shepherd: ”...” Who’s your brother, again, and who would be your brother?

Kaier thought the sheepdog quite unreliable, but he ceased attacking it and instead turned his attention to the shepherd.

The shepherd narrowed his eyes, quietly asking: ”Does this robe hasten spellcasting?”

Previously, Kaier had struggled to cast even basic space tricks, each requiring preparation time. The shepherd, backed by the Wind’s Force, always managed to interrupt Kaier’s casting.

But now, the shepherd acted quickly, sending Beibei to interrupt Kaier, yet before Beibei got close, Kaier had already consecutively cast space cracks and Space Rifts, casting with speed unheard of before!

The exact efficiency gain was unknown, but judging by how rapidly Kaier conjured the second space crack, it seemed almost instantaneous.

It was now impossible to interrupt Kaier’s space crack as before.

Kaier didn’t answer, merely lowered his brow, signaling to continue the duel.

Just then, the shepherd suddenly spoke to him: ”Watch your back!”

Kaier hesitated for a moment, not comprehending the shepherd’s warning. When he turned around, he saw the previously hesitant sheepdog now cunningly grinning, lifting its paw to slash at him!

If Kaier had retreated upon hearing the shepherd’s initial warning, he could have completely evaded the sheepdog’s sneak attack.

But given that the shepherd was the opponent in the duel, the sole adversary in the arena, Kaier couldn’t blindly trust his words. Consequently, when Kaier tried to evade once more, the sheepdog’s attack was already unstoppable!