Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3289: Chapter 3290: Dreamland Zoo

The only thing that leaves Angel somewhat helpless is that the information within the Ability is too complex and overwhelming.

Although he has the authority to conduct information search, each search inevitably leads to spiritual power being consumed as he floats and sinks within the ocean of information.

The consumption of spiritual power directly reflects the depletion of mental energy.

This also resulted in a dizzy spell as soon as he withdrew his focus from the Ability Tree.

Fortunately, he was leaning against the sofa, so he didn’t experience the situation of his legs turning weak and collapsing.

A few seconds later, Angel opened his slightly tired eyes: ”Can you summon Dreamchaser Alan?”

Laplace had been focused on the main display stage but turned around in puzzlement when hearing Angel’s distinctly hoarse voice.

From Laplace’s perspective, Angel’s expression and sitting position hadn’t changed much from before, yet there was an unmistakable sense of indolence, like a... salted fish that had lost its dreams.

Laplace hesitated for a moment: ”Are you... alright?”

Angel shook his head: ”It’s nothing, just feeling extremely exhausted after using the Ability to probe unknown information.”

Laplace knew that Angel possessed special abilities, so she didn’t ask about them; however, she was quite curious about the ”unknown information” Angel obtained.

Angel did not hide this and while kneading his brow to ease his somewhat stiff thoughts, he said: ”As for the personality of Dreamchaser Alan, before seeing him in person, I cannot ascertain it. However, what is certain is that Alan is also a special NPC, and he will be born along with a Fairyland Duplication called ’Dreamland Zoo’.”

”Dreamland Zoo is somewhat special; it doesn’t have a fixed instance entrance and exists in deeper layers of dreams.”

As Angel himself would put it, it’s... a dream within a dream.

The Crystal Origin of Dreams is a gap among the Dream Realm, Nightmare Realm, and Mirror Domain, just barely belonging to the edge of a dream.

Whereas Dreamland Zoo is a dream within a dream.

If the Crystal Origin of Dreams is compared to ”reality,” then Dreamland Zoo is floating within ”deep dreams” outside of reality.

”Because Dreamland Zoo has no fixed instance entrance, there are only two ways to enter it.”

”First, after experiencing consecutive nightmares and beautiful dreams for two days, there is a chance to glimpse the entrance to Dreamland Zoo in deep dreams.”

This method is noticeably more inclined towards the Indigenous People.

Indigenous People in the Crystal Origin of Dreams are no different from the outside world; they can sleep and dream, albeit at a lower probability. However, when Dreamland Zoo is deployed, the likelihood of dreaming during sleep significantly increases.

Although achieving consecutive days of nightmares and beautiful dreams requires certain thresholds, it certainly is higher compared to the probability for non-Indigenous People.

”Second, receiving an invitation also allows entry into Dreamland Zoo. This invitation refers to... an entry ticket.”

Much like going to a theater to watch performances or a circus to watch acts, tickets allow one to view the shows.

Dreamland Zoo can also be entered via tickets.

However, obtaining the zoo tickets is not an easy task.

”Based on the information I found, there are roughly three sources for the tickets.” Angel explained: ”The first way is rewards from other instances.”

Instance rewards are easy to understand.

When Dreamland Zoo manifests, other instances will have a higher probability of awarding Dreamland Zoo tickets.

Take, for instance, when Luigi completed the Sunshine Circus instance, his reward options included an ”invitation letter from Sunshine Circus.” This letter corresponds to another Fairyland Duplication — the Carnival.

Acquiring entry tickets to other instances through instance rewards is a common occurrence in Wonderland of Dreams.

”The second way, occasionally, the zoo administrator will appear in the Crystal Origin. At that time, one can purchase entry tickets from him via trading.”

Here ”zoo administrator” refers to Dreamchaser Alan.

Alan differs somewhat from other NPCs as he can leave the instance and appear anywhere in the Crystal Origin of Dreams. However, his movements are restricted, as he can only ”occasionally” appear.

When Alan appears in the Crystal Origin, he carries a random number of zoo tickets.

People wanting entrance can ”exchange” for tickets through trading with Alan.

It’s worth noting that Alan only accepts Enchanted Land Tools.

Even if Angel uses the Dream Conch to pull powerful tools from reality into the Crystal Origin, Alan won’t give them a glance. According to Fairyland rules, his trading serves as a ”recycling mechanism” for Enchanted Land Tools.

”The third way to obtain tickets is simpler and more direct, but the threshold cannot presently be met.” Angel describes: ”When a settlement reaches a certain size, can be self-sustaining, and possesses diverse and perfected systems, then the leader of this settlement will monthly receive a random number of zoo tickets.”

Though this method appears the most straightforward, achieving it is quite difficult.

The so-called ”having diverse and perfected systems” sounds simple in a sentence, but upon checking, Angel discovered that these systems refer to: energy system, sanitation system, transportation system, social service system, disaster prevention and preparedness system, and education system...

Once these systems are perfected, the settlement essentially transforms into a ”city.”

Developing a settlement into a city not only requires construction but also a considerable population and corresponding top-tier talents.

Achieving this goal in the short term is exceptionally challenging.

Therefore, the third point can practically be disregarded.

Laplace: ”I can understand the first two points, but why set the third point like this?”

Both instance rewards and trading with Alan make sense, but why distribute tickets directly to a settlement leader for constructing a settlement?

Angel pondered: ”I don’t know the exact reasons, but my personal guess is that once a settlement fully develops its systems, Indigenous People can not only pursue a convenient life but also deepen their spiritual pursuits.”

Spiritual pursuit refers to personal improvement pursuits; the forms of ”getting better” are diverse, including entertainment, games, cultivation, emotions... all belong to this category.

Dreamland Zoo happens to fulfill this spiritual pursuit.

Additionally, the functions of the zoo and circus are not far apart; both require participation from ’people’ to thrive.

The circus’ approach is forcibly summoning people, while the zoo distributes tickets to settlements letting leaders allocate them themselves, which is actually another method of ”summoning people.” Compared to the circus’ forced conscription, this method is evidently more advanced.

Laplace thoughtfully nodded: ”I think I understand... are there other pieces of information?”

Angel: ”The next pieces of information concern Dreamland Zoo itself.”

According to Angel’s previous research, fierce ”Fierce Beasts” roam freely in Dreamland Zoo, making it unsuitable for migration. Therefore, although knowing Alan’s character is potentially the best among all special NPCs, Angel is reluctant to let Dreamland Zoo manifest, fearing it might bring losses instead of benefits.

But when Angel extracted the rules of Dreamland Zoo, he finally relented.

Because, Dreamland Zoo exists in ”deep dreams,” people entering the zoo are in a ”virtual” state. Even if killed by Fierce Beasts in the zoo, there is little impact on the outside world, at most a period of mental weariness. This is far better than other instances where death might lead to consciousness dispersing and direct losses.

Most importantly, the benefits of Dreamland Zoo are substantial; the ”Fierce Beasts” there can be tamed.

”Taming Fierce Beasts?” Laplace was taken aback: ”Do you mean turning them into your aid?”

Angel nodded: ”Do you remember the black cat Glaipnir got from the Sunshine Circus?”

Laplace nodded, but she remembered it as a black tiger, only because its power weakened, which forced its size to shrink... But no matter how small, it was still a tiger.

However, Laplace did not correct Angel’s wording. Because even Glaipnir himself called it ”black cat, black cat,” so it was no big deal for Angel to say the same.

”That black cat, according to the instance reward attribution, falls under the category of ’Fairyland Pet’.”

”And the fierce beasts in the Dreamland Zoo, if they are tamed, will also become ’Fairyland Pets’. At that time, the person who tamed the fierce beast, as long as they get Alan’s approval, can bring this ’Fairyland Pet’ back to reality.”

Though called ”pets,” they are different from those that just charm people for cuddles. These pets are more aptly called ”battle pets.”

Their strength will increase as their taming degree improves.

Just like Glaipnir’s black cat; when the taming degree increases, the cat can turn into a tiger.

Similarly, once a tamed fierce beast’s taming degree is increased, it can undergo evolution and acquire new abilities...

In short, these ’Fairyland Pets’ will aid the Indigenous People and the login players of the Crystal Origin of Dreams.

”I see.” Laplace nodded understandingly and concluded: ”It seems that the Dreamland Zoo instance is probably the main production area of ’Fairyland Pets’. And ’Fairyland Pets’ can barely be classified as one of the battle systems of Crystal Origin of Dreams.”

Angel: ”That is indeed the case, but...”

”But what?” Laplace looked at Angel with curiosity, sensing that Angel’s expression seemed a bit strange.

Angel shook his head and said: ”...Nothing.”

Though he said nothing, Angel had different thoughts in his mind—

He had no particular thoughts about the Dreamland Zoo instance, nor about taming fierce beasts. However, the ongoing taming of fierce beasts, fighting, evolution, gaining new abilities... This whole series of strengthening methods felt very familiar to Angel.

He vaguely remembered that there were similar stories recorded in the Holographic Tablet Jon had given him.

It’s just that in those stories, it wasn’t ”fierce beasts,” but ”elves.” Taming elves, fighting, evolving, new forms, Elf Ball... These elements seemed replicated into the Dreamland Zoo instance.

Even the setting of the ”Elf Ball” could find a counterpart: Fairyland pets being stored in a separate Fairyland Space.

If not for an entire universe between them, Angel would be concerned about the author on the other side wielding the legal hammer of plagiarism.

However, this further confirms one thing.

Many instances in Wonderland of Dreams are not only related to the dreams of creatures within the Immortal Realm but are also connected to Angel’s own memories.

As the master of the Ability Tree, Angel’s will has evidently begun to gradually influence the direction of powers.

He doesn’t know if this situation is good or bad.

But being able to affect a vast Nightmare Realm with one’s mind, or even influence an entire New World, from Angel’s perspective, this seems not to be bad?

...

After a private conversation between Angel and Laplace, they have decided to purchase ”Light Swan” and ”Evil Abyss.”

The birth of Alan will basically not bring any negative impact, and the emergence of the Dreamland Zoo can accelerate and enrich the battle system of Crystal Origin of Dreams.

In every aspect, this is a good thing.

Moreover, Angel wants to see if the ”fierce beasts” in the Dreamland Zoo will resemble the ”elves” in the Holographic Tablet in appearance... After all, the elves recorded in the Holographic Tablet are not only cute in appearance but also their evolved forms follow a certain logic.

Will the fierce beasts be like this too? Will their appearances follow a cute style? Will their evolution follow logic?

Various doubts make Angel eager to see the birth of the Dreamland Zoo.

Compared to Angel’s anticipation of the Dreamland Zoo, Laplace is even more looking forward to meeting ”Dreamchaser” Alan.

During her private chats with Angel, her mentions of Alan have increased, clearly showing she too is eager to meet Alan. Even if at that time, Alan might not remember her, just like Maggie, Nafidote, and others.

But it doesn’t matter, Laplace doesn’t care if they lose memories relating to herself, as long as she’s still alive, there’s always a way to create more shared memories.

Angel: ”Speaking of which, what kind of person is Alan exactly? Is he also a Head Mirror Clan?”

Angel has only heard Laplace’s praise of Alan yet never quite knew Alan’s identity.

Alan as a Head Mirror Clan? Unlikely. Given the unique physiological form of the Head Mirror Clan, where consciousness is independent and bodies are shared.

Based on Laplace’s description, Alan should have an independent body, so it’s unlikely that Alan is from the Head Mirror Clan. Unless, like the Ghost Steward, he was cast aside by the Head Mirror Clan.

But if Alan isn’t from the Head Mirror Clan, why would he chase after the dreams woven by the Head Mirror Clan?

Laplace naturally did not hide this, and directly said: ”Alan is not from the Head Mirror Clan, his former self was purely human.”

Human.

This answer did not surprise Angel much.

Although Laplace had never admitted it, her preference for humans was evident. Whether it was Luigi or Glaipnir, they chose humans as their temporal bodies’ reliance. Even the Rabbit Girl and her avatars had human forms.

Angel even felt that Laplace trusting him so much in such a short period might also be because he’s human?

Why does Laplace favor humans?

Angel doesn’t know, perhaps the preference is akin to an orca’s fondness for humans?

”What are you thinking?” Laplace noticed Angel seemed a bit distracted. If at any other time, Laplace might not interrupt, but at this moment, she vaguely felt it best to interrupt Angel’s distraction, lest he continue to overthink.

Angel snapped out of it, seeing Laplace’s puzzled gaze, and said somewhat embarrassedly: ”I wasn’t thinking much, just... just wondering why Alan, as a human, would come to the Mirror Domain.”

Laplace responded with a question instead of an answer: ”Why are you certain that Alan’s physical self had stayed in the Mirror Domain? Why couldn’t he be a slice of memory I salvaged from the Sea of Void Mirror?”

Like Glaipnir and Luigi, who are memories salvaged by Laplace from the endless scenes in the Sea of Void Mirror, and then formed into temporal bodies through those memories.

Thus, even if they appear human on the outside, no Mirror Domain creatures ever misrecognize them.

Earlier, when Angel went along with them to a gathering’s shop, the only one misrecognized as human was Angel himself.

The only misrecognition happened once, and the other party wasn’t a Mirror Domain creature but a barbaric wilderness creature—Dao Shen.

Angel: ”Because you previously mentioned Alan chasing a dream woven by the Head Mirror Clan. If Alan has this memory, then he surely lived in or visited the Mirror Domain.”

After all, the Head Mirror Clan only resides in the Daylight Mirror Domain.

Laplace nodded: ”That’s true.”

”Alan indeed isn’t Empty-hearted People, but his parents are such. Technically, he should count as a second generation Empty-hearted.”