Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1461: Section 1462 Two Choices

Frost had indeed noticed Toby early on, and could tell that there was something special about him, but he was not overly curious. There were too many special creatures in the world; Toby was just one more.

However, since Angel placed Toby before him, Frost looked at him seriously.

“A very peculiar creature, neither fitting in with the world nor entirely rejected by it,” Frost commented softly, “Such a creature is probably unique in this world, and even in Phantom Spirit City, it would qualify as a top-tier citizen.”

Seeing Angel’s confusion, Frost explained briefly.

The so-called Phantom Spirit City is a strange city in the Origin World, officially known as “Gluz Deward’s Phantom Spirit City.” In this city, there are many magical creatures, and Gluz Deward classifies these magical creatures into three levels of citizenship, with the top echelon being the upper-class citizens.

“However, even though it’s called a city of magical creatures, to outsiders, it seems more like Gluz Deward’s private menagerie. Thus, its reputation isn’t good; but that doesn’t affect people’s recognition. Whenever someone from the Origin World mentions magical creatures, Phantom Spirit City is inevitably the first that comes to mind.”

After introducing Phantom Spirit City, Frost added, “Gluz Deward is an expert in researching magical creatures and is said to be quite a decent person. However, the moment he faces rare creatures, he becomes extremely greedy. So, if you ever get the chance to visit the Origin World, it’s best not to go to Phantom Spirit City; otherwise, if he sees your little Magic Pet, hehe.”

Frost suddenly laughed, his smile seemed very calm, but Angel felt a chilling shiver down his spine.

“Toby is not my Magic Pet; he is my friend,” Angel said.

Frost raised an eyebrow, “All right, your friend.”

Frost took Toby and gently stroked his feathers. The dingy feathers combined with his fair hand and the three rings on his fingers shining with a mysterious light, created a jarring sense of disharmony.

“Its condition is quite interesting,” Frost said after a few strokes, seemingly understanding Toby’s situation, and spoke with an elegant and calm demeanor, “To evolve by conquering an emotion that has blended into its flesh, this is the first I’ve heard of such a thing. It must be a unique method of advancement specific to him, right?”

Angel had not introduced Toby’s situation, yet Frost had already discerned much, which once again impressed Angel with his insight.

Angel did not conceal anything and briefly explained Toby’s origins and the Tribulation of Five Flavors.

“Do you want to save it?” Frost asked after hearing Angel’s story, understanding his intention.

“Yes, I want to save him.”

Frost said, “Its current state is similar to when you broke through as an Official Wizard. It’s a form of advancement for him. I don’t mind if you use external force to interfere.”

“But if I don’t intervene with external force, can he make it through?”

Frost pondered for a moment and asserted with certainty, “He cannot.”

“Then I’d rather intervene.”

Frost’s fingers gently massaged the softest down on Toby’s cheeks, then placed him back on the table, “If you definitely want to intervene, it’s not impossible.”

Angel’s eyes brightened; this was the first time he heard Frost make a positive comment about Toby today.

“However, once you intervene with external force, it may bring him great trouble in the future. You should think it through,” Frost cautioned.

“What kind of trouble?”

Frost shrugged, “That will depend on how much you choose to intervene and the choices you make.”

Angel pondered for a moment, “May I discuss it with someone?”

Frost indicated that he could do as he pleased.

Angel left the room, and shortly after, an envelope with tiny white wings flew out from the room, drifting leisurely into the pouch of a female Apprentice. The girl, unaware of the envelope’s presence, walked toward the lower levels and stopped at the fourth sub-level hive, looking like she intended to enter.

Just then, a faint cold breeze lifted the envelope and drifted it onto another Apprentice.

The female Apprentice left the hive and arrived at an ice cave. As she stood outside the ice cave, the envelope suddenly swept over her shoulder, and she could only murmur in wonder, “Seemed like a white shadow flashed by?” before the envelope disappeared into the depths of the corridor.

The envelope soon crossed the frigid corridor and was laid before Greya.

Before Greya could open the envelope, it transformed into a burst of flames, and within the ashes, Angel’s figure appeared.

“A very clever Illusion connection; I was almost fooled,” Greya exclaimed, turning her gaze to Sanders sitting opposite her.

“There are obvious traces of the Illusion Node; it’s nothing worth mentioning,” Sanders said indifferently.

Greya gave Sanders an annoyed look. Despite Sanders’s critique, she couldn’t help but sense a flicker of smugness in his eyes.

“Pretentious,” Greya muttered to herself, shifting her gaze to Angel’s illusion.

Angel recounted his search for Isabel and his conversation with Frost in a concise manner, repeating Frost’s words verbatim.

Although Angel had already made up his mind, Toby was, after all, created by Greya. From a certain perspective, Greya was like a mother to Toby. Therefore, Angel had to discuss Toby’s future with Greya, given that it concerned him.

After hearing Angel’s words, Greya almost immediately said, “Save him!”

Intervening with external forces might bring future problems, but at least it did not spell certain death. Without interference, Toby wouldn’t even have a chance to survive. Between these two options, Greya didn’t need to think twice.

“Besides,” she added, “consequences aren’t permanent scars; there’s always a way to resolve them.”

Armed with Greya’s response, Angel re-entered Frost’s room. Frost lifted his head, and the gears on his ancient bronze mask slowly turned as he spoke: “It seems you’ve made your choice.”

“I won’t give up on Toby,” Angel declared firmly.

Frost nodded neutrally, “Since you’ve made your decision, let’s analyze its situation more closely.”

“Its body is quite unique, there are no traces of its own soul and flesh besides a framework. Therefore, the so-called Tribulation of Five Flavors can be simplified to using these five emotional flavors to enrich the framework, connecting the inner soul and flesh.”

“Once it overcomes, or rather, subdues the Tribulation of Five Flavors, it should be able to truly transform, no longer constrained by the original body of flesh.”

“Thus, its tribulation isn’t just about the physical body or soul; it needs to be considered from the root cause.”

This underlying problem also stumped Isabel and Greya. With their level, they were not yet capable of considering this root cause. However, for someone of Frost’s level, finding the root of the problem wasn’t difficult.

Once the root cause is identified, there are many ways to resolve the issue.

Regardless of the method, as long as it involves external forces, the main goal would be to resolve the “Extreme Resentment Thoughts” within Toby.

“Based on my own risk assessment, I’ve eliminated some of the riskier options and present you with two choices,” Frost said.

“The first option, in my opinion, carries the least risk.”

Frost brought out the pitch-black flute and placed it beside Toby: “It is currently in the midst of the Extreme Resentment Tribulation, emitting resentment, envy, venom, evil… These emotions are actually a form of malice. Therefore, with the help of the Dark Melody, this series of malicious thoughts can be gathered and turned into a malevolent visage.”

The so-called malevolent visage is the personification of the resentment inside Toby… Birdman.

Just like Rolando before, Toby would have two completely different personalities: one normal and the other, the malevolent visage. As long as Frost controlled the Dark Melody, Toby could completely suppress the malevolent visage and appear no different from an ordinary person. Moreover, in times of hardship, the malevolent visage could boost Toby’s strength.

Therefore, in Frost’s view, this was the least risky option.

However, for Angel, it was a source of great discomfort, as it was like installing a remote-controlled bomb inside Toby, with the detonator in Frost’s hands.

Entrusting one’s life and death to someone else meant losing one’s freedom from that point onwards.

Therefore, if it were up to Angel, he would not choose the Dark Melody.

Perhaps perceiving Angel’s stance, Frost continued, “The second option is to directly suppress the Extreme Resentment Thoughts.”

Put simply, it was a straightforward act of overpowering.

At Frost’s caliber, he could easily contain all of the Extreme Resentment Thoughts and then suppress them.

“Extreme Resentment Thoughts are an innate issue. It’s difficult for external forces to resolve it, and the risks and consequences are significant, potentially even permanent,” Frost explained.

Frost didn’t deceive Angel; he could resolve Toby’s Extreme Resentment Thoughts, but as he had mentioned before, only if Toby overcame the Tribulation of Five Flavors could it be truly complete.

If an external force resolved the Extreme Resentment Tribulation instead, Toby would never be able to realize his full potential.

There was a high likelihood that his future would be jeopardized because of it.

Thus, Frost opted for a compromise: “Suppression.”

“Suppression also entails great risks, but at least through suppression, the Extreme Resentment Thoughts aren’t diminished, and there’s still a chance for it to surmount this ordeal on its own, which won’t impact its future too severely.”

But the more it’s suppressed, the stronger the backlash will be in the future.

Moreover, as Toby’s own strength increases, the Extreme Resentment Thoughts will grow stronger. If today’s Extreme Resentment Thoughts are a mayfly, then when suppression no longer works, the Extreme Resentment Thoughts Toby will face will become a behemoth!