Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1467: Section 1468: Elk Fantasy City Chapter 1467: Section 1468: Elk Fantasy City The third layer of the Abyss.

A massive figure ran lightly forward.

Accompanied by the melodious strains of violin music and the sweet, faint scent of Ice-Fire Bentley wine, this colorful figure crossed the eternally dark dead soil, scaled the dusky high mountains, leaped over the chilly deep trenches, and finally arrived at a lush forest.

In the Abyss, it was rare to see such a verdant forest, and even rarer still was the sight, beyond this forest, of a vast expanse of living waters that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Coming to the waterʼs edge, the colorful figure finally slowed down, revealing its form.

It was a white elk, as large as a small hill, its body surrounded by clouds of mist, creating a very ethereal and dreamlike appearance. Most surprising of all was the twisted antlers on the elk, between which wafted a mist of seven colors, and within that mist, one could faintly make out the illusion of a city.

The beautiful violin sounds, as well as the rich fragrance of wine, came precisely from that cityʼs illusion.

If Angel had been there, he would probably have recognized at first sight that the elk was none other than Cassiomere, the Illusory Spirit he had glimpsed once in the Winter Palace of the Nilgarden.

Cassiomere was the largest of the Phantasmal Beasts nurtured by the Frostmoon Alliance within the Abyss. Between Cassiomereʼs antlers, there was an Other-dimensional Space known as Fantasy City.

Many wizards from the Frostmoon Alliance resided in Fantasy City all year round, and there were even bases from other Witcher Organizations.

It could be said that Fantasy City was a Wizard Market existing within the Abyss.

The existence of Cassiomere turned this Fantasy City into a true moving fortress.

At this moment, as Cassiomere strolled by the waterside, a boy of around fourteen or fifteen, wearing a deer horn hat, ran out from Fantasy City. When he saw the large expanse of water and the lush forest, he shouted in delight, using Cassiomereʼs antlers as a slide to reach the top of its head, his cheeks pressed against the soft fur.

“Youʼve worked hard,” said the boy, not through spoken words, but by sending out mental waves.

Cassiomere bellowed toward the sky, as if responding to him.

“I heard from my mentor that the plans in the Abyss are temporarily at an end. Once we arrive at Sky Island, we should be able to rest for a while.” As he spoke, the boy looked sadly at a nick in Cassiomereʼs right antler, a remnant from a recent encounter with a group of demons. He rubbed against Cassiomere, buzzing, “Once weʼre at Sky Island, you wonʼt face danger anymore.”

Cassiomere did not respond with sound, but the fur on its head began to move, each strand acting like a hand, tossing the boy into the air, then catching him gently.

The boy played and laughed with Cassiomere for a while when a shout came from above: “Trom, so youʼre here. The mentor wants to see you, seems thereʼs something for you to do.”

The speaker was a brown-haired Apprentice who had walked out of Fantasy City and stood in the middle of the antlers, calling down to Trom.

The boy, Trom, nodded, touching Cassiomereʼs fur, “Iʼll leave for now, but Iʼll come back later to accompany you.”

Cassiomere gave a soft cry in reply.

Trom walked between the antlers, looking ahead at the rainbow light-entwined Fantasy City, and with a light leap, he jumped into the prism of colors, as agile as a frolicking elk.

When Trom opened his eyes, he found himself on the streets of Fantasy City.

The winding cobblestone streets, flanked by buildings of varying heights–perhaps due to the Abyssʼs indigenous people living there, the architectural styles tended towards the primitive.

Despite the primitive building structures, the city was filled with magic because of the many wizards residing there.

Magic neon lights, strange vehicles, Alchemy Golems, Phantasmal Beasts… and so on, plentiful and varied.

Trom, evidently very familiar with Fantasy City, did not linger amidst the dizzying sights, but hurried down the street toward the depths.

Soon, Trom arrived at the end of Rance Avenue, where stood the tallest Wizardʼs Tower in Fantasy City, the base of the Frostmoon Alliance and also the core stronghold of Fantasy City.

Tromʼs mentor, the ʼPale Witchʼ Quini Sudoer, resided there.

When Trom saw Quini, she was resting her chin on the back of her hand, her pale blue eyes quietly observing a Crystal Ball on the table before her.

Energy gathered within the Crystal Ball.

Mortals could not decipher the arrangement of energy, but to a Transcendent, the shifting energies revealed a variety of images.

Trom, looking curiously at the Crystal Ball, thought he saw a figure in it.

A handsome young man with golden hair and blue eyes.

Tromʼs expression brightened; he was not unfamiliar with the person. A Magical Letter that had arrived in Fantasy City from the Frostmoon Alliance a few months ago featured this man.

His name was Angel Pat.

Although Trom had never met Angel, when he had read the description in the Magical Letter and especially when he learned of Angelʼs deeds from his mentor Quini, he was filled with admiration for this person known as the number one Apprentice.

Probably, all those who had heard of Angelʼs deeds were shocked. Even those who loved to be contrarian and were vocal about it would, in their hearts, surely hold admiration.

Angel, as an Apprentice, not only broke into Demon City Lassudral alone, but also brought along a terrifying Abyssal Dragon, stirring up a tumult in the city. When Angel vanished from Lassudral and everyone thought he had perished, news erupted that he was alive and well, not only had he returned to the Southern Domain, but he had also forged a friendship with the great figures of Ice Valley.

This was something even Wizards couldnʼt achieve, or to be precise, even Monty His Lordship couldnʼt do.

Yet, an Apprentice managed it!

All Apprentices, even those from the Frostmoon Alliance, felt an inexplicable surge of excitement.

Trom felt the same; although he was also known as a genius and had even formed a symbiotic contract with Cassiomere, his admiration for Angel was no less than that of the other Apprentices.

However, Tromʼs admiration was much like Glennʼs; although he admired Angel, what he desired more was to defeat him.

To conquer the goal in his heart, take its place, and then set a higher goal for himself!

Unfortunately, he was eager to challenge Angel, but Angel was nowhere near the Abyss, and he couldnʼt make it to the Southern Domain either…

“Mentor, did you call me here for something?” Although Trom asked with his mouth, his eyes were firmly fixed on the Crystal Ball,

Quini couldnʼt help but laugh at Tromʼs appearance, “What, are you curious about what message has arrived?”

Trom scratched the hair protruding from the hem of his deerstalker hat awkwardly, nodding shyly: “Is it about Angelʼs situation?”

Quini didnʼt deny it and nodded: “Thatʼs right.”

“Whatʼs the exact message?” Tromʼs eyes brightened.

Quini didnʼt answer him immediately but changed the subject, asking: “Do you still regard Angel as the target you want to challenge?”

Trom nodded firmly, showing his determination.

Quiniʼs brows raised slightly: “Alright, then I can give you an opportunity.”

Trom looked at Quini, puzzled.

Quini gestured slightly with her hand, and suddenly an image of the outside world appeared: Cassiomere walking along the waterways with dense forest all around.

Quini pondered for a moment and murmured softly to herself, “Already at the Thousand Waterfalls Region? Itʼs not far from Sky Island now.”

“Here we go,” Quini looked up at Trom, “After delivering the supplies to Sky Island, help me pass a Magical Letter to Lady Sinafa. Once youʼve done that, I permit you to go to the Southern Domain to participate in the Rising Stars Tournament.”

“At that time, you might just have the chance to battle it out with Angel.” Quini spoke with a somewhat odd tone in her voice.

Tromʼs eyes lit up, hardly believing his ears; just a second ago he was fretting over not being able to go to the Southern Domain to challenge Angel, and the next second his Mentor gave him such a big surprise?!

“Mentor, are you telling the truth? Youʼre not deceiving me, are you?” Trom sought confirmation, hardly believing what he heard.

Quini nodded: “Iʼm not deceiving you. However, I have one condition.”

Trom eagerly nodded: “What condition?”

“Iʼll give you three years,” said Quini. “If you can defeat Angel within three years, I will try to secure you a chance to enter the ʼMoon Chapterʼ. If you fail to achieve this goal within three years, then you will have to accept a small punishment.”

“What punishment?”

Quini smiled mischievously: “Donʼt worry, it wonʼt be too severe, do you think your Mentor would trick you?”

Trom thought about how over the years, Quini indeed hadnʼt led him astray; at most, she accidentally caused him to fall into the Demon Monastery or sign a symbiotic contract with Cassiomere when his physical body was ravaged… and so on. Though it seemed Quini was behind these, Trom was indeed the beneficiary in the end.

With these thoughts, Trom still nodded his head.

After confirming that he could go to the Southern Domain to participate in the Rising Stars Tournament, Trom felt jubilant, completely unaware of the malicious smile that Quini was concealing behind his back.

Although Cassiomere was merely strolling, they were now very close to Sky Island, and it didnʼt take long before Cassiomere arrived near Sky Island.

Trom received a Magical Letter from Quiniʼs hands.

There was no writing on it, but a faint energy emerged, suggesting it was an encrypted letter.

“I calculated the time, and the registration deadline for the Rising Stars Tournament is approaching. So, to save time, Iʼve arranged in the letter for Lady Sinafa to use a newly established special passageway to send you directly back to the Southern Domain,” said Quini.

“Does Mentor mean that I donʼt need to come back afterward?” Tromʼs face showed hesitation; if he left now, what about Cassiomere?

As if seeing through Tromʼs thoughts, Quini smiled: “Yes, and donʼt worry about Cassiomere. While youʼre in the Southern Domain, I will take care of them. Just donʼt forget our agreement; I am waiting for the day you succeed in your challenge.”