Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1731: Section 1732: Decisive

When the endless starlight began adorning the cloudless nightfall, Toby finally opened his eyes.

Angel originally sat at his desk, quietly reading Frode’s research report under the illumination of the fluorite wall lamp. However, as soon as Toby woke up, he immediately set down the pages in his hand and turned his attention to Toby.

”How did it go this time?” Angel asked curiously.

Today, Toby planned to enter the House of the Heart five times, and this was his final attempt. In the previous four attempts, Toby had perfectly overcome the Extreme Resentment Thoughts. Therefore, Angel was very curious about the outcome of this last attempt.

Toby shook his head, throwing off the negative emotions that had been poured into his mind earlier, then chirped a few times at Angel.

”Succeeded?” Angel’s eyes lit up with surprise. If this attempt was also successful, it meant that Toby’s five experiences today had all ended in defeating the Extreme Resentment Thoughts, achieving a 100% success rate!

Toby responded with a chirp and spread his wings, gesturing as he continued tweeting.

After listening to Toby, Angel’s initially joyful expression slowly toned down. He frowned and asked, ”Are you planning to face the trial tomorrow? So soon?”

Toby nodded solemnly, his once lively chirping now low and deliberate.

According to Toby, he had basically mastered how to deal with the Extreme Resentment Thoughts, so he planned to rest for the night and directly face the trial tomorrow.

Although Angel knew that the sooner Toby faced the trial, the easier it would be, now that the moment was approaching, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

”There are still over ten Demon Flower Sprite Demon Bloodstones left. Why not accumulate more experience?” Angel hesitated for a moment and suggested.

However, Toby immediately rejected the idea. He seemed determined to confront the trial tomorrow. According to him, he had memorized every detail about the projection of the Extreme Resentment Thoughts in the House of the Heart. Entering again wouldn’t provide much improvement, so instead of wasting time, he preferred to face the trial directly.

For ordinary individuals, saying they’ve memorized something usually means a surface-level grasp, and their minds might freeze under real-life situations. But for an Extraordinary Life, once something is remembered, it is rarely forgotten—unless irreparable mechanical damage occurs.

Angel understood this logic as well. After contemplating for a while, he nodded in agreement. Although his heart was filled with anxiety, Toby had already made up his mind, and any advice from him would only add unnecessary pressure to Toby.

At this point, retreating would only nurture inner demons. Moving forward was the only way to truly cross this dark period.

After agreeing with Toby’s decision, Angel took him back to reality.

Angel conveyed Toby’s intentions to Greya, whose reaction mirrored Angel’s—concerned and hoping Toby would practice more. However, she was ultimately persuaded by Toby.

Since it was decided that Toby would face the trial tomorrow, Greya naturally wanted Toby to get the best rest possible. Not only did she personally prepare a feast for Toby, but after ensuring Toby’s body and soul felt replenished, she took him to the Dream Twin’s world. Riding on a Cat Bus, they traveled to the Ethereal Forest, allowing Toby to rejuvenate within this silent woodland filled with the chirping of birds and buzzing insects.

While Toby rested alone in the Dream Twin, Greya and Angel left the Illusionary Realm.

It seemed Greya had something on her mind. Evading Sharley and Asaz at the estate, she and Angel went to the hall.

After sitting down, Greya didn’t immediately speak. She remained silent for a long time, her expression shifting as if wrestling with something. Finally, after what felt like ages, she hesitated and asked, ”Do you think Toby can overcome this trial?”

Angel pondered for a moment: ”At the very least, the chances of success are much higher than ever before.”

”So, even you don’t have a definitive answer?”

Angel nodded: ”Anything can happen, so I can’t give you a guaranteed response. But I believe that Toby’s experiences during this time are enough to prepare him for various unknowns.”

”If that’s truly the case, then that’s good. But I still can’t let go of my worry.” Greya paused, then fixed her gaze on Angel’s eyes: ”Can you answer a question for me?”

Within Greya’s eyes, Angel saw flickers of hesitation, anxiety, and faint dread for the first time.

Perhaps Greya saw her own reflection in Angel’s eyes, for she awkwardly bowed her head: ”I feel like I’m losing myself—undecisive and fainthearted. Maybe this human body is influencing my thoughts. Forget it, I won’t ask...”

”Ask,” Angel interrupted Greya’s self-deprecation. ”If I know the answer, I’ll tell you.”

Perhaps Greya’s fleeting vulnerability evoked Angel’s sympathy. At this moment, he was even prepared to reveal the truth of the Wilderness of Dreams to her. However, Greya didn’t ask about that.

”I don’t care about anything else. I only want to know one thing: Is the Extreme Resentment Thoughts Toby encountered in the lucid dream truly identical to the one he will confront during the trial in reality?” Greya hesitated for a moment before voicing her biggest doubt.

If the Extreme Resentment Thoughts in the lucid dream were merely virtual fabrications, would Toby’s experience of defeating them truly apply to reality?

To this question, Angel immediately nodded: ”It’s the same.”

Even though Angel wasn’t entirely sure what Toby experienced in the House of the Heart, he could confirm that the Extreme Resentment Thoughts were undoubtedly identical. Because Angel possessed the Authority of the Gate of Dreams, he could distinctly perceive that when Toby entered the House of the Heart, some peculiar entity—or rather, force—had connected to Toby.

Through his investigation, Angel confirmed that this force was a collection of intense negative emotions, and it was these emotional aggregates that manifested the projection of the Extreme Resentment Thoughts in the House of the Heart.

Thus, Angel could confidently state that the Extreme Resentment Thoughts Toby encountered in the House of the Heart were the same ones within him.

However, due to the House of the Heart’s mechanism, the Extreme Resentment Thoughts were pulled in to become a projection sharpening Toby’s experiences.

”Are you certain?” Greya scrutinized Angel carefully.

Angel nodded affirmatively: ”I am certain. Toby’s sparring against the Extreme Resentment Thoughts during this time has not been in vain. When the trial arrives and Toby faces the Extreme Resentment Thoughts in reality, these experiences will be the key to his victory.”

Seeing the resolute look in Angel’s eyes, Greya’s unease slightly diminished. She exhaled heavily, releasing the suppressed tension in her chest: ”I hope that’s truly the case.”

Greya slumped back into the recess of the sofa, her face bearing a complex expression—a mix of concern for Toby and self-loathing for her unexpectedly sentimental disposition.

Time slowly slipped away in this silence.

About an hour later, strange creaking sounds suddenly came from outside the hall.