Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1868: Section 1869: The Critical Unknown Variable

Although admitting defeat before even attempting might be excessively cautious and demoralizing, Angel’s words were sincere—they emphasized Frode’s greater value compared to a mere Authority.

Angel’s words stirred Frode’s emotions, and he nodded solemnly: ”I understand.”

”Then let’s begin.” Angel said no more, turned around, and extended his right hand, his fingertip pointing into the air.

A faint green spatial ripple, resembling water patterns, started spreading from Angel’s fingertip outward. As the ripple emerged, the surrounding thick fog, initially inert, rapidly churned.

It was as if a gust swept the fog into circles, eventually transforming it into a huge mist tornado that resembled an enormous serpentine dragon.

The three of them were at the center of the mist dragon. As the tornado grew more intimidating, a light orb appeared from its peak and drifted down like a leisurely feather, slowly settling in the palm of Angel’s hand.

Sanders, though not seeing this green-pattern-bound orb for the first time, still felt a wave of emotion upon its appearance.

This was the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain! Moreover, an Authority so complete that it rivaled the True World’s Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain!

As Sanders was consumed with envy, Frode intently watched the seemingly delicate orb, his heart racing... In reality, this Nightmare Domain’s Principal Body was truly the Source of Law!

Law is an ability only engaged at a level beyond Legend. Although in the Wilderness of Dreams these laws are somewhat illusory, mastering them prematurely could lay a foundation for the future.

As Frode envisioned the future, his eyes dimmed, and he shook his head. With only a soul remaining, what future was there to speak of?

For now, he thought, let’s see if it’s possible to fuse the Authority.

While Frode turned his extravagant fantasies back to reality, Angel meticulously checked the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain, ensured there were no issues with the green patterns binding it externally, then turned to Frode: ”Are you ready?”

Frode dismissed his floating thoughts and nodded heavily, his expression solemn like a Knight about to enter battle.

”Then I will begin.” With that, Angel did not hesitate, extending his right hand to grasp the orb floating in midair.

The moment his fingertip touched the orb, the green patterns binding the orb seemed to come alive, emitting a faint green glow, and started rotating around the orb.

On Angel’s right hand, green patterns began appearing as well, merging with the patterns on the orb.

These green patterns luminesced, resembling ancient, mystical incantations, continuously revolving around Angel.

As the rotation accelerated, the green light intensified until Angel was completely enveloped.

Meanwhile, within the phenomena surrounding him, Angel knew clearly that the green patterns had been activated and the Power of the Nightmare Realm was accumulating to a critical point!

At any moment, he could trigger the next effect of the ”Constraint” green patterns: ”Disintegration”, causing the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain to begin peeling off a new Authority.

However, Angel did not immediately disassemble the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain, because before that, there was one more thing he needed to do—

Activate the Scroll of Fortune!

Only under the ”Lucky Moment” enveloped by the Scroll of Fortune could Angel possibly strip the desired Authority from the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain.

Once the Scroll of Fortune was activated, Angel did not hesitate, recalling in his mind the image of the Wilderness of Dreams covered in greenery, repeating the word ”plant” over and over.

The Lucky Moment’s duration was short, fading in the blink of an eye. As the Lucky Moment completely vanished, a dust speckled with a faint glow was stripped from the Principal Body of the Nightmare Domain.

Angel manipulated the green patterns to integrate the Dust of Light into Frode’s body.

Fusion! Officially beginning!

Seeing Frode close his eyes, beginning to integrate with the Authority, Angel walked over to Sanders.

Angel was about to say something when Frode suddenly let out a sharp scream from afar. Angel hesitated for a moment, then quickly turned to see Frode, who had been sitting calmly a second ago, now lying down.

His pale skin turned visibly red, and his body began convulsing violently. And it wasn’t over—in just two seconds, his body, already as red as roasted meat, rapidly expanded like an inflating balloon.

”Something’s wrong! It’s more intense than the last Celestial Alternation!” Sanders turned and exchanged glances with Angel, understanding each other immediately.

What Sanders feared most had manifested.

The terror of the unknown variable was beyond their imagination.

Angel unhesitatingly went to Frode’s side, seeing Frode’s pupils hadn’t lost focus, indicating he still had consciousness.

Angel hurriedly said: ”Abandon immediately! You cannot withstand this Authority!”

Last time, when Frode fused with the Celestial Alternation, he tried to persevere even after Angel told him to abandon it. But this time, at Angel’s initial utterance, Frode decisively decided: abandon!

The moment the thought of abandonment arose, the representative Dust of Light glided out from Frode’s body.

Even Angel dared not undertake this Dust of Light; he could only watch it float in the air for a second before disappearing...

Watching the dissipating Authority, Angel sighed.

Though he was prepared for the dispersion, serving others at the cost of the Authority once again left Angel feeling a bit regretful.

Frode then also sat up from the ground.

This time, Frode immediately abandoned the fusion, and he did it swiftly, so the damage he sustained wasn’t severe. However, though the soul body damage was minimal, the psychological damage was a different matter.

”My lord, I’m sorry...” Frode bowed his head, not daring to meet Angel’s gaze.

With two successive failures in fusing Authorities, Frode’s heart brimmed with guilt.

”It’s not your fault; what Authority appears, we can’t control. Plus, the Scroll of Fortune isn’t entirely fortunate.” Angel didn’t blame Frode; bearing Authority was akin to walking a tightrope over a cliff—it involved great risks, and failure was normal.

Though Angel was comforting him, Frode still felt somewhat dejected, saying nothing.

Sanders then approached, looking at Angel: ”Let’s see what Authority dissipated.”

In Sanders’ calculations, Frode should have been able to endure plant-related authority; only a few unknown variables were unaccounted for. This incident clearly indicated that the unknown variable was more critical than they imagined.

Under the influence of this crucial unknown variable, what exactly happened to what was otherwise a simple Authority?

This was what Sanders was eager to find out.