Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1978: Chapter 1979: Three Pavilions

Stepping forward, the view before them suddenly opened up. What was once a hill of scattered stones had vanished. It was like stepping into another world, where now a shallow water pond appeared before them.

The pond was very shallow, probably only deep enough to submerge the tops of their feet. However, the reflection on the water’s surface was even clearer than the Fallen Star Sea outside.

The starlit sky above perfectly projected onto the pond, which spanned several hundred meters.

Angel stepped into the pond, as if truly walking on the Star Sea. Each step sent ripples through the water, shattering the reflection of stars.

Ripples spread outwards, reaching all the way to the edge of the pond.

A pavilion similar to a Stargazing Pavilion stood above the Star Sea. The pavilion had no walls, only twelve slender columns supporting it. Through the gaps of the columns carved with magic patterns, several figures could be seen standing silently inside.

Among them, Rhein stood at the center of the pavilion, while Sanders stood at the edge. At this moment, he turned his head, his deep eyes gazing over, the starlit sky vividly reflected in his eyes.

”You’re here,” Sanders nodded lightly without asking anything else, and led Angel into the pavilion.

Previously, it wasn’t clear from the outside, but upon entering this pavilion, its lavishness was revealed, covered everywhere with star patterns, exuding the luxurious romance of ancient astrologers.

Besides Sanders and Rhein, there were two other wizards in the pavilion: the ”Fire-stepper” Ferro and ”Redemption of the Dead” Nis, both of whom Angel had encountered before. The former was once the resident wizard of the Sleepless City, while the latter was Sanders’ close friend.

Despite knowing them, Angel had changed his appearance, not showing familiarity. He just nodded lightly to them as a polite greeting in the premise of unfamiliarity.

Ferro and Nis didn’t recognize the red-haired man before them, but since Sanders valued him highly, Tree Spirit accompanied him, and even Rhein greeted him with a smile, they understood that although the man’s strength might be similar to theirs, he surely possessed unique qualities.

”This is my invited companion to solve the mysteries of the Nightmare Realm creatures with me. Let’s skip the formalities and get straight to the point,” Sanders said, then looked at Rhein, ”I need to clear the area.”

Rhein asked, ”Clear the area? One pavilion or all of them?”

”All,” Sanders replied without hesitation.

Before Rhein could respond, Nis interjected, ”Old friend, do you really want to clear all of them? I was hoping to see you unleash your full might.”

As Nis spoke, he placed his hand on Sanders’ shoulder. Sanders gently shrugged off Nis’ small old hand and said, ”For clearing the area, the two of us are enough.”

Nis frowned, ”But you don’t need to clear them all, right? If no one is in the three Observation Pavilions, they might attack.”

”Even if they do attack, with the few people at the Star Pond now, it’s difficult to hold them off. Having more people or fewer people makes no difference,” Sanders said bluntly, and he was indeed right; currently, there were three Observation Pavilions at the ruins, each manned by a powerful wizard supposedly to suppress the monsters, but in reality, they were not much of a deterrent.

If the creatures from the ruins went all out, people would flee regardless of numbers.

Their greatest use now was actually to act as mutual warnings, to prevent any missed monsters from spreading in different directions, and to observe the frequency of eruptions from living lines and parasites.

”What you say is true, but having more people is more reassuring...” Nis muttered under his breath, but since Sanders had already decided, he knew he couldn’t argue.

Moreover, Nis noticed that Rhein had already started to communicate with the guarding wizards at the other two Observation Pavilions, asking them to temporarily leave, so it was useless to oppose.

As for the ”Fire-stepper” Ferro, he had no thoughts of opposition. He had witnessed how Sanders fought his way out of the fallen Sleepless City; it could be said that among those present, no one knew the monsters better than Sanders. If he claimed it couldn’t be done, then others definitely couldn’t.

While Rhein was communicating, Angel’s gaze also turned to the two distant pavilions. One positioned to the southeast, the other to the northeast, in a triangle with the pavilion they were in at the west.

The guardians of the other two pavilions were the ”Old Man Whitehead” Wallace and... an amiably smiling silver-haired old lady.

The silver-haired old lady seemed to sense Angel’s gaze and looked over with a smile, holding a cup of floral tea and raising it in salute from afar.

”Ironclad Granny...” Angel silently recited her name in his heart.

Angel didn’t expect Ironclad Granny to be guarding the ruins too. He remembered hearing that Ironclad Granny hadn’t left the Source of Flow for many years. Her presence here suggested that the ruins had reached a dangerously critical state.

While Angel pondered with a fluctuating expression, Rhein said to Sanders, ”I’ve informed them; they’ll leave now.”

Rhein paused, his expression turning solemn, ”I will also leave in a moment. After I leave, you must be even more careful. Do not act rashly or randomly venture into the ruins... even if you truly wish to go in, don’t take him with you.”

Sanders gave a peculiar nod. He understood Rhein was concerned about Angel’s safety here. However, he knew well that even if he were to die, Angel would likely survive just fine.

The creatures of the Nightmare Realm had a natural hierarchical barrier. Even Yorkshire, who once threatened Angel in the Sleepless City, wouldn’t dare act recklessly against him.

Nevertheless, though Sanders understood this, he couldn’t possibly say it aloud. He nodded, ”I understand.”

Rhein glanced at Sanders, then at the lazy-looking red-haired man by his side, exhaling deeply, ”Ensure safety, with caution as priority. Even if you find nothing, don’t be reckless.”

With a final reminder, Rhein left the ruin Star Pond with Ferro and Nis.

Sanders then turned to Angel and asked, ”What are you thinking?”

Angel subconsciously voiced his thoughts, ”Didn’t expect even Ironclad Granny to come.”

Sanders: ”That is merely an avatar of Ironclad Granny.”

An avatar? Angel looked at Sanders in surprise and doubt, for he hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.

”It’s a unique spell technique of hers, both an avatar and a true body. Currently, the one suppressing the ruins is the avatar; her true body remains at the Source of Flow. However, if a true crisis is discovered, her avatar and true body can transmute at any time,” Sanders said, a tinge of envy in his eyes.

This technique of Ironclad Granny was akin to having multiple lives; as long as there was one avatar standing, she could never be completely defeated.

Angel nodded in understanding; it was a unique clone skill. With true body and avatar interchangeable, it was no wonder he couldn’t discern any differences.

Angel: ”Ironclad Granny seemed to recognize me just now.”

Sanders: ”That’s normal; Ironclad Granny’s strength far surpasses your imagination. But let’s not dwell on it; I’ll show you this relic first.”

After a pause, Sanders said, ”First, there’s one more thing.”

Sanders turned his gaze to the corner of the Observation Pavilion, where the pale Tree Spirit stood in the shadows, adopting a stance of self-deceptive inconspicuousness.

Sanders said nothing, but Tree Spirit understood his intention.

”Do I really have to go? I won’t peek into anything. I’m just...”

Sanders’ gaze remained steadfast and resolute.

Tree Spirit slumped his shoulders in dejection, ”Alright, alright.”

Grumbling, Tree Spirit reluctantly made his way outside of the ruins.