Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2224: Chapter 2225: Oath

An oath that offers no hope will only bring despair to this group of wind element creatures, eventually leading to their complete downfall.

To change that is simple: just assign a time limit to this oath, like erecting a lighthouse in a hopeless and dark wilderness, illuminating the path ahead. As long as a creature has a goal, has something to look forward to, it will bloom with hope.

Therefore, Angel decided to amend the oath and added this twenty-year limit.

Initially, Angel thought five years would be sufficient, as these wind element creatures could only provide some assistance in the early stages of pioneering the Tidal World, and their usefulness would diminish afterward.

However, considering the long lifespan of elemental creatures, five years was hardly enough for them to deeply reflect, so he extended it to twenty years.

In Angel’s view, this was already quite a long time.

But, if Sanders were present now, or any other Official Wizard of the Barbarian Cave, they would never speak of a mere twenty-year limit, instead opting for a century or millennium. To them, Angel’s idea was correct, considering the lifespan issue, a short period wouldn’t teach a lesson, so they would definitely extend the time limit.

Compared to the thousands of years, or even longer lifespans of elemental creatures, a mere twenty years was almost like the blink of an eye. This ratio doesn’t fit the so-called principle of ”realization,” so it should be counted in centuries or millennia.

This is mainly because Angel’s own age is still too young. Even though he has started to extend his concept of time, he has, after all, not lived through the profoundly long experiences of a century or millennium. So, to him, the concept of the length of the years, while transcending ordinary humans in perspective, is still quite equivalent to ordinary humans in practice.

That’s why he spoke of a twenty-year period, as he subconsciously felt that twenty years was already a long time.

Gentle Breeze Uranus’s eyes lit up upon hearing Angel’s words: ”If that’s the case, I believe they will definitely agree to this oath.”

Gentle Breeze Uranus understood what concept twenty years is to wind element creatures, but it didn’t remind Angel, because in its view, Angel has become powerful enough and likely has a long lifespan. He understands the meaning of time. The reason he set only a twenty-year limit for these wind element creatures must be... hmm, mercy!

Thus, both Angel and Gentle Breeze Uranus thought of each other as merciful at this moment.

And in a short period of time, they didn’t realize that this mercy was actually just a misunderstanding.

...

The limited Dingyuan-Moke Oath, even if placed on the scales of an oath and weighed as an extra weight, would be as light as a feather. Therefore, when drafting the contract, no additional Extraordinary Material is needed; ordinary parchment with well-circulated energy flow suffices.

Summoning multiple Hands of Magic and using Quick-drawing Technique, in just two minutes, dozens of Dingyuan-Moke Oaths drafted by Angel lay before Gentle Breeze Uranus.

Angel entrusted the task of signing the oaths to Gentle Breeze Uranus.

As a fellow wind element creature, having Gentle Breeze Uranus do this might make these ”defeated captives” feel a bit better. — It was his mercy as the drafter.

After completing all this, Angel extended his slender fingers, at the tips of which gathered gentle light.

”Don’t refuse, this is a pass to walk through this illusionary realm.” With that, the light gently clung to the harp in Gentle Breeze Uranus’s hands.

Gentle Breeze Uranus looked at the harp that flickered with a strange light in its hands, and its eyes showed a curious look.

”I have temporarily transformed your harp into the control core of this Mist Illusion, which allows you to control this illusionary realm.”

Under Angel’s guidance, Gentle Breeze Uranus tried to sense this harp. The touch was still very familiar, but there was an added strange light within the core of the harp. When its consciousness delved into the light, its perspective immediately changed, and all the scenes within the Mist Illusion were presented before it, as if observing a miniature sandbox with the Eye of the Sky.

”With it, you can quickly find the wind element creatures trapped in the illusion.” Angel paused for a moment: ”As for how to specifically control it, you can study it yourself.”

Having said that, Angel gently nodded to Gentle Breeze Uranus, turned around with Earl Mi, and vanished from the illusion.

”Study it yourself?” Gentle Breeze Uranus felt that Angel’s words seemed to have another meaning.

Unable to figure it out for the moment, it decided to put the thought aside and first go find the wind element creatures trapped in the illusion to have the oath signed.

In the process of seeking, Gentle Breeze Uranus was also testing the new functionality of the harp.

After reverting to the Eye of the Sky, looking down, all the dynamics of the entire ”sandbox” were in full view. Every wind element creature inside glowed with a white light. As long as it focused on this light, it could see the condition of each wind element creature.

Among them were three exceptionally dazzling red light clusters, which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be the three energy suppliers of this illusion, also known as the three major wind generals under Hurricane’s command.

This magical experience was something Gentle Breeze Uranus was feeling for the first time.

During the experience, it also discovered that in one corner of the sandbox, there was a light moving aimlessly, going forward for a while, retreating for some unknown reason, then turned left and right, seemingly moving forward but actually spinning in a small area.

Upon closer inspection, Gentle Breeze Uranus realized this confused light was actually a wind island custodian it had sent in to gather intelligence in the Mist Battlefield earlier.

Unlike other wind element creatures that had already given up struggling, this wind island custodian evidently hadn’t yet fully grasped the traits of the Mist Illusion, experimenting with various routes, attempting to escape the mist.

However, from Gentle Breeze Uranus’s bird’s-eye view, it was obviously futile.

”What an amazing illusion.” Gentle Breeze Uranus couldn’t help but marvel, as this wind island custodian’s strength rivaled that of the three major wind generals, yet in this illusion, it was like a lost bird, trapped in a misty prison from which it could never fly out.

Watching the wind island custodian spin in place, its wings quivering in anxiety, Gentle Breeze Uranus couldn’t help feeling sympathetic, pondering: Is there a way to guide it over?

Once this thought came, it was hard to stop. It tried fiddling with the energy flow of the Cloud Mist Illusion on the sandbox, attempting to change the situation of the wind island custodian spinning in place.

As it tampered with the cloud mist, a mysterious change occurred in the inherent energy flow within the illusion, and indeed, the wind island custodian ventured into another area it had never reached before.

”Can it really be controlled?” In its shock, Gentle Breeze Uranus witnessed the altered energy flow settling into a coherent pattern in a new way.

By adjusting a part of the flow in the illusion, not only did the illusion not dissipate, but it also settled coherently on its own? Can the illusion repair itself, restore itself, and even be reborn on its own?

Having discovered this new function, Gentle Breeze Uranus’s initial burst of sympathy was cast aside, and it continued to explore the illusion’s functionalities, while the poor wind island custodian simply resumed spinning in circles in a different place.

The more it experimented, the more Gentle Breeze Uranus marveled at the mystery of this illusion, and gradually, a hint of admiration and reverie arose in its heart... If only it could control this illusion forever.

Without the blocking of the illusion, Gentle Breeze Uranus soon encountered the first light point.

That was also a wind creature from Storm Ridge, looking like a cat with its fur standing on end, but its size was dozens of times larger than a normal cat.

When the Blast-fur Cat saw the newcomer was Gale Uranus, just like the previous wind eye, although a bit disappointed, it was also relieved.

Even if this time Hurricane was bringing them to war against White Cloud Village, they had to admit that when truly facing His Highness Gale, they also felt a lot of respect in their hearts.

This respect was not just because of His Highness Gale’s character and strength, but also... the effect of example from above.

In the so-called effect of example from above, the ”from above” does not refer to this time’s leading warrior Hurricane, but the true monarch of Storm Ridge, their revered king—Hurricane Huborio.

Hurricane Huborio is usually stern and indifferent, but when speaking of Gale Uranus, his tone softens, full of praise between the words.

It is precisely because of this higher example that they follow suit.

Gale Uranus simply explained the current situation to the Blast-fur Cat, and upon learning that all wind creatures from Storm Ridge, including Hurricane, were defeated, it was a bit stunned.

The most bewildering part was that they weren’t defeated by White Cloud Village but by an outsider ”human”!

In a bewildered state, Gale Uranus presented Angel’s Dinyuan Mercer oath, and initially, the Blast-fur Cat naturally disagreed and resisted, but upon learning it was only for a twenty-year term, it immediately changed its previous reluctance and unhesitatingly signed the oath.

The Blast-fur Cat was also very clear that it was now a captured prisoner of war. If it were defeated by Gale Uranus, for the sake of His Highness Hurricane, they might return to Storm Ridge without any cost, but they were defeated by a human, so naturally, they had to pay the corresponding price to seek survival and freedom.

Twenty years of time, for a Blast-fur Cat that has lived almost three hundred years, is not long. So it signed the oath with joy.

After dealing with the Blast-fur Cat, for more convenient management, Gale Uranus let it follow him to find other wind creatures, and after all were dealt with, lead them out of the illusionary realm together.

With the example of the Blast-fur Cat, other wind creatures Gale Uranus later encountered almost had the same reaction, agreeing shortly after.

Because more and more wind creatures followed Gale Uranus, initially pretending to consider, then following the crowd. The efficiency of signing oaths greatly increased.

After signing about thirty or more oaths, Gale Uranus came near a red dot.

This red dot was Lobal, the Tri-headed Lionhound that quietly drifted away when Angel and Gale Uranus were talking.

Gale Uranus did not bother with the rustling discussion of the wind creatures behind, he walked up to Lobal by himself.

According to the method Angel had taught earlier, he gently plucked the harp strings, emanating not only beautiful notes but also a glimmer reaching directly to Lobal’s heart.

Since Lobal was still within the Heart Illusion, communication could only be through this way.

When the glimmer and notes disappeared, Gale Uranus felt his consciousness had entered Lobal’s heart.

Upon entering Lobal’s heart realm, Gale Uranus saw an astonishing scene.

Lobal’s heart realm was divided into three, forming compartments veiled in heart illusion. Three Lionhounds with different expressions each occupied a compartment.

At this moment, the three Lionhounds were chatting helplessly in their compartments.

From their conversation, Gale Uranus could basically tell who was who.

The one constantly clamoring to break limits and go out for a battle with Angel was certainly the main head.

The one analyzing the current situation, while expressing concern yet agreeing with the main head, was presumably the second head.

The one who spoke seldom but was insightful when he did, embodied the demeanor of the sage-like third head.

After amusingly listening to their chat for a while, Gale Uranus finally spoke.

As soon as he spoke, he was immediately met with suspicion from the main and second heads, only the third head, after a moment of silence, believed the newcomer was indeed His Highness Gale from White Cloud Village.

Suggested by the main and second heads, the third head served as the brains to have a direct dialogue with Gale Uranus.

They attempted to use the third head to negotiate with Gale Uranus, ideally using rhetoric to convince Gale Uranus to let them go.

Gale Uranus also understood their thoughts, but they were in vain at that moment, no matter how persuasive they tried to be. Because he was not there in a personal capacity, Angel’s oath was clearly and unequivocally written on parchment, something he could not change even if he wanted to.

After the third head got this information, it roughly understood the situation and no longer used rhetoric on Gale Uranus, instead negotiating with the other two heads more logically.

The third head very much supported the oath, even seeing it as Angel’s ”favor,” after all, twenty years was particularly short.

The second head gave it a thought and agreed with the third head’s opinion.

Only the main head hesitated, understanding the concerns of the third and second heads, but it was somewhat difficult to swallow his pride. Finally, under Gale Uranus’ persuasion and the sincere advice from the second and third heads, the main head agreed to sign the oath.

Signing the oath was simple, as long as they agreed, it could be signed even within the Heart Illusion.

Once the oath was completed, Gale Uranus prepared to remove the Heart Illusion surrounding Lobal following Angel’s method.

The removal process was very smooth, but once Lobal’s Heart Illusion was lifted, Gale Uranus suddenly froze.

As one of the three key nodes of this illusionary realm, Gale Uranus thought that once the Heart Illusion was removed, the node on them would certainly disappear.

But that wasn’t the case; the node flew into the harp in a wondrous form.

If he desired, he could assign this node to another wind creature again.

In other words, as long as new wind creatures take over the three nodes, this illusionary realm could exist above this cloud sea forever!