Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2412: Chapter 2413: Destruction and Provocation

It didn’t take much effort for Angel to find the fire-scaled summoned demon.

It was staying in a corner of the main corridor.

Angel observed the behavior of the fire-scaled summoned demon carefully, his expression shifting from initial inquiry to a gradual frown. Truth be told, this fire-scaled summoned demon’s behavior was too peculiar.

The overall structure of the fire-scaled summoned demon was somewhat humanoid, standing about a meter tall, with a head, torso, and four limbs, but its skin was vivid red like fire. It was extremely gaunt, with wrinkled skin, few hairs atop its head, sharp protruding fangs on its lower jaw, presenting an overall ugly and evil appearance.

And at this moment, this ”little fellow” that appeared to be wearing a crumpled red leather outfit from afar was ”performing a ritual dance” in front of a crystalline pipe standing in the corridor.

It was wielding a spear made of fire, dancing beside the crystalline pipe.

The ”dance” was primitive and ugly, seemingly cheerful at first glance, but upon closer observation, one would realize the fire-scaled summoned demon wasn’t genuinely dancing. It was accumulating some kind of fiery power through these lively movements, ultimately... ramming the crystalline pipe.

Yes, it was indeed ramming.

Treating the standing crystalline pipe as if it were an enemy.

However, the crystalline pipe was incredibly sturdy. The fire-scaled summoned demon danced for hours, yet the pipe remained unmoved. It, on the other hand, ended up leaning against the pipe, panting heavily.

After a few minutes, Angel saw the fire-scaled summoned demon rise, curse at the undamaged crystalline pipe, and then head towards the next crystalline pipe.

The fire-scaled summoned demon walked with the swagger of an arrogant crab, full of rage. This behavior led Angel to believe it would attack the next crystalline pipe, but it did not.

Though the fire-scaled summoned demon glared angrily at the nearby crystalline pipe, it still bypassed it and chose another pipe further behind to resume its ”ritual dance.”

Angel could not understand why the fire-scaled summoned demon was so obsessed with the crystalline pipes or why it skipped the second pipe to attack the third.

After some investigation and contemplation, Angel discovered one detail: the second crystalline pipe contained pathways of magic patterns, forming part of the magical energy array, whereas the first and third pipes were merely ordinary energy transmission conduits.

If the fire-scaled summoned demon were to attack the second pipe, it would undoubtedly encounter retaliation from the magical energy array. This indicated that the fire-scaled summoned demon seemed quite familiar with the laboratory’s magical energy array.

This left Angel even more puzzled.

Tracing back the origins of the fire-scaled summoned demon’s species, they should have come from the Abyss World. But even among abyssal creatures, not all are powerful, and the fire-scaled summoned demon is among those at the bottom of the food chain, usually dwelling near volcanoes, in conditions harsher than those of the abyssal natives. It’s not that they don’t want better territories, but they are too weak and exceptionally foolish, unable to compete.

Such low-intelligence and impoverished fire-scaled summoned demons might not even know how many of their kind exist, let alone recognize magical energy arrays.

Yet this fire-scaled summoned demon differed slightly from others of its kind; it seemed quite intelligent, able to detect concealed magic patterns and avoid the magical energy array.

But observing the fire-scaled summoned demon’s behavior of ramming the crystalline pipe, Angel wondered if he had overestimated its intelligence.

Who goes around picking fights with crystalline pipes?

Previously, they speculated in various ways, saying the fire-scaled summoned demon had a clear goal of heading to the fifth floor. Angel even imagined whether the fire-scaled summoned demon was preparing to transform into a vengeful force and execute some astounding plan. But surprisingly, the actual situation left one speechless.

Is the fire-scaled summoned demon foolish or clever? What exactly is it trying to do?

With these questions in mind, Angel continued observing for a while. As more strange behaviors of the fire-scaled summoned demon appeared, he finally verified some things: this fire-scaled summoned demon indeed recognized the magic patterns, and its attack targets weren’t limited to crystalline pipes. Its attacking behavior yielded minimal gains, appearing more like... destruction.

Pure destruction.

However, the fire-scaled summoned demon’s capabilities were limited, and the constraints of the magical energy array meant the degree of destruction was quite restricted. As of now, it had only scorched some relatively unimportant metal skins.

Upon realizing its destruction was not significant, the fire-scaled summoned demon became anxious and started observing its surroundings, eventually locking onto another target.

A rather large corridor.

Compared to the other layers’ corridors that seemed cold and rigid, the fifth layer’s corridor had a touch of livable design, such as larger spaces with sofas and low tables, where users could take fruits placed on the tables at will. Nearby, there were low cabinets and a bar counter with cups and drinks on top.

At this moment, the fire-scaled summoned demon was eyeing a leisure bar counter in the corridor.

If the crystalline pipes couldn’t burn, surely these things could? The fire-scaled summoned demon’s eyes conveyed such information.

It acted on its thoughts, hopping with audacious steps, rushing towards the bar counter, starting its rampage.

Soon, a raging fire ignited here.

Witnessing the blaze, the fire-scaled summoned demon visibly became happier, continuing to search for other places that could catch fire.

Meanwhile, Angel at the master control node furrowed his brows because the fire-scaled summoned demon was very close to a room not equipped with a proper door, only hidden with a layer of shadow technique.

This room was Room 02. Using shadow power, the entrance had been concealed. However, if one could see through the shadow, it was entirely possible to discover the room’s entrance.

And the fire-scaled summoned demon had seen through Kanter’s black night shadow on the fourth floor.

Thus, there’s a high chance the fire-scaled summoned demon would discover Room 02 and enter.

Judging from the fire-scaled summoned demon’s eyes, burning with destructive desire, Angel could be sure that if it found Room 02, it would undoubtedly rush in to wreck havoc.

The destruction itself wouldn’t concern Angel too much, but inside Room 02 were numerous parchment papers and book materials. Furthermore, they weren’t placed in the data room but rather casually scattered throughout the room, seeming as if Room 02 was usually surrounded by books.

Though Angel couldn’t tell what these materials documented, they were likely related to soul armament research. If these were destroyed, Nis would probably be hopping mad.

Thinking this, Angel decided to head to the fifth floor immediately.

At the very least, he needed to replicate a copy before the fire-scaled summoned demon burnt those materials.

...

After connecting the external corridor of the first floor to the fifth floor, Angel left the master control node.

On the way to the external corridor, Angel pondered the peculiar fire-scaled summoned demon.

Before leaving the master control node, Angel checked the second to fourth floors and found the fire-scaled summoned demon hadn’t actually attacked the crystalline pipes on these floors.

It seemed interested only in destroying things on the fifth floor. Was there some deeper meaning behind this destructive behavior?

Currently unknown.

Could it really be trying to seek revenge against the top three numbered wizards? But judging by some details, that theory was rather implausible.

As Angel’s thoughts swirled, he finally reached the external corridor of the first floor.

Because the external corridor was already connected to the fifth floor, there was no need to take a specific path. Angel could simply walk forward to reach the entrance of the fifth floor.

Upon reaching the fifth floor, Angel was immediately hit by a pungent, acrid burnt smell.

It was the odor emitted when certain compounds were scorched and melted.

Angel hurried forward, rounding a corner where he saw the still-raging fire not far away.

It was precisely the corridor bar seen earlier in the Authority Eye.

From the naked eye, there was no sign of the Fire Scale Summoned Demon near the bar. Angel worried that it might have already made its way to room 02, so he quickly ran forward.

As he passed by the burning area, Angel didn’t look into the fire, but Dangross, hanging on the Blood Night Shelter, glanced over with a puzzled look.

Dangross felt puzzled not because there was something wrong with the flames, but because it seemed to catch a familiar scent.

Where had it smelled that before? Dangross couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Through the main control node, Angel was already quite familiar with the fifth floor, and he rushed straight towards room 02 without pausing.

Upon reaching the corridor of room 02, Angel saw the Fire Scale Summoned Demon, having finished burning a potted plant, looking at the door to room 02 with a puzzled expression.

Seeing this, Angel breathed a slight sigh of relief; it seemed the Fire Scale Summoned Demon hadn’t entered room 02 yet.

”Hey, look over here!”

Angel called out to the Fire Scale Summoned Demon, who was concentrating intently in the distance.

The Fire Scale Summoned Demon was startled by the sudden voice, jumped up from the ground, fell, hurriedly crawled back up, and struck a battle pose, jumping around blindly until it finally faced Angel’s direction.

”Dili, gulu, keke.” When the Fire Scale Summoned Demon saw Angel, it made some unintelligible noises, then its ugly face went from surprise to doubt before quickly putting away all expressions.

The sudden expression change baffled Angel.

What the Fire Scale Summoned Demon did next left Angel even more bewildered.

The Fire Scale Summoned Demon turned its back to Angel, bent down deliberately exposing some indescribable part, and shook its bony hips.

Angel initially didn’t understand what the Fire Scale Summoned Demon was doing, but when it stood back up and beckoned him with a finger, Angel suddenly realized.

He was being provoked.

Regarding being provoked, Angel felt indifferent, merely finding the scene in front of him extremely absurd.

However, through the Fire Scale Summoned Demon’s absurd behavior, Angel faintly discerned some answers.

When faced with the researchers on the fourth floor, the Fire Scale Summoned Demon showed escape and scapegoating. But when it saw Angel, it showed provocation.

Angel wasn’t consciously concealing the pressure of being an Official Wizard. So, the Fire Scale Summoned Demon wasn’t bullying the weak and fearing the strong; its real purpose was provoking Angel.

Angel didn’t know the Fire Scale Summoned Demon prior to this, so forming a feud through grievances was impossible. Therefore, the best explanation seemed to be: The Fire Scale Summoned Demon had mistaken his identity.

Perhaps it mistook Angel for one of the top three-number Wizards on the fifth floor.

Angel’s speculation wasn’t baseless; he recalled the three expressions the Fire Scale Summoned Demon showed upon seeing him, starting with delight.

Why delight? Because it saw its target... Its rampant destruction on the fifth floor might have been to lure out the Wizards from the fifth floor.

The following expression was doubt. The Fire Scale Summoned Demon clearly focused on Angel’s face back then, perhaps wondering why Angel had no number marked, which puzzled it.

Finally, retracting all emotions. That coincided with when Angel’s pressure arrived; the Fire Scale Summoned Demon sensed the pressure and realized the newcomer was an Official Wizard. In the laboratory, the only Wizards on record are the top three sequences.

After this series of emotional changes, the Fire Scale Summoned Demon seemingly decided Angel was its target.

As for whether this speculation was correct? Angel didn’t know, but the Fire Scale Summoned Demon certainly had some understanding.

So, he might as well ask directly.

”Are you wrecking things here looking for me?” Using Universal Language, Angel asked. Typically, with the Fire Scale Summoned Demon’s intelligence, it surely couldn’t understand, but this particular Fire Scale Summoned Demon doesn’t fit ”typical circumstances.”

The Fire Scale Summoned Demon’s expression told Angel it understood.

Yet, it didn’t respond to Angel.

Instead, it displayed an ugly and eerie smile, then did another provocative move, and swiftly...

It turned around and ran like the wind.

...

Showing off and then fleeing, perhaps for the Fire Scale Summoned Demon, is quite thrilling.

Its emotional fluctuations grew increasingly exaggerated due to this thrill, with peculiar ”keke” laughter incessantly echoing.

However, this thrill began to change as it noticed something strange.

The Fire Scale Summoned Demon realized that the more it fled, the closer it somehow ended up to Angel.

Most importantly, Angel wasn’t even pursuing; Angel remained stationary, quietly watching it. That expressionless expression made the Fire Scale Summoned Demon feel like it became a joke.

By now, it wasn’t laughing anymore, but instead growing uneasy, speeding up; it certainly didn’t want to be caught by Angel.

The Fire Scale Summoned Demon’s speed was distinctly different from a typical Fire Scale Summoned Demon.

Its speed was so fast that even an afterimage couldn’t be captured; even some Official Wizards would struggle to reach such levels.

Yet, this terrifying speed didn’t distance the Fire Scale Summoned Demon from Angel, who remained standing nearby.

Angel hadn’t moved throughout, evident from the unchanged corridor layout beside him.

This was clearly abnormal.

Recognizing this, the Fire Scale Summoned Demon suddenly halted.

Like a dog, it sniffed the surrounding air, and suddenly, it seemed to have caught a scent...

At that moment, Angel also raised an eyebrow, realizing this Fire Scale Summoned Demon’s capabilities surpassed mere intelligence; it could discern Magic Patterns and even detect Illusion Nodes hidden in the shadows.

Indeed, Illusion Nodes.

From the first glance at the Fire Scale Summoned Demon, when Angel called ”look here,” he also set up numerous Illusion Nodes using Echo Illusion around the area.

The reason the Fire Scale Summoned Demon couldn’t escape was because illusions guided its direction.

And now, upon realizing something was off, the first thing the Fire Scale Summoned Demon did was sniff around, ultimately successfully detecting Illusion Nodes.

That surprised Angel.

While Angel hadn’t deliberately concealed the Illusion Nodes, catching them amid the swirling surrounding energy was no ordinary feat.

This left Angel even more curious about the origins of this Fire Scale Summoned Demon.