Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2414: Chapter 2415: Creatures Hidden in the Shadows

In the silent corridor, Angel walked resolutely in one direction.

”Are we going to look for that strange mist?” Dangross, reattaching itself to the Blood Night Shelter, curiously asked Angel.

Angel: ”No, we’re going to Room 02 first.”

”Aren’t we going to deal with the mist?” Dangross continued.

Angel did not answer, for he had already arrived at the target point.

It was still a long corridor here; at first glance, there was nothing particularly unusual, except for the fact that the nearest glowing ceiling lamp was about ten meters away, making the light somewhat dim. However, it wasn’t so dark as to make it impossible to see the road, just that the shadows on the walls were somewhat magnified.

If one were not paying attention, it’s possible to overlook this dim area. But through observation of the main control node, Angel was very aware that the door to Room 02 was actually concealed within the shadows.

Angel took a step directly into the shadow on the wall, and his entire being seemed to melt into the shadow, disappearing from the corridor.

After Angel’s figure vanished, in a corner of this shaded area, a point of starlight suddenly appeared, quietly watching the spot where Angel disappeared; from its constantly flickering frequency, it seemed reluctant, wanting to follow.

But in the end, this point of starlight did not move forward, instead drifting to the other side of the corridor, merging with other points of starlight.

On the other side, after Angel walked into the shadow, the surrounding scene immediately changed, revealing a corridor dimmer than the one outside.

This corridor also had light sources, but unlike the bright ceiling lamps outside, here the light source was the flame of an oil lamp within a black grille on the wall.

Although there was an oil lamp every ten meters or so, the flame of the oil lamp was relatively dim, unable to thoroughly illuminate the corridor, serving mainly to guide the way.

”Why is it so dim here?” Dangross muttered as it looked around.

”Maybe because the owner here is a Shadow Wizard,” replied Angel as he walked forward.

Having followed Angel for a while, Dangross had gained some understanding of the common knowledge in the Wizards’ Realm. It also understood that Shadow Wizards are actually referred to as shadow-type wizards in the Mysterious Side. These wizards are rare and also called Ghostly Shadows Wizards.

”Do Shadow Wizards like dim environments? Then why not just put out the lights and make it completely dark?”

Angel glanced at Dangross and said softly, ”Shadows are not darkness; they’re the darker side of light. Without light, how can shadows exist?”

Dangross: ”So there must be light for Shadow Wizards to have a reason to exist?”

Angel: ”Of course not. One is a concept, the other is reality. The concept is the goal, the pursuit, but in reality, endless darkness does indeed suit the residence of Shadow Wizards better.”

Dangross initially understood, but Angel’s explanation made it somewhat confusing.

Just as Dangross was about to ask further, they reached the first oil lamp.

Dangross did not pay attention to the oil lamp but was instead drawn to the shadow on the ground cast by the lamp’s flame.

Because the flame in the grille was unstable, occasionally swelling and then receding. This cause Angel’s shadow to flicker, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes long, sometimes short.

”Unpredictability is also a trait of shadows.” Angel observed the flickering shadow on the ground and said, ”However, besides being unpredictable, shadows are most known for their concealment.”

Angel continued forward, while Dangross kept staring at the shadow on the ground until they left the light source and the shadow was submerged in darkness, only then did Dangross lift its head.

It turned around, wanting to say something to Angel.

But before it could speak, it noticed that Angel suddenly stopped. However, the sound of footsteps did not cease, and another ”Angel” was continuing to walk forward.

Seeing this familiar scene, Dangross immediately understood what Angel intended to do.

Previously, whether encountering X0 or the subsequent Fire Scale Summoned Demon, Dangross had experienced this situation several times, with Angel watching leisurely from the side while the illusion tricked the enemy into spinning in circles.

Now that Angel split off an illusion again, it clearly indicated everything.

Dangross had been intently watching the shadow on the ground, not because it was drawn by the flickering, but because it had discovered some strange traces. Now, Angel obviously discovered an existence hidden in the shadows too.

Dangross silently watched the ”Angel” walking farther away. Even though it had seen this scenario several times, each time left it in awe.

When meeting X0, a sound created an illusion. In the confrontation with the Fire Scale Summoned Demon, merely a step forward in the fire created real and illusory bodies.

And this time was no different, in the interplay of light and shadow, the true body weaved seamlessly with the illusion.

Such an ability with illusion techniques is simply impenetrable.

Even Dangross, who stayed with Angel, couldn’t help but empathize with the enemy. Even if the opponent managed with great effort to see through Angel’s illusion, could they be sure the newly appeared Angel was real?

While Dangross mused, ”Angel” had already walked to the midpoint of two light sources, the darkest part of this corridor.

When the darkness was at its peak, the existence hidden in the shadow couldn’t help but reveal its fangs.

With a silent sinister laugh, it retracted all malice, turning the shadow into a blade, silently aiming to pierce Angel’s back.

If it weren’t attacking an illusion, this could be considered a rather good assassination.

But alas, there was no ”if”.

Dangross no longer needed to watch what happened next. When the malevolence hidden within the shadows smugly encountered an unexpectedly sly deception, the result was naturally the triumph of illusion.

However, the process of triumph was somewhat longer compared to X0 and the Fire Scale Summoned Demon.

This was mainly because the prowess of the opponent was not the determinant factor; Angel did not aim to kill but to capture the existence within the shadow, thus prolonging the battle.

Of course, the opponent was quite formidable as well; although not up to X0’s level, it wasn’t far off. It might be a notch below an Official Wizard, but it surpassed a Wizard Apprentice by a good deal.

About five minutes later, the presence within the shadow was finally whipped into form by the Phantom Limb, shivering and motionless within a fire circle Dangross had helped create.

Under the piercing glare of the fire circle, Dangross could finally see the opponent’s true form.

It was a mass of shadow curled into a ball at the center of the fire circle, with a black tide seemingly surging inside, yet maintaining a relatively stable shape overall.

Entirely black and capable of expanding or contracting, its exact features were indiscernible. The only visible external traits were the large, watery eyes and a mouth that remained fixed in a sinister grin.

Dangross looked around hesitantly and said, ”This seems a bit like the creature the mascot described in the Mind Ribbon, the one they encountered on the second floor...”

Angel: ”Shadow Demon.”

Dangross: ”Yes, that’s it!”

Dangross still remembered that Nis had howled for most of the day because the Shadow Demon was killed by Kanter.

”The Shadow Demon can assist in practicing the Entering Shadow Technique, and is extremely valuable,” Angel casually explained. It was because of this trait that Angel had tried so hard to capture it rather than kill it.

Dangross nodded. Nis indeed mentioned this in the Mind Ribbon before. Nis also wanted to capture the Shadow Demon, but unfortunately, the Shadow Demon had already invaded the mascot’s Soul Body, forcing Kanter to kill it.

”This is the Shadow Wizard’s room, so does it mean that the Shadow Demon on the second floor was actually created by this Shadow Wizard?”

Angel: ”It should be.”

Dangross turned to look at the Shadow Demon trembling in the ring of fire, ”Should we interrogate it? Maybe it knows something about the Shadow Wizard?”

Angel shook his head.

The Shadow Demons are low-intelligence beings; although they can communicate, their communication relies on a certain signal within the Ghostly Shadows, a secret only the Shadow Wizards understand, and others cannot communicate with them at all.

So, interrogation? Not possible.

Angel took out a magical crystal that could glow, quickly melted it into a hollow sphere, like a round incandescent bulb.

Then, controlling the Phantom Limb, he wrapped the Shadow Demon that revealed itself and stuffed it into the glowing sphere.

He covered it, and it was done.

To capture shadow creatures like this, just creating a light sphere can trap them. In a sphere without dead angles or shadows, they can only huddle in the center and dare not move.

After putting the Shadow Demon into his bracelet, Angel continued onward.

He hoped to encounter more Shadow Demons. These rare creatures, nearly extinct and undiscovered in a century in the Southern Domain, the more the better.

But Angel also knew there was probably only this one Shadow Demon. Because earlier, when he observed room 02 through the master control node, he vaguely noticed a strange creature in room 02.

At the time, he couldn’t determine what it was. It now seems it must be the Shadow Demon.

Actually, that’s why Angel chose to come to room 02 first.

Previously, through observing the fifth floor from the master control node, apart from the Flame Scaled Summoned Demon, the only creature showing life signals was the strange creature in room 02.

After the Flame Scaled Summoned Demon died, the Misty Shadow appeared. Angel, through some intuitive judgment, guessed that the Misty Shadow is in a semi-void state, and to affect the Material Realm, it might need to possess a creature.

And throughout the fifth floor, the only creature the Misty Shadow could possess is the strange creature in room 02.

This is why Angel came to room 02 first.

He initially hoped to encounter the Misty Shadow here again. But now, it seems the Misty Shadow didn’t come to room 02. Maybe it didn’t know there was a Shadow Demon to possess here? Or perhaps its power wasn’t enough to possess the Shadow Demon?

No matter the answer, at least Angel solved a hidden danger now. If the Misty Shadow could really possess the Shadow Demon, with its terrifying influence on biological bodies, plus its crafty nature, fighting it wouldn’t be as easy as now.

Although the Misty Shadow isn’t in room 02, it doesn’t matter. Angel isn’t in a hurry to find and deal with the Misty Shadow.

The apparent reason is that the Misty Shadow isn’t related to the laboratory; its purpose might not intersect with their mission much.

But the real reason is that Angel doesn’t particularly want to deal with the Misty Shadow.

He feels the Misty Shadow’s origin is somewhat strange, and earlier, when he had thoughts of killing it, he felt some inexplicable premonitions.

These premonitions weren’t dangerous, but it seemed to prevent Angel from killing it.

Of course, this is just Angel’s subjective feeling, and even he can’t guarantee its authenticity.

But he’s willing to follow his own will. As long as the Misty Shadow doesn’t provoke again, he doesn’t want to deliberately search and fight it.

...

Continuing forward, passing a few more lanterns, they finally walked out of the corridor and entered the main hall of room 02.

The style here is quite different from the dark corridor.

The main hall has many light sources, but these light sources don’t entirely illuminate the room, being blocked by some room designs, only serving one-tenth or one-twentieth of their function.

This results in there being many light sources, lots of light, lots of concealment, lots of cropping, and also lots of shadows.

The whole hall can be said to have a distinct lighting style. There are cut lights everywhere, shadow angles, some light and shadow even achieve geometric symmetry, causing Angel to be in awe.

However, Angel’s main purpose here isn’t sightseeing but to find useful documentation.

At this moment, the main hall is piled with a large number of books and scattered papers.

Previously, Angel was worried that the Flame Scaled Summoned Demon would come to room 02 and burn these books, but now they seem safe.

Angel casually picked up a book from the nearby silver-white Central Island and browsed it for a moment before putting it down.

”Glowing City Night Talk,” a bestselling magazine from the Forest of Night Whisper, much favored by the Witches.

The dozens of books on the Central Island were all ”Glowing City Night Talk.”

Possibly bought by 02 to learn about the Southern Domain Wizard World? Or perhaps a little-known quirk of 02?

Angel wandered around, meanwhile manipulating five Hands of Magic, and went through a large number of books in the main hall.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of the material he wanted here, mostly some travelogues and some rather niche, female-oriented gossip magazines.

However, if Angel remembers correctly, number 03 seemed to say 02 is male, right?