Chapter 1182 Descent of the Divine <TOC> Chapter 1184 Unknown Territory
Translator: SumTLMan
How could a beam of white light possibly materialize out of the vast obsidian void?
Judging from the direction of the descent, there was no doubt that the object emitting the white glow was none other than Bina Jonis’s dragon scale!
The loss of Bina Jonis’s dragon scale… what could this possibly signify?
A flicker of dread danced in Angel’s eyes.
His gaze slowly shifted towards the “ice ball” in Greaves’ hand, watching it melt at a rate perceptible to the naked eye.
Greaves too noticed the ice in his grasp melting, the hand, composed entirely of flames, shuddering in surprise. “Oh no, I forgot it’s made of ice, shopkeeper…”
Angel’s throat bobbed, and all he could muster was a resigned, “It’s not your fault.”
He knew very well that the Frost Seal would not melt under ordinary flames; the cause behind all this was indeed the loss of Bina Jonis’s dragon scale.
Despite Angel’s reassurance, Greaves felt a pang of guilt. Watching the ice in his hand melt faster and faster, a hint of hesitation flashed in the big eyes within the fireball.
Eventually, Greaves seemed to have made up his mind. After mumbling a few words under his breath, the flames on his body began to extinguish at a visibly rapid pace.
With the extinguishing of the flames, Greaves’ round form started to morph.
When the light of the fire was completely snuffed out, perched on Angel’s back was a small boy with deeply tanned skin. Judging by his appearance, he resembled a human child of six or seven years old, with the only exception being the two small devilish horns jutting out of his forehead.
“Are you Greaves?” Angel asked, taken aback.
A hint of blush swept across Greaves’ petite and dusky face. He turned his head away and whispered, “This way, it shouldn’t melt, right?”
Angel shook his head, “I told you, it’s not your fault.”
Angel watched the ice ball gradually melt, revealing Toby’s figure, and heaved a deep sigh.
The melting of the ice ball meant the failure of the Frost Seal. Once the seal failed, the ice ball would naturally melt, an irreversible process.
As the frost covering Toby completely melted, a sense of oppression welled up from the depths of Angel’s heart. He knew that this oppressive feeling was likely a psychological illusion, but it served as an apt reminder for him——
The doom curse that had always been concealed within Toby was about to resurface!
Angel surveyed his surroundings. This place was a void space, which, much like a planar rift, involved wandering in a dim space of chaos with ups and downs and nothing to rely upon.
What would be the effects of Unleashing the Doom Curse here?
Reflecting upon the last occasion in the Whispering Wind Valley, Sanders had intended to employ the Fragment Ephemera to guide him back to the Wizarding World, only for the doom curse to precipitate a cascade of dire outcomes. Informed by a previous dialogue with Sanders, Angel discovered that in the planar passage, Sanders was ensnared in a terrifying spatio-temporal labyrinth, escaping only by the skin of his teeth.
If Sanders was ensnared by the spatio-temporal mystery, what could possibly be waiting for them now?
A sense of trepidation surged within Angel, his gaze landing on Popoca ahead, intending to alert him to the potential doom. Yet, the words faltered at the tip of his tongue, swallowed back down.
The moment he would reveal that Toby was carrying the misfortune of the doom curse, it was obvious that Popoca would cast Toby into the void, a scenario that Angel found even more intolerable.
Upon revealing his true form, Greaves was visibly dejected, even his transformation into a human form couldn’t reverse the inexorable melting of the ice.
Angel voiced, “Leave Toby to me.”
Whoever harbored Toby would inevitably carry the most misfortune. As Greaves had previously aided him, the only thing Angel could do was to accept Toby from him.
However, Angel seemingly overlooked one thing. He was currently bound in chains; there was no possible location to keep Toby even if he were handed over.
Greaves, unknowing of the doom curse that lingered on Toby, reassured Angel, “It’s alright. You can trust me.”
Greaves paused, whispering into Angel’s ear, “If we manage to escape, can I covertly experience the Rhythm of the Ocean?”
Angel hadn’t expected Greaves’ persistent fascination with the Rhythm of the Ocean, after a brief moment of consideration, he nodded in agreement.
As for Toby residing with Greaves or himself, it made no difference at this point. When misfortune strikes, it doesn’t discriminate. Moreover, Greaves was still clinging onto his back.
Upon receiving Angel’s consent, a rare smile appeared on Greaves’ face. But when his gaze unintentionally swept over to the other side, landing on Olucia who was being dragged by chains, a sense of desolation reemerged.
Currently, everything hung in the balance of a monster, the possibility of escape was doubtful, let alone participating in the Voyage of Experience at the shop.
Observing Greaves’ mournful expression, Angel intended to offer some comfort. Yet, considering his own predicament, he realized his situation was far worse. At least, Greaves was free and his abilities surpassed Angel’s.
Angel could only heave a silent sigh in his heart.
However, in this short span of time, Angel’s perception of Greaves underwent a slight shift. Their first encounter happened in the shop where Angel had dismissed Greaves for his unruly and boisterous behavior. Yet, looking at it now, while his brashness could be irritating, Greaves’ thoughts were straightforward. Even though he could be cunning, he lacked the complex mind games typical of other demons.
Of course, Greaves’ rescue of Toby might have been a simple attempt to curry favor with him, aiming to experience the Rhythm of the Ocean.
Nevertheless, for Angel, the result was of utmost importance. Greaves’ motives were a separate matter altogether.
……
Following the disappearance of the Frost Seal spell, Angel’s mood had been consistently on edge. It was as if he could sense countless malevolences creeping from the dark void towards their location.
Angel was perfectly aware that the moment the doom curse was triggered, an onslaught of calamities would certainly descend upon them.
Living with the foreknowledge of impending doom, yet being rendered passive in its wait, filled Angel with a profound unease.
Popoca was wholly oblivious to these emotional shifts. Single-mindedly, he was heading towards a designated location — the most secure location left for it by the Profound Lord in his messages.
“Once there, I will present Olucia as an offering to the Profound Lord and then with the Source Fire, I can reignite the glory of my clan!” Despite Popoca’s chaotic thinking, his purpose was clear. Even in a state of madness, he continued to act according to his predetermined objective.
You could say this determination is an obsession seared into the depths of Popoca’s lineage, indelible and everlasting.
However, midway to its destination, while guided by this fixation, Popoca felt an odd sensation.
Popoca abruptly halted, casting a puzzled gaze ahead, “What’s happening? Why do I sense a strange danger lurking before me?”
Although Popoca’s power had been forcibly elevated, it had indeed reached a certain pinnacle, allowing his intuition for danger to be even sharper than Sanders’.
According to the information left by the Profound Lord, this passage was completely safe. So, where was this sense of danger coming from?
As Popoca pondered, he noticed a vast spatial collapse appearing ahead, and this collapse was rapidly heading towards them at a visibly fast pace.
“How can this be?!” Popoca exclaimed. This spatial collapse was virtually a death sentence!
Any living being caught in it would surely be obliterated to dust, their very souls ground to nothing!
Moreover, this spatial collapse was directly in their path!
Popoca was taken aback, his face visibly flustered. They were so close, so close to restoring the glory of the Laudsourcian clan, how could such a situation arise?
Seeing the spatial collapse about to engulf them, Popoca remained stationary.
Angel shouted out loud, “Popoca, what are you doing? Either turn back or change our course! What are you just standing there for?!”
Popoca’s eyes were filled with confusion, seemingly lost at this crucial moment. It was a clear case of his mentality not matching his newfound power. Any third level true knowledge wizard or Great Demon in this situation would have already reacted, not just stood there awaiting the catastrophe.
Gritting his teeth, Angel barked, “Have you forgotten about igniting the Laudsourcian fire? And what about Sparrow Blossom, your sister? Don’t you want to see her?”
Sparrow Blossom? Popoca suddenly paused.
Hearing Angel’s call, the confusion in Popoca’s eyes slowly cleared, “Sparrow Blossom disappeared a long time ago… why do you bring her up now?”
Angel declared, “I have seen Sparrow Blossom, I know where she is!”
“You’re deceiving me.” Popoca’s gaze remained unwavering, merely observing Angel with an icy indifference.
Angel, spying the rapid spatial collapse drawing close behind them, hurriedly spoke, “I’m aware that on Sparrow Blossom’s ninth birthday, you gifted her a painting. That painting she keeps safeguarded within a heart-shaped pendant, a pendant I happen to have on me right now! Currently, I’m bound and unable to show you, but you should know the truth of what I speak. Therefore, you must act quickly, for as long as you remain alive, you have a chance to meet her!”
Angel’s words triggered the unlocking of a mental vault within Popoca’s mind.
Indeed, on his sister’s ninth birthday, he had gifted her a painting. He was well aware of her affection for it, having kept it lovingly stored within her necklace.
As Popoca’s memories surfaced, he could even recall the sound of his sister’s bell-like laughter, and her eyes, curved like crescent moons.
How could Angel know of these events?
Popoca had indeed shared with Angel that he had a sister named Sparrow Blossom, but he had never delved into such depth, not even the memories he had buried deep within his heart after his sister’s disappearance… Could Angel truly be aware of those too?
Could it be that Angel had genuinely encountered Sparrow Blossom?
Upon this thought, Popoca’s fist clenched tightly.
“I hope you’re not lying to me!” Popoca didn’t immediately seek confirmation from Angel; the most pressing matter at hand was escaping the collapsing space!
As Popoca began to ponder a means of evasion from their perilous circumstance, answers that were veiled within his chaotic thoughts gradually revealed themselves.
The Profound Lord had left him with many coordinates, each corresponding to different locations.
Since the intended path was now barred by the collapsing space, they would simply need to take a new one!
With this in mind, a “Solar Eclipse” symbol emerged before Popoca. This was the True Mark of the Profound Lord, and with the symbol’s appearance——
A fresh passage materialized before him.
Simultaneously, the proximity of the spatial collapse was now perilously close!
Chapter 1182 Descent of the Divine <TOC> Chapter 1184 Unknown Territory