Chapter 1309 The Sample Publication <TOC> Chapter 1311 Phantasmal Limb
Translator: SumTLMan
The intel that Lucci brought back from Genoa soon rippled into a cascade of ensuing events.
Nearly every wizard from the Frost Moon Alliance was roused into action. Some set out to verify the truth — to ascertain if the True Spirit of the Flameless Lord had truly perished, while others made their way to the Savage Grottoes.
Even Mengke returned from the Abyss, personally venturing to the Paramjit Plateau.
Greeting Mengke was Rhine, who had hastened back from the ancient ruins ahead of schedule. Rhine led Mengke to High Cloud Tower. What transpired between them in that lofty spire remains a mystery to outsiders. All that was known is that upon departing from the tower, Mengke didn’t linger. He promptly led the Frost Moon Alliance members out of the Savage Grottoes.
Wallace’s —Mirror— publication, seemingly untouched by Frost Moon’s undertakings, persisted in its editorial endeavors. As the —Mirror— remained uninterrupted, the —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— from Night Whisper Forest also methodically proceeded with its printing, awaiting the moment when the news would explode.
Post his exit from the Savage Grottoes, Mengke’s countenance was consistently grim. Whenever others attempted to inquire about the specifics, Mengke remained reticent, merely instructing Lucci to tirelessly pinpoint Angel’s location.
Even though Angel had divulged many mysterious details and appeared to be transparent in the larger scheme, emissaries were still dispatched for corroboration. Yet, Mengke yearned to meet Angel in person, for there were nuances and ambiguities within Angel’s narrative.
However, when Lucci turned to the Wheel of Time, attempting to use a prophecy spell to determine Angel’s location, it was as if he were in the Abyss all over again — the spell bore no fruit.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Angel was deeply immersed in meditation within Pat Manor.
Both Sanders and Suis hadn’t returned. Angel’s daily activities revolved predominantly around his routine cultivation. His spare moments oscillated between constructing the Gateway Model and observing the Softworm’s metamorphosis.
Post the previous “Hardworm” incident, Angel, leveraging insights from ‘Heart of the Swarm’ — Iscariot’s notes, unearthed a new variable, implementing it upon the Softworm Mother.
On the fourth day of implementing the new array of changes, the Softworm finally laid a fresh batch of eggs.
Out of the five eggs produced, one was dead. Three were typical Softworm eggs, but one stood out as extraordinary.
From the moment of its inception, it continually captured Angel’s intrigue.
In contrast to the other pale-yellow eggs, this was a near-transparent egg. Even before it hatched, Angel discerned a subtle surge of energy within it.
Such a phenomenon was unheard of. Even the previously encountered “Hardworm” displayed no energy leakage during their egg phase. Yet, this particular egg seemed to audaciously proclaim its presence from its very inception.
This drew a significant amount of Angel’s attention.
Upon closer observation, Angel realized that the energy pulsating inside this egg mysteriously resonated with him. It felt as though their energies shared the same frequency, creating an illusion of harmonious resonance. This deep-rooted feeling led Angel to harbor unprecedented expectations for this egg.
Eager to expedite the egg’s hatching process, Angel delved into Iscariot’s notes. He also selected a rune from —The Enchantment Compendium— that could regulate temperature, humidity, and even air purity, etching it onto his desk.
This ensured that the egg received the utmost care in the most conducive environment.
After a prolonged incubation, the transparent egg finally showed signs of movement.
That day, having completed the Gateway Model, Angel devoted all his attention to the egg nest on his desk.
The Dreamweaver Ant was still at the “frontline”, confronting the Softworm soldiers. It played an indispensable role in heightening the Worm Mother’s sense of crisis and couldn’t be abandoned. Even on the special day of hatching, Angel didn’t recall the Dreamweaver Ant. After all, there were plenty of regular Softworms. Using them to obstruct the Dreamweaver Ant’s path wouldn’t affect the Worm Mother.
After gorging itself, the Dreamweaver Ant left behind the desiccated husks of Softworms and retreated to the edges of its nest, preparing and digesting for the next impending battle.
Angel’s gaze skimmed past the Dreamweaver Ant, unerringly finding its way to the hatching chamber of the worm eggs.
Several of the eggs had hatched in succession, the flesh-colored larvae wriggling as they left the incubation room, drawn to the “kitchen” where the essence blood of Akeso awaited, nourishing and facilitating their growth.
However, one transparent egg remained still. But that was merely superficial stillness. Through its translucent shell, one could discern that internal metamorphoses were very much underway.
Though it hadn’t fully hatched, the creature inside was already taking shape, resembling the other Softworms in form. Its distinctive trait was its nearly transparent hue, with only some internal organs displaying distinct outlines.
At this moment, this transparent Softworm was exerting effort to stretch itself, seemingly aiming to use this force to break free from the confines of its eggshell. After numerous attempts, the egg began to quiver, and a crack emerged on its surface.
With the appearance of this crack, outside air rushed in. With the naked eye, Angel could clearly see the Softworm’s coloration shifting at a discernible pace.
From transparent to translucent, and then gradually morphing into a milky hue.
Finally, after a prolonged struggle, the Softworm broke free from its chains and emerged from the egg. By this time, Angel noted a detail: its coloration had completely transformed into a solid colored white.
It resembled a carving made from a white gemstone, exuding an exquisite and captivating beauty.
However, Angel’s brow furrowed in concern.
According to notes he had acquired from Iscariot, a Morphing Softworm wasn’t of a solid color… implying that this Softworm, upon which he had pinned his hopes for so long, had once again left him in disappointment. It wasn’t the Morphing Softworm he sought.
Angel felt a pang of regret deep within, but after all, this was a unique Softworm. Its precise attributes needed to be documented in his notes to collate data.
He observed intently for a while, yet he couldn’t categorize this Softworm.
Indeed, apart from its coloration, its habits mirrored that of the average Softworm. It leisurely consumed the essence blood of Akeso, and once satiated, it moved closer to the Worm Mother, sinking into a deep slumber.
Before its hatching, Angel had detected an energy resonance within it that was in sync with his own. However, now this energy fluctuation seemed completely concealed, as if it never existed.
Rubbing his temples, Angel decided to momentarily retract his observational focus.
But at that moment, the previously stagnant Dreamweaver Ant advanced to the frontline. On this frontline, several ordinary Softworms were resisting the onslaught of the Dreamweaver Ants.
Watching the ant’s actions, Angel pondered for a moment before deciding to conduct an experiment.
He exerted his mental pressure on those few ordinary Softworms, simultaneously herding the Dreamweaver Ant toward the unique Softworm.
As the Dreamweaver Ant neared the unique Softworm, the slumbering Solid Colored Softworm finally awakened.
Confronted by the Dreamweaver Ant, it seemed somewhat frightened, its body quivering as it retreated.
Seeing this, Angel couldn’t help but shake his head, thinking to himself: “Probably just born and has not activated its special ability yet.”
After all, it’s a precious unique Softworm. Without discerning its abilities, he couldn’t let it perish just yet. With that thought, he planned to drive the Dreamweaver Ant back.
However, just then, the seemingly “frightened” Solid Colored Softworm made its move.
Its action defied Angel’s understanding of the typical Softworm behavior!
For it did not slither nor skid, but rather, through a mysterious surge of energy, it elevated itself aloft… and with a lightning’s pace, fiercely charged towards the Dreamweaver Ant.
In a mere blink of an eye, before Angel could even witness with his mortal sight, one of the legs of the Dreamweaver Ant was shattered.
Angel was perplexed, uncertain of the method this creature employed to cripple the Dreamweaver Ant’s limb.
Yet, that wasn’t the end. As the Solid Colored Softworm brushed against the nest’s wall, a rebounding force, similar to a spring’s recoil, propelled it once again towards the Dreamweaver Ant.
A white streak flashed, and the Dreamweaver Ant suffered another broken leg.
Staring at this spectacle, Angel was rendered utterly dumbfounded. The once invincible Dreamweaver Ant had met its match against this seemingly unremarkable Solid Colored Softworm. What hidden power did it conceal?
Seeing that the Softworm was gearing up for a third assault, Angel hastily exerted his mental force to suppress it. The Dreamweaver Ant, now on the brink of extinction, could not afford to be snuffed out in such an untimely manner.
He escorted the Dreamweaver Ant back to the edge of the nest, releasing an energy replenishing spell, coupled with a rejuvenation trick. Angel then left the ant to its own devices. Given the ant’s innate recuperative abilities, it would undoubtedly mend itself before long.
His entire focus was now riveted on that Solid Colored Softworm.
Now, without the threat of the Dreamweaver Ant looming, the Softworm reverted to its seemingly benign disposition. The swirling energy that had once encased it vanished into thin air, making it appear virtually indistinguishable from an ordinary Softworm.
Had Angel not witnessed its terrifying combat power firsthand, he might have been easily beguiled by its deceptive appearance.
With a mix of caution and curiosity, Angel extracted this Softworm from the nest, keenly analyzing the intricacies of its physical composition.
After an extensive examination, it was discerned that the strength of this Solid Colored Softworm was not markedly different from the common Softworm. The only nuance seemed to be the fleeting surge of a transcendent energy that had once manifested.
What was the nature of this esoteric power?
Angel deeply contemplated the past battles between the Softworm and Dreamweaver Ant, feeling an uncanny sense of familiarity each time that mysterious energy surfaced.
“Could it possibly be the power of an illusion spell?” Angel mused in hushed tones.
Angel was acutely aware of the myriad energies within himself. And that part which resonated with the Solid Colored Softworm bore an uncanny semblance to the power of illusion, albeit with subtle deviations.
Was his hypothesis accurate? And what precisely was this mysterious energy inherent in the Solid Colored Softworm?
Upon reflection, Angel resolved to conduct a preliminary experiment.
Chapter 1309 The Sample Publication <TOC> Chapter 1311 Phantasmal Limb