Chapter 1376 Bogula’s News <TOC> Chapter 1378 The Emergence of New Potential
Translator: SumTLMan
Angel stood beneath a marquee, which dazzled with iridescent lights.
93 Champagne Road, Woodrow Bar.
Before even stepping in, the enticing aroma of liquor teased his senses from afar.
Upon pushing the door, a warm embrace of atmosphere greeted him.
The bar bustled with patrons, the ambiance lively. Angel, an unfamiliar face to many, entered without garnering much attention. Only the bartender cast him a fleeting glance before passionately re-engaging in a table discussion.
Drawing closer, Angel realized the spirited debate revolved around a firsthand witness of the incident at Monsignor Magic Material Street. The man was fervently recounting the epic duel between Angel and Winchester with such animated expressions and rousing rhetoric.
His narration was so compelling that it captivated nearly eighty percent of the bar’s occupants. So engrossed, even the bartender scarcely had a moment to spare for Angel.
Angel, after briefly eavesdropping, couldn’t help but admire the storyteller’s embellished version. The man’s knack for dramatization was nothing short of spectacular. A minor strategic move was expanded into a cautious decision backed by layers of psychological warfare. Had the name ‘Angel’ not been repeated frequently, Angel would hardly have recognized the story as his own.
“At that moment,” the storyteller continued, “everyone was frozen in place. All I wanted was to stretch my sore legs, but the moment I moved, that frail young man from the Frost Moon Alliance, who kept coughing up blood, fixed those cold, knife-sharp eyes on me. It felt as though an icy shroud draped my spine, plunging me into a frigid winter lake.”
“But just then, Angel’s gaze met mine, and his eyes… oh, they shimmered with such warmth…”
Ahem! Angel suddenly choked on his own spit.
Unbeknownst to Angel, he wasn’t certain if he ever truly noticed this man. If he did, it certainly wasn’t with the affectionate warmth the storyteller painted.
An abrupt cough caught the speaker’s attention, his eyes flaring in irritation towards Angel. Angel cast an apologetic glance in return. The storyteller, despite his evident annoyance, was reaching the climax of his narrative and chose to ignore Angel’s interruption. “Angel looked at me with such depth,” he continued, “In that moment, my heart felt like it was caressed by the gentle winds of midsummer, as if I were running joyfully on a sun-kissed beach… The chill I had previously felt from someone else was entirely dispelled.”
“Is this true?” A radiant-eyed young apprentice inquired, her gaze suggesting that she too, was basking in that captivating aura conveyed by the narrator.
“Absolutely! I swear on the honor of my academy.”
“And which academy do you belong to?” The crowd erupted in chatter, and amidst the noise, Angel slipped in a remark.
“The Torch Institute!”
Hearing this, Angel quietly made his exit. It made sense — who else but someone from the Torch Institute could weave a tale with such vividness and flair?
…
Angel had previously visited the Bliss Pavilion, so without seeking guidance from the bartender, he headed straight to the back.
The front hall was bustling, with everyone engrossed in the events of Monsignor Magic Material Street. Even the bar staff were preoccupied, so no one hindered Angel’s path.
He smoothly made his way to the rear of the bar, approaching the Bliss Pavilion.
Before even entering, the commotion from within reached Angel’s ears. He peeked inside to find Coral, animatedly draped over a puppet, exclaiming with fervor, “Ah! How did I miss such a spectacular event? Nausica, why did you ask me to return to the Bliss Pavilion earlier? I missed out on witnessing that thrilling battle!”
Seeing no response from Nausica, Coral didn’t show any irritation. She hopped off from puppet Gank’s back and nudged the woman sitting by the bonfire, “Hilary, wake up! I’m so excited I can barely contain myself. I need someone to share this with me!”
Hilary? Angel looked closely. The woman beside Coral had her head down, and while her face was obscured, her attire and posture made it evident that she was indeed Hilary.
“Child of Fire, aren’t you intrigued? It’s the exact opposite of your elemental affinity!”
Coral rambled on beside Hilary for a while, but Hilary’s only response was the nodding of her head, clearly fast asleep.
Beyond Coral’s monologue, Angel also heard other voices: those of Nausica and Leon. However, they weren’t beside the bonfire in the courtyard but on the other side of it.
“Don’t you want to catch up to Angel as soon as possible? These exercises are what you need to do every day. You have no choice but to endure,” Nausica said calmly to Leon.
“I can handle it,” Leon replied, hanging by a single finger and continuously working out on a specialized piece of training equipment for bloodline cultivation.
Nausica stood to one side, taking languid drags from a vape device and giving Leon gentle corrections to his daily exercises.
“This is just basic training. It will become more demanding with each day. Only in this way can you endure the repeated refining of your bloodline and resist the side effects caused by its transformation.”
Leon, full of vigor, moved onto the next set of exercises without waiting for Nausica’s cue.
Seeing this, a slight smile formed on Angel’s face. He had previously been concerned about whether Leon would adapt to life here, but it seemed his worries were unwarranted.
“Who’s out there?” Suddenly, Nausica seemed to sense something and, with a frown, turned to look towards the entrance.
Coral and Leon’s movements slowed, looking puzzled.
Though Angel made no deliberate effort to hide, he did not fixate on Nausica. Yet she noticed so swiftly, a testament to her sharp perception.
Since he was already spotted, Angel decided to stride in directly.
As Coral looked quizzically at the newcomer, Nausica raised an eyebrow, relaxing her tense shoulders, and remarked with a smile, “You seem to have a fondness for taking on the visage of a middle-aged man. This appearance is certainly more pleasing than the unkempt and greasy look you had before.”
“How did you discern that?” Angel inquired, looking curiously at Nausica.
“Boldly walking in even after being noticed, and the fact that your gaze was always on Leon — isn’t the answer crystal clear?” responded Nausica.
Angel chuckled, and seeing no one else around, he dispelled his illusion, revealing his true form.
Upon Angel’s emergence, Coral was the first to rush towards him.
She buzzed around him like a busy bee, eagerly inquiring about the recent events at Monsignor Magic Material Street.
Leon too was about to approach, but as he took a step, Nausica calmly remarked, “Getting distracted so easily by external events — how effective do you think such training would be?”
Hearing this, Leon remained still, continuing his training.
Only after completing a set did a sweat-drenched Leon walk over.
“Angel, were you alright just now?” Leon asked with palpable concern.
“There was nothing much, I simply met a senior figure,” Angel succinctly explained, indicating his connection with the ‘Potion Master’ Midora. He chose not to divulge details about “Enchanted Mechanical City” or the “Witness Ceremony.” Soon enough, magazines would reveal it all.
As to what he should or shouldn’t disclose, even Angel was uncertain.
“So, Lord Midora called upon you… Did the two wizards from the Frost Moon Alliance cause any further trouble for you?” Coral posed the question that was on everyone’s mind.
Angel shook his head, “No. And even if they tried, I can handle them.”
Recalling the buzzing rumors of Angel’s clash with Winchester, Nausica and Leon felt somewhat reassured.
However, another burning question arose: Just how powerful was Angel?
Having held his own against Winchester, what level had Angel reached?
Coral voiced this curiosity, but both Leon and Nausica shared her sentiment. Coral added, “During your arena duel with Nausica, you weren’t at full strength, were you?”
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Angel’s face, unsure of how to respond.
Nausica, however, laughed and said, “If Angel had given it his all, I wouldn’t be standing here chatting with you.”
Though the topic moved on, the matter of strength remained. After some contemplation, Angel remarked, “I’m a notch above apprentices but not quite on par with a formal wizard. Overall, I wouldn’t necessarily outlast a seasoned wizard, but I wouldn’t be easily subdued either.”
His response was indeed vague, but Nausica and the others didn’t press. A rough idea sufficed for them.
After these scattered concerns, Angel finally transitioned to the main subject.
His primary reason for coming was to assist Nausica in repairing and enhancing her mechanical arm, while also taking the opportunity to check on Leon’s situation. Now, seeing that Leon seems to be adjusting well to life at the Blossom Mansion, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Enhancing Nausica’s mechanical arm wasn’t a Herculean task for him; he had always left ample space for inscribing runes.
After little more than an hour, Angel meticulously overhauled the mechanical arm, also adding several conductive runes to complement Nausica’s current electric tactics.
Nausica extended her mechanical arm, lightly clenching her fist. The already sleek design now emanated a soft blue aura, making it appear even more elegant, a true epitome of mechanical beauty.
Leon watched in awe, his reaction mirroring Shalem’s when he first laid eyes on the mechanical arm, his eyes practically sparkling.
Having addressed Nausica’s concerns, Angel then devoted some time to adjust Gank’s puppet body to its optimal condition.
When all was said and done, it was time to bid farewell.
In the Wizarding World, Partings are a dime a dozen. Sometimes, you might not even realize when a simple goodbye turns into a final adieu.
Aware of the transient nature of life, both Nausica and Coral remained composed. Even the occasionally awakened Hilary waved goodbye to Angel without any visible emotion.
Leon didn’t feel overly sentimental either, as he knew he could meet Angel anytime in the Wilderness of Dreams.
Amidst this serene backdrop, Angel said his farewells to the friends he had just reconnected with today.
Chapter 1376 Bogula’s News <TOC> Chapter 1378 The Emergence of New Potential