Chapter 1380 The Anomalies of Black Castle <TOC> Chapter 1382 Sparrow Blossom's Chronicles
Translator: SumTLMan
They were drawing close to the graveyard where Sparrow Blossom rested. Angel’s intent was to allow Popoca some time to prepare, hence he purposefully ventured in to drop a word of caution.
Popoca nodded appreciatively, “I understand, and… thank you.”
Whether it was the news about Sparrow Blossom, the assistance Angel provided during their journey, or even the special soul materials he had acquired for him; Popoca etched every gesture of kindness into his heart.
Angel responded with a neutral tone, “You need not thank me. It was merely me fulfilling a promise I made earlier. I don’t go back on my word.”
Although Angel downplayed his deeds, Popoca’s gratitude ran deep, not just for Angel’s unwavering commitment, but also for the aid he had rendered to Sparrow Blossom previously.
Popoca yearned to convey his gratitude further. Yet, at that moment, he suddenly clutched his mouth with both hands, squatting down and curling up, coughing incessantly.
After a bout of relentless coughing, a vivid shade of red blood stained his palms.
It was all the blood he had coughed up.
This bout left Popoca’s already pallid face a shade paler, painting a more gruesome picture of his deteriorating health.
Acting as if nothing was wrong, Popoca adeptly wiped away the blood, drank a prepared potion, and then said to Angel, “Regardless, I am truly grateful to you. At the very least, I’ll have the chance to see Sparrow Blossom once more before my departure.”
Angel silently observed Popoca, realizing that his deteriorating condition was irreversible. It was, after all, a bed of thorns Popoca had made for himself. Having succumbed to the temptations of the Demon God and recklessly exhausting his physical form, this tragic fate was bound to befall him.
Previous estimates suggested he could endure for a year or two. However, the rapid disintegration of Popoca’s health appeared to be accelerating.
Angel’s gaze slowly drifted to the other side of the room where there sat a simple table and chair, a dimly lit lantern still burning, an insect nest, and a journal filled with inscriptions.
“Considering your current state,” Angel began, drawing a breath, “I’d advise you to hold off on your research into the Softworms, at least if you hope to see another year.” He deduced that Popoca’s rapid decline was because he had poured every ounce of his energy into these creatures. The exhaustion, combined with his dwindling magic reserves, led to his backlash.
Popoca shook his head with resolve. “I owe you so much already,” he murmured. “This is what I must do, and more importantly, what I desire.”
Angel simply gazed at Popoca, his eyes unwavering and resolute.
“Suit yourself,” Angel replied, voice cool and detached. “That said, your complexion isn’t doing you any favors. Are you sure you wish to meet your sister looking like this? I can use an illusion transformation to restore your former appearance, perhaps the way you once looked.”
Reaching for a mirror, Popoca stared into its polished surface. The reflection it offered was a grotesque visage — a result of his physical body having once transformed into something monstrous before deteriorating. Coupled with an unhealthy pallor, he looked nothing short of ghastly.
The way I used to be?
As Popoca stared at the twisted reflection, he realized he could scarcely remember his original appearance.
I must’ve looked decent, right?
Should he revert to that former self to meet Sparrow Blossom? In doing so, he could leave her with a cherished memory before his physical and spiritual demise.
Popoca’s mouth opened as if to agree with Angel’s proposal, but in the end, he simply shook his head.
“No matter what I become, I remain myself.” Popoca said, “I’ll candidly share with Sparrow Blossom about the twisted self I’ve become, the madness of my obsession, and the paranoia of my dreams, showing just how grotesque I can be. I may no longer serve as a beacon of positivity, but at the very least, I can stand as a cautionary tale.”
Popoca’s decision was evident: he was ready to confront his past self and reconcile with his present.
Angel could sense Popoca’s resolute intention and chose not to dissuade him any further. Whether for good or ill, Popoca was the master of his own destiny.
After informing Popoca of their location, Angel began preparations to depart.
However, at that moment, Popoca asked, “Now that we’ve reached Black Castle, may I leave?”
“Not just yet. There seems to be some turmoil at Black Castle. Once we meet Sparrow Blossom, I’ll let you out.”
“Turmoil?” Popoca inquired anxiously, fearing that established facts might be overturned, “What happened?”
Angel paused to think, then relayed a brief summary of the situation at Black Castle.
“The ghost near Black Castle have vanished?” Popoca’s brows furrowed in concern. “Though my sister isn’t exactly a ghost, she belongs to the realm of the undead. Could this event affect her as well?”
Angel couldn’t provide a definitive answer. They would have to reach the graveyard to ascertain the full situation.
Popoca, who was initially nervous about meeting Sparrow Blossom, grew increasingly anxious upon hearing Angel’s words. As Popoca was engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions, Angel pulled his mental energy away from the bracelet.
For Sanders, who had been attuning to Black Castle’s situation, had now opened his eyes.
Angel noticed that when Sanders opened his eyes, they reflected a complex tapestry of emotions: contemplation, confusion, and surprise. However, there was no clarity, no solace after peering into the truth. Instead, his brows were even more furrowed in concern.
“Mentor, what is the current state of Black Castle?”
Sanders paused pensively, “It’s a convoluted matter, riddled with uncertainty and mystery. Words fall short to portray it; you must see for yourself.”
With a flick of Sanders’ finger, ripples of space unfurled. As these ripples washed over Angel, illusions began to manifest before him——
Black Clouds hung oppressively, shifting and churning ominously. Within these clouds, serpentine streaks of lightning occasionally unveiled their menacing visages.
Below these brooding clouds lay a vast stretch of undulating mountains. Nestled between these peaks were bizarre rock formations, standing tall like the treacherous pillars from a mortal’s nightmarish envisioning of hell. These eerie, sharp stones appeared as the binding magical formations trapping ghosts in the underworld.
At the apex, guarded by these monolithic sentinels, was a grand castle. It emanated an eerie ambiance, standing isolated and foreboding.
It bore a striking resemblance to a fairytale castle, perhaps inhabited by a grotesque count.
Angel, having previously visited Black Castle, instantly recognized it.
However, the castle looked different from his last visit. Its surroundings were now teeming with myriad luminous dots, as dense as stars, which twinkled in contrast to the incessant lightning in the backdrop.
From a distance, it painted an oddly mesmerizing tableau.
But as the illusion zoomed in, Angel realized that these specks of light blanketing Black Castle, layered upon one another without a single gap, were the faintly glowing souls of… ghosts!
The very ghosts they had been unable to locate earlier were all amassed around Black Castle!
They were innumerable. Ten thousand, twenty thousand… a hundred thousand, or even more?!
Moreover, Angel could see ghosts constantly emerging from the ground, rising into this ghostly legion.
The once formidable Black Castle is now entirely encased, spanning from the heavens down to the very bowels of the earth!
“Is this the profound revelation behind the transformation of Black Castle?” Angel’s eyes radiated astonishment. Even a mere glimpse through the illusion sent shivers down his spine, feeling as if they were ensnared by countless specters.
“Perhaps,” Sanders remarked, observing more than just the apparent horde of wraiths. “There’s likely turmoil within the castle walls. With such an overwhelming presence of ghosts, it’s peculiar that no one emerges to address the situation.”
Indeed, this ghostly assembly was unsettling. Such a daunting number would make even Sanders hesitate to face head-on. However, while one might not be able to dispel these ghosts instantaneously, they could be driven away and dispersed over a smaller scale. Black Castle remained inert, and upon closer inspection, it bore the eerie silence of a genuine ghost town, devoid of any semblance of life.
“Indeed, the convergence of all these ghosts here is quite bizarre,” Angel noted, pointing to a particular spot within the illusion. “Although it’s not entirely clear, one can ascertain that the magical formation shielding Black Castle from ghosts is still operational. Logically speaking, ghosts wouldn’t dare approach Black Castle.”
“Current circumstances suggest an abnormality. Contrary to the natural behavior of the ghost, gathering them in one place points to a sole possibility,” Angel mused slowly, “Someone might be manipulating these ghosts.”
Sanders nodded in agreement, having considered the same, “To control such a vast number of ghosts, one would need to possess nearly legendary powers.”
Moreover, they’d have to be adept at soul-based magic.
However, “Twilight Queen” Isabelle happens to be a master of soul magic.
Therefore, when faced with this near-siege of ghosts, she couldn’t possibly stand idly by.
“Or perhaps, these ghosts are under Isabelle’s command?” Angel proposed an alternative theory.
Could it be that Isabelle is testing her own magical spells, or does she require a multitude of ghosts for some experiment?
“All these conjectures are mere speculations. Only witnessing it firsthand will unveil the truth,” Sanders pronounced, casting an illusion spell that enveloped both him and Angel.
Angel subtly probed the surrounding illusion nodes and instantly comprehended the function of this haunting illusion spell.
A unique barrier enveloped them, concealing every sign they emitted, including scent, body heat, sound, energy, and external hormones among others…
Ghosts discern humans typically through body temperature, light sensitivity, sound, movement, and energy. This illusion conceals it all.
It’s fair to say this is the zenith of illusion concealment spells Angel has ever witnessed.
Leveraging this spell, they could effectively evade detection by the ghost.
Upon executing this spell, Sanders soared into the sky. Given the evident anomalies in Black Castle, there was no need to adhere to nonexistent formalities. Thus, they headed straight towards Black Castle.
Flying just a short while and circling a towering thicket-covered hill, Angel caught a distant view of Black Castle, shimmering with speckled “starlight”.
Chapter 1380 The Anomalies of Black Castle <TOC> Chapter 1382 Sparrow Blossom's Chronicles