Chapter 1399 A Merging of Dead Souls <TOC> Chapter 1401 Infant Spirits
Translator: SumTLMan
Kimberly dispatched several wizards to tend to the wounded. Upon evaluation, although these injured witches appeared to be in a pitiable state, they weren’t critically harmed. With a bit of recuperation, they’d be ready to rejoin the fray completely recovered.
However, a thorough recovery would indeed necessitate a lengthy period of rest.
Once the injured were mostly healed, Kimberly’s countenance turned grave, “When I ventured out alone earlier, I did witness gatherings of the ghosts, but not in these numbers. As soon as we all emerged, these formations sprung up instantly, and without hesitation, they chose to self-detonate… This behavior is quite uncharacteristic.”
One of the witches nodded in agreement, “It seems that what Natasha mentioned was correct. All the nodes around have likely been detected by the source of chaos, and they’ve set multiple ambushes.”
“Not just that,” another voiced, “They adapt based on our numbers. When we’re isolated, they counter with minimal force. But when we gather, they strike on a larger scale.”
“With the limited consciousness of the ghosts, achieving this is impossible. It’s undoubtedly the handiwork of the source of chaos lurking in the shadows,” came another observation.
A palpable sense of resentment could be sensed among them. Clearly, the ghosts intended to ensnare them completely within the Soul Domain.
While they, being formal wizards, might not easily be trapped, such a strategy could prove fatal for the novice apprentices.
As their agitation simmered, Sanders suddenly proposed, “Think about it from a different angle. She’s always been watching you from the shadows, hasn’t she? Otherwise, how could she launch such a timely and widespread attack?”
Sanders’ words gave everyone pause.
Indeed.
If the strategy was purely based on outnumbering, merely deploying a vast number of ghosts would be sufficient to deal with them.
However, this time, the adversary harnessed nearly a hundred merged souls of the dead! Clearly, their advantage wasn’t just in sheer numbers, but also in the magnitude of their force.
Judging this magnitude is a challenging feat with the chaotic thoughts of the ghosts. Hence, there’s only one possibility: the source of chaos has been observing them from the shadows all along.
Upon this realization, someone mused, “Could it be that the source of chaos is not far from us and has been veiling her presence using some unique power?”
This proposition garnered nods of agreement. Yet, even if they suspected that the source of chaos might be observing nearby, pinpointing her exact location without any rash movements on her part would be a tall order.
All eyes involuntarily shifted towards the formal wizards present, wondering if perhaps they’d gleaned something earlier.
Kimberly was the first to respond, “No, her concealment spell is exceptionally masterful. I’ve detected no trace of her.”
Sanders and Isabelle both shook their heads. While Sanders hadn’t been particularly observant of the surroundings, Isabelle, though watchful, hadn’t detected any concealment either.
The lack of concrete intel left the group in contemplative silence.
Angel recalled an odd ghost he’d encountered before, but it was purely a ghost, neither a half-soul nor the Princess Guman, so likely irrelevant to their current predicament.
Kimberly pondered, “If she’s determining her actions based on our magnitude, she’d need to ascertain our identities first. If she isn’t nearby, there’s only one other plausible explanation.”
“She might be observing from a distant vantage point.”
Considering their location deep within the dense woods, any distant observation would require a high point. And currently, there was only one such point visible.
As realization dawned, everyone simultaneously lifted their gaze to that singular spot.
In an atmosphere dominated by looming dark clouds, one’s naked eye could merely discern the distant, undulating silhouette, but a clear view of the specifics remained elusive.
Just then, serpentine bolts of lightning, frolicking amidst the inky clouds, plummeted from the heavens.
In the brief flash of radiant white, the faint and shadowy contours were illuminated with brilliance.
Visible atop a craggy peak adorned with bizarre rock formations, were countless ghosts meandering nearby, and behind these ethereal beings stood an imposing, shadow-hued fortress that touched the sky!
The oppressive dark clouds and playful lightning continued to swirl and dance around the castle’s pinnacle.
It was unmistakably the outer structure of Black Castle that peeked from the earth’s surface!
A look of utter disbelief was evident on everyone’s face.
If Kimberly’s speculation was to be trusted, the instigator observing them from afar had to be there——
“Could she really be Hiding inside Black Castle?” someone exclaimed with incredulity.
If that were indeed the case, it wasn’t just a figurative slap in the face but more like trampling and grinding upon their very faces!
The genuine denizens of Black Castle were likely quivering in the depths below. Yet, Princess Guman, the instigator, seemed to wander freely within, creating a stark contrast!
“It’s not a certainty,” Kimberly opined, “she might possess an advanced method of concealment and could be nearby. If she truly is in Black Castle, she might be hidden amidst that dense sea of ghosts.” Her countenance bore a hint of gravity.
“Why not see if she’s Concealed behind the ghosts? A closer look should reveal the truth,” Angel, who had remained silent, now interjected.
Isabella nodded in agreement, “Angel is right; speculation here is futile. It’s best to investigate directly. Even if she is indeed inside Black Castle, there’s nothing insurmountable about that.”
“Angel, your sole task is to purify the ghosts. Stay vigilant and be safe,” came the order. “The rest, stick to our initial strategy: shadow from a distance and ensure that Angel remains unapproached by the merged dead souls.”
Upon Isabelle’s decree, the crowd dispersed in various directions. Isabelle and her disciples, along with Kimberly, ascended, hovering mid-air to keep a bird’s-eye view.
Sanders took up his post, guarding the surroundings. Within a hundred meters, Angel stood solitary.
Yet, fear didn’t cloud Angel’s spirit. With the ‘Prelude of Reincarnation’ in hand, he marched towards the shadowy forest.
Ghosts in this vicinity were sparse. Traversing the woods, Angel encountered a mere handful. Before they could close in, nearby wizards neutralized them, ensuring Angel’s path remained unhindered.
His main adversaries, however, were the merged ghosts.
In no time, Angel emerged from the gloomy woods, and in the distance, he could spot the graveyard where Sparrow Blossom once lingered.
A winding path led from the graveyard to Black Castle perched atop a hill. Here, the number of ghosts gradually thickened.
A mere glance on either side of the path revealed a sea of wailing ghosts.
Some withered trees, bathed in an ethereal luminescence in the darkness, presented a hauntingly beautiful tableau. But a closer look revealed that this so-called glow emanated from the specters themselves. Countless ghosts perched on branches, nestled within leaf veins, clung to tree trunks, or huddled beneath, their whispers echoing in mournful unison.
In their dormant state, these ghosts exuded an aura of pitiable melancholy, like dark winds whispering tales of sorrow.
Yet, approach them, and even without touching, their demeanor would shift — from mournful maidens to vengeful banshees, their expressions contorting in malice.
Walking the main road, Angel didn’t need to provoke. These restless ghosts, whether they soared or sprinted, were drawn to him, magnetically charging in his direction.
With such an overwhelming number of ghosts, the outermost witches ceased their actions, focusing only on clearing any potential merged ghosts. They allowed the remaining ghosts to break through their ranks, delegating their handling to Angel.
Facing the swarming onslaught of ghosts, Angel calmly raised the Prelude of Reincarnation. A ripple emanated from its muzzle, spreading in the air like a stone’s impact on a still pond. The moment the ripple touched a ghost, their movements halted instantaneously.
Following that, a chilling wind swept through, turning nearly a hundred statue-like ghosts into mere specks of light, dissipating entirely into the ether.
Witnessing this scene, the previously anxious observers, including wizards like Kimberly, breathed a sigh of relief. In one fell swoop, so many ghosts had been cleared, and it seemed that the efficiency of the cleanup had not even peaked!
Perhaps, with the help of the Prelude of Reincarnation, it would be possible to cleanse Black Castle of the ghosts accumulated over a millennium.
Considering this possibility, even the witches who were initially skeptical about the endeavor couldn’t help but brim with excitement.
Not only were the surrounding wizards thrilled, but Angel was equally exhilarated. Apart from the Sea of Ghosts, only Black Castle could amass such a sheer number of ghosts, providing him with an unbridled opportunity to collect white light bullets.
Without the white light bullet, the Prelude of Reincarnation would merely be a reasonably powerful alchemical weapon. However, armed with this ammunition, it becomes worthy of the title ‘on the verge of the mysterious.’
Angel advanced towards Black Castle atop the ridge, taking the direct path without any detours.
After all, the perilous merged ghosts were handled by the witches around him. He merely needed to deal with the ghosts, making his mission relatively safer.
Waves of ghosts surged forth like an incoming tide.
Angel’s clearing speed was remarkable. In a mere ten minutes or so, he successfully amassed a white light bullet!
In essence, he had slain more than two thousand ghosts.
Such efficiency rekindled the fervor of the surrounding witches. Even the usually understated Isabella felt a wave of relief at this moment. It’s fortunate that on that day, her mentor intervened, persuading Angel to use the “Prelude of Reincarnation” to purge the ghosts.
Otherwise, if things had proceeded as she had suggested that day, ridding of those two thousand ghosts would have taken at least half a month!
To utterly eradicate the ghosts of Black Castle, the time required would be immeasurable.
Isabella, watching the swiftly dissipating ghosts, sighed softly. It reminded her of what Isabelle had once said, “The existence of an alchemist is a treasure for any wizard organization.”
Years ago, the “Prelude of Reincarnation” crafted by Angel could have been the solution to Black Castle’s current predicament. Not to mention, Angel is now a member of the Research Institute.
To be at odds with such an alchemist is undeniably unwise.
However, Isabella also knew that mending fences with Angel now would be challenging.
The only viable strategy now is to minimize her presence in front of Angel, allowing Isabelle and Kimberly to interact with him. Perhaps this approach would be the most beneficial for the future of Black Castle.
Chapter 1399 A Merging of Dead Souls <TOC> Chapter 1401 Infant Spirits