Chapter 1462 Two Options <TOC> Chapter 1464 The Aftermath of Transformation
Translator: SumTLMan
Facing the Tribulation of Resentment at the level of a mayfly is already a formidable challenge for him now. It’s like standing at the base of a seemingly insurmountable mountain. Imagining facing a fully-grown behemoth in the future is almost terrifying.
Furthermore, due to the interconnected nature of the Tribulation of the Five Flavors, the suppressed Tribulation of Resentment could potentially erupt in conjunction with the next Tribulation of the Five Flavors.
In other words, if he were to choose the second option for Toby, he will still have to face this amplified Tribulation of Resentment. If there is no significant change in his condition, the outcome is extremely uncertain.
“Now it’s your turn to choose. Which option will you choose?”
Frost opens his hands. Subtly between the rise and fall of his palms, there seems to materialize a golden scale. The two choices are like weights of differing substance, wavering in balance on each side of the scale.
Both choices have their pros and cons, and each carries its own set of future ramifications.
One option is to resolve the issue now, but a remotely detonated bomb, controlled by someone else, would be planted within you. The other option is to postpone the resolution, risking a compounded tribulation in the future with slim chances of survival; however, your destiny would remain in your own hands.
Which is the better choice?
“If you can’t make a decision, I would advise you to go for the first choice, as it minimizes the risks,” Frost’s elegant voice reverberates in the ears.
After a moment of silence, Angel already knew his decision. Yet, he didn’t make his choice immediately and asked, “What is the cost of each choice?”
Frost replied, “For me, both choices are but a wave of the hand; you don’t have to pay any price.”
If Angel were a little less principled, he might have readily accepted the offer. However, he didn’t believe in free lunches, and wondered if the cost of accepting would be to owe a favor in return.
Frost, noticing Angel’s hesitation, shrugged his shoulders. “If you insist on paying a price, how about owing me a favor? If one day you become a mysterious alchemist, I’ll come to collect what corresponds to that favor.”
“What if I never step into that mysterious realm?” Angel counter-questioned.
“Then the favor is null and void,” said Frost.
Angel fell into deep thought. Should he accept this offer? If it were just a matter of owing a favor, he wasn’t entirely against it. However, the concept of a “favor” was a commitment that had a broad scope — anything from mere lip service to walking through fire.
If he were to owe a favor, some boundaries should be set.
Carefully choosing his words, Angel said earnestly, “If that day ever comes when I enter this mysterious realm, I’d like to make it clear that whatever you ask of me shouldn’t go against my own will.”
“Agreed. Not only will I not go against your will, but I also promise not to put you in a dangerous situation,” said Frost. After all, should Angel become a mysterious alchemist, he’d essentially be a treasure trove of infinite possibilities.
Surprisingly, Frost even narrowed down the scope of the favor, which caught Angel off guard.
Angel didn’t particularly believe that his favor held great weight. But given Frost’s terms, especially given that all this hinged on him becoming a mysterious alchemist, and given Frost’s respectful demeanor, Angel felt his reservations waning.
“Alright,” Angel finally nodded heavily, agreeing to Frost’s terms.
A faint smile crept over Frost’s lips, hidden beneath his mask. “Since you’ve agreed, the choice is now yours. Which will you choose?”
Faced with this choice again, Angel didn’t hesitate and resolutely said, “The second option: suppression.”
Frost murmured softly, patting the Dark Sonata with a tone of pity, “Seems like you’ve been rejected.”
The pitch-black bone flute glinted with an even deeper sheen, as if responding to Frost’s words.
Frost smiled, pocketing the Dark Sonata, and turned to Angel, “This decision could expose your little magical… friend, to potentially horrifying disasters in the future. Are you sure you want to proceed?”
Angel nodded, “Yes.”
Frost shrugged, “Very well, let’s not delay. Let’s begin.”
As he finished speaking, a blinding green light flashed from Frost’s hand. Even with Angel’s current level of mastery, the brilliance of the light was too much, causing him to turn his head instinctively.
Once the green light had dissipated, Angel turned his gaze back. At a glance, Toby seemed unchanged, but upon closer examination, Angel noticed that black smoke continuously emanated from Toby.
The black smoke was incredibly dense; although it lacked any foul odor, it was filled with strong negative energy.
Resentment, jealousy, envy, malevolence — every form of negative energy related to “resentment” seemed to be breeding non-stop at this moment.
Confused, Angel looked at Frost, wondering what was happening with Toby now.
“It’s been suppressed. This is a normal reaction for now,” Frost responded, surveying the area, “However, this place isn’t ideal for a transformation. Let’s move to the void.”
Transformation? Angel caught onto this word, looking perplexed at Frost.
The next second, without any warning, Angel found that they had vanished from their original location and appeared in a pitch-black void.
This wasn’t an illusion; it was a genuine void. Angel could distinctly sense it because the anchor that had always been deeply rooted in his soul was not far away.
Following the anchor’s location, Angel did indeed glimpse the vision of the gateway.
Astonishment filled Angel’s eyes. He hadn’t felt any spatial ripples or even a hint of spatial fluctuations. How had he been transported so seamlessly into this void? What an incredibly powerful spell!
As Angel reeled from the shock, he was also puzzled.
He didn’t understand why Frost had suddenly brought him to this void. Before Angel could vocalize his questions, Toby provided him the answer soon enough.
Visible to the eye, the black fog emanating from Toby accelerated, its range expanding ever more rapidly.
Within a ten-meter radius centered around Toby, everything was shrouded in that resentful black mist.
Angel started to worry for Toby, who was at the center. However, this concern lasted only a brief moment, as the dense black mist abruptly materialized.
Angel watched as a terrifying monster evolved out of the black fog, awe filling his eyes.
Now he finally understood why Frost had mentioned “transformation” earlier. At this moment, Toby had indeed transformed!
Much like the previously encountered Griffin of Rage, Toby had managed to survive this second tribulation through Frost’s suppression of the resentment.
Even if resentment has transformed into a perilous issue within Toby, it still grants him newfound strength through this manifestation of malice.
This is a creature that Angel can’t even make out the head of.
It’s enveloped in a black mist, but its overall shape has started to emerge, revealing a length of at least ten meters and a slender, winding body with two massive wings that could obscure the sky…
Angel doesn’t know what kind of creature this is, but the feelings it elicits haven’t changed: it’s still filled with darkness, resentment, envy, as well as an unsettling sense of coldness, dampness, and spine-chilling shivers.
As Angel ponders, the creature continues to struggle. Suddenly, its skull emerges from the black mist, its vertical crimson pupils filled with boundless insanity, as it roars aimlessly into the void.
Terrifying waves of energy keep generating and spreading.
Angel now understands why Frost took Toby into the void: just this surge of energy alone could overwhelm nearby apprentices, potentially killing them.
This is power at a formal wizard level!
And as it roars, Angel notices something else: the tongue that shoots out from its long skull is a forked, crimson serpent’s tongue!
This is clearly a giant serpent adorned with blood-red patterns!
While Angel is stunned by Toby’s latest transformation, the giant serpent suddenly bursts out of the black mist, allowing Angel to finally see it in its entirety.
Although its head resembles that of a serpent, bird-like features are still present in its lower abdomen, along with two exceedingly large wings.
By the time you get to its tail, it reverts back to a serpentine form.
Overall, the aura was one of immense power. But it was a snake, and the lingering damp, musky scent swirled around, making one’s skin crawl.
“What creature is this? What has Toby transformed into?”
“A Serpent-Bird,” Frost, standing off to the side, answered Angel’s question. Although the eyes beneath the mask were inscrutable, Angel could sense a distinct admiration in Frost’s tone.
“The Serpent-Bird is an incredibly rare magical creature. Such a graceful and enormous Serpent-Bird would be hard to find even among its kind,” Frost lauded. “It’s a captivating blend of jealousy, vanity, and resentment.”
As Frost sang its praises, Toby, now transformed into a Serpent-Bird, suddenly began to act wildly.
Toby turned its head; its twisted serpentine neck assumed a strange posture as it aimed its scale-covered, icy-cold head towards where Angel stood.
Its blood-red vertical pupils exuded an aura of lunacy.
Hissing agitatedly, Toby lunged at Angel.
By now, Toby had clearly lost all reason. Its movements were swift; its mouth agape, revealing fangs that glowed a spectral green… Clearly, Toby’s dive was not an expression of joy but one filled with murderous intent.
Just as Toby was about to reach Angel, a crystal barrier appeared in front of it.
With a flick of its tail, the crystal barrier shattered into pieces. But as soon as one barrier broke, another spawned. No matter how Toby attacked, it couldn’t get close to Angel.
As Toby was about to go berserk, a mysterious, ethereal sound suddenly echoed from the dark void.
Toby quickly turned its head, following the sound to its source…
Chapter 1462 Two Options <TOC> Chapter 1464 The Aftermath of Transformation