Chapter 1500 Immersive Experience <TOC> Chapter 1502 Morphing Softworm
Translator: SumTLMan
“Do you also not know how it ends, big brother…” Sparrow Blossom lowered her head, deflated.
Although this unique theatrical performance was a bit startling, especially with its sound effects punctuating the sudden visual impact, Sparrow Blossom did not find it uncomfortable after experiencing it. Instead, she began to savor the lingering sense of wonder it left behind.
Regretfully missing the conclusion of a play she enjoyed, Sparrow Blossom was truly eager to know what the sky that Alex was seeking, would be like——beyond the cage.
If, as Angel suggested, she could use her precognitive abilities to find out, she wasn’t opposed to it. However, controlling her foresight was somewhat challenging.
Could she really glimpse the ending?
On the other hand, Popoca, a well-traveled observer, found the story of this unique play to be decent. But the outstanding execution of music and visuals, particularly in an art form he had never seen employed in theater, also took him aback.
Yet, compared to Sparrow Blossom’s fixation on Alex’s ending, Popoca was more curious about the fate of the self-proclaimed Time Traveler, an outsider in the story. Shrouded in enigmatic light, whose face was indiscernible, this Time Traveler acted as a live add-on for the protagonist, Alex, before concluding his brief journey in a solemn manner.
Where did the Time Traveler eventually return to? What was his ending? If, as Angel stated, this was a true story, then who did this Time Traveler represent?
Popoca vocalized his curiosity.
Chuckling, Angel responded, “When I heard this story, I didn’t inquire about its conclusion. However, just by the name ‘Time Traveler,’ you can tell he must be extraordinary — a wizard transcending dimensions, a nomad wandering through time. Perhaps he is omnipresent, even listening to your queries from beyond the fabric of space and time.”
Angel’s words were vague, and naturally, Popoca couldn’t grasp their full meaning.
However, Sparrow Blossom was all ears when Angel was speaking casually, and suddenly, she had an epiphany.
A special power that had been dormant within her soul began to stir in the depths, and as it activated, a vision flashed before her eyes.
The vision depicted a blurry figure, a time traveler bathed in light, standing quietly against a backlight. He lowered his head and whispered to a shocked Alex, “If someday you manage to escape this cage, perhaps fate will allow us to meet again.”
This scene appeared to be from a specific theatrical production.
Judging by the vision alone, there was no alteration. However, when she heard the accompanying voice, Sparrow Blossom paused.
The timbre was not that of the time traveler from the theatrical production; it was a resonant and melodious male voice she knew all too well…
With eyes full of hesitancy, Sparrow Blossom looked towards Angel, who was standing not too far away, wearing a beaming smile.
Perhaps sensing Sparrow Blossom’s gaze, Angel turned and asked, “What’s the matter?”
His voice was gentle and crystal clear, a melody to the ears.
Sparrow Blossom felt momentarily perplexed, but she quickly snapped out of it, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.
“Nothing, really. I just thought what you said was wonderful. A traveler journeying through time and space must be an incredibly powerful being! And I believe that their ending must be favorable. Being so powerful, they will surely embark on a new journey beyond time and space!”
Sparrow Blossom’s sudden enthusiastic agreement left Popoca even more confused and made the self-aggrandizing Angel blush ever so slightly.
Angel coughed twice, showing a hint of discomfort on his face. “Ahem… so, have you, by any chance, foreseen Alex’s fate?”
Sparrow Blossom shook her head. “Not yet, but if I ever do glimpse the final outcome, I’ll make sure to notify you, big brother.”
Angel replied, “I was merely curious; whether we know the outcome or not isn’t essential. You don’t need to go to such lengths.”
Sparrow Blossom insisted, “That’s the timeless regret of a time traveler. Perhaps one day you’ll meet one, and then you could share what happens to Alex!”
Although Angel sensed that Sparrow Blossom’s words had a deeper meaning, he appreciated her goodwill and didn’t reject it. He gently touched her hair and said, “Alright, then I’ll be awaiting your news.”
With that, Angel put away the “Shadow of the Cage”. ——the specialized equipment used for the stage play.
Observing the two people still engrossed in the afterglow of the performance, Angel felt quite pleased with himself. The efficacy of his experimental venture seemed promising — the fluidity of scene transitions, the impactful camera angles, and the seamless integration of music were all satisfactory.
Perhaps he could open an immersive theater in the Wilderness of Dreams in the future — a venture that would surely be well-received.
“So, after such an engrossing performance, do you feel more relaxed?” Angel looked at the siblings who were still whispering about the play.
“Not at all,” Popoca replied, his face paler than it had been from lack of sleep. He was too unsettled by the occasional scares in the play and was hung up on the suspense of the ending to feel relaxed.
“What a shame,” Angel said, although his expression showed no regret. “If you’re not relaxed, then we must continue working. I sensed earlier that there are signs the insect egg in the nest is beginning to hatch.”
At Angel’s words, the expressions of both Popoca and Sparrow Blossom changed instantly. While their minds were partly still on the special stage play they’d just watched, the most pressing issue now was the Softworm eggs. All their days of preparation had been leading up to this moment!
Everyone in the room had turned their attention to the interior of the Softworm Nest.
In a small chamber adjacent to the Worm Mother, there lay a peculiar egg, connected by a viscous tube specifically designed to nourish it. This tube was also connected to the Worm Mother.
What made this egg special was that, while the other eggs inside the Worm Mother had an excess of nutrients, this particular egg was still lacking in sustenance even after its birth. This led to it being not only soaked in some form of essence but also fitted with a special nutrient tube.
Until recently, the egg had shown no signs of life, appearing as inert as a dead egg.
However, just a few minutes earlier, Angel, who had been monitoring the nest with his mental senses, detected a slight movement from the egg. Simultaneously, a tiny crack appeared on the surface of the eggshell.
As everyone’s eyes fixated on the eggshell, the crack continued to expand.
With the widening of the crack, a faint “pop” sound reached the ears of those present. The nutrient tube, which had been adhering to the egg, began to gradually detach.
And where the tube had disconnected, a small opening appeared.
Following the emergence of this small hole, a bizarre Softworm finally began to crawl out slowly.
“Huh?” Popoca remarked, “The shape and color of this Softworm are so strange, it’s like…”
It didn’t look like the Morphing Softworm they had been expecting?
The Softworm before them was the most oddly shaped of all the Softworms they had ever hatched. Unlike the previous Phantasmal Limb Softworms, which at least looked insect-like, this one resembled a blob of thick, slimy snot.
Its greenish, gooey color scheme and limp structure made it look, if not for its ability to move, like some sort of nauseating viscous liquid.
Popoca, who had seen images of Morphing Softworms before, found this to be entirely different from what he had seen — it was as if they were staring at a lump of phlegm.
The glob of mucus actually resembles more what a Softworm Mother might look like at birth. Could it be that we’ve given birth to a Worm Mother? No, that doesn’t align with the social behaviors of Softworms. Moreover, this blob of mucus is at least twenty times smaller than a Softworm Mother at birth.
“Did we fail again?” A glint of disappointment flashed across Popoca’s eyes as she turned to look at Sparrow Blossom.
Sparrow Blossom seemed thoughtful, “It’s a bit peculiar.”
Angel asked, “What’s peculiar about it?”
“What I saw didn’t look like this,” Sparrow Blossom explained, referring to the vision she had foreseen.
Angel pondered for a moment, “Failure isn’t necessarily the case. The Softworms are called ‘Morphing’ because they can transform at will. The images you’ve seen could simply be the forms they choose to show humans. It might not be their true shape.”
Popoca questioned, “You mean this glob of mucus could be the true form of the Morphing Softworm?”
Angel replied, “I can’t be certain. It might be mimicking the form of a Worm Mother. But we can conduct a stress test to find out.”
…
Sanders sat alone in his study, yet his hair remained meticulously groomed. He was seated in front of a fireplace filled with fire spirits, deeply engrossed in a hardcover book.
This was the scene that greeted Angel when he arrived.
“During your days at the testing ground, Kimberly hasn’t stopped talking about you,” Sanders looked up from his book and said to Angel.
“What’s going on?” Prompted by Sanders, Angel took a seat across from him.
“I heard that Kimberly has been overwhelmed by inquiries from various magazines sent through Black Castle about your promotion. She’s so bothered that she’s completely cut off contact with the outside world,” Sanders said.
Kimberly herself isn’t a busybody. With Isabella currently in seclusion for rest, she has to shoulder the responsibilities of Black Castle. The fortress is already in a state of disrepair due to the reconstruction efforts, so she’s burdened enough. Adding these incessant questions to the mix is understandably taxing for her.
“Did she say anything?”
“No, she won’t overstep her bounds. Once you make an appearance, everything will naturally become clear,” Sanders replied.
Angel nodded. Once he confirmed the nature of the Softworm, assuming there were no unexpected events, he would likely accept the task from Director Muse. When he revealed himself in the Novastar Competition, many uncertainties would naturally be resolved.
“What brings you to me today? Do you want to discuss the findings from your experiments?” Sanders put down his book and smirked, “Or shall we go head-to-head so I can get a taste of the lingering effects of your new spell?”
Angel gave a wry smile. “My Gateway of Fantasy is only useful in battle for spatial displacement. Haven’t I already been forced to demonstrate it before? I’m still grappling with its new features; they’re pretty cryptic. But it’s essentially a supportive functional spell.”
Sanders scrutinized Angel, sure that he wasn’t lying. “Is ‘Gateway of Fantasy’ the name you’ve given it?”
“Yes,” Angel said, looking at Sanders, waiting for his assessment.
Sanders paused and mused, “It seems even the heavens are fair.”
Angel: “? ? ?”
“Although you’re highly talented, your aesthetic sense in urban planning and your naming skills leave much to be desired.”
Angel: “I’m just a pragmatist.”
Sanders curled the corners of his lips in a mischievous grin, “I haven’t forgotten your nickname at Sky Tower. Shall I publicize it for you?”
“Absolutely not!” Angel cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track. “The reason I came to see you, Mentor, is actually related to the Softworm. The new Softworm has hatched, but we’re still uncertain of its identity.”
Chapter 1500 Immersive Experience <TOC> Chapter 1502 Morphing Softworm