Chapter 2412 Shortcuts <TOC> Chapter 2414 Misty Shadow
Translator: SumTLMan
Without expending much effort, Angel found the Fire Scale Familiar.
It was simply staying in a corner of the main corridor.
Angel carefully observed the behavior of the Fire Scale Familiar, with expressions transitioning from initial inquiry to eventually furrowing brows. Indeed, the actions of this Fire Scale Familiar were exceedingly peculiar.
The overall structure of the Fire Scale Familiar was somewhat humanoid, standing about one meter tall, with a head, torso, and four limbs, except its skin was a vivid, fiery red. It was very skinny, with wrinkled skin, a few hairs on top of its head, and its lower jaw’s canine teeth were sharp and protruding, giving it an ugly and evil appearance.
At that moment, this entity, which from a distance resembled a “little child” wearing a red wrinkled skin suit, was performing a sort of “spirit dance” in front of a vertically standing crystal tube.
It wielded a long spear made of fire, dancing beside the crystal tube.
The “dance” movements were primitive and ugly, at first glance somewhat cheerful, but upon closer inspection, it was evident that the Fire Scale Familiar was not truly dancing. Instead, through these joyful motions, it was accumulating some kind of fire energy, and eventually… it forcefully struck the crystal tube.
Yes, it forcefully struck.
It treated the upright crystal tube as if it were an enemy.
But the crystal tube was very sturdy, and despite the Fire Scale Familiar’s extensive efforts, the tube remained immovable. It ended up leaning against the tube, gasping for breath from exhaustion.
Then, after a few minutes, Angel saw the Fire Scale Familiar stand up, curse at the undamaged crystal tube, and then move towards the next one.
The Fire Scale Familiar walked like an aggressive crab, furiously. This behavior led Angel to believe it would attack the next crystal tube, but it did not.
Though the Fire Scale Familiar gave a furious glare at the nearby crystal tube, it bypassed it and chose a further one to resume its “spirit dance”.
Angel could not understand why the Fire Scale Familiar was so fixated on the crystal tubes, nor why it skipped the second tube to attack the third one.
After some investigation and contemplation, Angel discovered something: the second crystal tube had a rune conduit inside, part of a magic formation, whereas the first and third crystal tubes were just ordinary energy transmission conduits.
Should the Fire Scale Familiar attack the second crystal tube, it would inevitably suffer backlash from the magic formation. This revealed that the Fire Scale Familiar seemed quite knowledgeable about the laboratory’s magic formation.
This made Angel even more puzzled.
If tracing the origins of the Fire Scale Familiar species, they were supposed to have come from the Abyss World. However, not all creatures from the Abyss are powerful, and the Fire Scale Familiars are such creatures, more akin to being at the bottom of the food chain on the outskirts of the Abyss, often staying near volcanoes. Their living conditions are even harsher than those of the Abyss native inhabitants. It’s not that they don’t desire to fight for better territories; their strength is too weak, and they are extremely foolish, simply unable to compete.
Such a low-intelligence and feeble Fires Scale Familiar, let alone recognizing magic runes, it would already be quite an achievement if it could figure out its own population.
Yet, this particular Fires Scale Familiar seemed a bit different from its kin; it appeared to be quite intelligent, capable of detecting hidden runes and avoiding magic formations.
However, watching the Fires Scale Familiar’s stubborn interaction with the conduit, Angel began to wonder if he had overestimated its intelligence.
Who would bother contesting with a conduit?
Previously, they had various speculations, claiming that the Fires Scale Familiar had a very clear goal, which was to head to the fifth level. Angel had even imagined that the Fires Scale Familiar was preparing to transform into an avenger, embarking on some earth-shattering plan. However, the reality turned out to be incredibly speechless.
Is the Fires Scale Familiar dumb or smart? What exactly does it intend to do?
With these questions, Angel continued his observation for a while longer. As more of the Fires Scale Familiar’s strange behaviors emerged, he finally confirmed some things. This Fires Scale Familiar indeed recognized runes, and its attacks were not only aimed at conduits; its behavior was more akin to… destruction.
Pure destruction.
However, the Fires Scale Familiar’s capabilities were limited, and with the restriction of the magic formation, the extent of its destruction was quite limited. So far, it had only managed to char some relatively unimportant metallic sheaths.
When the Fires Scale Familiar realized that its degree of destruction was not significant, it showed signs of irritation. It also began observing its surroundings, eventually locking onto another target.
A larger corridor.
Compared to the colder and harder corridors of other levels, the fifth level’s corridor had some design elements that hinted at life, such as sofas and low tables placed in slightly larger spaces, with fruits that could be easily grabbed on the tables. Nearby, there were also low cabinets and a bar counter, on which some glasses and bottles of alcohol were placed.
At this moment, the Fires Scale Familiar set its sights on a leisurely corridor bar.
Since it couldn’t burn the conduits, maybe these could burn? The Fires Scale Familiar’s eyes seemed to convey such a message.
It also followed through with its intent, hopping over with a bold stride, rushing to the vicinity of this bar to begin its rampage.
Before long, a large fire ignited here.
Seeing the fire, the Fires Scale Familiar obviously became happy and continued searching for other flammable spots.
Meanwhile, at the main control node, Angel’s brows were furrowed because the Fires Scale Familiar was now very close to a room that didn’t have a door installed and was merely concealed with a level of shadow magic.
This room was room number 02, which he concealed the entrance to using the power of shadows. But if someone could penetrate the shadow, they could find the entrance to the room.
And the Fires Scale Familiar had penetrated Canter’s Nocturne Shadow on the fourth level.
Thus, there was a high probability that the Fires Scale Familiar would discover room number 02 and enter it.
In the gaze of the Fire Scale Familiar, ablaze with a ferocious desire for destruction, Angel could discern without a doubt that, should it discover room number 02, it would certainly burst in and wreak havoc without restraint.
The act of destruction itself wasn’t of significant concern to Angel; however, the interior of room number 02 was filled with an abundance of parchment and scholarly materials. These items were not stored in a library but scattered throughout the room, suggesting that room number 02’s usual occupant lived surrounded by various books.
Although Angel couldn’t ascertain the specifics of the materials, it was highly probable they were related to research on Soul Armor. Should these be destroyed, Nisi would likely be infuriated beyond measure.
With this in mind, Angel resolved to immediately proceed to the fifth level.
At the very least, he wanted to replicate a copy of those documents before the Fire Scale Familiar could burn them to ashes.
…
After connecting the external corridor of the first level to the fifth, Angel departed from the main control node.
On his way to the external corridor, he pondered over the peculiar Fire Scale Familiar.
Before leaving the main control node, Angel had checked the second to fourth levels and discovered that the Fire Scale Familiar hadn’t actually targeted the crystals there for destruction.
It seemed only interested in the destruction of the fifth level’s possessions. What could be the deeper meaning behind this selective behavior?
That remained unknown.
Perhaps it was simply seeking revenge against the first three number formal wizards? But some details did not quite align with this theory.
As Angel mulled over these thoughts, he finally reached the external corridor of the first level.
Since the corridor had already been connected to the fifth level, Angel didn’t need to follow a specific sequence of steps. He walked straight ahead to reach the entrance of the fifth level.
Upon arriving, he was immediately met with a pungent, acrid smell.
This was the odor emitted by certain compounds when they were being burned.
Angel hastened his steps and, upon turning a corner, saw the flames that were still fiercely burning ahead.
It was the bar counter he had seen through the Authority Eyes earlier.
To the naked eye, there was no sign of the Fire Scale Familiar near the bar counter. Worried it might have made its way to room number 02, Angel quickened his pace.
As he passed by the area where the fire was burning, Angel didn’t look into the flames, but the Dangros hanging on the Blood Night Sanctuary glanced over with a puzzled expression.
Dangros’ confusion wasn’t due to any issue with the flames themselves but because it seemed to detect a familiar scent.
Where had it encountered this scent before? Dangros couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
Through the main control node, Angel had become quite familiar with the fifth level; he did not pause at all and directly rushed towards room number 02.
As he approached the corridor of room number 02, Angel saw the Fire Scale Familiar, which had just finished burning a potted plant and was looking towards the door of room number 02 with a puzzled gaze.
Seeing this, Angel let out a sigh of relief, realizing that the Fire Scale Familiar hadn’t entered room number 02 yet.
“Hey, look over here!”
Angel called out to the Fire Scale Familiar, which was intensely focused in the distance.
Startled by the sudden human voice, the Fire Scale Familiar jumped from the ground, fell, and hurriedly got up, assuming a combat stance and hopping around until it successfully faced Angel’s direction.
“Di-di, gurulu, gogo.” Upon seeing Angel, the Fire Scale Familiar made some unintelligible sounds. Then, its ugly face initially showed a hint of surprise, followed by confusion, and then quickly hid all expressions.
This sudden shift in expressions left Angel baffled.
What the Fire Scale Familiar did next puzzled Angel even more.
The Familiar turned its back to Angel, bowed down, deliberately exposed an indescribable part of its body, and shook its lean thighs.
At first, Angel didn’t understand what the Fire Scale Familiar was doing, but when it stood back up and beckoned Angel with a finger, he realized.
He was being taunted.
Angel didn’t feel too provoked; he just found the scene before him utterly absurd.
However, through the absurd actions of the Fire Scale Familiar, Angel faintly guessed some answers.
The Fire Scale Familiar, when faced with the encirclement of fourth level researchers, demonstrated behavior inclined towards fleeing and creating diversions. However, upon seeing Angel, it adopted a provocative stance.
Angel’s aura of a formal wizard was not deliberately concealed, which reveals that the Fire Scale Familiar wasn’t just bullying the weak out of fear of the many, but its true intent was to provoke Angel.
Previously, Angel had no acquaintance with the Fire Scale Familiar, making it impossible for their encounter to be rooted in past grievances. Thus, the most plausible explanation at the moment appears to be a case of mistaken identity.
It’s possible that the Fire Scale Familiar mistook Angel for one of the top three number formal wizards of the fifth level.
Angel’s speculation isn’t baseless; he distinctly remembers the Fire Scale Familiar’s sequence of expressions upon seeing him, starting with surprise.
Why the surprise? It’s because the Familiar saw its target… Its widespread destruction on the fifth level was probably meant to lure out the wizards of that level.
The next expression was confusion. The Fire Scale Familiar seemed to pay close attention to Angel’s face, possibly puzzled by the lack of a number, leading to its confusion.
Finally, it masked all emotion. Just then, Angel’s aura of authority also made itself known, and the Fire Scale Familiar, sensing the aura, realized that it was dealing with a formal wizard. And officially, the laboratory had only three number formal wizards.
Following this series of expressions, the Fire Scale Familiar seemed to have concluded that Angel was indeed the target it was seeking.
As for whether this speculation is accurate, Angel couldn’t be certain, but the Fire Scale Familiar surely had its own reasons.
Thus, it was worth directly questioning.
“Are you causing all this destruction in search of me?” Angel used the common tongue, which under normal circumstances would be incomprehensible to a creature of the Fire Scale Familiar’s intelligence. However, this particular Familiar could not be considered ‘normal.’
The expression on the Fire Scale Familiar’s face indicated to Angel that it understood him.
Yet, it chose not to respond to Angel.
Instead, it displayed an ugly and eerie smile, followed by a provocative gesture, and then…
It turned and fled as if flying.
…
For the Fire Scale Familiar, making a bold statement and then escaping might have been a thrilling act.
Its emotional fluctuations became even more exaggerated due to this excitement, with its strange ‘giggling’ laughter continuing non-stop.
However, this sense of thrill began to sour when it encountered a peculiar phenomenon.
The more the Fire Scale Familiar tried to escape, the closer it seemed to get to Angel.
Most importantly, Angel didn’t chase after it. He just stood still, quietly watching it. This unwavering expression made the Fire Scale Familiar feel as though it had become the butt of a joke.
At this point, it was no longer laughing but began to panic internally, quickening its pace as it did not wish to be caught by Angel.
The speed of the Flame Scale Familiar was unlike any typical Flame Scale Familiar.
Its speed was so fast that not even afterimages could be captured; even some formal wizards might find it difficult to achieve such a feat.
However, this terrifying speed didn’t cause the Flame Scale Familiar to distance itself from Angel; Angel was always standing not far away.
Angel hadn’t moved at all from start to finish, as could be seen from the hallway decor beside him.
This was clearly odd.
When the Flame Scale Familiar realized this, it stopped.
It sniffed the air around it like a dog, and suddenly, it seemed to smell something…
At that moment, Angel also raised an eyebrow, indicating that the intelligence of this Flame Scale Familiar was not limited to being smart. It could not only differentiate runes but even discovered the illusion nodes hidden in the dark.
Indeed, they were illusion nodes.
When Angel first saw the Flame Scale Familiar and called out “look over here,” he had already used illusion magic to arrange many illusion nodes around.
The reason why the Flame Scale Familiar couldn’t escape, no matter how it tried, was because the illusions were guiding its direction of movement.
And now, after realizing something was wrong, the first thing the Flame Scale Familiar did was to sniff around, and it indeed finally caught onto the illusion nodes.
This also surprised Angel.
Although Angel didn’t intentionally hide the illusion nodes, capturing the illusion nodes immediately amidst the surrounding floating energy was no ordinary ability.
This made Angel even more curious about the origins of this Flame Scale Familiar.