Chapter 2632 Wax Corpse <TOC> Chapter 2634 Trust
Translator: SumTLMan
“Lord Black Count’s intuition was indeed spot on; we haven’t encountered a single monster.”
After the group walked some distance further and still hadn’t encountered any monsters, Kael, who had been somewhat uneasy, couldn’t help but express his relief.
However, just as Kael finished speaking, Angel suddenly halted in his tracks.
The others, who hadn’t extended their mental power outward, looked at Angel in confusion.
“What’s the matter?” Daus asked, puzzled.
“Eremy senses a large number of living beings concealed nearby. Unless I’m mistaken, we’ve likely encountered monsters…” Angel said softly.
As Angel finished speaking, everyone’s gaze turned toward Kael.
Kael had just been remarking that they hadn’t encountered any monsters, and in the next moment, monsters appeared. Although everyone knew it was a coincidence, it was too much of a coincidence.
“Earlier, you all accused me of being a jinx; now you see who the real jinx is.” At this moment, Daus spoke up: “Kael, didn’t I tell you before we came not to speak recklessly? You have the jinx attribute, and you know it yourself. Sigh, I’ve been taking the blame for you for so long.”
Kael, feeling wronged, replied: “You didn’t tell me that before we came. No, I don’t have the jinx attribute. This time, this time…”
Daus, with a smug expression, retorted: “This time what? You want to say it’s a mere coincidence? There’s no such thing as coincidences like this!”
Kael pursed his lips, frustration churning within him, but he couldn’t find words to refute. He could only keep explaining to everyone that Daus hadn’t said those things before, that he was fabricating them.
Compared to Daus’ smug demeanor, everyone was more inclined to believe the modest and sincere Kael.
However, it no longer mattered whom they believed.
The important thing was that the previously heavy atmosphere was directly dispelled by Daus’ interruption. Kael, who had been under everyone’s scrutiny, gradually faded from their focus.
“Didn’t expect you to be so protective,” suddenly, Angel’s voice sounded in the mental link, his gaze fixed on Daus.
Daus was momentarily stunned, then feigned ignorance: “Huh?”
Angel didn’t expose Daus’ act but said: “Kael wasn’t being a jinx this time, because the monsters we’ve encountered now are somewhat special.”
After Angel finished speaking, he lightly waved his hand, and an illusory screen appeared, displaying the so-called “monsters.”
They saw that one side of the wall not far away was covered with vines as thick as an adult’s thigh. These vines were intertwined and slowly writhing, resembling serpents undulating.
The branches of the vines were jet-black, but they were covered with crimson thorns that looked extremely sharp at a glance and might even be poisonous.
Vine monsters were not uncommon; even before they entered the underground labyrinth, they had encountered many vine monsters in the ruins on the surface. However, when Angel said these vines were somewhat “special,” he wasn’t speaking without reason.
Because amidst these writhing, densely packed vines, there was an empty area devoid of any vines.
And this vacant spot was a pitch-black entrance.
In other words, this was the second fork they encountered after choosing this direction.
“This… could this also be the kind of dog hole we saw before?” Vai looked at the size of the entrance and hesitantly spoke.
“From the exposed size, it does seem similar to the dog hole we encountered earlier. However, the vines are extremely dense; the entrance might not be as small as it appears, perhaps other parts are obscured by the vines,” Angel replied.
After a pause, Angel continued: “Now we have two choices: go around them and continue forward, or attempt to take the path hidden behind the vines.”
Angel intended to hold a vote; as for the final decision, they would make it after seeing the voting results.
Kael and Vai both directly abstained. Daus frowned and said: “I have some inspiration, but this inspiration might be a kind of illusory pseudo-inspiration; I don’t dare to trust it. It’s better for Angel and Lord Black Count to decide.”
What Daus referred to as “illusory inspiration” sounded mysterious, but it was similar to “phantom pain” in essence.
“Phantom pain” is a term from wizard civilization. In Jon’s words, it’s called phantom limb pain or illusory pain. It refers to patients who, even after amputation, occasionally feel that their severed limb is still there, and the “phantom limb” produces intense pain.
As for why such strange and mysterious phantom pain occurs, the Wizarding World’s explanation is the soul’s lament: even if you’ve lost a limb, as long as you’re alive, your soul remains intact. Although the soul doesn’t participate in physiological activities, when it senses a missing part, it emits a so-called “lament.”
Whether this explanation is correct, Angel didn’t know; he hadn’t conducted similar research. However, by introducing phantom pain, he could understand Daus’ illusory inspiration.
Currently, Daus’ inspiration had temporarily disappeared. Previously, his inspiration was very active, causing Daus to treat his inspiration as an “organ” he could manipulate at will. Now that the “organ” had disappeared, the illusory inspiration emerged naturally, like phantom pain.
Because Daus felt that his inspiration might be illusory, he didn’t even mention the guidance his “inspiration” provided, instead completely handing over the decision-making power to Angel and the Black Count.
Angel didn’t say much; his so-called vote was just a formality. As for what choice to make, he already had a preference in his heart.
“Does Lord Black Count have any suggestions?” Angel asked.
Black Count replied: “You shouldn’t ask me this question; you are the one most familiar with the Hanging Prison Stairs.”
Angel shrugged: “I’m only familiar with the path from the Hanging Prison Stairs to the target location; I’m not familiar with the route to the Hanging Prison Stairs. However, I do have some inclination, I personally prefer to take the vine-covered path.”
Black Count asked: “Why?”
Angel replied: “A combination of several factors. First, I feel that this path might be the correct one.”
This first factor made Daus on the side couldn’t help but complain: “I didn’t even mention inspiration, and you’re bringing it up.”
Angel said: “It’s not inspiration but a feeling derived from a confluence of various pieces of information.”
To put it simply, the “server” in his Mental Space had been collecting information along the way. When various pieces of information were mixed together, even though Angel hadn’t sorted them out himself, the “server” had already synthesized the information and provided the most probable answer.
This was what Angel called a “feeling,” which was quite different from inspiration.
“If you don’t agree with my first explanation, then I’ll continue. Second, I had Eremy extend shadows into the other path and found that the further we go, the more traces of monsters there are. In other words, if we don’t take the vine path, we might enter an area where monsters are active. And I don’t think the Hanging Prison Stairs would be built in a place where monsters are active.”
“Third, these vines show no intention of extending elsewhere; they just linger in that short section. They seem more like guards patrolling this path rather than predatory territorial monsters.”
“Think about it carefully: the external work areas all have three narrow passages used respectively for warning, guarding, and repelling outsiders. The Hanging Prison Stairs are the core of the entire facility and should also have guards, similar to the role of Day.”
“There’s also a fourth factor, though it might be a bit far-fetched, but hear me out. I personally think that vine monsters should be relatively friendly to the Wood Spirit. So if the Wood Spirit comes here, the vines shouldn’t make things too difficult for it.”
After Angel finished stating these four points, he paused, looked at everyone, and waited for their feedback.
Daus didn’t oppose this time; he nodded directly: “Like I said earlier, you two make the decision. As long as Lord Black Count agrees, we’ll fight those vines… But to be honest, your first three reasons didn’t convince me; instead, that so-called far-fetched fourth reason you mentioned seems highly possible.”
Angel raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond to Daus’ evaluation.
From Daus’ words, it could be heard that even though he had temporarily lost his inspiration, he was still an inspiration wizard. Compared to the “evidence” Angel presented, he trusted more in a conjecture that might be completely unfounded.
On the other side, the Black Count pondered for a moment before saying: “I’ve thought about it and can’t find any reasonable grounds to refute you. In that case, let’s proceed as you suggest.”
With the Black Count also making a decision, everyone no longer hesitated, so they would take the path blocked by the vines!
Daus had already started rolling up his sleeves; the red sword at his waist vibrated incessantly, his fighting spirit continuously rising.
Angel glanced at him and said lightly: “Calm down; it’s not necessarily going to be a battle.”
Under Daus’ puzzled gaze, Angel’s figure suddenly changed into a young, energetic youth wearing a green tunic. On his back was a bow and quiver woven from vines, and atop his head was a green slanted hat.
The most distinctive feature was that in the center of Angel’s hat, there was a crystal-clear leaf, radiating with abundant nature aura.
The others didn’t know what this image represented, but the Black Count recognized it.
“You are holding Tree Spirit’s leaf, trying to imitate Tree Spirit? Although I think it’s unlikely the vines will be deceived, since you want to play Tree Spirit, then don’t wear clothes, and definitely don’t wear a green hat.”
Indeed, Angel’s current appearance was that of Tree Spirit. However, Tree Spirit usually didn’t wear anything, only letting a leaf float over the crucial parts, but Angel’s sense of shame prevented him from being as open as Tree Spirit, so he still transformed a set of clothes.
Angel treated the Black Count’s “suggestion” as wind passing by his ears. Even if he had to confront the vines head-on, he wouldn’t shamelessly wander around naked like Tree Spirit.
After dressing up as Tree Spirit, Angel signaled everyone to stay in the moving illusion realm and follow behind him, not too far away.
Then, Angel took a deep breath and stepped out of the illusion.
Although he had made full preparations, and Tree Spirit’s leaf purified the surrounding air, that sudden and intense stench still rushed into his nostrils.
Angel himself was fine, but Dangros, who was resting on his shoulder, rolled its eyes back.
“Ah, I forgot you were still here…” Angel said, and was about to put Dangros into the bracelet, but at the last moment, he hesitated.
Dangros seemed to have been “fumigated” by the stench; if he threw it into the bracelet, wouldn’t it make the inside a foul mess? Forget it; better to endure for a while and purify it later.
Thinking of this, a vine extended from Angel’s back, carefully wrapping around the fainted Dangros.
After finishing all this, Angel continued forward.
Because Angel had revealed himself, and that extremely rich aura of Tree Spirit continuously spread nature energy around, as soon as Angel appeared, the distant vines noticed him.
The vines were originally slowly drifting, but Angel’s appearance made their drifting speed increase.
Angel didn’t know whether the vines were preparing for battle or showing goodwill. Anyway, he would find out by proceeding; if it was really a battle, then he’d wake up Dangros to spray fire and resolve it.
However, even when Angel was within twenty meters of the vines, they still didn’t show any desire to attack.
You should know, these vines as thick as pythons, each at least a hundred meters long, covering the wall tightly. If they wanted to fight, they could launch attacks from a far distance.
But they didn’t do so, which seemed to confirm one of Angel’s conjectures: plant-type monsters are actually more friendly to Tree Spirit.
Moreover, these vines appeared to bare fangs and brandish claws, but they weren’t aimed at Angel; instead, they were directed behind him.
Although Angel was confident in his illusion, the countless intertwined vines here had mental power gathered as vast as an ocean or abyss. Just standing before them, one could feel the oppressive level of mental power.
Although mental power doesn’t represent strength, such a vast mental pressure was enough to expose some flaws in Angel’s illusions.
Or rather, it caused Eremy to have a slight deviation.
Eremy was the main axis of the moving illusion realm; once Eremy had a slight deviation, the moving illusion realm naturally showed flaws.
“They seem to have little vigilance toward you, but are full of hostility toward us,” Daus said softly in the mental connection.
“However, with you blocking in front, they haven’t acted immediately… It seems that disguising as Tree Spirit really works.”
As Daus said this, his eyes began to turn.
The Black Count saw through Daus’ thoughts at a glance, sneered, and said: “If you have a tens-of-thousands-of-years-old Tree Spirit leaf to help you conceal your aura, then you can indeed impersonate a Spirit. If you don’t have such an item, don’t entertain foolish ideas.”
Spirits are not so easy to impersonate. Their aura is completely different from ordinary creatures; even top-level transformation spells only imitate the form and are easily seen through.
But behind Angel stand the three ancestral spirits of the Savage Grottoes, spirits of super old monsters rare in the entire Wizarding World. Items from their bodies, even just a leaf, are enough to make Angel’s imitation achieve the effect of passing for the real thing.
Daus wanting to imitate a Spirit is basically impossible. Even if the Black Count himself came, he wouldn’t be able to imitate a spirit like Angel.
That leaf was too important.
“Don’t move for now; I seem to sense a fluctuation. It seems the vines are preparing to communicate with me.”
After Angel finished speaking, everyone saw a thin vine extending from the massive vine wall, like a swimming snake dancing in the air, reaching in front of Angel.
The vine was less than half a meter away from Angel’s forehead.
As they approached, the fluctuation Angel felt became increasingly stronger.
It was as if someone was whispering softly in his ear.