Chapter 2753 Petal Wind <TOC> Chapter 2755 Beibei Takes the Stage
Translator: SumTLMan
「Lord Black Count, can you discern Speedling’s situation?」Angel asked.
Angel’s question actually concealed a subtext: why had the Black Count suddenly become interested in Speedling’s condition?
One must know, the Black Count had previously never shown much concern for the course of the battle. Even when a Noah’s descendant, Vai, took the field, the Black Count merely watched in silence and would not voice any opinion.
Within the mental connection, apart from Daus’ jabber, no other voices could be heard.
But this time, the Black Count suddenly joined their discussion and directly inquired about Speedling, which stirred a trace of curiosity in Angel, had something happened to Speedling that drew the Black Count’s attention?
The Black Count mused:「I see only that it has not taken the initiative to attack that flock of Strange Sheep.」
The Black Count’s answer was very concise, but Angel heard two layers of meaning within it.
First: why had Speedling not attacked those four black-faced sheep?
This was also Angel’s own doubt. Up to now, the four black-faced sheep were still cavorting upon the arena platform, which meant Speedling had not attacked them. One might even say Speedling had been penned in by them.
Speedling was not a mindless lifeform; as a mature-stage elemental creature that had lived a long time, its intelligence was no lower than a human’s, lacking only experience with human society.
Yet in facing these four black-faced sheep, there was no need for any so-called「experience.」Moreover, Speedling had followed them all the way; it also knew the importance of this duel. To suddenly go offline at this moment was clearly not right.
What concerned Angel even more, however, was another point of doubt he heard in the Black Count’s tone.
Second: strange sheep?
Listening closely to the Black Count’s words, one could discover that his focus was not actually on Speedling, but had fallen upon that flock of black-faced sheep. From this, one could basically see that what the Black Count was paying more attention to might not be Speedling, but that flock of black-faced sheep.
Moreover, it was rare for the Black Count to use the term「strange」to describe this flock.
Although the Black Count was not known for encyclopedic knowledge, his experience was definitely at the top level within the Southern Region. If even he used「strange」to describe them, it was worth investigating.
Angel himself had not paid the flock of black-faced sheep much attention, because Shepherd had previously summoned a single black-faced sheep to the sidelines, to sleep.
At the time, Angel cast a glance and felt nothing special about it, only seeing that the black-faced sheep did not seem like an ordinary living creature. Beyond that, there was nothing worth mentioning. Furthermore, Angel was not about to delve deeply into studying a sheep summoned by an apprentice.
As for whether the presence of「sheep」on the arena platform was somewhat abrupt?
Not at all. The very name「Shepherd」states that he shepherds; is it not normal for him to have a few sheep?
Besides, Shepherd had previously used his flute to summon a large number of insects hidden in the dark, indicating that he had his own methods in controlling living creatures. Controlling a few sheep would not be difficult.
From the name, to the ability, and on to the logic, everything fit; naturally, Angel would not pay excessive attention to the flock of black-faced sheep. But now that the Black Count had placed emphasis upon that flock, it implied there might indeed be something amiss about them.
Angel once again carefully examined those four black-faced sheep.
At first, Angel still did not see anything special about them. The only praiseworthy point was that all four black-faced sheep could control the wind energy, and judging from the energy efficiency, their output was nearly identical; coupled with their extremely tacit cooperation, the combat strength they displayed leapt up by a whole tier. Yet, in overall strength, they were still far inferior to Speedling.
However, as Angel began to focus on the energy-operation trajectories of these black-faced sheep, he suddenly discovered that they were somewhat different from ordinary transcendent creatures. Nearly ninety percent of the energy they controlled came from the outside world.
In other words, they were more like porters of wind element, terminal emitters in the overall energy cycle.
Ordinary transcendent creatures, by contrast, basically draw external energy into the body, convert it, and then release it back out, more like a relay medium.
The two differ in essence.
Upon discovering this, Angel began to observe the reasons why the black-faced sheep had formed such an energy-control pattern. With that observation, more riddles surged forth.
Angel could not see clearly the internal state of the black-faced sheep!
To be precise, the internals of the black-faced sheep were too ordinary, no different from common sheep, to the point that he could not perceive any transcendent traces at all.
All wind energy seemed to be outside the black-faced sheep.
He had previously thought the black-faced sheep had arranged wind energy outside their bodies; but now it seemed the wind energy outside might actually be the「true bodies」of the black-faced sheep, perhaps?
If so, then what, exactly, were they? Were they truly transcendent creatures?
Angel observed intently for a long while, yet still could not accurately determine the race of the black-faced sheep.
Further still, he could not even give a definite answer as to whether the black-faced sheep were corporeal beings or energy beings.
This was, in truth, an inconceivable phenomenon.
Because distinguishing whether something is a corporeal being is not difficult. Wizards have a sea of consciousness and can cultivate mental power; by viewing through the sight of mental power, one can clearly see the difference between corporeal beings and energy beings.
Even without using mental power, one can make a rough judgment by the degree of interference with the material world.
Yet these black-faced sheep, whether viewed from the level of corporeal beings or energy bodies, possessed some characteristics of each, but did not wholly fit either side.
In this neither-here-nor-there state, Angel truly found it hard to define them.
And it was most likely because the Black Count had discovered this very point that he called these black-faced sheep「strange.」
「Strange sheep？」Daus had also heard the conversation between Angel and the Black Count. He pondered for a moment, observed the black-faced sheep on the arena platform, and then suddenly understood what the Black Count meant.
「They do seem a bit strange.」Daus stared at those black-faced sheep, frowning and muttering in a low voice.
Although Vai’s expression was blank at the moment, he had not missed the conversation within the mental connection. He followed Daus’ gaze toward the black-faced sheep in the arena.
「My lord, what problem do these sheep have?」Unable to perceive the abnormality, Vai stepped to Angel’s side and quietly inquired.
In the past, Vai would surely have unceremoniously asked Daus; but now the situation was special. Compared with Daus, who would definitely poke his sore spots, he trusted his idol a bit more.
All along the way, the impression Vai had given Angel was good. So, facing his question, Angel held nothing back and related both his observations and conjectures.
After listening to Angel’s explanation, Vai still could not sense the abnormality of the black-faced sheep, but at least he understood the present situation.
「So it does sound a bit strange. But could those sheep of indiscernible race be summoned creatures Shepherd called from the outside world?」
Summoned creatures of summoning wizards are a very special category within the Wizarding World. Their special nature can basically be summarized in two points:
First, summoned creatures are all manner of oddities, large, small, living, dead, organic, inorganic. Among these, dead things account for the vast majority; yet even lifeless dead things can serve great uses if employed properly.
Second, it concerns the provenance of summoned creatures. The mainstream method is that summoning wizards discover suitable summons and sign contracts with them. But there are some non-mainstream methods: conducting summoning rituals to perform random summons.
This is like drawing a blind box, as long as something is willing to respond, it can be summoned. But such a method has great drawbacks. Generally, the probability of summoning dead things is high because they basically do not resist; and the usefulness of dead things is limited, if what you summon is useless, you have wasted precious consumables.
Even if a powerful summoned creature is brought forth, you may not be able to truly sign a contract with it; you might even suffer backlash.
Therefore, random summoning is basically a high-stakes gamble, most often the choice of summoning wizards who are compelled by difficulties.
There are exceptions, however. Academic wizards are quite fond of using random summons, not for combat, but to see various different races and enrich species research.
Because of the otherworlds where summoned creatures dwell, the portion known to wizards is not even one ten-thousandth; more often they come from unknown planes.
Moreover, even in familiar planes, you will not necessarily summon known summons.
Thus, summoned creatures produced by random summoning cannot always be judged by commonly held knowledge.
From the definitions of known summoned creatures, otherworldly summons are「infinite」, while the wizard’s cognition of them is at present「finite.」To measure the infinite with the finite is unreasonable; occasional abnormal summoned creatures are normal.
The black-faced sheep might just happen to belong to this category.
Vai’s conjecture was not without reason; at least Daus nodded repeatedly after hearing it. At this moment, however, the Black Count issued a negation.
「So long as they are summoned creatures from another world, whether living or dead, they will be tainted by an otherworldly aura, an aura at odds with the Wizarding World of the Southern Region. If you have ever been to the gray trade markets of pan-planar creatures, or to Lorenbeil of Deer Island, you can sense upon those otherworldly beings the aura rejected by the World Will.」
「Even if inscription studies have concealed that aura, with careful discrimination you can still sense the abnormality.」
No one knew this abnormal aura better than Angel, Jon’s experience had been caused by this very aura.
The Black Count:「I can smell that they are not from another world.」
At present the Black Count possessed only a nose, and his nose was the most acute of all, definitely at the level of a pinnacle wizard in the Southern Region. Since he dared to give a definitive answer, he certainly had grounds for it. This also meant that Vai’s conjecture was wrong.
But if they were not summoned creatures, not even beings from another world, and you could not tell whether they were corporeal or incorporeal, that was very strange indeed.
Where, exactly, had these four black-faced sheep sprung from?
Upon reaching this point in the analysis, Angel suddenly thought of Toby, far away on Phantom Island receiving training from Gloria. As a living creature created into being, Toby could also be considered a rootless duckweed.
Could it be…… that these four black-faced sheep were also creations?
Angel found it a bit hard to believe. Gloria’s creation spells had produced omens so vast they startled the entire Wizarding World of the Southern Region, and even now she had created only a single sentient being: Toby.
From the earlier conversation between them and Shepherd, these four black-faced sheep also belonged to sentient beings. If they were creations, then for so many to appear at once would be far too many.
Setting aside the impractical notion of creations and returning to the question raised at the very start by the Black Count’s inquiry: what was Speedling doing?
Why was Speedling not attacking these four black-faced sheep? Could it be that Speedling had discerned their origin?
Or had Speedling suffered some covert stratagem from the four black-faced sheep’s abilities and been forced into inaction?
Perhaps, in the end, only Speedling could give an answer to their doubts about the four black-faced sheep.
But Speedling was not even obeying Vai’s orders now; to obtain an answer immediately was impossible.
Angel could, in fact, contact Speedling directly through the contract, but doing so now would basically equal directly interfering in the duel. The Sovereign of Wisdom would certainly not turn a blind eye. So even he could only wait for the duel to end.
In this entire sequence of events, the only thing that comforted Angel was that the trump cards he had left Kael were still sufficient.
Although Speedling had been specially prepared to help Kael deal with Shepherd, that did not mean the other trump cards were useless. Even if Speedling had crashed, as long as Kael used the other trump cards, he could at least ensure he stood in an undefeated position.
But if he wanted to win, it might depend on his own performance…… after all, Shepherd’s strength was not lacking.
……
On the arena platform, when Shepherd closed in, Kael did not panic.
After a few brief exchanges, Kael understood Shepherd’s strategy.
Shepherd’s close-combat prowess was quite formidable; with the addition of wind energy, his speed and strength had greatly increased. In particular, the sharp rise in reaction speed gave Kael the illusion that he was fighting a bloodline-side apprentice.
Almost all around were Shepherd’s afterimages, caused by sheer speed.
Through high-speed close-quarters attacks, Shepherd kept launching targeted strikes at Vai. His target was clear: Vai’s space energy.
Whenever any space energy bled from Vai, Shepherd would attack swiftly.
The casting of space spells requires concentration to begin with; it is also more difficult than other branches, and the backlash is greater. With each attack from Shepherd, to avoid mishap and avoid backlash, Vai had to dodge, and once he dodged, he could not continue casting.
By means of this strategy, Shepherd continually blocked Kael’s avenues.
Kael understood very well that things could not continue this way; it was highly unfavorable to him.
With Speedling unresponsive and himself finding it hard to break through, Kael made a decisive choice and drew out another trump card Angel had given him.
Only to see Kael’s hand thrust into the void; before all eyes, a gray-black robe was pulled by him out of the void.
The cut of this robe was extremely simple, almost without any ornamentation.
Yet when Kael draped the robe upon himself, a murmur of surprise and doubt rose from the sidelines.
Chapter 2753 Petal Wind <TOC> Chapter 2755 Beibei Takes the Stage