章 146: CH179 - CH180
CH179
Helag knew the secrets and what Fegar had done.
But he was powerless to act; informing the Land of Dawn's wizards would only endanger himself.
If Helag dared to notify them, they'd likely silence him before repairing the array.
The sealing of the planar rift was a secret, and Helag's knowledge meant death.
He considered subtly alerting others but dismissed the idea.
Wizards had too many means; he couldn't ensure he'd remain undetected.
As Helag pondered, the red beam vanished, the runes disappearing, everything returning to normal.
Fegar stood, glancing around, then looked skyward, lost in thought.
The next moment, Fegar vanished.
"Teleportation?" the surrounding wizards exclaimed.
In the Death Swamp, one typically had to wait three days to leave.
Fegar hadn't entered by normal means, using some special method to teleport out.
Helag realized he needn't worry so much.
When the sky falls, the tall will bear it.
His priority was to strengthen himself, adapting to change.
If he grew strong enough, even an abyssal invasion wouldn't threaten him.
Helag always knew his role; he wasn't a savior, just striving for self-preservation.
Sounds of conflict came from the beam's location; Helag knew a fight had erupted.
With so many creatures and wizards gathered, chaos was inevitable.
Helag had no interest in joining, returning to the wraith's tree.
"Increase vigilance. Alert me of any approach," Helag ordered, resuming meditation.
The wraith dutifully patrolled, its massive form floating around.
The Human-Faced Monkey, though weak, was agile and fast, guarding the surrounding forest.
Two days passed quickly, battles raging throughout the Death Swamp, many perishing.
Helag stayed in the wraith's domain, avoiding exploration.
Occasionally, someone approached, but the wraith drove them off.
Some were killed, others injured and forced away.
As time neared, Helag stood, summoning the wraith and Human-Faced Monkey.
"I'm leaving. Don't reveal anything about me, understand?" Helag instructed.
"Understood," the wraith replied solemnly.
The Human-Faced Monkey nodded vigorously, unable to speak.
Helag continued, "I'll disguise as a human. I intended to kill you to keep the secret, but you've served me well. I'll give you a chance. If you're here when I return, I'll take you to the abyss to serve me."
Departure time approached, and Helag needed to revert from his bloodline form.
Returning in his current state would invite wizard attacks.
He had to deactivate the Thunder God Ancestor's bloodline power.
But with two abyssal creatures present, deactivation might provoke them.
Feigning mystery, Helag claimed he needed to disguise as a human.
His words worked; the creatures believed him.
The wraith bowed, "Thank you for your mercy, my lord. Baramog will await your return, ready to serve."
In the abyss, a superior's word could decide a subordinate's fate; the wraith didn't question Helag.
Helag's words increased the wraith's reverence.
The wraith had some intelligence, unsure why Helag came or left, but certain he was an abyssal noble.
Helag's mystery suggested a grand purpose.
The wraith knew it was a minor creature, hoping to rise by serving Helag, executing his orders flawlessly.
Helag deactivated the bloodline mark, returning to human form.
The wraith was stunned.
So lifelike! Truly human-like!
The noble's disguise was perfect, indistinguishable from a human.
Even his aura and bloodline matched those of a human.
He even feigned weakness, as if a single Death's Withering could kill him.
The wraith was shocked, banishing such disrespectful thoughts.
"Baramog, how could you be so rude?"
The wraith wished to punish itself for such thoughts, guilty of disrespect for sensing a weak human aura.
The Human-Faced Monkey, familiar with Helag's human form, wasn't surprised.
The wraith adjusted its mindset, bowing respectfully, fearing any disrespect.
A purple glow enveloped Helag. "I'm leaving," he said.
Then he vanished.
The wraith and Human-Faced Monkey bowed toward where Helag had disappeared.
Helag blinked, finding himself outside the purple gate.
"Helag! Are you okay?" Brack noticed him immediately, having waited by the gate.
Though unlikely, he hoped Helag would return safely.
"Mr. Brack! I'm fine," Helag replied.
Brack sighed in relief, "Good, or I'd have trouble with your teacher. If anything happened to you, my nephew would blame me. Did you handle the Human-Faced Monkey?"
Helag nodded, "Yes, I used some tricks, and it reverted. I tried to find you but got lost. Luckily, I found a safe place to hide and gathered some resources."
"Seems you're not only talented but lucky. Most who get lost don't make it out," Brack remarked.
"By the way, Mr. Brack, how did it go?" Helag asked, glancing back.
Originally a group of seven, only four remained, including Helag.
CH180
Helag noticed only Brack and the liquefied wizard couple remained.
The two gaseous wizards were gone.
Most notably, even Elder Karen was missing.
After three days, those inside would be automatically transported out.
Not being transported out meant they were dead.
Elder Karen, a crystallized wizard, had perished inside.
"Lady Karen…" Helag began.
Brack sighed, "She didn't have much time left, so she went to a dangerous place to try her luck. I couldn't stop her."
Brack felt a deep sadness, knowing Karen's fate might be his own someday.
With the Land of Dawn controlling the path to becoming a second-level wizard, Barrens wizards had no choice but to take risks.
Brack, still young, didn't need to risk his life yet.
But if he couldn't advance, he'd eventually have to gamble too.
Helag remained silent, knowing the truth was even more despairing.
There was nothing with rule power inside; Elder Karen had died in vain, a sacrifice for the planar rift's sealing array.
Helag knew the secret but couldn't speak.
Crystallized wizards in the Barrens were mostly high-ranking figures, and the Land of Dawn dangled hope before them.
If that hope were shattered, it would affect the Land of Dawn's control over the Barrens.
Helag sighed, "I didn't expect Lady Karen to…"
Brack patted his shoulder, "It was her choice. Let's go back."
Brack seemed to have anticipated Karen's risk, prepared for her not returning.
Their losses were severe, losing a crystallized wizard and two gaseous wizards.
For pure-blood wizard families, gaseous wizards were important, each requiring significant resources.
The four waited a bit longer, hoping for a miracle.
An hour later, the purple gate closed, and no one else emerged.
Brack glanced around, smiling, "Old Carl didn't make it! The Moss family took a heavy hit; they won't last long, with everyone eyeing them."
Helag had seen Carl's death, likely at Fegar's hands, with the wraith finishing him.
The Moss family, failing to seize the Terchy family, lost a crystallized wizard, weakening significantly.
In this world, the weak lose resources.
If the Moss family were smart, they'd voluntarily relinquish resources to regroup.
Otherwise, they'd be devoured, threatening their survival.
Brack took a quill and a bottle of purple liquid, drawing runes on the ground.
Karen had drawn the teleportation runes, but with her gone, Brack took over.
He seemed prepared, anticipating Karen's possible demise.
As he drew, Brack said, "Lady Karen entrusted this to me."
***
The four teleported, arriving at Kent Valley's entrance.
"Helag, you head back. I need to report to the family. Watch over Kent Valley for a few days."
Brack had to report to the family with the liquefied wizards; Karen's death was significant.
Though expected, it was still important for the Terchy family.
"Don't worry, Mr. Brack, I'll keep an eye on things," Helag assured.
Brack nodded, "Thanks, I'm off."
Brack trusted Helag, capable and reliable.
Returning to Kent Valley, Helag was greeted by the potion garden apprentices.
Most were new, managing the garden's operations.
They knew Helag's status, living alone in the northern castle, served by a beautiful elf maid, an unusual privilege.
Helag was diligent, inspecting the garden and noting issues before returning to the castle.
"Master, you're back."
Shatia, in a maid outfit, ran out to greet him, flour on her hands.
"What are you doing?" Helag asked, noticing her hands.
Shatia smiled, "I'm trying to make pastries, like you mentioned."
"Keep at it," Helag encouraged.
Helag had told Shatia the food here was bland and monotonous.
Unlike his past life, food preparation was basic, either boiled or roasted, with no pastries.
To eat well, Helag had to cook himself.
But busy with training and study, he had little time for cooking.
After hearing him, Shatia asked how to make those foods.
Helag casually explained, not expecting Shatia to remember and try it.
If she succeeded, it would greatly improve his quality of life.
Helag sketched cooking tools like spatulas and pans on parchment.
He called Lennon, handing him the parchment, "Have a blacksmith make these tools."
Lennon examined the simple designs, nodding, "Yes, sir, I'll handle it."
Once made, Helag planned to teach Shatia how to use them and write some recipes.
Shatia was quick to learn.
Once she mastered it, she could handle daily meals.
The elven princess was now Helag's cook.
After jotting down some recipes, Helag set the parchment aside and reviewed his Death Swamp haul.
He'd acquired many valuable items, the most precious being the hundred Magic Energy Crystals.
These rare items were hard to find in the Barrens.
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