บท 66: Chapter 66: The Second Transaction with the Forgotten One
At the edge of Frank's territory, near a secluded waterfall in a deep valley, the old wizard Gu Ke and his young apprentice were confronting a one-star bloodline warlock—a cultist dressed in black robes adorned with the inverted pentagram of the Supreme Order.
Behind the bloodline warlock stood three cultists and five captured villagers—men, women, and a young girl. The villagers were held at knifepoint by the cultists, their terrified expressions betraying their hopeless situation.
Gu Ke smiled and pointed to a fly perched on his finger. The insect disintegrated into a swarm of black bugs that quickly retreated into the bandages wrapped around his right hand.
"This little thing detected your presence around me. You've been trailing me for a week now, haven't you? That must have been exhausting." Gu Ke sneered. "You ignorant warlocks are mere expendables. Two thousand years ago, when we first encountered beings from the Energy World, it caused catastrophic damage to wizard civilization. But after our initial defeat, countermeasures were developed."
"Although we haven't completely reversed the vulnerabilities our spells have against you, we've created plenty of techniques to sense and counter your kind from afar."
The warlock's eyes flicked toward the waterfall, his expression a mix of confusion and anger. Realizing there was no magical aura hidden within, his face twisted in rage.
"You dare mock me? You insignificant human, I'll make you pay! You're nothing but an ant!"
Chanting the name of the Blind Nun, the warlock activated the latent power in his bloodline with an incantation. A blade of Cold Wind materialized on his scythe. Simultaneously, he began draining the life force of the five villagers behind him to fuel his spellcasting.
The villagers screamed and writhed on the ground, clutching their heads as their life energy was siphoned away. Blood streamed from their eyes, noses, and mouths.
In an instant, the Cold Wind cleaved Gu Ke and his apprentice in two.
Yet before the warlock could revel in his apparent victory, the severed figures dissolved into a swarm of mosquitoes.
The real Gu Ke and his apprentice materialized behind him.
Hands clasped behind his back, Gu Ke smiled calmly. "A mere one-star bloodline warlock? Did you mistake me for those so-called 'wild wizards'?"
"My spells and meditation techniques are complete and authentic. I possess attack spells, defensive spells, evasion spells, and detection spells—none of which are compromised."
"Our school is called the Valley of Insect Curses. We follow the magical path laid down by the first-circle wizard, Insect Curse Master Dawn Johnson. Our spell models and meditation techniques are on a completely different level than those of the self-taught wizards you've encountered."
The warlock turned to attack again, but his body froze in place.
A fly crawled out of his nostril, and beneath his skin, countless small insects began to writhe.
Unbeknownst to him, Gu Ke had cast an insect curse that had infested his body with swarms of bugs.
With a sickening crack, his chest burst open as a swarm of black, ant-like flying insects poured out, engulfing him entirely.
Raising his left hand, Gu Ke manipulated the swarm. "My previous creation was destroyed by those wild wizards. It's time to craft a new puppet using your body."
The young apprentice watched in awe. "I didn't know the Flying Ant Curse could be used this way! You distracted him while a single ant infiltrated his body. Then, using the Minor Growth Curse, you rapidly bred an entire swarm inside him. That's brilliant!"
Gu Ke patted her head. "This is the legacy of the Insect Curse Master. Insects contain infinite mysteries. Their intricate biological structures surpass those of ordinary animals. Studying them unlocks unparalleled magical potential."
Suddenly, Gu Ke's gaze shifted to the trees, where a shadow flitted through the forest. "Looking for me again? How troublesome. Still, I suppose it's worth hearing what they have to say."
With that, Gu Ke and his apprentice vanished into the Hidden Realm. The warlock's corpse was devoured entirely by the swarm, leaving behind only silence and carnage.
The remaining three cultists, paralyzed by fear, stood frozen amidst the carnage until a carriage approached.
The window slid open, revealing Chesya's cold gaze. "Pathetic. I knew this would happen."
"Still, it confirms one thing: the old man knows the exact location of the Four Seasons Garden."
Chesya sneered. "He wouldn't bother setting traps to eliminate my spies unless he were sure. Let's leave. Staying here is pointless. Once he moves in the Hidden Realm, his exit point in the physical world will change accordingly."
"What a troublesome place."
"But one day, we'll invade the Hidden Realm, leaving these humans with nowhere to hide."
Inside the carriage, another voice, colder and more menacing, responded. "Don't worry, Chesya. That old man is merely a second-class wizard apprentice with intact teachings. He's troublesome, but nothing I can't handle."
"Once I secure a victory for you, make sure you introduce me to the higher-ups. After all, I gave up my life as a noble in the Storm Kingdom for this. I was once the sole heir of an earl, you know."
"I sacrificed my privileges to join your ranks, and I expect rewards for my loyalty."
In the Hidden Realm, Gu Ke faced Su Nan with a hint of impatience. "What do you want? Wizards don't have time to waste."
Su Nan raised an eyebrow. "A trade."
Gu Ke's immediate response was dismissive. "There's nothing left to trade between us."
Snapping his fingers, Su Nan smirked. "Typical wizard pragmatism."
"However, I've faced the Blind Nun directly. I imagine you'd find her information intriguing. In return, I want a spell—something that can speed up speech for beings that speak too slowly or have unnatural speaking patterns. Can you provide such a spell?"
Gu Ke's initial instinct was to refuse, but the mention of the Blind Nun made his pupils contract slightly. How could a so-called "wild wizard" have survived an encounter with such a mid-tier Energy World entity?
He suppressed his doubts, attributing them to Su Nan's luck.
Still, his curiosity got the better of him. "What could you possibly need with a spell to accelerate speech? It's utterly useless in battle."
"Fine. We have such a spell in our archives—a minor creation by one of our first-class wizard apprentices for an experiment. I doubt you'll find much use for it, but I'll humor you."
Su Nan smirked internally, knowing this spell would be invaluable for his upcoming plans to enhance his Stone Idol Golem through dual-casting techniques.
"Every spell has its purpose," Su Nan replied calmly.
Satisfied that the trade posed no threat, Gu Ke nodded. "Describe the Blind Nun, then. If you truly encountered her, her name would have etched itself into your mind."
"That's one of the Energy World's traits—names and essence are intertwined."
Su Nan responded coolly. "The Blind Nun once was human. She told me so herself."
Ignoring Gu Ke's condescension, Su Nan remained focused. Some lessons were best learned through hard experience, and
he fully intended to exploit Gu Ke's arrogance to uncover more secrets of the wizarding world.
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