The sound came from the Wicked Woman. At this moment, she had almost pressed herself against the outer dome, her eyes wide open, staring fixedly at the gray-black robe on Kaier’s body.
"What’s wrong?" Gray Merchant looked towards the Wicked Woman, puzzled.
"That clothing... that clothing... there’s absolutely no mistake..." The Wicked Woman muttered to herself, entranced as if she had entered her own world, completely unresponsive to the outside.
Gray Merchant didn’t know what was happening with the Wicked Woman, but through her muttering, he too focused his attention on the gray-black robe; with just a glance, Gray Merchant’s brows slightly furrowed.
With the naked eye, the robe seemed ordinary beyond ordinary. But when he observed it through the lens of spiritual power, a startling transmutation appeared.
The robe was like the filth fallen into crystal-clear water, constantly spewing pitch-black smoke from within.
Looking closely, the robe resembled an Abyssal maw, with an eerie darkness within, the black mist laced with malice continuously seeping out from the maw.
This black smoke, detectable solely through spiritual observation, was not unfamiliar to Gray Merchant. The resentment energy, hatred, and unwillingness of a powerful Magical Creature in life, manifest posthumously, would produce this malice-like black mist.
For humans, exposure to such malice is highly damaging, not only transforming their personalities to become violent and cruel, but over time, they would be completely engulfed, becoming mere shells of indiscriminate slaughter.
However, for Transcendents, this malice caused limited harm. If combined with the past resentment spirit of a powerful Magical Creature, it might cause backlash to the Transcendent, but this robe clearly lacked such a spirit, and pure malice wouldn’t affect the user much.
Based on this information, it could be speculated that this black robe is likely made from the hide of a certain powerful Magical Creature.
Exactly which creature, Gray Merchant could not yet discern. However, with the malice overabundant and spilling outwardly, that is exceedingly rare. Either the creature was unimaginably powerful in life, or it underwent unprecedented torment before dying, its unwillingness and hatred erupting furiously prior to death, influencing even posthumously. But even in such cases, the creature’s strength would not be weak.
Thus, a hide from such a creature is incredibly valuable, certainly not something a mere apprentice could produce.
If this Magical Creature had any notable background, its value would be even more terrifying.
If no accidents occurred, this Magical Creature’s hide should be supported by a Wizard on the opposite side, perhaps... originating from the Noah Family. If indeed from the Noah Family, given their vast family strength and foundation, acquiring the hide of a powerful Magical Creature is not difficult.
Though Gray Merchant could perceive the peculiarities of this robe, he still had many unresolved questions regarding the effects of the robe and the Wicked Woman’s reaction.
What did the Wicked Woman discover to be so astonished?
What use does the robe Kaier presented have?
The first question couldn’t be answered immediately, but for the second, by continuing to observe, the answer should become evident.
...
On the arena.
After donning the robe, Kaier executed his spell without the slightest hesitation, the spatial fluctuations around him reaching an almost visible magnitude, light and shadow distorting, with obvious spatial layering.
It was the first time Kaier’s spell-casting generated such vast spatial fluctuations, seemingly indicative of him casting a potent spatial trick.
The Shepherd noticed, heart slightly puzzled; prior attempts by Kaier to cast Space Rift were all interrupted by him, and now directly casting a stronger spatial trick? If interrupted, the chance of backlash is much greater than casting Space Rift, and once backlashed, Kaier would be gravely injured if not dead.
"Is it a do-or-die attempt, or rather..." the Shepherd pondered, scrutinizing Kaier’s robe: "Another assurance?"
If indeed the latter, it’s likely related to this robe.
The Shepherd couldn’t see through this robe, but being brought out with such gravity by Kaier, and immediately casting a High-level trick, required cautious confrontation.
Caution doesn’t mean retreat. Earlier, during the battle with Noah Family’s apprentice, the Specter could have continuously ambushed and exhausted the opponent’s energy, but later caution gave the opponent a chance for Restoration, leading to total defeat.
Therefore, even though the Shepherd remained cautious, he didn’t pause his assault on Kaier.
However, this time, instead of attacking directly, the Shepherd slowly raised his right hand, pointing to the sky, and softly commanded, "Beibei!"
With his voice, where his finger pointed, a majestic spectral hound began to materialize.
This was a majestic black-backed, brown-pawed shepherd dog, nearly as large as a human youth, exceedingly tall among shepherd dogs.
On appearing, it captivated everyone’s attention, seemingly proud, immediately preparing to raise its head to howl, showcasing its "wolf-blood boiling" grandeur.
Yet, just as it lifted its head, something felt amiss.
Its footing felt oddly insubstantial, as if stepping on air!
Confused, it lowered its head.
The dog’s eyes widened in shock; this was no illusion of stepping on air, it was genuinely suspended in mid-air!
Its round eyes filled with fright, its ears flapping wildly, as if attempting to use them as wings, but unfortunately, its body was too large, "Ear Wings" couldn’t support its weight. The next moment, with a wail, the spectral hound plummeted from mid-air.
Bang——
With a loud thud, the spectral hound lay sprawling on the ground, eyes swirling, mouth askew, tongue lolling out involuntarily, appearing thoroughly "broken."
Yet, the Shepherd ignored the spectral hound’s pitiful state, extending his palm, within which wind spirals visible to the naked eye emerged.
"W-wait a second..." The spectral hound suddenly stood up, astonishingly speaking human language.
Still, the Shepherd feigned not hearing, the spiral wind shot out swiftly, striking the Shepherd’s body, causing the spectral hound to spin out like a windmill blade.
"You bastard, you won’t die well!" The spectral hound roared as it flew straight toward the spell-casting Kaier.
The Shepherd clasped his hands together, muttering softly, "Don’t blame me, forced by necessity... If your entrance could be understated, your self-introduction brief, I’ll ensure you enter next time with them."
Previously, while none comprehended why the Shepherd was so hard on the spectral hound, hearing his whispers, they seemed to grasp something.
Apparently, this was a... boastful spectral hound?
The spectral hound continued bellowing mid-air, an image seemingly rendering the Shepherd embarrassed, as his fair face turned flushed. Loudly declaring, "If you’d shut up, I’ll make you a hat from Baby’s fur."
The sheepdog’s initially fierce eyes suddenly lit up: "Don’t touch my baby, use Hei San’s fur, I dislike it the most, and my baby still loves it the most. I must strip it bald!"
Shepherd: "Alright..."