Angel didn’t pursue this topic further, knowing Dox deliberately omitted him, likely just bored and wanting to engage in some banter.
But, what Dox said wasn’t entirely wrong. Judging purely by Angel’s own power, he might not actually be able to defeat Dox. After all, the bloodline side can easily crush those of the same level, and that’s an undeniable fact.
However, if other factors are considered, such as Speedy and Earl Mi, along with the strong rules of the green Pattern, then the outcome would be different.
If Toby were brought along this time, then Speedy and Earl Mi wouldn’t even need to be involved; Dox would be defeated just by Angel and Toby’s cooperation.
"Dox is right, you two don’t need to worry too much." Angel glanced at Kaier and Vay, whose expressions clearly showed some apprehension, likely confused by Dox’s chain of actions.
Hearing Angel’s words, Kaier and Vay at least appeared slightly more calm on the outside.
On the other side, Dox was quite annoyed; Angel didn’t take his bait, making him so bored that he couldn’t even indulge in some banter.
With waiting being equally dull, Dox could only reminisce the past with his old friend Vay.
Time flew by, and about half an hour later, a figure resembling an iron mountain emerged from the swirling wind and sand.
"My lords, the Magician is here." The Traveling Merchant hurriedly announced to Dox and Angel.
"Usually, those who appear with such flair are the weakest," Dox commented sarcastically, looking at the clearly artificially created sandstorm.
Traveling Merchant: "Please don’t mind, my lord, the Magician just likes such displays to fool ordinary folks."
Through the sandstorm walked a tall, muscular man with a weathered face, as if he had seen through everything in the world, approaching the Traveling Merchant step by step.
Each of his steps caused the ground to tremble slightly, as if the earth was in sync with his stride.
Dox couldn’t help himself, turning to Vay and said, "Even an Alchemy Apprentice dares to steal the job of your Earth Wizards? Can you stand this?"
This can be tolerated... Vay silently thought to himself.
He hadn’t intended to do anything, but since Dox had said so, he had no choice but to lightly stomp his foot. The Power of Earth instantly enveloped hundreds of meters around.
At this moment, as the Magician resumed stepping, he could no longer move the earth.
The Magician paused, taking several more steps in place, and upon realizing there was truly no response, he looked over with a puzzled expression.
Could it be the Traveling Merchant who’s behind this?
The Magician swiftly scanned his surroundings to ensure that besides the few individuals near the Traveling Merchant, there was no one else present, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
For him, everything else can fail, but not his dignity. Thankfully, there weren’t many spectators.
Though even with few viewers, the Magician still felt the need to perform. He gazed at the earth, his eyes filled with sorrow, and sighed softly.
It seemed as though he could see the restless echoes deep within the earth, while his feet measured the soil and calmed its inner unrest.
Observing the Magician’s display, the Traveling Merchant felt quite embarrassed and pretended not to know him.
Angel remained silent, and the Black Earl said nothing either; as someone with broad experience, there’s no kind of person he hasn’t encountered.
Though slightly older than Angel, Dox, who was still regarded as "young and hot-blooded" in the Wizards’ Realm, took a deep breath: "Can’t stand it any longer, come over here!"
With those words, a faint aura of blood suddenly radiated from Dox’s body, the blood energy plunging into the ground.
In less than a second, before the Magician could react, a hole burst open beneath his feet, and a huge worm shining with golden light opened its abyssal maw, directly biting him in half.
Then, amidst a chaotic mess of broken soil and rocks, the worm emerged carrying the bewildered Magician to Dox’s side.
"Let’s see you act tough every day; now you’ve met your match." Before Dox could speak, the Traveling Merchant spoke up in mockery: "Walking with your head held high like an overconfident gopher; didn’t even see who my lord was beside me, pretending away; serves you right."
The Traveling Merchant’s words were mocking, but actually intended to help the Magician by giving him a way out.
The Magician endured the pain of his waist being nearly bitten apart, raised his head, and opened his eyes.
His expression turned pale instantly.
How could he not recognize Dox’s face?
How did he end up meeting the notoriously temperamental Wandering Wizard here?!
The other party was an Official Wizard of the bloodline side, even if the leader of the Merchant Organization came, they wouldn’t be able to take advantage.
And yet, here he was, acting tough for nearly five full minutes in front of Dox.
It’s over; this is truly over.
...
Just as the Magician was about to descend into despair, a voice echoed like heaven’s melody in his ear.
"Let him go; if you don’t release him now, he’ll die from blood loss even if he isn’t bitten in half," Angel said.
Dox snorted but still followed Angel’s suggestion, releasing the Magician from the worm’s mouth.
At this point, the upper half of the Magician remained relatively intact; from the waist down, he was in a truly pitiful state.
Angel wasn’t wrong; if he wasn’t released soon, the Magician would indeed perish from blood loss, as there were at least dozens of large and small deep holes from the waist down.
These pores were all caused by the worm’s circular sharp teeth capable of inducing trypophobia.
The Magician was only on the ground for a few seconds after being let go by the worm, and a copious amount of blood gushed like a spring, staining the earth red.
Seeing the dying Magician, Angel sighed, reached out, and deployed a Purifying Field to prevent infection, then cast a healing spell.
Yet despite this, the Magician’s face was ashen, appearing still close to death.
"An Alchemy Apprentice of the Second Level, and you use a worm to bite him, that’s something else." Angel glanced at Dox: "I’ve done my part; now it’s your turn."
Angel could heal and purify, but replenishing vital energy and blood was the specialty of the bloodline side.
Although the injury was caused by Dox, he couldn’t simply watch the Magician die in front of him, so he walked over to help.