"How is it? Do you like it?" Angel looked into the Dalmatian’s shiny dark eyes.
The Dalmatian glanced down at the bell, its eyes glimmering brightly: "Woof woof!"
Angel discerned excitement in the Dalmatian’s barks.
"As long as you like it." Angel paused, raising an eyebrow, "Turns out, you can make me understand your barks completely."
The Dalmatian looked startled, then quickly feigned innocence: "Woof woof!"
Alright, back to not understanding again.
Angel chuckled and didn’t bother with that detail. He was indeed worried the Dalmatian might not appreciate the bell; as long as Wang Wang liked it, his efforts weren’t in vain.
"Alright, I’ve given you your present, now it’s time for you to head home."
The Dalmatian immediately whimpered, putting on a remorseful expression.
Before, Angel might have tried to comfort it, but having witnessed the Dalmatian’s sly nature, he suspected this display of sorrow might just be a performance to elicit his sympathy.
So, Angel didn’t look into the Dalmatian’s eyes, to avoid being bewitched by it, and directly embraced it, descending from the high sky.
The reason for not saying much was also due to another concern; Angel was quite worried about the current situation over at the Star Pond Ruins.
Although he instructed the black and white maids to return to Xinnai Land first, who knows if they might encounter conflict with the Wizards outside the ruins halfway. With the abilities of the black and white maids, ordinary Wizards really can’t measure up.
To prevent any accidents, Angel descended faster and faster.
Like a streak of colorful rainbow wrapped in the fierce wind, he descended from the sky.
Just as Angel got closer and closer to the Star Pond Ruins, he suddenly noticed a few familiar figures standing in the air above the ruins.
In the center stood none other than Lord Reine.
Moreover, Lord Reine also immediately noticed the sound of the wind above and looked up:
"Angel?"
...
A moment later, within the once again tranquil Star Pond Ruins.
Angel, holding the Dalmatian, sat in the only Observation Pavilion still glowing with light.
Across from him were Lord Reine, Tree Spirit, and Ironclad Granny.
At this time, although the three pairs of eyes opposite were looking at Angel, their sidelong glances couldn’t help but rest on the Dalmatian... Had they not already learned from Angel that the Dalmatian is a powerful mysterious creature capable of swallowing even a Legendary Wizard, they wouldn’t have just used such veiled looks to scrutinize it.
"...Encountered an Observer... The black and white maids went out to find the Dalmatian, and that’s basically the situation." Angel briefly explained the situation.
As for the Observer, Angel just mentioned it in passing without delving into the topic. He also didn’t mention Gluz Deward and Polo Ye.
It wasn’t that Angel was unwilling to elaborate, but rather that now was not the time for these trivial matters.
Since it concerns the ruins, let’s solve the ruins’ matters first.
"So you’re going to take... it, to Xinnai Land now?" Reine asked after a moment of silence.
Angel: "I just saw Davasia at the corridor entrance, I’ll hand the Dalmatian to Davasia, I won’t go in."
Hearing Angel say this, Reine let out a sigh of relief. If Angel also went to Xinnai Land, with its dangers, who knows if he’d be able to come back.
As for Angel’s "status and identity" in the Nightmare Realm, although Reine wasn’t too clear on these, he had heard from Sanders long ago that they were all false. Since they’re false, they’re liable to be seen through.
Therefore, Angel should avoid entering Xinnai Land if he can.
"When do you intend to return it?" Reine asked again.
Angel looked at the Dalmatian in his arms, and although he was quite reluctant, he said: "Right now."
"Then I’ll escort you." Reine stood up, intending to accompany Angel.
Angel hastily waved his hand: "No need, I can go by myself."
"But last time, in that corridor..."
"Last time, I ran into a Void Traveler and got spotted by Misty Goldlady, it won’t be such a coincidence this time." Angel explained.
"Can you handle that meat mountain called Davasia by yourself?" asked the granny, who hadn’t spoken until now.
In response, Angel confidently said: "Don’t worry, no problem."
If it were others, including the black and white maids, Angel would have found it a bit difficult, given the need to maintain a false persona. But with Davasia, Angel was quite confident.
Davasia seems fierce, but in truth, is a very pure creature.
Of course, pure doesn’t mean kind. But purity allows Angel to deal with it more adeptly.
Like the previous white maid, who seemed to hold Angel in high regard, dealing with her was actually more exhausting than with the black maid.
He much preferred Davasia, such a "little cutie."
Seeing Angel insist on going alone, Reine was silent for a moment before nodding: "Be careful yourself."
Angel signaled reassurance, then prepared to take the Dalmatian to the ruins corridor.
However, just as he had taken a few steps out of the Observation Pavilion, he suddenly thought of something, and quickly returned.
Under the curious eyes of the onlookers, Angel said: "By the way, I suddenly remembered something, did my mentor mention that quite a few Wizards were affected by Madnavaro?"
At this, everyone’s expressions turned a bit solemn.
Madnavaro was the tentacle-laden creature that had shrouded the entire Star Pond Ruins in mist. Everyone touched by the mist succumbed to madness disease. To this day, they hadn’t found a way to cure it.
"Yes, why did you suddenly bring it up? Do you have a way to cure them?" Tree Spirit looked at Angel.
Angel didn’t give a direct answer but said: "Can I see them first?"
"Madness disease is contagious. To prevent large-scale spread, those infected are temporarily confined within my body." Tree Spirit: "If you want to see them, you’ll need to return to Barbarian Cave first."
Angel was about to speak when Ironclad Granny interjected: "No need to make a special trip back; I have an infected one here. If you want to see, I can release it."
Angel quickly nodded.
Ironclad Granny motioned for everyone to step back, and with a spread of cold mist, a special transparent box appeared in the center of the Observation Pavilion.
Inside the box stood a woman Angel was very familiar with.
"Greya?"
Ironclad Granny nodded: "Because of Davasia, she insisted on staying within the ruins and ended up touching the mist, so I had to seal her in this."
While Ironclad Granny spoke, Greya inside the transparent box had bloodshot eyes, her face veined and contorted, furiously attacking the glass walls.
She appeared mad, devoid of reason, harboring only a bloodthirsty killing intent toward any creature, hence they referred to it as madness disease.
Angel circled the transparent box, sensing Greya’s condition slightly, frowning deeply.
He had earlier thought madness disease might be akin to parasite dots and perhaps could be dispelled with the Power of Nightmare Illusion, but upon close inspection, he found that this madness disease was entirely different from the parasite dots.
It’s a real disease, not an anomaly caused by parasites.
"Well? Do you have a way to heal her?" Tree Spirit asked out of curiosity.
The other people also looked at Angel, for in their eyes, Angel often performed miracles; perhaps he could work another miracle this time?
Angel didn’t immediately answer Tree Spirit’s query but lowered his head to the drowsy Dalmatian in his arms:
"Hey, stop sleeping, wake up."