This scene seemed inconsequential, but it harbored... another kind of terror.
Who was the Black Earl? A top Earth Wizard in the Southern Domain; his understanding of the Power of Earth wouldn’t lessen just because he’s an avatar. The box his avatar formed with the Power of Earth would show no difference from his true form’s creation.
Yet even so, the net directly dissolved the energy.
This is astonishingly shocking!
Meaning even if the Earl’s true form were here, using energy against the net could meet disastrous defeat.
If this isn’t terrifying, what is?
Now, the Black Earl already knows that the red wax will affect spiritual power, even for him, staying in the red wax area for too long would lead to madness; the web disrupts energy, and the energy level it disrupts is very high.
It can be concluded that the wizards present are likely unable to withstand the energy disruption of the web.
Hence, a conclusion can be drawn: whether it’s red wax or the web, they are traps they cannot ward off. Any one of them is enough to stop them here and prevent further progress.
Yet now, not only have they broken through the web, but they have also ignored the impact of the red wax. All of this is owed to Angel.
This makes the Black Earl have to wonder if Angel had foreseen this, which is why he was so well prepared?
But what kind of foresight could be so precise in knowing Adanis’ methods, as well as what otherworldly infant spirits would be summoned? At least, the Black Earl can be certain that even Maya’s prophecies cannot be this accurate.
The Black Earl did not ask Angel directly, but in his heart, he has a suspicion that perhaps Angel truly has some inexplicable connection with these ruins. And this connection contributes to Angel’s unstoppable momentum and the reason behind it.
The Black Earl temporarily chooses not to ponder what this connection is; he might even be thankful for such a connection. Otherwise, they might really have come here in vain. The traps of the red wax and the web would definitely have hindered them.
Even if the Black Earl’s true body were to come, it may not have absolute confidence in breaking them.
So, whatever secret Angel has, the Black Earl won’t probe.
At least at this time and place, he feels gratitude rather than suspicion.
Afterward, they crossed several webs in succession, and the Black Earl did not touch them again. Instead, all his attention was focused on the infant spirit.
The infant spirit has been watching them, but curiously, it hasn’t made any movement.
The mist serpent still towers overhead, looking down at it, yet it ignores the mist serpent. Angel and the Black Earl quickly approached it, and it remained motionless.
If not for those terrifying eyes occasionally moving and the maneater flower swaying from time to time, the Black Earl might suspect this was a statue.
Finally, they reached the web closest to the infant spirit.
Now, they are only about ten meters away from the infant spirit.
Observing the infant spirit up close made it clearer how terrifying and repulsive its appearance is, along with the eerie atmosphere that chills the heart. And this eerie atmosphere has a subtle resemblance to the feeling when Angel releases his illusion techniques.
The Black Earl and Angel stopped in tacit understanding.
The Black Earl did not show any signs of attack, merely secretly tying an energy ribbon to Angel.
At first, when the energy ribbon connected with Angel, he didn’t mind much, because the Black Earl had done similar things before. This is essentially a secured version of the Mind Ribbon, used for private communication.
But this time, when connected by the energy ribbon, Angel immediately felt a different sensation.
"Don’t worry, it’s just attached a thread of the Noah bloodline covenant. When you feel unable to resist or suffer a fatal injury, it will automatically activate the homeland’s thunder in the covenant, breaking through all space shackles below legendary level and leaving here."
In other words, it’s like having the ability of a plane corridor.
However, compared to forcibly opening a plane corridor, the ’homeland’s thunder’ bloodline technique is more convenient, appears to have no post-casting side effects, and doesn’t worry about space instability issues.
Just, the materials for casting a plane corridor are incredibly expensive. Angel doesn’t believe the Black Earl can use such power recklessly.
Perhaps noticing Angel’s doubt, the Black Earl said calmly: "The homeland’s thunder consumes the bloodline essence of my true body."
The Black Earl’s true body is not here, so this statement implies...
Angel: "Does it consume your avatar’s body?"
The Black Earl replied indifferently: "Yes, that’s correct. However, the death of the avatar doesn’t affect the true body. You don’t need to worry too much... well, if you really do care, I hope you can find a way to bring Vay out after using this ability. Of course, if you can’t, it’s fine."
Angel frowned: "The homeland’s thunder was originally meant to be used for Vay, right?"
The Black Earl: "Nothing is predetermined. It is my choice whom I want to use it on."
Despite what was said, Angel still felt that the Black Earl’s ability was ninety percent intended for Vay.
Angel’s mood was complicated at this moment; he was indeed very moved by the Black Earl’s arrangements. However, to him, this was an unbearable weight.
Because it involved a significant debt of gratitude.
Angel was not afraid to owe favors, just that such a substantial favor leaves him a bit at a loss.
While Angel was contemplating refusing and how best to articulate that, he suddenly captured a sentiment of emotional waves.
Angel turned back to glance at the motionless infant spirit resembling a statue, and fell into contemplation.
After considering for a moment, he did not reject the Black Earl’s arrangement.
Although this favor is significant, if he does not end up using the homeland’s thunder, the heavy indebtedness wouldn’t exist. Certainly, the Black Earl’s goodwill is also considered a favor, but compared to the worst-case scenario, it’s mild.
The reason Angel believed he wouldn’t need to use the homeland’s thunder is precisely because of the emotional wave he captured earlier.
This emotional wave actively conveyed itself to Angel.
With a little perception, Angel quickly found that the source of the emotion was the infant spirit... To be precise, it was the maneater flower on the infant spirit’s head.
The maneater flower didn’t realize its emotions could be sensed by Angel; it merely expressed a routine inner excitement.
Angel was far too familiar with such emotions.
—Delight, respect, and admiration.
Nearly all Nightmare Realm creatures he encountered displayed similar emotions. However, this does not include the dollmaster Yorkshire; nonetheless, Yorkshire still addressed Angel respectfully upon meeting, though he seemed more loyal to the Queen, rather than Shava.
Other Nightmare Realm creatures see "Shava" mingling with humans without any dissent. But Yorkshire dares to question whether "Shava" has betrayed the Queen.
From this, one can see the distinction between Yorkshire and other Nightmare Realm creatures.
Aside from Yorkshire, according to Minister Nuka’s words, Minister Dim’s philosophy differs from Shava’s, perhaps Minister Dim won’t overly respect Shava either?
However, Minister Dim’s favorite weapon—the Dalmatian—has a friendly relationship with Angel.
It even enlisted the Void Traveler to stay in touch with Angel at all times. The only regret is that while the Dalmatian is good, it enjoyably plays dumb...
Minister Dim’s affairs aren’t something to be pursued now. After all, Angel has met Minister Dim in reality, but has not seen Minister Dim in the Nightmare Realm.
Therefore, returning to present matters, with the emotion from the maneater flower, Angel can pretty much confirm that this maneater flower is indeed from Naraku City in the Nightmare Realm!
As long as the maneater flower recognizes the identity of "Shava," Angel is likely to have the opportunity to negotiate with it. Thus, their lives shouldn’t be in danger, negating the need for the Black Earl’s homeland’s thunder.