Silently accompanying the flight for dozens of miles, Sanders did not speak.
Seeing that the distance from the Ghost Shipyard Island was already quite far, Angel pondered and took the initiative to speak: "Mentor, is there something you want to ask me?"
Sanders glanced at Angel with an indifferent look: "The reason you went back wasn’t specifically to see the birth of chaos, was it?"
"As expected, mentor understands me best."
Angel’s answer already proved Sanders’ speculation right.
Sanders stopped, hovering in mid-air: "I believe you must have a compelling reason to decide to return. However, I still hope you understand one thing."
"What is it?" Angel also stopped and looked back.
"Everything in the world, including the things you think are important, is not as precious as life itself," Sanders paused, "Only when you are alive do you have everything. If you die, all is for naught."
Angel understood the meaning behind Sanders’ words.
From start to finish, Sanders did not stop him, which perhaps reflects his value orientation in handling relationships, but it doesn’t mean Sanders truly supports all of Angel’s choices.
He merely respects Angel’s opinion and doesn’t want to interfere with others’ choices.
But his true thoughts may be similar to Nis and others; he doesn’t really wish for Angel to get involved in the matters at the center of the Mist Belt.
The matters there are not only beyond the limits of the Southern Domain but also surpass energy level limitations.
Even if Lord Reine were to go, there’s a risk of falling if not careful, let alone Angel.
Therefore, even though Sanders previously supported Angel’s decision, he still didn’t want to watch Angel walk into danger with open eyes. Thus, he chose to accompany Angel in flight and used cautionary words to dissuade him.
"Do you want to see your brother grieving for you from thousands of miles away? Your enlightening mentor turning to bones alone in the Ice Coffin? And those you care about, and those who care about you... saddened?"
Angel pondered for a moment, then silently said, "I don’t want to."
"Is this your inner thought?"
"Yes."
Sanders looked at Angel, still standing there, and softly said: "You’re still planning to return to the center of the Mist Belt, even though you don’t want those you cherish to be sad?"
Angel hesitated for a moment but still nodded.
Sanders was silent for a long time; it took nearly half a minute before he spoke again: "Do you...do you think you can survive?"
Sanders still didn’t ask about Angel’s purpose but inquired about an answerless, more idealistic outcome.
"I can." Angel replied with certainty.
Sanders squinted his eyes slightly: "You really believe someone can save you?"
Angel: "..."
"Do you want to ask me why I’m sure someone will save you?"
Angel chuckled, neither affirming nor denying.
"You dared to say ’can’ with such certainty, which must mean you have confidence. I don’t know where that confidence comes from, but it’s undoubtedly one of a few possibilities."
"The Observer, the beings of the Nightmare Realm...and the Void," Sanders almost definitively said.
The reason for this speculation is actually quite simple. To gain fortune at the center of the Mist Belt, in Sanders’ view, requires at least special abilities or Legend-level strength as a base.
And such beings related to Angel, the first to come to mind would naturally be the Observer.
The attitude of the Observer towards Angel before was obviously different from that towards others. So, the Observer is possible. However, since the Observer let Angel go previously and now calls him back, it seems repetitive, leading Sanders to think the Observer’s likelihood might be lower.
Apart from the Observer, there are the beings of the Nightmare Realm that could assist Angel.
The beings of the Nightmare Realm are even more mysterious and more powerful. Angel’s status in the Nightmare Realm might allow some creatures there to help him, becoming his confidence in returning to the Mist Belt center this time. However, Sanders thinks the possibility of Nightmare beings is still very low because there has been no involvement of Nightmare beings from start to finish. As a pioneer of the Art of Nightmare Illusion, he hasn’t felt any presence of the Nightmare Realm at the center of the Mist Belt.
No matter how powerful the Nightmare beings are, or how they are Angel’s confidence, it’s unlikely they would let Angel return to the Mist Belt center for no reason. Besides, do the beings of the Nightmare Realm really know what’s in the center of the Mist Belt?
As for the last possibility: the Void.
Sanders hadn’t thought of it before, but he noticed a detail around Angel.
Upon leaving the Mist Belt, Angel was surrounded by nothing other than Dangross; there were no other creatures around.
However, when leaving the Ghost Shipyard Island, a new creature appeared by Angel’s side.
This was a creature undetectable to the naked eye, existing only in the energy world, with a presence almost undetectably low—a Void Traveler.
The sudden appearance of this void creature beside Angel naturally sparked an idea in Sanders.
Especially when Sanders mentioned the three possibilities, Angel subconsciously glanced at the Void Traveler, further confirming Sanders’ suspicion that Angel’s confidence in returning to the Mist Belt center might be rooted in the Void.
However, does Angel know any void creatures? Sanders hadn’t heard, after all, everyone has their own fates, and he couldn’t possibly know everything about Angel.
"Seems I guessed right," Sanders said: "Even if you believe a powerful being will help you, do you really think you can rest easy?"
"Placing the power to survive in the hands of others is not the first choice of an independent wizard."
"Moreover, are you truly sure that the being helping you is completely sincere? Regardless of who it is, they undoubtedly have selfish desires. When their desires and ambitions swell beyond control, any promises are just empty words."
"Even I might not fully commit to helping you."
Angel: "I understand."
You understand, but you still don’t listen. Sanders silently added Angel’s inner thoughts, knowing him well as his mentor. Angel understands the reasoning, but the decisions he has made are difficult to change.