Reynaud was equally confused and shook his head: "I don’t know, I’ve never seen Number 03 like this."
Reynaud vaguely had a suspicion; not only had he never seen it, but perhaps nobody else in the laboratory had either... because if they had known Number 03 had such formidable power, she might not have been Number 03, but Number 01. After all, the laboratory based power supremacy as the standard, Number 01 is the strongest in the lab.
"There’s no need to consider the anomaly of No. 03 right now. What we should be concerned with is how to establish contact with Lord Night," said Ferro.
Nis: "Even the soul servants controlled by the Touch of Soul, these undead creatures almost devoid of self, are attracted by the fruit. I really can’t think of any other way."
After a moment of silence, Angel spoke up: "I’ll let Earl Mi give it a try."
"If even Lord Night can’t resist it, can Earl Mi succeed?" Nis knew of Earl Mi and understood its capabilities. Earl Mi’s combat strength could rival True Knowledge Level, but it was still significantly weaker than Lord Night.
"We won’t know until we try."
Angel wasn’t planning to send Earl Mi as cannon fodder. No matter how strong Earl Mi was, it wouldn’t last long in that energy-ravaged battlefield.
Hence, he planned to conduct an experiment first.
Earl Mi could create several shadows resembling shadow avatars. When it divided into shadow avatars, its main body’s strength would decrease by a notch. The more avatars created, the weaker its main body would become.
Angel planned to send the shadow avatars to scout ahead.
Except for being weaker than Earl Mi’s true body in overall strength, the shadow avatars were similar to Earl Mi in other respects. If even the shadow avatars couldn’t resist the allure of the fruit, then Earl Mi’s true body definitely couldn’t either.
Nis: "The shadow avatars, belonging to energy bodies, are similar to the soul servants in fundamental respects, but the shadow avatars lack desire, which is crucial. Will the desireless shadow avatars still be attracted by the fruit?"
With this question in mind, the shadow avatar stepped out of the Domain Field.
Earl Mi directed the shadow avatar to fly straight toward Kanter. Initially, the shadow avatar adhered to this order, but after a few seconds, its movements suddenly slowed.
Then, its head abruptly turned, looking toward the distant No. 03.
The originally invisible dark eyes seemed to emit a faint crimson hue, as if reflecting the distant luscious fruit.
The next moment, the shadow avatar abandoned its goal of flying and instead headed toward the direction of No. 03.
Seeing this scene, everyone fell silent.
A few seconds later, the shadow avatar entered the energy battlefield, stalled for about half a minute, and then exploded, completely vanishing.
With the shadow avatar’s explosion, Earl Mi’s aura suddenly diminished, and its strength dropped significantly.
The outcome of the shadow avatar made it clear that even if Earl Mi’s true body went, the result would be the same.
Angel sighed, letting Earl Mi return to its shadow to heal.
"Even the desireless shadow avatars couldn’t resist the fruit." Nis shook his head and sighed, turning to the others: "You all saw the current situation. Now, we can’t even think about contacting Lord Night. If we just leave this light barrier, we’ll likely be affected by the fruit."
"Moreover, the sea beasts below are dying more and more..."
The ocean under the distant waves had turned a pure crimson color. A large amount of blood was being absorbed by No. 03, making the fruit’s color increasingly vibrant.
"The attraction is clearly increasing, and Angel’s light barrier won’t hold for much longer either." Nis: "What should we do now? Should we leave first and seek outside help? With Lord Night’s power, he shouldn’t die so easily."
Nis proposed a solution, but the issue wasn’t just No. 03. The Schiz embryo in the laboratory might already be dead or in a dying state... The hunting squad from Phantom Spirit City could arrive at any time. Do they really have time to call for external help?
At that moment, everyone seemed at a loss about what to do.
Ferro’s gaze drifted toward the distant fruit. Even within the Domain Field, his eyes showed a hint of intoxication, even a slight impulse to move forward.
Ferro forcefully suppressed his inner urge, closed his eyes, and after a long while, as his heartbeat gradually calmed down, he said with a hint of self-mockery: "I once thought the Night蝶 Witch was my greatest temptation, but now I’m beginning to doubt it."
Nis: "Actually, I’m now wondering, is it really attraction? Even the shadow avatars couldn’t resist it. It feels strange, could it be another ability? Perhaps, a kind of rule?"
Everyone shook their heads, none could discern the nature of that fruit.
At this moment, a faint sound rose beside them: "Rules are traceable, but that fruit... is different."
Everyone paused, turning their heads with some stiffness.
Beside them, unbeknownst to them, appeared an old man with white hair.
Nis did not recognize the newcomer and immediately adopted a wary expression: "Who are you?"
Ferro, on the other hand, kept glancing at the white-haired old man, flickers of recognition flashing in his mind as if some long-buried memory was slowly surfacing. He hesitantly said: "You’re the one from yesterday..."
Only Angel respectfully bowed: "Observer, sir."
The newcomer was the Observer whom Angel had encountered recently on the first floor of the laboratory.
Angel had thought it unlikely to encounter the Observer again so soon, but just a few minutes later, here he was.
"Observer, sir!" Upon confirming the newcomer’s identity from Angel, Ferro and Nis hurriedly showed their respect.
The Observer nonchalantly waved his hand.
In the presence of an existence above Legend, Ferro and Nis were at a loss for words, their expressions somewhat uneasy.
Having conversed with the Observer before, Angel wasn’t overly tense. Seeing Ferro and Nis’s silence, he took the initiative to ask: "Are you suggesting, sir, that there’s something unusual about the fruit’s allure?"
Angel didn’t question the Observer’s presence since he knew the Observer would speak when ready.
However, Angel understood that the Observer typically refrained from meddling in Southern Domain affairs; his presence could be seen as interference by the World Will.
Therefore, Angel believed the Observer’s appearance here was not without reason.
Perhaps it also had to do with the fruit produced by No. 03.
"It’s indeed unusual. That fruit is no ordinary fruit,"
The Observer paused before continuing slowly: "It is a soon-to-mature Mysterious Fruit... or rather, a Mysterious Object."
"Mysterious Object?" Angel’s eyes widened, a flicker of realization in his gaze: "Sir, is the fruit in a state of... disorder?"
The Observer smiled and nodded: "You understand well, but it’s not completely disordered yet, only in a semi-disordered state."