Angel considered all aspects that could have been overlooked, ensuring this laboratory trip wouldn’t bring them too much risk, then put his mind at ease.
Returning to his senses, Angel heard Ferro’s voice coming through the Mind Ribbon.
Ferro: "By the way, what was that you mentioned earlier about Bo... something?"
Kanter: "Polo Ye. It’s best not to call that name directly outside, but you can use Mind Ribbon."
Ferro: "I understand, Polo Ye. Did he head towards the laboratory for No. 01? So, this means No. 01 likely doesn’t stand a chance, right?"
Ferro’s voice carried a hint of regret. After hearing No. 01’s story, he felt a touch of sympathy. Although No. 01 was responsible for getting into such a situation, if Ferro were in No. 01’s place, he might also have acted against that peculiar creature.
With empathy comes bias, which is why Ferro felt slightly regretful.
"Polo Ye has already gone there, No. 01 shouldn’t have any chance." Kanter said.
Ferro sighed: "This is the lament of the small and powerless."
Angel listened to the conversation within the Mind Ribbon but didn’t chime in. Taking a position is troublesome when truly empathetic. However, with Ferro’s final question, Angel pondered: Does No. 01 really have no chance at all?
Based on No. 01’s style in the letter, there are indeed signs of madness, but conceding fate... Angel didn’t see that.
Angel only thought for a moment and quickly dismissed it.
Time flowed bit by bit, and they had already left the central sea area of the Mist Belt, nearing Reef Island.
Everyone became more relaxed as the pressure almost vanished here.
Leaving the storm center, they rejoiced.
But, not quite, one person’s expression was peculiar.
Angel noticed Reynaud sitting at the stern on the top deck, his gaze slightly vacant, staring at the sky.
"Reynaud." Angel called softly.
Reynaud started a bit, turned to look at Angel, with some confusion in his eyes: "Sir, are you calling me?"
Angel nodded: "I was going to ask your plans afterwards. Yet, you seem a bit off now. Did something happen?"
Reynaud shook his head: "Nothing much, I just feel a bit strange, as if I hear the sound of tides."
The sound of tides? Here in the Devil’s Sea, isn’t it normal to hear tides?
Everyone looked puzzled.
Reynaud: "It’s not the real sound of seawater, but a kind of... auditory hallucination? Moreover, it doesn’t come from below, but surrounds me from all sides. You don’t hear it?"
Angel and Sanders exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other’s eyes: "No sound at all."
"That’s strange, I hear it clearly." Reynaud looked up at the sky: "Also, I feel as though the tide sound is calling out to me, pulling me, my body feels light, as if ready to fly into... there."
"Huh?" Reynaud’s reasoning seemed ridiculous, perplexing everyone further.
Suddenly, Reynaud’s voice grew louder: "Can you hear it? Now it’s much louder, roaring beside my ear, and it seems to be pulling me..."
Watching Reynaud’s neurotic display, everyone wondered if he had stayed out of his physical body for too long and lost his mind.
At this time, Nis... sitting by the ship’s rail... suddenly spoke: "If you wish to die, you can follow that calling sound."
Everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifted to Nis.
Sanders curiously asked: "You can hear the sound?"
Nis shook his head: "I can’t either, but I know what Reynaud heard."
Nis didn’t keep them in suspense, speaking without pause: "It’s the sound of the Soul Homeland."
When Nis mentioned "the sound of the Soul Homeland," Sanders and Kanter appeared suddenly enlightened, clearly having heard of the sound of the Soul Homeland.
Only Angel, lacking extensive experience, looked at Sanders with confusion.
Sanders: "The sound of the Soul Homeland is a sign of the Quest World intersecting with the Material Realm, a summoning sound, advising lost souls that they are about to enter the Soul Homeland."
Nis also added: "All independently existing souls can hear this sound. I recall you possess Astral Projection, try leaving your soul behind and listen."
Angel hesitated for a moment, using the secret technique of soul murmurs.
At the moment of soul separation, surely enough, he heard a wave of tidal sounds near his ears, also carrying a certain allure, tempting the soul to go toward someplace. Compared to the allure of the previous Mysterious Fruit, it was much weaker.
After Angel’s soul body returned, Sanders continued: "Its emergence also implies that soon, the flowing light band from the Quest World will encircle the current world."
Sanders’ statement suddenly reminded Angel of a question he had once asked Frode: How do souls ultimately get to the Quest World?
Since Frode wasn’t a Soul Witch, his answer was vague: The Quest World is generally known as a higher-dimensional presence or a flowing light band. When this light band aligns with the Southern Domain, souls in the Southern Domain might just turn a corner, walk through a passageway, and arrive at the Quest World.
However, predicting when this flowing light band will align with the Southern Domain is difficult to pinpoint accurately. Sometimes it’s quick, happening within days, sometimes slow, taking hundreds of years.
Angel: "Wizard Nis, are you saying the Southern Domain Wizards’ Realm is about to align with the Quest World?"
Nis nodded: "Indeed, it has been many, many years since the last alignment occurred. Unexpectedly, this alignment is happening today."
Seeing Angel’s face turn solemn, Nis casually remarked: "No need to worry, even if it truly aligns, the flowing light band circling the entire Southern Domain Wizards’ Realm will only bring benefits to the living, no harm. Otherwise, the World Will wouldn’t allow its appearance."
"Even undead, as long as their attachment is strong, can willingly stay and not go to the Quest World. So, your undead underlings, including Frode, certainly won’t leave."
"When the Quest World and Southern Domain align, the major impact is on those chaotic-minded undead. They lack thought, filled with negative energy in their soul bodies, unable to resist the light band’s allure. After the light band passes, many undead will enter the Quest World, which is actually a great thing, akin to purging worldly filth."
Kanter then added: "In fact, many people have been anticipating the day of alignment between the Quest World and the Southern Domain."
Angel: "Anticipating?"
Kanter nodded: "Many ancient ruins actually harbor a large number of undead. Confronted with such ruins, many Official Wizards are reluctant to explore. Yet once the Quest World and Southern Domain align, at least half of the undead inside will be drawn by the light band, heading to the Quest World. Exploring the ruins then becomes much easier."
"I estimate it won’t be long before a wave of ancient ruin exploration is sparked."