When the Wise Sovereign was surprised by the Luxury Nightmare Realm, the Black Earl was unfazed. Although he did not know the principle behind the Nightmare Realm, he had seen Sanders release the Black Tower Nightmare Realm.
The Luxury Nightmare Realm released by Angel felt completely akin to the Black Tower Nightmare Realm.
Countless people had studied Sanders’ Black Tower Nightmare Realm, including the Black Earl himself, but all ended without any conclusive results, ultimately considering it a unique illusion technique from Illusion Demon Island.
Currently, the only ones still researching the Black Tower Nightmare Realm are probably those wild Wizards of the Rat Ant Underground Association. They considered themselves arch-enemies of Sanders, naturally wanting to thoroughly study Sanders’ abilities, though Sanders had never even glanced at them.
As for studying the Nightmare Realm? Back in the day, the Black Earl secretly lured Sumishe to the Noah clan lands, trying to secretly study his Abyss of Magic Nightmare Realm, and almost got dragged into an unknown abyss by shadows from the Abyss of Magic.
Later, the Black Earl inquired about the Nightmare Realm with his old friend Rhein, and Rhein did not answer directly but provided a clear message: Only people from Illusion Demon Island know about it. Moreover, currently, only Sanders can perfectly use the Nightmare Realm, and others’ Nightmare Realms are basically cut out pieces by Sanders.
Back then, Angel wasn’t born yet, so Rhein’s statement was not wrong. But now, the answer is naturally different.
Speaking of which, after querying Rhein, the Black Earl became uninterested in researching the Nightmare Realm.
Now, when he looks at the Nightmare Realm, he still observes all around, but does not delve into the underlying logic. Instead, he speculates about the effects of the Nightmare Realm.
Sanders’ Black Tower Nightmare Realm integrates suppression, imprisonment, and blood moon amplification.
Sumishe’s Abyss of Magic Nightmare Realm is offensive in nature, fighting through magical shadows.
As for Angel’s Nightmare Realm, the Black Earl has yet to see any effect, as it resembles a normal noble hall. With a lavish main hall, meeting areas separated by drapes, a bar for entertainment, and even a piano section illuminated by lights.
If the Black Earl wasn’t so familiar with the aura of the Nightmare Realm, he would really think this was merely an ordinary Illusionary Realm.
"Is this Angel’s Nightmare Realm?" the Black Earl thought inwardly, pondering it was neither controlling nor offensive in nature, so what could it be?
As the Black Earl mused, his gaze inadvertently landed on a solitary long table in the corner.
The wall candle illuminated a pile of manuscripts on the long table. The ink bottle beside it was already empty, and even the feather pen inserted in the ink bottle was missing some quills.
"Could this be where Angel conducts his research?"
The Black Earl thought for a moment, feeling that this answer might truly be close to the truth. Angel is an Academy Faction Wizard, who cares more about research than fighting. And a scholar, during research, pays the most attention to the research environment.
Admittedly, this place serves well as a research environment.
Thinking of this, the Black Earl chuckled lightly in his heart. The people of Illusion Demon Island are indeed interesting. Sanders likes to suppress people within the Black Tower, Sumishe summons a swarm of Demon Ghostly Shadows at the slightest disagreement, while Flora raises a Rouge Skeleton inside her Nightmare Realm.
By comparison, Angel seems much more normal.
After confirming this Nightmare Realm has no special effect, the Black Earl leisurely landed on Vay’s shoulder, indicating for him to find a seat at the neighboring long table.
"Aren’t we in the Earth’s Circumference Barrier? Will this cause us to leave it?" Vay was a bit worried.
"It’s different, your state can be both illusionary and real. When attacked, you are an illusionary guise; but when safe, you are fully corporeal here," the Black Earl replied.
In essence, under Angel’s manipulation, their current state was a duality of reality and illusion.
As long as Angel wished it, they could transform from their true bodies into an illusion, returning inside the Earth’s Circumference Barrier.
This actually is Angel’s application of illusion techniques: True and False Transformation, unrestrained mind.
However, this only applies to Vay, Kaier, and others, as they are isolated by the Earth’s Circumference Barrier with safety concerns in mind, Angel thus lets them be in a state where they can voluntarily leave the Nightmare Realm and return to reality.
As for Angel, the Black Earl, and the Wise Sovereign, their true bodies are completely covered by the Nightmare Realm. To leave, either Angel must lift the Nightmare Realm, or it must be destroyed.
From this perspective, the Black Earl highly regards Angel. He considered everything thoroughly, allowing people within the Earth’s Circumference Barrier not to be completely unaware of their conversation, while also isolating them to prevent direct contact with the Wise Sovereign. In current terms, this is the most perfect balanced approach. If it were someone else, even if they managed this strategy, they likely wouldn’t take the time to consider others’ opinions.
Vay, hearing that they could leave at any time without safety concerns, breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, following the Black Earl’s suggestion, he went behind the drapes.
The meeting long table already had people seated, with Angel and the Wise Sovereign at opposite ends, exchanging distant glances. Others sat on the sides, with a space left at Angel’s left hand.
Undoubtedly, this was reserved for the Black Earl. But since he rested on Vay’s shoulder... Vay could only bite the bullet and sit down in the empty seat.
As Vay sank into the slightly soft chair, he heard the plucking of strings nearby.
Looking up, Vay saw a light gold dotted teacup with a lyre handle, wobbling over to his side.
The light gold spotted teacup not only extended its slender porcelain-like hands to play the harp but also obediently placed itself in Vay’s hand, indicating for him to savor the tea shimmering with golden light.
Feeling a bit at a loss, Vay looked toward Angel.
Angel: "Drink, it’s their intention."
"Their", "intention"? Vay didn’t quite understand, but Angel’s words made him slightly elated.
Am I being treated specially?
However, his excitement didn’t last long. He looked around to realize everyone had a teacup playing music placed before them, filled with steaming tea.
Vay felt slightly dejected, thinking he was being treated specially by an idol...
But quickly, he regained his spirits, noticing another detail.
Except for the light golden tea cup playing the lyre in front of him, all other teacups had quirky temperaments.
For instance, the teacup before Dox was a pink one holding a conductor’s baton. Dox was already dissatisfied with the delicate pink tea cup, clashing with his tough image, and was further disgruntled by the teacup not letting him drink when he tried, instead hitting Dox repeatedly with its baton.
Furthermore, the teacup before Kaier was a hand drum teacup, which didn’t hit Kaier but was focused solely on drumming, ignoring Kaier altogether.
The teacup before the Wise Sovereign was even more peculiar; a lyre teacup, the only one with a mouth.
The lyre teacup recited incomprehensible words while playing its strings loudly.
The Wise Sovereign made no attempt to touch the lyre teacup. Although the tea inside, an emerald green, smelled pleasant, it wasn’t enticing enough for him.