Since the opponent is still within the hunt, it’s simple. Just keep narrowing the hunting area, which equates to suppressing the opponent’s activity space, and eventually, it will be forced to reveal itself due to the limited range.
To let the concealed creature lower its guard, Angel instructed Speedy not to move, while they continued at the previous pace.
Initially, the opponent hadn’t realized Angel had left a defense net behind them, so it continued to move slowly.
But as Angel and his team increased their pace, the opponent noticed something was wrong and started to move quickly.
At the same time, the Wood Spirit wrote a line in Angel’s palm using fine vines: It’s running.
As the Wood Spirit leisurely wrote out this line, Angel vaguely felt that something seemed to have bumped into the defense net behind him. He turned to look but saw nothing.
Then, after writing that line, the Wood Spirit began writing new words: It collided and then ran back.
Seeing this line, Angel was sure the defense net had indeed hit the concealed creature earlier. But the reaction at that time was completely delayed; waiting for the Wood Spirit’s judgment? Even worse. By the time it finished writing, several seconds had passed since Angel felt the defense net was hit.
So, the Wood Spirit’s words can only serve as a reference for past occurrences rather than real-time commentary.
Since the opponent had already noticed something was wrong, Angel no longer had Speedy remain stationary, but let it carry a defense net woven by the wind forward.
This way, Angel and Speedy moved towards each other, compressing the concealed creature’s activity space more quickly.
In over ten seconds, Angel and Speedy were less than twenty meters apart.
And these twenty meters were the "final circle" of the hunt.
Angel stopped his footsteps, simultaneously signaling Speedy to stop moving.
Angel was not chickening out; twenty meters is a fairly appropriate distance. Further compression would increase the sense of oppression on the opponent.
If the opponent is truly the "surprise" given by the Wise Sovereign, leaving a bit of leeway is a form of respect.
Whether the opponent wants this leeway will be revealed in its subsequent reaction.
After stopping, Angel prepared to wait for the opponent to react. However, before getting a response, Dox’s countdown started.
"Ten, nine, eight..."
Angel glanced at Dox, who threw a wink at him and gave a discreet "no problem" hand gesture, continuing the countdown.
Angel understood that Dox meant this as a final ultimatum to the concealed creature.
Clearly, Dox knew Angel’s intention to stop but felt leaving unlimited leeway was not ideal. So he initiated this ten-count, using the countdown rhythm to impose psychological urgency.
Angel didn’t stop it... couldn’t stop it, so he let Dox count down.
During the first five counts, Dox’s rhythm was slow and steady, but he abruptly sped up for the last five counts.
This method of altering rhythm is a commonly used psychological tactic... well, "commonly used" here pertains to social interactions.
Angel was quite curious about where Dox learned this tactic from.
Was he taught a lesson and then learned out of shame? Or did he proactively learn this tactic to use on others?
No matter the answer, Angel thought that if Dox continued to follow him, it might be best to keep women away from him.
While Angel’s thoughts ran wild, Dox’s countdown reached the final three numbers.
But before he could count these last three numbers, everyone heard an unfamiliar voice beside them.
"Hunter seeking treasures, your countdown confuses me. Do you wish to witness my arrival firsthand?"
This voice had a distinct tone, hmm... very poetic. It seemed to deliberately adopt a reciting manner of speaking. Judging by the voice, it belonged to a clear young man.
The mention of "hunter seeking treasures" and the keyword "countdown" made it evident the voice was addressing Dox.
Yet Dox looked perplexed: "Huh?"
"Hunter seeking treasures, I will fulfill your wish, but can you pay the price for this wish?"
As the voice ended, Dox was about to say, "My wish is not to witness your arrival," but before he could speak, a shadow appeared before everyone.
It was a young man in a green robe, holding a harp, wearing an elegant hat.
Judging by the attire, he was clearly a bard.
As for his appearance, couldn’t see it clearly because of a mask. Not a full mask, it only covered his right eye and a third of his face. The parts not covered seemed fine, likely a handsome youth.
The bard, holding the harp, fixated his gaze on Dox: "I have arrived, now it’s my turn to demand a price."
Dox looked disdainfully: "Who wanted to witness your arrival anyway, that’s not my wish."
Ignoring Dox’s protest, the bard continued: "The price you need to pay is..."
After a pause, the bard casually played a note on the harp, and everyone saw a complex formula derivation appear before Dox.
The formula had been derived at least sixty times, densely filling entire wall of light.
At the end of this formula was an equals sign, followed by a huge question mark.
"Solve this formula and provide an interpretation. That’s the price you have to pay," the bard said, then leaned against the wall, closing his eyes in silence.
Leaving Dox dumbfounded, staring at the wall of light.
"What is this all about? Was this bard the concealed creature?" Dox asked via the Mind Ribbon.
Angel: "Yes, but also not entirely."
Angel’s response was contradictory, leaving Dox confused, and others puzzled by Angel’s words.