Vay swallowed nervously, despite feeling a bit apprehensive himself, he still said, "Kaier, don’t scare yourself."
Kaier remained silent, fearing he might really have a crow’s mouth.
Although he’s just an apprentice, and his inspiration isn’t as strong as an official wizard’s, he occasionally experiences some "surprises." And these surprises, to put it bluntly, mean that good things don’t actually work, but bad ones do.
Kaier silently prayed in his heart: he was just talking aimlessly earlier, please don’t let it come true, please...
"Although Vay might not mean what he says, at least he’s correct." Angel, seeing the two apprentices trembling together, ultimately couldn’t bear it and said, "If there really is a side path of normal size similar to that dog hole, it’s actually easier for us to find the clues in it. Never underestimate a wizard’s abilities."
Angel wasn’t saying this just to comfort them; it was indeed the truth.
Although they seemed to be moving forward without any caution or fear, both Angel and the Black Earl were observing the surrounding details in their own ways.
For instance, the scent positioning points set by the Black Earl. Also, Angel was constantly observing the magic pattern directions on the surrounding walls and the ground.
If that dog hole truly had an illusionary large size, the corresponding complexity and size would have matching intricate magic patterns. Angel could use the direction of the patterns to determine specific situations, which is easier to judge than the current dog hole.
Angel: "Speaking of which, I’m actually looking forward to encountering a dog hole of the size you mentioned, to help resolve our confusion. Is it a controlled trap or... some kind of life form?"
If wood can become spiritual, so can walls made of stone. Of course, thinking is one thing; for an object to truly become a spirit requires favorable timing, location, and human assistance. Otherwise, spiritual entities in the Wizards’ Realm wouldn’t be so rare.
Angel’s words were heard in reverse by others, after all, who would hope to encounter unknown dangers during exploration?
However, Angel truly wanted to encounter the large "dog hole." Solving the confusion was secondary; he was more curious about what allowed the "dog hole" to sense their presence?
This isn’t the first time.
Even though outsiders only viewed Angel’s main role as an Alchemist, Angel’s own priority is illusion technique first, alchemy second.
Indeed, Angel achieved this. His illusion technique, once infused with the power of nightmare illusion, is difficult even for Sanders to discern. This means Angel’s illusion mastery has already surpassed his own level. Even against true knowledge level opponents, briefly controlling them with illusions isn’t hard.
However, this time, Angel unexpectedly faced repeated setbacks in his supposedly most adept illusion technique.
When the dog hole first appeared, Angel didn’t pay much attention as he didn’t understand its principle.
Later, upon hearing the Black Earl mention that the dog hole opens only upon sensing people present, and closes otherwise, Angel mentally noted it.
Before entering the sewer, Angel under the pretense of adding purifying fields, enhanced the illusionary realm’s concealment abilities. He did it subconsciously but unexpectedly encountered the dog hole a second time.
Yet, even after strengthening the illusionary realm, the dog hole still detected them within it.
This made Angel very eager to understand how the dog hole sensed them. The answer to this question might further deepen his understanding of the art of nightmare illusion. Even if it doesn’t, it might at least cover the shortcomings of his illusion technique.
In essence, whatever the answer, it’s a substantial enhancement for Angel.
If not for being the expedition’s leader, Angel might already have gone to study the dog hole. But this matter isn’t urgent; as long as the underground labyrinth still exists, he believes he’s bound to encounter the dog hole again...
Even if reality doesn’t present it, there’s still the Nightmare Realm.
...
Angel restrained his restless thoughts, took a deep breath and returned to his role as the "reliable leader."
"It’s not necessary to worry about the dog hole for now, that’s not our purpose this time."
"Let’s keep moving; if we haven’t taken a wrong turn, we’re not far from the Hanging Jail Stairway." Angel said, "After all, I’ve been informed that the wood spirit is a bit timid. If it truly fled here, it wouldn’t have gone too far."
After all, the terrors of the sewer’s magical creatures are far greater than the Ghosteye Witch above.
Even if the wood spirit can pretend to be a dead object for years to evade magical creatures, Angel believed it’s unlikely to stay in the sewer for long.
This place is filled with darkness, pollution, filth, and unbearable stench. Even Speedy, an energy life form, returns to the purifying field; what more for the naturally pure Wood Spirit?
"That’s logically sound, but the premise is we’re not on the wrong path," Dox murmured.
Angel paid no attention to Dox; they’ll know soon if they’re on the wrong track by proceeding a bit further. If there are visible traces of numerous magical creatures, it confirms they’re on the wrong path. Otherwise, not.
Proceeding onward.
But this time, the atmosphere was much more subdued.
Until Angel projected a familiar symbol onto the light screen, the tense atmosphere began to dissolve amidst doubt.
The symbol, though slightly damaged and its colors almost faded, still showed a general outline.
A hollow black circle, divided equally by a diagonal line, with silhouetted human figures within each half.
The facial details were unclear, but the left semicircle had a hat-wearing male, while the right had a long-haired female.
Had it been their first time seeing the symbol, they’d be puzzled. But not long ago, they encountered an identical and intact symbol.
"Is this... the Mirror Demon God’s symbol?" Dox asked with a frown, "Where did you find it?"
Angel pointed in a direction, but since it was dark and dirty outside, none extended their spiritual power. Therefore, Angel directly simulated the location through the illusion screen.
The first image showed a dilapidated, weathered wall, typical in the sewer, corroded by darkness and pollution. At the center of the wall stood a raised platform with a wax-sealed emaciated corpse lying on it. The corpse’s dry skin bore the Mirror Demon God’s symbol.
"Is this a wax seal?" the Black Earl asked.
Angel nodded, "Yes, a posthumous wax seal made from high-grade wax. Judging by the symbol, the wax-sealed corpse might’ve been a disciple of the Demon God sect from back then."
Dox inquired, "If that’s the case, could it be a near-millennia-old wax corpse?"
Angel: "Given the wax’s high quality, I wouldn’t rule out a millennial wax seal. But without physically examining the wax corpse, I can’t be sure."
Angel paused and then asked, "Want to go check it out?"
Vay: "Is... is it dangerous?"