Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3019: Chapter 3020: Consecutive Slash Technique

"Consecutive Slash?" Angel’s expression showed confusion.

He was unfamiliar with this term, but from the meaning, it seemed to refer to... continuous slashing?

Angel thought for a moment and gathered several Illusion Nodes, conjuring up a scenario: A man meditating suddenly opened his eyes, drew his sword, and slashed at a wooden stake with incredible speed, sending forth a streak of sword light. When the man sheathed his sword, two distinct sword marks appeared on the stake behind him.

It was clearly a single slash, yet it left two marks on the stake.

This was Angel’s understanding of Consecutive Slash.

"Is this what you meant by Consecutive Slash?" Angel looked at Dox.

Dox: "Not quite, but you could see it that way. However... why use me as an example, hey!"

"Even using me as an example, couldn’t you switch the subject to someone else? A Shallow Sea Strongman would have been fine. How could it be a wooden stake, and I didn’t even cut it in half, how’s that possible?"

The man drawing the sword and slashing in Angel’s illusion was indeed Dox, and the sword he held was the very red sword hanging at his waist.

Angel: "You can understand it as me creating an illusion of your mortal self."

Dox wanted to say more, but Angel ignored his protest and continued asking about Consecutive Slash: "Why is it not quite accurate? What is the true nature of Consecutive Slash? What does it mean for Aex to be able to perform it?"

Dox: "The scenario you depicted in the illusion is, at most, a dual-impact strike, and it’s just a slash that occurs in the Material Realm. As long as the speed and technique are up to par, replicating it isn’t difficult. This can be considered a Consecutive Slash, but it’s only the layman’s understanding of ’Consecutive Slash.’"

"The true Consecutive Slash, as seen by us Bloodline Wizards, isn’t purely about output in the Material Realm. The real Consecutive Slash involves consecutively releasing energy techniques in an instant! Moreover, during the attack, using the power of a single strike to leverage the force of the Consecutive Slash."

Imagine that terrifying Bloodline attack being released multiple times in an instant, yet the cost is only the power of one strike; such a Consecutive Slash ability is formidable enough to destroy heaven and earth.

Dox: "And this style of Consecutive Slash is a power that Bloodline Wizards dream of possessing, not something everyone can perform."

Angel somewhat understood. The Consecutive Slash released by ordinary Knights or Swordsmen was what Angel showed in his illusion, which, broadly speaking, is Consecutive Slash, but not what Bloodline Wizards consider as one.

In the eyes of Bloodline Wizards, Consecutive Slash is a powerful ability, even worthy of being called a secret technique.

It’s the power of just one strike, yet it brings forth a continuous slashing force, which isn’t limited to the Material Realm and involves the application of energy.

"Hearing you say it like that, this slashing technique is indeed very powerful." Angel sighed and looked back at Dox: "So can you do it?"

Hearing Angel’s question, Dox’s expression suddenly became awkward, stammering slightly: "Well... somewhat, somewhat."

Angel understood: somewhat means not at all.

Angel: "So you’re saying that even you can’t perform Consecutive Slash, yet that Aex person can... I get it, you’re jealous?"

Dox protested in a low voice: "I’m not unable, just not proficient yet!"

"As for being jealous of Aex? No way, I’m not jealous. There are Bloodline Wizards who can perform Consecutive Slash; am I supposed to be jealous of every single one?"

Angel looked suspiciously: "Not jealous, then why did you suddenly bring up his Consecutive Slash?"

Dox: "Because he doesn’t have the qualification to perform Consecutive Slash."

"Not qualified?" Angel glanced sideways at Dox: "Is this not jealousy?"

Dox sighed: "You simply don’t understand... never mind, let me demonstrate for you, then you’ll know."

Dox borrowed several Illusion Nodes from Angel, then quickly used his spiritual power to simulate the scene he saw at the time—

At twilight, the commercial district was as bustling as ever, with colorful lights from shop signs illuminating the low clouds.

Then, in this commercial district where even the moonlight was outshone by neon, a loud roar rang out suddenly.

A giant Shallow Sea Strongman roared, erupting from the guild district and swiftly charging towards the arena like a blue cannonball.

In the process, the earth trembled, and the previously calm commercial district reflected the panic that comes with impending disaster, with people fleeing in all directions.

Although the Shallow Sea Strongman didn’t attack the fleeing people, it also didn’t avoid those on its path.

Among them, a man in clerical robes stumbled due to the constant trembling of the ground and fell to the ground just as the Shallow Sea Strongman was about to pass over him.

Just as the clerical-robed man was about to be stomped to death by the Shallow Sea Strongman, Aex stepped forward.

He swiftly approached the clerical-robed man’s side and, as the Shallow Sea Strongman was about to stomp on him, drew a slender dull sword and placed it under the giant’s foot.

The dull sword’s strike didn’t stop the Shallow Sea Strongman; its massive foot continued to press towards the clerical-robed man.

Just when everyone thought the clerical-robed man was doomed, another sword light appeared beneath the giant’s foot.

This sword light was identical to the previous one, indicating it was also unleashed by Aex... yet Aex clearly hadn’t released a second attack.

Aex only did two things: first, he drew and slashed with the sword, and second, he sheathed the sword and dragged the man.

When the first sword light didn’t stop the Shallow Sea Strongman, Aex began dragging the clerical-robed man away, making everyone think all was lost, when the second sword light appeared.

Aex did nothing in between, yet the second sword light manifested directly half a second after the first was released.

Moreover, the second sword light, in conjunction with the first, pushed the Shallow Sea Strongman back a small step.

Though it was just a small step, it gave Aex the time needed to save the person...

The above was the scene Dox conjured with his illusion.

When Angel had previously seen the giant footprints in the commercial district, he speculated about what had happened, and now after Dox conjured the scene, Angel realized his speculation was mostly correct. Even the person who was saved was indeed the clerical-robed man who had since fled to the Starry District.

The only thing Angel hadn’t imagined was that Aex had launched two consecutive intercepts against the Shallow Sea Strongman, instead of just one.

"Such a clever use of power, is this what you call Consecutive Slash?" Angel asked.

Dox nodded: "Yes, this is Consecutive Slash."

Angel: "Is there a problem with it?"

At least Angel didn’t see anything unusual from the illusion scene. The Consecutive Slash performed by Aex felt no different from Angel’s initial simulation of the "Swordsman chopping wood."

However, it seemed much weaker than the "Technique of Consecutive Slash" that Dox bragged about.

Dox: "I know what you’re thinking, do you think this Consecutive Slash isn’t strong? Actually, I don’t think it’s strong either, but I’m sure he’s using Consecutive Slash. The power his Consecutive Slash displays isn’t strong, but he’s actually mastered the essence of Consecutive Slash."

Angel: "So you’re saying he’s farther along the path of Consecutive Slash than you."

Dox replied irritably: "Stop comparing me all the time, I’ve already said, there’s something wrong with his Consecutive Slash."

Angel: "What kind of problem?"

Dox: "To achieve such smoothness with Consecutive Slash, to the point of it being effortless even with weight, shows his mastery is quite deep. However, his body simply cannot support the execution of Consecutive Slash, which is why I say he has no right to use it."

"Why can’t his body support the execution of Consecutive Slash?" Angel didn’t understand, does Consecutive Slash have physical requirements?

Dox: "A true Consecutive Slash naturally has physical requirements, his blood energy and energy must be large enough to exceed a certain measure... This is the foundation for learning Consecutive Slash. Currently, my blood energy only barely reaches the condition for learning Consecutive Slash, yet he, someone who is not a Bloodline Wizard, has blood energy much weaker than mine but can learn Consecutive Slash and execute it, which is very problematic."

Aex is not a Bloodline Wizard?

Angel had seen Aex before; anyway, he couldn’t determine which category of wizard Aex belonged to, but judging by his outfit and bulging muscles, Angel had guessed Aex might be a Bloodline Wizard.

Now it seems, was he wrong?

Dox said helplessly: "Would I mistakenly judge if he’s a Bloodline Wizard? I’m fairly well-known among Bloodline Wizards!"

"I can be certain that he is definitely not a Bloodline Wizard. Unless... his strength is far above mine, exceeding Second Level True Knowledge Wizard’s prowess, he might conceal it from me, but do you think he has that kind of strength?"

Angel thought about the situation when he met Aex before and still shook his head.

If Aex truly possessed strength above a Second Level True Knowledge Wizard, he wouldn’t have displayed caution when meeting Angel, but rather confidence and fearlessness.

So, just from emotional perception, Aex doesn’t seem like someone who could rely on sheer power level to dominate.

Based on Angel’s experience, Aex’s strength should be above an Official Wizard yet below a True Knowledge Wizard, at early to mid-Level 1 wizard tier.

Angel: "Could there be other techniques for learning Consecutive Slash? Techniques not relying on blood energy and energy?"

Dox nodded emphatically: "There are!"

Angel expected Dox might refute him, but unexpectedly, Dox admitted this time.

While Angel was puzzled, Dox said indifferently: "Precisely because there are other techniques, that’s why I’m focusing on my suspicion of him."

"The true technique of Consecutive Slash originally came from the Wild God of the barbaric wilderness."

"If Aex didn’t cultivate Consecutive Slash through blood energy, there’s only one possibility, his Consecutive Slash was directly bestowed by the Wild God... Do you understand what I mean now?"

Upon hearing this, if Angel still didn’t understand, then he’s truly clueless.

Deity is not a race, but a term referring to religious faith’s source across various worlds.

The Wizards’ Realm doesn’t have deities because, in the wizards’ minds, they are the gods themselves. But many worlds surrounding the Wizards’ Realm do have deities.

For instance, the Abyssal Demon God, Lofte’s Evil God, Druna’s Outer Gods, the Wild God of the barbaric wilderness...

Although their powers vary, these can all be categorized as deities.

Among them, Demon Gods and Evil Gods don’t covet the Wizards’ Realm much, while Outer Gods and Wild Gods desire a hand in the Wizards’ Realm, especially Wild God poses the greatest threat to the Wizards’ Realm.

The existence of so many barbarian hybrids in the Wizards’ Realm speaks volumes.

Wild God is currently the most severely targeted foreign deity by the Extreme Sect, and similarly, Wild God intervenes most in the Southern Domain.

Wild sacrifices have been discovered in various locations, with countless dead civilians and countless infiltrated barbarians.

Even now, the Extreme Sect hasn’t managed to entirely eliminate Wild God’s remnants; like in the central region of Feran Continent, there’s still a vast barbaric area with numerous primitive tribes, where barbarian and human hybrids are common. This shows how far Wild God’s tendrils extend into the Southern Domain.

If Aex’s Consecutive Slash is bestowed by Wild God, he is very likely Wild God’s divine blessed, even if he’s human, he might become a spy for the barbaric wilderness.

This is also why Dox pays so much attention to Aex: Is there a hidden story behind Aex’s Consecutive Slash?

Of course, Angel believes Dox pays attention to Aex not just to help the Extreme Sect find spies... After all, the reason Wild God can stretch its tendrils so long in the Southern Domain includes humans initially provoking the barbaric wilderness.

Moreover, humans have numerous wizards in the barbaric wilderness, eighty percent of whom are Bloodline Wizards, aiming to obtain Magical Creature bloodlines from the barbaric wilderness. Even building the Extraordinary City within!

So both sides are not entirely innocent.

A small divine blessed of Wild God isn’t enough to make Dox raise the banner of righteousness. His attention to Aex certainly includes personal motives, such as further studying Consecutive Slash.

But regardless of what Dox thinks, if Aex’s Consecutive Slash technique is truly from Wild God’s bestowment, it isn’t a trivial matter.

Additionally, Angel suspects Aex might be related to the attacker.

In this case, the attack’s behind-the-scenes may not be so simple.

However, Angel hasn’t completely taken Dox’s speculation as the truth yet. Aex still has many contradictory aspects remaining for observation.

Besides, are there truly only two methods to acquire the technique of Consecutive Slash?

Afterward, maybe he can inquire in the Wilderness of Dreams, or directly ask the Black Earl.

Mentioning the Black Earl, Angel suddenly turned to ask: "By the way, didn’t Lord Black Earl come with you all?"

Dox shook his head: "No, Vay and Lord Black Earl went to negotiate with the Birlos Family, I came back alone. However, now that Bilun Tree Court is under attack, the Birlos Family wizards should have received news by now, they might already be on their way back... Vay and the others will probably return together too."