Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3040: Chapter 3041: Mud Dolls

"How’s the situation around?"

It was Kaier speaking, and he was asking Dox.

After Benson finished describing the situation within this cave, Dox volunteered to test Benson’s words. So, he closed his eyes and started exploring the surroundings with spiritual power.

"Just as Benson said, the surroundings are indeed a large maze." Dox: "My spiritual power can’t penetrate the walls, nor can it seep upwards; it must be the space trap Benson mentioned at work."

"The path behind does indeed have a section that has collapsed, presumably the way Benson took when he came here."

"If you go right three times continuously then walk straight for about a hundred meters, you will enter the spore toxic fog. Spiritual power cannot seep into the fog either, so the internal situation is unknown."

Dox was exploring with his eyes closed while reporting his findings.

"If you turn right twice in the front, then walk straight for thirty meters, and then turn left four times continuously, you’ll find a mire..."

At this point, Dox suddenly paused, unconsciously made a "huh" sound through his nose.

Not long after, amidst the puzzled expressions of the group, Dox opened his eyes.

"Why did you stop at the mire? Did something happen in the mire?" Kaier asked curiously, looking at Dox.

Dox pondered for a moment and said, "I saw Mud Puppet Demons in the mire..."

What’s so strange about seeing Mud Puppet Demons? Kaier didn’t quite understand.

Spore toxic fog and Mud Puppet Demons are just the mainstream obstacles when exploring a maze, aren’t they?

Dox: "Moreover, there were over a hundred Mud Puppet Demons at once."

Kaier was momentarily stunned but still felt it wasn’t a big deal. Didn’t Benson say before that these Mud Puppet Demons act in groups? A hundred Mud Puppet Demons is a bit much, but it’s manageable.

Kaier had once encountered nearly a thousand gregarious magical creatures near the Sandworm Market, a special kind of desert marching ants that devour anything in sight; it’s one of the three great insect plagues, the ant plague, in Laksum Principality. The strength of these marching ants was at the level of initial and intermediate rank apprentices.

So, in comparison, Mud Puppet Demons are just that.

"The point isn’t the type or number of creatures, but... they seem to have detected my spiritual power and are now aggressively heading towards us," Dox sighed lightly.

Upon hearing the magical creatures are swarming towards them, Kaier finally lost his composure.

Although gregarious magical creatures have limited individual lethality, if gathered together, the force becomes terrifying.

In Laksum Principality, even official wizards are reluctant to face an ant plague alone.

Moreover, if encountering marching ants, one can still fly to the air to avoid them; but in this semi-enclosed maze, it’s hard to find a place to hide from the rolling tide of magical creatures.

At this time, Angel spoke up: "This doesn’t sound right."

Pausing for a moment, Angel looked at Benson, who was showing an expression of fear, and asked, "When you encountered Mud Puppet Demons before, did they actively chase you?"

Benson shook his head: "No... they didn’t."

Benson’s answer suddenly changed Kaier’s expression.

He had been thinking that since even Benson could avoid Mud Puppet Demons, they should be able to as well. But now Benson tells them that the Mud Puppet Demons never chased him?!

So what exactly is happening with Dox?

Dox didn’t even take action against the Mud Puppet Demons; he merely used spiritual power to probe. Does this mean that some kind of game rule has been triggered?

Although Benson’s answer made Kaier turn pale, Dox, upon hearing his words, showed a "just as expected" expression.

Angel: "Should we evade? Or should we fight?"

Angel wasn’t too afraid of Mud Puppet Demons. As an Illusionist Wizard, he wasn’t scared of this kind of gregarious magical creatures whose individual strength wasn’t too formidable; a single illusion, whether on his own side or the enemy’s camp, could ensure safety.

However, the abnormal behavior of these Mud Puppet Demons did make Angel a bit suspicious.

Benson also used spiritual power to probe Mud Puppet Demons. Otherwise, if relying on the naked eye to spot them, he might not have time to avoid them.

Benson had no issues when using spiritual power to probe Mud Puppet Demons, so why does Dox have a problem?

Is it because Dox is an official wizard?

But spiritual power strength isn’t the criterion for judging an official wizard.

Moreover, Dox isn’t proficient in spiritual power; many apprentices specialized in spiritual power wouldn’t be much weaker than Dox’s spiritual power strength.

If faced with an apprentice skilled in spiritual power and a wizard not skilled in it, judging solely based on the intensity of their spiritual power fluctuation, Angel would find it difficult to determine who’s the apprentice and who’s the official wizard.

That’s why Angel felt something was off. The behavior of the Mud Puppet Demons is too unusual.

However, there’s another anomaly... Dox himself.

Dox’s proposal to investigate the surroundings and personally getting involved is unlike his style. This inspection work could entirely be handed to Speedy.

Besides, is exploring the surroundings really necessary?

Their goal was clear: Speedy’s avatar.

Finding the avatar is simple, just have Speedy lead the way. Even if Speedy’s avatar isn’t in the Mud Puppet Maze, it’s fine. At worst, they’ll pass through a few more spatial membranes.

This is Dox’s abnormality.

Additionally, Angel also noticed some hidden intention from Dox’s expression.

His purpose in scouting might not just be scouting; perhaps there’s more to it?

Therefore, Angel didn’t raise any objections but instead asked about Dox’s next plan.

Dox: "No need to avoid... when those Mud Puppet Demons get closer, take a good look."

After pausing for a moment, Dox said in a meaningful tone, "I have a feeling these Mud Puppet Demons will bring us a surprise."

"What surprise?" Angel asked directly.

Dox, with a touch of mystery, said, "You will know when..."

However, before Dox could finish, Angel interrupted him: "Riddlers usually meet a bad end. Besides, didn’t you used to criticize Vay’s fatal divination? Now, are you also getting all mysterious?"

Dox’s expression stiffened, and he awkwardly turned his face away, speaking in a slightly embarrassed tone: "Actually, my lord, ahem... I don’t really know what will happen, just a vague feeling."

Angel glanced at Dox, nodded, and said, "I accept that answer."

Angel also understood the characteristics of Dox’s abilities. After all, he’s not a Prophet Wizard and can’t see the real future. His unusual behaviors are obviously governed by inspiration.

And inspiration is even more esoteric than divination. Not knowing what will happen is quite normal.

If you don’t know, just say it directly.

Since Dox’s inspiration led them to face this group of Mud Puppet Demons, then let’s face them. Angel also didn’t say much, just silently set up illusion nodes on the side.

Kaier found the conversation between Angel and Dox quite normal. But on the other side, Benson was full of doubt and surprise.

He knew Dox, but he didn’t recognize Angel...or rather, he didn’t recognize Angel after his appearance changed.

In Benson’s mind, Dox should be the focal point of this party. But now, it seems this red-haired, golden-eyed wizard is the backbone? But who is he?

As Benson was looking at Angel in shock and doubt, a rumbling sound had already started coming from afar.

Accompanied by the rumbling, the ground began to tremble.

Apparently, the Mud Puppet Demon group had almost reached them.

Seeing this, Benson also gave up pondering Angel’s identity and instead took a deep breath, retreating timidly backward: "I, I..."

Benson’s intention was to leave here first, but he also worried that leaving might anger the two Official Wizards, stuttering for half a day without saying a complete sentence.

Angel glanced at Benson, casually casting an illusion to conceal him, and said, "The illusion lasts for half an hour; within it, normal Mud Puppet Demons won’t notice you. You can choose to stay here or leave as you wish."

Benson couldn’t tell if Angel’s words were true or false, as one cannot fully trust a wizard’s words.

However, on the surface, Benson still showed gratitude, speaking words of thanks as he backed away.

After retreating over ten meters, Benson still hadn’t figured out how to express his wish to leave.

Angel said calmly, "Go."

Benson paused for a moment, lowered his head to thank Angel, then quickly turned to leave. It’s worth noting that this time his gratitude seemed much more sincere than before.

No one stopped Benson from leaving, nor did anyone blame his choice.

If they were in Benson’s shoes, they would make the same choice.

Compared to Benson, who’s pondering departure, the current situation undoubtedly deserves more attention.

Angel arranged another illusion for Kaier and instructed him to move aside. Then, around himself and Dox, Angel set up a trigger-type illusion node.

Ready to activate at any time.

Whether to use the illusion or not depends entirely on the specific situation at the moment.

At this time, dust began drifting through the corridor ahead, and the ground shook wildly. Though it’s a group of Apprentice Level monsters, they were creating the aura of a Wizard Level presence.

Watching the Mud Puppet Demons approach, Dox seemed to have another revelation, telling Angel, "Don’t rush to act; leave this to me."

Angel nodded; he didn’t trust Dox much, but he did trust his inspiration.

Angel retreated a few steps, watching quietly from the back as Dox confronted the formidable Mud Puppet Demon group.

...

To be precise, it was no longer just a Mud Puppet Demon group, but a torrent of magical creatures.

Their target was clear and uninterrupted, rolling towards Dox with unwavering intent.

Dust covered the surroundings, making even glimpses of the true form of the Mud Puppet Demons difficult, only the terrifying impact of the torrent could be felt.

And Dox stood there alone, seemingly unfazed by the Mud Puppet Demons.

His calm demeanor seemed to further infuriate the Mud Puppet Demons, quickening their pace with tumbling, leaping, and bared teeth, attempting to utterly crush and swallow Dox.

Quite a few Mud Puppet Demons even set their sights on Angel.

Once Dox was dealt with, Angel would undoubtedly have become their next target.

However, before they could face Angel, they encountered a setback at Dox’s stand.

Dox singlehandedly, with his seemingly frail body, blocked the seemingly boundless torrent.

This scene, even Angel couldn’t help but quietly praise.

Dox clearly did not activate his bloodline, yet solely relied on his body’s strength to withstand the Mud Puppet Demons, proving Dox’s capabilities.

Those who follow the bloodline path indeed possess unparalleled strength in the same tier... In Angel’s case, he wouldn’t dare to play like this; of course, he couldn’t afford to either. Besides the associated green patterned seed, Angel’s projected bloodline was rather underwhelming—currently too weak to be of significant use.

After halting the Mud Puppet Demons, Dox didn’t attack but swiftly navigated among them.

To Angel, this behavior seemed peculiar.

But from the Mud Puppet Demons’ perspective, Dox’s slippery behavior resembled a blatant provocation.

The Mud Puppet Demons appeared even angrier; although many had already targeted Angel, logically speaking, Dox intruding among them left his back unguarded, allowing them to attack Angel freely; but now, provoked and angry, they completely ignored Angel’s presence, continuing to launch attacks at Dox one after another.

Dox seemed to feel that ’intruding among them’ as a provocation wasn’t sufficient, so he even closed his eyes, appearing completely at ease.

For a time, the narrow corridor was filled with roaring and rumbling sounds.

"What’s Master Red Sword doing...?" Kaier’s hesitant voice came through the Mind Ribbon.

Angel shook his head: "Not sure, maybe searching for something?"

The reason Angel said this was because he noticed that Dox’s ears were constantly moving. His closing eyes weren’t for provocation, but likely due to using a ’Five Senses Balancing’ type of spell technique, enhancing his hearing by shutting down his sight.

Though Angel still couldn’t determine exactly what Dox was searching for.

Since he didn’t know Dox’s target yet, Angel decided to focus on the Mud Puppet Demons instead.

Before, carried by dust and grand momentum, it was truly hard to discern the Mud Puppet Demons’ appearances.

But now, once Dox halted their advance with his body, the Mud Puppet Demons, although more imposing, also slowed down, revealing their true forms.

It must be said, the Mud Puppet Demons looked quite unique.

Among magicians, other non-humanoid magical creatures generally looked the same.

Just like how ordinary humans view panthers, despite discernible differences in patterns and fur, overall, humans found it difficult to distinguish panthers’ facial traits. Just feeling like every panther encountered looked the same.

Yet Mud Puppet Demons were different, each of them looked drastically distinct.

As their name suggests, they are mud puppets: dolls made from mud.

The post-mud-sculpted forms vary... some are human, some cats and dogs, even birds and fish... their sizes also differ greatly, large ones like a tusked elephant, small ones like insects.

Looking completely like "Illustrated Book of Creatures"—in a mud sculpture version.