Chapter 2752: Chapter 2753: Petal Winds
Faced with the Shepherdâs attack, Kaier was initially in full alert. But soon, he realized that instead of an attack, the Shepherd was testing and obstructing.
The Shepherdâs probing was different from others. His testing was more about confirming whether Kaier possessed the Windâs Force.
Countless turquoise flowers appeared in mid-air. These blossoms, resembling roses, swirled and swayed, approaching Kaier.
As the flowers flew, they gradually trembled, seemingly foretelling what was about to happen. As they neared Kaier, their shaking intensified, as if a raging energy inside wanted to be unleashed.
Finally, around Kaier, a mass of flowers reached their peak tremor. With a rumbling sound, the flowers exploded... or rather, disintegrated.
The disintegration brought about countless petals, these petals like blades, repeatedly impacting Kaier.
The attack wasnât very strong, but extremely bothersome, like mosquitoes buzzing around your ear, not causing severe harm but enough to irritate you.
The best way to handle such an attack was to ignore it. But the Shepherd also seemed to have some skills in sound manipulation, he amplified the hissing sound of petals slicing through air, and by adjusting sound frequency, constantly plucked the taut strings in Kaierâs heart, aggravating the annoyance.
If ignored any longer, it could affect performance in the ensuing battle.
Hence, handling these petals became Kaierâs immediate dilemma.
Kaier understood the Shepherdâs intention, using this harassment tactic instead of direct attack, to test if he truly mastered the Windâs Force.
As the Shepherd mentioned earlier: Since Kaier was reluctant to answer, heâd probe himself.
If Kaier had mastered the Windâs Force, the simplest method would be like what the Alchemy Golem did: converting strong wind to weak wind.
As long as Kaier set up a layer of strong wind around him, he could easily transform these weakly driven petals away.
This method of setting up a wind layer was so basic for a Wind Apprentice, that it wouldnât even be considered a trick. Merely elementary use of Windâs Force.
So, if Kaier employed other methods to counter the petal winds, it would essentially expose his lack of Windâs Force mastery.
The Shepherd devised such complexity to prove this point.
While Kaier comprehended the Shepherdâs motive, he couldnât fathom why the Shepherd insisted on confirming his Windâs Force mastery?
In such a high-pressure battle, proving such a trivial point seemed unnecessary, didnât it?
Kaier hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to call the Alchemy Golem back. After all, the true master of the Windâs Force was the Speedy hidden within the Golem.
Yet for some reason, when Kaier attempted to contact the Speedy through the devices in the Alchemy Golem, there was no response.
Kaier puzzledly glanced at the Golem and noticed four black-faced sheep had transformed into terrifying whirlpools, encircling the Speedy tightly.
Was the Speedy trapped by those black-faced sheep?
But wasnât Speedy close to an Official Wizard Level elemental creature? How could it be trapped by these unknown black-faced sheep?
While Kaier was doubtful, the surrounding petal winds grew denser, the hissing more vexing to his mood.
After hesitating a while, Kaier opted for spatial defense spells to fend off the petal winds.
Among various defense spells, only the Spatial Defense Spell was a Third Level trick, as the Power of Space was harder to grasp than other elements, and if uncontrolled, the consequences unwelcome. Hence, the Spatial Defense Spell was the only Third Level trick of its kind, not necessarily the strongest defense, but certainly the hardest to cast.
Kaierâs use of Spatial Defense Spell here felt like wielding a sledgehammer to kill a fly.
Nevertheless, it was intentional by Kaier.
He wasnât incapable of other defense spells, but chose the hardest Spatial Defense Spell to bluff.
Regardless, using any other defensive spells would lead the Shepherd to conclude he couldnât use the Windâs Force, so he might as well use the hardest Spatial Defense Spell.
It was a deliberate defiance: Iâve seen through your plan, but Iâll act contrary to your script.
Whether the Shepherd was fooled by this bluff, Kaier didnât know, but it was a tactic nonetheless. Besides, if the Shepherd discerned his intentions, it wouldnât matter.
Itâs merely exposing his lack of Windâs Force mastery, nothing significant after all.
Previously, his hesitance to answer was purely from embarrassment. Because a "Wizard Level Alchemy Golem" wasnât something an apprentice could wield, merely exposing it would imply it was granted by an Official Wizard.
Even though everyone had some Out of Discussion measures, the ghostly figure or the powdery dew on the other side stayed within apprentice means. Bringing a Wizard Level means to an apprentice duel was indeed excessive.
Thus, he hadnât answered the Shepherdâs question before.
But if the Alchemy Golem were deemed acceptable, it meant the Wise Sovereign approved its conformity to duel rules. Hence, if exposed, itâd be inconsequential.
Kaierâs contrary approach did indeed momentarily puzzle the Shepherd.
However, the Shepherd quickly snapped back, shook his head with a slight smirk at Kaier, as if signaling that heâd already seen through these tricks.
Kaier wasnât affected by the Shepherdâs demeanor, as he said, he didnât consider it a big deal; the detour and defiance was just to prevent the Shepherd from reaching conclusions too easily.
Rather than being outwitted by the Shepherd, Kaier was more concerned about the Speedyâs condition.
Why was there no feedback from the Speedy? What had those black-faced sheep done to the Speedy?
Kaier was deeply worried about any issue with the Speedy, knowing how precious elemental creatures were in the Southern Domain. Should anything happen, he couldnât afford it.
With this in mind, Kaier, under the Spatial Defense Spell, flew towards the Speedy.
At this moment, Kaier didnât consider that the Speedy was nearly at Wizard Level; if something went wrong, his efforts would be futile.
Meanwhile, the Shepherd had confirmed that Kaier likely couldnât wield the Windâs Force but hadnât determined where the prior Windâs Force originated, was it from the Alchemy Golem?
So concerned was the Shepherd about this answer because those winds... felt different.
The Shepherd had his own secrets, and those winds seemed to resonate with it somehow.
Therefore, till a conclusion was reached, the Shepherd wouldnât let Kaier disturb the little ones.
The Shepherd swiftly caught up with Kaier, this time without Windâs Force, but directly engaging in close combat. With the Windâs Force boost, the Shepherdâs speed was swift, easily blocking Kaier.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in the otherâs eyes.
Kaier knew that a close-range battle was inevitable.
...
Meanwhile, beneath the arena, Dox once again approached Angel.
"You know what I want to do most right now?"
Angel: "???" What does what you want have to do with me?
Dox clenched his fist and stared fiercely at the Shepherd in the arena: "I want to give that guy a good beating."
If it were before, Vay would definitely retort at this time: "Are you envious of him, or are you jealous of him?"
But now, without Vay to pick up the gag and Angel unwilling to speak, Dox could only talk to himself: "Because that guy did something outrageous!"
Angel gave Dox a suspicious look; the Shepherd seemed to have acted according to the rules, nothing outrageous, right?
Seeing Angel finally paying attention to him, Dox quickly said: "He actually summoned four such ugly sheep!"
Those four black-faced sheep? Angel carefully observed them. In his aesthetic view, the black-faced sheep werenât ugly. They looked very much like sheep overall, with fluffy and naturally curly fur, pure white and flawless, only their faces were darkened.
Even though the faces were darkened, it didnât make them look ugly. Instead, due to the color contrast, it covered the protruding sheep nose, making the face seem flat and very cute with fuzzy fur.
Moreover, this color scheme reminded Angel of a certain Earth cat he had seen on the holographic tablet, which added more subjective filters to his evaluation.
However, Angel didnât argue with Dox; everyoneâs sense of aesthetics is different. Oneâs beauty might be anotherâs ugliness. So he respected Doxâs opinion.
But if one wants to beat up the Shepherd just because of the black-faced sheepâs appearance, isnât that a bit of a distorted value system?
As Angel was pondering this, Dox continued: "The worst part is, he actually gave those four ugly sheep such a heinous name!"
Angel recalled the names the Shepherd seemed to call those four sheep: Black One, Black Two, Black Three, Baby? How is that heinous?
"The names themselves are already unpleasant, but theyâre not even symmetrical! Forget Black One, Black Two, and Black Three; shouldnât the last one be Black Four? How did it become Baby? Whatâs the relation between Baby and the previous ones?"
Listening to Doxâs complaints, paired with his impatient look, Angel felt a guess forming in his mind:
Certain people with OCD go crazy when they notice disharmony in things. Only when everything follows a pattern do they feel comfortable.
Could Dox be such a person?
But Angel remembered that OCD sufferers are very strict about order, and Dox himself doesnât seem to follow rules that strictly, being more carefree and enjoying freedom. He doesnât seem like an OCD sufferer?
At this moment, a feeble voice came from beside: "Gold One, Gold Two, Gold Three, Gold Four are the names of his sandworms."
Angel turned to look and found it was Vay, who hadnât spoken for a while.
Vayâs expression still looked melancholic, and his face was pale, but at least his eyes were more spirited than before.
As long as previous matters arenât mentioned, Vay should be able to gradually recover.
Angel: "I remember the sandworm he raised, wasnât it called Little Gold?"
Moreover, Dox still owed Angel a Little Gold.
Vay: "Little Gold is just a nickname; its official name is Gold Three."
Hearing Vay say this, Angel somewhat understood. Dox is a non-typical OCD sufferer, usually showing no symptoms, but when he takes something seriously, it gets the better of him.
He didnât care much about his sandworms being named Gold One to Gold Four, nor about any nicknames. But upon hearing someone elseâs black-faced sheep with names Black One to Black Three followed by Baby, he couldnât help himself.
Even if he slightly understood, Angel still found it a bit ridiculous. Itâs just a name, and perhaps Baby itself has no connection with Black One to Black Three; it might have its own combination, like "Beibei" or something.
Just as Angel was contemplating this, the Shepherd on the stage suddenly called out: "Black One, aid your brother, donât let that Alchemy Golem break through the wind vortex!"
Angel: "..."
If according to the Shepherdâs naming sequence, Black One is the eldest, Baby the fourth. But now, the Shepherd said for Black One to assist its brother? Brother? Does this mean Baby is the eldest after all? Then why was Baby named last?
Angelâs head was filled with question marks.
He glanced at Dox beside him, who had already gritted his teeth.
At this moment, Angel finally somewhat understood Doxâs feelings. His hands were getting a bit itchy too...
"Angel, whatâs going on with your Speedy?" Black Earlâs voice timely sounded from the Mind Ribbon, instantly dispelling the gradually restless atmosphere within.
Angel: "No clue."
Dox also turned at this time, adding: "Isnât it your Elemental partner? How could even you not know?"
Angel silently looked at the now calm-faced Dox. Wasnât he just wanting to shout and fight a moment ago, how can he change his face so quickly?
Angel shrugged: "Maybe it thinks those little guys are cute?"
Angel understood what Black Earl and Dox were implying: Speedy surrounded by those four black-faced sheep, never emerging, is indeed odd.
Not to mention them, even Angel himself found it perplexing.
Previously when Kaier contacted Speedy, Angel had sensed it as well, but Speedy hadnât responded to Kaier, which was also strange.
Angel initially thought Speedy encountered danger, but through contractual connection and Hyper Perception talent, Angel confirmed Speedy was perfectly fine.
However, why hasnât Speedy, despite being okay, emerged from the black-faced sheepâs encirclement... Angel doesnât know.
After all, Speedy is merely his subordinate, not a true Elemental partner.
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