Chapter 311: Let’s Tackle Two Big Problems

Southwestern border of the Typhon Empire.

A cold winter rain, mixed with fine snowflakes, fell relentlessly. In the dimming twilight, it draped the world in a murky, chaotic veil. The endless rain, the gloomy sky, and the mist clinging to the mountains intertwined, blurring everything into a hazy, indistinct scene.

In this blurred world, a poor mountain village on the frontier had long since sunk into darkness. The villagers, too poor to buy lamp oil, huddled inside their pitch-black homes, relying on meager hearth fires for warmth. Their eyes nervously flickered toward the ancient black spire perched atop the mountain.

From the tower’s peak, a few windows glowed with an eerie dark red light. Ominous black clouds swirled above the spire, and the misty rain seemed summoned by those sinister lights, casting a damp, oppressive gloom over the land.

The mad old sorcerer was up to his dreadful schemes again—superstitious villagers hurriedly shuttered their windows, whispering prayers to their gods, hoping the dark wizard’s curse would spare them.

At the top of the tower, Mary and several other apprentices paid no mind to the villagers’ fearful murmurs. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t care.

The apprentices busily arranged the laboratory, placing various magical ingredients exactly as their master had instructed. A large brazier burned in the center of the stone chamber, its flames an unnatural shade of red, flickering like blood trembling in the air.

The old sorcerer stood at the heart of a magic circle beside the brazier, pouring power into the runes while watching each apprentice’s movements with dark, brooding eyes. He wasn’t wearing his usual black robe. Instead, artificial neural cords extended from his spine, writhing slowly behind him like venomous snakes.

One apprentice trembled and accidentally scattered some amethyst dust into the fire, sending sparks rippling through the air. The apprentice’s eyes widened in panic, but the old sorcerer only shot him a venomous glare. “Be careful, you useless fool!”

The apprentice exhaled in relief and resumed his work with even greater caution.

Mary carefully poured a mixture of mineral powder, magical beast blood, and enchanted herb juice into the rune grooves carved into the floor, stealing a glance at her master.

Since their last “connection,” Master Daniel’s behavior had grown increasingly strange.

Though he had always been eccentric—punishing apprentices without reason, conducting terrifying experiments—this time was different. It was as if he had been struck by a profound terror, burdened by an unspeakable pressure. He had become hyper-nervous, driving the apprentices to work nearly sleeplessly, setting up countless mental defense runes throughout the tower. He had inscribed numerous new runes on his own body, requiring long meditations just to fall asleep, and often woke from nightmares.

The other apprentices didn’t understand, but Mary suspected all this was linked to the “connection” their master had made.

He had said he’d made a pact with a terrifying entity… Was this all the consequence of that deal? Was that “terrifying entity” so dreadful it had shaken the powerful sorcerer to his core?

What kind of monster could it be?

Mary dared not ask for details. She kept her head down, silently doing her work, praying she wouldn’t make a mistake or draw the master’s wrath. She knew the others felt the same.

Finally, all the magical runes were set, the brazier and ritual tools arranged perfectly. The old sorcerer glanced around the lab, then impatiently waved his hand. “All of you, get out!”

The apprentices fled like they’d been pardoned.

“Mary! Stay!” The old sorcerer’s harsh voice cut through the room.

The young, low-ranking sorceress shivered involuntarily but dared not disobey. She steadied her racing heart and obediently approached him.

“Give me your hand.”

Almost numb, Mary lifted her left hand. She watched helplessly as the old sorcerer grabbed her arm and plunged a dagger into it.

Pain shot through her, and she nearly pulled back, but forced herself to stay still, fearing the terrible punishment that might follow.

Blood welled from the wound, then—strangely—floated in midair.

Daniel traced several runes in the air with the bloodied dagger. The blood obeyed, drifting toward the brazier and quickly consumed by the crimson flames.

“Good… good…” the old sorcerer muttered nervously. “Mixing the sacrificer’s blood into the ritual should transfer the Outer Wanderer onto the sacrificer… With these misleading and defensive runes around, I’ll be safe. I’ll be safe…”

Before Mary could fully grasp his meaning, he shoved her from behind. “Go! Stand in the center of the circle, now!”

Mary glanced at the runes. Drawing on her knowledge of the occult and recalling her master’s words, a chilling realization dawned on her—

This old man planned to deceive the terrifying entity he’d made a pact with. He intended to use himself as the sacrifice, the scapegoat!

But it was too late to resist. She stepped into the magic circle, and an overwhelming force pinned her in place.

Even if she hadn’t been trapped by the runes, she knew the outcome wouldn’t change. She dared not—and could not—fight back.

Daniel watched the dark red runes flare to life one by one, and the usually silent female apprentice obediently stood within the circle. He allowed himself a slight sigh of relief.

The time of his pact with the Outer Wanderer was fast approaching, but he still had one last desperate gambit—he had layered dozens of protective wards throughout the tower, inscribed countless protective spells on himself. With so many defenses, perhaps he could resist the Outer Wanderer’s arrival…

And he had used Mary as a misleading medium, a backup plan.

What if the Outer Wanderer discovered the “fake”?

Then he would blame everything on the apprentice, claiming she had recklessly entered the circle at the crucial moment, disturbing the great Outer Wanderer…

Daniel’s mind began to throb, thoughts growing muddled. He looked at the apprentice in the circle and suddenly felt a strange doubt—when had she become his apprentice? Why was he standing here? Why was he about to harm an innocent child?

Fragments of memories flashed through his mind: a younger version of himself standing in a dilapidated tower, a ten-year-old girl rushing up to him, him preparing food for her…

He hesitated, then lunged forward to free Mary—but at that moment, his mind spiraled into chaos again.

Desperate magical research, the wondrous power of the Sleeper, the joy of discovering truth and success…

He glared fiercely at Mary, waiting for his protective wards to stop the Outer Wanderer’s arrival.

Then the world around him wavered. An endless realm of clear skies and boundless waters unfolded. Massive metal platforms rose from the water, and the Outer Wanderer stood before him, smiling.

His defenses had no effect—and Mary’s role as a decoy was useless.

“Master… my lord…” the old sorcerer’s foggy mind finally cleared in this virtual realm. He realized how foolish his actions had been and tried to make amends.

But Gawain paid no attention to Daniel’s attitude, nor did he even notice the protective wards.

Because he hadn’t “invaded” Daniel’s mind. When he last kicked Daniel out of the network, he left an open port in his mind and dug a backdoor in the network…

This was one of his breakthroughs after studying the Sleeper’s psychic network technology.

He was confident that the Sleeper, still relying on traditional mental defenses, would never detect this new network-based method…

Daniel looked at the “Outer Wanderer” before him, puzzled. Why wasn’t this inhuman being angry? Shouldn’t his protections and deception be an insult, a betrayal?

Gawain finally noticed Daniel’s odd expression and casually asked, “Why are you so nervous?”

Daniel froze, then lowered his head. “I… I’m just a little uneasy at being summoned again.”

He suddenly understood why the Outer Wanderer ignored his “little tricks.”

Because this powerful being hadn’t even sensed his feeble resistance…

The dozens of mental defense layers in the tower, the countless protective runes on his body, Mary as a decoy, the carefully arranged ritual—all combined, their power wasn’t even enough to register to the Outer Wanderer.

“No need to be nervous. Let’s sit down and talk,” Gawain said with his ever-gentle smile, conjuring a tea table, chairs, and refreshments. He gestured for Daniel to sit.

Daniel sat cautiously, avoiding eye contact out of guilt.

From across the table came the calm voice: “I have some tasks for you.”

“Just say the word…” Daniel replied.

Gawain smiled and casually produced a stack of scrolls and blueprints. “No rush. Let’s start with two big problems.”

(End of chapter)