Chapter 428: Black Space

For eight days, Helag followed the white deer, joined by other wizards.

Sensing Helag’s imposing presence, they kept their distance.

These wizards noticed Helag could accurately track the deer’s location.

Initially struggling to find the deer, they now simply followed Helag.

His large form was an easier target than the elusive deer.

Helag found it annoying but couldn’t do much.

The wizards merely followed, not attacking, giving Helag no reason to provoke them.

Additionally, there were over a dozen wizards, a formidable challenge if united against him.

With no immediate solution for capturing the deer, Helag continued the pursuit.

Meanwhile, the trailing wizards discussed strategies, yet no effective plan emerged.

Perched on a branch, Helag watched the deer stroll leisurely on the grass.

The wizards’ chatter grew louder, prompting the deer to glance their way before vanishing, reappearing in a distant forest.

Helag quickly pursued the deer’s new location.

As he moved, the wizards followed, sticking to him like glue.

Helag flashed onto a large rock, observing the deer from afar.

Based on his observations, he was convinced the deer possessed spatial rule abilities.

As first-level wizards, they lacked the power to engage with rule forces, rendering them helpless against the deer.

“Only with a magical tool…”

Helag lacked spatial tools, but others might have them.

However, even if they did, they wouldn’t share with him.

As Helag watched, he sensed danger and vanished.

A blood-red claw struck where he’d stood.

Looking up, Helag saw Malcolm riding a night steed.

Hovering above, Malcolm said, “Your spell is intriguing. Once I deal with you, I’ll study it. You haven’t activated your teleportation ring, showing confidence. Good, don’t ever activate it, or it’ll be too dull.”

“Malcolm of the Eye of the Storm!” someone behind Helag recognized him, showing fear.

Malcolm’s reputation preceded him as a powerful madman.

No one liked dealing with madmen, especially strong ones.

Helag smiled at Malcolm, “You couldn’t kill me before I became a formal wizard. Now, as a crystallized wizard like you, do you think you stand a chance?”

“I admit your progress is swift, but there’s a gap between crystallized wizards,” Malcolm replied coldly.

“Indeed, there is,” Helag agreed.

Malcolm produced a black sphere, tossing it down.

The sphere expanded, engulfing Helag and Malcolm.

Once absorbed, the sphere shrank and vanished.

“A spatial magical tool…”

The observing wizards murmured.

***

As the black sphere appeared, Helag felt spatial pull, similar yet distinct from teleportation.

He could have activated his teleportation ring, abandoning Operation Cradle to escape the sphere.

Helag hesitated but didn’t activate the ring.

Seeing the sphere pull Malcolm too, Helag realized Malcolm feared his escape.

After brief darkness, light returned.

Cautiously, Helag surveyed his surroundings, finding himself on barren ground beneath a starry sky.

“A third-tier magical tool, Black Space, made from a small plane fragment. Here, you can’t use spatial rings. Had you teleported out before being absorbed, you might have survived.”

Malcolm’s voice came from behind. Helag turned to see Malcolm smiling innocently.

“You have nowhere to run,” Malcolm said.

Helag sensed the area felt like a separate plane, yet something was missing.

“Remember Baron Buck?” Helag asked suddenly.

“Baron Buck? Never heard of him,” Malcolm replied, puzzled.

He wasn’t in a hurry to attack; Helag couldn’t escape here.

“When you came to Carlson Continent and used the Bloodline Curse to kill Baron Buck’s family, I was just an ordinary person, not even a wizard apprentice,” Helag said.

“Carlson Continent… Bloodline Curse…”

Hearing these terms, Malcolm recalled.

Ordinarily, he wouldn’t remember such minor killings, routine for him.

Initially, Helag’s words meant nothing.

But “Carlson Continent” and “Bloodline Curse” jogged his memory.

Years ago, Malcolm traveled to Carlson Continent to research the Bloodline Curse, leaving a strong impression.

The Bloodline Curse, a first-level spell he developed, was one of his proudest works, remembered clearly.

“You were there?” Malcolm asked, confused.

Helag nodded, “Yes. Baron Buck was kind to me, as were Emil and Melissa. Now, with the chance and ability, I’ll settle the score. Your head will be an offering to the Baron’s family.”

Malcolm chuckled silently, baffled by Helag’s confidence, thinking being crystallized equated them.