[Chapter 34 Comment]
[SonofSunWukong: Don't worry about copyright, the author seems to have changed the name slightly. Anyway, do u get an ability every 10% of integration. I know u haven't gotten there yet but u should have acces to this info.]
[Twin_dragon13773: This story really proves the amount of power illusions can hold when in the right hands. (I don't think that makes sense:( )]
[Adam_Balch_7324: A real statement of a fight if you would call it one]
…
The king's expression oscillated between helplessness and anger. He yearned to tear Theo apart with his own hands. Yet, Theo's demeanor remained unchanged. In fact, he took his time to peruse the comments.
"I believe I have already provided the answer... hmm, right before the Chapter 33 comment, if I'm not mistaken. Or did the author not portray my words? Anyway, the answer is yes," Theo mused inwardly.
Glancing at the second and third comments, a challenge seemed to ignite within Theo. Despite being a master of illusions, he felt that it wasn't enough upon reading these comments. If people could still find a way to praise him, then it wasn't the end. He was determined to attain a level of power that would render people utterly speechless.
He also added, "How's that? Did I manage to answer it with my determination and thought? Did the author project it? If not, then I'll definitely make you speechless with the illusion. Everything you've seen here is just the tip of the iceberg and I'll continue improving."
After replying to the comments, Theo's vision returned to the king. The king refrained from attacking him as he had anticipated.
The king must have realized that he was still ensnared within Theo's domain. Any action on his part would only entangle him further in Theo's deception. To challenge Theo, he had to dismantle the domain itself—the entire carnival. Hastily, the king made his way toward the exit of the carnival.
Theo responded with a wave of his hand, conjuring illusions of ropes that sought to ensnare the king.
Swinging his sword, the king severed each illusion one by one. The two commanders followed suit, retreating alongside their king.
Nana gasped, taken aback by the audacity of the enemy's commander. She had not anticipated such shamelessness.
"You're not getting away!" Li Wei fared slightly better as he unleashed a sword strike, attempting to exploit his opponent's movement and strike him down. However, his opponent didn't even bother to evade, allowing the sword to connect with his waist.
"It's unfortunate, but I know you can't kill me for an obvious reason," his opponent snorted, aware that Li Wei's intention was to purify him rather than to kill him.
In this predicament, sacrificing one life might be preferable to allowing the enemy's plan to proceed, as it would undoubtedly result in further destruction.
"Tsk." Li Wei pursued his opponent, but in the end, Theo raised his hand, signaling him to stop. Li Wei ultimately stood beside Theo and inquired, "Is there a problem, Teacher?"
Theo surveyed the two commanders who had reached their king and dispelled the illusions of ropes.
"Not really. It's just..." Theo pointed towards the three humans. "You have three options. First, chase after them and eliminate those humans. This way, we can avert the worst-case scenario. Second, you can prioritize killing those skeletons and employ purification skills to free them."
Curiously, Theo didn't proceed with the third option, leaving Li Wei intrigued.
"What's the third option?" Li Wei frowned.
"That's for you to guess," Theo responded.
"I don't believe we're in a position where we can afford such a luxury," Li Wei furrowed his eyebrows. However, he understood Theo's intention to some extent. If the teacher provided all the answers, it would be akin to being spoon-fed. As a student, he should also make an effort to assess the situation if he desired improvement.
That's why Li Wei immersed himself in deep thought, considering Theo's personality, typical strategies, and hidden strength. Memories of the times when Theo withheld information resurfaced in his mind.
"We have to be self-sufficient. Even if it's not part of our assigned task, we need to possess basic knowledge about it. In other words, this plan... and what is going to happen..." Li Wei muttered in a low voice.
Theo couldn't help but smile at Li Wei's progress. Previously, Li Wei had been focused solely on himself, which limited his perspective to his own abilities. However, Li Wei was intelligent, so it shouldn't be a problem for him to figure this out. Nevertheless, being his first time, it took him a while to do so.
At that moment, Maya approached them and asked, "Teacher, why didn't we chase after them?"
"Why the rush?" Theo smiled. It seemed that Maya had finished her task. Meanwhile, Nana and Oliver took care of the scattered bones on the battlefield, completely removing them.
"It's just... I don't know what they're up to, but..." Maya gazed at the encroaching fog that obstructed their view. It appeared that the enemies had retreated to a deeper area, intending to accomplish something. This left her feeling uneasy. "...my intuition is tingling as if the enemies are growing stronger..."
"The enemies are getting stronger?!" Li Wei exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock. Every clue that Theo had provided suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
"W-what?" Maya was taken aback by Li Wei's sudden excitement.
"But if that's true, it will be troublesome. Teacher... Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you attempting to make the enemies grow stronger to the point of becoming a Noble Rank Supernatural Being? Their king should be nearing that level, right?"
"Hah?" Maya couldn't believe what she had just heard.
Li Wei lowered his gaze and muttered, recalling all the information. "Back at the association, I remember you telling the Spiritual Diplomat that it's better to prepare for a Noble Rank Spiritual Being."
"In addition, despite all the turmoil we've faced so far, you remain calm, as if you've expected it to happen. You even stop Miss Nana from going back to inform the others. From all these clues, I've come to realize that everything is part of your plan. Therefore, the next step should involve a Noble Rank Supernatural Being."
Theo patted his shoulder and said, "You've guessed it right."
Li Wei took a sharp breath. If everything unfolded according to Theo's plan, he wondered how far ahead Theo had foreseen. In fact, Theo might have anticipated the enemy's counterattack with their newfound strength and their subsequent defeat.
However, being too confident wasn't advisable, especially considering the potential threat to the nearby town if Theo had miscalculated.
"Teacher, I still believe we need to stop them."
"As I mentioned before, the success of the mission depends on how quickly you act. It's just..." Theo shook his head in frustration.
"Are you saying it's too late?" Li Wei furrowed his brow. At the very least, Theo should possess the power to turn the situation around if he desired. Yet, he chose not to intervene. "No, wait. You never wanted to directly engage in the mission unless necessary."
"Exactly. You could view me disrupting their reinforcements as your safety net. But the situation has changed. Now that they have regrouped, I want you to think about the next plan and proceed." Theo presented them with another challenge.
Li Wei still couldn't believe that Theo was taking this risk. However, he heard Theo add, "To think, to execute, to fail, and to achieve something on your own is how you become stronger. The moment you excessively rely on someone else is the moment your life is no longer your own."
Li Wei's body trembled. He remembered the teachings of his teacher in the cultivation world. "Li Wei, remember this. A teacher is your guide, not someone who will always be there for you. I want you to become independent, to solve everything by yourself... That's the only way for you to soar in the sky like a dragon, rather than remain a caged bird."
The lesson seemed to be specifically aimed at him, and Li Wei realized that he stood to gain the most from this mission. He turned to Maya and said, "We're going to chase after them, but I want you to rely on your instincts to avoid falling into their traps."
"Alright. And what about Oliver?" Maya inquired.
"Theo, do you mind if I involve Miss Nana in this?" Li Wei asked.
"You are free to use anything at your disposal, except me. I will only intervene if I believe you've failed to accomplish your task," Theo affirmed with a nod.
With Theo's approval, Li Wei called out to Nana and Oliver, "Oliver, Miss Nana. We're going to pursue our enemies before they can advance to the Noble Rank. It appears that they have another method to achieve that level, so we need to act swiftly."
Upon hearing these words, Oliver swiftly set aside his current tasks and joined them. Meanwhile, Nana abandoned her methodical approach of killing the skeletons one by one and expended three purification talismans to unleash a powerful spell that eradicated the remaining skeletons at once.
She then rushed to Li Wei, gasping for breath, and asked, "What did you say? The enemies are attempting to reach the Noble Rank?"
"Yes, and I need your expertise to prevent that. We're going to pursue them at high speed. While Maya can sense any imminent danger, we rely on your experience to identify anything unusual. At the very least, give us a few seconds to react."
"Understood. If my assistance can prevent their king from reaching the Noble Rank, I'll do my best," Nana agreed, nodding her head.
"Oliver, your task is to gather any boulders or trees you can find along the way. They may prove useful later on," Li Wei instructed.
"Alright," Oliver replied, though he was unaware of the full situation and relied on their guidance.
However, the group was aware that Li Wei had taken charge because Theo had allowed him to do so. There had to be a deeper reason behind it. "Now that everyone knows their roles, let's go," Li Wei declared, his expression serious.
The five of them dashed forward, pursuing the enemies with utmost speed. Given the time spent on explanations and lessons, they needed to make up for lost time. Oliver, being the slowest, ended up being carried by Maya's exoskeleton.
Unbeknownst to Li Wei and the others, Theo had a hidden motive for letting Li Wei take the lead. Although he had the opportunity to kill the king earlier, he chose not to.
On one hand, it could be seen as Theo being a supportive teacher, providing his student with the chance to grow, just as he did in the previous mission where the students handled everything until the final moment when Theo had to intervene and kill the spider personally. On the other hand, it could also be interpreted as Theo intentionally prolonging the mission.
Indeed, Theo intentionally extended this mission as part of his experiment. He manipulated the time flow, causing it to progress at a slower pace.
He muttered under his breath, "Based on the chapter comments, I believe the previous mission lasted for about seven chapters. And this mission is already around six to seven chapters."
"By prolonging the fight and compelling the author to create more chapters, it will introduce additional variables and delay our eventual encounter. However, sooner or later, I have to experience this scenario, especially if the author introduces ridiculous plot armor for the villains."
"I apologize to the readers for the extended duration, but allow me to experiment with various elements. I promise to keep you engaged and entertained."