Chapter 2433: Chapter 2434: Shepherd’s Melody

"...That’s basically the situation. All you need to do is control the sea beasts so they don’t swim into this area." Reynaud briefly explained what ’Song’ was supposed to do.

As for why, Reynaud’s explanation was: A dangerous entity has appeared up ahead, utilizing sea beasts for sacrifice to enhance its power. If it’s not stopped, it will threaten all life in the Mist Belt.

"Song, I’m counting on you."

X3 maintained a cold expression. After hearing Reynaud’s words, she scoffed, "Why should I believe the words of a traitor?"

Reynaud’s expression was bitter: "You still think I’m a traitor? In that case... I have nothing more to say. But, you know me best; you should understand I have no reason to lie to you."

X3 let out a chilly chuckle: "Even if it means endangering the base, so long as I can annihilate you, what does it matter? The strength of the base is something you cannot comprehend. No creature can destroy it. Even if all the Southern Domain’s witcher organizations combined, they can’t surpass the base because behind it stands a major organization from the Origin World. Just sending a Legendary Wizard could overturn the entire Southern Domain. It’s a qualitative difference! Wake up, Number 1!"

Initially ridiculing, X3’s tone shifted, becoming increasingly zealous, akin to a devout believer worshipping a deity known as ’the Base’—entirely illogical and lacking self-awareness.

Witnessing this scene, Angel finally understood why Reynaud claimed that, aside from him, everyone else had been "brainwashed."

X3’s behavior was a classic symptom of brainwashing. She believed she had independent thought, but her self had already been lost.

"Indeed, just a frog at the bottom of a well, with a view as narrow as the well’s opening. You uphold the notion of ’Origin World’ monotheism, genuinely believing it’s correct? Such rhetoric would be mocked by everyone, even in the Origin World." The one speaking was Nis, looking at X3 with sarcasm.

On the whole, the Origin World is stronger than the Southern Domain. However, the Origin World and the Southern Domain both belong to the Wizards’ Realm. Even separated by the Void, the essence of the world is the same, being the origin of humans. Viewing them separately is heretical.

Moreover, many strong individuals in the Origin World come from various parts of the Wizards’ Realm, including strong individuals from the Southern Domain living in the Origin World. Even though they haven’t returned, should a Legendary Wizard indeed come from Lacey Association to subvert the Southern Domain, we shall see if those great beings from the Southern Domain remain unmoved.

"It’s not just adding up all the witcher organizations in the Southern Domain. Just us from the Barbarian Cave, if we wanted to, we few could destroy your base." Nis continued, "As for Lacey Association sending a Legendary Wizard for support? Do you really think the Barbarian Cave’s millennia-long foundations are a joke?"

Even hearing Nis’s words, X3 dismissed them like wind past her ears. For someone like her, entrenched cognitions won’t be broken by a word or two.

Like a frog in the well, she would never grasp how vast the world beyond is, satisfied in her delusion that the sky above the well’s opening is the entirety of the world.

To change her perception, X3 needs to leap out of the well herself; words from others are useless.

"Song, please believe me, you absolutely must not let that dangerous entity continue devouring the sea beasts," Reynaud still tirelessly tried to persuade X3.

Yet, X3 clearly wasn’t going to heed Reynaud’s advice.

At this moment, Ferro approached from afar, having just interrogated 02. Behind him was Number 02, enshrouded by Earl Mi, appearing dispirited.

"Did 02 know?" Nis turned and asked.

Ferro gently shook his head: "He knows nothing."

Nis sighed. It seems this was Number 03’s secret, unknown to others. No wonder, each Wizard has some tricks hidden at the bottom of their chest. For example, Sanders, beyond conventional Spell Techniques, he possesses Mysterious Objects as a foundation, though past battles have not required their use.

"What about him? Kill him?" Ferro inquired.

X3 looked up at Number 02, utterly incapable of resistance, with a complex emotion in her eyes. To her, 02 had always been an unattainable mountain, yet now, he seemed like a pitiable worm, ensnared by an inhuman black shadow, motionless.

Nis pondered: "He still has some utilizable value. Let’s capture him for now and hand him over to the Tree Spirit Lord later."

The Spirit Tree Courtyard has prisons, imprisoning many powerful captured Extraordinary Lives. Among them, some can have their knowledge extracted, some serve as bargaining chips, some become free labor; if all else fails... there’s Dumatin to turn them into puppets.

Nis glanced at Angel: "Please have Earl Mi continue restraining him. Others would struggle to control him. If he were to forcibly open the Plane Corridor, it would be problematic."

Angel nodded. Currently, Earl Mi doesn’t need to fight, so having him watch over 02 is fine.

Once the matter with 02 was resolved, their eyes turned back to X3.

Reynaud was still earnestly pleading with X3, but she remained unmoved, radiating defiance.

Angel didn’t want to waste any more time and directly asked, "Is X3 controlling the sea beasts with Soul Arms?"

Reynaud nodded.

"Got it." Angel turned to X3. Seeing her averting gaze, he said, "I’ll give you one last chance to choose—either you do it yourself, or I’ll make you do it."

As to how he would take control, Angel didn’t elaborate.

Currently, Angel’s appearance was that of Sanders. X3, tasked with gathering intelligence on Southern Domain Wizards, certainly recognized him.

If Sanders wanted to control someone, he would surely use Illusion Technique, absolutely invisible and shapeless.

X3 hesitated, not wanting to be controlled, but also unwilling to serve this group of people, even if it was just to drive away the sea beasts.

Seeing X3 remain silent, Angel grew impatient and extended his finger. The Power of Nightmare Illusion swirled at his fingertip: "In that case, let’s just..."

X3 felt the bizarre force of the Power of Nightmare Illusion and, shocked, blurted out, "I’ll do it myself!"

Angel didn’t reply, embedding the Power of Nightmare Illusion into X3’s forehead.

X3: "I’ve already agreed!"

"Then do it. As long as you don’t harbor ill intent, the Illusion Technique I left in your mind won’t activate," Angel said calmly. "However, if you do something you shouldn’t..."

Without finishing, Angel directly manipulated the Power of Nightmare Illusion in X3’s brow, instantly taking control of her body.

"X3" moved her limbs and tilted her neck.

"This is what happens when you do something you shouldn’t." Angel’s voice overlapped with X3’s somewhat immature female voice.

An X3’s consciousness was trapped in her sea of consciousness, witnessing her body speak, only to feel intense unease.

She never imagined someone could completely control her body like this... She could only witness it in her consciousness sea, utterly motionless.

Is this the power of the Illusion Master?

Perhaps sensing X3’s dread, Angel relinquished control, returning it to her.

Angel: "You know what’s to be done; Reynaud has already informed you. Once you complete your task, I’ll remove the Illusion Technique and let you leave alive."

```

"Is what the lord said true?" Although X3 always tried to appear calm, she was actually afraid of death; who wouldn’t choose life over death?

Angol retorted, "Do I need to deceive you?"

X3 did not question further. Considering Sanders’ status, there really was no need for him to deceive her.

"Ferro and I will follow her and ensure there are no issues," Reynold said.

"I will fulfill the lord’s instructions," X3 said, and then flew towards the outer sea with Reynolds and Ferro.

X3 must not get close to No. 03, or she could easily be influenced by the fruit. All she needed to do now was to drive away the sea beasts approaching the outer sea.

Even though Ferro went to the outer sea with X3, Angel still controlled a scouting puppet to follow along. He also wanted to see if X3’s abilities could dominate over these sea beasts heading to No. 03.

Under Ferro’s guidance, X3 quickly reached the outer sea.

Looking down from there, one could still see a dense crowd of sea beasts beneath the sea surface, scrambling to swim in the same direction.

At a glance, there were at least a hundred sea beasts.

Though there weren’t any giant ones, most were the size of adult sea whales, and such a massive migration of sea beasts was something X3, who had been controlling sea beasts for years, had never witnessed before.

"It’s still small here; earlier I saw a number of sea beasts as large as islands, all sacrificed by that dangerous presence. Just imagine how powerful the opponent will be if the entire Mist Belt’s sea beasts are devoured and sacrificed," Reynold said softly. "So, we must stop this."

X3 glanced at Reynold, "I don’t need your reminder. Since I’ve agreed, I won’t go back on my word."

With that, X3 put away her complex emotions, closed her eyes quietly, and hummed a song softly.

The tune was very lively, with a bright rhythm and beat.

Ferro frowned, unsure of what X3 was doing; why was she still singing at this time? Just as Ferro was about to speak, Reynold said in the mind link, "This is ’Song’ activating her soul arms. That’s why I named her ’Song.’"

Ferro understood and nodded, saying no more.

After humming a short piece of music, X3’s body slowly released some specks of light. Ferro could clearly feel that these specks seemed to possess the nature of soul force, but before soul force forms a spell model, it’s hard to materialize. He was seeing this kind of soul force, which materializes in particle form, for the first time.

A large number of light specks floated around X3, eventually forming her soul arms.

It was a white bone flute adorned with various colorful ornaments and strange engravings.

Though the bone flute had taken shape, it was not completely independent. Its bone handle had a light band that connected to X3’s right thigh.

This indicated that X3’s soul arms actually came from her transplanted right leg.

After the bone flute appeared, X3 held it to her mouth, took a deep breath, and the melodious music flowed out.

This piece of music was the same as the one X3 had hummed earlier. With the cheerful flute accompaniment, Ferro confirmed that this melody was a shepherd’s song.

No wonder X3 was dressed in a shepherd’s dress, looking like a herds-boy. It matched her shepherd’s song.

As the lively shepherd’s song played over the sea, the sea beasts swarming around suddenly calmed down.

They seemed to be enjoying the music like happy little lambs.

Under the beautiful music, the redness in the sea beasts’ eyes returned to normal.

Seeing this scene, both Ferro and Angel felt a rush of emotion.

So far, it seemed to work!

However, although the sea beasts no longer charged forward with unrestrained fury, they also didn’t leave. More sea beasts would come, and if they all gathered here, X3’s shepherd’s song might not affect so many sea beasts.

So now, these sea beasts needed to be driven far away as much as possible to prevent excessive congregation.

While Ferro was thinking about how to tell X3, she had already noticed this flaw. Her flute melody became even more vibrant, and she began dancing, leaping in the air and gradually flying away.

The sea beasts below followed X3’s steps, quickly swimming away.

As she drove away one group of sea beasts, new ones gathered, and X3 repeated the previous actions, continuously driving away the incoming sea beasts.

With one shepherd’s song, she could control hundreds of sea beasts simultaneously, from one point to an entire area, encircling a whole section of the sea.

X3’s efficiency was astonishing.

Of course, not all sea beasts would heed the call of the shepherd’s song.

Among those reaching the apprentice peak or official wizard level, none were attracted by the shepherd’s song.

These more powerful sea beasts were a minority among the vast number of sea beasts. Angel instructed X3 not to worry about these beasts; they directly let them through for him and Nis to handle.

For those too powerful or hard to deal with in a short time, Angel used the nightmare illusion to control them, making them run in circles on the spot.

As long as they didn’t get near No. 03 or become a sacrifice target, there would be no issue.

With X3 solving the sea beast problem, indeed, the fruit above No. 03’s head showed signs of slowing maturation. In the following minutes, its attraction did not increase again, as indicated by Angel’s domain field weakening the attraction.

This showed that their plan had achieved half its success.

They successfully delayed the fruit’s rate of ripening. But this wasn’t the end.

Now the consideration turned to how to rescue Kanter.

Currently, there seem to be two choices: either seize the mysterious fruit directly or aim to awaken Kanter.

As the group deliberated, the Observer quietly watched them, having noticed Angel’s efforts that managed to stall the fruit’s maturation.

Yet, the core issue remained unsolved.

He, too, was curious to see what choice Angel and the others would finally make.

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