Chapter 163: Reencounter with Gles

The Shadow Forest.

The private laboratory of Leylin.

Ever since gaining the appreciation of Nolenhilde and Noritz, Leylin had easily obtained a laboratory entirely to himself. Within this independent space, he enjoyed much more autonomy.

At this moment, stains of blood were printed across Leylin's knees, and his complexion was exceptionally pale.

The starlight-dark quicksand had transformed into two braces on Leylin's calves, supporting him as he stood.

The eruption of Ritura's power just now had indeed inflicted severe injuries upon Leylin. Even with the extraordinary regenerative capacity of the deep blue flesh within his body, it was still difficult for him to recover quickly.

Leylin stood by the shelf next to the experimental workbench, taking down a test tube filled with an indigo-blue viscous liquid from the very top.

Leylin pulled out the stopper and brought the mouth of the test tube to his lips.

That indigo-blue, viscous liquid, resembling a thick batter, slid down the inner wall of the glass and slowly trickled into Leylin's throat.

As the viscous liquid continued to pour in, the pain in Leylin's legs began to gradually subside.

"If not for other potions accelerating the repair process, an injury like this probably wouldn't heal even after a full day..."

Leylin muttered to himself, casually tossing the test tube, still stained with the viscous residue, into the sink.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door to Leylin's laboratory was knocked upon.

"Please enter."

Few people ever came to Leylin's laboratory. Those who would make a special trip to see him were none other than those few familiar acquaintances.

"Leylin."

Wizard Lorna entered, stepping forward in his loose, black wizard robes.

"Mentor Lorna."

Leylin offered a slight bow.

"Has Ritura's injury fully recovered?"

Lorna cautiously cast a sound-isolation barrier, stared directly into Leylin's eyes, and lowered his voice to ask.

Leylin feigned a worried expression. "Yes. Still, I failed to prevent his recovery from being delayed until after the Holy Bead sacrifice."

Lorna sighed with a trace of regret, but quickly adjusted his mindset. "This matter was not something within your control. Nolenhilde and Noritz are monitoring your progress at all times; you simply had no way to secretly meddle."

"Ah, right. I made a special trip here to tell you..." Lorna's expression suddenly turned solemn, as if about to impart something of utmost importance. "According to intelligence gathered by the central organization, the Holy Bead sacrificial ceremony will commence in two months at the latest."

"The Holy Bead sacrificial ceremony!?"

Leylin's pupils contracted violently.

"This day... is it finally arriving?"

Ever since Gles told Leylin the truth about the Holy Bead's devouring nature, Leylin had been secretly employing his own methods to increase his means of self-preservation. Whether it was collecting the bloodlines of elder descendants or taking the risk of tampering with Ritura's memory, all of these were Leylin's bargaining chips.

"This matter requires meticulous preparation. We need to arrange every single step; the slightest error will lead to massive trouble," Lorna said in a deep voice.

"Is the Fangs of Blood Shadow, which vanished for two years, finally going to reappear in everyone's vision?"

Leylin faintly sensed that the war from two years ago might have merely been a rehearsal, and everything about to happen next would be the final battle horn of the Fangs of Blood Shadow.

"When the Holy Bead is sacrificed, what should I do?"

Leylin raised his head to look at Lorna.

"My special trip to see you today is precisely to tell you that the arrangements concerning you will be decided personally by Lord Gles."

Lorna furrowed his brows tightly.

"Lord Gles?" Leylin asked rhetorically.

"That's right. Tonight, you will meet with Lord Gles," Lorna replied.

Speaking of Gles, although Leylin had a close connection with him and had obtained many precious resources from him, in truth—aside from their initial meeting when Leylin undertook his first mission—they had never communicated face-to-face again.

"Where?"

Leylin pressed further.

"You only need to stay right here and wait quietly," Lorna said.

"Does he disregard the defensive detection of the Shadow Forest entirely?" Leylin's eyes narrowed slightly.

...

Nighttime.

Leylin sat at the desk inside his laboratory.

Ever since Lorna's departure, Leylin had been waiting continuously, without even practicing his wizard meditation method.

"Hm?"

Leylin suddenly sensed a minute spatial fluctuation before him.

A blood-red eye abruptly manifested in the void.

A trace of black ripples emerged around the bloodshot eye, swirling and rotating like a vortex directly anchored to the pupil.

A strange black bird coalesced within the black ripples.

"It's that strange black bird from Gles's side!"

Leylin recognized it instantly.

"Leylin, long time no see."

Gles's voice issued from the throat of the strange black bird, making the scene appear exceedingly bizarre.

"Lord Gles."

Leylin hurriedly stood up from his seat and bowed deeply toward Gles.

Within the gaze of the strange black bird was a human-like intelligence. "Your progress surprises me. Both your wizard power and your talent in biological mutation have exceeded my expectations."

"It's merely good fortune," Leylin replied humbly.

"The Holy Bead sacrifice is about to begin. Although I am reluctant to let you take such risks, the organization currently has no better way to seize the Holy Bead fragments."

Gles made no attempt to conceal it, directly stating the ultimate objective of the Fangs of Blood Shadow.

"Seize the Holy Bead fragments?" Leylin had long since guessed the goal of the Fangs of Blood Shadow, so he felt no great astonishment.

"You are the most crucial link in this," Gles said slowly. "The success or failure of this operation can be said to rest entirely upon your shoulders alone."

"What should I do?" Without lingering on pleasantries, Leylin cut straight to the point.

A trace of satisfaction surfaced in Gles's eyes. "You only need to carry this item with you during the sacrifice."

The strange black bird controlled by Gles let out a croak and vomited a bronze-colored, heptagonal annular object from its belly.

That bronze ring floated in mid-air and slowly descended into Leylin's palm.

"This is?" Leylin looked at Gles with puzzlement.

"You don't need to worry about that for now. You just need to carry it with you," Gles replied.

Leylin nodded, indicating his understanding, yet a deep bewilderment simultaneously took root in his heart. "Lord Gles, for the Holy Bead sacrifice... do I only need to do something this simple?"

"Simple?"

The red light in the eyes of the strange black bird flickered, appearing exceptionally eerie, as the corners of its beak curled slightly outward. "Not simple at all..."

"Lord Gles... what does that mean?"

A chill struck Leylin's heart as he pressed Gles for an answer.