A middle-aged man, dressed in an exquisite black and grey magic robe, with light brown long hair and pupils, and a hooked nose, emerged step by step from the depths of the dense forest.
The soft ground, composed of weeds and rotten leaves, did not impede his progress in the slightest.
It was as if an invisible force was supporting the grey-robed mage, allowing him to walk effortlessly across it.
The soft forest floor showed no signs of indentation under his feet.
Following him!
An invisible aura emanated from the grey-robed mage, forcefully pushing away the surrounding branches and leaves.
An invisible pressure surged forth.
The White Mist Witch's screams, which had just echoed, abruptly ceased. The Emerald Leaf Witch clutched the White Mist Witch's arm tightly, lowering her head in fear.
And at this moment!
The White Mist Witch's ruptured abdomen began to heal rapidly at a visible rate, but her aura was clearly much weaker.
Lyle looked at the grey-robed mage with a serious and cautious expression.
Even from a distance,
He could still feel the distinct and powerful aura of a different level emanating from the opponent, a peculiar sensation that no other adversary Lyle had encountered before had given him.
Above level twenty?
No, that's not right.
The opponent was definitely a magic caster who had entered the Hero Realm and was above level 29!
Lyle glanced at the somewhat terrified Twin Witches not far away.
He thought of their series of strange behaviors: sending the Lizardmen to deliberately provoke him, then luring him into this place. Now, he finally had his answer.
The Twin Witches intended to use him to drive away or eliminate the grey-robed mage!
Heh, borrowing a knife to kill someone?
These Twin Witches were truly clever.
However... Lyle's gaze fixed on the slowly approaching grey-robed mage. Who exactly was this person, and why was he here?
"A Fourth Tier Surveillance Archangel. No wonder you dared to venture into this great wetland alone. To master this level of magic at your age,"
"You shouldn't be an unknown figure in the Slane Theocracy... So, are you another one of those hidden 'talents'?"
The grey-robed mage's light brown eyes calmly looked at the Surveillance Archangel, who was positioned above Lyle's head in a defensive stance.
He showed no concern for an angel summon of this level in his voice; in fact, when he spoke the words "talent," his tone clearly emphasized them, laced with mockery.
"'Human rights above all, humans are the chosen race'—this kind of brainwashing ideology is truly disgusting."
The grey-robed mage's sneering voice gradually grew louder: "The higher-ups of your Theocracy are the truly cold-blooded ones..."
"Allow me to interrupt."
Lyle's voice suddenly rang out.
The grey-robed mage's cold gaze turned towards Lyle, looking at him as if he were a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"Although I'm not sure what grievances you have with the Slane Theocracy, I still want to clarify that I am not a member of the Slane Theocracy."
Lyle spoke, reminding him.
"Oh—"
The grey-robed mage tilted his neck slightly, letting out a long sigh. His light brown eyes shifted from their original coldness to indifference: "That's truly a pity."
"I had originally intended to let you live a little longer, but this works out just as well."
An undisguised killing intent emanated from the grey-robed mage.
"It seems that even leaving now is not an option. So, before I die, can you tell me what's going on with this frogman?"
Lyle's eyelids drooped slightly, his hand lightly gripping the bone chain of the Evil Spirit Hound. He asked with curiosity.
"Trying to stall for time?"
"Or do you think you have a chance to win?"
The grey-robed mage raised his hands, a low chuckle escaping his hooked-nosed face. Completely unconcerned by Lyle's little scheme, he boasted instead:
"Isn't it amazing how a frogman can emerge from another creature's belly?"
"You know, frogs are very peculiar creatures. They reproduce by laying eggs and undergo a complete metamorphosis during their growth, transforming into entirely different forms. Frogmen also possess this characteristic."
As the grey-robed mage spoke, a fervent look appeared in his eyes. He brushed his hand across his waist, and a translucent, pearl-sized, glass-like object appeared in his palm.
"Look, this is a frogman's egg. I've processed it slightly, adding a little something before the egg developed."
Lyle saw the frogman's egg in the opponent's hand, subtly reflecting light under the sun, and his brows furrowed slightly.
What the opponent was describing was the "metamorphosis" during a frog's development, wasn't it?
People from another world actually research this?
"The little something added will develop along with the frogman until it's fully mature, and then this frogman will be completely under my control."
The grey-robed mage paused, then shook his head and said coldly: "But that's too slow!"
"It takes at least about ten years for a frogman to fully mature, so I thought of other methods."
At this point,
The grey-robed mage tossed the pearl-shaped frogman egg in his hand into the air.
In an instant!
The egg in mid-air began to grow and enlarge rapidly at a visible speed. First, it transformed into a large black tadpole, then its tail quickly degenerated, and it grew two legs and forelimbs.
In just two or three breaths,
The egg transformed into a robust, over-one-person-tall frogman, appearing in everyone's sight.
Lyle's eyes couldn't help but widen a few degrees, a look of astonishment on his face. If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, he would have almost cursed out loud.
However!
Just as Lyle thought it was over,
The grey-robed mage shook his head instead, his tone filled with disappointment: "Unfortunately, the frogmen produced this way are just useless trash, good for nothing but show."
As he spoke!
The frogman's entire body suddenly began to swell, then abruptly contracted, before violently exploding, splattering a large amount of fresh blood and minced meat (minced flesh).
Before the blood and minced flesh could splash onto the grey-robed mage, his magic robe generated a wave of air that completely blocked and repelled it all.
"Come here, you filthy creature."
The grey-robed mage raised his head again, looking at the frogman birthed by the Mist Witch, and beckoned.
The frogman, which had been standing there in a daze, immediately reacted. Its muscular legs bent slightly, and with a leap, it landed beside the grey-robed mage.
A wave of air surged!
This powerful leap brought a smile back to the grey-robed mage's face.
"Since forced ripening doesn't work, then we'll do the opposite."
The grey-robed mage spoke as he raised a finger and touched the center of the frogman's brow.
Thump!
A heartbeat-like sound came from within the frogman's body. The frogman's entire body began to collapse, then transformed into a pearl-shaped frog egg, which fell to the ground.
The grey-robed mage picked up the frog egg, and with a cold expression on his face, his light brown eyes filled with killing intent as he looked at Lyle: "A perfect creation, wouldn't you agree?"
The air grew somewhat quiet at this moment!
"Impressive!"
Lyle was silent for a moment, then genuinely exclaimed, and continued:
"It seems I truly won't be able to leave this dense forest alive."
The fact that the opponent could reveal such a secret to him without reservation showed that he had no intention of letting him leave alive from the very beginning.
After speaking!
Lyle raised his head, his eyes fixed on the grey-robed mage opposite him, and he grinned: "But you'll have to be able to kill me first!"
Buzz!
An astonishing wave of magical power emanated from the grey-robed mage, and a two-meter-long silver spear quickly materialized in mid-air.