Warlock Apprentice
Chapter 1674: Section 1675: Refusal to Accept the Challenge

Chapter 1674: Section 1675: Refusal to Accept the Challenge

Angel nodded.

Frode curiously asked, "So what was the outcome?"

"Lyon didn’t tell you?"

Frode shook his head: "He deliberately left me hanging, said he was going to do routine training, and then he went back to reality."

Angel: "..." When did Lyon develop such a bad taste for teasing?

Looking at Frode’s expectant eyes, Angel thought for a moment and said, "What? Are you expecting some kind of outcome, like me losing?"

"How could you lose, my lord!" Frode immediately shook his head. He heard that the runner-up of the Novice Tournament wanted to challenge Angel. But the Novice Tournament restricted the upper limit of strength, it’s all apprentices, how could an apprentice possibly defeat Angel?

"I’m just a little curious." How did Angel finally teach that arrogant apprentice who dared to challenge him a lesson?

Angel pondered for a moment and slowly said, "I did not accept his challenge."

Two hours earlier——

When Trom made his proposal on the platform, asking for a duel with Angel, everyone was stunned.

It was absurd, Trom’s request. How could an apprentice challenge an Official Wizard?

While challenging someone from a higher tier had happened before, it required a combination of perfect timing and conditions, and was certainly not something easily achieved. It could even be said that a tier-challenge is a beautified legend.

What gave Trom the confidence to challenge an Official Wizard?

A chorus of boos emanated from the audience, even Trom’s admirers were switching sides at this moment. Those who overestimate their abilities, no matter how much potential they have, won’t live long enough to realize it.

Not a single person was favorable towards Trom.

Inside the Boundless Battle Arena, Trom’s request also shocked the judges and other competitors.

Even Onassis couldn’t help but glance at Trom: "I thought I would have a chance to present you with moonlight, but it seems that opportunity is likely gone now."

’You give me a branch of sweet osmanthus, I gift you moonlight’ is premised on you being alive. If you no longer have your life, then the moonlight is but an empty gesture.

The judges shook their heads one after another, this was almost a surefire path to doom. Melisa couldn’t help but say, "Do you realize what you’re saying?"

"Although I know the chances are slim, I must try," Trom said decisively.

Melisa shook her head: This isn’t just a slim chance, it’s no chance at all!

But Trom’s attitude seemed so firm that Melisa didn’t know what more to say, and could only turn her head to look at Angel. In her mind, Angel was young and full of pride, and upon encountering such an apprentice daring to challenge him, he would surely be very indignant and definitely would not hold back.

Melisa was already contemplating how to persuade Angel to give Trom a chance to cling onto life.

However, when Melisa and Angel locked eyes, she noticed that Angel did not have the rage she had imagined. If anything, there was no anger at all. Instead, he looked at Trom with interest, and there was a strange hint of pity in the depths of his eyes.

"Transcendental Wizard, what do you think?" Melisa asked.

Angel did not respond but instead walked slowly towards Trom, silently observing him. Just this simple action alone caused Trom’s calves to tremble slightly.

Angel also noticed the unusual tremor in Trom’s calves, and he spoke softly, "I haven’t even made a move, yet your heart is already faltering."

"I... I’m just..." Trom stuttered for a long time but couldn’t finish the sentence.

Angel offered a faint smile, as an overwhelming pressure began to emanate from him.

The other contestants around him didn’t notice, but Trom sensed it. Angel’s pressure wasn’t sharp or aggressive; a mere brush past Trom made his knees start to sour, as if he would kneel down the next second.

Trom could only brace himself, his face turning pale, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Angel had maintained the pressure exactly at the edge of what Trom could bear, slowly testing the limits of his will. Only when he felt that Trom might collapse, did Angel slowly retract his pressure.

As Trom gasped for air, Angel said slowly, "In fact, I have met Witch Sudor before."

Trom thought Angel would crush him with his pressure, but unexpectedly, Angel let up, and as he was pondering, Angel’s voice reached his ears.

Witch Sudor.

Trom’s mentor, known as the "Pale Witch," her real name Quini Sudor.

Which meant, Angel had met his mentor?

"I also know about the three-year pact between you and your mentor." Angel paused, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes, "So, I understand your predicament."

Quini loved to set traps, mainly for her own disciples. This time, Quini set one for Trom, giving him three years to defeat Angel. At that time, Trom didn’t know Angel had already been promoted to Official Wizard and agreed readily.

According to Quini, if the challenge failed, Trom would have to accept a minor punishment.

Because Angel knew Trom’s situation, he wasn’t actually angry facing Trom’s challenge.

He was merely a little surprised. What kind of cruel punishment that Trom would rather risk death to challenge Angel than accept?

"Given this, I’ll give you one chance." Angel spoke, "I refuse this challenge. However, within these three years, you are welcome to come find me at any time."

Trom lifted his head, looking at Angel with some surprise; he understood what Angel meant.

Angel seemed to refuse his challenge, but in reality, he did not. This so-called refusal was simply telling Trom not to waste his valuable reward from being the second place in the New Star Contest on something so meaningless.

Angel’s private agreement to accept a challenge from Trom at any time within three years was in fact an acceptance of the challenge.

Joy flashed in Trom’s eyes: "Thank you, my lord."

Angel recalled what Greya had told him about the tricks Quini played, and looked at Trom with sympathy once more, then stepped back, giving the field back to Melisa.

As he passed by Melisa, she commented indifferently, "You sure are considerate in saving the contestants’ resources."

"I just don’t want him to waste such a good opportunity," Angel replied.

Melisa snorted derisively and turned to Trom: "Since the Transcendental Wizard has refused your challenge, you may make a new request. Have you thought of what you want?"

...

After Angel recounted the whole process, understanding flashed through Frode’s eyes: "So he’s the Pale Witch’s disciple... Truly pitiful."

He had heard that the Pale Witch loved to set traps, especially for her own people.

She would often corner people with no good way out; moving forward meant death, and retreating also meant death. Perhaps, this was a similar situation for Trom, facing death whether or not he challenged Angel, so it might be cleaner to just stick his neck out for the chop.

As they spoke, they had already arrived at their destination.

The largest circular library in Originheart City.