Before the monsters could react, Duan Chen had already shot through them like a large black rat.
The monsters, formed from the condensed foul gas, roared and pursued him, relentless in their pursuit.
However, their speed was no match for Duan Chen's.
More monsters of foul gas continued to materialize behind Duan Chen.
But they lacked reason and craved greater power, thus they were constantly tearing at each other.
This bought Duan Chen considerable time.
Giving Duan Chen the means and opportunity to reach Jun Ci faster.
However…
Upon reaching Jun Ci’s side, Duan Chen’s steps abruptly halted.
He stared coldly at the man who had appeared beside Jun Ci, his voice turning exceptionally chilling.
"What is your purpose?"
The man beside Jun Ci wore a tall purple hat, a somewhat comical tailcoat, and a monocle.
He leaned on a cane that looked like it had been stolen from a Christmas event.
It was a colorful affair, predominantly in red, green, and white.
He wore pointed leather boots.
They were only a pom-pom away from a clown’s boots.
Upon hearing Duan Chen’s voice, the man turned with a smile. His face was uncovered by a mask, and Duan Chen could easily see that the man was quite handsome.
However, on half of his face, there was a scar running from his eye to his chin.
The scar was particularly hideous, seemingly unable to heal.
When he heard Duan Chen’s voice, the man turned, his eyes filled with a gentle smile. He spoke with a peculiar, almost medieval gentleman’s tone.
Or, one could say, excessively affected.
"Long time no see, my dear teac... friend, how have you been?"
He greeted with a smile.
He even removed his top hat, leaned on his cane with one leg back, and placed the hat across his chest, performing a bow that appeared graceful.
But this did not hide the fact that one of his feet was planted on Jun Ci.
Jun Ci was in a sorry state, having been unconscious the entire time.
Fortunately, he was unconscious.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, but I believe I made myself clear the last time we met. The next time we meet, we will be enemies."
"A pity."
This person was none other than one of the Apostles, the Magician.
Duan Chen’s heart sank.
He could not guarantee Jun Ci’s life if he were to fight the Magician.
He slightly pursed his lips, contemplating a solution.
However, he found it perplexing and shocking that before he could devise a plan, the Magician, without any concern, simply kicked Jun Ci to his feet.
The Magician said with a smile.
"Teac... friend, I know that if he remains by my side, you will not be able to focus entirely on our battle."
"So, I am returning him to you now. It is the courtesy of a gentleman."
Duan Chen could not help but sneer.
Did he expect gratitude?
Nevertheless, it was good that Jun Ci was no longer under the other’s control. He transferred a portion of his Qian Huan Pandora to Jun Ci.
Including the shield form, and a part of Jun Ci.
Whether it was his imagination or not, Duan Chen felt that as he did this, he clearly saw a flicker of jealousy flash in the Magician’s eyes, standing not far from him.
Wait.
Jealousy?
Was he seeing things?
What could the Magician be jealous of!
However, what followed made Duan Chen somewhat certain that the emotion he had seen in the Magician’s eyes was not his imagination.
Because the Magician spoke with a complex expression.
"Your concern for him is truly very thoughtful. If I had known, I might as well have let him die here."
A smile played on his lips, but his words were cold and heartless.
The look of jealousy was already quite apparent.
Duan Chen was utterly bewildered.
He couldn't help but scratch his head and blurt out, "Are you perhaps jealous? Jealous that others have the care of friends?"
Upon hearing this, the Magician’s expression suddenly broke into a laugh.
"The care of friends?"
"No, no, no… my dear teac… friend, please do not say such things."
"It would… hurt my feelings!"
As he uttered "hurt my feelings," before his words even fell, the Magician threw his hat.
A flock of white doves flew out.
The white doves had blood-red gemstone-like eyes and charged towards Duan Chen.
Duan Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, stepping back but not leaving Jun Ci’s side.
[Sequence 035: Raven Swarm]
Countless ravens surged out from behind Duan Chen, a vast and overwhelming tide, heading towards the Magician’s white doves.
For some reason…
Duan Chen felt that the Magician’s white doves and his own Raven Swarm seemed to have a striking similarity.
Was he mistaken?
Why was this happening?
He had learned his innate skill from Bai Ye. Could the Magician’s white doves be his own?
But…
The Magician’s innate skill from their last encounter flashed in Duan Chen’s mind.
He was one hundred percent certain that the art of puppet manipulation was the Magician’s true innate skill.
If that was the case…
Where did the Magician learn this manipulation of doves, with a core technique identical to Raven Swarm?
Moreover.
Duan Chen never doubted his hearing.
Nor did he consider himself deaf.
He had clearly heard that whenever the Magician spoke, each sentence seemed to want to say "jiao"...
A descending tone, likely a fourth tone.
Call? Teach? Compare? Cellar? Perceive?
What word was it?
The unsaid word... could it be a title?
What did he want to call himself?
Strange, extremely strange.
Why did the Magician display such familiarity towards Duan Chen?
Duan Chen was extremely perplexed but found no answers.
The Magician’s offensive did not wane, it even became more frenzied.
Various monsters continuously popped out of his hat.
But after Duan Chen slew one, he immediately realized that these were not real creatures, unlike his ravens.
They were the same as the bride and groom from that day.