Chapter 3045: Chapter 3046: Blood Curse

Although Dox’s ’bet’ ended up being wrong, his words were not mistaken.

Just like the first time they encountered the Human Face Pattern, as long as they agreed to participate in the game, they would be drawn into a contract; similarly, this time it is the same—if they truly agree to the qualification certification, then they will certainly be forced into the contract.

Therefore, the choice to "ignore the Human Face Pattern sculpture" that was made at the beginning was indeed their only option.

It’s just unexpected that the Human Face Pattern sculpture would be so reckless as to actually dare to attack.

However, it’s good that it attacked.

They didn’t dare to attack the Human Face Pattern sculpture, fearing they would be drawn into a contract. But when the other side initiated an attack, they didn’t need to worry anymore and could retaliate without restraint.

"Do you think the Human Face Pattern sculpture is too reckless?" Dox said, "No, it’s not reckless; it has its purpose."

"Purpose?" Kaier looked at Dox quizzically.

Dox: "At first, I was also a bit confused. Normally, attacking equals courting death; it shouldn’t have attacked us. But then, when I shattered the sculpture, I figured it out."

"The reason it attacked us is for two purposes."

"Firstly, the Space Wizard behind it needed a definite answer: do we really know the specific terms of the contract?"

Although the other side initially tested with a small mole, suspecting that they might understand some conditions of the contract.

But at that time, they merely showed that they knew the condition of "not actively attacking the small mole to avoid entering the contract."

And regarding the condition of attempting to deceive people into signing the contract with language, the other side couldn’t be sure whether they were aware of it.

Therefore, the Wizard behind the Paradise Land game was still holding a "just in case" attitude, coming to confirm their level of understanding of the contract.

This may seem redundant to them, but this is because they are the parties involved, naturally trapped in an information cocoon, viewing the issue entirely from their own perspective.

From the other side’s perspective, everything isn’t completely clear yet. Even if some results have appeared, how did those results come about? There is still persistent mist to be dispelled.

Given the current situation, the other side must have assumed two possibilities.

First, they guessed that they are aware of the contract, but only know part of the conditions, and the reason they pushed forward all the way was because Angel’s space mastery is extremely high, enough to ignore all external factors, including the Human Face Pattern.

Second, they are very clear about all the conditions of the contract and know the significance of the Human Face Pattern, deliberately avoiding it.

To confirm which one they are, the Wizard behind the Paradise Land game meticulously set up a Human Face sculpture here just to make a final confirmation.

If they continued to overlook the Human Face Pattern as before, it would likely indicate the second situation.

But no matter how high the probability, it still couldn’t be entirely certain. So, the other side set a second backup: let the Human Face Pattern sculpture attack them.

The Human Face Pattern sculpture isn’t really strong; the spiritual power arrow it condensed, Angel and Dox noticed right when it formed.

Under normal plot development, upon seeing the Human Face Pattern sculpture condense a spiritual power arrow aimed at them, they were fully capable of shattering it ahead. Even if not shattered, they could easily avoid the arrow.

But they chose an abnormal plot development: let Dox get hit by the arrow.

A small spiritual power arrow, it shouldn’t have hit Dox under any circumstance, yet it did. The answer was clear—Dox got hit intentionally.

Why would he get hit intentionally? Because Dox was very clear about the logic of the ’contract’; only when they were attacked could they counter the sculpture.

Now the other side can confirm—they definitely know all the terms of the contract.

"Clarifying the information is the first purpose. But, the other side should have already guessed this and was merely making a final confirmation." Dox: "The other reason for arranging the sculpture to attack us is an even bigger purpose."

"—Curse."

Angel was taken aback by the sudden mention of the curse and froze for a moment before reacting: "Curse? You mean..."

Dox coughed lightly and continued with a voice lowered by eight degrees, "That’s right, I am cursed."

Dox could confirm the attack by the Human Face sculpture was not reckless precisely because when he shattered it, he was cursed.

Moreover, it’s a kind of curse that triggers passively.

As long as they didn’t shatter the Human Face sculpture, even merely attacking the sculpture wouldn’t trigger the curse; but Dox chose to shatter the Human Face sculpture, thus triggering the curse.

"Didn’t your inspiration give a hint?" Angel frowned.

Dox shook his head: "No, that Human Face sculpture has a similar anti-prophecy effect..."

Previously, when the other side possessed the small mole, they speculated that Dox and Angel were one a Prophet Wizard and the other a Space Wizard.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that they set up a Human Face sculpture with an anti-prophecy effect.

The only surprise is...

"My inspiration can actually be neutralized by the anti-prophecy effect, which seems unfair. Obviously, my inspiration doesn’t count as divination..." Dox murmured somewhat aggrieved.

However, Angel was not too surprised that "anti-prophecy arrangement" could override Dox’s inspiration, as he has refined anti-prophecy tools himself.

Angel has some understanding of "anti-prophecy."

Most anti-prophecy abilities target "time-space reflection." Divination is just one kind within time-space reflection; many other abilities also have time-space reflection effects.

For example, True Sight, Eye of Truth, True Word Technique, Illusion Breaking Technique... all involve time-space reflection, and these are not prophecy system abilities. Yet, high-level anti-prophecy arrangements can also block these spell techniques.

Thus, anti-prophecy does not merely counter divination; it involves many related abilities.

Dox’s inspiration talent is not divination but involves a part of time-space reflection, so being targeted is not unexpected.

Angel did not explain the truth of "anti-prophecy"; this knowledge Dox will have the chance to learn once he goes to Illusion Demon Island or logs into Wilderness of Dreams in the future. Moreover, Angel originally intended for Dox to contact Dororo, who would also share this knowledge with him.

"What curse?" Instead of wasting time explaining anti-prophecy, Angel was more concerned about the curse on Dox.

Dox: "...Blood Curse."

Blood Curse is not a specific kind of curse but a type of curse.

All curses that use blood as a medium are called Blood Curse.

The power of a blood curse varies; it can restrict various abilities of the cursed person, even directly curse them to death. However, a small human-faced pattern statue can’t bear a blood curse strong enough to kill an Official Wizard.

Moreover, a powerful blood curse is easily detectable. Neither Dox nor Angel sensed the blood curse within that human-faced pattern statue, so it’s basically certain that the level of this blood curse isn’t high.

Although the level of this blood curse isn’t high, it has a unique characteristic... it significantly restrains all blood-related abilities.

In other words, a blood curse is more effective against Bloodline Wizards than against other types of wizards.

If Angel were the one under the blood curse, he would hardly be affected, but since Dox is the one cursed, the outcome is different.

Angel: "What ability has the blood curse restricted?"

Facing Angel’s inquiry, Dox rubbed his nose and said, "The blood energy in my right hand is somewhat stagnant compared to normal."

Just after he finished speaking, Dox added, "Overall, it’s not hugely impactful. Moreover, this blood curse is low-level, and even if I don’t actively wear it away, it would last at most half a day. If I constantly use energy to wear down the blood curse, within an hour... no, half an hour should be enough to resolve it."

"Your right hand," Angel glanced at Dox’s slightly trembling right hand, "for a Bloodline Wizard, losing the aid of one hand means losing half of their combat power..."

Dox: "Not half, at most 5%..."

Angel stared at Dox for a few seconds, causing Dox to turn his head awkwardly and quietly say, "Or 10%."

Angel snorted lightly, not commenting much on this estimate.

He did exaggerate saying half the combat power would be lost; but Dox was underestimating by saying only a tenth would be lost.

As a wizard who fights relying on bloodline, any part is interconnected. The loss of a right hand could have his overall strength drop by at least 20 to 30%.

Of course, even with a 20 to 30% decline, Dox is still stronger than most wizards, no denying that.

"Even a tenth loss is still a loss. After all, we’re about to face a formidable enemy," Angel looked at Dox, "I have a way to quickly resolve the curse on your right hand."

Dox: "What method?"

Angel: "Sunlight Sanctuary..."

Dox was silent for several seconds, his gaze drifting elsewhere: "Did someone just speak? I’m a bit hard of hearing lately, I heard nothing."

The last time he used Sunlight Sanctuary, Dox sold his own freedom; if he uses Sunlight Sanctuary again, wouldn’t he be stripped of flesh and blood?

This is absolutely impossible!

No matter what else Angel said, Dox only displayed a whistling expression with a crooked mouth, deliberately avoiding looking at Angel, his meaning clear.

Seeing this, Angel could only shrug and stop persuading.

...

Even though Dox was under a blood curse, the path still needed to be walked and the platform needed to be climbed.

Not long after, they reached the end of the stairs.

There, they finally saw what was happening on the platform.

The first sight was a massive arena covered by a dome. On the stage, two wizards were intensely battling.

And outside the stage, below the arena, lay a large group of people, at least forty or fifty at a glance.

Most of them were apprentices, who were mostly prone on the ground, looking like statues... Although it wasn’t that they were injured and couldn’t move, the dome blocked energy but not the pressure.

The oppressing aura released by the two battling wizards held them down severely.

Kaier, who had just stepped onto the platform, was almost affected by the pressure, but thanks to Dox and Angel beside him, they timely managed to control the invasion of the pressure, avoiding any embarrassment.

Besides the apprentices lying on the ground, there were three Official Wizards below the arena.

Their treatment was different from the apprentices.

At least the apprentices hadn’t suffered external injuries, but these three, one had lost an arm, another held a leg resembling a scythe... which was his own leg.

The only one who appeared whole, yet half of his wings were gone.

Besides those horrific wounds, the three were also restricted in movement, locked in spatial seals, which resembled transparent coffins, making them unable to move.

However, though they couldn’t move, they could still see the outside world.

For instance, they noticed the arrival of Angel and the others immediately.

When the three Official Wizards saw them, Dox also sized them up and introduced their identities to Angel.

"That wizard who grafted the Razor shade’s legs is Yaji Birlos... That’s right, the one with green curly hair holding a scythe-like leg. He’s a wizard cultivated by the Birlos Family, recently broke through a few years ago. Although he’s also on the bloodline side, his bloodline isn’t comprehensive, and his strength isn’t even a tenth of mine."

"The wizard with half-missing wings is also from the Birlos Family, with no real name, known externally as Sea Eagle. Don’t be fooled by his long blue straight hair and gentle appearance, he’s not a woman!"

"As for the witch with an arm missing... it’s Ulysses. You see that emblem on her witch robe? That’s the mark of Blissful Pure Land."

The appearance of Birlos Family wizards and witches from Blissful Pure Land is quite normal here.

Yet, Dox appearing here caught the three wizards trapped in spatial bindings by surprise.

They didn’t recognize Angel because he had changed his appearance, but they recognized Dox. Why was the Wandering Wizard from the Sandworm Market suddenly appearing in Paradise Land?

Both Sea Eagle and Yaji turned their gaze toward Ulysses from the Blissful Pavilion.

Paradise Land was under her jurisdiction; perhaps she knew something.

But Ulysses looked equally confused.

No, she hadn’t seen Dox residing in Paradise Land during the past few months... Since he hadn’t stayed there, why was Dox here?

Could it be? The spatial seal outside Paradise Land was breached?

But their spatial bindings were connected to the outer spatial seal; since their bindings were intact, wasn’t the outer spatial seal also supposed to be complete?

While Ulysses, Sea Eagle, and Yaji were in confusion, Dox had already moved past them, introducing the people on the platform.

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