Time flowed like water, passing silently and unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, two months had gone by.
During this period, Lynn's life was peaceful yet structured, reminiscent of his days in the Furnace.
Daily research, experiments, and potion refinement all proceeded steadily according to plan.
The most remarkable change was the astonishing speed at which his mental power had increased.
After two months of continuous potion refining and absorption, his mental power had risen from 101 points to 106.
Gaining three points per month was an exceptionally rare feat, even for apprentices let alone for a full-fledged wizard.
After all, the stronger one became, the more exponentially difficult it was to increase mental power.
However, compared to his mental power growth, Lynn devoted even more effort to deepening his research.
On an open-air platform within the research facility, the air carried a faint blend of metallic and alchemical scents.
Around him, several experiment tables stood in neat rows, adorned with alchemical instruments and rune-inscribed equipment.
Wizards bustled about, each immersed in their respective projects recording data, mixing materials, or manipulating magic to conduct microscopic analyses.
Lynn was among them, hunched over his workstation, holding two metal samples of distinctly different hues, scrutinizing them with a furrowed brow.
How could these two fundamentally different materials resonate under the influence of magic to achieve stable energy conduction?
This was the critical problem he was currently trying to solve.
As he pondered, he diligently jotted down hypotheses and formulaic projections in his research notebook.
Just then, a steady rhythm of footsteps echoed across the platform, breaking the prevailing silence.
The head of the research project, Vidar a white-haired, long-bearded senior wizard approached with his hands clasped behind his back, his deep-set eyes gleaming with scrutiny.
He walked the length of the platform, surveying the progress of each researcher. His increasingly furrowed brows suggested dissatisfaction with the overall progress.
But when he reached Lynn's workstation, his expression eased slightly. Unlike before, he refrained from scolding and instead narrowed his eyes, quietly observing Lynn's research.
Lynn was so engrossed in thought that he hadn't even noticed Vidar's presence until he completed a new resonance model and snapped out of his reverie.
Only then did he sense the aura beside him. Turning his head, he saw Vidar standing close, his sharp gaze fixed on the materials in Lynn's hands.
"Lynn, your perspective is quite intriguing," Vidar said, his deep voice carrying a note of approval.
"Based on my research and observations, your approach has over a seventy percent chance of success. This is a highly promising concept."
Hearing this, Lynn offered a faint smile but did not let himself become overly proud. Instead, he responded calmly:
"All of this is thanks to the team's collective efforts. Without the research group's data support, I wouldn't have been able to make effective judgments so quickly."
Though he spoke softly, several nearby researchers subtly turned their attention toward him.
Vidar's eyes flashed with admiration at this response. He nodded in satisfaction and patted Lynn on the shoulder.
"Good. You remain humble and understand the value of teamwork… Very good."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"In three days, our experiment results will be finalized. If your hypothesis proves correct, you may compile a paper, and I will personally submit it to the academic database of the Mechanical City."
Lynn's eyes lit up instantly.
This was a rare opportunity!
Publishing a paper in the Mechanical City's academic database came with substantial rewards.
Across the vast and boundless otherworldly lands, two immense forces had completely seized dominion.
On one side stood the wizards' civilization profound and austere. On the other, the divine civilization of the gods.
Throughout this battlefield, over a thousand wizard-world purification devices were buried deep beneath the land, like an intricate network of veins.
These devices modified the land's natural ley lines to match the frequency of the wizarding world's laws, creating a colossal energy barrier that stretched across tens of thousands of miles.
Under its protection, the fundamental principles of this region had already transformed.
The sky was pristine, rivers surged with vitality, and the very air was saturated with magic particles unique to the wizarding civilization.
Even a casual breath would reveal the familiar flow of mystical energy.
Beyond the barrier, however, was an entirely different domain.
The land appeared scorched by divine fire, and the air was imprinted with the sacred laws of the gods a realm aggressively hostile to wizards.
The sky no longer bore its usual azure hue; instead, an eternal dawn suffused with divine radiance cast its unwavering glow over the world, as though all existence bowed beneath the gaze of the gods.
In the heart of the wizard-controlled territory, a massive aerial battleship hovered high above the land.
This colossal vessel spanned over a thousand meters, its dark hull absorbing light, making it appear even more enigmatic under the sun.
From a distance, it resembled an enormous floating island majestic and imposing. Suspended in midair, it exuded an unshakable sense of dominance.
Surrounding it were numerous patrol aircraft, their constant vigilance ensuring that any intruder would be swiftly torn apart.
Within the battleship, wizards moved briskly through its corridors.
Encased in mechanical exoskeleton armor, their fusion of magic and technology granted them extraordinary power. Each step they took was accompanied by the faint metallic echo of their gear.
For months, the wizard civilization had fought tooth and nail in this otherworldly war.
At last, they had established a secure foothold a formidable strategic stronghold.
Now, the battleship was conducting its latest round of war prisoner processing.
On the central deck, the atmosphere was somber and oppressive.
A squad of black-armored wizard soldiers escorted a procession of captives forward.
There were over a hundred prisoners, all bound in heavy shackles, their movements burdened by the weight of enchanted metal restraints.
The attire they wore, however, revealed their extraordinary status:
It was a deep blue robe, embroidered with sacred white patterns along the edges, with a luminous blue-and-white star engraved on the chest.
A wizard responsible for handling prisoners of war frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the captives being escorted, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes.
"These guys… do they qualify to be sent to the Ninety-First Prison?"
The Ninety-First Prison was a facility designated specifically for prisoners of war at the rank of Tier-Three Grand Wizard and above.
Ordinary clergy members, no matter how powerful, were far from qualified to set foot in such a place at least in the eyes of wizard civilization.
However, the mechanical wizard escorting the prisoners shook his head, his voice steady and cold:
"Do not underestimate them. These are no ordinary clergy… They are the elite of the Star Hunters! Our last few operations failed precisely because of their intelligence-gathering efforts."
Upon hearing this, the wizard who had initially held a trace of disdain immediately changed his expression, his gaze turning serious.
The Star Hunters an intelligence organization under the Church. Each of its members was highly skilled in tactics and adept at deciphering wizard formations. Many critical secrets had been compromised by their infiltration in the past.
Yet, just as the wizards were conversing, one of the prisoners at the front of the line suddenly raised his head.
It was the face of an elf with pale skin, and deep silver eyes filled with a bone-chilling coldness.
The corners of his lips curled into a faint smirk, exuding a sense of contempt. Then, in a voice resonating with divine authority yet spoken in the language of the wizarding world he slowly declared:
"Foolish wizards… You have no idea what kind of existence the great Goddess of the Weave truly is. When my deity casts her gaze upon this world, all of you will be annihilated!"
"By Mystra's will, the Weave is eternal!"
The moment his words fell, a sudden silence engulfed the entire plaza.
Then, a snort of disdain broke the stillness.
"Seeking death."
Before the words had fully faded, the wizard in charge of the prisoners swung his hand abruptly. In the next second, a resounding slap landed hard on the elf's face!
Smack!
The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the air above the plaza.
The elven prisoner staggered backward, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his lips, while a bright red handprint rapidly formed on his cheek.
His gaze instantly darkened, filled with disbelief, fury, and humiliation.
Yet, the wizard merely looked at him coldly, the corners of his mouth lifting in a sneer.
If not for the strict laws governing the treatment of prisoners of war laws that forbade arbitrary executions this arrogant outburst alone would have been enough for him to obliterate the elf with a single forbidden spell.
"Take them away!"
At the command, the escorting wizards immediately sprang into action, leading the shackled captives toward the depths of the skyborne mothership's prison chambers.
The clanking of heavy chains echoed dully, while the eyes of the imprisoned church members still burned with fanatical faith as they muttered obscure prayers under their breath.
Meanwhile, high within the skyborne mothership, in a vast and imposing intelligence command chamber, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Floating screens lined the walls, displaying rapidly shifting images of various battlefronts.
Dozens of intelligence officers, clad in wizard robes, were hunched over their desks, tirelessly transcribing, calculating, and analyzing streams of incoming intelligence.
Magical projections flickered constantly as new military updates poured in, filling the room with an air of urgency and precision.
At the chamber's center, a massive three-dimensional tactical map displayed the topography of the interdimensional battlefield. Luminous markers representing armies, warships, and fortresses shifted in real time.
A group of powerful wizards, draped in battle robes, stood around the map, their expressions solemn, their gazes sharp.
"Based on the past ten days of battle analysis, we have now completely secured this sector's defensive lines," one wizard stated, his voice steady.
Three distinct energy barriers flickered around his form clear evidence of his rank as a Tier-Three Grand Wizard.
"From here, we can gradually advance and erode the enemy's territory…"
However, another tall Grand Wizard shook his head slightly, his tone calm.
"We must not act too hastily. The higher-ups have ordered us to maintain our advantage but to deliberately sustain a period of stalemate. We cannot prematurely turn this into a decisive victory."
"They want the Goddess of the Weave Mystra to take notice?"
Just as one of the wizards murmured in contemplation, a sudden anomaly erupted!
Boom!
A surge of immense magical energy detonated within the command chamber, distorting the very fabric of space, as if an omnipotent will was gazing down upon them!
Simultaneously, the central projection screen trembled violently, its imagery warping before abruptly shifting to an external battlefield view.
In the sky above the war zone, the once-clear blue heavens suddenly transformed.
Tempestuous winds arose. A divine pressure, indescribable in its magnitude, flooded the air.
A brilliant blue-white radiance emerged one, two…
No.
A total of seven dazzling celestial bodies appeared, aligning in a perfect line across the firmament, linking together like a celestial constellation descending upon the world!
The Seven-Star Convergence!
At that moment, the very laws of reality on the battlefield seemed to shift. The ambient magical energy of the wizarding forces distorted unnaturally.
Some wizards, even those of significant power, felt a faint tremor ripple through their minds!
"That is… Mystra's Seven-Star Divine Seal!"
A deep, alarmed voice broke the heavy silence.
The Tier-Three Grand Wizards exchanged sharp glances, their eyes filled with newfound gravity and vigilance.
"Report this immediately! All garrisons elevate to the highest level of alert! Notify all frontline forces to prepare for the possibility of a deity's descent!"
Orders were issued like thunderclaps. The wizards moved swiftly.
And in the vast sky above, those seven radiant celestial bodies continued their slow, deliberate alignment.
As if heralding the arrival of an even greater catastrophe in the making…
...........
What Lies Beyond the World?
For the civilization of wizards, this has always been a domain shrouded in mystery and danger.
They collectively refer to the space beyond their world as the "Outer Layer." Scattered within this boundless void are countless independent worlds, each like an isolated island floating in the vast sea of the void.
However, the space between these worlds is not a peaceful darkness it is an endless Void Sea that devours and obliterates all things. Only beings at the level of Morning Star Wizards or higher have the right to set foot in this perilous expanse, enduring the corrosive forces of the Void Sea to explore unknown planes.
Yet, the Void Sea is vast beyond measure. Even the most powerful wizards are nothing more than specks of dust in this infinite abyss.
Faced with this chaos, powerful civilizations do not passively wait they actively reshape their environments to survive and thrive.
The Wizard World is a prime example.
When they conquer a new world, they do not simply occupy it. Instead, they draw it into their own world's orbit, much like satellites revolving around a celestial body, making it an extension of their dominion.
Through this method, the Wizard World continually expands, resembling a monstrous entity devouring all in its path, assimilating one world after another into its grand system.
The robes worn by the Enforcer Wizards are a manifestation of this very concept:
When they stand beneath the stars, their flowing garments seem to ripple like the cosmic void itself, mirroring the countless conquered worlds absorbed into their realm.
In this vast cosmos ruled by wizards, the "Great Sun" hangs high this blazing celestial body symbolizes the Wizard World, with all assimilated worlds orbiting around it.
Each of these stars is a world devoured by the wizards.
Cold, calculating, and relentless in expansion.
The actions of the Wizard World may seem merciless, akin to an unfeeling machine of conquest.
However, when compared to another great power, the civilization of the gods, their methods appear almost gentle.
Beyond the Outer Layer, another force stands equal to the Wizard World the Civilization of the Gods.
If the Wizard Civilization is a rational explorer and conqueror, then the Godly Civilization is an absolute ruler.
They do not merely absorb worlds; they completely reshape the Void Sea itself, carving out an entire divine domain of their own
The Divine Firmament!
Wizard scouts have discovered that the Godly Civilization has seized a massive region of the Void Sea and, through unknown supernatural means, constructed an impenetrable shell around it.
This Shell Layer acts as the absolute boundary of their domain. From either side inside or outside it appears as a vast, solid wall, smooth yet impossibly hard, devoid of cracks or openings.
It is impervious to nearly all known attacks, spells, and destructive forces much like the powerful wizard warding arrays that protect the heart of the Wizard World.
With this Shell Layer, the Godly Civilization has created an enormous safe zone, within which their divine empire reigns supreme.
Yet, this is merely their first line of defense.
The second line of defense is the terrifying Sea of Divine Fire!
Within the Divine Firmament, there is no empty void. Instead, the space is filled with an unimaginably violent energy ocean.
The Sea of Burning Essence!
This Burning Essence Sea is like a molten sun, pure and raging, untamable and all-consuming. Any non-divine being that touches it ignites instantly, burning away to nothing not even ashes remain!
Even an entire world, if unprotected, would disintegrate within moments of entering this infernal sea.
The Wizard Civilization once attempted to analyze the true nature of the Burning Essence Sea.
But any instruments sent near it were melted, vaporized, and erased before they could transmit any data back.
This is an ocean so fearsome that even observation itself is impossible!
And the third line of defense?
The Crystal Walls!
Deep within the Burning Essence Sea, entire worlds float untouched by the flames.
These worlds survive because each is encased in a transparent barrier
The Crystal Wall!
These Crystal Walls encase and protect each world, shielding them from the Sea of Burning Essence, allowing them to persist under the rule of the gods.
Whenever the Godly Civilization discovers a world worthy of assimilation, they use divine power to transform it, constructing an impenetrable Crystal Wall around it, before drawing it into the Divine Firmament.
This is the final structure of the Godly Civilization's dominion:
Beyond the Shell Layer lies the boundless Void Sea.
Within the Shell Layer is the raging Sea of Burning Essence.
Inside the Burning Essence Sea, worlds exist each encased in an unbreakable Crystal Wall.
Within the Divine Firmament, the gods are the supreme rulers!
In contrast, the Wizard Civilization's expansion, though ruthless, preserves the original form of the worlds it absorbs.
The conquered worlds remain intact, still maintaining their ecosystems and natural laws only now, they orbit within the greater system of the Wizard World.
But the Godly Civilization's expansion is absolute every world brought into the Divine Firmament is sealed, controlled, and reshaped, bound eternally to divine law, serving as a source of power for the gods.
At this moment, within the Divine Firmament, countless blue-white stars shine brightly, moving toward the outer edges of their dominion!
Beyond the Void Sea, a world is transforming, its entire form encased within a newly formed Crystal Wall!
This world is the one chosen by the Goddess of the Weave, Mystra.
Yet, the Wizard Civilization has interfered, preventing it from being fully drawn into the Divine Firmament.
A battle for this world is imminent!
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