Throne of Magical Arcana

Inside the Atomic Universe, the various-colored stars in the boundless space constituted a unique and colorful view.

Lucien and Natasha gradually appeared, cutting the space-time connection with the abyss.

“We got it in the end after all, or we would have to search for the special Silent Hell.” Natasha was rather amazed by the beautiful, complicated patterns on the dark plate in Lucien’s hands. They were protruding and glittering in turns like a ticking second hand. Also, every pattern was spreading the vague, dreamy sense of ripples. Not just ladies, even Lucien as a male felt that the Time Plate was a piece of delicate artwork.

“If the Demogorgon of Darkness and the Angel King hadn’t conspired to kill me, this Time Plate would’ve become Gonheim’s collection after he became the Prince of Demons. It would’ve been millions of times more difficult to get it.” Touching the Time Plate with his right hand, Lucien sensed the flow of time in it.

In the Desperate World after the Frozen Fortress and the Abyssal Stomach were melted, Gonheim was close to a demigod. If he had left most of his power in the place, Lucien could’ve only suppressed him even if he had asked Douglas, Fernando and Hathaway to attack with him. In that case, Lucien would rather look for help to go to the Silent Hell.

Natasha also extended her right hand and touched the surface of the Time Plate curiously, enjoying the unique feeling. Then, she became more or less solemn. “You’ve really been targeted by the top legendary, and two of them, no less…”

She had always believed that even though Lucien did not compete for anything or walk on Viken’s path, his arcana studies and his soaring magic abilities would still invite hostility and schemes. Now, her ‘prophecy’ had come true!

However, she did not look scared but only concerned. She was filled with intense determination and desire for battle. It was partly because she was very confident in Lucien and partly because she felt that it was a test for her who regarded protection as her knightly principle.

Lucien curled his finger and knocked the Time Plate, but there was no sound but only dull, spreading ripples. “In such an age, any expert who wants to rise higher cannot avoid the vortex of conflicts, unless they hide in the depths of the Boundless Ocean or a secretive alternate dimension to be abandoned by the age. However, as a result, it’s possible that other legends would think of him first when they intend to transform their status. It’s certainly most easy to deal with lone individuals.”

“As long as the Congress continues the momentum of development, I believe that the final victory will definitely be ours.”

“As for me, I’m ready to embrace the challenges and maliciousness.”

Lucien spoke casually but determinedly.

Natasha chuckled. “You would’ve become a distinguished knight if you hadn’t chosen to be a sorcerer. Right, has the Angel King completely perished? Your ‘Positron Cannon’ is truly a world-blighting spell!”

Having spent a long time together with Lucien, she had become rather creative in words, too.

“After the other antimatters are studied and manufactured, it wouldn’t be a dream for a level-three legendary sorcerer to destroy the world individually. All they need is a boom.” Lucien said half-jokingly. The power of the Positron Cannon could be further improved, depending on his own magic strength and the materials he prepared in advance. Such preparations, on the other hand, were much more terrifying than what was needed for ‘Eternal Blaze’. Only a tiny amount of antimatter was enough to annihilate a star. But of course, antimatter couldn’t be synthesized in the laboratory yet.

While talking, Lucien took out the crystal ball and chanted a spell:

“Mirror of Fate!”

In the dark universe, illusionary spots of light appeared. They were like butterflies, or the stars in the night sky. That was the cosmos of fate!

Those spots of light were gathered into a hazy, mysterious mirror. After the glittering crystal ball on Lucien’s left hand flew in, the mirror began to shake violently, like a peaceful pond to which a stone had been thrown into. Ripples were spreading out.

Ripples died down, and the haze was gone. A crouching angel with thirty-six wings on the back appeared. Suddenly, infinite light glowed from the mirror and surged out like a torrent.

Natasha, who was observing nearby, realized it first. She dragged Lucien who was slightly stunned by the power and reached another corner of the Atomic Universe after a blink. Then, they saw that the Mirror of Fate was consumed by a cluster of pure, clean brilliance. The space around was also devoured, leaving a lifeless void. It was not until the ‘universe’ shook and the power nearby flowed over that the void gradually disappeared.

“That’s the power of the God of Truth…” Natasha muttered with mixed feelings. Was it the true god that she used to worship? Also, even though faith had backed to the spiritual domain for her, that was still ‘God of Truth’. So, she still felt complicated when she was faced with the ‘god’ who had lost rationality and had only power and rules left.

Recovering from the blast after the Mirror of Fate was destroyed by the power of the God of Truth, Lucien scratched his chin. “If you grasp the rules of Mountain Paradise and the God of Truth, would we be able to use his power at the critical moment? Also, why is the power so high? Is it a qualitative advancement or a quantitative accumulation?”

Natasha’s lips curled as she watched Lucien to think. Her indifferent eyes became gentle, and she said with a smile, “Grand Arcanist, you are a real researcher.”

“Ha. It’s just my occupational disease…” Lucien replied humorously after he was back to himself. “It seems that Mecantron did not completely perish. There’s no telling whether it was because he did not project all his power, or because he was connected to the God of Truth with a special bond. Is it possible that he will never really die as long as the God of Truth exists, and that he will surely be resurrected on the seventh floor of Mountain Paradise when he dies?”

Lucien speculated the reasons why Mecantron did not completely perish. While ‘Positron Cannon’ could not track the original body like the Sword of Truth, it contained the purest destruction. Lucien believed that if Mecantron had arrived with his full strength, he would’ve been obliterated whatever resurrection methods he had!

“I think it’s the latter possibility. To deal with a grand arcanist who possesses a handful of top legendary spells in the abyss where the power of Mountain Paradise is greatly weakened, the Angel King would barely have any chance of success if he hadn’t arrived with all his strength. I don’t think he would underestimate his enemy.” Scratching her chin, Natasha offered her opinion.

Under normal circumstances, Mecantron was among the top-tier experts and was as strong as a demigod near Mountain Paradise. However, in the abyss, even if he arrived in person, he would only be as strong as the weakest top legend under the affection of the abyss. If he did not try his best, he would only be in level three of legendary and on par with Lucien.

In that regard, sorcerers, with their unpredictable, miscellaneous spells, were much stronger. They were almost adapted to all battle environments and wouldn’t be greatly weakened.

“That makes sense. His ‘God’s Guard’ was as powerful as his performance in Rentato.” However, even though he is the body of resurrection prepared by Thanos and an incarnation of the ‘God of Truth’, he is only a new-born angel right now. It will take at least five years before he resumes legendary strength.”

Although the Mirror of Fate could determine if Mecantron was still alive, it could not state his status clearly. Therefore, Lucien could only make a vague prediction based on the signs.

Hearing Lucien’s speculation, Natasha suddenly chuckled. She pointed at the planet of iron not far away and said, “I think we should discuss it after we are back home. Do you not feel that the cold and dark universe is not as comfortable as a warm, cozy room? There is also tea and music, and we are not far away from the door…”

Lucien replied, “Of course. I need to be prepared for the improvement of the Moon Timer, too.”

……

Inside the Frozen Fortress, Gonheim, the Demogorgon of Darkness, returned to the dark throne. Wounds deep to the bone appeared on his right hand that was tapping the gems, but no blood was flowing out at all.

Blue, cold light emitted from the wounds, freezing everything inside. Even Gonheim’s terrifying ability of recovery could not eliminate them any time soon.

There was also a scratch that carried the air of death on Gonheim’s face. Although it was shallow, his face still cramped now and then.

Touching his face with his left hand, Gonheim mumbled to himself, his eyes whose colors changed all the time turning chaotic and cold, “Lucien Evans, Apsis, ice statue…”

As a cunning Prince of Demons, he had other preparations, so he beat the Lady of Snow and the Lord of Death after paying a certain prince. However, Lucien was even faster. He had already left with the Time Plate.

……

In the Month of Harvest (September), most places were still warm and full of the delight of harvest and festivals, but freezing wind was already blowing in the northern province of the Schachran Empire, making people feel that winter had come.

A team of mercenaries walked on the desolate plain, guarding a few business convoys. The Schachran Empire was most famous for its vast territory, abundant resources and copious magic creatures.

Amidst the mercenaries, Katrina had tied her gold long hair. She touched the bald figurine of a dwarf in her bock and thought absentmindedly, “Why did my teacher ask me to put this statue out in front of the temple in Dumute? Why is this statue unfinished?”

She was very curious about that.

“We’re arriving at Calcate City!” The scout up ahead shouted. At the border of the plain and a forest, right next to a river, a magnificent but somewhat old city appeared before their eyes.

It was Calcate, the third largest city in the province, only second to Nanoki, the capital, and Kirf, where Marquis Furtado was at.

Katrina was back to herself. She moved her left hand out of the pocket and thought to herself. “The most important thing right now is the mandatory mission. I can work on my teacher’s request later.”

This place was the destination of her mandatory mission as well as her hometown.

Looking at the familiar architectural style and the unique view, she was somewhat fascinated.