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Spirit Circle, Wind Wolf Lair and Ouroboros Clan—have always been collaborating with each other. Exactly three years ago, They took control of a region that they had been coveting for, banishing the small Magus organisation already present there. They originally only thought that they were a small organisation, and didn’t expect that they actually had the backing of Jupiter’s Lightning.
This was how they invoked the battle between the Jupiter Lightning with the warlocks took flight.
Obviously it wasn’t so easy because Magi were shrewd people. There was likely to be something in that region that neither side would want to give up on, If not for such a thing they would have solved any dispute long ago. It was impossible for something so minor to become such a big deal.
The alliance between the three Kemoyin Dukes and a peak Morning Star Warlock Lord Cybel were able to match up to a Radiant Moon Magus in fact they even held an advantage.
Afterwards, the conflict erupted and eventually the Jupiter’s Lightning struck back, ambushing the three elders from the Ouroboros Clan.
Being in such a position, the Warlocks invested a lot and invited a Rank 5 bloodline Warlock, these existence are one of the highest ranking Warlocks in the entire continent. And a rank 5 Warlock could even defeat Breaking Dawn Magi! That sort of person was extremely rare, and none of them had even shown up for the gathering.
Due to the reinforcement by the Warlock’s bloodline, he would definitely far exceed a Magus of the same rank. Jupiter’s Lightning’s Radiant Moon Magus would be no match.
With the amplification by the bloodline, the best Radiant Moon Warlock would make even a Breaking Moon Magus wary of them. This ensured that the heritage and status of Warlocks was passed down in the central continent.
Such characters were the foundation of every Warlock organisation’s strength. It was not easy to ask one for their assistance.
Their mission is to join forces and eradicate all the remaining Morning Star Magi in Jupiter’s Lightning at once, and then seize Crystal Mountain completely!
The Crystal Mountains was the main area where the conflict with Jupiter’s Lightning happened, a mountain range that was located near the aisle of Arcelor. The Crystal Mountains were named so because of its production of a type of high energy crystal ore.
This ore could, to an extent, replace magic crystals as a power source for puppets, or to build formations and artifacts. This led to a decent demand for the ore, which kept the prices high.
It could be found everywhere on Crystal Mountain, even on the surface. This made extracting the ore easy, causing the place to be regarded as a natural source of wealth.
Of course, even so, it could only entice weaker Magi. It wasn’t nearly enough to draw the eyes of Morning Stars.
Ore mines of such quality were already present in Jupiter’s Lightning, Spirit Circle, and even within the Ouroboros Clan. It wasn’t worth a fight between Morning Stars.
The real worth arose from a rumour about the place. Legends recounted that this was originally the headquarters of an ancient large-scaled Magus organisation— Scarlet Crescent. During the war, the ancient Magi had peered into the future and decided to conceal the entire region with spell formations. They left their heritage there, and it would only appear when it was time.
Many Magi had brushed this off in the beginning in mockery, calling it nonsense. But on-site inspections revealed that those remains indeed existed, and even hid enormous wealth!
Jupiter’s Lightning had learned of this information at the same time. As such, there was a disagreement about the ownership of Crystal Mountain. Battle soon ensued.
Both sides had shown restraint in the beginning. The battle was restricted to a small spatial rift, and only involved those at or above the Morning Star rank.
But when the Radiant Moon Magus found himself at a disadvantage against the combined forces of the three Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlocks and Cybel, he felt extremely embarrassed. Thus, this matter abruptly intensified.
What followed was the three Dukes being lost in the astral plane, and the allied armies besieging the Ouroboros Clan in the midst of trickery.
According to rumours and the data collected by others, the surfacing time of the remains of the Scarlet Crescent would be when the sun, stars and moon converge and when the arc of Oake appears.
Lita was invited by the two warlock families Spirit Circle and Wind Wolf Lair because they wanted to gain her support or more importantly, they wanted to review the oath made by the three Kemoyin Dukes regarding the distribution of the resources gained. Although the dukes are gone, they pact still remain so they families are reluctant to give out these benefits to the clan without any reason. They offered Lita a new oath which was clearly less than the last one but since it’s concentrated just on her and no one else, it could be considered to be somewhat fair. Leylin ordered her to make no fuss and sign the deal with a few restrictions and new rules, regardless of the oath the only one profiting would be him.
Leylin obviously had all the necessary information regarding the emergence of the Scarlet Crescent. In fact, he knew the method to catch everyone off guard and open the spatial rift before the time. This would help him to gain more benefit. Before Leylin didn’t have much confidence in sneaking in without attracting the attention of the Two Radiant Moon powerhouses but after he squeezed the Sky City library for all its worth, he is very sure of his ways to slide in without alerting anyone. His one and only goal is the Wisdom Tree, everything else would be handed to Lita to take care off. To Leylin, everything is dispensable except for this amazing chance to gain the guidance of a the legendary Wisdom Tree.
[Time format identified to be from the ancient era. Converting into the calendar used by the central continent, date is approaching soon…]
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“He is coming!” Lita smiled as Bloodline power and soul force converged in her palm, the formidable energy undulations collided with an enemy attack with a rumble.
Lita was involved in a fight against a Morning Star, she did so according to plan. She used the momentum of their attack to push the opening of the Scarlet Crescent Ruins.
The air buzzed and trembled, but there were no intense explosions or spatial cracks that appeared.
*Shua!* At this moment, the blue ball of energy was enshrouded by crimson light as it streaked through the horizon like a meteor.
The light arched in the direction it headed, similar to a rainbow that suddenly filled the heavens.
“Oa-Oaker Arc!” A shout of disbelief was let loose from the opposite Magus’ lips as bizarre scene appeared. A giant sun suddenly emerged despite the fact that it was night, fusing with the moon and the brightest star, Venus.
The dazzling yet harmless light formed a thin line that descended to the earth.
*Rumble!* The air was unstable, and it seemed as if another large space was ‘squeezed’ into the place, causing the two spatial forcefields to overlap.
“It’s a success! Go inside!” Leylin majestic voice sounded in Lita’s mind. Leylin is already present here as he was gazing at the two Radiant Moon duking it amongst themselves. The Radiant Moon Magus, were still in a spatial rift, Messages would definitely not be able to pass into the place which means the situation here is much safer, Leylin doesn’t need to worry about being exposed. Even with his camouflage technique, He cautiously made sure to not attract others attention because if a foreign Morning Star suddenly appears he may have to the face attacks from both sides.
Using the A.I. Chip’s terrifying calculation abilities, he operated the situation in such a way that the time of opening of Scarlet Crescent is brought forward.The early arrival of the ruins would likely cause the specific plans of the the person behind all this to be affected. The more chaotic the situation, the more advantageous it was to Leylin.
Seeing the image gradually becoming more distinct and forming a spatial passage glimmering with dark silver light, like pulling open a curtain, Leylin’s hands pushed at the spatial crack and he walked in without the slightest hesitation.
His actions were unnoticed by others because the constant change in rift hid his entry.
After Leylin completely vanished into the spatial crack, Lita also entered and everyone also gritted and spoke a few sentences to their communication imprint then followed and allowed the spatial waves to swallow them.
The sudden appearance of the ruins of Scarlet Crescent rendered most of their plans useless. The entrance of the ruins contained some mysterious spells cast by ancient Warlocks, and those who entered through abnormal ways would encounter barriers.
While everyone was in chaos judging from how the ruins opened way before the estimated time, many were busy scheming. Various Morning Star poured inside the spatial crack trying to vie for benefits. Lita went in as well but strangely she didn’t follow Leylin but rather turned her attention to a pesky ant sneaking inside.
Everyone was trying to find of ways to the entrance to the ruins as Leylin stood resolute because he knew his destination, he stared at a point in the void, silently. Over there, a conscient, or rather, a group of conscients, was coming through slowly! Although it was invisible, Leylin could sense the being through his soul force.
“Everything is going as it should.” Leylin’s eyes showed his glee, although he knew what is about to happen, You can never make a guess about existence at the level of Wisdom Tree, anything is possible and such is his future! because even the faintest of deviation would yield a different future, this is something Leylin knows perfectly and is somewhat ready to accept as well but he would prefer somethings to stay as they should.
“Outsider! What have you come here for?” A conscient entered Leylin’s mind through the connection of soul force. The voice was that of an old woman, but it was interspersed with much more, the roars of multiple other creatures.
“To seek a path!” Leylin said with a low voice, providing an ambiguous yet true answer.
“The path? Even those of Scarlet Crescent don’t know about what is the true path but, to seek means to be willing to tread a path and also learn from it. If so, then maybe you have come to the right place.” The voice sighed.
This creature did not have a normal body. It was just a ball of light emitting a strange power, perhaps a creature hiding its true body in a higher plane.
After confronting Leylin’s soul force for a while and checking his resolve, the will seemed to yield, “Follow the Path of Quandary, it will lead you to your answer.”
As the voice faded, the sound of movements could be heard as a brand new aisle appeared in a corner of the garden. The floor was made of grey stone, and black specks spread out along the floor like numerous insects. They had the figures of twisting faces.
Scanning with his soul force, the outline of the Path of Quandary appeared in Leylin’s mind. Leylin was about to leave but instantly he halted his steps and bowed to the void respectfully. For the existence at that level he has nothing but respect because if you cannot respect you goals then how can you tread your path. Leylin stepped directly onto the path.
The sound of footsteps could be heard as the black garden disappeared from sight the moment his feet hit the stone floor. All that remained was a long sigh.
…
“How could it be? Someone has already entered the Path of Quandary. That’s extremely close to the core! and this magus is following my direction, does they know about me but thats impossible!” The old Magus wearing simple attire observed the light yellow notebook in his hands, letting out a low growl. His expression was that of anxiety and fear.
On one of the pages of the light yellow notebook, a general map had been drawn out with weak black lines. There was a little black dot moving slowly in one of the central passageways that was labeled the Path of Quandary.
There were also other dots on this map, but they were all situated at the exterior regions.
The old man himself was marked with a white dot. Though he was much faster than the Morning Stars outside who were being hindered by the labyrinth, he was still at the middle section and a distance away from the core. There was another dot which was awfully close to his location and was reaching his position very hastily.
Since he has entered here everything is going astray from his plan and somehow he is being pursued by a Magus too. Although he knows that what can he do except for run!
“Damn it, damn it, damn it! Why is there a Magus that’s so fast…” the old man cursed, his expression full of impatience and indignance, “It’s a pity that I only have the correct method to enter the ruins. I can’t control all the secret mechanisms, or else…”
The old Magus’ ancestor had been a member of Scarlet Crescent, he was merely an ordinary member. While he had participated in the construction of the ruins, he had not been able to make contact with the core areas. Hence, obtaining this map, the password to enter, as well as some information, was the limits of what could be done.
What this old man doesn’t know is that Leylin has already marked him outside and send his signature to track him by, to Lita. He didn’t ask her to attacked outside because he had to make sure everything works out perfectly and now, that they are here. Only death awaits the old man.
“As long as I can get to the core area, I still have a chance of turning the tables!”
The old man anxiously and frustrated used his fingers and traced the map, finding another route. However, just when he was about to move, his pupils suddenly shrank.
The black dot following him has disappeared. No! it has not disappeared but has coincided with his own.
“So fast!” The old man turned around to gaze upon an astonishingly beautiful woman but her presence only brought dread to him.
“M-” Lita stood before him and without listening she held the old man by the throat, eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.
“Rank 1 innate spells: Kemoyin’s Scales, Eyes of Petrification!”
Lita proceeded to thrown the petrifying body without any care and picked up the yellow book.
She could see that from the edges of a map, a dot several times larger than the rest, and was ringed in red.
The few traps and patterns at the exterior were completely destroyed in the face of the large dot, and even their names disappeared from the map. The Lita easily understood the meaning of the map and the indications, “A rank 5 Magus is here.”
While she kept lamenting, the her footsteps did not lose speed. Instead, she began to move more quickly.
“Leylin, I would take care of all this miscellaneous task. I just hope you are successful in your pursuit.”
Lita stared at the little black dot in the Path of Quandary, her expression extremely resolved and loving. For some reason she knew that dot was definitely Leylin who was searching for his answers.
