Chapter 91
Dane woke up inside his own sleeping tent. The duchess and her maid steward felt the war-forged remains before the sun came up. The carriage they used was imbued with restriction and camouflage magic with the help of the artifact Siglorr gave the Duchess, and soon they rode their carriage and went out of the high-tier barrier the war forge placed on their territory. Many eyes, spies, and reporters from different organizations were waiting outside the forest. The 20-acre land Siglorr bought might be secured from many prying eyes, but it's still reachable as they conduct normal transactions. So traveling out toward their new land, a thousand miles west in Lúthien, will take many weeks; the large containers they will bring with them will be an exposed target for bandits and thieves along the way.
Siglorr expected this to happen in the coming few days in the future, but the sudden unexpected turn of events led them to adjust and just hope they can reach the land safely. Dane went out of his small black tent that was made from the formless shadow. Dane saw all the war forge were finalizing the cargo wagons they will be using, which were also enchanted with gravity magic and space expansion spells, increasing their size inside the wagon itself. These artifact are common items that were sold in the entire first floor.
These were also used by Dane's cousin, Mary Kay Lazarus, leader of the High Strategy guild. The elders set up a table outside the temporary gathering tent. , the y were discussng the route they should use to safely reach the place, one elder took out an old map in his safe keeping and pointed out locations that are filled with monster and area were savage tribes still might be residing. He emphasized the importance of avoiding these dangerous areas to ensure a successful journey to their destination.
The dwarf elders were concerned about their cargo; having so many artifacts in their possession is a burden, as they can't just leave without a large number of guards joining them.
Siglorr was scratching his head about the problem they were not facing when he saw Dane looking at them. Siglorr walked toward Dane and greeted him. Dane asked what they were discussing. Siglorr's expression changed, knowing he might blame himself regarding the situation they are all in.
Siglorr just admitted that they are having a hard time plotting the route that they will use in going to the land of Lúthien. Dane understood the situation and admitted he is the reason these problems came to their doorstep. Dane asked the war forge chief to explain further as they walked toward the large table. As the elders and human team leaders were gathered around, the moment they saw Dane, they greeted him and awaited his reaction.
Dane saw the old map that had small writings on it; he wondered if they were distance coordinates or markings. He was now curious about it, as he told them they may continue their conversation and pointed out he came to listen. The elders and staff gave their suggestions and opinions on the matter.
"Elder, we can't just leave the place without guards accompanying us."
"I know you are weary, but who do you think will answer our request so abruptly? We need a few days to even get a decent response to trust-worthy hired guards.
"Everybody for sure knows about the weapons and artifacts in our possession."
"The fact we got attacked yesterday, the warmth of the magical storm's purge is still warm at the settlement."
"What about using transfer scrolls?"
"We can do that, but those scrolls are expensive, and all the gold we had, we already spent on food and provisions."
"We have, like, forty wagons filled with all of our creations, equipment, and food."
"With all the artifacts he created, there must be one that can help us now?"
Olmar Bouldergrove raised his voice and said that they do have an artifact that can help them, but they weren't able to finish it because the magic language they were carving and imbuing it with was lacking. Dane asked them about the language they were using, his curiosity suddenly gaining interest.
that served as the main ingredient for any magical effect. Without it, a spell was merely an empty word and a hollow gesture. Next, this potent energy required a conduit, a physical channel to guide its immense power.
For lesser works, his own body could suffice, but for grander or more volatile spells, materials like a rune-etched weapon, a specific item, or a powerful artifact were necessary to focus and shape the flow.
Finally, there was the magic language—the intricate syntax of power. These were not mere words but the very law and rules that would govern and control the mana, commanding it to change its function and form from raw energy into a tangible, defined power upon its activation.
Dane has already obtained hundreds of magical languages, but because his skill slot is already full, these spells need more mana to use and memorize their language. Many mages had to spend many days to finally formulate the correct language where they could form the spell and actually use it. Having a skill is like having innate control over the spell and activating it. With ease.
Casting using mana energy to manifest letters and symbols relating to the desired outcome. This process requires precision and concentration in order to successfully harness the power of the spell and bring it to life. Dane just copied this type of casting similar to any virtual game; he never expected that many residents of the tower had never encountered this. A few high-tier mages are known to only use this type of spellcasting as a hidden trump card, but hearing the conversation among the elders and war forge personnel made him realize the plasma vortex was a new spell.
Dane is somewhat oblivious to these things, as he already knew the tower residents are more knowledgeable in real magic than him; in his past life, he was just a game developer, so all of the things they created inside the Arcane Crusade game were not known, especially the manner in which they cast high-tier spells.
When he uses his teleportation spell, the farther the distance, the larger the mana usage. This includes the use of the formless armor; one minute of use is equivalent to one mana point. He can easily use burst teleportation back to Lúthien by spending fifteen thousand mana points, and having 40 thousand mana capacity points, he can go there without worries.
But hearing the dwarves discuss these matters openly, he now realizes he was hearing vital information that he didn't know when he was building the game in the past. Choe Hyun-Jae, the magic and battle system head developer, was a game fanatic; she was a die-hard gamer and was a master spell crafter. But because Dane created the main system to adapt and learn from all the other eleven designers and developers, he assumes the system has already absorbed the details and adjusted itself to follow the main command to expand and improve upon the magic and battle system. This assumption ultimately led to unforeseen changes in the towers functionality and balance, causing unexpected development..
Dane smiled and was happy seeing his idea coming to reality; the plasma vortex is a new magic spell language. It wasn't just a book of spells; it was a lost data packet, a key that unlocked the potential Choe Hyun-Jae had designed but never had the chance to implement.
This new understanding clarified everything. The grimoire had transferred knowledge, but it was knowledge the system already possessed on some forgotten, fundamental level. Dane hypothesized that all the spells Choe Hyun-Jae developed, which never made it into the game's official release, didn't simply vanish. Instead, they became "floating scripts" within the main system's software—complete, functional pieces of code that were simply never linked to the primary command structure.
They were ghost data, existing in the machine's memory but invisible to its active processes.
That was the loophole, the beautiful flaw in the design that made his work possible. The main system didn't react with alarms or dispatch coded responses to correct his "illegal" magic because, technically, it wasn't foreign at all. The plasma vortex was built from code native to the system, a dormant function that Dane had simply awakened.
It was part of the whole yet completely detached from its established rules. He wasn't a hacker breaking in from the outside; he was an archaeologist, unearthing a forgotten chamber within the very foundations of their world. This means he can use this vast spell language to personalize his own spell and save it in his library and expand even further. Dane moved away from the Elders and saw one of the wall pillars that had fallen down. He walked towards it and sat on it, and as soon as he entered a meditative state and entered his subconscious library, he went toward the magic section, where all the floating language script was cataloged. Dane took it out and opened it; the language that was written down was around 300 pages; one page is equivalent to one spell language. As he flipped the page, he saw two pages were already blank.
Dane thought adding magic language would eventually reduce the number of raw languages. The plasma vortex is a combination of a swirling wind spell language and a compressed fire burst. and used lighting to turn charged positive ions and free electrons. Combining three spells into one will get them fused together; that is why there were two blank pages.
"So does this mean my fire and lightning skill has created a combined branch that has a high-tier attack spell that costs 10 thousand mana points?"
He wanted to see if it manifested on the sapling in the center of the library. Dane saw the small sapling has grown bigger; the five small braces have leaves already, but the lightning and fire branches fused together. This was a common phenomenon called inosculation, so the two leaves are the main skill spell, and the other leaf is the new spell, so the more leaves the tree has, the more spells he can use.
While the theoretical knowledge of an incantation might grant a fleeting sense of power, the true obstacle in the mystical arts lies not in knowing a spell but in the arduous and often elusive act of casting it. The language from which these potent magical phrases are derived is remarkably complex and extensive, often bearing little resemblance to the concise, logical structures of human speech.
The true art of a mage lies not in their power, but in their memory and articulation. Knowing a spell is merely the first, deceptively simple step. The real test is the performance. Imagine trying to recite a long magical language from memory, in a phrase you barely understand, while simultaneously focusing your will and energy into a single point.
Because the spells used in the tower were based on a game, the magic language was converted into a more practical and efficient form, but it derived from the code building blocks the 12 programmers created. The binary numbers might be the universal language for the digital world, but not in reality; those numbers change into real spells.
Casting spells using one's memory is hard, and players and even residents of the tower can only use spells that they mastered effectively. But in Dane's case, he once again gains an upper hand, as he can now cast a new spell by fusing the language and adding a summarized activation word, like in any computer game.
This realization came to him in a surprising manner. He has been staying inside the tower for a few weeks now, but he hasn't actually fully witnessed a local mage cast a spell that is not connected with his or her primary skill.
He recalls the spell Siglorr Bouldergrove showed him, the burst teleportation spell. So he decided to personally ask him. As he came out from his meditative state, he walked toward Siglorr and asked him about the spell he used when they first met.
Siglorr was proud to answer Dane's question; he explained the skills are forging, item enchantment, and metal manipulation. Siglorr made sure to engrave the spell language into his mind and told him that all members of his own family must know how to cast this spell, because their lives depended on it. And the long language can say or mentally recall
"We had to master those lines to escape any danger.
"By the veil that parts the worlds, I step beyond the bounds."
"or in our Dwarvish dialect,"
"By the veil denthar hjutr eth midjurdr, jeg hlast vrutan eth bounds."
With a subtle incantation, Siglorr's body became suffused with a soft, ethereal glow. The light enveloped him completely for a brief moment before he vanished from his spot, only to reappear a few feet away with a faint shimmer. He repeats.
ed the process, the glow washing over him once more as he blinked back to his original position. He looked at his companion, puzzled. Siglorr couldn't fathom why Dane was asking for a demonstration of such a fundamental spell.
He had witnessed Dane use the very same spatial jump himself, and that shared mastery was one of the core reasons he had come to trust the man. Acquiring fluency in a spell's intricate language was no small feat; the more potent the magic, the longer and more complex its linguistic structure became. To see another wield it with ease was to see a kindred spirit in the arcane arts.
Dane pressed his inquiry further, "Is the difference in mentally recalling the spell considered more advanced than speaking the words aloud?" Siglorr nodded, though with a measure of caution. "In theory, yes. Silent casting demonstrates superior mental discipline. However, that discipline is also its greatest weakness.
Thefocus required is immense, and an enemy can shatter it with a simple, brutish act like stabbing you mid-thought. That is why many seasoned mages, even masters, still prefer the reliability of a spoken incantation. The words provide a solid anchor for the will, one less easily shaken.
" This led to Dane's real question. He gestured towards Siglorr's hand, recalling an earlier display. "Then what about the burst spell you used? You just pointed your finger, and it happened. Was that mental casting? "
A knowing smile touched Siglorr's lips as he understood.
"Ah, that. No, that is a different kind of trick altogether."
He told Dane of a time when he was younger and witnessed an elven hunter ambushed by a giant salamander whose venom induced paralysis. The elf, unable to move or speak, should have been dead. Instead, he had escaped because he had the forethought to tattoo an escape spell directly onto his arm, activating it with a mere flicker of will. With a dramatic flair, Siglorr pulled up his own sleeve, revealing a complex tapestry of arcane symbols inked into his skin, the very language of the spell woven into his flesh.
"Master Dane, you can also write the language into any material and add an activation gesture or word to trigger it."
Siglorr explained, his tone shifting to that of a teacher. He knelt and used a sharpened stick to etch a series of characters into the dirt.
"Watch closely; I will write the spell language for the fire pillar. The size and duration of the flame will depend on how much mana you are willing to fuel it with."
He meticulously carved the phrase into the ground:
'Hjav stomping arn eth ogjart.'
Once the inscription was complete, Siglorr stood over it. "And now for the activation," he said. With a sharp, deliberate motion, he stomped his foot upon the ground beside the writing. A spark burst from the arcane script, and a small, one-foot-tall pillar of flame erupted from the dirt, dancing where the words were written. It flickered for about three seconds before extinguishing itself, drawing a mere three mana points from Siglorr's core in the process. He looked up at Dane, his expression conveying the vast possibilities of this simple, yet profound, technique.
The magic tower has been studying different ways to use mana and magic language, and sadly many mages are too greedy to share them with others, believing they deserve to only use these spells as they created them with all their hard work and dedication. The potential for collaboration and innovation in the magical arts is vast, but only those willing to share their knowledge will truly unlock its power.
The two were noticed by the elders, who were still discussing the plan on how to travel toward Lúthien. Many were focused on the meeting when the elder saw Siglorr was explaining magic to Dane, who had a monstrous mana capacity. The dwarf race and many others are very sensitive to mana.
These beings were born with the natural sense in mana; this elder was Siglorr's distant uncle but nevertheless still a Bouldergrove. He is much older and was skilled at casting spells in many ways and forms.
In his younger days he was a known Dwarven mage warrior; now, at the age of seven hundred and two, his agility and stamina have significantly diminished, but his wisdom and knowledge of magic have only grown.
He casually joined Siglorr and Dane, as he saw his nephew was showing and sharing a spell he learned from an elf. Imgrim Bouldergrove was interested in what they were doing, as their benefactor was eager to know more about magic.
"You two seem to have far more interesting discussions than listening to those fools over there." Dane smiled and greeted the elder. He explained that he was still lacking in so many things when it comes to magic spellcasting; he was a bit confused, as he explained the magic he knew has a different formula here.
Dane shared with Siglorr and Imgrim his new way of casting; he just explained it was an accidental discovery, and he wanted to know if they had seen anything like it. The two were curious about what Dane had said.
Dane extended his palm, and as his hand opened, he mentally cast the spell. The air before him shimmered as illuminating symbols, woven from a pure arcane language, swirled into existence. They coalesced into complex geometric shapes made of raw mana, the entire construct pulsing with a soft light. This was his focus, a unique method where the inscribed language made the magic exponentially more potent and intricate.
With each subtle movement of his fingers, the glowing circle of runes shifted and reconfigured its design. His two observers, Siglorr and Imgrim, were mesmerized by the intricate display, realizing they had never witnessed a casting technique quite like it. Eager to understand, they leaned in, asking Dane to show them more of this fascinating art.
The three of them huddled together like children discovering a new toy. Seizing the moment, Dane asked if they could refine a burst teleportation spell, moving beyond simple distance to something more precise and accurate.
"We could use actual coordinates," he suggested. Imgrim scratched his grizzled head, the word foreign to him. "Coordinates?" he grumbled. Dane explained it was a human system for measuring distance, using a set of numbers to specify the exact location of a point in space.
Imgrim grunted in understanding, though the concept felt needlessly complicated. "We use the 'Brace,'" he told Dane. "It's a unit of length, about a comfortable stride for a dwarf, maybe five or six feet. You face the direction you want to go and measure the distance in Braces." Dane knew this difference in foundational thinking would make his ideas difficult to translate. His own method involved simply facing a direction and casting the teleportation burst with a specific distance in mind, a technique that lacked true precision over long ranges.
Explaining his ambition further, Dane clarified that he wanted to create a more practical spell to shorten travel on a much larger scale. Imgrim pondered this for a long moment, stroking his beard. Then, his eyes lit up with a distant memory. He told them of a time he was traveling in the northern regions and saw messenger pixies use a unique form of magic that opened shimmering portals to entirely different areas. Dane and Siglorr listened carefully as Imgrim described how the tiny creatures used it to travel vast distances in the blink of an eye. Surprised, Dane offered his own interpretation.
"So it's not teleporting," he mused. "It's more like folding space to shorten the distance."
Imgrim responded with a knowing smile.
"Exactly, Dane. It's all about manipulating the very fabric of space." A wave of awe washed over the group as they imagined the possibilities. Dane somewhat understood the idea, as many scientific minds all around the planet are continuously working on understanding and harnessing the power of space manipulation. The concept opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for exploration and discovery. But unlike on Earth, where it's impossible to even scratch the surface of an idea in a single lifetime, the potential for advancement in space manipulation seems to be ever too far from coming to fruition.
But now when magic and science are combined, the possibilities seem endless and achievable in a shorter amount of time. The group's excitement grew as they realized the potential for groundbreaking discoveries in this new field with the help of magic.
"Folding space," Dane repeated, his mind racing, "like folding a map to connect two locations at a single point." Taking out a small piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink, the old dwarf knelt on the ground. He began to carefully write down the arcane language the pixies had used, working entirely from a memory that was now two hundred years old.
As Imgrim struggled to recall the ancient script, more people from their Warforged company noticed the small group and began to approach. Dane and Siglorr leaned down to inspect the dwarf's work, seeing that the magical language was still crude and missing many crucial parts. Soon, several other elders saw them gathered around Imgrim.
They knew the old dwarf by heart; he was not the type to interact with others unless the conversation was of deep magical importance. Curiosity got the better of them, and they abandoned their own discussions to approach and inquire what new spell had so thoroughly captured Imgrim's rare and undivided attention.
Soon the table that was the focus point of the war forge personnel and staff moved toward the other group. The elders saw what Imgrim Bouldergrove was trying to finish, and the rest of the dwarves gave their own opinion as they asked Imgrim if they could add their own version of the spell. Imgrim Bouldergrove stood up and gave the parchment paper to Dane so he could show it to those who were also curious about the language written on it. Dane told them he wanted to know if they could create a spell language similar to what those messenger pixies used to shorten their travel from point A to point B.
And briefly gave a simpler explanation; many talked among themselves, and many of them asked
Imgrim to share parchment paper, as they will write down their own version based on what they gathered when they were roaming the region in the past. The day became a quest that made all of those who knew magic sit anywhere to scribble down any magic language that might help Dane get the answer he needed, while the rest just continued to secure their wagons and temporary homes.
Even though they were all preoccupied with this magic task, they never let their guard down. Dane knew this very well, so his familiars patrolled the area tirelessly. The wall surrounding the bunker was finished, and it wasn't that sturdy, but it would be a sufficient deterrent if any dared to attack them. Even when Wrenla Bouldergrove and her team prepared their meal, they were still discussing the language until a group of people gave and introduced themselvesas the Velvet Knights.
Cragmir Bouldergrove, with a few armed dwarves, surrounded them and demanded to know their business in the area. The tension was palpable as both groups eyed each other warily, unsure of what the other's intentions were. When the familiar fox Dane came out and walked toward Bai Xifeng, the huge beast that stood five feet tall slowly became smaller and became playful with the player. Soon Elaria Syrune came out from the ruined war forge wall and walked out of the barrier; she greeted the players and introduced herselfas Elaria Syrune, the war forge potion maker.
Jin Xifeng and Bai Xifeng bowed and also introduced themselves. The two were accompanied by all their remaining guild members, but even before they could speak more, Elaria Syrune raised her hand and gestured a peculiar response.
"My master and benefactor informed me about your group's visit, but we cannot allow all of you to enter our territory."
"As you can see, this place is not appropriate to host or accommodate any visitors."
Elaria Syrune's words sounded mature and very articulate, and her demeanor was composed and authoritative. The guild members exchanged glances, unsure of how to proceed in the face of Elaria Syrune's unexpected response. But Bai Xifeng nodded and answered her. With a respectful tone, he said,
"We understand and appreciate your honesty. Perhaps we can find a more suitable location for our visit." Elaria Syrune's expression softened slightly at Bai Xifeng's understanding response.
"If it's fine with you, please wait here for a moment while I ask the chieftain and our master about your presence."
The velvet knight could only accept her request, as they know who their benefactor is. There were still many people and reporters roaming and wandering around the small patch of forest, hoping to get a scoop on what is happening on the ruined war forge. That is why Cragmir Bouldergrove stationed his team at the forest clearing, as they know many are still hoping to enter their private domain.
Many residents, reporters, merchants, aristocrats, and criminal organizations, and even players themselves had a lucky encounter with the unseen guards patrolling the fallen war forge territory. And because these creatures can change their size and multiply their number and shape, they guard the outer perimeter of a war forge in random monster form. Many of these unlucky individuals were seen unconscious outside the forest.
And just in case somebody connects the familiars with Netherborn. Dane is very clear and secretive with the use of the formless armor in open public; he never once showed his ability. That's the reason he created his alter ego for this kind of situation.
Soon Elaria Syrune came back out and asked that only the captain and sub-captain may enter.
Jin Xifeng and Bai Xifeng followed the potion masters as they entered the barrier. That saw the huge cargo wagons filled with large containers. Enchanted with medium-tier protection and seal spells. As they walk toward what seems to be what remains of a huge table,
Siglorr Bouldergrove was waiting for them with a guard's deployment of magic contracts. The two introduced themselves, but Siglorr Bouldergrove was a frank and direct person; he asked them if they came here to receive his master's generosity and kindness. The two felt the war-forged mana, as he was still a well-known resident of the first floor.,
"My benefactor wanted to give you this as a token of his gratitude." Siglorr placed a small wooden open chest container with 50 pieces of 10 ml ampule bottles of tier 3 lotus potion that cost 10 gold coins per ampule.
"And he asked me to give you these 20 more potion bottles of tier 5 potion costing 30 gold coins each as an offer to join us in being our official hired guard."
The two tier 5 potion bottles were a generous offer, indicating the high value placed on the recipient's potential role as a hired guard. Siglorr's words hinted at the importance of the position and the trust that would be placed in the individual who accepted it.
"And in addition, we shall provide all the necessary accommodation and wages, each based on skill and rank; the lowest is 5 gold coins per month."
"and finally the absorption of your guild into our Benefactors insignia."
" he just asked for your loyalty , nothing more."
Jin Xifeng took a deep breath and calculated the amount they will receive if they join this newly formed guild. He asked Siglorr Bouldergrove about the name of the new guild. Siglorr Bouldergrove smiles and responds.
"Our master and benefactor is not establishing a guild; he is going to build his empire. And if you signed this loyalty contract, you all can be a part of his ascension to the highest power and glory." Jin Xifeng's eyes widened at the opportunity for advancement and wealth that lay before him and his guild members. ,"