Chapter 94
Dane created these items with a micro fraction of the formless armor. The chaos energy that fueled the communication device was not created to draw attention but to be practical equipment that he gained from the transmittal insect language, as these insect-like artifacts were not living but actually crafted items.
The serpent bracelet was active when the Crescent Magus came toward the Brilliance Guild. Unannounced, and the disturbance and assault her guards created were heard by him. Dane finally created a dimensional transfer gate at the heart of their new stronghold for easy transport of all the construction materials. The magic language he placed on the gate meant that only official members were allowed to use it.
Dane walked back and stepped foot onto the Brilliance Guild. He was deeply agitated, knowing that somebody was foolish enough to harm Siglorr Bouldergrove, knowing who he was connected to. That feeling of guilt when his parents passed away resurfaced again. Dane was upset because he knew deep down in his gut that when the tower and all of the non-playable characters inside could now be manipulated and change based on their own choice and free will, the binding personality traits he and his team coded no longer held true. The sense of loss and betrayal weighed heavily on Dane as he prepared to confront whoever was responsible for disrupting the tower resident's delicate balance. The realization that their once carefully crafted world was now unpredictable and uncertain finally came.
Dane always expected this to happen eventually, because he understood this very well, but at the same time hated this fact because it meant losing control over something he had worked so hard to create. The uncertainty of what would happen next filled him with a sense of mixed emotion. And he hated this dual feeling deep in his gut.
The chaos energy Dane had was real; releasing it was twice that and thick. His step was filled with enough energy that it melted the solid concrete floor as the chaos manifested fire, and a surge of electricity was mixed within the fire. The chaos energy was dark, and it moved on its own, and the alarm activated again.
The soldiers that were about to strike Mary Kaye and Siglorr Bouldergrove were petrified with fear as the energy they felt was choking them. Their blood ran cold, and their instincts told them to retreat, but they were frozen in place, unable to move as Dane's chaotic power continued to grow stronger. The soldiers knew they were no match for the raw, untamed energy that surrounded them, and they could only watch in horror as it consumed everything in its path.
Seeing Netherborn up close again, Sylveth Melriel, the Crescent Magus under some unknown mind control, lost composure and lost hold of her own will. She knew this was her fault, as she let down her guard, and the right archmage was able to cast a high-level control spell. She wanted to speak up, but she couldn't.
The right Azure Archmage Aithlin Hasterienthe was her equal in terms of title, but his powers were more inclined to manipulation and curses. The king of Solnara, Cererindu, appointed this pale, old, skinny, five-foot-six bearded man because he was consort to Maisha Cohnal's uncle. .
Sylveth Melriel's real form was a young lady similar to Elaria Syrune. Her background is still unknown, but she was seen to be truly gifted in magic. Her knowledge of spells is known in the region, especially divine spells. but never actually faced actual battle, unlike the right archmage, who had a reputation for being a formidable opponent on the battlefield. When he was younger, he cast curses on the enemies. Despite the fake smiles and calm demeanor, the two archmages hated each other secretly, as they both have different perspectives on using magic.
The person that was manipulating her was watching her from his tower that was located at the main castle, unlike the left archmage, who was a known recluse, strange, and rarely seen in public. The tension between the two archmages finally reaches its peak; the right archmage found a reason to finally implement his plan to remove her and take hold of the seat of power, being the only tier 7 archmage in the kingdom of Solnara Cererindu.
Azure Archmage Aithlin Hasterient smirks and gradually laughs at the situation he never expected to happen; he was hoping that the Netherborn would eventually find out what Sylveth Melriel and the guards did to Siglorr Bouldergrove. But the joy of seeing the very person that was making huge changes in the region was walking toward Sylveth Melriel.
The spell he used was a very high-tier spell named puppet control, but it can only activate if the target gets disoriented and feels fear due to uncertainty, and Sylveth Melriel was clearly showing signs of confusion and fear. Aithlin knew that his plan was working perfectly as he continued to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
What he was seeing was a walking calamity; the very district was trembling as a storm of energy spiraled out with so much force the concrete ground was breaking and melting. The chaos energy that was coming out of the Netherborn body was affecting the nearby buildings, as sparks of his chaos energy would burst out like sparks, and the impact was so strong it would penetrate the buildings within the industrial district.
Netherborn power was not even fully activated, but it was slowly increasing. Azure Archmage Aithlin Hasterient was feeling his mana reaching him, even though he was a mile away, and the creeping feeling that the person he was watching from a mirror artifact was getting stronger.
Aithlin Hasterient felt a needle of pain in his chest; it wasn't that painful, but the fact he suddenly felt it was an indication the person he was watching was focusing his mana toward him. He rejected the idea that the person walking toward Sylveth Melriel, or the Crescent Magus, knew who was the real perpetrator in the situation.
He questioned the idea that a being like him would just suddenly come out and randomly show his power openly without hesitation and announce openly who he was and even give a name for everyone to know. Was it deliberate and planned so he could manipulate the situation he wanted everybody to perceive and act upon, or was it simply a reckless display of power without regard for consequences? Either way, he needed to be cautious and prepared for any possible outcome, based on the unexpected feeling he just felt.
Aithlin Hasterient has reached this age and position because he was patient and cautious in all his actions. He was near an old bookshelfand took an artifact that was created hundreds of years ago by his master; it was an item that can assess any living being's power and grant those who use it the ability to see the actual information on the target, but activating it needs a large amount of mana. The time he used it was to view Sylveth Melriel, the Crescent Magus, and he saw they were fairly equal in terms of mana capacity, but their skills and knowledge in magic were different, and facing her directly will exhaust his mana to the point an unseen enemy might take advantage of this situation and attack him without warning.
This was the reason he never wanted to fight Sylveth Melriel head-on. As he made a lot of enemies in the past to get to the point where he is now, he wasn't blind to acknowledge the vile and evil things he did and is still doing secretly under the guise of being a caring grandfather and senior archmage in the kingdom.
He serves the founding king of Solnara Cererindu and spent many years helping the prince to turn his grandfather's legally born kingdom from blood and death into a merchant kingdom where most merchants come to conduct their business. Before the Karion region in the west was closed, the traders from neighboring countries across the ocean directly went to the Dravenholt, the Silent Port, as one of the seven territories in the west was under the leadership of the younger sibling of wife Queen Nimriel Cererindur.
The Karion Empire stood and was established at the very path leading toward the east. The mountain range that stood as a wall and even enclosed certain lands and areas was the reason Karion was established. The entirety of its people and noble leader spent decades tunneling into the mountain and building massive structures like the connecting bridge over the gorge to manipulate logistically all merchants to pass through their land and create a massive economic boom for their empire.
The strategic location of Karion allowed them to control trade routes and establish themselves as a dominant force in the region. This was when the kingdom of Solnara Cererindu was still in the process of gaining power and influence. The wealth and resources gained from their control over trade routes allowed Karion to expand their military and solidify their position as a formidable kingdom in the region.
This economic success also led to cultural exchange and growth within the empire, solidifying their power and influence. Until this very wealth consumed the leaders, and they did the unthinkable as they shot down a huge beast that they imprisoned under tons of solid rock that became the twin Anchorage Castle.
Aithlin Hasterient saw these changes with his own eyes; living nearly 400 years, he knew many dark secrets that he kept from leaking toward the succeeding generations, the Seraphim.
That cursed the land of Karion because their foolish action made the remaining territories close the cursed land and made sure to imprison every nonliving being inside a huge wall that the other civilized kingdoms agreed to build to protect themselves.
That is why floating and flying transport cargo are so expensive, as they are the only methods the merchants can use to still do their business. The aerial routes of these merchants are highly protected and have high-tier cloaking spells to avoid detections below.
The gold and power Aithlin gained to feed his hunger and to feed his desire came from these floating ships, but when an elegant and beautiful woman became the left archmage advisor, his appetite suddenly stopped, as she was always able to interrupt his so-called small and secretive indulgence. Consuming life essence, or spiritual energy, from young girls was Aithlin Hasterient's addiction, as it kept his life at an extended and vigorous state. However, the presence of the new advisor disrupted his plans and forced him to find alternative sources of energy to sustain himself. Despite his initial frustration, Aithlin found himself intrigued by the challenge of outsmarting the advisor and maintaining his power without drawing attention to himself.
As he held the artifact in his hands, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that washed over him, prompting him to consider the potential consequences of the Netherborn wielding such power. As he activated the flat, circular, mirror-like metal disc that was as big as an ordinary teacup saucer. Seeing the information on the reflective surface, a cold chill ran into his vein; there was no information about him. All the letters that were manifesting on the artifact were glitching and constantly moving in chaotic order.
The number of his mana capacity was rising. It has already surpassed his own level and is nearing twice what he accumulated in 400 years of existence. Aithlin Hasterient, with all his power, was afraid to die; all those young, fragile spiritual essences he forcibly took were the reason he did all of those heinous crimes under his tower.
Not for 400 years. The fear that lingers in his skinny body was slowly eating him. He orders Sylveth Melriel to attack, but Netherborn had already made her faint and lose consciousness. As all those who were within his chaos mana reach. The chaos storm that flattened the gate settlement was now larger, but it wasn't that destructive, as if the chaos was in tune with the Netherborn logical mind. Dane has cast his assessment skill toward those who were in his range and saw the abnormalities and healed them before succumbing to a thick and potent chaos energy he was emitting.
The reality was conforming toward what Netherborn, or in this case what Dane, wanted them to see. All the mage citizens and players that were able to sense and feel his presence did and decided not to act on their impulses and endure the calamity they are now calling the blight of chaos. Dane already knew where the puppet master was located; the spell was cast by a different person. Dane looked at the tall tower that was seen miles away.
He wanted to punish the perpetrator, but killing the right advisor to the king, who was going to be his temporary uncle, as he will claim the identity of Duchess Elleena Rothchester's son, just legally set claim over the land of Lúthien. Gaining a reputation for being evil and lacking any redeemable warrior acts will be a hindrance to him as he goes up the tower floors.
So Dane was now contemplating what to do to retain his hold on what the players and residents of the tower perceive as the netherborn's traits. Dane wanted to fully establish that his alter ego should be left alone and seenas a being that they all should be wary of. So Dane, in his Netherborn form, cast a tier 5 fire with a lightning 50-caliber bullet spell that was so majestic and shocking, casting a manifestation spell that was so terrifying but awe-inspiring to witness as the spell came out to gain attention, and all the needed glamor and visual representation would shake the very foundation of how to cast a new type of magical attack enchantment.
Many eyes held their breath as they saw how Netherborn destroyed everything they knew about magic. The players that saw him were in awe, as they never expected that the Netherborn just showed them all the next stage of magical prowess they could achieve. The spell left a lasting impact on all who witnessed it, sparking a newfound curiosity and determination to push the boundaries of their own abilities.
Dane wanted it to be a warning and a declaration to leave him and his servants alone, and the power he cast was intended to be so powerful just to confirm he was indeed that strong. As Netherborn was casting his attack spell, those who saw this began to panic as he raised his hand with an open palm; they all saw the massive energy surging, and at the center of the swirling magic language, a small orb instantly grew into a huge 2-foot-diameter pure chaos energy; it was big enough to cover Netherborn's upper body.
The moment he pointed his palm toward the right tower, suddenly the orb flew toward the tower with supersonic speed as if a cannon had been fired, causing a deafening explosion, but the impact toward the tower sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. Created a small hole in front and a massive explosion at its back that stunned Aithlin Hasterient as his tower was enchanted with a tier 5 barrier. And space expansion magic inside. The attack was precise and devastating, leaving Aithlin momentarily stunned as he realized the power of Netherborn's chaos energy. The upper half of the ruined tower began to crumble from the force of the explosion, sending debris flying in all directions.
But because Dane's intention was to prove a point, the remaining upper half of the tower didn't fall. But the damage was done, and Aithlin knew he needed to regain composure, as he was now exposed to everybody; his power was no match for Netherborn. As Aithlin Hasterient looks at the mirror, he sees the person that cast the attack spell has already vanished. The king with all his subjects remained silent as they saw what just happened and decided to keep their opinions to themselves. As the two towers were not just a part and structure of the main castle, they were the royal family's secret weapon. The towers were constructed taller than the castle and can hold 100 warriors and have enough magical attack artifacts to protect the castle and all the royal families.
Panic was a normal event at the kingdom of Solnara Cererindu, as they are a large merchant city with so many different organizations residing inside its walls that each district is enclosed by a wall to protect those who are living inside it, as constant skirmishes occur as quarreling merchants, aristocrats, and players guild members instantaneously happen on any given day. Each district has its own set of rules that no nobles can monopolize.,
Soldiers came out after, as did mages and all those who wanted to gossip and gather information about the latest incident in their own backyard , The constant tension between the various factions kept everyone in the loop, which was filled with so many different opinions and mindsets that it was hard to keep up with the ever-changing dynamics of the city. The districts were like small worlds of their own, each with its own unique culture and power struggles that added to the overall complexity of the city.
And a few who are controlling these places are now questioning the relevance of the Netherborn action. Was his act a declaration of something bigger, or was it just something that happened based on other individuals own personal interests?