Under the Maple Tree's narration, Lynn finally grasped the true origin of the Landscapes.
At the same time, he also came to understand something else:
Why the Maple Tree this top-tier genius of the Natural Divine Court, a lord-level existence with the potential to reach the peak of Radiant Moon wizardry would appear in the southern region, where natural mages were extremely rare.
Why he would end up settling in the desolate area at the border of the Kingdom of Elurea, the Duchy of Caecila, and the Principality of Salam?
And why he would remain trapped in the vast Emerald Isle Forest, unable to escape to this day.
It turned out, he had entered the game willingly, chasing after the golden balance.
As the saying goes: Men die for wealth, birds for food.
Even someone as powerful as the Maple Tree was no exception.
Yet, he had been caught off guard and betrayed by that otherworldly being Qi losing even his physical body to the enemy.
He could only cling to life by hiding within one of his extraordinary plants, barely surviving until now...
The Maple Tree spoke slowly, his tone complex and tinged with bitterness:
"That otherworldly being the one called Qi… I don't know how he came to be."
"Because, by the definition of a Landscape, there should only be remnants of a civilization here. In theory, no living being should ever exist within it."
Lynn frowned slightly, listening intently.
"But the moment I found the golden balance, he suddenly appeared and attacked."
The Maple Tree paused for a moment, as if recalling the scene, and continued slowly:
"As a natural mage wielding the Azure Spirit, I was subjected to the same attack that the fallen god once endured..."
"The only difference was that I was a little luckier I didn't die on the spot."
"I used all my strength to retreat into the Azure Spirit to protect myself… until your teacher arrived."
There was a trace of self-mockery in the Maple Tree's voice. For a lord-level mage to end up in such a wretched state it was a hard pill to swallow.
What happened afterward, Lynn more or less understood already.
Now, at last, he had pieced together the full story behind this hidden chain of events.
However, one question still lingered in his mind the true nature of Qi, that mysterious and unpredictable existence.
From what the Maple Tree had described, Qi had ambushed him without warning and imprisoned him in the Emerald Isle Forest, forcing him to cling to life in hiding ever since.
During that time, the Maple Tree hadn't had much interaction with Qi, and thus didn't know him well.
Still, Lynn hoped this once-powerful mage might offer some insight or advice.
After a moment's thought, he opened his mouth and said:
"That day… he suddenly appeared beside me…"
Lynn went on to recount everything that had happened how Qi had used the golden balance to form a contract, forcing him to sign it.
How Qi had taken him to harvest the faith of a goddess, fueling the Azure Spirit, and even how Lynn's spiritual power had been enhanced as a result.
Yet as he spoke, Lynn's brows slowly furrowed, a strange unease rising in his heart.
"So far, the contract hasn't brought me any harm… I've benefited from it."
"But it's precisely because of that… that I feel something's wrong."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured:
"Qi's true goal is impossible to grasp…"
The Maple Tree listened to Lynn's story, frowning slightly, a trace of confusion in his eyes.
After all, from what he could see, Lynn was being treated far too well.
There was no blood tie between Lynn and that otherworldly being, nor any past relationship. They had been outright enemies not long ago.
And yet, Qi had gone out of his way to find Lynn just to make him sign a contract...?
And that contract… contained no clauses harmful to Lynn? On the contrary, most of its terms were to his benefit.
Not only was there no malice Qi even helped him harvest the faith of a goddess, recharge the Azure Spirit, and boost his mental strength...
That was far too suspicious.
Maple Tree couldn't make sense of it no matter how hard he thought. In the end, he chose not to press the matter further.
Since the truth couldn't be unraveled for now, it was better to set it aside and avoid imposing his assumptions, lest it interfere with Lynn's thinking.
Rather than speculating on Qi's motives, it would be more productive to first fill in more details about the Landscape.
After a moment of contemplation, Maple Tree slowly said:
"I have a theory, though it's only of limited value. Just something for you to consider."
"The power of a Landscape is time-limited."
Lynn raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
"At its core, a Landscape is like a cultural time bomb. While it's difficult to destroy outright, over time, it will inevitably be absorbed and assimilated by our wizarding world."
"Once fully assimilated, the Landscape begins to fade away..."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"Take the Landscape inside Emerald Isle Forest, for example."
"It might persist for another hundred years or so, but eventually, it will vanish entirely."
At this, Lynn's expression turned thoughtful.
Maple Tree glanced at him, then added:
"I still don't understand what Qi is."
"But let's suppose… he isn't truly a living being, but rather a part of the Landscape a fragment of that lost civilization, still clinging to existence."
"If that's the case, then when the Landscape fades away, wouldn't he fade with it?"
"In other words, a hundred years from now, could Qi be completely erased with the dissolution of the Landscape?"
The moment these words left his mouth, Lynn's eyes lit up.
A whole new perspective had just been opened to him.
Even if it was built entirely on speculation, it still offered a fresh and compelling line of thought.
If Qi's existence was limited by time rather than being a truly long-lived, Morning Star-level being
then every move he made now must be in service of achieving some goal before his inevitable end.
"He's racing against time!"
This theory set Lynn's thoughts racing.
"I learned their language and script within the Landscape," he mused.
"That civilization was destroyed by the pantheon of gods and someone like Qi, someone that strong, would only die standing… fighting until the very end."
A bold idea began to take shape in his mind, his eyes flickering with intensity.
"If a fallen warrior were brought back to life…"
"And he saw that his civilization had been wiped from existence, what would he most likely do?"
"Of course seek revenge."
Lynn clenched his fist slightly.
If all their assumptions were correct, then Qi's ultimate goal had to be part of a revenge plan targeting the gods' civilization.
As for how he planned to do it, Lynn couldn't say just yet.
But he was almost certain that his role in all of this was deeply intertwined with the Azure Spirit...
Maple Tree seemed to notice Lynn deep in thought. His gaze shifted slightly, and with a soft sigh and a hint of reflection, he said:
"The true mark of a civilization lies in its language and script."
"Only by truly mastering them can one begin to understand their thoughts, history, and beliefs."
His eyes flickered, as if pondering something. Then his tone shifted, carrying a subtle note of curiosity.
"I've been wondering for a while…"
"How did you learn their language and script inside the Landscape?"
Maple Tree's voice was calm and steady, his eyes fixed on Lynn, clearly awaiting an answer.
"Although the Landscape is made of remnants of a civilization, it's not a place of complete inheritance."
"In an environment like that, with no mentor, no texts to follow… to somehow master the language and writing of a shattered civilization without guidance…"
"That's just a bit too unbelievable, isn't it?"
Maple Tree's voice was low, but there was a trace of scrutiny in his tone.
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.
He knew full well that Maple Tree was testing him.
The reason he was able to learn the language of Qi's civilization was entirely due to the ability granted by his "Heaven Rewards the Diligent" talent.
But naturally, he had no intention of revealing any of that.
So, keeping his expression calm and his tone casual, he simply replied:
"Perhaps it was just a stroke of luck."
Upon hearing this, Maple Tree stared at Lynn for a few seconds before giving a faint smile and dropping the subject.
"Is that so..."
With a soft sigh, he didn't press further. Since Lynn wasn't willing to explain, there was no point dwelling on it. He retracted his presence and quietly receded into the depths of the Azure Spirit.
Feeling Maple Tree's aura vanish completely, Lynn's lips curled into a slight smile, and he nodded to himself in quiet approval.
As expected of someone like Maple Tree even with limited information, his insights and perspective were on another level.
Standing high above, he could offer the most crucial guidance from just a few words.
"If we assume our hypothesis is true..."
Lynn muttered to himself, his gaze turning increasingly contemplative.
"Qi is still acting as an ally for now. Until the Azure Spirit is fully recharged, he likely won't make any rash moves."
"Which means... I still have time to build up my strength!"
His eyes grew sharp, and his thoughts began to crystallize.
"During this window, I must find a way to absorb enough spiritual power to raise my realm to the next level."
"If I can break through to a Second Level Wizard... or even higher..."
Lynn took a deep breath, a gleam of determination flashing in his eyes.
In the past, his control over the Azure Spirit was minimal. It was nearly impossible to actively channel its divine power for his own use.
But now, Maple Tree had awakened.
With Maple Tree's cooperation from within the Azure Spirit, everything had changed!
With his assistance, they could delay the Azure Spirit's full recharge giving themselves time to skim off the top.
If everything goes smoothly, Lynn might be able to leverage Qi's Morning Star-level power to amass immense reserves during this period!
"Second Level Wizard... maybe even higher mid-stage, late-stage... could I possibly leap straight to Third Level Grand Wizard?"
Lynn shook his head slightly, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
It sounded far-fetched, but it wasn't entirely impossible.
The key lay in how effectively he could utilize his current resources and how much he could extract before Qi's true motives were fully revealed.
But before any of that, he had another important matter to attend to.
He needed to make use of the "Mechanical City Research Institute Member Token" that Grand Wizard Chris had given him.
"Though... how exactly am I supposed to use this thing?"
Lynn pondered as he stepped away from the window and began walking down the corridor along its edge, heading deeper into the War Fortress.
Even with the token in hand, to truly put it to use, he would need to present it to the right person.
The power structure within the War Fortress was complicated, and connections were crucial.
With his current status, there were only a handful of high-ranking individuals he could directly reach...
"Grand Wizard Yude..."
Lynn murmured, and in his mind appeared the cold, steady figure of that man.
Grand Wizard Yude could indeed be considered one of his "connections."
Although their relationship wasn't particularly close and there had even been misunderstandings and friction between them in the past it was undeniable that Yude, as a Third Level Grand Wizard and one of the commanders of the War Fortress, was by far the most influential person Lynn could possibly approach.
"Still... it was he who personally appointed me, transferring me here from my position as a guardian wizard to serve as a squad leader."
"If I take this token and seek him out, is there a chance I could get him to change his mind?"
Lynn recalled Yude's sharp, hawk-like eyes and furrowed his brows.
A figure like Yude would never be easily swayed unless the decision came from himself.
Especially when it came to someone like Lynn, who, in his eyes, was still considered a "weakling" with barely any influence.
"Yude isn't the one to approach... In that case, what about the other Grand Wizard?"
Lynn began to recall the intelligence he had gathered about the War Fortress, trying to remember the other Grand Wizard's name.
"I think... it was Earl…"
Just as he was lost in thought, a sudden commotion ahead shattered the fortress's otherwise strict and solemn atmosphere.
"Hm? In a place as disciplined as the War Fortress, who dares to make such a racket?"
Lynn's attention was immediately drawn, and he quickly made his way toward the source of the disturbance.
Before long, he saw a crowd of Wizards gathered in a circle, seemingly observing something.
At the center of the crowd, two familiar magical auras were clashing fiercely.
A female Wizard wearing black-rimmed glasses was glaring coldly at a tall, rough-looking male Wizard. The two were locked in a heated argument.
Lynn's gaze sharpened slightly as he sensed that both of them bore two permanent sorcery sigils clear indicators that they were both Second-Level Wizards.
Conflicts between Second-Level Wizards were rare in a place like the War Fortress...
What's going on here?
Lynn narrowed his eyes and moved in closer, trying to get a better grasp of the situation.
He saw the two Second-Level Wizards standing in front of a tactical sand table, pointing at a specific region of the War Fortress, their expressions intense as they argued.
Lynn stayed on the outskirts of the crowd, listening quietly. After a few moments, he finally pieced together what had happened.
It turned out these two were not ordinary battle Wizards but rather mechanical engineers of the War Fortress, responsible for overseeing the fortress's entire internal system of magical machinery.
The War Fortress's fusion of sorcery and machinery was vast and complex, involving various defensive installations, weapon systems, energy loops, and the maintenance and upgrading of war automatons.
While the two commanders of the fortress managed high-level strategy and wartime affairs, the finer details of mechanical operations were entrusted to these two Second-Level Wizards.
Specialization and proper delegation only with a clear division of labor could the War Fortress maintain efficient operation.
However, precisely because these two were core figures in the field of magical engineering, their differences had become increasingly pronounced.
The root of their argument was an age-old debate in the field of mechanical warfare: which development direction to pursue.
One side advocated for "Enhanced Individualization"
Focusing on maximizing the power of single units, refining each piece of war machinery to its peak. Quality over quantity builds unmatched individual war machines capable of overwhelming any foe.
The other side supported "Coordinated Mass Deployment"
Developing mechanized legions that relied on strength in numbers. While not pushing the limits of any one unit, they would dominate the battlefield with sheer coverage and overwhelming firepower a true flood of war machines.
With war on the horizon, the question now was:
What direction should the War Fortress take in its upcoming armament strategy?
And that was the true source of conflict between the two Second-Level Wizards.
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