Amid the flashing red lights and blaring sirens, Lynn returned to his room.
Behind him, a graceful figure silently followed.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping across the hooded and masked face of the figure. A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"This doesn't seem like Sonya…"
With a flick of his fingers, Lynn gently pulled back the hood and mask revealing an exquisitely beautiful face. Her deep violet eyes shone like stars in the night sky, radiant and mysterious.
"As expected… it's you, Aestry."
He let out a soft sigh and lifted her pale chin with his fingers, trying to read even the slightest emotion in her expression.
But she simply gazed at him calmly, her eyes cold and lifeless like a doll devoid of any feeling.
Even if Lynn were to do anything to her now, she wouldn't resist in the slightest.
"How times have changed… The once-proud 'Little Princess of the Furnace' is now reduced to nothing more than a communication tool… what a pity…"
A flicker of complexity passed through Lynn's eyes part regret, part mockery.
He wasn't lamenting Aestry's current state. Rather, he mourned the fact that he could no longer speak with the proud and vibrant soul she once was.
If the real Aestry still existed if she became aware of what she had become what would her expression be like?
Anger? Humiliation? Or bitter defiance?
Only those raw, genuine emotions could truly allow Lynn to savor the satisfaction of revenge.
But the one standing before him now was nothing more than an empty shell stripped of her own will.
Lynn withdrew his gaze, shook his head, and turned away, no longer looking at her. He walked to the side of the room and began contemplating the operation that might unfold tonight.
He had already gone through the process of "plundering divine faith" once before, so the steps were familiar.
All he needed to do was wait.
Once Qi sent the signal, he would use Aestry as the conduit to open the channel and transport himself across.
Tapping lightly on the table, Lynn's eyes flickered as he murmured:
"Tonight… are the wizard legions and the goddess's army going to clash?"
He picked up a glass of chilled water and took a small sip, mind turning over the changes in the current situation.
"If I sneak out at this moment… it shouldn't count as desertion, right?"
....
"If I can achieve a breakthrough tonight, I might experience a significant leap in power..."
His gaze gradually settled, yet his thoughts drifted involuntarily toward the classification of the wizarding system.
"Official wizards are divided into three tiers: First-level, Second-level, and Third-level wizards."
"Though there is a gap between them, this advancement isn't a sudden qualitative leap but more of a gradual progression."
"If we were to quantify it using spiritual power values..."
"A First-level wizard typically has between 100 to 175 points of spiritual power."
"A Second-level wizard starts at 200 points, with increments of only about 25 points the upper limit being 275."
On the surface, a newly advanced Second-level wizard doesn't seem much stronger than a peak First-level wizard in terms of spiritual power.
But what sets Second-level wizards apart isn't just the slight boost in spiritual strength it's the upgrade in the tier of spells they can cast.
As the purity of spiritual power increases, so does the level of spells one can wield, leading to a true leap in combat capability.
Lynn closed his eyes, immersed in deep thought. His consciousness drifted like an endless starry sky. Spiritual power coursed through it like an invisible mist, slowly spreading throughout his mental realm.
At its core, a wizard's growth is about mastering and elevating spiritual power.
When a wizard evolves from a Third Level Apprentice to an official wizard, their very essence undergoes a transformation life itself ascends to a higher level, even biologically. One of the most notable changes is the dramatic expansion of the spiritual domain.
But this expansion only occurs once, during the breakthrough. After that, the size of the spiritual domain becomes fixed and won't expand again during the official wizard ranks.
Unless one experiences another kind of transcendence a species-level leap such as advancing to the Morning Star tier…
Otherwise, one remains confined within the current size of their spiritual domain.
In other words, advancing as a wizard is not about expanding the spiritual domain, but about compressing spiritual power within it and refining its quality.
The growth of an official wizard is, in essence, the continual refining and sublimation of spiritual power. This process can be broken into three stages:
First-level Wizards: Vaporized Spiritual Power.
At this stage, spiritual power remains loose and mist-like. It's easy to control but also dissipates easily.
Spells cast in this state rely on the quantity of spiritual power rather than its quality, making the effects relatively basic and their strength limited.
Second-level Wizards: Liquefied Spiritual Power.
Upon reaching the second tier, spiritual power becomes more fluid like liquid mercury, flowing freely within the spiritual domain.
Liquefied spiritual power is denser. With the same volume of spiritual domain, a wizard can hold much more spiritual power.
This explains why Second-level wizards have more total spiritual power than First-level ones, even if their spiritual domain hasn't changed in size.
Third-level Wizards: Solidified Spiritual Power.
At this level, spiritual power compression reaches its peak. It becomes like crystallized matter extremely dense, resilient, and stable.
Solidified spiritual power allows a Third-level wizard to contain far more spiritual power within the same mental space than a Second-level wizard.
This is the key to why Third-level wizards are far superior to Second-level ones in terms of spiritual strength.
Yet, spiritual power alone doesn't bring about a massive jump in combat prowess.
The true core of a wizard's combat ability lies in the level of spells they can wield!
The fundamental principle of spellcasting lies in using spiritual power to draw in elemental energy channeling the natural forces of the world, using the caster's spiritual power as a trigger to manipulate the grand laws of reality, and unleashing a force far beyond the wizard's strength!
If we analyze it as a data model ignoring elemental affinity, magical equipment bonuses, and other variables:
First-level Spells: Base multiplier of ×2. Consuming 25 points of spiritual power results in a spell with 50 units of power.
Second-level Spells: Base multiplier of ×3. The same 25 points are consumed but yield 75+ units of power.
Third-level Spells: Base multiplier of ×4. Even with the same spiritual cost, the resulting force is on a completely different scale.
This means that the higher the spell tier, the greater the exponential increase in destructive power for the same amount of spiritual energy used!
Suddenly, Lynn recalled a concept from his past life's games "multiplicative zones."
In some games, damage calculations aren't simple additions, but instead rely on stacking multipliers. Spell tier is precisely this irreplaceable multiplier zone!
Put simply spiritual power determines a wizard's stamina, while spell tier determines their explosive power!
Even if the increase in spiritual strength from First to Second-level seems minor, the leap in spell level causes their offensive power to vastly outstrip that of a First-level wizard!
For the same spiritual expenditure, a Second-level wizard can unleash far greater force. This is the true meaning of a wizard's realm breakthrough!
Lynn lifted his hand and picked up the cup on the table, downing the cold water in one gulp. The chill flowed down his throat into his stomach, briefly clearing his mind.
At that very moment, a faint, radiant glow emerged from Aestry's body.
The light was soft yet mysterious, making her graceful figure seem almost dreamlike.
Meanwhile, behind her, a strange portal of light slowly began to form.
As its glow intensified, its outline became increasingly distinct, radiating a pulse that stirred a deep sense of unease…
It has begun.
Lynn gazed at the glowing gate, slowly closed his eyes, and let his fingertips brush across his chest. A stream of spiritual power quietly seeped out, forming a subtle connection with the maple tree within him.
He was confirming tonight's action plan and at the same time, preparing for something unknown.
A breath later, he opened his eyes, his gaze calm. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his figure exuding a quiet determination as he approached the mysterious portal.
In the next moment, the gate trembled slightly, and his figure was completely swallowed.
Drip. Drip…
Time slipped by unnoticed. The war fortress continued its routine operations until a certain moment.
Boom!
The entire fortress shook violently. The massive defensive arrays quivered slightly, and then, piercing alarms abruptly rang out across the entire stronghold.
"Woooo! Woooo!"
The sharp blare tore through the skies. The once orderly war fortress was instantly thrown into a tense, full-alert state.
Total war mode: activated!
In a flash, whether apprentice wizards within the fortress, full-fledged sorcerers, or even the mighty Third-Level Grand Wizards all tensed up, instantly switching to battle readiness.
Rumble!
Outside, the already gloomy sky grew darker. Heavy clouds rolled overhead as if a cataclysmic storm were about to descend.
The war fortress a colossal amalgamation of steel and sorcery awakened completely. Its internal systems roared to life, arcane circuits fully activated, radiating a destructive energy that threatened to consume everything.
And not just this one.
Near Fortress No. 13, nine other equally massive war fortresses simultaneously shifted into wartime mode like ten slumbering giants being awakened at once, releasing an overwhelming pressure.
In the skies, shadows of sorcerers streaked by, their expressions stern and focused.
Magical flight vehicles roared overhead. Dense energy shields flickered across the fortress, marking the entry into the highest level of battle readiness.
At the same time, in the core command hall of the fortress, an emergency meeting was underway.
Seated inside were the senior wizards of the expeditionary front some were seasoned strategic commanders, others regional warlords wielding considerable power.
Among them were Grand Wizard Yude and Grand Wizard Earl, both wearing grave expressions as they studied the unfolding battle scenario.
They were analyzing enemy and allied positions, speculating on potential conflict outcomes, and preparing contingency responses for any sudden changes.
Just as the meeting reached its critical point
Buzz!
A ripple of spatial energy abruptly spread through the room. A moment later, a towering projection began to materialize in the center of the hall.
"...!!"
In an instant, all commanders fell silent, their expressions changing as they lowered their heads in solemn respect.
"Lord Gearbound!"
Deep voices rang out almost simultaneously across the room.
The projection solidified.
It revealed a middle-aged man, mild in appearance, with a faint mustache curling slightly at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were as sharp as blades, yet his expression carried an elusive, inscrutable smile.
At first glance, he looked nothing like a lofty Morning Star Wizard instead, he resembled a laid-back shopkeeper tending a cozy store, exuding a strange air of approachability.
But every sorcerer present knew: that friendliness was a façade.
This man was none other than the famed Fourth-Level Morning Star Wizard from the City of Machines the Gearbound Wizard, Angus.
He was also the one who, back then, had struck a deal with the Furnace Eye's Wizard, sending Lynn into this faraway expedition world.
Now, every commander held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
They knew perfectly well Lord Gearbound would never appear at such a critical juncture unless he had something of great importance to convey.
As expected, at the very next moment, Wizard Angus narrowed his eyes slightly. His voice was low and solemn:
"Aside from Master Linge, one of the Seven Stars, our detection systems have picked up another figure lurking in the shadows."
His gaze swept across the room, and then he continued, his tone even heavier, delivering a name that sent chills down every commander's spine:
"Bede - another of the Seven Stars."
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire conference room fell into a sudden, deathly silence.
Then, one by one, the sound of people sharply inhaling could be heard. The pupils of every commander contracted slightly, and their faces showed a mix of disbelief and deep apprehension.
A legendary mage one of the Seven Stars?!
Though they didn't know the full extent of the Seven Stars' power, one thing was certain: each of them stood above even Third-Level Grand Mages, second only to the Morning Star Mages.
And if they wielded the sacred relics bestowed by the Goddess of the Weave the Seven Star Artifacts then each of them might very well possess strength rivaling that of Morning Star Wizards!
Now, there were two of them present on the battlefield.
This was no ordinary war anymore it was a conflict that could reshape the entire course of the planar expedition!
No wonder these seasoned commanders had collectively gasped in shock.
However, the Gearbound Wizard, Angus, seemed entirely unsurprised by their reactions.
He casually stroked his signature mustache, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. His voice was calm as he added:
"Each of the Seven Star Mages possesses one of the Seven Star Artifacts granted by the Goddess of the Weave."
"But Mage Bede… did not bring his artifact."
With those words, the suffocating tension in the room eased slightly.
No artifact that meant Bede's power likely hadn't truly crossed into the realm of the Morning Star!
While the combat strength of a legendary mage was indeed formidable, they still had not stepped into the domain of the divine. Their overall power typically remained somewhere between the late Third-Level Grand Wizard level and just shy of the Morning Star threshold.
If Bede had left his artifact behind, then no matter how powerful he was, it would still be difficult for him to bridge that final chasm to stand toe-to-toe with a true Morning Star Wizard.
After all, reaching the level of a Morning Star Wizard was akin to stepping into the domain of divinity, even among the civilizations of the gods.
At that very moment, far from the intense meeting, a mysterious and illusory space trembled gently, ripples spreading across its surface.
From within this distorted realm, the figures of Lynn and Qi slowly emerged.
Night had already fallen over the land, yet the place where they arrived was not shrouded in darkness like the world outside.
Instead, this entire realm was bathed in radiant divine light and dreamlike illumination!
Beneath their feet was an immense, majestic hall. Sacred and mysterious light flowed through it, making it seem like a divine fortress standing between dream and reality.
Qi tilted his head slightly, gazing at the grand and holy sanctuary. His voice was faint as he spoke:
"Ever since the Goddess of the Weave descended, the Seven Stars left the Supreme Divine Mountain and each built a temple of their own…"
"And where we are now… is the temple of Mage Bede one of the Seven Stars."
As his words fell, Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly. Deep within his heart, an indescribable ripple stirred.
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