Calvin turned around.
Facing the remnants of the Starsea forces who had not yet fully escaped or were watching from a distance, his voice thundered like a rolling storm, carrying the supreme authority of an Astral Archmage.
"This area, as decreed by the Luminous Empire, is under the jurisdiction of Dalton!"
"Those who have no business here, immediately leave the Aresia star system! Those who do not leave within the allotted time will be treated as enemies of the Empire and exterminated without mercy!"
His words fell, and the terrifying will behind them made the remaining coalition forces tremble with fear.
Without another thought, they desperately activated their engines, fleeing in panic like dogs without a master.
They had already been frightened out of their wits—the overwhelming combat strength of Dalton's army had frozen their resolve.
Despite their disadvantages in numbers, warships, and ranks, Dalton had still obliterated most of the coalition forces with their indestructible defenses, terrifying energy reserves, and unyielding fighting spirit.
Although Dalton's own losses were severe, with only 300,000 remaining from the 700,000-strong army, those remaining soldiers were the battle-hardened elite—future pillars of Dalton's strength!
The intervention of the Luminous Empire had been the final straw that broke their last hope.
Outside Dalton Town.
Calvin, accompanied by Elder Camilius and two attendants, followed Elizabeth and Aragis toward the city gates.
Before they could enter the city, Calvin's steps paused, his sharp eyes scanning the towering walls that glimmered with a strange luster.
"This… is it the foundation forged from Star Core Fragments?"
"The defensive runes flowing over it—are they mixed with Void Whale Spine Fluid to enhance energy affinity? And the bricks... these are clearly made from Eternal Bastion's companion mineral, Immortal Mountain Rock—this material is used to build royal vaults in the Empire, and yet they are using it to lay walls?!"
"...Dalton Town?" Calvin etched the name Dalton deeply into his mind.
Even someone as well-traveled and seasoned as Calvin, who had ruled over countless prosperous star systems, was stunned by the extreme opulence of Dalton Town.
This was no longer just luxury—it was an unimaginable waste… or rather, a display of such profound depth that it defied all comprehension!
As they passed through the city gates, an even more intense mana surged around them, so thick it almost felt tangible.
The concentration was far beyond even the royal training grounds of the Luminous Empire!
Calvin could even feel the faintest stirring in his own previously solidified boundary of power.
"This… the elemental concentration here…"Elder Camilius exclaimed in surprise, sensing his mana circulation speeding up.
Elizabeth calmly led the way, guiding them through the outer district.
Calvin's eyes were like the most sophisticated scanners, sweeping over the golden-inlaid arcane tiles in the streets, the magical trinkets casually displayed in shop windows—items that could trigger bloodbaths in other parts of the world—and the residents whose aura was predominantly at the Magus Lord level, with the occasional Truth Magus strolling by leisurely.
His heart surged with disbelief.
After passing through the inner district and passing through a "Celestial Spire" teleportation array inscribed with countless temporal and spatial runes, they reached Aerial City.
The moment Calvin entered the range of Aerial City, his expression changed drastically.
He suddenly looked up, feeling the radically different time flow compared to the outside world!
"Time… the flow of time is different!"In fact, Calvin had already sensed something was off when he entered Dalton Town, but he hadn't dared to confirm it.
But the moment he set foot in Aerial City, he fully grasped the change in the laws of time!
"Here… one day equals... one hundred years outside?!"His voice trembled with disbelief.
The Luminous Empire had, with the full power of the nation and using an ancient artifact, only managed to create an area in their royal grounds where one day equaled ten years, which was one of their highest secrets and foundations!
And here, one day equaled one hundred years?!
What kind of god-defying method was this?!
He took a deep breath, feeling as if he was not inhaling air, but drinking from a pure energy source.
This was hundreds of times more potent than the mana concentration he felt when he first entered the outer city!
He could even feel the boundary of his own realm, previously as firm as a star core, stirring violently again.
"The elements here… are not gathered naturally," Calvin's voice had an unnoticeable dryness.
"It feels like they've been directly drawn, purified from the very source of the universe by some great force, and then evenly spread like irrigation across the land…"
This method exceeded his understanding of energy manipulation.
His gaze continued to scan the surroundings.
Underfoot, the material was smooth like jade, with what seemed to be a flowing starry nebula within it.
"Void Star Essence? The legendary material that can only be found in the core of dying stars, and yet it's been used as pavement here?!"
He saw decorative lampposts on the side of the road, each holding swirling orbs of "Elemental Spirits," glowing softly and having an effect of calming the mind and inspiring wisdom.
Calvin recognized these as Eternal ranked Elemental Spirits—materials that could form the foundation of an Elementalist's tower in other parts of the world, and yet here they were, simply streetlights?
He saw an open-air fountain, where instead of gems, the water source was a stone known as the "Life Stone"—a rare artifact that constantly dripped "Life Essence."
The vitality radiating from the water made him feel rejuvenated, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
Nearby, a few young elves and human children were playing.
Their toys were made from the "Golden Feathers of the Undying Phoenix," which glowed with an immortal radiance.
"Such waste..."Elder Camilius, trailing behind, trembled, his lips quivering, unable to find words to describe his emotions.
They passed through a garden-like area.
Calvin could barely recognize the few plants there.
The leaves that looked like burning flames were from the "Dragonblood Bodhi Tree," the flowers that opened and closed as though holding a miniature star system within them were the "Void Star Hibiscus," and there was even a green plant he didn't recognize that gave off such a life force that it felt comparable to a mature Starworld Beast!
What stunned him even further was seeing an elderly gardener, wearing simple clothing, carefully watering these rare plants with Chaotic Three-Phase Essence Water—an essence that could only be used to nurture the most precious flora.
"A farmer?" Elder Camilius's voice trembled.
Elizabeth answered calmly:
"That's Old Li, who takes care of the 'Hundred Herb Garden.' He prefers to be called the gardener."
Calvin: "..."
His gaze continued deeper into the city, and the further they went, the more astounding the sights became.
He saw a tower completely constructed from Law Crystals, with an "Eye of Truth" hovering atop it, capable of piercing through all realms of reality.
A training field's floor was made from Chaotic Void Soil, a material that could absorb and reflect all energy, and he even saw several academy students fervently discussing a piece of Jade that continuously evolved runes, emanating a magical aura.
Many of the materials were unrecognizable to him, and he couldn't even understand their existence or properties.
Some of them emitted a cosmic aura that was entirely different from his understanding—almost as if they were from a completely different world system.
Yet, all of this was insignificant when his gaze finally landed on the heart of Aerial City.
There, towering above everything else, stood an ancient and majestic tree—the World Tree.
Its trunk was rough like dragon scales, dark golden in color, exuding an aura that seemed to bear the weight of ancient times.
The branches and leaves were not green, but woven from pure starlight and the threads of time and space, extending outward and seemingly merging with the endless void, as if rooted in countless dimensions and worlds.
Its canopy covered nearly half of Aerial City, showering down a soft and life-giving glow.
Merely looking at it made Calvin's soul tremble.
His Astral Archmage mind, trying to probe the tree, was utterly blocked—as though it were unable to grasp its boundaries.
He felt as small as a speck of dust, overwhelmed by its presence.
This tree radiated an aura of ancient majesty, encompassing and transcending all laws of the universe.
He couldn't understand it!
Completely incomprehensible!
"Star Core used as bricks, god-level materials as roads, unknown wonders as decorative bonsai… and this tree… this tree I can't even fathom!"
"This Dalton Town—this is no remote land of luck! This is a sanctuary that has surpassed the current civilization level of the universe—a garden of the gods!"
"This is… a tremendous opportunity!"
Anyone capable of wielding such a place… their identity… Calvin couldn't even dare to guess.
At this moment, all his doubts, all his sense of superiority, and all his pride as a Marshal of the Empire were utterly crushed by the overwhelming, subversive sights before him.
In their place, a deep, soul-shaking sense of reverence rose.
And with it, an overwhelming curiosity and… faint fear about the true ruler of this miraculous city.
He understood now. Luminous Empire and Dalton were not on the same level.
The foundations that the Empire took pride in were likely insignificant here.
Elizabeth's choice, which he had once failed to understand, now seemed like the most correct decision.
To follow such an existence was the opportunity every ambitious warrior could only dream of!
As Calvin approached the President Mansion, naturally formed from the World Tree's branches, his demeanor had become as humble as a pilgrim entering a holy temple.
Before even meeting the mysterious city's ruler, Calvin had been so overwhelmed by the series of shocks that he felt almost numb.
He had finally understood that the potential held within Dalton Town was limitless!
Dalton Core – President Mansion.
This was a hall naturally formed from the gnarled branches of the World Tree, ancient and full of life.
Leo Grey sat at the main seat, still in his simple dark attire, his appearance ordinary as always.
The moment Calvin entered the hall, his body involuntarily tensed, and his pupils constricted.
He felt an indescribable aura.
Not a pressure from energy, but a presence far more primal—one that seemed to transcend the very laws of the universe!
He had only felt something similar from Emperor Soladin at his peak, and even then...
"My instincts tell me that this seemingly ordinary figure may be at a higher realm than the Emperor himself!"
"But how is that possible?!"
Calvin's shock was beyond words.
Without hesitation, Calvin Saint Yorns, Marshal of the Luminous Empire, bowed deeply with the formal gesture reserved for supreme rulers or equals in the Empire, his voice filled with unprecedented respect.
"Marshal Calvin Saint Yorns of the Luminous Empire, respectfully greeting the Dalton President!"
Leo raised a hand slightly, a gentle force lifting him, his voice calm.
"Marshal Calvin, no need for such formalities. Welcome to Dalton."
This casual demeanor, in stark contrast to the overwhelming aura, only made Calvin feel even more perplexed.After a brief exchange, they got down to business.
Calvin spoke solemnly, his expression serious.
"Leo, with Dalton's strength, it is no longer a mere outlier."
"On behalf of the Vito Multiverse Administration, I formally invite you and Dalton Town to join the administration and protect the cosmic order and peace together."
"With your strength, along with that of Aragis and others, you would directly assume a 'Minister' position, with great authority and freedom."
Leo raised an eyebrow, seemingly uninterested.
"The Multiverse Administration? Sounds troublesome. I don't really like dealing with too many people."
For Leo, he needed no help or collaboration, much less restrictions or constraints.
Calvin quickly explained.
"You misunderstand."
"The administration is not a traditional management organization. There are no strict hierarchies, and members don't have to interact excessively."
"The only purpose is to maintain macro-stability in the multiverse, responding to threats that could destabilize the entire cosmic structure. Members have high autonomy and are only called upon during universe-level crises."
He paused, his tone becoming more serious.
"To be honest, in recent millennia, the activities of the Abyssal Demons and Void Zergs have increased significantly, and there seems to be some unknown force behind them."
"Not long ago, the Luminous Empire was attacked, and His Majesty was severely injured—this attack was tied to an anomalous demon invasion."
"The cosmos needs new powers like Dalton, and strong beings like you, Elizabeth, and Aragis!"
"Joining the administration is not just for responsibility, but also for Dalton's future safety, information sharing, and early warnings."
Upon hearing about the Abyssal Demons, Void Zergs, and Emperor Soladin's injuries, Elizabeth's eyes subtly flickered.
Aragis remained silent, but his aura deepened.
Walter's figure shifted in the shadows.
Elarielle, Magnar, and others wore solemn expressions.
Leo's gaze swept across his core subordinates.He saw no fear, only a burning desire for battle and a sense of responsibility.
He thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Maintaining order and resisting disasters is Dalton's way as well. Since the administration's purpose is aligned with this, Dalton will contribute."