’Ultimately, it’s still a far cry from Root Magic.’

’Learning Space Magic requires the extra steps of deciphering the Ancient Magic Book, translating it, and then comprehending it.’

’The most important part is completing the Laws.’

’Completing these Laws isn’t instantaneous. The moment I learn the Magic, I can clearly feel the magical concept solidifying in my mind, but it’s incomplete, lacking certain Laws.’

’Afterward, my Talent kicks in, and the incomplete Magic naturally grows and completes itself.’

’And the Root Laws I’m missing are also filled in as the Magic is completed.’

’It’s not like Ordinary Magic, which I can learn with a single glance. Learning a piece of Ancient Space Magic now takes about ten minutes...’

’The feeling is quite strange.’

’It’s like being used to having two arms and two legs, only to gradually discover that a person’s ultimate form has ten arms and ten legs, each with its own unique function. I’m in the process of rediscovering those functions while simultaneously growing the new limbs.’

’And only after these new parts grew did I realize just how incomplete I was before.’

Lu Cang was deep in his research.

But suddenly, a premonition struck him, and the Void Spirit Star Ring Battle Spear appeared in his hand.

Lu Cang abruptly extended his Perception toward the Imperial Palace.

At the same time, layer upon layer of Shields activated around his body.

*Tier Five Root Magic: Unchanging Eternal Technique.*

This was An Zheng’s Root Magic.

In an instant, Lu Cang shrouded himself in layer after layer of indestructible Shields. As soon as one Shield was cast, the next one followed.

Because the Shields wouldn’t disappear, he could just keep stacking them.

To be on the safe side, he stacked one hundred thousand layers in one go...

Toward the end, he started running out of room to stack more.

Only then did Lu Cang reluctantly stop.

But after a moment’s thought...

...he raised his War Spear again.

*Deep Cohesion Barrier (Tier Five) (Level 401) — Stackable Cohesion, Massive Barrier, Extremely High Hardness, Invisible, Strength Increases with Magic Power Infusion, Can Be Stacked Further, Absorbs Magic Power, Absorbs Impact.*

SWOOSH!

Rows of barriers appeared in the sky, one after another, densely covering the entire firmament.

’I’ve run out of room around myself...’

’So I’ll just set up a defensive line over there.’

’I don’t know if this level of defense will work against a Level 8 Mage.’

’But it’s better than nothing. At least it might buy me some more time.’

’Let’s see what happens.’

WHOOSH—

At the same time, Lu Cang’s five Cores flew out in five different directions. This time, none of the Cores were in an offensive state; all were set to defense.

Meanwhile, a total of ten "Sources" began to circle around him.

Ready to deal with any sudden developments.

Time: 23:55.

There were only five minutes left until the end of the Knowledge Moon.

’And there should only be about 30 minutes until An Zheng’s Date of Death.’

WHOOSH—

The wind began to surge unnaturally.

This was not a natural wind, but a storm of Magic Power formed by a massive convergence.

Lu Cang rose high into the sky and saw a thick mass of Magic Power forming a vortex, like a storm.

The sheer amount of Magic Power was far greater than his own.

Even the mere convergence of Magic Power was enough to churn up the distant Secret Sea—

—purple cracks of Thunder split the clear night sky!

The bright, azure moon began to dim.

The light of the stars was obscured.

Lu Cang’s Perception was focused on the continent!

But suddenly—

BOOM!

Two different figures appeared high in the firmament.

One was a man with slightly curly brown hair, wearing sunglasses and a somewhat modern-looking jacket. His hands were in his pockets, and he was blowing a bubble with his gum.

The other had long black hair and was wrapped head to toe in bandages, with only half his face showing.

’Judging by how tightly he’s wrapped and the lack of a chest, he’s probably a man.’

"Who’re you?" the curly-haired man asked, blowing his bubble bigger as he looked at the black-haired, bandaged man beside him.

The black-haired man didn’t speak, merely giving the other a cold glance.

The curly-haired man blew his bubble even bigger.

"What’s with the cold act? You’re obviously my partner in this, right? Not even a ’hello’?"

"Hmph."

"How are we supposed to communicate if you don’t say hi?"

"My Profession is a bit Special. If you don’t talk, don’t blame me for holding you back when the fight starts."

The black-haired, bandaged man’s face twitched.

"Death Church. First Executioner. Samo."

The curly-haired man: "Oh?"

"So you’re *the* Samo?"

"I’ve heard about you for so long, but this is the first time we’ve met. Haha! I thought mummy-like characters only existed in gag manga!"

"Oh, do you know what manga is? It’s a form of entertainment from my country."

Samo’s wrinkled face twitched uncontrollably.

’What on earth is this guy even here for?’

"You still haven’t said who you are," Samo said, his voice icy.

"Oh, so you wanted to know who I am."

Samo’s bandaged fists clenched.

’Before I take care of Izparut, maybe I should take care of you first.’

The curly-haired man said, "My name is Roya."

"My Profession is a Level 8 Chaos Deceiver. Never heard of it, right? It’s the only Secret Scroll Profession."

Samo paused.

’Level 8... a unique Profession?’

’This is the first I’ve ever heard of such a person. It seems An Zheng really managed to invite someone incredible.’

"Are you also here to kill Izparut and Kumironi?"

Roya: "Haha, not exactly. I’m not here to kill anyone, I just owe that guy An Zheng a favor, and he asked me to protect him. Can’t be helped, a debt’s a debt, so I came."

"Of course, since he wants to kill Izparut, I’ll definitely have to lend a hand."

Roya’s gaze swept around.

"But, aren’t these ordinary people a little innocent?"

SWOOSH!

He raised a hand.

Lu Cang’s pupils contracted!

He watched as the entire, vast Ruelun Continent vanished in an instant.

Where the continent once was, only the deep Secret Sea remained.

It was as if a giant reservoir had been carved out of the Secret Sea, and seawater was now pouring endlessly inward to fill the void.

"There’s still one in the sky," Samo said coldly.

"That one..."

Roya looked up, and his eyes met Lu Cang’s.

POP—

His bubble popped. He seemed to freeze for a moment, but he quickly broke into a bright, cheerful smile and waved at Lu Cang in greeting.

’...Why are you waving at me?’

"Eh, we can just ignore that one," Roya said casually.

Samo, who had been about to kill Lu Cang on a whim, suddenly paused. For some reason, he felt like it didn’t matter.

So he abandoned the thought.

Lu Cang had no intention of fighting a being who could move an entire continent with a wave of his hand.

’It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how that would end.’

’Rather than charge in and get instantly killed, I’d better pretend I don’t know anything and just be a quiet spectator.’

’I’ll gather as much information as I can before I get obliterated by the aftershock.’

’Level 8... This must be the Chaos Deceiver, Roya, that was mentioned in An Zheng’s notes.’

’The other one, Samo, is on par with him, so he must be Level 8 as well.’

’So this is what a hornet’s nest of Level 8s looks like.’

’I never expected two reinforcements to suddenly show up on this day.’

’Iz is a Mage, not a Divination Master.’

’He couldn’t have predicted this variable either.’

At this moment, the palace where Izparut was located had been moved away.

He stood amidst the gale of Magic Power, the wind tugging at the brim of his Mage’s hat and partially obscuring his face.

"Three Level 8 Professionals."

"Truly interesting enemies."

A Magic Staff appeared in Izparut’s right hand as he lifted the brim of his Mage’s hat with his left.

Nearby, An Zheng also stood up, his body a withered husk.

A brilliantly radiant Magic Staff materialized in his hand as well.

This was his famous Magic Staff, the greatest masterpiece he had ever crafted.

"Izparut!" His aged voice, now bolstered by the surging Magic Power, boomed out.

"I admit, you may indeed be a stronger Mage than me now."

"My body is withering and decaying, my life is nearing its end, and I am not what I once was."

"However, your mistake was..."

"...thinking that I was alone."

"You never imagined how many friends and allies I made during my travels across the world."

Izparut: "Your ’friends and allies’... are a man from the Death Church?"

An Zheng: "Iz, one day, you too will come to rely on such power..."

"When your life reaches its end, you will also be tempted to embrace Death."

Samo took a step and appeared beside An Zheng.

He placed a hand on An Zheng’s body. An Zheng’s withered skin turned gray and began to flake off like a scab, while fair, new skin gradually grew in its place.

"Izparut..."

"Do you think you can still stop me now?"

Iz’s expression remained calm as he simply shook his head.

He raised his left palm. "Tier Six Root Magic, Source Material Stripping."