Translator: AnubisTL
As most wizards followed mission directives and entered the metal-forged citadel nodes, merging their mental power with the core to assume control, Jieming was astonished to discover that the seemingly ordinary "ship plane" that had been carrying them was undergoing a transformation.
The colossal, profound rumbling wasn't emanating from external sources; it was erupting from the very depths of the plane itself, surging outward from within!
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The desolate ground beneath his feet began to tremble violently, cracks spreading across the surface like a spider web. Then, in an instant!
The central landmass of the ship plane was torn asunder as if by an invisible giant hand.
Blazing streams of runic light erupted from the newly formed abyss, illuminating the entire sky!
Before Jieming's stunned gaze, a colossal cannon constructed entirely from an unknown metal, its surface etched with dense, intricate runes, slowly rose from the depths like a prehistoric giant beast.
The main cannon's muzzle alone measured over ten kilometers in diameter, resembling the gaping maw of a bottomless abyss!
The cannon's barrel stretched to an unknown depth within the ship plane, its length defying comprehension.
As the colossal cannon rose, terrifying energy fluctuations distorted the surrounding space, radiating an aura of annihilation capable of obliterating all existence.
Beyond this main cannon, with its muzzle diameter of over ten kilometers and unfathomable length, countless other armaments emerged from the plane's depths like newborn life bursting from the earth.
From space annihilation cannons that obliterated matter within warped space to shield generators capable of withstanding planar-Level attacks, and elemental field suppressors that suppressed enemy elemental manipulation...
There were also countless energy railguns, rune missile bays, and even floating fortresses concealed within the high-altitude clouds.
In mere seconds, the ship plane transformed from an unremarkable wasteland into a war fortress bristling with weapons like a hedgehog.
Its form, its energy fluctuations—everything about it betrayed its true nature.
This was no mere ship.
It was clearly a war fortress built upon the foundation of a plane, modified by wizards!
Jieming stared at the scene before him, momentarily speechless.
He finally understood why the surface of this plane was barren, devoid of proper cities or even a functioning ecosystem.
It was because the entire plane had been weaponized. All the energy within the plane had been concentrated in the core region to power these terrifying armaments!
The ship plane itself had never been a simple "transport ship" from the beginning. It was a completely transformed, heavily armed super warship!
"Surprised?"
A voice filled with mockery echoed in Jieming's ear.
Viola materialized beside him like a ghost, her silver-gray eyes gleaming with excitement.
"This is Wizard Augustine's... trump card against the miraculous creatures of the Flamefrost Plane."
Viola's voice still carried that morbid delight, but now it was tinged with a pride that ran deep to the bone marrow.
She explained to Jieming, "After Augustine learned the truth about the Flamefrost Plane through information provided by the monster kings Aier and El, he began devising a comprehensive plan."
"Forcing our way out of the Flamefrost Plane and returning to the junction point to mobilize troops wasn't just to lower the living plane's guard, allowing us to strike a decisive blow." Viola paused, her gaze drifting toward the lava giants and snow monster legions hovering above the ship plane.
"It was also because the current number of wizards is far too few to perfectly control the ship plane, this ultimate war fortress. To fully activate this behemoth, we need a massive wizard legion working in coordination!"
Viola's explanation set Jieming's mind racing. He realized another crucial point: "So... when did Master Augustine learn the truth about this plane? Did you... know about this beforehand as well?"
He fixed Viola with a burning stare.
Viola admitted without hesitation, even wearing an expression that seemed to say, "You've finally figured it out."
"The truth about the Flamefrost Plane was discovered long ago, during our initial landing campaign," Viola explained. "After Master Alvin, King Agron of the Snow Monsters, and Lava Giant King Karamos first clashed, they obtained definitive information from the two monster kings. Since then, third-tier and higher wizards have been aware of the situation and have been secretly preparing for today's confrontation."
"As for why only third-tier and higher wizards were informed..." Viola smirked mischievously. "Naturally, it's because only wizards who have reached the third-tier realm truly master their own law power."
"Only wizards of this caliber can prevent their information from being detected by the plane origin. While lower-rank wizards can employ certain techniques, they ultimately lack the ability to achieve deeper levels of 'deception.' Therefore, to avoid alerting the enemy, it was only logical to keep the lower-rank wizards in the dark."
Jieming couldn't help but sigh. This meant that all second-tier and lower wizards had essentially been treated as cannon fodder in this conflict.
He had to admit that Viola's words were entirely correct.
The hierarchical structure of wizards was indeed based on profound considerations.
Unlike the complex requirements for advancing to first-tier or second-tier wizard status, promotion from third-tier to sixth-tier wizard status depended on only two rigid criteria:
First, the wizard's mental power must meet the required threshold.
Second, the wizard must demonstrate a certain percentage of mastery over any "rule."
If we consider complete mastery of all knowledge and operational principles of a rule to represent 100% progress, then a second-tier wizard, once their mental power reaches the required level, only needs to achieve the minimum threshold for controlling rule power in a specific domain.
In other words, mastering just 0.1% of a rule is sufficient to advance to third-tier wizard status.
A fourth-tier wizard requires 1% mastery.
A fifth-tier wizard requires 10% mastery.
Only by fully comprehending all the mysteries and knowledge of an entire rule can one ultimately ascend to become a "sixth-tier wizard."
At this point, the wizard's very existence becomes a manifestation of the rule itself!
Dealing with a powerful entity like a living plane required utmost caution. Even the slightest slip could lead to complete failure.
"As expected... strength truly is everything," Jieming sighed.
He quickly realized another implication: "Since third-tier wizards already knew these secrets and were involved in the plan... does that mean you were just acting when we discussed the geological issues back then?!"
"Exactly," Viola replied, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
Sensing Jieming's conflicted aura after her answer, she couldn't help but smile even more brightly.
"This is..." Jieming struggled to find the right words.
He still remembered how Viola had earnestly speculated about the possibility of unique technologies within the two monster clusters during their earlier discussions.
"Is this the acting prowess of the older generation? I must admit, it's utterly seamless—even fooling their own allies," Jieming thought, feeling a momentary sense of defeat.
After a moment's reflection, he shifted the topic: "Then... Senior Viola, why are you here with me? You're a third-tier wizard; shouldn't you have more important missions?"
Viola shrugged, her face returning to that slightly cynical yet supremely confident smile.
She nodded, confirming his assumption.
"Oh? What's your mission, then?" Jieming asked, his curiosity piqued.
"My mission..." Viola smiled enigmatically, then abruptly changed the subject, delivering a line that left Jieming speechless. "It's extremely important, which is why... I have plenty of free time right now."
"You—" Jieming began to retort, but Viola cut him off.
"Get ready, dear Junior Brother Jieming!" Viola patted his shoulder. "Your mission is about to begin!"
Jieming blinked, abandoning any further attempts to decipher Viola's cryptic mission.
For just as the ship plane completed its full transformation, its colossal main cannon began to gather terrifying energy—enough to obliterate entire planes!
Simultaneously, the living plane below roared with earth-shattering fury!
The two planes had officially declared war!
BOOM!!!
The battle between planes defied all conventional understanding—brutally simple yet utterly magnificent!
The ship plane's super cannon fired first, unleashing a void-shaking roar.
A scorching white beam of pure energy, over ten kilometers wide and radiating heat capable of melting any substance, tore through the void, pierced the spatial rift, and slammed into the living plane below!
The pillar of light twisted and annihilated space in its wake, even causing the rifts connecting planes to emit mournful cries.
The living plane retaliated fiercely.
Its "magma maw" erupted, unleashing torrents of molten lava infused with the destructive laws of the fire element and countless scorching rocks and meteorites as ammunition, unleashing a counterattack like a raging storm!
Simultaneously, its "eyes"—the colossal red and blue qi clouds representing the Blazing Sun Realm and Frostdark Realm—began to spin wildly, unleashing beams of terrifying energy!
One beam was a high-temperature ray capable of incinerating anything in its path, while the other warped time, instantly turning living beings into withered skeletons.
Wummm! Wummm! Wummm!
The shield generators surrounding the ship plane activated instantly.
A transparent energy shield woven from complex runes rapidly expanded around the ship's hull, blocking the vast majority of the attacks.
Yet even so, each impact from the lava torrents and each projection from the time distortion eyes caused the ship plane itself to groan deeply.
Mountains on the plane's surface crumbled under the shockwaves of the energy collisions, and icebergs instantly vaporized!
This was no longer a war between wizards and monsters, but a clash between two intelligences and lifeforms locked in battle across the void!
(End of the Chapter)
------------------------------------------------------
- Read ahead up to Ch339 (WIZARD) on AnubisTL; free chapters up to Ch258.
- No sign-up required. Find CinderTL via Google search.
🎁 2nd Anniversary Grand Giveaway. 26 Slots. Details on the Site.
------------------------------------------------------