Chapter 346: The Path to the Future
Since time within a dream is inherently illusory, everything is under the control of Ace, the ruler of the dreamscape. This is a natural effect derived from the dream itself—as long as Ace can withstand the strain, a single dream can last a millennium!
Ace intended to use this millennium-long dream to completely remodel Aleias, reconstructing her memories to make her a more perfect experimental subject.
Ace had set his sights on the unique authority of the descendants of the God of Craftsmanship. The ability to deconstruct the material and texture of Wondrous Items, replicate them, and even partially replicate Quasi-Noble Phantasms was simply breathtaking.
Aleias was merely a Hero, yet she could create a replica of the Quasi-Noble Phantasm “City of Protection.” If she possessed the strength of a Great Hero or even a Legendary Hero, would it be possible for her to directly replicate the actual Quasi-Noble Phantasm?
Ace’s “Dream Manifestation” ability was undoubtedly the best fit for integration and cooperation with this capability. If he could use the runes behind this authority to further perfect the Eye of Truth (Pseudo), it would inevitably enhance the power of his Dream Manifestation tremendously!
After storing the eerie “Life-Hunting Arrow” in his Mental Imagery World, Ace’s eyes flickered as he looked at Turion and the others. He knew Turion was an Advanced Warlock Apprentice, and at this stage, Ace had no intention of exposing him.
Turion was just beginning to make his mark within the Punishers organization; he might play a bigger role in the future. Ace didn’t believe that killing Karim would cause the Punishers to collapse completely. This was an organization supported by the five Northern City-States—or more accurately, the “knife” of those five states.
Even if the knife snapped, the five Northern City-States could simply forge a new, sharper one.
Ace’s magic power was consumed in vast quantities as the mental imagery dream world spun rapidly. Within it, Aleias swayed like grass in the wind, undergoing endless cycles of reincarnation.
As her illusory dream lives repeated, faith in Ace began to be engraved into the deepest parts of her consciousness. Meanwhile, Aleias’s memories drifted apart, rapidly read by Ace through the dream.
The sun gradually set in the west. Ace finally completed the tampering of Aleias’s memories, rooting a subconscious loyalty and obedience to himself. He left the five Heroes and Turion behind; the dream mist would keep them asleep for four days and four nights.
Then, taking Aleias—who had become his faithful believer—he crossed the western part of the Larr Mountains, heading toward the Punishers’ campsite.
As soon as he crossed the western mountains, Ace received a magic signal, learning that Alex had already led the demons north to invade.
“It seems Alex really did act. But why didn’t Alex appear in the first playthrough? And what was that black shadow at the foot of Mt. Baal? Even if I rush to Mt. Baal without caring about mana consumption, I won’t make it in time.
“I can only hope Ancestar and the others can delay the Demons as long as possible!”
Pondering this, Ace established a signal connection with the High Tower. Through the Magic Net, he successfully linked with Daina.
“Lord Ace, there is crisis in the south. Alex has led a massive demon army into action; it’s almost certain he knows of the High Tower’s existence.
“Arno and Ollie have gone to support Ancestar. The good news is that the power of Knight Virtue seems to have a strong restraining effect on demons. However, it’s estimated they’ll struggle to defeat the Great Demon Alex and can only delay him for a while.
“Betty has basically finished modifying the Magic Ships. There are four ships in total, expected to carry fifty percent of the population. What should we do?”
As soon as the link was established, Daina spoke urgently to Ace.
“Immediately organize the evacuation of the magical population and magical materials onto the Magic Ships. Join Betty and roam outside the High Tower Territory for now; strive to preserve the fireseed. As for the ordinary people in the territory, distribute gunpowder weapons for their self-defense.
“Activate all magic traps. Tell Ancestar and the others that total war has begun. He must buy time for the population evacuation. Wait for my return. Behind us is the High Tower; we have no path of retreat!”
Having said all this, Ace cut the signal link. His gaze was profound. The more critical the situation, the less feasible it was to rush back in a panic. He had to find a way to obtain the Punishers’ Quasi-Noble Phantasm, “City of Protection”!
Moreover, the war with the Punishers wasn’t over. While nominally against the organization, he was actually opposing the five Northern City-States behind them, and by extension, the seven City-States of Salia.
He spoke to the respectful Aleias:
“Although the five Northern City-States ostensibly have no existences above Legend, every city founder was a Legendary Hero or even an Epic Hero. A city-state is an aggregate. Since the Human Racial Aura of the Pocket World could provide me with ‘Status Power’ to increase my strength, it is highly likely that city-states also provide their Patron Gods with some form of Status Power.
“At this stage, it would be very difficult for me to withstand a combined strangulation by the Great Heroes of the five Northern City-States of Salia. Even if I use ‘Spatial Banishment’ to luckily defeat the enemy, it might attract a Legend’s descent.
“In this crisis, I must demonstrate power, decisively counterattack, or even kill several Great Hero-level figures. I will use war to force peace, seeking time for a ceasefire and stable development!”
Ace’s judgment was based precisely on Aleias’s memories and cognition. He now understood the significance of a city-state to a Patron God: it meant a continuous blessing of Status.
Aleias wore clothes created by Ace using the Creation Spell, styled to match her original attire, though her body was now devoid of Wondrous Items.
She spoke respectfully to Ace:
“Great Lord Ace, your judgment is correct. Leaving aside that we are unlikely to defeat the Salian City-States at this stage, even if we could, we could only defeat them, not occupy them.
“Furthermore, if we truly want to gain a firm foothold, we must seek the protection of a deity in the future. We already possess the basic elements of a city-state. As long as we can introduce an open-minded deity who supports new things to become our Patron God, we can establish a city-state openly and legitimately.
“We can realize the urbanization of the High Tower Territory and mobilize the Human Racial Aura!”
As a descendant of the God of Craftsmanship, Bakar, Aleias had awakened the rare “Universal Analysis” authority and thus knew many secrets, such as the relationship between Patron Gods and city-states, and the attitude of individual gods versus the pantheon toward new supernatural forces.
Ace nodded. Since learning the attitude of the gods, the tension in his heart had loosened significantly.
Finding a deity willing to protect the High Tower was difficult, but not impossible.
Hope, however slim, was better than despair.
Privately, Ace believed gods could be researched, but he never questioned deities in any public setting or journal within the High Tower Territory.
Now was not the time to voice such shocking ideas. Even if deities didn’t care about various forms of the supernatural, they would unhesitatingly strike down and exterminate any disrespect or spying upon them.
The extinction of the previous civilization was a warning from the past.
He said to Aleias, “After resolving this crisis, we indeed must find a way to seek the protection of a deity. Only a deity can grant us Wizards a legal status to exist in this world.”
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