Chaos erupted in the square.
Communication artifacts flared to life one after another, and ssages were sent out in every direction.
Panic spread through the crowd, and whispers turned into shouts.
The Dark King had returned!
The Deceitful One was alive!
And he was now a powerful Mana Core Magus!
Within minutes, every major faction in Ulier received the news. Reports flew across the continent, command chambers were alerted, and ergency councils were convened.
No one knew why he had entered the Soaring River Secret Plane.
But they all knew this…
He had gone in alone and had co out with a woman at the Mana Vortex Rank.
That was supposed to be impossible. Only Mana Foundation Magi could enter and exit the secret plane, yet he had broken that rule as if it did not exist.
And that terrified them.
But what frightened them even more was that seven Mana Core Magi had gathered at the square, fully prepared to confront and apprehend him.
Yet none of them had made a move.
No.
It would be more accurate to say they were unable to make one.
Just how great was the gap between Adam the Deceitful and the rest of the Mana Core Magi, that they stood frozen in horror?
No one knew.
With the Dark King's sudden return, no one could predict how the fate of the Ulier Continent would change.
***
Royal Palace, Acryon.
In the grand courtyard, two figures walked side by side.
"…He's beco a Mana Core Magus, Your Majesty," Old Ani reported. "Duke Lovelace claims he is very powerful."
She paused for a mont, then softly added. "He believes Adam might be as powerful as you."
Lucian walked calmly, hands clasped behind his back. His golden eyes flashed with an intrigued light.
"How old is he?" he asked casually.
Old Ani deliberated for a mont, then said. "He should be in his seventies. I'm not certain of his exact age."
Lucian chuckled lightly. "To beco a Mana Core Magus in his seventies. Even I took almost a hundred years to beco one."
"We never doubted his talents." Old Ani sighed. "But to think the Duke would hold him in such high regard… that is truly surprising."
"Berger said Adam had been undercover in the Haynam Empire for a long ti," Lucian began. "If he's finally revealed himself in Ulier, that should an the foundations of Operation Constantine have been fully established."
His eyes narrowed. "I suppose it is ti to move to the next step of the plan."
"Your Majesty, I believe we should confirm it with Adam before making any move." Old Ani raised a valid point.
After all, the scale of Operation Constantine was far too great to base decisions on assumptions alone.
The elderly Diviner was about to continue, but suddenly her eyes narrowed.
"Soone is trying to enter the defensive barrier," she murmured. "A spirit world ssenger…"
Lucian's lips curled into a smile. "Allow entry."
Old Ani frowned, but nodded nonetheless.
A few monts later, the space beside them tore open, revealing a small portal. From it, a tiny serpent erged, clutching a letter in its maw.
A light chuckle escaped Lucian. "He moves quickly."
Old Ani's frown disappeared as she retrieved the letter from the snake. The snake cutely hissed at her, then slipped back into the portal.
She then respectfully passed the letter to Lucian.
The Emperor opened the envelope and read the letter. His brows arched in surprise.
"What does it say?" Old Ani curiously asked.
"It's an invitation," Lucian said as he burned the letter away.
Old Ani sighed. She knew there was no stopping the Emperor now. So instead, she suggested, "Your Majesty, it would be wise not to let others know of your absence."
Lucian nodded. "I'll be back soon. If anyone asks, tell them I'm practicing mindfulness."
With that, he cast a concealnt spell on him, then disappeared.
"Your wish is my command." Old Ani offered a respectful bow.
A few monts later, she couldn't help but sigh as she gazed at the drifting clouds.
"No wonder I couldn't divine anything about him…"
***
A week later.
Valerian beat his massive wings and soared through the clouds, cutting across the sky with steady, powerful strokes.
Ahead, a colossal tree ca into view. Its trunk was thicker than any tower, its branches stretching outward like a second skyline. The canopy was so vast that it covered nearly half the city beneath it, casting a wide shadow over its streets, rooftops, and plazas.
From above, it looked less like a tree and more like a living monunt towering over the land.
Anna gaped in surprise. "My goodness, what is that?!"
She'd never seen a tree so grand and majestic before.
Valerian's topaz eyes glead with brilliance as he stared ahead.
"That's the tree Brother planted!" he said, his voice deep with pride. "It's huge now! And the Town of Constantine… it's beco a real city!"
"Town of Constantine?" Anna was taken aback. "As in Adam Constantine?"
Valerian laughed boisterously. "The residents nad the town after Brother!"
Adam chuckled lightly.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he turned in a specific direction. His lips curled into a faint smile.
"Val, find a way to enter the city hidden. And take Anna with you." With that said, he leaped off the dragon's back and plunged through the clouds.
Anna was taken aback by Adam's sudden reaction.
And the next mont, Valerian cast a simple illusion spell, completely concealing both his and her presence as they descended toward the city below.
***
A wide road stretched toward the gates of Constantine.
Tall, vibrant trees lined both sides of the dirt path, their leaves thick and healthy. Sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Colorful birds hopped from branch to branch, chirping freely. Small animals darted through the underbrush, rustling the grass as they moved.
The place felt warm and alive.
Adam descended from the sky and gracefully landed in the middle of the road. Dust stirred faintly around his boots, and the hems of his cape gently fluttered.
Without a word, he began walking calmly toward the city gates.
A few monts later, an unfamiliar voice sounded beside him.
"How is it that, as the ruler of this land, I was completely unaware of this settlent?"
Adam's lips curled into a smile.
Walking beside him now was a towering man with a powerful build. He had thick blond hair, his eyes glowed with a golden hue, and there was a golden sun emblem resting on his forehead.
Adam turned to the Emperor of Acadia and let out a light laugh.
"It is a pleasure to et you, Your Grace."
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