The Nightmare Great Rift stretched across the heavens and earth like a vast chasm of darkness, so deep that even a mere glance could send shivers down one's spine.
There was no source of light here. An all-consuming blackness enveloped everything, swallowing even the faintest glimmers of illumination.
The atmosphere was eerie and deathly silent. A chilling aura drifted through the canyon like a lurking phantom, sending an unshakable sense of dread through all who dared step inside.
Only in certain special areas where neutral cities were located could one find faint traces of light.
These settlements resembled islands floating in an abyss, flickering weakly against the vast expanse of darkness.
Suspended in midair within the bottomless chasm was a colossal steel city, gliding slowly through the void.
Its surface was embedded with countless points of ethereal blue light, reminiscent of stars twinkling in the night sky. These luminescent nodes outlined the city's stark and imposing silhouette against the darkness.
This was not just a city it was a mobile fortress of war.
An intricate array of glowing runes blanketed its surface, making it resemble a slumbering behemoth, lying in wait within the depths, ready to pounce the moment the hunting horn was sounded.
This was the City of Machinery.
Recently, the City of Machinery entered a full-scale state of martial law.
However, it was not the only one. Every neutral city within the Nightmare Great Rift had also locked itself down.
In other words, the entire Great Rift had become embroiled in an all-out war against the divine civilizations.
Despite their shared state of war readiness, each city faced different enemies.
The City of Machinery had set its sights on a world that had already been ravaged by the divine civilizations its native culture completely obliterated and its lands subjected to initial rounds of transformation.
Thus, the wizards of the City of Machinery had designated this target as "Hunting Grounds No. 13."
The Demon Hunt Project was a mission dedicated to eradicating the Weave Goddess.
The official deployment order that Lynn received was for him to be sent to "Hunting Grounds No. 13" as a maintenance officer for an interdimensional purification device.
To Lynn, this marked his first involvement in an interdimensional expedition and not just any expedition, but one of grand proportions.
Most wizard expeditions to other worlds were usually small-scale, led by a single Morningstar Wizard, with limited scope and influence.
But the war launched from the Nightmare Great Rift was on a completely different level a full-scale offensive against a divine entity!
No fewer than ten battlefronts had been established simultaneously, not to mention the unseen conflicts occurring at higher strategic levels.
The sheer scale of manpower and resources involved was unfathomable.
Even the number of Morningstar Wizards participating in this war was astonishing far exceeding that of a typical interdimensional operation.
Being assigned to such a massive project was both a blessing and a curse for Lynn.
On the bright side, large-scale expeditions followed strict protocols and meticulously planned operations, reducing the risk of amateur mistakes often made by lone Morningstar Wizards venturing into the unknown.
This experience would provide Lynn with invaluable exposure to the most sophisticated interdimensional exploration systems, offering him a rare chance to witness firsthand the structured processes behind such an endeavor.
However, there was also a major downside.
The sheer magnitude of this war meant the dangers involved were exponentially greater than those of a smaller interdimensional conflict.
Even the Morningstar Wizards had to exercise extreme caution.
As a mere First-Level Wizard, Lynn's survival was far from guaranteed his odds of making it through the campaign were likely much lower than in a standard expedition.
Fortunately, his role was within the logistics sector, primarily handling the maintenance of purification devices. He would not be stationed on the frontlines.
In a war of this scale, even First-Level Wizards were no more than officers or, at best, elite combatants.
If Lynn were to be thrown into direct battle, he would simply become another statistic on the war ledger his survival rate would plummet.
Thus, as long as he was kept away from the battlefield itself, he retained a certain degree of safety.
In the sixth sector of the City of Machinery lay a vast plaza.
The metallic flooring was inscribed with intricate sorcery arrays, their faint luminescence rippling like streams of glowing runes.
Towering mechanical structures loomed in every direction, and the plaza itself was packed with a dense throng of people.
Among the gathered masses were formally robed wizards, their deep and unfathomable auras exuding an intimidating mental pressure that left apprentices trembling in their presence.
There were also numerous sorcery apprentices, who were treated as little more than expendable resources no matter how many perished on the battlefield, they could always be replaced with another batch.
Countless golems and mechanical constructs moved through the crowd, tirelessly transporting strategic supplies and military provisions.
Amidst this vast sea of figures, Lynn stood quietly among the ranks of First-Level Wizards. He neither hid himself nor drew attention he was perfectly unremarkable.
Today, he had abandoned his usual attire. Gone was the pristine white robe of a researcher. He was no longer dressed as an academic.
Instead, he had adopted the attire more fitting of the City of Machinery's style.
Close to his skin, he wore a black, form-fitting bodysuit that was self-cleaning and thermoregulated. This specialized inner layer insulated him from extreme temperatures, ensuring he remained in peak condition regardless of the environment.
Over this, he donned a modular suit of gray armor the Third-Generation Modified "Gray Hawk" Armor.
This was no traditional heavy armor. Instead, it was a lightweight, flexible battle suit, engineered with modular enhancements that provided both protection and mobility.
Even if the armor's energy were depleted, it wouldn't restrict movement like those massive, heavy full-body armor.
The Grayhawk Armor was forged from gray-gold metal, making it capable of withstanding most attacks below the level of a full-fledged wizard.
In the Mechanical City, metals were classified according to a wizard's rank:
Copper-Gold – Corresponding to wizard apprentices, providing basic defense.
Gray-Gold – Corresponding to first-rank wizards, capable of resisting most low-level extraordinary attacks.
Black-Gold – Corresponding to second-rank wizards, offering even greater durability...
Lynn had spent a hefty sum of 15,000 magic stones to acquire this armor. While it wasn't built for offense, it excelled in speed and reconnaissance.
On his feet, a pair of boots adorned with faint star patterns snugly wrapped around his steps.
These were the Starfall Boots, an expensive escape artifact.
Crafted by the master blacksmith Warhammer, the boots didn't grant any formidable offensive enhancements. However, in critical moments, they could briefly unleash movement speed equivalent to that of a third-rank grand wizard making them an invaluable life-saving tool.
Additionally, Lynn wore a silver-gray mask that concealed his face, leaving only his calm eyes visible.
This wasn't just an ordinary disguise it was an artifact with both passive and active concealment effects:
Passive Effect: Hides the wearer's facial features, making identification difficult.
Active Effect: Suppresses the wearer's magical aura for up to an hour.
Given his limited resources, Lynn prioritized protective and escape gear over pure offensive items.
As for his means of attack, he planned to rely on his wizardry.
He slowly channeled his mental energy, deepening his connection with the Grayhawk Armor. A transparent energy visor gradually formed around his face.
In an instant, an invisible wave of energy pulsed outward, activating the armor's reconnaissance system.
Lines of faint blue data flooded his vision, forming an invisible stream of information:
First-Rank Wizard – Mental Power: 137, Physique: 10.
First-Rank Wizard – Mental Power: 150, Physique: 30.
First-Rank Wizard – Mental Power: 126, Physique: 15.
While the Grayhawk Armor wasn't designed for direct combat, its reconnaissance capabilities were a major advantage.
According to its specifications, as long as the target's strength didn't exceed that of a second-rank wizard, the armor could accurately detect and record its basic attributes.
This allowed Lynn to quickly assess the strength distribution of those around him, enabling more precise decision-making.
His gaze swept across the crowd, analyzing the mental power and physical attributes of the surrounding wizards.
It was worth noting that the war had been ongoing for over six months now. The Mechanical City's main forces had already established a strong foothold in World No. 13, building formidable frontline bases.
Now, most of the people gathered in the plaza were part of the logistics and resupply teams, along with scheduled waves of wizard apprentices. Occasionally, one could spot mechanical constructs or intricate automata among them.
Thinking back to the early days of the war, the initial assault launched by the Mechanical City had been a truly grand spectacle an earth-shattering event.
Massive fleets of warships, controlled by powerful wizards, had descended upon World No. 13 in an overwhelming offensive.
Each vessel was a colossal steel behemoth, and the fleet itself resembled an unstoppable tide of iron, rolling forward with an awe-inspiring presence. The sheer magnitude and grandeur of it all had been enough to leave onlookers breathless.
Now, while the plaza was still bustling, it no longer carried that same commanding presence.
Instead, it was primarily filled with wizard apprentices, with much of its former grandeur maintained by mechanical constructs rather than actual high-level wizards.
Lynn scanned the plaza, letting out a quiet sigh.
He roughly counted around 150 full-fledged wizards, of which only three were second-rank wizards.
Suddenly, a voice transmission reached his mind:
"Brother Lynn, where are you? We just arrived we're in the eastern section of the plaza…"
Lynn immediately turned his gaze toward the east.
Sure enough, he spotted a small group swiftly approaching.
At the forefront was Darwin, his face filled with urgency and concern.
Beside him was Bethany, whose petite face bore an unmistakable expression of worry clearly, she was deeply concerned about her master's safety.
Lynn had expected these two to show up. After all, Martha was also involved in the war, and among his acquaintances, Darwin and Bethany were the closest to him.
By contrast, others like Tyra had merely offered their verbal blessings but hadn't come to see him off in person.
What Lynn hadn't anticipated, however, was that someone else had come along as well.
Walking just behind Darwin and Bethany was Lori the daughter of Wizard Vidar.
Lynn's brows furrowed slightly as a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
Ever since he had been recalled, Vidar had completely cut off communication with him. On the day of his reassignment, Vidar had even taken Lori away with him.
Lynn never expected that Lori would show up here, seeking him out.
Yet, just as his thoughts began to swirl with questions, the atmosphere in the plaza abruptly changed.
Beneath the metallic flooring, the intricate arcane formations began to react violently.
The engraved runes, which had previously been dormant, now flared to life, pulsating with an intense glow.
They writhed like serpents, flickering with an eerie radiance. A torrent of silver-white energy surged forth, accumulating an unfathomable amount of power.
A booming voice resounded across the plaza:
"All personnel, prepare yourselves teleportation is about to commence!"
A deep voice pierced through the silence of the plaza, echoing in every corner.
Lynn's heart tightened Darwin, Bethany, and Lori had arrived at an unfortunate time.
Darwin quickly noticed the shift in the situation. His expression changed slightly, his brows furrowing as he swiftly pulled out a token from his robes and handed it to Lori beside him, his tone urgent:
"Lori, please get this token to Brother Lynn as quickly as possible!"
Lori didn't hesitate for a second. She gave a slight nod, gripped the token tightly in her slender hand, and in an instant, her figure transformed into a streak of light, cutting across the crowded plaza like a brilliant arc.
She wove through clusters of mechanical constructs, navigating even the most complex terrain without slowing down.
However, this was a military ground where spellcasting was strictly forbidden. The moment Lori used her abilities, piercing alarms rang out across the plaza.
"Warning! Warning!"
"Ding! Detected spell energy fluctuations!"
"Ding! Detected spell energy fluctuations!"
But Lori paid no mind to the warnings. Her gaze remained locked on Lynn as she maneuvered around one mechanical construct after another.
Under the astonished gazes of the many wizards in the plaza, she managed to reach Lynn just in time before the teleportation array activated, accurately tossing the token toward him.
"This is the Research Institute Membership Token from Master Chris! Catch it, Lynn!"
Her voice reached Lynn's ears, carrying a hint of urgency.
Lynn's eyes narrowed. The so-called Research Institute Membership was reserved for those who had made significant contributions to mechanical studies.
Such individuals were under special protection in the City of Machines.
Logically speaking, Lynn had no qualifications to hold such a status. Even Vidar, a Second-Level Wizard, was unqualified.
Now, with Master Chris granting him this token, it seemed like a form of compensation perhaps a way to mitigate the fact that he couldn't be exempted from frontline deployment.
With this membership token, even on the battlefield, Lynn could leverage his status in various ways.
Swoosh!
A green root suddenly shot out, swiftly wrapping around the token before retracting it back to Lynn's side.
At the same time, behind Lori, the mechanical sentinels had already closed in.
She showed no panic, quickly meeting Lynn's gaze. Her lips moved as if to say something, but her words were drowned out by the roar of the crowd and the machines.
From her lip movements, he could barely make out the words:
"I hope you come back alive!"
Boom!
At that moment, the entire plaza was engulfed in an explosion of dazzling light, surging like an overwhelming tide and instantly enveloping everything.
A silver-white barrier slowly emerged, like an enormous bowl placed over the entire plaza, completely sealing in all the wizards and mechanical constructs.
The barrier seemed to devour everything, powerful and oppressive, exuding an indescribable might.
Yet, it was more than just a mere defensive measure.
Simultaneously, brilliant beams of light erupted from every corner of the plaza, forming thick protective layers.
These interwoven rays of light linked together, forming a complex and intricate defense system like invisible chains locking the entire space in place.
"Prepare! The teleportation is about to begin!"
The command rang out once again, making Lynn's heart tighten.
This was no simple intra-world teleportation it involved the complex magic of interdimensional travel.
According to what he had learned, this teleportation array wouldn't take them directly to the far-off war zone. They would need to go through several transfer points.
The destination was simply too distant from the Wizarding World.
The next moment, radiant beams of light shot up from the metallic floor of the plaza.
Each ray carved shimmering trails through the air, encasing the departing wizards.
One by one, their figures faded into brilliance, vanishing completely from this vast and intricate space.
Lynn's vision blurred, and his consciousness wavered under the overwhelming radiance.
Despite all his careful preparations, the immense force of the interdimensional teleportation array was still nearly unbearable.
He activated all his defensive measures Echo of Vitality, Tranquility of the Void, and Gray Hawk Armor struggling to maintain the last vestiges of clarity in his mind.
Even so, the teleportation's pressure tore at him, almost robbing him of consciousness.
It felt like being trapped in a deep, inescapable dream his mind clouded, his body in agony.
Waves of searing pain surged through his brain, while his entire body was crushed under an invisible weight, leaving him gasping for breath.
Even with his formidable mental strength and layered protections, Lynn felt as though he were being swallowed by endless darkness and void, unable to break free.
Time lost its meaning in the overwhelming force. Lynn had no way of knowing how long he had endured.
Finally, he barely clawed his way back to awareness, his insides churning with nausea.
He was on the verge of retching, desperate to rid himself of the discomfort.
Yet, he forced himself to suppress it, though the lingering nausea clung to his chest, almost unbearable.
The surroundings remained unchanged only the cold void and an expanse of emptiness.
But Lynn noticed that compared to him, the others weren't faring as well.
The wizard apprentices in the support troops had all passed out, their bodies drained of energy, lying motionless on the ground.
Among the official wizards, only the three Second-Level Wizards and about twenty exceptionally strong First-Level Wizards remained conscious.
Their eyes held a trace of astonishment they hadn't expected this seemingly unremarkable novice wizard to endure such a powerful interdimensional teleportation without collapsing.
By contrast, most First-Level Wizards fared far worse some were trembling violently, muscles tensed, and faces deathly pale;
Others had turned blue in the face, their bodies swaying, barely clinging to consciousness.
Just then, the teleportation array beneath them flared up once more, the pressure in the air intensifying.
Lynn instinctively lowered his head, scanning his surroundings only to be met with pure, boundless darkness. No matter how hard he looked, nothing was visible.
He could sense that he was still within a transition point of the interdimensional teleportation, but he had no idea where exactly.
He had hoped to use this opportunity to catch a glimpse of the world beyond the Wizarding World.
Or perhaps to sense the energy fluctuations of another realm. But now, it seemed that was nothing more than a distant dream.
This teleportation was destined to be a long and lonely journey drifting through endless darkness toward an unknown destination.
Lynn let out a slow breath exhausted but still alert.
All he could do now was wait.
Wait for the teleportation array to accumulate energy once more.
Wait for the next stage to begin.
"I wonder how many more times we'll have to transfer…"
Lynn murmured to himself, his tone laced with helplessness, as his gaze remained fixed on the teleportation array beneath him, where dazzling light was once again beginning to gather.
...
Demon Hunt World No. 13
On the vast plains, where the blue sky once stretched endlessly above lush green fields teeming with life, chaos had now descended.
This land had become a battlefield. Violent energy fluctuations raged across the terrain as the clash between the wizards and the followers of the divine brought tremors to the very fabric of space.
The Wizard Legion from the City of Machines had crossed paths with the devotees of the Weave Goddess!
A sacred pressure filled the air as if the entire world was safeguarding the children of the gods.
The once-natural sky was now infused with divine power. Invisible chains of order lurked in the void, subtly suppressing the wizards' strength.
In such an environment, the wizards were at a severe disadvantage. Even high-level wizards struggled to wield their full power.
But they had anticipated this. They had come prepared!
With sharp whistling sounds, glowing cylindrical objects streaked across the sky like meteors, precisely embedding themselves into the plains below.
Boom!
The earth trembled violently as waves of terrifying energy pulsed outward, rippling across the battlefield.
The cylinders exploded in bursts of radiant energy, flooding the land in a blinding storm of light.
The very fabric of space was rewritten.
At last, the foundation of wizard civilization was revealed!
What had once been a world reformed by the gods' influence was now forcibly reshaped.
The divine aura that had saturated the land was swept away, leaving behind a neutral and unaligned domain one where neither godly influence nor sorcerous might was inherently restricted.
Now, it was a fair battlefield!
"Interdimensional Purification Stones…!"
The expressions of the divine mages shifted slightly. Clad in blue-and-white robes, the symbol of the Weave Goddess's order a starry insignia was embroidered upon their chests.
The foremost mage, with cold, deep eyes, let out a dismissive snort.
"Wizards' tricks… Do they believe that stripping us of divine aid will grant them victory?"
Boom!
At that moment, a deafening roar erupted from beyond the horizon.
A steel tide surged forth, tens of thousands strong, rolling over the land like an unstoppable flood, crashing toward the followers of the gods with relentless fury!
The majority of this force consisted of mechanical constructs, controlled from the rear by countless wizard apprentices.
"Even ants can topple an elephant. Even steel can bury the divine!"
"Great Mother of All Magic!"
As the battle reached its climax, the leading divine mage slowly raised both hands, his gaze icy, lips moving in an ancient prayer:
"Where your gaze falls, the Web extends!"
His voice echoed through the air, and the very heavens trembled.
A network of invisible threads emerged from the void, forming an ethereal, sacred web that slowly enshrouded the battlefield.
Though imperceptible to the wizards, it was crystal clear to the divine mages.
It radiated with a holy light
A manifestation of the Weave Goddess's will.
A divine extension of her supreme law.
Feeling the network solidify, the divine mage spoke again:
"Eighth Circle Spell Dark Star!"
As the words fell from his lips, the very essence of the Web surged, pulsating with waves of divine power.
Infinite energy coalesced in his grasp.
One by one, intricate magical sigils materialized in midair, weaving together into an enormous, swirling celestial body.
A Dark Star.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the Dark Star took form, emanating a dense, suffocating darkness.
This spell's range was massive, stretching over the entire battlefield.
At its core lay a region shrouded in absolute darkness, radiating an overwhelming gravitational force and a destructive aura of shadow magic.
It was an abyss, a realm of annihilation.
Any being who dared to step into this domain would be engulfed by an indescribable dread and crushing weight.
Neither magical constructs nor mechanical golems were spared.
Even the wizards' vision was completely severed.
Within this darkness, sight became meaningless.
The Sound was swallowed whole.
Everything was cut off.
No spell that relied on verbal incantations could be cast here.
Even worse
The darkness carried a corrosive force beyond comprehension.
With each passing second, it eroded the vitality of those trapped within, draining their life essence until they could endure no more.
Until they disintegrated into ash.
And the ashes of the fallen along with everything they carried would in turn feed the abyss, amplifying its darkness further.
This was no mere spell.
It was a monstrous, devouring maw, gaping open to consume all in its path
Waiting for the steel tide of machines and the wizards marching into its depths!
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