On the northern border of the Moonshade Empire, where the Elven Empire's territory ended, the land turned wild and treacherous as the abyssal territory began.
Far from prying eyes, deep in the mountains just beyond the elven borders, stood a sprawling complex—massive stone and metal buildings linked by bridges of black steel.
The air around it shimmered faintly, humming with layered magic.
For two full kilometers in every direction, nothing living stirred.
The reason became clear when a curious hawk strayed too close—its body convulsed mid-flight, flesh sizzling away in a blaze of invisible power as it dropped to the ground in a smoldering heap.
The protection arrays here didn't simply repel intruders—they annihilated them instantly.
Inside one of the largest buildings, a dimly lit laboratory stretched out like a cathedral to obsession.
The air reeked of alchemical smoke and formaldehyde.
