The tower master of the famed Ivory Tower, Jace Rhovan, a Ninth-Circle mage, was one of the strongest people on the continent. The man who had single-handedly forced the Demon Lord to retreat and never to set foot outside the demon realm again, lived a surprisingly simple life.
Uninterested in the intrigues of Empereal politics, most of his time was spent behind the closed doors on the top floor of the Ivory Tower. For a man of his stature, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary that magic was the only thing that fascinated him.
But alas! Even the purest heart can't escape being tainted by the ambitions of those around it.
Things began to tense the moment the new emperor ascended the throne. A shift in dynamics was not unusual, but it was a single person's obsession, or rather, their feeling of inferiority, that gradually led to the downfall of many who were considered the pillars of the Great Dormas Empire.
Even the great mage Jace couldn't escape the clutches of the shadow engulfing the empire.
Handing over the authority to govern the Ivory Tower to the vice tower master, Jace had already cut off his connections to the outside world. So, the news of the chaos that was erupting outside failed to reach him. Even if they did reach his ears, it was unlikely for him to show any interest.
But his indifference began to stir dissatisfaction among the other high-ranking members of the Ivory Tower, as his absence allowed the emperor to continue his coercion. Little did anyone knew that his trusting vice tower master, Kelp Frint harbored his own ambitions and the emperor tried to exploit Kelp to eliminate Jace.
Even so, eliminating a mage such as Jace was easier said than done. Although the emperor temporarily put the plan on eliminating him on hold, a foolproof strategy was being prepared, accounting for every possible outcome. It would be a lie to say that only the emperor sought Jace's death. The Holy Kingdom, the Eastern Nations, and even the Northern barbarians had the same thought. In a sense, claiming that Jace's very existence had united the whole world would not be an exaggeration.
But having no interest in the mundane world did not mean Jace was unaware of what was brewing both outside and within the tower. Still, he chose to ignore it. After a lifetime devoted to the study of magic, he was almost at its pinnacle. The thought of finally being able to achieve his lifelong goal made him kept him awake all night. Yet the moment he believed he had grasped the summit of magic, what greeted him was not the sense of satisfaction, but a void, an empty yawning void. It did not take long for him to realize that either the end of magic was still far away, or perhaps there was no end at all. Both possibilities stirred an unspoken fear within him.
But unwilling to give up, he focused on what lay before him, not the political chaos, but the next realm beyond the Ninth Circle. All of his deductions pointed toward the existence of a Tenth Circle. Were others to hear him, they might call him mad, but his discovery ignited a spark within his heart. From that moment onward, the only person who could truly understand him was himself.
Being the genius he was, it did not take long before he discovered the path to the Tenth Circle. Excitement blinded him to the ever-watchful eyes around him. After all, a worried heart cannot attain enlightenment. Yet even a fool is never entirely unaware of their surroundings. Perhaps this made Jace something more of a super intelligent fool. What is incomprehensible to the common mind is often deemed folly, and the same could be said of Jace.
But as life seldom unfolds as one desires, the same was true for him.
Soon, the news of Jace attempting to reach an even higher realm caused panic among the opposing forces, driving them to desperation. It did not take long for the Four Great Powers to launch an attack on the Ivory Tower. Upon hearing that a massive army was advancing toward the tower, the mages panicked, and nearly all of them fled, prioritizing their own survival.
When the army reached the tower, Jace was forced to pause his journey to the Tenth Circle to confront the uninvited fools. It did not take long for him to see that he was the sole living being within. Those who had fled before were lucky; those who had tried to defend the tower lay in silence, drenched in blood with shock etched upon their faces. Jace's expression mirrored theirs as he turned to the forefront of the army, Kelp, his most trusted vice tower master, beside him stood the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, the Windless Swordsman of the East, the Northern Wolf, and, last but not least, the commander of the Empereal Army, his old friend, Huston.
Seeing the familiar faces of those he had once fought alongside against the Demon Lord, all Jace could do was laugh. He laughed with his whole heart. Though it was not intended as a threat, his laughter made the entire army shiver, even those at the front.
Why couldn't you let this old man rest in peace? Why do you hinder me from achieving my dream? Is it because you fear me, or fear the power I possess?
The Saintess raised her hands, invoking a blessing that calmed the entire army.
It is you who has delved into forbidden knowledge for your own selfish reasons. If we do not stop you here and now, who can say that power will not corrupt you?
Jace was caught off guard by the Saintess's words. How in the name of God can she utter such nonsense? he thought. Yet seeing no way to reason, especially as those who were loyal to him, or at least to the tower, lay silent before him, he realized that confrontation was inevitable.
And thus began the battle between one man and an entire continent…