The more Datch thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.
In this world, is there any more effective way to persuade someone than presenting facts that prove the other party is wrong?
Datch quickly came up with a simple and easy-to-understand plan.
Thinking this, Datch raised his hand and summoned the TARDIS telephone box.
He took out the Infinity Gauntlet and chose to use the power of the Space Stone to create a spatial portal.
He had planned to kidnap Magnus and take him to the 42K timeline.
Using other methods would only waste time and energy.
…
Meanwhile, Magnus was inside the Great Library.
This was a magnificent hall he had specially commissioned to be built for the collection and study of psychic energy and the Warp.
The outer walls of the library were constructed from monolithic, snow-white stone.
The surface of the stone was covered with various mysterious runes by masters of psychic power in order to suppress the leakage of Warp energy.
The gigantic dome was inlaid with countless fragments of brightly colored crystal glass, arranged to form patterns depicting the trajectories of the stars and the tides of the Immaterium.
When sunlight passed through these crystals, the light refracted into flowing bands of radiance that drifted slowly across the walls and floor of the library like liquid auroras.
Inside the library, carefully selected materials related to the Warp were packed tightly together.
Gigantic bookshelves soaring from floor to ceiling were densely packed with thick leather-bound tomes, rolled parchment scrolls, and memory crystals engraved with runes.
Between the bookshelves hung slowly rotating orreries. Small beads representing various planets were embedded in brass rails, emitting soft, low sounds.
The air was filled with a unique fragrance that mixed old paper, sacred oils, and ozone.
Prospero was an ancient civilization founded by psykers.
The ancestors of the people of this land were spiritual refugees who had fled here after being persecuted.
They navigated the raging Warp in dilapidated immigrant ships, endured countless hardships and dangers, and finally arrived on this desert planet far from the mainstream worlds.
Using technology and their own talents, they took root in this barren land, created oases with psychic energy, and built the first cities deep in the desert.
Prospero had once been extremely prosperous and flourishing.
However, at a certain point, terrifying creatures known as Psychneuein appeared.
These creatures looked like hornets magnified many times over.
Their translucent wings vibrated at high speed, producing a sharp, tooth-aching buzzing sound, and their compound eyes emitted a sickly green fluorescence.
The Psychneuein would project invisible egg nests into the minds of mentally active psykers within the spiritual world.
When the eggs hatched, the larvae would devour the host's soul while simultaneously gnawing at the brain tissue from the inside.
With the appearance of the Psychneuein, Prospero was placed in danger.
Their numbers continued to increase at an astonishing rate. They surged from the depths of the desert, and one city after another fell to their swarms.
The once-prosperous civilization declined, leaving only the capital Tizca struggling for survival. Outside the walls, the swarms of soul-devouring monsters continued to press closer.
Only after Magnus arrived was the crisis resolved, and Tizca was able to regain its former glory and prosperity.
The young Magnus landed in Tizca together with the incubation chamber.
It grew extremely rapidly and led the people of Prospero to complete their counterattack against the Psychneuein.
Magnus had now far surpassed his teachers in skill and power, becoming the most powerful archmagus and ruler on Prospero.
His tall, crimson body was like a god descended to earth, far taller than ordinary humans.
When he walked through the streets of Tizca, people naturally knelt on both sides, pressed their foreheads to the ground, and began reciting prayers of praise and gratitude.
After completing the mission of rescuing Prospero, Magnus frequently began exploring the Warp in order to obtain knowledge.
Every time he awoke from a trance, his notebooks were densely filled with runes and mathematical formulas.
He deciphered, organized, and recorded the numerous secrets obtained from the supreme beings of the heavens, enriching the collection of this great library.
"Magnus, you are taking far too many risks. Why do you always ignore our advice and throw yourself into the high heavens? Knowledge always comes with a price. Nothing is obtained easily."
Amon, white-haired and white-bearded, wearing a simple robe, sighed as he looked at the Primarch who had returned from contemplation.
As one of Magnus's early teachers, he had witnessed the growth of this red giant.
The boy who had been curious about everything had now grown into a great sorcerer overflowing with confidence — almost to the point of arrogance.
Every time Amon awoke from his reverie, he uttered some words of advice.
However, the other party never listened. His advice vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye, as water poured onto the desert.
"If one pays sufficient attention, the high heavens are truly a treasure mountain that should be explored."
Magnus did not take his former teacher's words seriously.
He sat at the table and picked up a large quill pen that matched his height.
He dipped the quill into ink mixed with fluorescent ink and quietly recorded his recent discoveries on parchment.
His primitive handwriting was neat and beautiful; each rune was drawn as if it were a work of art.
When he finished writing, he nodded in satisfaction, set it aside, and waited for it to be carried to the designated bookshelf.
"Unimaginable darkness lurks in the Warp, Magnus. You cannot continue like this." Master Amon's voice grew stern. "You will destroy yourself."
Hearing this, Magnus softly sighed.
Why do they not believe in me?
The Crimson King raised his face and looked at his former teacher. He could not understand at all why the other party was so frightened.
With his own power and wisdom, there was nothing in the Warp that could match him.
The so-called dark existences that humans fear and call daemons
were nothing more than bluffing ants standing before him.
He had met them, spoken with them, and even extracted countless pieces of precious knowledge from them.
Those foolish creatures would ultimately only be manipulated by him and become tools or slaves.
"I understand your concern, Teacher." Magnus's tone was gentle yet resolute, as if comforting a child who had woken from a nightmare.
"But there's no need to think so deeply. There is nothing in the Warp that can deceive me, and besides…"
Because Magnus was absorbed in the conversation, he did not immediately notice that a hole of light had appeared at his feet.
The next moment, a terrifying suction force erupted from the cave of light and firmly seized him.
Overwhelmed by that force, Magnus's body was like a leaf caught in a hurricane. Both feet instantly left the ground.
The Crimson King instinctively mobilized psychic energy in an attempt to resist.
He was the most powerful archmagus on Prospero; his will could move mountains, fill seas, and shatter space.
However, the source of that suction force was a black hole — the simplest and most cruel physical law in the universe, completely irresistible.
Magnus was pulled into the cave of light, and his crimson figure vanished.
The moment the Primarch disappeared, the hole of light contracted and closed rapidly, completely vanishing as if nothing had happened.
"Magnus!!"
Amon screamed in panic.
He rushed to the place where Magnus had disappeared and shouted in a panicked voice.
No traces of psychic energy were detected, nor were there any signs of a spatial rift.
Even when he investigated using sorcery, he found nothing.
"No…!"
Amon staggered outside and called for help.
Before long, many masters of Tizca received the news and rushed over.
Footsteps, questions, and the rustling of robes mixed together, shattering the silence of the Great Library.
Amon recounted the events that had just occurred.
Hearing this story, all the masters present deeply furrowed their brows.
Magnus was the most powerful among them and the greatest psyker in the history of Prospero.
His power was enough to level mountains; his wisdom was enough to decipher the deepest secrets of the Warp; he could raise or sink an entire city into a sea of sand in the blink of an eye.
He had been kidnapped so quietly.
Who on earth possesses such power?
Silence fell over the Great Library. Every sorcerer wore a solemn expression.
"That may be so."
Amon was the first to break the silence. "Now is the time to seek answers from the highest heavens."
Hearing this, the others whispered among themselves and finally agreed.
Since the situation had deteriorated this far, they had no choice but to take this method.
They immediately prepared and performed a summoning ritual.
More than a dozen masters formed a circle, took their respective positions according to the ancient ritual, offered sacrifices, drew a magic circle, and chanted ancient spells in unison.
Their spells and rituals reached the depths of the Warp as if a school of whales was emitting sonar in a dark sea, waiting for an echo from the abyss.
Before long, a shadow fell between them.
It possessed no specific form. It was merely darkness deeper than darkness itself, as if cut out from light.
The moment it appeared, every light source in the Great Library seemed to be blocked by something.
The candlelight weakened, the sunlight shining through the dome grew thin and fine, and even the faint red light of the incense sticks faded considerably.
The surrounding temperature also dropped sharply.
Amon's breath condensed into white mist in the air, and thin frost instantly accumulated on the stone slabs.
The frost patterns were twisted and eerie, as if countless human hands were struggling.
"Who took Magnus?" Amon suppressed his fear and asked the summoned creature.
The shadowy mass twisted uneasily within the confined space of the magic circle; black tentacles constantly stretched out from its edges and then retracted.
It seemed to be hesitating, or perhaps suppressing some primordial impulse.
After a while, the other party was forced by the power of the ritual to speak, its voice cold and filled with barely concealed terror.
"It was the King of Absurdity. The one who took Magnus was the King of Absurdity."
The King of Absurdity?
That name echoed above the magic circle. The masters present looked at one another with puzzled expressions.
They tried to search their memories for related clues, but it was useless.
Who is the King of Absurdity?
Why were the inhabitants of the high heavens so afraid of it?
Why did they try to take Magnus away?
They tried to extract more detailed information, but the mysterious figure refused to say anything further.
Because the existence of the King of Absurdity is far too terrifying.
Neither the Chaos Gods nor the Cursed Ones can match the King of Absurdity.
If too much information leaks, it may attract the other party's attention.
Being noticed by that existence is the most terrifying thing for every being that exists in the Warp.
The moment the ceremony ended, the shadow vanished instantly.
In its desperate attempt to escape, it broke free from the magic circle in a truly tragic manner.
The entire object suddenly exploded, scattering into countless small black fragments that flew away and evaporated the instant they touched the air.
The other party had not even wanted the sacrifices the sorcerers had promised. It only wanted to flee back to the Warp as quickly as possible.
Hide in the deepest, darkest, most inconspicuous corner of the heavens and pray that that existence has not noticed your words.
Amon and the other sorcerers were astonished.
They had summoned inhabitants of the Warp many times.
They had never seen a creature so frightened that merely speaking a name caused it to injure itself in order to escape.
...
Datch had already become extremely skilled at handling the Infinity Gauntlet.
First, he opened a spatial passage between the black hole and Magnus.
They used the gravity of the black hole to forcibly pull Magnus away from the Library of Tizca.
Next, he cut off the spatial passage leading to the black hole and dropped Magnus into the TARDIS telephone box.
The entire process proceeded smoothly and seamlessly, with no unnecessary movements.
Magnus fell from the cave of light with a dull sound, leaving him completely confused.
A few seconds later, he regained consciousness, slowly stood up from the ground, and stared at the two strangers standing before him.
One of them was clad in a multicolored patchwork-like power armor, dressed flashily, and standing in front of a control panel covered with buttons and levers.
The other was far taller, clad in silver-gray metal armor, and possessed silver metal hands.
Magnus looked wary and assumed a stance as if he could form seals at any moment.
"Who are you?"
"Why have you brought me here?"
"Prepare to be enlightened." Seeing the exclamation mark displayed above Magnus's head, Datch had no choice but to speak according to the script.
"You're going to give me enlightenment?"
Magnus looked as if he had heard an outrageous joke. He raised his bright-red eyebrows and twitched his lips.
"I am the most intelligent and knowledgeable scholar on Prospero. Are you really going to start…?"
"Skip," Datch interrupted irritably. "We're already preparing to depart, so let's finish this as quickly as possible."
"That is extremely rude."
Magnus was somewhat angry. As the ruler of Prospero and the most powerful archmagus,
he was accustomed to being respected, admired, and treated with the utmost consideration.
The other party's words and actions had made him uncomfortable.
Datch ignored Magnus. The storyline was already complete, and he did not care what the NPCs thought.
He set the temporal coordinates of the next destination on the console. A series of rhythmic roars rang out from the time rotor, the tone constantly changing as he operated it.
Ferrus stepped forward and comforted Magnus.
"Calm down, brother. The nameless one only wants to convey the truth. Believe me, these truths will be of great benefit to you."
"I do not need to be instructed by anyone," Magnus said with unshakable confidence — a confidence he had never shown before.
"My wisdom and knowledge are sufficient to see through every truth and solve every problem."
Hearing these words, Ferrus could not help but complain inwardly.
It was very much like Magnus, but what an arrogant and haughty man he was!
"No matter what happens, first calm down," Ferrus said again. "Getting angry is useless."
With a single thought, Magnus called upon the power of the highest heavens. Terrifying spiritual energy was released from his body.
"Your anger may be meaningless, but mine is different."
"Kneel, or you will be completely destroyed."
Datch glanced at Magnus and used the Reality Stone to alter the internal laws of the TARDIS telephone box.
This turned it into an absolute physical space that suppressed every supernatural power.
Magnus instantly sensed the change in the surroundings.
He had always been able to feel the Warp energy flowing beneath everything.
The highest heavens that he could touch, call upon, and dominate at any time had suddenly vanished from his perception.
What… is this?
Magnus tried once more to draw out his own spiritual energy. He closed his eyes, concentrated his will, and directed his consciousness toward the highest heavens as he had practiced countless times before.
There was nothing.
That sea overflowing with infinite possibilities that he knew so well had completely disappeared.
His consciousness swayed emptily in the void, unable to touch anything, like a blind man desperately blinking in the darkness.
What happened to the highest heavens?!
How did they accomplish this?!
"Magnus, your resistance is useless," Ferrus said again. "Listen carefully, calm down, and stop opposing the nameless ones. Otherwise you will only bring disaster upon yourself."
Magnus looked at Ferrus, then at Datch standing in front of the control panel.
After letting his gaze wander back and forth between the two men, he finally decided to compromise.
"Alright, I'll keep quiet. But before that, you have to tell me where you're taking me."
"Prospero," Datch said.
Magnus furrowed his brows. "Uh… I was already on Prospero, so I don't need you to take me there."
"This is Prospero ten thousand years from now," Ferrus added.
Hearing this, Magnus immediately became interested.
Ten thousand years from now, Prospero would without doubt become the cultural center of the entire galaxy and the most brilliant star in human civilization.
Countless people thirsting for knowledge would set out on pilgrimages to Prospero.
In order to express gratitude for his achievements as the ruler of Prospero, people would erect statues of him throughout the galaxy.
"Hurry up." "Come on, let's go! I'm already looking forward to seeing how popular I become in the future."
Magnus's voice was filled with excitement and expectation, and the gaze with which he looked around revealed strong curiosity.
If these two strangers could send themselves to Prospero ten thousand years later, then the device they were riding must be some kind of time-travel device.
It is truly a miraculous creation. How much wisdom must have been required to construct it.
However, Magnus was certain that if he only had enough time, he could unravel it and create something entirely new.
…