Translator: CinderTL
This is...
The Astral Plane?
Staring out the porthole at the flowing silver void, Roland was overwhelmed with awe.
Here, time seemed to lose its measure. He couldn't determine how long they had been traveling—it could have been a fleeting moment or an eternity.
During this seemingly eternal journey through the void, ripples suddenly appeared in the silver expanse ahead.
The once-uniform chaos seemed to be torn apart from within by some invisible force, ripping open a hole whose edges shimmered with unstable energy.
Before Roland could react, the shell ship, as if drawn by an irresistible force, glided gently and swiftly toward the rift.
A brief distortion swept through his entire being, as if his very existence had been stretched and then snapped back into place.
When he blinked instinctively to adjust to the sudden shift in light, he found himself no longer in the absolute void.
He looked down.
Stone Furnace Fortress, familiar and nestled amidst mines and mountains, lay quietly below on the earth.
They had emerged from the Astral Plane and returned to the Material Plane, now hovering directly above the fortress.
The shell ship landed smoothly on a cleared space in the center of Stone Furnace Fortress, its pale hull creating a stark contrast with the rugged dwarf architecture surrounding it.
"How do you feel, old friend?"
Durga released his hand from the central console and flexed his thick fingers.
"An indescribable experience," Roland replied truthfully, his gaze involuntarily drifting back to the sky, which had now returned to normal.
The shell ship's entrance opened, and as Durga stepped onto the ground, he was immediately swarmed by a group of grey dwarf warriors who had been waiting there.
They pounded their fists against their breastplates, the metallic clang of their armor echoing through the air. Their rough cheers overflowed with excitement at their chief's return and curiosity about the shell ship.
While Durga was surrounded by his people, Roland quickly found his companions in the crowd and briefly explained the plan.
Only then did Roland learn from Bronson that he had spent nearly half a year deep within the ley line.
"Mr. Roland..." Freddy, shouldering his battle axe, spoke with an apologetic tone. "I've heard some concerning news in the city about the movements of the orc tribes. The situation doesn't look good, and I must return to my tribe immediately. I'm afraid I can't accompany you to the elf lands."
Halfling Hoby scratched his head, his high-pitched voice tinged with helplessness. "Me too, Mr. Roland. My Big Brother has sent several carrier pigeons urging me to return. I need to join him as soon as possible."
Roland looked at them, feeling no blame in his heart.
Having received invaluable assistance from the two, Roland nodded to them solemnly in gratitude.
"I understand. Would you like me to..." He turned and gestured toward the shell ship. "...use it to give you a ride?"
"Oh, no, that's not necessary." Hoby's gaze shifted to the shell ship, his eyes a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "There's a small port to the east where my Big Brother will meet me."
"I don't need it either, Mr. Roland," Freddy said, scratching his head. "My tribe isn't too far from here."
"In that case..." Seeing that they weren't merely being polite, Roland reached out and gently patted their shoulders. "Take care. I hope we meet again someday."
"Until we meet again, Mr. Roland."
With that, the two returned to the house to retrieve their belongings. After another round of farewells, they turned and left.
Watching their receding figures, Roland sighed softly. At that moment, he suddenly understood the wistful feeling Durga had shown on the shell ship.
Just then, Durga broke away from the excited group of grey dwarves and strode toward Roland.
"The shell ship is secured," the Gray Dwarf Leader said, wiping dust from his face, his voice steady. "There's nothing left for us here. I plan to set sail at dawn tomorrow. What do you think?"
Roland nodded without hesitation. "The sooner, the better."
Avril and Galvis were in a perilous situation, and any delay could have irreversible consequences.
The two quickly discussed the details of their departure the next day.
Meanwhile, Scholar Bronson circled the shell ship, his eyes shining with curiosity. He cautiously approached Durga and asked a series of questions about the ship's structure and psionic energy drive.
Thanks to Roland, Durga was uncharacteristically patient, even allowing the curious scholar to closely examine the nerve-like patterns on the ship's surface.
After making arrangements, Roland returned alone to his temporary residence.
As soon as he pushed open the wooden door, a flash of emerald light fluttered toward him.
"Roland! You're finally back!"
Tracy's voice was urgent and bright, like a string of tiny bells. She circled him anxiously. "I felt the earth shake and heard the grey dwarves cheering... What happened?"
Before Roland could answer, a fluffy mass on the bedside moved. Squirrel Joe stretched lazily, his dark, bright eyes still hazy with sleep. But when he saw Roland, he immediately leaped with agility onto his shoulder.
"You slept for a long time, Joe," Roland said softly, gently stroking the squirrel's warm fur.
"I think... I had a very long dream, Roland..."
Joe's voice was still hoarse from just waking up. He nudged Roland's ear with his nose, a hint of confusion in his tone.
"There were so many strange lights and shadows in the dream..."
Just as Roland was about to ask why he had slept for so long, he felt a steady rhythm of breathing on his shoulder.
The little guy had fallen asleep again.
"Could it be that he's just getting more sleepy from eating so much?"
Roland shook his head helplessly, continuing to gently stroke the squirrel's soft fur.
At that moment, Tracy landed on his other shoulder, her wings shimmering slightly with excitement.
"Are we leaving tomorrow?"
"That's right."
Roland replied, his fingers still unconsciously stroking the rise and fall of Joe's sleeping fur.
"We're going somewhere very far away."
Tracy immediately began circling him, bombarding him with questions.
"Are we taking that big ship? To find Avril and Galvis, right? Are they in trouble?"
Roland patiently answered each question, briefly explaining the situation.
Once Tracy finally calmed down and settled on his lap, Roland gently placed the sleeping Joe on a soft pillow and sat cross-legged on the bed.
He closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing.
With each inhalation and exhalation, the clamor outside the window seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier, gradually fading into the distance.
Inside the room, only the sound of his long, steady breaths remained, and the world grew exceptionally quiet.
In this deliberately cultivated stillness, his thoughts began to organize the information he had obtained from his brief communication with Galvis.
Beyond the urgent situation of his two companions being imprisoned, the bard had also revealed a crucial piece of intelligence:
Even though the magic element had now resurged and was spread throughout the world, the elven race remained...
Unable to cast any spells.
This anomaly, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sent ripples of doubt through Roland's mind.
As he immersed himself in contemplation, lines of familiar golden text began to silently appear behind his closed eyelids.
You have successfully cultivated the Nameless Breathing Technique once, gaining 1 experience point.
You have successfully cultivated the Nameless Breathing Technique once.
You have successfully cultivated...
As his mind grew calmer, the rhythm of his breaths became increasingly elongated, rapid, and rhythmic.
An invisible restraint within his body seemed to be repeatedly washed away and loosened.
The prompts flashed with increasing speed, eventually becoming a continuous stream like a rushing stream, until
all sense of flow abruptly ceased.
Nameless Breathing Technique has reached its maximum level.
(End of the Chapter)
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