Zeke stepped into the empty hallway, a weary expression on his face. Hours of negotiation had taken their toll. The Progenitor wasn't an easy man to bargain with. Yet, despite his exhaustion, Zeke felt a quiet satisfaction—he had secured most of what he wanted.
First, he had bargained for a steady supply of the precious plant needed for his Mana purifying device. Though he couldn't entirely conceal its importance from Winter, the Progenitor had agreed to provide a generous amount—enough for many people to benefit from the device continuously.
Second, the war prisoners. This had been the most difficult part. As Zeke feared, Winter already had plans for them. Most were slated for execution, while the remainder were destined for forced labor until their deaths.
Fortunately, Winter hadn't been entirely deaf to Zeke's arguments. The fact that Zeke had personally ensured the capture of so many prisoners while keeping his tribesmen safe was something even Winter had to respect. They quickly agreed to split the prisoners, though the exact division took much negotiation.
In the end, Zeke managed to secure an equal share. He could have pushed for a larger portion but chose a different approach instead—convincing Winter to let him select which prisoners he wanted. It was a suggestion the Progenitor didn't oppose too violently since it didn't matter much to him. Most were going to die, anyway. Thus, their negotiations ended, leading to the current situation.
Zeke took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. There was much he needed to do, but first, his mind drifted to Snow. He knew she was somewhere in this building; Winter had mentioned she'd secluded herself in her room, refusing to see anyone.
Should he try to meet her?
For a moment, he hesitated, wondering what he could possibly say to comfort her. But after a long silence with no words coming to mind, he decided against it. Empty words wouldn't ease her pain, and this was a struggle she'd need to face on her own.
With his mind made up, Zeke left the building and stepped into the streets, the crisp mountain air refreshing him. Once, he'd found this climate unbearable, nearly unlivable. But after enduring repeated doses of Frostscale poison and his recent advancement, the chill no longer stung; it felt more like a pleasant breeze.
Yes, he had changed a lot in these past months.
His feet led him instinctively to his next location, the place he was most familiar with. Long before he arrived there he heard the steady sound of metal striking rock. Despite the village's urgent need for reconstruction, he had managed to recruit a few tribesmen to work on his personal project.
After rounding one last corner, he spotted the large construction site—the mine he had purchased in the early stages of the war. His followers had collapsed its entrance to keep him safe, but now that the conflict had ended, the long corridor leading to his base needed to be reopened.
Zeke still intended to make this mine a permanent base. Its fortified location and potential for expansion made it an ideal place for a headquarter. Furthermore, he had already installed the Mana purifying device inside, and now that it was fully operational, he had no plans to dismantle it.
There was more than one reason for that decision.
Zeke theorized that the Mana Purifying device could benefit not just Mages, but Chimeroi as well. Their Mana Breathing techniques could likely thrive in the thick concentration inside the chamber. He was eager to begin experimenting in that direction. Most importantly, though, after experiencing the machine in action, he already had many ideas for improvements and was confident the next version would be even better.
As he arrived at the mine's entrance, the workers immediately turned to greet him. It was a stark contrast to before. When he had first joined the tribe, he'd had to sneak around like a thief, his face covered to conceal his identity. As a human, he'd held little standing and was treated as an unwelcome guest. But now, with his draconic aura no longer hidden and his wartime achievements recognized, their treatment of him had changed entirely. He was now respected, second only to Winter himself.
Zeke gave a light wave, signaling the workers not to mind him. He hadn't come to chat. With a step toward the entrance, he suddenly disappeared from sight, reappearing inside the sealed mine complex. While it might still be sealed for others, he had no problem entering.
The reason for this was simple.
His recent advancement had greatly enhanced his Sphere of Awareness, allowing him to improve his short-range teleportation—an unexpectedly significant gain. Unlike most mages, who relied on sight or slow probing to create a temporary waypoint, Zeke used his engraved spell, making his teleportation far more efficient and precise.
This advantage had been less noticeable when his sensing range was limited. But now, with his extended sphere, he could teleport instantly to distant points without delay. In combat, this edge could easily mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Zeke walked into the room that served as both his office and bedroom. His steps halted in front of the very machine he had just been thinking about—the Mana Purifying device.
As he gazed at the completed device, his eyes reflected a mix of emotions. He had poured so much time and effort into this endeavor. First, he had secured the liquid metal from an abandoned mine in Korrovan, dealing with plots and schemes in the country of slavers.
Next, he crossed the Deadlands and fought in a territorial dispute involving the Chimeroi, leading to the death of one Progenitor and the salvation of another. All of it had been for a single purpose: to create this machine. It had been a harrowing journey, full of risks and opportunities, but if anyone asked Zeke if it had been worth it, his answer would be simple.
Yes.
His lips curved into a smile as he stared at the finished product in front of him. This… was a weapon he could use. The first of many hidden daggers he could wield to chip away at the massive colossus that was the empire. This device had not only allowed him to cross into the realm of the Grand Mages at a breakneck pace, but it could also do the same for others.
Zeke had never believed he could take on the empire alone. No matter how powerful a single man was, he stood little chance against the might of an entire nation. But with this device, Zeke finally had the means to build his own force.
More importantly, the technology and both key ingredients were now firmly under his control. He had sent David to oversee the abandoned mine in Korrovan, while he would entrust Ash with the Icefang tribe. Securing these two locations was crucial, as they held the key to the continuous operation of the Mana Purifying device.
Slowly, the plan he had envisioned long ago was coming into focus.
Using his meditation technique, he could increase the chances for commoners to awaken with a high magic affinity. Then, with the Mana Purifying Device, he could quickly enhance their combat strength. With just these two methods, Zeke would be able to create a formidable fighting force.
The mere thought was exhilarating.
Zeke's smile faded after that short moment of triumph. He had mapped a path for Mages to reach the level of Grand Mage rapidly, just as he had. But the journey beyond that remained uncertain.
While Apprentices and True Mages primarily focused on accumulating Mana and strengthening their Cores, advancing to Archmage required something more. Zeke understood that it was somehow tied to the Soul. Yet, to this day, he hadn't discovered a reliable way to foster consistent Soul growth.
This was the very barrier now blocking his path. As far as he could tell, there was no miraculous device, no secret technique, and no shortcut to bypass it. The only known way to expand the Soul was simply to live long enough.
Lara Sonnenstrahl, one of the youngest Archmages in history, had reached that level in her early eighties. As a high-ranking noble, decorated war hero, and seasoned diplomat, she had somehow amassed enough life experience to take that step sooner than most. However, that was of little comfort to Zeke. After all, he wasn't even twenty years old and there was no way he could wait for another sixty.
Archmage—it was a simple word, yet its weight was significant.
It marked one of the highest levels of power, reached only by a handful of individuals. Fewer than one in a hundred Grand Mages ever ascended to this rank, and every nation treated its Archmages as strategic assets, wielding immense influence. They were the true backbone of all forces.
And also… a path that would remain closed to him for the foreseeable future.
Zeke scratched his head, uneasy for once. He had no idea how to solve this problem. Though he could still gain strength by empowering those around him, his own prospects looked bleak. No matter how confident he was, Zeke doubted he could surpass someone like Lara Sonnenstrahl in life experience.
One thing was certain: he couldn't stay with the tribe. With his position and Winter's backing, there was nothing to fear, no one to challenge him. Although he had created a safe haven here in the wilderness, it was also a place of stagnation.
He could hunt with the tribesmen, fight neighboring tribes, and slowly build his forces from this secure bastion, but it would lack any real challenge. It would be a life without the thrill he knew his Soul needed most—the hair-raising, life-threatening experiences that only came from facing true crises.
Zeke sighed. Ever since Maximilian's death, he had lived his life as if something was chasing him, without a single moment of rest. It was a choice he had made, a choice he didn't regret. However, that didn't mean that it was an easy path to walk. Sometimes—
No. He had come too far to falter now.
Zeke steeled his resolve. Never again would he be a powerless bystander, subject to others' whims. He would press on. Still, that didn't mean he had to leave the tribe right away. Even if his Soul wouldn't benefit here, there was another kind of power he could still attain.
With a flex of his hand, the blood within him surged—a force beyond anything he'd previously wielded. The sheer power at his fingertips was staggering and his mind flooded with possibilities.
Zeke had advanced to the level of Grand Mage, but he hadn't stabilized his power yet. His Mana capacity had skyrocketed, but it was clear that this was far from the limit of what he could reach. He had only scratched the limit of what he was now capable of.
His creased brow finally relaxed, and a genuine smile emerged on his face. His next step was determined, and, for once, it was something he would genuinely enjoy.
It was time to craft some new spells.