Over the next few days, Zeke continued to meditate on the nature of spatial mana by challenging the boundaries of the cube even further.
His recent success had only deepened his determination to explore the mysteries of space. Unfortunately, focused meditation was not something he could maintain for extended periods. The mental toll was simply too heavy, forcing him to take frequent breaks.
Fortunately, there were plenty of other tasks to keep him occupied. For example…
With his small world now steadily expanding, it was time to test the true limits of his control over the space. His first instinct was to try conjuring valuable metals like gold or Voidiron—not in their refined forms, but as they naturally occurred.
Unfortunately, it didn't work.
Nor did any of his attempts to summon other precious resources, or even the rare species of trees whose wood he regularly purchased from the elves.
The discovery puzzled him. How could he summon an entire landscape, complete with flora and fauna, drawn straight from memory, yet be unable to produce the very materials he truly desired?
It seemed arbitrary. However, after extensive experimentation, he finally uncovered the common denominator.
Mana.
All of those materials had one thing in common—they were magical in nature.
The reason elven trees didn't thrive outside their homeland was likely due to the unique aura of the World Tree, Yggdrasil, which nurtured them. As for Voidiron, it could only be mined from the deepest layers of the earth, where ancient, overwhelming magical forces had transformed it into a substance that outright rejected the flow of Mana.
Even gold, as common as it was, held value beyond its shine. Its exceptional Mana conductivity made it essential in the creation of enchanted devices.
The discovery was a bit of a letdown for Zeke, though he admitted he had likely been too greedy to hope the cube's realm could produce limitless wealth on demand.
If such a treasure truly existed, its Mana consumption would likely be so immense that not even Archmage-level figures could sustain it. After all, the cost of conjuring materials varied greatly depending on their properties.
Metal Mages, for instance, could summon iron and steel from thin air, but the difference in Mana consumption often forced them to favor the softer metal. There was even a theory that they could, in theory, summon magical materials too—if only someone existed with enough power to endure the burden.
Zeke wasn't sure if the theory was true, but it would certainly explain why the cube's conjurations were limited to mundane substances.
[Notice]
Another enemy was spotted just now.
Zeke stepped out of the portal and teleported onto the deck.
He appeared at the bow of the ship, his eyes scanning the horizon with calm precision. In the distance, he spotted movement—a flock approaching fast. Narrowing his gaze, he quickly identified the threat: three massive birds, their wings gleaming with a metallic sheen.
Without another word, he vanished, reappearing in his quarters.
Let them earn their keep for once.
If he took care of every minor threat, the crew would only grow complacent. Besides, the birds didn't seem particularly dangerous, and with feathers like that, their bodies might fetch a decent price.
Just like that, days passed, and everyone settled into a comfortable rhythm. Zeke only stepped in when the situation truly demanded it. He refrained from using his newly discovered spell.
For one, he didn't want to waste any more of his highly condensed blood. More importantly, the technique left him utterly drained. It was powerful, yes, but not sustainable. He would avoid relying on it unless absolutely necessary.
Instead, he relied on his blood puppeteering, turning beasts against one another. Their minds were far easier to shatter than those of humanoids, and the resulting chaos often reduced deadly encounters to simple cleanups for the crew.
At dawn on the fifth day, they finally reached their destination.
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The forest came to an abrupt halt, as if an invisible giant had carved a line into the earth. Lush greenery gave way to an endless stretch of blackened sand.
The Deadlands.
Zeke ordered the ship to stop before they crossed the boundary. He knew full well that Airships were forbidden from entering this stretch of land. It was one of the main reasons the Wilderness remained isolated from the rest of the Continent.
But Zeke didn't need the Alexandria to get across.
Standing at his usual spot on the bow, he closed his eyes and extended his senses. It felt like straining to hear a sound only he could perceive.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then, he found it.
A wide smile spread across his face as he locked onto the distant presence of the [Beacon] he had left behind in his cave on Winter's Mountain.
He turned to the captain. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Please don't stray too far from this spot."
The captain nodded, though a deep furrow creased his brow. "How do you plan to return, young lord?"
It was a fair question. [Beacons] couldn't be placed just anywhere. They needed to be anchored to something solid and stationary. Airships, or empty sky, were unsuitable targets. While Zeke could teleport to the mountain, he couldn't return the same way.
Originally, he had planned to set up a temporary [Beacon] somewhere in the forest nearby. But that was no longer necessary. He had already created one inside the strange world of the cube. And as long as the portal remained open, he could sense it as if that space was part of this world.
The realization still amazed him.
Still, leaving the cube behind made him uneasy. But it was either that or closing the portal entirely, and he didn't want to do that. Not yet. There was still the return trip to consider, and he had no desire to waste time replenishing the cube's energy just to reopen it again.
"Don't worry," he said, flashing the captain a confident smile. "I have my ways. And please, make sure no one enters my chambers while I'm gone."
With that final instruction, Zeke locked onto the distant sensation of the beacon and vanished from sight. Even the act of folding space around himself and linking to the remote location felt smoother than ever before.
His recent insights into the laws of space seemed to enhance every aspect of his magic, not just the strange, instinctive casting he had discovered. It made sense. The understanding he had gained was foundational, touching the very principles that governed spatial manipulation. Naturally, anything tied to those laws would be improved as well.
In the next instant, Zeke appeared in a familiar room surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Judging by their white hair, sharp teeth, and wolfish features, they were clearly members of the Icefang tribe.
To prevent any misunderstandings, Zeke ripped off his amulet and unleashed the full weight of his draconic aura.
Every single tribesman froze in place, too stunned to move.
"Call Ashen Wolf, please," he said calmly into the sudden silence. When no one responded, he added sharply, "Now."
That got them moving. Within moments, Ash emerged from one of the rooms in the complex.
"Master!"
"Good to see you, Ash," Zeke replied with a grin.
"How come you're here? I thought it would be years before you returned. It's only been, what, a month?"
Zeke sighed. "That was the plan. But you know how plans tend to go."
Ash chuckled, his concern giving way to amusement. "So, what brought you back, Master? Here to visit your fiancée?"
Zeke frowned. "What fiancée?"
"No point playing coy," Ash said with a teasing smirk. "The whole tribe knows about your engagement to Lady Snow."
Silence.
"…You are engaged to Lady Snow, right?"
Zeke sighed. "Let's not talk about that right now. I'm here to see Winter. But first, tell me how the others are doing. Where are Gravitas and Vulcanos? I can't sense them nearby."
Ash nodded. "Gravitas took that group of fanatics you left her with on a little trip."
"...And Vulcanos?"
"She brought him along too," Ash said. "Actually, I think he's the reason for the trip. I'm not too clear on the details, but apparently, it involves a burning mountain and throwing Vulcanos into it." Ash rubbed his temple. "I stopped asking questions after that."
"...You've had it rough," Zeke muttered after a brief pause.
"If only you knew, Master," Ash said, letting out a long sigh. "Sometimes, it feels like I'm the only sane one surrounded by lunatics."
"Welcome to the joys of leadership," Zeke said with a grin, taking more pleasure in Ash's complaints than he cared to admit.
"What about Winter? Is he around?"
Ash gave him a flat look. "You think the big boss shares his schedule with me?"
"...Maybe?"
Ash shook his head. "I'm glad he doesn't. Just thinking about that monster makes my knees go weak. How you can stand being in the same room with him, I'll never understand."
Zeke smirked. "The trick is having a bigger monster on your side."
Ash rolled his eyes, already turning toward the other room where business likely awaited. "If you want to see Winter, you'll have to head to the Sanctum yourself."
Zeke nodded, realizing he was in the way. "It was good seeing you, Ash," he said sincerely. "I probably won't stop by again before I leave."
Ash paused, his expression dimming. "You're in that much of a hurry?"
Zeke nodded. "Every second counts."
It wasn't a lie. After finalizing the contract with Winter, he still needed to secure the endorsement of a royal. He couldn't afford to be delayed here any longer than absolutely necessary.
"...It was good seeing you too, Master," Ash said, offering his wrist.
Zeke clasped it before turning and heading out of the headquarters.
He chose not to teleport into the Sanctum, out of respect for the tribe's customs. Now that the war had ended and order was restored, it felt wrong to act as he pleased.
Thankfully, no one tried to stop him. In fact, many of the tribesmen he passed greeted him with deference. Zeke liked to think it was due to his Draconic aura or his role in the war, but his instincts told him that the real reason had more to do with being Snow's supposed fiancé.
He shook the thought away as he entered Winter's Heart.
Following the directions given by helpful tribesmen along the way, he soon found himself in a part of the mountain he didn't recognize. But the growing chill in the air was unmistakable.
The aura of frigid cold intensified with every step.
Eventually, he arrived at a vast chamber, guarded by no fewer than a dozen elite warriors, each one radiating power on par with Ash.
What was this place?
Zeke stepped inside—and was immediately overwhelmed. Even his body, tempered by Frostscale poison and draconic blood, nearly buckled under the freezing pressure.
"Welcome back, brat," said a voice he recognized instantly.