“Master, my raven sensed multiple active energy signatures around the area. I’m afraid there are many wizards who are coming via plane passageways.”
The speaker was a woman in a luxurious long dress and a black pearled veil. Lady Payne.
“The more the merrier! Right, Snuffle?” Summerdew giggled at her basket monster. The monster named “Snuffle” opened its fanged mouth and snored loudly to respond to the question of its master.
Lady Payne covered her mouth with her fan and grinned.
More competitors didn’t matter now, as Summerdew Ridge had enough members hidden somewhere nearby. Even Song of the Deep, one of the top-ten wizard organizations in the south, knew what was good for them and backed away.
As they chatted, the Leviathan’s madness had reached the climax.
The entire area had been covered by tornadoes and storms as well as visible space ruptures. Underwater continents had been brought out of their rightful place and were hurled around the air. Flying land chunks and impenetrable thunderclouds had blocked all sunlight. Ceaseless lightning strikes would occasionally provide their deadly light while searing lifeforms that were unfortunate enough to get caught.
The whole sight wasn’t much different from demon calamities that burned the world in history.
Wizards who managed to stay steady inside the disaster zone soon felt a great will descending upon them. It was as if the will itself represented the might of the sea. The raging waters and enraged water elements somewhat calmed down to welcome their true master.
Mariyasah was observing the scene with a serious look, while little imp Darky had slumped on the boat with a pale look. Even though Mariyasah helped him block off hazardous disturbance, Darky still needed to bear with the deadly pressure.
Similarly, Lady Payne also removed her casual attitude and was now anxiously checking on Summerdew.
Unlike them, Summerdew was still holding her chin in a relaxed way while watching the Leviathan with great curiosity. However, the tensed muscles on her legs suggested that she wasn’t taking it easy for real.
Leviathan also slowed down its actions upon sensing the might. As an unparalleled sea monster born to command the sea, it was surprised to realize that the new presence somehow seized control of the sea and weakened its power.
The only one who didn’t feel too stressed out was “Sorcerer of Big Fish” Sliv, who had retreated to a safe distance from the center of the catastrophe. He knew who had arrived. It was one of the two truth-finders of Song of the Deep, “God of Seas” Flunza, who was undeniably the strongest wizard in the organization. While it was true that Sliv and Flunza had different opinions regarding how to treat foreign invaders, they were still allies in this situation.
Flunza was known as the most powerful wizard when it came to controlling water elements. There were probably no other wizards in the south who could claim to defeat Flunza while battling on the sea.
This was further proven when Flunza’s mere arrival had soothed the fury of the ocean.
“Ah, Mister God of Seas is here. I wonder what will he do now?” Mariyasah moved his boat farther away. “Why are both Song of the Deep and Summerdew Ridge so interested in this monster? What’s hidden at Silver Palm?”
Meanwhile, Lady Payne was asking the same question, “Master, what is Mister God of Seas planning to do next?”
Summerdew maintained that cute look of hers, but her randomly spinning eyeballs completely ruined her image.
“The door is opening... I guess?”
Lady Payne raised an eyebrow. “Mister God of Seas knows how to open it?”
“No no no. No one can sense the door’s location apart from its designated guardian pet. Even legendary wizards won’t find the door if they’re here.”
Lady Payne nodded. They knew where to go thanks to the effort of a Prophet who studied Wheel of Fortune. They learned the general location of the secret dimension before the anti-prophecy ward was set.
“Then... what is he trying to do?”
“No idea!” Summerdew tilted her head. “He knows SOMETHING, that’s for sure. Flunza is always the smart guy!”
The girl-like witch suddenly put on a cruel look before she spoke to the strange monster beneath her, “Hey Snuffle, since Flunza is here, we should get ready to drive!”
“Snuffle the Bus roger that! I will win the VIP parking lot for you, ma’am!”
...
A moment later, more groups of people showed up from plane passageways around the area and openly headed toward the direction of Silver Palm Isle, unlike Flunza, who had been staying hidden.
Foreboding Forest, Valley of Hurricane, Utopi Academy, as well as major organizations such as Floating Mech City, Brute Cavern, and Chapel of Mystical Fife... Over a hundred wizards had found safe spots where the ongoing energy storm was weaker, and they were either whispering to each other or preparing their own plans.
Also, there were almost no truth-finder wizards among them, because most truth-finders had been dragged into Monkey’s grand plan. Otherwise, they wouldn’t hesitate to join the competition.
Lady Payne knew she brought enough force to go against the other people, but she still felt a little anxious since she wasn’t expecting SO many people.
Summerdew suddenly sent her a secret message. “They want to know what’s in there, right? Then send your raven and tell them that the secret dimension holds a tactical Mystery-level weapon inside.”
Lady Payne looked surprised. “But Master, are you sure we should? Knowing more information puts us at an advantage.”
“Do you think we have the advantage when Flunza is here? We can take more stuff if we... spoil the party, you know?”
Lady Payne nodded in acknowledgment.
Soon, the “clue” regarding a brand-new tactical weapon was passed around to everyone and started another round of heated discussion like dropping water into a pot of hot oil.
A weapon was regarded as “tactical” only when it was powerful enough to cause decisive consequences at war and was costly to deploy.
People had not established a standard for Mystery items yet, but they would all agree that “tactical weapons” were an exception. As of now, there were only a few known tactical weapons around the wizarding world, all of which were treated as confidential assets by their organizations, such as the “Corridor of Infinity” owned by Floating Mech City.
Naturally, it was Song of the Deep who was most displeased to hear the rumor.
Furious, Sliv clenched his hands and made a grim decision.
During the plane fusion three years ago, he acted as the biggest villain and angered everyone. He attracted the grudge of the Supreme Cult while gaining absolutely nothing. He had to win the item for Song of the Deep this time.
While the wizards yelled among themselves, something else happened at the island in the center.
In the middle of the energy storm, the Leviathan was getting very annoyed because someone else was commanding the sea, while it, as the true lord of the ocean, could do nothing other than looking at a bunch of petty creatures invading its territory.
However, the Leviathan’s dull senses could not help it locate where the unknown threat came from. Without a target to vent out its aggravated anger, it could only keep attacking the strange door.
But none of Leviathan’s attempts worked—the door remained in its vision as solid as before.
The sea suddenly began sending a strange sensation to the Leviathan as if it were speaking.
“You want the door gone. You want to kill it. But you cannot.
“Suppose you destroy the door, will it quench your anger? No.
“So how will you get rid of such anger? More destruction. You destroy everything. The door, and what’s hidden behind the door... That will displease the unknown will who has been threatening you. He will feel pain.”
The Leviathan felt greatly offended by the voice directly speaking to its mind, but... the words made sense! Annoying and hurting the unknown will sounded like a nice plan.
But what exactly should I do? The Leviathan questioned subconsciously.
The strange voice saw through its mind and continued speaking, “Pry it open, burn everything within to ash. That will help you feel better. A lot better.”
Pry the door?
“Yes... ruin everything that’s inside the door, and you’ll be free.”
In its maddened state, the Leviathan didn’t give the mysterious voice much thought and simply accepted it.
Not protecting, not attacking. It would now attempt to open the door instead.