Chapter Sixty: Legend – The Mystery of the Fall of Ancient Magic

Within the magical array at the Altar of Apotheosis, the high priestess of the Elven race recounted the ancient history of magical civilization, her words flowing like a gentle stream. The tale she wove held secrets of the gods’ ascension, drawing everyone’s rapt attention.

“This magical prodigy was named Hustan Edison. Remember his name well. He was the pioneer of magitek armaments in the ancient magical civilization, the founder of a new magical era. Yet it was also he who ushered in its catastrophic destruction.

“This unparalleled genius discovered that the Altar of Apotheosis was in fact a gateway to another realm. Assuming it led to the Divine Realm, he created a magitek colossus—the Grand Celestial Mirror—to channel the forces of the world and open the passage between realms.

“He calculated everything, even the spatial collapse that would result from the energy imbalance at both ends of the portal. But there was one thing he failed to anticipate: the gateway he opened did not lead to the Divine Realm, but instead…”

Here, Audrey Tateau let out a sigh. “It led to the Laboratory of the Gods! According to the records of our Elven race, the so-called Laboratory of the Gods is an extradimensional space—a place where deities experiment with the creation of new life, species, and even worlds.”

“Heh, the experiments of the gods are not as simple as those of mortal magicians. Especially when it comes to the creation of new life and species—when successful, all is well, but failure gives birth to beings of extreme peril.”

“Unfortunately, the gateway Hustan Edison opened connected directly to the repository of the gods’ failed experiments, where powerful but uncontrollable creatures were sealed. Given that these beings were created by gods, their might is beyond imagining.”

“And yet, these failed divine creations possess only the instinct to kill. Paradoxically, this is a blessing. Their murderous nature means only the strongest beasts survive in that space. If even one more such creature entered our continent, it would soon be desolate, with no chance for new civilizations to arise.”

“Back then, the mightiest heroes of the continent joined forces, deploying the magitek colossus to barely drive the beast back into the Altar of Apotheosis. Sadly, the monster possessed the power of rebirth and seemed utterly unkillable. Desperate, people devised a sixfold curse seal at the altar, severing the link between the realms. Only then did humanity survive. It’s said the fall of the ancient magical civilization is closely tied to the opening of that gateway—perhaps the so-called punishment of the gods was their response to mortals’ audacity in breaking through the barrier between worlds.”

“Hmph! Are you boasting of your vast knowledge?” scoffed the Moon Priestess Xuan Yue. “Everyone knows the Elven archives are unmatched, but there is no mention in our legends of a beast capable of destroying humanity. All this talk of gateways and god-forged monsters—are you trying to make us abandon our quest for godhood?”

“That is indeed my intention,” the high priestess replied earnestly. “Believe me: forcibly activating the Altar of Apotheosis will shatter the sixfold curse seal, painstakingly laid down with the blood of our ancestors. Not only will it fail to grant divinity, it will also unleash that beast, bringing calamity to all living things. Trust me, this is no longer the era of ancient magical civilization. We have no magitek colossi to wield.”

At this, the Demon Emperor Karan burst into wild laughter. “Little girl, your story is entertaining, but I care not for its truth. Any obstacle in my path to activating the Altar of Apotheosis shall be swept aside!” His emerald single eye glinted with murderous intent. “Even if what you say is true, I’ll simply slay the beast. No one can stop my ascension today!”

“Slay the beast? Such arrogance!” Hustan replied coldly. “Do you even know what this creature is? How does your strength compare to that of a dragon?”

“Hah, so it’s a dragon? Even so, the five paragons of our world can at least fight a dragon to a draw. With three of us here, are we to fear a mere dragon?”

“Ordinary dragons are one thing. But do you know of the Primordial Dragon?” Hustan asked.

“The Primordial Dragon? You mean the Dragon King?” Karan exclaimed in shock. “Impossible—how could that beast be the Dragon King?”

“That divine creation is the failed first-generation Dragon King—yet even more formidable than the one of legend. For it was in that ancient battle that the Dragon King of the magical civilization era perished,” Audrey Tateau said softly. “Even the mightiest of that age could not defeat it. Tell me, Karan, is your power greater than theirs?”

Karan pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “What a joke! I care not if the beast exists or not. What concern are the lives of all beings to me? Anyone who stands in my way today should be prepared to die!”

With a long howl, he unleashed a surge of invisible force toward the magical array.

“This is bad! The sixfold curse is already unstable—I only managed to restore part of it earlier. The seal cannot withstand many more attacks!” Audrey Tateau cried out.

Hustan had anticipated Karan’s move. As he attacked, Hustan darted before the wave and pushed forward with his sword, dissolving the energy.

These two had always been at odds, often clashing in the past—little wonder the Demon Emperor attacked indiscriminately upon arrival. Karan practiced a sinister form of magic, manipulating elemental energy with each strike, his invisible force crashing down like a tempest, stifling all present. Hustan, though emanating no aura, stood his ground with ease, even seeming to hold the upper hand. Where Karan’s blows were grand and overwhelming, Hustan’s every movement was seamless, refined by countless battles—graceful, measured, and effortlessly effective.

“Truly worthy of the title Sword God of old—Hustan is formidable…” Gu Feng murmured in awe.

Yet they forgot another figure on the field: the Moon Priestess Xuan Yue, who had once sent the moon itself skyward with a single gesture. Under the power of her Celestial Crescent, all other magics were suppressed, while her own dark arts were magnified.

With a dazzling flash of white, the priestess lashed out at Hustan with her bone whip, chanting, “Dark Arrows, forty-nine as one!”

With her incantation, the whip circled once, firing forty-nine beams of shadow like arrows from mighty bows, all targeting Hustan. In a duel of such power, distraction meant certain defeat, but the Sword God’s reputation was well earned—he shifted slightly and dodged the attack. Yet the arrows seemed alive, shadowing his every move.

“I’ll help you, Hustan!” Gu Feng, recalling their past camaraderie, sprang to his aid. “Dimension—Open!” He wielded spatial magic, diverting the dark arrows into another plane, avoiding a direct clash with the priestess.

“Everyone, together!” Wood bellowed, seeing Gu Feng disrupt the attack and sensing danger. The Moon Priestess’s eyes flashed as her bone whip snapped toward Gu Feng like a serpent. Without hesitation, Wood unleashed his most potent skill—Particle Overlap.

“Hmm, you have some skill!” The Moon Priestess flicked her whip, neutralizing the move, but her arm trembled from the force, a shock to her heart. Had it not been under the Celestial Crescent, she might have suffered more.

“Gravity!” Baldy, knowing her fearsome reputation, unfurled his skeletal wings and soared at the priestess, roaring, “Beast King Fist!” A surge of force rushed toward her.

The Moon Priestess, expert in dark magic, was not foolish enough to contest raw strength. Though Baldy’s gravity spell weighed her down, she slipped away with ease.

Wood seized the moment, driving his Qingming Sword through the air. But the disparity in strength was too great; the Moon Priestess, wielding her bone whip, dominated the three, circling them like a cat toying with mice. Her movements were both combative and a deliberate display of her seductive form.

Of course, none of the three dared be distracted—she was a deadly beauty. Wood repeatedly tried to sever the whip with his sword, but whatever arcane method had crafted it made it impossibly supple and lethal. Time after time, his attacks failed, and he was nearly ensnared—were it not for his cultivation technique, he would have fallen already.

The Moon Priestess continued her cruel game, occasionally launching a dark arrow at Hustan. But as the three struggled, a sudden beam of energy shot toward her—so swift it was almost invisible.

Startled, the priestess whipped her weapon to block, but the surge nearly unraveled the magic woven into the bone whip. She turned to see a young man standing casually nearby, a strange weapon in hand—the source of the attack.

“Magitek armament…” the Moon Priestess whispered in horror.