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墨書 Inktalez
The Prophet found the game utterly uninteresting; the Giant Bug had already been captured twice. In desperation, he decided to expose himself near the snowy plains of the Northern desert to draw the enemy away, heading south where it was darker. He had gathered enough food and water in the Northern region to ensure his survival, and based on his analysis, his chances of success were still quite high.
However, he overlooked one crucial point: Cui Ming. Cui Ming was someone who would not act without benefit; why was he so eager and diligent? Was it for the Mage? Indeed, for humanity and justice, Cui Ming would contribute his share of effort. Yet many others were also anxiously waiting to save the Earth and humanity. Cui Ming would never cut in line in such matters; he would always defer. He didn’t need to come personally; just passing the message to those who fought for justice would suffice.
If Cui Ming wasn’t acting for the Mage, then it could be for the Prophet. The Prophet himself didn’t see any conflict between himself and Cui Ming that would lead to such dedication.
Those in power often become confused; asymmetric information led the Prophet to believe that Wandering and his group were appearing with the goal of stopping him from establishing a magic circle.
Setting up a Magic Circle seemed simple but required immense patience. For instance, the magic circle created by the Prophet contained one hundred seventy symbols, grouped but not clearly defined—like 123 as one group and 135 as another sequence. It resembled a Sudoku puzzle where the position of each symbol had to meet specific requirements. Destroying a magic circle was much simpler than constructing one; to dismantle it, one only needed to find its core object, which could obliterate all one hundred seventy runes. Constructing a magic circle required Magic Stones and Force to cultivate a rune since runes themselves held no power and needed energy infusion.
To put it metaphorically, runes were like Transformers; circuits had to be connected, and energy guided them into operation. The energy source continuously drew power from the Magic Stone to maintain the basic functioning of the magic circle. When it came time to activate the magic circle, the sacrificial Giant Bug had to enter, allowing the magic circle to begin its work. The Magic Stone would absorb powerful energy from the sacrifice, transmitting it through Transformer runes while simultaneously activating them, enabling the magic circle to take effect.
Creating runes was straightforward; the Prophet could draw a symbol on the ground easily. However, things became more challenging afterward. The Prophet needed to envelop the symbol with Force until it connected with the energy from the Magic Stone. At this point, symbols might float in mid-air or be buried beneath sand, but as long as the energy from the Magic Stone continued flowing, any connected symbols would remain intact.
The distance between runes had to be precise, and their arrangement carefully considered; setting up a magic circle was an exhausting endeavor. Some runes required triggers—alchemy, sacrifices, energy sources, special materials, etc. This indicated that being a magician demanded high intelligence. A magician who couldn’t Set Up A Magic Circle was deemed unqualified; for example, Ding Ze was a practitioner of the Magic System but focused on individual development while neglecting magical knowledge.
While working, the Giant Bug lay nearby; apart from the Prophet, no one knew what it was thinking. The Prophet was patient and resolute; once he made up his mind to do something, he remained focused on it. Given that this magic circle was unique and that it was his first time setting it up—having only simulated it on paper before—he proceeded with great caution. Things were already dire on Mage's side; Sadin had divided the seal into eight pieces and had already released two of its powers. If two more were released, with Zhir’s strength, they could directly break the seal. The Prophet understood that Sadin’s pace would only accelerate from here on out; thus he needed to complete his task swiftly.
This was an opportunity not everyone encounters; missing out on opportunities is worse than having none at all. There was a story about a luxurious villa worth millions being sold for just one dollar after four days without any buyers. A foreign student eventually bought it because its owner had passed away and left it to his mistress in his will while giving selling rights to his wife—hence her actions. Of course, whether this story is true or not is uncertain, but it illustrates how sometimes opportunities fall right into your lap if you are willing to reach out and grab them.
The Prophet knew he wouldn’t encounter such an opportunity again in this lifetime; if all information were correct, then indeed that was true. Had he considered that Mage might betray him?
Dina crouched beside her lookout guard, observing the busy Prophet below while asking herself similar questions. After all, he was a magician with poor defenses against assassins; Dina could easily get close. However, she remained still because she understood his capabilities—acting alone as a hero would be foolish. More importantly, she needed to wait for the completion of the magic circle.
Dina was an exceptionally skilled assassin raised by Ding Family since childhood for this purpose. Unfortunately, talent within Ding Family Lineage had dwindled over time; Dina could only step into the light after walking in darkness for so long. She could conceal her scent entirely within Force; her Force adapted to her surroundings like a chameleon’s protective coloration. Additionally, she had set up a dagger teleportation technique that allowed her daggers to vanish instantly at her command. Her own abilities were remarkable as well; she could go nearly two days without food or water while remaining completely still. This is why Wandering chose her assistance instead of bringing hunters along.
Wandering wasn’t far away—only ten kilometers off—but even with great skill, some objective limitations still applied. He was biding his time; currently, there was no escape for the Prophet. To capture him, they first needed to eliminate the Giant Bug to prevent them from teleporting each other away. Dina’s target was clear: Giant Bug. If everything went smoothly and Giant Bug became their sacrifice, it would create an ideal situation.
The situation was looking very good now. Half of Cui Ming's plan, Wandering, had been completed: controlling the Prophet without letting the Fire Cultist know that the Prophet was under control. It was best if the Prophet remained alive, serving as bait. As long as the Prophet didn't commit suicide, Wandering had enough confidence in this aspect. The other half of Cui Ming's plan, which he was less concerned about, involved killing the Mage.
Wandering had two options: control the Prophet while Sadin broke the seal and Zhir eliminated the Mage, or let the Prophet activate the magic circle and then attack from both sides. Wandering chose the second option, reasoning that Dina's safety was paramount. Dina was confident she could eliminate the Giant Bug, but Wandering was too far away. If the Prophet went berserk and didn't escape, Dina, who would be left weakened after using her spinning dagger, wouldn't stand a chance against the Prophet.
Wandering waited for the magic circle to activate.
The Prophet and the Giant Bug were completely unaware of Dina's presence. Even the small bugs patrolling below failed to detect her. Dina lay still above them; the strong winds and sand quickly covered her body with a layer of dirt, hiding her from view. Only a slit of her eye remained visible. Once the magic circle activated, Wandering would rush over; she wouldn’t move unless the Giant Bug fled. From her vantage point, the Giant Bug appeared as docile as a kitten in front of the Prophet.
...
Night fell, and heavy rain poured down—a rare occurrence in the desert. Although by morning there would be no trace of the downpour.
After two arduous days, the Prophet finally completed his masterpiece. The magic circle surged with power, and a Void Vortex appeared amidst dark clouds. The Giant Bug entered the magic circle, letting out a chilling scream within it.
Wandering descended from the cliff and landed before the Prophet. "Long time no see."
"You still haven't escaped my pursuit," the Prophet sighed helplessly. "It was like this last time, and it’s still like this now."
Wandering Path replied, "I have reliable information that before entering the Void, the Mage will seize your body."
The Prophet countered, "How do you know I won't seize his energy instead?"
"Oh?" Wandering was quite surprised.
"There’s a Demigod guarding the Mage. If he breaks free, he will definitely be severely injured; I’m not without a chance to fight back." The Prophet's Force shifted as Purple Force sparkled densely around him. "Let’s settle this quickly."
Wandering unfastened her grand painting and spread her arms wide.
The two began to fight!
This was Dina's first time witnessing Wandering truly unleash their power. Various magical energies poured forth like a torrential rain, continuous and unending. Each surge of energy was pure Force magic, which should have required immense consumption. Yet, Wandering's body showed no signs of depletion; instead, the Force surged vigorously. It was said that as long as the Eternal Sphere remained intact, Wandering's magic would never run dry.
The Prophet made the first move, unleashing a Void Power that erupted from their body, colliding with the magical energy. Soon, a blue light intertwined with a purple one, shifting from a battle of magical knowledge and spells to a direct clash of raw power.
It was clear that the Prophet was no match for Wandering. The pressure mounted as the blue line quickly suppressed the purple line, advancing toward the Prophet. At that moment, the magic circle connected to the Void Vortex, and a burst of Void Power struck the Prophet, causing the purple line to rebound.
"Prophet, are you seeking death?" Wandering asked. The Prophet saw themselves as a vessel; if Wandering were injured or killed, or found another way to escape battle, all of that Void Energy would remain within the Prophet's body in that instant. Their body could not withstand such power.
"This was meant for dealing with Mages," the Prophet sneered. "Even in death, if I can kill the top expert of the Eternal Sphere, I will have no regrets. I do not wish to remain in Silent City, that place without a future. I know my chances of success are slim, but whether I die now or later, if I do not take this chance, I will hate myself for not seizing it when I had the opportunity."
Wandering sighed. "Prophet, while Void Power is formidable, it is not invincible."
"What do you mean?"
"There is always a counter to every force." As Wandering withdrew their Force, the purple line struck against Wandering's protective Force. To the Prophet's surprise, Void Power not only failed to harm Wandering but was also absorbed by them. The tattoo symbols on Wandering's body began to glow one by one. "I am not just human; I am a magic circle myself. Prophet, I will give you one last chance: surrender now and I will not kill you."
"I do not believe any being can harness Void Power," the Prophet retorted defiantly, accelerating their magic circle's operation as even stronger Void Power surged through them toward Wandering.
"I told you, I am a magic circle. Activating it requires energy—either from my Ancient Giant Painting or from my opponent's energy. However, right now, I need to borrow your hand to deal with someone." (To be continued.)
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