Mage Manual

Sea of Knowledge, the Fish-Slicing Dragons lay on the nearly dried-up seabed, overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of seawater. They floated to the surface and discovered the water was clear, unlike the black water of before, and there was no white mist over the surface, just...

Why is there a golden fish on the surface?

Why is there a cow on the fish’s back?

On the Time Continent, the Heroic Soul Army, flung to the continent’s edge by the tremor, poked their heads out and looked at the Fish-Slicing Dragons emerging from below.

Then they turned around to gaze at the Ruby Mountain on the cow’s back.

Ruby Mountain, several Legendary Mages who failed to return to reality were dumbfounded; they clearly saw Ruby Mountain melt, entrapping them like sinking into a quagmire. As they sunk deeper, suddenly the quagmire turned back into Ruby Mountain, only this time it was much smaller, just the size of a single mountain.

Moreover, when they looked up, they saw a Hell.

The Six Kingdoms, everyone found that the world seemed to have stabilized, yet there was an indescribable change. When the Legendary Mages initiated reconnaissance miracles, they wore expressions as if they’d seen a ghost.

Originally their reconnaissance miracles reached only the borders of their nations, beyond which was the edge of the phase, like a wall they could only wander behind. But now, the Legendary Mages discover their reconnaissance miracles could cross the borders, and so they saw... other nations!

Not the nations in different phases, but nations adjoining their own!

The isolation phases separating the six nations completely collapsed during this disaster; now the six nations share the same phase, following the Kingdom of Stars’ unification in governance, the world has achieved a physical unification!

The phase of Heaven also fell apart, the six Heavenly Kingdoms transformed directly into six layers of continents, stacked one upon another, now with the Cloud Mist Continent at the bottom, they have formed the literal Seven Heavens.

The Divine Lords vaguely sensed something, silently observing this new world.

Only Diya couldn’t help but exclaim:

"Isn’t this too rudimentary?"

*

As the Heavenly Kingdom of Souls and Void Turbulence tightly merged, Ash breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn’t expect the effects to be so good; the dissolved Void Realm directly merged with the Heavenly Kingdom of Souls, constructing a new world on the foundation of the original world, simple yet capable of operating.

It might also be because he and all the Mage Technique Spirits formed a unity; the distributed Mage Technique Spirits across the world have become anchors for stabilizing the Heavenly Kingdom of Souls—like nails pinning this shanty town on the ancient majestic Void Realm, supporting this precarious world.

Compared to the finely precise yet imposing Void Realm of before, the new Void Realm is undoubtedly rudimentary, but functioning suffices; there’s time in the future for planning and adjustment.

All that’s needed is to complete the unification of the Mage’s Concept.

"How is it now?" Ash asked nervously, looking at Dazzling Star, "Can you continue resisting the convergence?"

"Previously it was the convergence of the entire Void Realm, now it should just be the Dream Stairs and the Seven Layers of Void Realm converging upon me," Dazzling Star replied, "I can hold out for a long time."

When Ash obtained the Heavenly Kingdom of Souls, the Seven Layers of Void Realm hadn’t been born, naturally excluding them. The Dream Stairs don’t partake in Void Realm construction but exist independently as a third layer, naturally absent in the Heavenly Kingdom of Souls.

"But as long as you don’t become the Eight-winged Mage, there’s always the danger of the Void Realm overturning. To become the Eight-winged Mage, you must completely absorb the Void Realm."

"I understand," Ash said calmly, "But I’ve thought about it; absorbing the Void Realm doesn’t necessarily mean destroying it, capturing the heart of the Void Realm, becoming the Master of Void Realm is equally absorbing the Void Realm completely."

Dazzling Star contemplated briefly then nodded gently, "Indeed feasible... looks like you had this in mind when choosing the title Master of Void Realm."

"Just a vague feeling," Ash looked at Dazzling Star, "So, the next step is to become the sole sorcerer, command all magic, and tread a path to the heartbeat of the Void Realm."

Through the Bonded Divine, Ash has already brought all the world’s magic into his control; he’s just one piece away from becoming the sole sorcerer.

Dazzling Star’s lips moved, seemingly wanting to smile, yet remained characteristically indifferent, "Very well, I don’t wish to die as a snake either; grant me the rightful destined death of a mage."

"No, you cannot die," Ash shook his head slowly, "Without your resistance against convergence, the Seven Layers of Void Realm and Dream Stairs would immediately collapse, giving birth to a new Terminal Snake... you must stay here, maintain the world until I’ve grasped the heartbeat of Void Realm!"

"Dazzling Star," he reached out his hand, "Become my strength."

Dazzling Star looked at him calmly for a long time, as if they were meeting for the first time, as if they never knew each other before, so Ash would propose such an unreasonable request. By now, their relationship is a mess, with debts unresolved and full of complexities, only life and death could settle the old scores.

Mere moments ago they were engaged in their final duel; had the Void Realm not suddenly collapsed, Dazzling Star would have already fallen, becoming Ash’s final stepping stone towards becoming the Master of Void Realm.

If she’d heard this request ten minutes ago, Dazzling Star would have been without hesitation, but...

Ten minutes ago, why did she intend to help Ash stabilize the Void Realm?

"Dazzling Star is dead,"

Dazzling Star said slowly, "When I delivered that final sword stroke to you, I didn’t plan on surviving. I’ve already walked the entirety of my path; if I’m destined to be a star of the past era, let me fall before the dawn of a new era."

Ash gazed at her without speaking, keeping his hand outstretched, as if he’d leave it there until she acquiesced.

"Are you always like this? Refusing to give up if you don’t achieve your desires?"

"Naturally, or else what means perfect?"

In Dazzling Star’s eyes, there flickered a light, carrying emotions Ash couldn’t comprehend, "Do you remember what I once said? The weak fear consequences, the strong fear causes."

"I took away the girl you protected; I cannot repay you. I took away the world you defended; I cannot repay you. Perhaps from then, everything has been destined."

"This time, I will help you guard your world." She reached out and grasped Ash’s hand, "My path has reached its end, now let me see how far your path can extend into the future."

Ash tightly gripped her hand full of snake scales, feeling an unprecedented sense of relaxation. Although the Dazzling Star was unsettling as an enemy, her transformation into an ally brought immense relief. She valued honor above all and would never break her promises.

He summoned the Bonded Divine: "Now pulling you into the mage collective, because you are the Supreme of Magic, even the Bonded Divine cannot forcibly transform you. You need to open your mind—"

"No need for such trouble, just come a bit closer..."

However, Ash didn’t actually move closer; merely showing a desire to do so with his eyes was enough for Dazzling Star to lightly kiss his lips.

Clearly a mage cold enough to erase humanity, her lips were unexpectedly warm and soft, with a body scent identical to Filly. Through the tactile sensation on his lips, he keenly sensed the change in Dazzling Star’s soul... like a glacier melting into the ocean, or ink spreading on paper... like two entities already combined, undergoing a wondrous reaction catalyzed by external forces, forming a more perfect substance.

When their lips parted, Dazzling Star seemed unchanged on the surface, but Ash’s Supreme Void Wings were now completely whole, becoming grand and magnificent like the previous six Void Wings. Just now, her Star Blue had merged into Ash’s plethora, completing the final missing hue.

At that moment, Ash was undoubtedly the singular mage, with billions of magic spells under his command.

Ash gazed at Dazzling Star with complex emotions. It was the first time he couldn’t distinguish the owner of the kiss, whether it was Dazzling Star’s casual play or if she had, for a second, released the phantom known as Filly, or perhaps neither. This warm, soft kiss brimming with trust actually came from...

"Go ahead."

Dazzling Star said, "Towards the ultimate of magic."

She smiled again, "We will be here waiting for your return."

Ash adjusted his mood, nodded heavily, spread his Void Wings, and advanced in the direction of the Void Realm’s heartbeat.

As he moved forward, he left behind a trail of dazzling colors, quickly surpassing the path he had previously walked with Dazzling Star. The path was unobstructed, and if sufficient magic realm was required to approach the Void Realm’s heartbeat, then Ash, who now commanded all magic in the Void Realm and gathered all mage realms, was almost akin to mage civilization itself. What could the Void Realm’s heartbeat use to reject him?

Gradually, the surroundings grew darker, and Ash looked back, unable to see the seventh layer of the Void Realm, even the vibrant trail had vanished unnoticed.

He seemed to have arrived at a new place, neither belonging to the seventh layer nor any layer of the Void Realm, the deepest secrecy or the most remote height of the Void Realm.

If a name were needed, clearly, only one name suited here.

The eighth layer of the Void Realm.

Although he continued to advance towards the Void Realm’s heartbeat, Ash clearly felt that no matter how he approached, the distance to the heartbeat did not shrink. Similarly, no matter how he moved away, the distance to the heartbeat did not increase.

The Void Realm’s heartbeat felt both far away at the horizon and close at hand, ubiquitous yet unknown in its whereabouts.

However, Ash felt no anxiety, seemingly forgetting his goal, freely swimming in the boundless darkness. His vast wings gently flapped, the reflections casting familiar scenes.

Sea of Knowledge, Time Continent, Distant Realm, Ruby Mountain, Level Six of Hell, Seven Heavens, Sea of Stars...

Kingdom of Blood Moon, Kingdom of Gospel, Kingdom of Senluo, Kingdom of Stars...

Gerard, Igula, Harvey, Valcas, Lanna...

Qinna, Nona, Dedarose, Source Angel, the Radiant Firefly Princess...

「Goodness follows you.」

Dazzling Star, Blood Moon, All-Knowing, Skydream, Unbounded, Senluo...

「Evil admires you.」

Freyja, Siflin, Hanna, Tamasi, Felix...

「Light yearns for you.」

Sonia, Lissdia, Youlan Weiser, Vishi...

「Darkness also hopes for you.」

Ash captured a thread of spiritual light, he spread his Void Wings and flew swiftly, scenes turned into streaks of light following closely behind, embellishing his eighth Void Wing. His eighth Void Wing grew increasingly bright, radiant, and finally—

Completed condensation!

In the extreme darkness, Ash condensed the eighth wing of magic ultimate. Yet at the moment he fully unfurled the eight wings for the first time, his vast wings shattered into countless feathers, then the feathers integrated into the darkness and vanished without a trace.

At the moment of having eight wings, Ash lost the eight wings.

But Ash felt no negative emotions whatsoever, serenely integrating into this tender darkness, listening to the only sound within the eighth layer of the Void Realm.

That was the sound of a heartbeat, coming from his chest.

「You are an existence that transcends all.」

Ash opened his eyes, looked at the boundless darkness, and uttered his first command to the Void Realm.

"Let there be light."

「It is the color the Divine Lord bestowed upon all things.」

Thus a beam of light split the Void Realm, and all things regained their color.

--To be continued