Chapter 542 Ancient Dragon Mystery (1/2)
Israel was assuredly not a person who was all talk. In truth, he had prepared well for his goal. As they returned from the earth's core into the Void Star-Observatory, the sovereign of the Empire had explained his series of plans in detail.
At present, every Legendary champion in the Mycroft Continent was aware of the truth regarding Evil Gods and that the world, in fact, held ill-intent against them. It was information passed down from each generation, although the fact that the world of Mycroft was about to die until recently diminished the weight of that ill-intent—everyone was on a sinking ship after all, it was not the time for animosity. But now that Joshua had reignited the flames and allowed both humans and the world to keep on living, everyone now had sufficient time while the sealed World Will would gradually revive.
As long as the sealing circle left by the Sage and the gods all those years ago held on, such a weak World Will would not stir any waves—indeed, it would take centuries or millennia for It to break the seal apart. However, if the Abyss invades or the Evil Gods descend and the Mycroft continent was infected by their presence, things would be different. That was why though the seal was complete, every faction had backup plans in place to prevent the unexpected.
Before Israel, every Emperor of the Northern Empire had done their best in the search for a new world too, with the Void Star-Observatory specialized circles for detecting life being a clear evidence. Israel had also shown extraordinary support for Nostradamus's research into stabilizing the portals between two different worlds, even helping his teacher to ascend into Legendary not too long ago. Without question, a Legendary spellcaster who was gifted at dimensional discipline would definitely accelerate the speed of any correlated researches.
”Developing cargo freighters that could travel through the Void, grand-scale portals between worlds and sending multiple elite parties to explore fringe worlds, searching for suitable land… At least fifteen years, huh. Though it sounds long, to such high-end technology and the future of mankind, it's incomparably fleeting.”
Joshua recalled Israel's every past action and sensed that the truth was certainly so. His Majesty had already developed flight-capable aerial battleships while Nostradamus had constructed a portal network that connects all corners of the Empire. Apart from employing himself, they had definitely also sent quite a few parties to attempt exploring, although it appears that it did not go smoothly and in turn made them thought about seeking help from a Legendary champion.
It seems that the main thing is how to find a new world.
”Actually, our options weren't limited to exploring the stars and migrating subsequently. In fact, we have a few simpler and quicker way to remove the hidden troubles.”
Having heard Joshua's mumbling, Israel activated his bangle and reopened the dark dimensional doorway. ”Humans would not be truly wiped out even if it's an Abyssal invasion or the awakening of a World Will that bore ill-intent towards us,” Israel said flatly. ”The ability of the various races on the Mycroft Continent are not weak and could confidently resist all threats—as long as we completely destroy that sealed World Will, the issue would be solved easily.”
Joshua could not help glancing sideways at Israel upon hearing those words. The Emperor had uttered those words with nary a change in expression—in truth, he was so relaxed it was as if he was not talking about killing the Mother of All who nurtured the diverse races, and about slaughtering an orc. The warrior could even see a rather wild glint in Israel's gaze. However, the Emperor soon shook his head and rejected the idea.
”It's a pity. My ancestor left a rule that we could not directly kill It as a being that was nurtured by It. Even if It was slain, it would simply be completing the requirements for the advent of the Evil God [Apocalypse]. Other World Wills would in turn grow to despise us matriarch-slayers, a cost that completely outweighs gain.
There is no unconditional love in this world just as there is no unconditional hate. Joshua had some ideas as to why the world would choose to abandon humans and pick magical beasts instead, even if Israel did not reveal his own. In the Glorious Era, when the Mycroft Continent fought against the Evil Gods and the Abyss, the Mother Goddess had been one of the ones who resisted the external invasion. As an incarnation of the land itself, it undoubtedly had a tight connection with the World Will. In the end, when the Mother Goddess was maimed and virtually dissipated, the events that unfolded in between must have influenced the choice made by the World Will.
Joshua was unwilling to meditate on the unusually disgusting intrigue behind, not because of his reluctance to accept it but because it was meaningless. Since the matter has already happened it did not matter who was right or who was wrong—or what quite simply, what transpired. He would only choose to help humans to transcend that difficulty.
In seconds, the two stepped through the portal and returned to the secret meeting room in the Void Star-Observatory. The unnamed fairy queen too, welcomed them with her joyful voice. ”The seal is working well. The maintenance is not bad, Israel.”
”That's for sure. How are your injuries?”
Joshua knew from the two's exchange that the fairy was that earth-elemental queen who had been heavily injured in Fairyland. Although her voice was certainly a little weak when he listened closely, it remained that she had recovered significantly.
Regarding what Israel had said regarding the Evil God [Apocalypse], Joshua knew that it was no alarmist talk but the truth. Most Evil Gods had no way of invading a complete and orderly world—it was only through fulfilling a set of conditions that they could descend from the other end of the void. As an example, the Evil God [Calamity] must destroy virtually every life cycle on the world of Illgner and cause drastic changes that even the World Will trembled in rage at. Another example was the Evil God [Pestilence] that needed the life of an entire world to go extinct through plagues, while [Famine] possessed the ability to explore other worlds, running into its true form in the Void.
While every Evil God possessed special conditions to be activated, the facet in which [a world possessed many beings that were aware of their true face] was a similarity all those Evil Gods shared. In the Glorious Era, it was precisely because of extreme prosperity and the invasion from the endless Abyss that caused tremendous battles and plagues, in turn instantly attracting Evil God beings such as [Fertility], [Pestilence] and the like. If the World Will was utterly killed, the same problematic situation a thousand years ago would be repeated, perhaps with the addition of the Evil God [Apocalypse].
Joshua showed a complicated expression at the thought. He initially believed that he had solved most problems and lay any relevant countermeasures such as the plague of berserker dragons, the continuation of the world or even Abyssal invasions. In the end, he never imagined that the Mycroft Continent would so many subsequent issues—the malevolent land, Evil Gods and exploration of new worlds.
Really, if it had been the pre-existence this would have been just some replacement contents in later expansions—all of which are territory that I've never touched.
The warrior did not show any depressed expression despite such thoughts. As a matter of fact, Joshua appeared delighted—his gaze, penetrating the alloy shell of the Void Star-Observatory, watched the dimensional turbulences in the Void and reveled in the joy name challenge.
The road ahead was certainly difficult, but it was nothing that monumental. Since he could solve all those troubles before by himself, he had gained many companions and the circumstances of this world were far better than before—there was no reason they could not solve the problems.
Even if the Mycroft Continent was virtually ruined twenty years later in the pre-existence, the ability to retaliate against the Abyss and ambush Abyssal Lords remained. And the circumstances now were not as worse then.
Soon, when Israel finished speaking with that Fairy Queen, he turned and called out to Joshua, who appeared intending to leave again.
”Noble Radcliffe.”
At that moment, Israel was using a formal title—Joshua could tell at once that he certainly had something to trouble himself and yet was nothing official related to saving the world, but something private to him.
As expected, Israel hesitated before speaking. ”Although it's rather sudden, I have something that I need to entrust upon you.”
After Joshua nodded in agreement, His Majesty revealed his request.
”I have two sons…”
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