Chapter 638 I’ve Said It Before (2/2)
Various majestic, extraordinary and imposing buildings thus slowly took shape in the tide of supernatural power, and it was not the only change. Almost everyone appeared to be suddenly aware that they would fall behind the times if they themselves did not try to improve. According to statistics from Magus Weekly, in the two years following the end of the Draconic Plague, there was a fifteen-point seven percent rise in expenditures over construction of civilian buildings across all nations on the continent. Now, capital that were once allocated to military reserves moved to research of cutting-edge technology and basic amenities.
And in that two years, it was as if the whole world had changed—places where feudalistic castles and villages once stood were now cities of varying sizes. After many refurbishments, stony fortresses had also now become metallic fortresses covered in runic armor.
Moved discreetly by the true champions that controlled this world, almost all flourishing core urban zones had completely entered an age of magical industrialization. Only some of the cities and villages in isolated areas maintained their shape in the past few centuries.
The Northern Empire was now implementing a grand project as well. Recently, Joshua had been invited by Israel to perform some research in regards to materials and alloys. While the warrior left everyone else in the North, he would occasionally talk to Ying, Zero-Three and the others through communications spells—Ying noted on every occasion that her master was very excited, appearing to be very satisfied with the secret project.
”It's definitely a great step ahead of the world,” Joshua said into the screen. ”I can't reveal anything to you about it, but there is no question that I'm witnessing brand-new history—history I myself created!”
Sitting on Zero-One's shoulder, Ying mulled over Joshua's words. The warrior rarely bragged, and while occasionally arrogant that demeanor was only aimed at enemies, an absolute confidence stemming from his heart. Even so, Ying never heard of such words—history he created? Could her master be saying that he could change an entire world?
—Wait.
The silver-haired girl blanked out slightly once she thought about it.
It seems that… Master had indeed changed a world, and not just one world either!
”Then, what project could it be…”
Unwittingly, Ying began to become expectant. She reached out to stroke the luminous orb held in Black's embrace, and overlooked the world shrouded in snow amidst its jingles.
And in that moment, a tremendous mana ripple emanated from the nearby Great Ajax Mountains.
Zero-One, Black, and all beings above Gold-tier in the entire Winter Fort Academy turned their eyes. They sensed the strong, incoming dimensional ripple, as if something was striding through space and half the continent here.
”That presence…” Ying mumbled.
But before she could finish that thought, Black promptly widened her eyes and tightened her embrace over Light. ”Isn't it those two old codgers who cheat even when playing cards!” She exclaimed, a little shocked.
”Black, don't keep copying Master's words—it's Mister Barnil and William! And you must never say that when you're in their presence!”
”Oh.”
The two arrivals were certainly the Legendary mages Barnil and William. As most of the teachers and students in Winter Fort Academy were rather accustomed to their presence since they taught classes there occasionally, which was why calm returned to the Nissia Snow Mountain after a brief uproar. Meanwhile, Ying tapped Zero-One's shoulder, gesturing for the giant to pause its work.
And in the very next second, both mages appeared before them.
”You're Joshua's chief maidservant, and his steed!”
Just as Ying thought, the two Legendary mages sought them out directly. Their faces were flushed in excitement, with Barnil who was up front stroking his own eyes and speaking with a friendly voice. ”Do you know where Joshua is? We and Barbarossa are looking for him over something important—it's very important and related to the Ancient Dragon's power, and he would definitely be interested!”
”It's a great discovery that would absolutely make the history books!” William added, appearing to be reveling and delighted in the outcome from long days of research.
”Apologies, but our Master hasn't been in Moldavia recently. He has been invited by the Imperial Family to participate in an important project, and had not returned for almost a month.”
Responding to the two Legendary mages that had no lid over their mood, Ying instead assume a demeanor she never showed to others she was familiar with. She rose, smiling as she stood over Zero-One's shoulder and said very courteously: ”But there is no need to worry, for I could contact Master at any moment—if there be a need, gentlemen, you may head to Winter Fort Academy with us, where I could make said contact.”
”Then we're counting on you.” The two mages nodded at once. They did not appear surprised that Joshua was away from his domain, and appeared prepared to miss him.
***
Just as Ying and Black led the two Legendary mages to Winter Fort Academy and prepared to contact Joshua, beneath a certain flat highland in the western mountain region of the Northern Empire.
It was a large subterranean cavern that spanned almost ten kilometers. Appearing to have been eroded natural out of mana, there was also signs of artificial augmentation through magic. And now, the entire cavern was occupied by a variety of huge steel runic machinery, with spiral spires flickering in green fluorescence spread everywhere, condensing thick magical energies within.
Anyone familiar with magical machinery would definitely be left astonished by the sheer grandness of the amount of construction this place had seen—if not for aid from Legendary champions, such a sight would never have been accomplished by any faction in this world, and impossible even for a nation that exhausted all resources to do so. It was essentially a city built from steel and machinery, with countless complex runic veins connecting every machine and spire, with sensational mana cascading within.
By the edge of a long walkway in the depths of the underground cavern, Joshua, Israel, and Nostradamus stood side by side, watching the center of the cavern by the window of the walkway, his expression somber.
In the heart of the city of countless steel machinery was a huge depression that resembled a dockyard. At its center was a behemoth that was over three kilometers in length, levitating in the green magical boundaries emitted by the spires almost motionlessly. Mages were floating and flying around it, busy controlling magical circles around them as they examined and maintained every little part of that behemoth.
And yet the three Legendary champions were not staring at the colossal magical creation that seemed to have the outline of a gigantic vessel. They were looking instead at the huge depression that resembled a dockyard, as well as a steel runic trail that was under construction and as if about to break through the top of the cavern.
”This is what gives you confidence, Israel?” Joshua asked softly.
Like the others, he had been staring at the magical machinery—most of which he had made by his own hands through Steel Strength Creation. ”To use these things against those nobles? You intend to kill a mosquito with an entire production line of Void Warships?”
”I suspect you plan to conquer the world.” He said gravely.
”Of course not, Noble Radcliffe. The nobles are only a small obstruction in the way of my operations. Their existence stands against the future I desire.”
Beside the warrior, the Emperor shared a smile with his teacher. ”I also have to thank you for your help,” Israel said slowly. ”Without your Steel Strength, I might not even finish constructing this base even after dozens of years… But now, three Legends are partnering for this. Would a mere world be enough?”
The more he spoke, the more the smile on his face became unbridled. ”I've said it before.”
”What I pursue is far over the heavens and the starry skies.”