[Moments Earlier...]

Every battle is like a chess match.

I have always understood that as a matter of principle, but I don’t think I have ever truly realized how complex such a thing as warfare until this very moment.

As I read through Alistair’s message for the umpteenth time, I am stunned beyond words.

’That man actually planned this far...’ Controlling my surprised demeanor, I raise my gaze and stare in the direction of the Flying Bug Construct’s control center.

A man is currently piloting it.

It’s none other than the Dark Guild Seeker... Gabriel.

I have no idea how he was able to get into the vessel, but the letter tells me that it’s all a part of Alistair’s plan. I have to trust Gabriel and have him coordinate the efforts of the team while I wait for my opportunity to descend.

Other than the letter which perfectly details my role in this whole plan, I have been bestowed two very critical gifts.

One is something known as a Knowledge Infusion Potion.

It is Grade 5, and it allows me to be aware of certain pieces of information for a certain duration of time. It connects the neural pathways of the brain and stimulates it based on certain mental cues that need to be present beforehand.

According to the description, I need to be a member of the Ouroboros Sect before it takes effect.

That’s why Alistair gave me temporary membership.

Also, once the effects of the knowledge wears out, I will forget everything about what I have learned through the Potion. The Potion also prevents me from speaking of the knowledge or writing it down. If I even attempt to do so, I will receive a negative backlash from my mind and the knowledge will dissipate faster than I can process the information.

In essence, this is rather useful for keeping confidential information for a limited period of time.

’I have to take the Knowledge Infusion Potion soon...’ As I stare at the glass vial, staring at the bubbling greenish-yellow liquid, I gulp slightly.

Then, I stare at the second thing.

—an Armament.

It is actually a Divine Grade Armament!

The same Grade that Golden Dawn used to have in the past.

It has the simple appearance of a small lance.

The spear’s tip is coated in some kind of silver material, and it has all manner of inscriptions on its body, also silver in color. Its main body shines with a pitch-black luster, and I feel a distinct level of charm rushing from it.

Merely staring at the object, a strong attractive force can be felt.

Almost like a magnetic pull.

’It’s an expenditure-type Divine Grade Armament, though. It will allow me to invade the ritualistic dome when the time comes. It will also protect me from the initial defensive measures within the dome until I can shut it down...’ I inhale deeply and smile.

Alistair’s preparations are really thorough.

He has accounted for everything.

Without any further delay, I uncork the vial in my hand and gulp its sloshing liquid down.

A warm, fizzling liquid quickly assails my throat, and I feel a sudden itch in my head.

The taste is neither sweet nor bitter, though it has a mildly slimy texture that I would find disgusting in a normal occasion.

A few seconds after the Potion is taken, a qualitative change occurs in my mind.

’A-ahh...!’

Information suddenly rushes into me.

I begin to remember things I have never learned a day in my life, hearing strange whisperings and murmurs that would be sufficient to drive any man mad.

It nearly rips my mind apart.

Almost like the Mystical Characteristics are rejecting me as a proper vessel.

However, I grit my teeth and remember that Alistair has made me a temporary member of the team. He also saved my life and entrusted me with this very important task.

I trust him!

I will be fine in this matter!

The moment I have these thoughts, the ravings stop. Then, I am rewarded with the information that I desire to know.

—Knowledge on Lucien’s Ritual!

"I see... I see it all!" My lips quiver as my voice rises in tempo.

My heart races.

I can hear my loud heartbeat as I break into cold sweat.

My eyes continue to bulge, stretching to their limits as every part of my body trembles.

This isn’t out of excitement or some kind of catharsis.

But... horror!

’To think it was actually like this!’

How horrifying!

How utterly disgusting and reprehensible!

This is an abomination!

The Ritual that Lucien Zevalis is one that originates from an ancient organization that was wiped out millions of years ago. It just so happened that some of their research was scattered throughout the world and the Ouroboros Sect got their hands on this one.

That ancient organization... is called the Illuminati Alchemists.

And their research is one dipped in blood!

That’s right!

This is... how to create Artificial Magivores!

Lucien’s Ritual doesn’t simply require the lives of people to activate, but it actually transforms the human beings involved into Magivores! The ritual fuses humans and the Mystical Characteristics of the Special Resources, thus altering their composition on the existential level.

At some point they lose their identities as mere Variants and rapidly transform into Magivores.

This should normally take a long period, but with the ritual speeding time up and actively controlling the process, the mutation will exceed normal speeds.

The humans will quickly become Magivores, embodying the characteristics of the Special Resources that they were fused it.

That is what has happened!

’L-Lucien used everyone in the Capital... to create his army of Cadre 5 Magivores!’ My eyes widen with a horrifying realization.

That’s why the Ritual was buried underneath this place.

It wasn’t that the Magivores destroyed the Capital, but that the Capital itself was the breeding ground for the Magivores.

’Damnit! Millions of people live in the Capital alone. All those millions of people... reduced to less than a thousand Magivores.’ I grit my teeth. ’Does this account for the Magivores scattered around the Randalorion Kingdom? Did he actually use similar rituals in different locations? No, that wouldn’t work. It requires heavy concentration and resources to keep a single ritual active.’

That means one of two things.

He had either set up a Ritual before this one in order to create and disperse Magivores throughout the Randalorion Kingdom, or he created them here and sent them all in different directions. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Naturally, it wasn’t just Cadre 5 Magivores he created.

There were lower-cadre Magivores as well, which made the distribution over the vast distance of the Kingdom easier.

Also, not all the Magivores that are rampaging the Kingdom would have been made by him.

Some would have been triggered by the current stampede.

As a result of their primitive minds and herd mentality, they would leave their natural habitat and join the other Magivores in wreaking havoc.

This accounts for the current level of destruction in the kingdom and the spread of chaos.

But if that’s the case, then—

’What about the people he kidnapped earlier? What happened to—?’

"Javier, you’re up!" Gabriel’s voice suddenly echoes within the vessel, waking me from my reverie. I jerk up from my seated position and immediately nod, gripping the lance like it has always been mine.

The Knowledge Infusion Potion gave me all the information required for this weapon.

I know it like it’s an extension of my body.

’Okay! Let’s do this...!’

Once I stabilize my shaky breaths and push all unnecessary thoughts to the back of my mind, I concentrate on the task at hand.

’I’ll use Frontflow and switch my Minute Layer with my Hour Layer!’ With a determined expression on my face, I tighten my grip on the silver-inscribed lance.

Once Lucien uses Shadow Transformation, I’ll exit the Flying Bug Construct and make my way to the ritualistic dome using the Floating Horse Construct.

My speed will be greatly amplified as a result of my descent, and I’ll reach the barrier in no time.

But I will have to be patient.

After all, it won’t take Lucien very long before he recovers from Shadow Transformation.

I will need to wait until he enters Shadow Transformation for the second time before I actually invade the barrier and enter the ritualistic dome.

All of this was written down by Alistair, so I am clear on the matter.

’NOW!’

My eyes turn bloodshot as I activate Frontflow and toss my Floating Horse Construct into the air.

Without wasting any time at all, I begin my descent.

Riding my steed in the air while holding onto the spear like a child frightened of the dark, I charge at the brilliant blot of crimson that dyes the ground beneath.

The sky still rumbles with faint sparks of purple lightning, and the dark retains its darkness.

For a fleeting moment, I think about the potential Temporal Breach.

... And the beasts that could emerge.

But I shrug those thoughts to the corner and concentrate on the task entrusted to me.

It takes me a few minutes to reach the underground dome, but when calculated to seconds, it barely accounts for even one.

Once I reach the bright crimson barrier, I am in no rush to enter.

Instead, I hide in the darkness of the underground crevice and raise my gaze to the world above.

Just as Alistair wrote in the letter, Lucien Zevalis was intercepted the moment he exited his Shadow Form. One of his hands also looks shriveled up and mangled.

Is this the effect of one of their Conceptions?

Just like earlier, I remove my thoughts from any form of distraction.

’If Alistair’s prediction is right, he will soon resort to the same Shadow Transformation trick to escape. Once that happens, I must invade the dome as quickly as possible!’

’Okay... Now!’

The moment I notice this change above me, I command the horse construct forward and pierce the crimson barrier with the spear.

The wall of red before me suddenly warps, as though sinking inward thanks to my spear’s invasion. I feel no resistance at all, and instead, I continue marching forward, as though sinking into a jelly-like substance.

Within seconds, I invade the world of crimson.

The ritualistic circle... I find myself floating right above it!

It possesses a complex series of symbols and mechanisms that hurt my eyes to process. Even with all the information I have on this arrangement, it is still terribly difficult to grasp.

Even though I intend to hurry, it will take some time to dismantle.

Thankfully, my time is sped up.

’Alistair will also take care of the rest and buy me enough time!’

The ritualistic circle pulsates with life, almost like it has recognized my intrusion.

’As expected...’ A wry smile forms on my face.

I raise the Divine Grade spear in the air and let it float by itself.

Suddenly, the silver inscriptions on its pitch-black body start to glow, and its tip shines with immense resplendence.

In an instant, all of the attention of the barrier and ritual is diverted at it.

As for me, I have become invisible!

’Okay... Let’s go!’

With a brilliant gleam in my only visible eye, I begin dissecting the ritual with as much speed as I can possibly muster. The goal isn’t to eliminate all variables, but to disrupt the only few constants and destabilize the formation.

There are actually quite a lot of redundant elements in this ritual.

Most of these complex arrangements are duds.

Taking apart those irrelevant aspects of the Ritual will not yield any result, and constant interference will only weaken the ritual’s effects and range at most.

From what I can tell, the ritual is also self-replicating.

This means it will continue to regenerate and recover on its own unless its core aspects are affected. This is a rather sinister arrangement because anyone who doesn’t know about this ritual and blindly tries to disturb it would only end up wasting their time.

The ritual spans several miles, so it is already vast in comparison.

The core parts are also separated from one another.

’I have to be careful not to trigger any failsafes as well, or the unnecessary parts will self-detonate and implicate me in the process.’

If I’m injured, the rate at which I can disrupt the ritual will drastically reduce.

I can’t allow that to happen.

That means there is no room for the slightest bit of error!

Time flies in the blink of an eye, and I end up destroying each core component until enough disruption has been caused.

At some point, I realize the ritual has reached critical mass and will soon collapse.

’I’m stuck in the middle, so I’ll be caught in the blast.’

If it were a suicidal person, they would be perfectly fine with this outcome.

But not me!

I do not wish to die—not yet!

Thankfully, I already prepared for this situation.

I quickly return to the obsidian blade, which is still floating in the air and has swollen considerably. It was a small lance before, but the object has now expanded to nearly five times its original size.

That’s not all.

The silver engravings on its body and the coating at the tip of the spear have begun to melt.

This is likely due to all the aggression it has received from the barrier so far.

’But it’s not completely destroyed!’ My eyes sharpen and I charge towards in desperation.

’I can still use it!’