In a void within the Dark Pole Domain, countless distortions converged to form a spatial passage.
Leilin Farell, dressed in a loose black robe, stepped through the spatial passage.
A battle at the fifth-level Radiant Moon stage—even when fought in the gaps between worlds—could cause destruction on a staggering scale. Had it taken place within the Dark Pole Domain itself, more than half the domain would have been obliterated.
Yet even so, the earlier skirmishes had inflicted grave damage on the land here.
Though the direct area of destruction was not particularly vast, the residual radiation and curses would likely continue to corrode this stretch of land, potentially even spreading outward.
If fortune was particularly unkind, it might even give rise to something akin to a resentment collective—a spirit plague or a beacon drawing down foreign consciousnesses.
Whichever of those occurred, it would be terrible news for the Dark Pole Domain in its current state.
"A battle at the Radiant Moon level—the devastation is too severe. That's not just the direct destructive power, but also the secondary contamination and all the problems that follow!"
Leilin gazed down at the churning chaos below and furrowed his brow slightly. "If someone had done this on the Central Continent, they'd probably have become public enemy number one by now…"
The scope of this kind of destruction left even the Chip with no good solutions—it could only passively wait for the environment to self-heal or assist with slow, gradual remediation.
"I have another guest who's been watching from the sidelines for quite some time. Won't you come out and say hello?"
Leilin's gaze suddenly shifted to a patch of empty void.
There, he could sense not only the soul power of a Radiant Moon-level being but also the aura of a bloodline inheritance. It was not the Giant Void Serpent, but it was clearly some other kind of warlock's legacy.
"Heh heh… Lord Leilin has discovered me after all!"
A flash of crimson light, and a massive blood-red bat materialized. On its belly was unmistakably a young human face.
"Lord Leilin! The last time we met was when you first ventured into the Morning Star
The face on the bat's belly spoke with a smile.
"That familiar fluctuation—you're the guardian of the Morning Star Space!" Leilin recognized the other party with only a brief moment of discernment.
After all, he had previously communicated with this being's consciousness within the Morning Star Space. He had long since had the Chip record the aura signatures of such fifth-level existences. There was no chance of a misidentification.
"That's right! I am Geoffrey! I was worried those few might cause you harm, Lord Leilin, but it seems I was worrying needlessly…"
The blood-red bat chuckled.
"Regardless, I'm very grateful for your rescue, Your Excellency. As for the title of 'Lord' you used before?" Leilin gave a slight bow first, then a look of puzzlement appeared on his face.
"Within our Bloodline Warlock Alliance, it isn't just the Circle of the Ouroboros that uses the noble rank system. The fourth level is Duke, and those who reach the fifth level are all addressed as 'Lord'—equivalent to the rank of Prince!"
The blood-red bat explained to Leilin.
"So that's how it is! Then, as a fellow Lord, is there another reason for your visit?"
Leilin nodded.
"Of course! I am formally inviting Lord Leilin to come to the Bloodline Warlocks' ultimate stronghold—the Morning Star Space!"
The face on the bat's belly took on a solemn expression. Leilin accepted without hesitation: "Indeed, I should make a trip. Between the Wizards and the Warlocks on the Central Continent, there seems to be some enormous unresolved issue!"
In truth, Leilin was also somewhat exasperated. The mortal enemy he had originally made was only Jupiter's Thunder. The forces of
But reality had struck Leilin a devastating blow! The appearance of Carol and the others made it completely clear that there was a highly hostile organization on the Central Continent—one that considered the hunting and extermination of warlocks its sacred duty.
And as the most dazzling new star among bloodline warlocks, Leilin had unfortunately become their target.
"Still, at least I've already advanced to the fifth level. With the amplification of the Void Serpent Emperor and the Chip's support, even if I face a Dawn-level
A cold gleam flashed in Leilin's eyes. Today's sudden ambush had truly angered him.
"I don't care who you are or how powerful your forces are. Even if you have a Dawn-level Throne behind you, one day I, Leilin Farell, will uproot you from the Central Continent entirely. I swear it!"
…
Leilin was a man of decisive action. He had few ties remaining in the Dark Pole Domain, and after briefly sending a message to Xiling and mentioning the matter, he immediately departed with Geoffrey, arriving in the Morning Star Space.
Standing once more within the solidified interior of the Morning Star Space, gazing upon the shattered cosmos and the enormous star, a look of deep emotion crossed Leilin's face.
Though he had visited this place multiple times through his spiritual power before, this was his first physical visit.
Releasing his soul power outward and sensing the countless auras of bloodline warlocks all around, Leilin's entire being gradually settled into a state of calm.
"Lord Leilin! First meeting—or perhaps, a reunion! It's wonderful to see you've joined us. Our Bloodline Warlock Alliance has grown stronger once more!"
A warlock whose face was identical to the Geoffrey who had appeared on the bat's belly approached Leilin. His long, blood-red hair hung completely free, drifting lazily through the air.
"Lord Geoffrey!" Leilin understood immediately that this red-haired young man before him was the true fifth-level warlock and guardian of the Morning Star Space—Geoffrey's true body.
"Come! I know you have many questions, and all of them will be answered at our headquarters!"
Geoffrey warmly invited Leilin along, and the two made their way to the warlocks' headquarters within the Morning Star Space.
In a vast reception hall, Leilin met the other two fifth-level warlocks.
One was entirely golden, like a god of war—a warlock Leilin was quite familiar with. He was the fifth-level warlock known as the Golden Lion, Weide, the one with whom Leilin had conducted several transactions before.
"Come, let me introduce you. You may already know this one—the Golden Lion, Weide! And beside him is Aofa!"
Geoffrey smiled as he introduced them to Leilin, gesturing toward the warlock standing next to Weide.
"Lord Weide! Lord Aofa!"
Leilin stepped forward and greeted them first.
"Leilin Farell! Former Duke of the Void Serpent, now a Prince. Though we've communicated many times through our imprints, this is our first meeting in person!"
Weide's face radiated a brilliant, sunny smile, his entire being brimming with masculine vigor and an aura of gold.
"Lord Leilin is truly a prodigy blessed by heaven! With your addition, I can finally rest easier… *cough cough*…"
Unlike Weide, Aofa beside him resembled a decrepit old man on the verge of death, his body steeped in the stench of decay—as though a single step might carry him into the grave. Yet Leilin dared not underestimate him in the slightest.
From the warlock's presence, he could clearly perceive the soul fluctuations of a being at the absolute peak of the Radiant Moon stage!
"According to previous rumors, it was because several fifth-level warlocks suddenly emerged that the Dawn Thrones grew wary enough to preserve our warlock lineage. If my guess is correct, this Warlock Aofa is certainly one of them…"
"Enough—let's sit. What, surprised to find three fifth-level warlocks here in the Morning Star Space?"
Geoffrey gestured for Leilin and Weide to take their seats. Once the mechanical servants had served tea and refreshments, he asked with a smile.
"Indeed, I am somewhat surprised!" Leilin nodded in acknowledgment.
Based on the auras and the data the Chip had collected, all three of these fifth-level warlocks' true bodies were actually present in the Morning Star Space.
In other words, what had been active outside all this time had only ever been their avatars. At this point, how could Leilin not understand just how deeply the warlocks were feared?
"The reason we've been cooped up here is still the hostility of the Wizards on the Central Continent. The one we must be most wary of is the Flame Throne!"
Geoffrey spoke gravely.
"The Flame Throne? A sixth-level Dawn Wizard?" Leilin instantly recalled his own earlier exploration of the Astral Plane, when he had discovered the Flame World only to be ruthlessly expelled by the forces of the Flame Throne.
"That's right—their attitude back then was exceedingly hostile. They even intended to attack…"
Leilin stroked his chin. "Then, on the Central Continent, are there any factions that maintain good relations with us warlocks?"
"None! Practically every Wizard views the rise of warlocks with concern, and many are happy to see us suffer. But up to now, the only Wizard faction that has openly attacked us bloodline inheritors and even hopes to see us completely annihilated is the Flame Throne!"
Geoffrey and Weide exchanged a glance, and in the end, it was Aofa who spoke: "I can tell you—the Wizards who attacked you this time, Carol, Eugene, and the others, were all operating under the Flame Throne's command…"
"And back in the day, the one who was determined to eradicate our warlock lineage was also this Flame Throne. If not for Aofa and a few other elders suddenly advancing in rank and transforming the Morning Star Space into a massive war fortress, our warlock bloodline would likely have been completely wiped out by the Flame Throne…"
Weide spoke in a heavy tone.
"A war fortress?" Leilin's mind turned to other considerations. "Converting an entire small world into a massive weapon of war, operated by three fifth-level warlocks—that would certainly be enough to make even a Dawn Wizard think twice…"
"Then, do you know why the Flame Throne is hostile toward us?" Leilin asked, still somewhat vexed.
"Perhaps a conflict of interests, combined with old grudges…"
Even Geoffrey wasn't entirely certain about this. "In fact, our intelligence operatives have even collected an intriguing prophecy…"