Chapter 16: The Limit of the Mind 5200
Hearing Joshua's words, the two legendary mages exchanged a strange glance. Then, William coughed and said somewhat hesitantly, "Well, Joshua, while it's true that an ancient dragon's awakening from slumber can indeed cause earth-shattering phenomena that draw the attention of countless worlds... this time, it was clearly you who acted first, forcing it to awaken early, right?"
"Although I can understand your eagerness to cross swords with an ancient dragon, I have to say, your behavior just now was a bit unusual—at least not like your normal self."
Baniel was still at the experimental table, manipulating runes to calculate the coordinates of the world where the ancient dragon resided. A massive runic light screen several meters high had condensed before him, with countless streams of information cascading down like a waterfall. The Rune Master did not turn around but spoke with his back to Joshua. His tone this time was not as casual as usual; instead, it was serious, carrying a hint of admonition: "Although William and I haven't known you for long, your deeds have already spread among all legendary experts. You've always acted decisively in the past, but not recklessly... This time was a bit different."
Hearing the words of the two legendary mages, Joshua couldn't help but pause slightly. Only now did he somewhat realize that he had acted somewhat excessively under some inexplicable state of mind earlier.
"Your mind has not reached its limit."
It was William who spoke this time. He also turned around, but his tone was not as heavy as Baniel's. The Mind Dominator smiled lightly and said casually, "This is normal. Every mind has its flaws. Although your mental barriers are very solid, just like glass and diamond, the hardest is also the most fragile. Your heart is like a crystal formed deep underground by high pressure and intense heat—hard, sharp, like a honed blade, but too prone to extremes... I don't know if this is your nature or if it's been influenced by something else, but you should indeed pay some attention to this issue."
For the two legendary mages, Joshua's current situation was not unusual. All legendary experts had some quirks, and they had the capital to be willful. A love for battle was not a bad habit, but as elders with years of experience, they couldn't help but want to offer the warrior some advice and share some life lessons.
"...I've learned from your teachings. Thank you."
Hearing this, Joshua couldn't help but frown. He turned around, no longer disturbing the two legendary mages at their work, and walked hurriedly through the central corridor of the experimental airship, heading toward the exit suspended in midair.
Meanwhile, also on the experimental airship, Hill and Faina, who had been working with Baniel and William on the ancient dragon blood experiments for the past two months, appeared on one side of the corridor. They saw Joshua's serious expression and, without thinking much, raised their hands to greet him with a smile, as was their habit. But strangely, Joshua seemed to ignore them entirely, continuing to walk toward the exit with a furrowed brow, not responding to their greetings.
"...What's wrong with Joshua..."
"Did he not hear us?"
"How is that possible? He's a legendary expert. Last time we went to the Great Aias Mountains for an experiment, he heard the breathing of a rock dragon lurking deep underground from three mountains away—there's no way he didn't hear us!"
Faced with Joshua's complete lack of response to their words as he disappeared around the corner, Hill and Faina were baffled. The elven druid racked his brain but couldn't figure it out: "Strange—Lord Radcliffe may look a bit intimidating, but he shouldn't be the type to put on airs... Did something happen?"
Leaving aside the dragon knight pair, who planned to ask Baniel and William about it, Joshua had already left the experimental airship over the Great Aias Mountains and stepped into the cold high-altitude winds of the early northern spring. The freezing wind, capable of forming ice and frost, couldn't even touch his body, deflected dozens of meters away by a powerful force field shield. Joshua gazed down at the mountains and the entire northern region—peaks, ice fields, rivers, cities, and villages all lay within his sight. His gaze could reach the edge of the horizon, seeing merchant airships flying in from afar. Moldavia was thriving because of him, gradually becoming the economic center of the continent's far north.
The existence of a legendary expert could change many things. Powerful strength could alter the course of the world and reverse the tide of fate. As a strong individual, Joshua had already changed the history he once knew, the past he had experienced. The future of the Mycroft World was now unpredictable, and that was exactly what he wanted.
But what if what changed was himself...
"How troublesome. How do those guys manage not to be affected?"
Suppressing the thoughts in his mind, Joshua's gaze was somewhat scattered. He looked up at the sky. The Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground in the void had been stabilized around the Fairyland by several legendary experts led by Eagle, along with major factions, ending its thousand-year cycle of ring-world operation. Seeing this, Joshua felt a slight relief in his heart for some reason. His gaze refocused: "Fortunately, I was already prepared."
The next moment, Joshua's figure vanished, leaving only a long arc of light streaking across the sky, heading straight for the main city of Moldavia.
Main city, Lord's Mansion. Reaching this step was the prelude to ascending to godhood, but in the past, ascendants needed centuries of accumulation to barely touch that barrier. Yet the artificial intelligence girl did not know that in a distant corner of the multiverse, there was a civilization that worshiped the warrior she saw as a true god. His faith had begun to spread on a planetary scale—an honor that even many Mycroft gods of the Era of Radiance could not attain.
Inevitable coincidences had created the current situation.
The slaughter in the Starry World and the faith gained there were, for Joshua, just things he was supposed to do and rewards he deserved. But it was precisely this perception of treating everything as ordinary that perfectly matched the conditions for divinity. His behavior upon seeing the ancient dragon this time was a sign of some subtle influence: Joshua had completely ignored the fact that the other party was also an intelligent life form. All he thought about was probing the opponent's depth in their first encounter and then, at their next meeting, deciding life or death with that powerful beast.
"I haven't been in good shape lately. Number 3, I need you by my side from now on. I need to constantly confirm that my thinking isn't going wrong."
With Number 3, Joshua slowly walked into the Lord's Mansion. He went to the second floor, entered a room he rarely used, and sat down in his large chair. Frowning, he closed his eyes and said in a somewhat tired tone: "Think about it carefully—my challenge to Eagle was the same. How could I not understand the old pope's strength? Even without relying on the Light Speed Domain, he could defeat me with his deep power reserves; it would just take a bit longer."
Then, he fell silent for a while. Joshua recalled William's words. William's title was Mind Dominator, the master of hearts, the most powerful spellcaster in the realm of psionics and the mind in this world. His assessment of Joshua was that he was solid enough but not resilient enough, and he had not yet reached the limit of his mind.
"The Ultimate Essence of the Soul... Indeed, I still lack that. Even though I've reached the legendary realm, I haven't yet become the most perfect form."
Leaning back in his chair, Joshua muttered to himself. He knew that before setting out to find the trace of that ancient dragon, he might need to seek advice from some people. Otherwise, before the next battle, his current self could lose control at any moment, a complete unstable bomb. Who knew if his rising impulses might make him strike at his comrades?
Just as Joshua was pondering how to resist the erosion of divinity and reach the limit of his mind, he suddenly felt a pair of hands wrap around his neck from behind, hugging his head.
"Alright, Joshua, don't worry too much."
A gentle and soft voice came from behind the warrior. Number 3 stood behind Joshua, speaking in a calm and soothing tone, whispering softly in his ear: "This is the first time I've seen you look so worried... Even when facing the envoys of evil gods or the calamities they sent down, you never showed such an expression."
"Even such terrifying enemies couldn't make you lose your composure. So, are you afraid of facing your own instincts?"
"No, it's just..."
Joshua initially wanted to explain, but then he closed his mouth. The warrior reached out, undid the girl's arms around his neck, stood up, and chuckled lightly: "I didn't expect to be comforted by you. Without realizing it, I've become so fragile."
"Thanks, Number 3."
"What's there to thank... In my eyes, you've never changed."
Letting go, Number 3 shook her head. The artificial intelligence girl, floating in midair, gazed at Joshua's back but didn't continue.
No matter how others see you, Joshua, in my eyes.
You, who saved me from the brink of destruction in the Carlis World.
You are forever the unchanging hero.