Chapter 5: Moldavia Today 5100
[The Great Magic Tide is actually the tide of energy caused by the destruction of countless worlds at the center of the multiverse.]
This was the truth Joshua guessed but did not speak directly.
This guess could explain the energy source of the Great Magic Tide, why it could sweep across the multiverse, and also explain the various strange authority phenomena that appeared with it—such as turning stones into doves, or being able to dive into subspace at any time. Simply from the perspective of possibility, of course it was possible. Compared to other more absurd guesses, it was already complete enough.
Of course, this was merely one of Joshua's inferences. No one knew whether it was actually true. If it wasn't, they would have to continue searching for the truth, but if it was, then the problem became serious.
The cause of the Great Magic Tide remained unknown to this day. Although many scholars had proposed various hypotheses, none had reliable evidence to confirm them. Joshua's guess was the same. The problem was that his guess was so terrifying that the first thing others thought of was 'how to deny it' rather than 'prove it true'—what exactly was at the center of the multiverse, destroying tens of thousands of worlds? Just thinking about this question briefly made people close their eyes and shake their heads.
"Information regarding the 'suspected authority' incidents needs to be shared with other Legendary experts."
While everyone was silently thinking, Barbarossa broke the wordless silence. He coughed, then clapped his hands and said, "Regardless, as the Great Magic Tide continues, more and more people with this kind of strange power will appear. When the number reaches a threshold, it could destabilize society... We must monitor them as strictly as possible."
Everyone present nodded. What Barbarossa said was exactly what they were thinking. Unlike mages, warriors, and clergy who had inherited traditions and systematic lineages that could be easily traced back to their origins, those who had awakened various authority abilities were very similar to the 'superhumans' popular in Joshua's homeland. They had no systematic cultivation system, their awakened abilities varied from person to person, and the awakening range was very random and broad—no one knew who would be chosen by authority.
Spellcasters, warriors, and clergy were all controllable forces, considered holders of supernatural power with official licenses. But authority awakeners were different. The power they held had nothing to do with their own strength. Someone might be able to cause tremendous destruction without realizing it themselves. So all major forces had to be careful, strictly monitor them, to avoid causing any major chaos.
"It's fine to tell them about this matter and related information. They'll discover it themselves after a while anyway... But Joshua's guess..."
Sharing information about 'authority awakeners'—specifically those who had obtained fragments of Steel Force from other worlds—with other major forces was not difficult. Baniel simply pointed at the void, and a string of runes was inscribed, condensing countless information into a magic crystal. He then placed this magic crystal into a metal communication device and transmitted it to the receivers of various major forces. After finishing this, the old mage hesitated for a moment and said softly, "I think this news doesn't need to be widely disseminated."
"Indeed. This news is too incredible, and it's just speculation and inference."
Hearing this, Joshua and William remained expressionless, appearing unconcerned, while Barbarossa pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. "Mm. Hasty publicity would give major forces unnecessary tension. Let's wait until we've researched a bit more and have some convincing evidence before considering telling other forces."
"If Israel or Nostradamus ask me, I'll definitely tell them. If they don't ask, I'll keep quiet for now."
Joshua nodded. He thought so too—this matter was too important. Casually spreading false information would inevitably cause bad consequences. The warrior felt it was better to carefully investigate for a while rather than start tense preparations without any investigation... Besides, he knew quite a few World Wills. Joshua thought that instead of a few humans guessing blindly in an airship cabin, it would be better to find a few Steel Serpents to ask about the situation.
He was about to respond to Carlis's commission soon and go to another world to help other World Wills.
Because the topic was too heavy, after the basic speculation and inference ended, the various Legendary experts returned one by one. Barbarossa dispersed into elements with a farewell, disappearing. Joshua also turned into a dark shadow in midair and flew toward Moldavia. Baniel and the old mage William stayed in place for a while to organize experimental materials, then piloted the void airship back to their base in the Eastern Plains. Except for Joshua, they were all busy people with plenty of things to keep them occupied.
The warrior flew over the Great Aias Mountains and the wilderness of Moldavia. His speed was not fast—compared to his full speed of nearly one-tenth the speed of light, it could only be called a stroll. Joshua looked down at the earth, watching the scattered lights on the ground. He could already see Moldavia in the distance, a city that never sleeps, sparkling and colorful.
Lights were lit every night in Moldavia. Tourists from afar laughed freely on the streets of the commercial district. Adventurers could be seen gathering and making noise in taverns. Low-cost lighting from mana machines covered every street and alley, dispelling every trace of shadow. In the Champion Academy, knight apprentices nearing graduation were interning with the city guard. Young people eager to show their skills wore armor emblazoned with the crest of the Hand Holding Sword, patrolling and standing guard on every street, hoping to find an opportunity to prove themselves.
The Northern Lands had become a land full of dreams, legends, and hope. Here, there were no bandits, no magical beasts, no natural disasters or cultists. Numerous professional schools and mana factories reduced the cost of education and daily life to a minimum. And perhaps one of the strongest people in this world lived in the Lord's Manor at the city center, protecting all his people.
Archmages, Golden Warriors, high-rank Druids from the Far South, Paladins who came drawn by reputation... Countless people came here, seeking their own opportunities and possibilities. Some succeeded, some failed. But whether they succeeded or failed, they all witnessed this—how a small town of over a hundred thousand became the world's largest urban area, how the best professional school in the world developed. On this land, some had already found their answers and returned home satisfied. Others had not, so they remained here, waiting for the day they would find their answers.
Light flickered. The massive formation covering the entire city flashed faintly in the night sky for an instant. That was the giant protective formation Joshua had commissioned Winterfell Academy and Number 3 to establish. It could purify the air within the formation and had powerful detection and defense measures. But most importantly, it was the formation itself—it was the first large-scale integrated formation independently researched, manufactured, and laid by Winterfell Academy. It proved that Winterfell Academy already had the capability for large-scale magical engineering construction. Throughout the entire world, there were fewer than ten forces with such ability.
Sometimes, a strong person doesn't need to do anything deliberately. Their very existence can make this world better... or worse.
Arriving at the edge of the formation, above the city, Joshua did not rush back to the Lord's Manor. He slowly descended onto the head of the giant warrior statue at the city gate, looking down at the city beneath his feet. The streets were bustling, the lights were brilliant. He could see the troubles that Adrian, who was enjoying a midnight snack with fairies on the top floor of the guesthouse, now had to face—before him, four cute little figures of different colors were fighting over a straw for a cup of mixed melon and strawberry juice. The Sixth Prince looked at this scene, and at the other three identical cups of juice beside him, unable to help but show a bitter smile.
Besides that, whether it was Firefly accompanying Number 3 on a shopping trip, strolling hand in hand through the shops, or Lin, who had taken Black's place to study and read with Xiao Guang, their daily lives were all interesting. Their lives were full of vitality, brimming with bright colors. Joshua liked this atmosphere very much.
As for Black... The warrior shifted his perspective and saw the black dragon girl still lying in the pool, not following the training plan. He clicked his tongue. Without a doubt, she was slacking off again! Although he thought this in his heart, Joshua also knew that for a true dragon gradually transforming into an ancient dragon, the fast-paced life of humans was somewhat hard to adapt to. Sometimes Black wasn't actually lazy, but genuinely tired from her bloodline and soul... But Joshua couldn't let her truly fall into a deep sleep, because that sleep might last for decades or centuries.
No dragon calamity, no cultists, no internal strife among kings after Israel's fall, no clergy unrest after Eagle's passing... Everything was beautiful and peaceful.
"This world... must never become like that."
Watching these scenes, Joshua couldn't help but think of his recent guess, of the countless worlds that might have been destroyed in the distance. He couldn't help but mutter to himself. Then, Joshua suddenly frowned and fell silent. The warrior was shocked by what he had just said, but then he couldn't help but smile slightly and shake his head.
People change; people don't change. The once pure warrior now sighing over an ordinary city's night scene was proof that steel had been smoothed of its edges, that a hard heart had begun to soften. But it was also unchanging, because this man had been like this from beginning to end. He couldn't sit by and watch disaster happen, couldn't ignore the pleas of the weak, couldn't bear to refuse others' dreams, and couldn't tolerate himself becoming increasingly inhuman.
He was a savior, not a god of destruction.
Because of the endless destruction that might exist at the center of the multiverse, the restless light of divinity flickered deep within Joshua's body. Black-red dim light lit up along his steel body, forming tree-like runes. It was beautiful and ferocious. But now, the warrior was no longer affected by the rage and destructive urge it brought. His eyes shimmered with a nebula-like silver light, representing an unchanging heart.
—What needs to be destroyed, what needs to be annihilated, is only enemies. Powerful enemies. Going berserk against the weak and one's own people is proof of a coward who cannot control their own desires. Joshua van Radcliffe is one who controls divinity, not one influenced by it.
He controls power, not being controlled by power.
So, close his eyes, breathe, hold his breath. When he opened his eyes again, the dim black-red light on Joshua had faded. The warrior, having once again overcome his own divinity, stood on his statue, looking down at the earth. His gaze was calm, his silver light turning, as quiet and peaceful as a cloudless night sky.
"The time is almost here."
The warrior looked up at the high sky. In the distance to the southwest, there was a hazy, unstable distortion of space. The gods were gradually awakening. Some returned to their temples, enjoying the worship of their followers. Others disguised themselves as mortals, walking among the world. So far, these powerful beings had shown no purpose. They descended as if merely to merge the Boundless Heaven into the world.
But it could never be just that. Joshua firmly believed this. He rose and flew back to the Lord's Manor. The warrior woke Black, who was about to fall asleep in the pool, and personally supervised her continued training to fight against the fatigue from her bloodline. Improper instincts should be overcome—that was what progress meant.
Time passed like this in daily life. Day and night alternated, time flowed.
Year 837 of the Falling Stars Era, June 15th.
The day agreed upon with the gods had arrived.
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