After Tilis purged the White Chapel District's city defense forces, more and more mages began gathering here.
They all wore long mage robes, walking openly on the streets—a sight that moved Elder Margery deeply.
"For so many years, we who have always hidden in the shadows now have the chance to walk freely on Saint Callen Street..."
Ophelia silently agreed. Indeed, throughout history, churches from all sides had vehemently rejected magical organizations, forcing them to operate in secrecy and obscurity.
Mages like Tilis, who strode boldly down the streets, were a rare sight...
As Ophelia observed the arriving mages, her attention was drawn to several elderly figures clad in black cloaks.
"Are they all elders of the Magical Hermitage?" She recalled that this organization distinguished rank by robe color.
"Correct," Elder Roens explained. "They are members of the Elder Council. Though none surpass the Grandmaster in power, their experience and wisdom are vast. The Grandmaster hopes their knowledge will aid you in dismantling this anti-magic field."
After speaking, Elder Roens and several apprentices compiled the data collected from the anti-magic field. A dozen mages sat cross-legged on the ground, immediately delving into research—a display that earned Ophelia's admiration.
"Truly professional. As expected of the most orthodox magical organization..."
During the earlier meeting at Luo Wei's place, Tilis had mentioned persuading the Elder Council to open the Great Library and provide full "technical support."
The council had even dispatched an aged mage specializing in the study of the ancient god Nodens. As a descendant of that deity's lineage, Ophelia had learned much from him—proof of the profound legacy this centuries-old organization possessed.
"Thank you all for your assistance. If we succeed in breaking the anti-magic field, you will be the foremost contributors," Ophelia expressed her gratitude.
"No need for thanks," the elderly mage, engrossed in his research, lifted his head. "The Magical Hermitage is dedicating everything not for power. Remember your promise."
"Of course," Ophelia nodded.
This "promise" referred to legalizing the Magical Hermitage once she ascended to power.
The lifelong dream of countless mages in the Hermitage was to restore their ancient organization to its former glory—precisely why they were betting on her.
The weight of responsibility pressed heavier on Ophelia's shoulders.
Today's events were far more than a mere coup. She realized she, Luo Wei, and the others were truly changing the world...
Once preparations were complete, all the mages turned their silent gazes to Ophelia. It was time for her first attempt.
She took a deep breath.
Now came the final—and most critical—step of the plan.
Breaking the anti-magic field.
...
Hagelitz Palace, the study.
Eleya emotionlessly scanned the study, searching for Carlton's true form.
Wherever she passed, the illusory bookshelves crumbled and dissipated, allowing Luo Wei glimpses of the real world.
A gentle white light enveloped them, relieving Luo Wei of the oppressive gravitational force.
He felt divine magic returning. If the field was a "black hole," Eleya had torn it open with sheer power, allowing faith energy to pour in.
"Found you," Eleya's cold gaze settled on a spot.
Though her expression remained blank, killing intent flashed instantly. The divine spell [Judgment] descended from above.
Bathed in blinding light, Carlton was exposed in a corner.
Yet he showed no fear toward the divine spears raining down like wrathful punishment.
"Divine magic..."
He pondered briefly. The next moment, the spears froze mid-air above him.
"Even the holy light, renowned for healing and protection, can be so aggressive."
With a strange gesture Luo Wei didn't recognize, Carlton transformed the suspended lightning-like spears into solid matter.
Crack!
A crisp shattering sound echoed as the lethal [Judgment] dissolved into harmless stardust, gently showering Carlton.
"I much prefer this version of divine magic—the one people remember."
Luo Wei stared in shock. If even Eleya's [Judgment] could be neutralized so easily, Carlton was nearly invincible within this field.
He analyzed what had just happened: Carlton had altered some fundamental rule, converting divine energy into physical objects—mere metal rods.
Once the supernatural lost its mystique, countering it became trivial...
This left Luo Wei deeply puzzled. How was this possible? What kind of rule allowed this?
Searching for logic in a dreamscape sounded absurd, but after bonding with Ophelia, Luo Wei had also constructed dreamscapes. Though nowhere near as reality-bending as this father-daughter duo, he knew one cardinal rule:
Dreamscapes couldn't be pure fantasy—they required real-world logic as foundation.
For instance, when Ophelia once recreated Saint Callen City in stunning detail, it wasn't mere imagination. Her exceptional architectural talent made her qualified as either a designer or a construction worker...
Hence her penchant for terrain-altering debuffs during battles.
Luo Wei's eyes narrowed at Carlton. Had this old schemer, holed up in his dark study for decades, truly mastered such profound arts?
Eleya, however, didn't overanalyze. Her hollow gaze remained locked onto Carlton. For those who dared "ascend," annihilation was the only outcome.
In an instant, countless [Judgment] spells rained down again.
Carlton repeated his trick—every threatening divine spell morphed into harmless matter, then into healing light that soothed his body.
A stalemate ensued.
Though Eleya's magic shielded Luo Wei from being crushed, neither side could gain ground.
Restlessness crept in. The expanding darkness confirmed the anti-magic field still held.
Ophelia's progress was too slow. If Carlton stalled much longer, the First Army north of the capital might mobilize—a variable that could unravel their entire plan.
Seeing Eleya still relentlessly spamming the supreme divine art 【Judgment】 as if it were a basic attack, Luo Wei couldn't help but sigh. "Eleya, try switching to another move. Maybe he’s studied this divine art in his library and figured out how to counter it?"
Eleya was obedient in this regard. Without replying, she immediately changed tactics.
Streaks of dazzling white light flashed as she cycled through a series of familiar skills—【Holy Light Strike】, 【Exorcism Prayer】, 【Divine Retribution】, and 【Purification】—one after another.
Yet, Carlton remained unfazed.
Every offensive divine art transformed into soothing 【Healing Spells】, washing over him like a gentle tide. The old man even seemed to grow more comfortable with each hit...
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
