Kaelus was escorted from the Judicial Hall to the Mage Emperor's Palace, a striking structure of translucent, wind-crystallized stone. His escorts—Zane, Sylva, Aethon, and Riona—were stopped at the doors by the Speaker, Morthos.
"The Emperor requested an audience with Kaelus Wyndhelm alone," Morthos stated, his tone cold. "You will wait here."
Kaelus gave his friends a reassuring nod, then stepped through the doors and into the Mage Emperor's receiving chamber.
The room was circular, open to the sky, and dominated by a single, casual figure standing by a clear viewing balcony: Ian Emrys Skyrune. He wasn't wearing his formal robes but simple, loose, blue silk attire. He was looking out over the panoramic view of the Neutral Empire, holding a steaming teacup.
"Ah, Kaelus. Please, come in. The acoustics in that courtroom are terrible, aren't they?" Ian said, smiling. "Sit. Forget the formalities. We're just two mages talking."
"Your honor, thank you for intervening," Kaelus said, taking a seat.
Ian scoffed gently. "Forget it. The truth is, Kaelus, I can sense a power in you that is beyond my understanding. I think you are aware of this in yourself. I will not ask you to reveal all your secrets to me. I have just one simple wish for you."
"Anything for you, Mage Emperor," Kaelus replied.
"That's more I like it. Be on humanity's side. I can feel something is changing; the continent is not the same. The sudden appearances of S and S+ rank monsters, the monster psychic links, the new dungeons—it all points to a massive shift. I need an anomaly like you. In fact, you are not that special, Kaelus. The noble houses have their own mages capable of just flicking you to death. What's special about you is just you are young. Although humans and demi-humans are capable of living to two hundred years of age or more, I think your strength can just surpass them."
Kaelus was briefly stunned by the mention of the two-hundred-year lifespan, a massive difference from his previous world, but he masked his surprise, knowing it was common knowledge here.
Kaelus seized the chance to ask a critical question. "Mage Emperor, why have the adventurers never explored the Eastern Territory dungeons?"
Ian looked surprised. "The exploration of dungeons in the Eastern Territory may lead to something... significant. It's not that we can't explore it. The last dungeon raid in that territory was a millennium ago. That party was led by the first Mage Emperor, a genuine 9-Star High-Rank mage, alongside 9-Star mages from the top noble and royal houses of the three territories."
Ian's expression turned grim. "After that, the party never returned. No one has attempted a dungeon raid there since. Even me, a 9-Star Mid-Rank mage, cannot just enter that dungeon. It's not that I am scared, but as a Mage Emperor, I can't just leave my post here in the Neutral Empire."
Ian then cut the conversation short. "Show me the sword artifact that killed the Wyvern and the Scorpion."
Kaelus unsheathed the Viridian Sword and handed it to Ian.
Ian held the blade, running a reverent hand over its surface. "A magnificent artifact. A Growth Type artifact, capable of growing alongside the owner. And this aura—an ancient monster. It must be created with an Ancient Monster as the artifact core."
Ian marveled at the sword. "Even I, a 9-Star Mid-Rank mage, am not capable of wielding this. It is bound to you. And even if I attempted to refine this artifact, I am not capable of subduing this artifact. It must be fate; it was created only for you. Also, the sword's shape is unique; if a blacksmith saw this shape, they might ask you how to replicate it."
Ian handed the sword back and his excitement grew. "I also received a report that you created wings made of mana. Can you show it to me?"
"Absolutely," Kaelus replied. He channeled his core, lucky that the Mage Emperor's palace was so rich in ambient mana. He used his mana as a binder, and the surrounding elemental energy quickly coalesced into the Tempest Wings.
The Mage Emperor was utterly amazed at the sight of the almost translucent green wings shimmering on Kaelus's back.
"How did you create that skill?" Ian asked, rushing over to examine the wings.
Kaelus explained that to create the skill, he used his own mana as the binder (the 'bone') and the surrounding mana as the mass (the 'outer skin') that needed to be bound.
Ian's eyes shone with pure scientific curiosity. He immediately began to experiment, using a sturdy Wood element as the 'bone' and converting the surrounding mana into a Water element to bind it. In moments, Ian Emrys Skyrune successfully replicated the skill in another element!
"You're a genius, Kaelus! I want to know your other skills! What else do you have?" the Mage Emperor exclaimed, his dignity completely forgotten in his excitement.
The two mages—the supreme leader of the continent and the enigmatic adventurer—spent the next half-day conversing solely about magic.
Kaelus detailed his entire accessible skill set. He explained the creation of the highly compressed air bolt for his long-range Wind attack, the Gale Rifle. He then moved on to the intricate rotational forces required to generate his shield-breaking technique, the Vortex Sphere, discussing the effects behind stabilizing the localized gravity effects of the wind current.
Ian Emrys Skyrune, the 9-Star Mid-Rank Mage Emperor, listened with rapt, boyish enthusiasm. He could replicate the core principles of both the Gale Rifle and Vortex Sphere instantly by applying the wind mechanics to other elements.
The conversation culminated in the sharing of Kaelus's ultimate technique: the Ryujin no Kaze. Kaelus meticulously explained the process of using the environment's pressure and temperature to create the massive elemental anomaly, detailing the rapid phase change and the vast intake of mana required.
Though Kaelus's explanation was flawless and the theoretical application sound, Ian could not fully replicate the profound level of power and pure elemental conversion that Kaelus achieved. The Emperor could create a powerful storm, but not the instantaneous, dragon-like destructive force Kaelus had unleashed. It was a clear indication that the difference lay not in Kaelus's understanding, but in the fundamental structure of his core—a gap that even the continent's strongest mage could not bridge.