Emerging from the secluded meeting room, the Obsidian Phalanx party looked visibly serious, immediately catching the attention of Riona Steelsworn.
"What was that all about?" Riona demanded, pulling Aethon aside, her eyes narrowed at the Mage Emperor's sudden seclusion with the Obsidian Phalanx
"Well, there's nothing good to hide it from you," Aethon said, grinning mysteriously. "I will tell you after the banquet."
The banquet continued, filled with murmurs and social exchanges. Then, Mage Emperor Ian Emrys Skyrune caught the attention of every noble and adventurer present by tapping his wine glass with a spoon—a sharp, clear ring that instantly silenced the vast hall.
"Attention, citizens of this continent," Ian began, his voice amplified by magic to carry to every corner. "The world is changing, faster than we can think of."
He paused, his expression grave. "The recent massive surge of threats in the Eastern Territory confirms our worst fears. That entire region is undergoing a massive, dangerous transformation. We need the help of the whole continent to survive this coming disaster."
The nobles and adventurers present in the banquet hall were struck by the Emperor's declaration. They had not realized the recent incidents were so serious that they necessitated a meeting with the world's most powerful forces. Murmuring instantly erupted throughout the hall.
The Emperor waited a moment, then spoke again, "I understand your apprehension. To give you some clarity on the nature of this threat, I ask Ms. Sylva Moonshadow to share her team's recent analysis with the court."
Sylva stepped forward, her elven features set with professional severity. She summarized the investigation: the sudden and coordinated rise in monster ranks, the emergence of the new, mana-leaking dungeons, and the key insight—the disappearance of an intangible suppressive force that had previously kept the Eastern Territory stable. She explained her theory that this sudden "massive shift" was the core reason for the escalating crisis, not just a random increase in monster activity.
As Sylva finished, the murmuring ceased entirely, replaced by cold dread. The Emperor then finished his announcement.
"Therefore, the meeting to address this continental threat will be held at the Magic Court in three days. It will require the presence of the Royal Family and official representatives of each territory, along with the Pillars of the world." Ian's voice swelled with sudden, inspiring force. "The purpose of this gathering is twofold: to create a unified force that will help us unveil the mysteries of the Eastern Territory and adapt to these changes."
The Emperor raised his fist high above his head. "We must act as one!"
Overwhelmed by the call to arms, the present adventurers and nobles erupted into cheers, many of them lifting their own fists high in response.
As the focus of the hall shifted back toward the continuation of the banquet, Kaelus scanned the crowd and noticed a familiar, delicate figure standing alone in a quieter corner. It was Lady Erice Aurumglow.
She was breathtakingly pure, her short black hair framing a delicate face, and her eyes were a vivid, pure blue. She was the 3-star high-rank alchemist he had met months ago in Valeridge, and the sight of her brought a rare, gentle smile to his face. Kaelus, who rarely paid attention to anyone outside his immediate circle, walked directly toward her, instantly drawing curious glances.
He approached her father first. "Greetings, Baron Marcus Aurumglow," Kaelus said, offering a respectful bow.
The Baron's face lit up with surprise. "You are too polite, Mr. Kaelus Wyndhelm. I thought you wouldn't notice us. It's my first time meeting you, but my daughter already met you in Valeridge."
Kaelus then turned to the young woman. "Greetings, Lady Erice Aurumglow."
Erice blushed slightly, looking up at his towering figure and striking silver hair. "Greetings, Mr. Kaelus Wyndhelm. I didn't recognize you at first due to your hair," she whispered, still shy.
"I would like to thank you for giving the high-rank pills to me," Kaelus said earnestly. "It served as a life-saving medicine to us. The Aurumglow family lives up to their reputation as the best in alchemy."
Just as Kaelus finished speaking, the banquet hall's lighting dimmed, and the musicians began a lively waltz. The shift signaled the start of the formal dancing, and guests began inviting partners.
Baron Marcus smiled warmly. "Mr. Kaelus, would you like to dance with my daughter Erice?"
Though entirely shy and unfamiliar with dancing, Kaelus felt an odd, compelling urge. He extended his hand to Erice. "Lady Erice, would you grant me this dance?"
Erice, blushing deeply, accepted his hand.
They began to dance. Kaelus, outwardly a twenty-eight-year-old man (though only fifteen in dragon age), danced with the fifteen-year-old Erice. The wide age gap, which would be odd in Kaelus's original world, was considered normal here due to the human lifespan of two hundred years or more, and no one paid it any mind.
Kaelus expected to be clumsy, but Erice was a graceful guide. He quickly found the rhythm, his natural agility compensating for his lack of experience. As he got the hang of the dance, his immense power leaked subconsciously. A subtle surge of Wind mana enveloped them, gently lifting them both from the floor.
They began to float, dancing weightlessly above the ground. Kaelus held her hand and waist lightly, his silver hair flowing as they executed turns and dips in the air. The pure Wind element provided effortless mobility, making them appear to glide across an invisible cloud. They rose higher, revolving slowly, perfectly synchronized—a silent, breathtaking aerial waltz.
The other dancers noticed the spectacle and stopped, watching in collective awe. The entire hall was captivated by the sight of the new S-rank adventurer and the young alchemist dancing on air.
The dance concluded as Kaelus gently lowered Erice back to the floor, exactly where they had started, and the hall burst into thunderous applause.
Kaelus escorted the blushing Erice back to Baron Marcus. Before he could be swarmed by the numerous young noblewomen eager for a dance, Sylva Moonshadow appeared, grasping Kaelus's hand firmly.
She smiled sweetly at the disappointed crowd and pulled Kaelus away to join the main floor. Zane, watching from the side, took a long drink from his glass and mouthed, "Nice save!"
The elaborate banquet finally drew to a close late in the evening. The Obsidian Phalanx team, along with Aethon Ironheart and Riona Steelsworn, departed for the Dragon's Fury Guild Hall.
They gathered in the briefing room—Kaelus, Zane, Sylva, Zathis, Grund, Kaelan, Vara, Jian, Aethon, and Riona—for a critical meeting to discuss the conversation Kaelus had with the Mage Emperor earlier that day.
Aethon opened the floor, summarizing the secret mission assigned by Ian Skyrune and the continent-wide crisis revealed by Sylva's investigation. Riona listened intently, her initial competitive attitude replaced by professional gravity as the full scope of the massive shift became clear.
"The situation is far worse than the Magic Court let on," Riona stated, her gaze hardened. "We can't have adventurers blundering into unstable hunting grounds. I'm taking action immediately. The Ironclad Aegis will dismiss all current quests in the Eastern Territory and close the major hunting grounds. It's too dangerous, and any disturbance could compromise the vital secret mission the Emperor assigned to the Obsidian Phalanx."
With Riona's pledge of support and cooperation, the two S-rank Guild Masters had, for the first time, a truly unified front against the coming threat.
After the meeting, Kaelus finally retreated to his room to rest. Lying on the bed, his mind turned, synthesizing the day's events with the persistent question that haunted him.
Sylva's theory—that the "intangible force" was an element that suppressed monster growth—deeply resonated with his mother's message: "You must return to the source of your becoming." The disappearing force must be his own essence, the 'water' in the 'lake' that had been keeping the Eastern Territory in check. To stabilize the continent, he had to return to the cave where he was born.
He had three days before the team's departure to the Eastern Territory. He needed to use that time wisely.
Kaelus sat up, his immediate next goal clear: he had to visit the dwarf Grolnuk Stoutbeard.
First, he needed to give Grolnuk the damaged Knight's Cape. The deep scarlet cape, which had saved his life during the Elderwood Troll fight, was now a useless rag, its one-time S+ rank barrier enchantment spent. Kaelus hoped Grolnuk could, at the very least, salvage some of the priceless S+ monster silk it was woven from.
Second, he had the perfect opportunity to fulfill Grolnuk's long-standing challenge. He recalled their earlier conversation:
"How about this: in exchange for information about the dragon, I will give you a mission... I need you to retrieve a genuine S-Rank monster core. Any element will suffice, but it must be absolutely pristine. Bring me that, and I'll tell you everything I know about the Verdant Dragon."
Kaelus smiled faintly. He had not one, but two, pristine S+ rank monster cores—Fire from the Wyvern and Earth from the Scorpion—given back to him by the Mage Emperor himself. He was about to collect on Grolnuk's promise, and he urgently needed the information about the Verdant Dragon to understand his own origins before venturing into the destabilized Eastern Territory.