The alliance departed Frostina's ice palace while traveling deeper into Northern territories. Draven's pack moved efficiently Zor flying overhead scouting while Velnar and Feyra flanked as Sylvara monitored environment. Malvorn's massive form walked beside Draven with bond humming in comfortable proximity. The three allied Overlords spread out strategically Frostina guiding through her territory while Naelvorn and Raziel provided support.
As they traveled, Malvorn's voice rumbled through bond with curiosity evident.
*Luminestra. Something bothers me. Yesterday you stated five Anchors exist in Theia. Now you say only four here, one on Earth. What changed?*
Draven felt Luminestra's presence within Genesis Codex pause as recognition flickered.
*Ah,* she replied as tone carried embarrassment. *You noticed the discrepancy. Yes I made error initially. Let me explain.*
The alliance slowed with attention focusing on explanation.
*Before bonding with Draven,* Luminestra began, *I existed as fragmented consciousness. Forty-seven pieces scattered across Theia, barely aware, perception severely limited. I assumed based on incomplete sensing that all five Anchors remained on Theia.*
Adhivar's presence manifested beside hers within Codex while supporting explanation.
*But after bonding,* Luminestra continued, *everything changed. My senses strengthened dramatically. The bond with Draven, combined with having vessel Genesis Codex providing stable home enhanced my perception capabilities exponentially.*
Frostina's ice-ring eyes narrowed with understanding. "So now you sense more accurately?"
*Exactly. I can sense clearly now: Only FOUR Anchors present on Theia. The fifth... absent. Searching further, extending perception through dimensional connection via Gate... I sense it on Earth.*
Draven absorbed information calmly. "Four here, one there. That's why Earth retrieval is necessary not optional."
*Correct,* Luminestra confirmed. *All five required. Incomplete set cannot facilitate merger.*
Naelvorn's voice carried curiosity. "This sensing error would it have happened if you still had your body?"
Luminestra's tone turned rueful. *No. If I possessed physical form, my perception would have been accurate from the beginning. Crystal dragon bodies naturally connected to planetary essence sensing Anchors would be instinctive, precise, immediate.*
She paused as crystalline presence flickered within Codex.
*But fragmented soul without vessel? Perception became unreliable. I existed as scattered consciousness barely coherent enough for thought, let alone accurate dimensional sensing. The bonding process gaining connection with Draven, receiving stable vessel within Genesis Codex restored capabilities I lost when destroying my body.*
Raziel rumbled thoughtfully. "So error was consequence of your sacrifice. Bodyless existence limited perception until bonding corrected it."
*Precisely,* Luminestra agreed. *Another reason why bonding proved so valuable. Not just communication, but restored functionality.*
***
Adhivar's cosmic presence resonated through Genesis Codex as tone carried weight.
"It is fortunate Luminestra lacks physical body. Very fortunate indeed."
The alliance paused again while sensing importance in Worldroot Dragon's statement. Draven felt curiosity through multiple bonds Malvorn wondering, pack attentive.
"Why fortunate?" Draven asked directly. "Wouldn't having her body provide more capabilities?"
"Capabilities yes," Adhivar agreed. "But at catastrophic cost to Theia itself."
Silence fell heavily. Even Naelvorn's usual playfulness stilled completely.
Adhivar continued as cosmic knowledge weighed every word. "Current Theia exists in severely weakened state. Pocket dimension isolation, mana depletion accelerating, dimensional instability from failed merger all compound to create planet barely maintaining coherence. There are limits to what this world can sustain."
Frostina's composed demeanor showed cracks. "Limits? What kind?"
"Overlord limits," Adhivar stated flatly. "Theia can currently support maximum of four Overlord-tier beings manifesting physically. No more."
The four Overlords present exchanged glances Malvorn, Frostina, Naelvorn, Raziel. Understanding dawned with horror.
"We are the four," Frostina said quietly. "Theia's current maximum capacity. If fifth Overlord manifested..."
"Planetary collapse," Adhivar confirmed grimly. "Dimensional structure would fail. Pocket dimension stability would shatter. Theia would fragment truly fragment, not metaphorically. Landmasses breaking apart, atmosphere bleeding into void, life extinguished within days."
Naelvorn's voice was uncharacteristically hollow. "So the three remaining Overlord positions... empty. Not because those who could fill them are dead or sealed, but because Theia literally cannot support more?"
"Correct. Seven Overlord-tier beings represent full capacity for healthy, stable Theia world connected to normal dimensional space, abundant mana, proper planetary integrity. Current weakened Theia? Four maximum. Attempting to support more invites catastrophe."
Raziel rumbled with dark understanding. "We four exist at planet's absolute limit. We are not strength we are burden Theia barely tolerates."
"Harsh truth," Adhivar acknowledged. "But accurate."
Draven's mind worked through implications. "You're staying inside Genesis Codex to avoid manifesting physically. You'd count toward the limit if you took physical form."
"Partially correct," Adhivar replied. "I would not merely 'count toward limit.' I would exceed it catastrophically."
Confusion rippled through alliance.
"Power hierarchy matters," Adhivar explained patiently. "Overlord-tier beings strain Theia moderately four represent maximum sustainable burden. But Epic-tier beings like Luminestra? Far stronger than Overlords. Single Epic-tier physical manifestation equivalent to two, perhaps three Overlords in planetary strain."
Luminestra's presence pulsed with understanding. *If I manifested body, Theia would collapse immediately. My power level far exceeds Overlord capacity. I would destroy the world I sacrificed myself to save.*
"And I," Adhivar continued as cosmic weight filled tone, "exist beyond even Epic-tier. My physical manifestation would obliterate current Theia instantly no collapse, no fragmentation. Simply... cessation. The planet could not withstand my presence."
Malvorn's bond conveyed stunned realization. *You're protecting Theia by staying incorporeal. Both of you.*
"Yes," Adhivar confirmed simply. "Genesis Codex contains our power safely. We guide without destroying."
***
As they continued traveling, Sylvara's voice broke contemplative silence. "Luminestra, you mentioned existing fragmented for long time. How long exactly?"
*Millions of years,* Luminestra replied as tone carried weight of incomprehensible age. *I witnessed Earth's history across epochs. Saw the great extinction that killed the dinosaurs massive impact, ash darkening skies for years. Witnessed The Great Dying before that volcanic eruptions on scale current Theia cannot imagine, ninety percent of life extinguished. Survived through Ice Ages, watching glaciers advance and retreat across continents.*
The alliance walked in stunned silence while comprehending timescale.
*The merger attempt happened before these extinction events. Millions of years ago not thousands, not centuries. Millions. When I sacrificed my body to stabilize Theia after failure, I began existence that would span eons of fragmented awareness.*
Raziel's volcanic rumbling carried new humility. "I am three thousand years old oldest living being in current Theia. I thought myself ancient. But you..."
*You ARE ancient,* Luminestra said gently. *Three thousand years represents vast experience, wisdom accumulated across generations. I do not diminish your age.*
"But you dwarf it," Raziel continued. "Millions versus thousands. I am infant compared to your existence."
*Different contexts. You lived fully, consciously, experiencing every moment of three thousand years. I existed fragmented, barely aware, experiencing almost nothing despite millions passing. Your three thousand conscious years hold more value than my millions of scattered sleep.*
Frostina's voice carried respect. "You honor him despite vastly greater age. That speaks to your character, Crystal Eternal."
Luminestra's presence shifted focus. *Northern ley line convergence approaching. First Anchor location approximately fifteen kilometers ahead, northeast direction.*
Frostina's ice-ring eyes brightened. "I know that region. Ancient ruins, pre-merger construction, heavily protected by dimensional wards. My territory, but I've never penetrated inner sanctum."
*The wards are Anchor protection,* Luminestra explained. *Architects designed them specifically. You couldn't enter because you lacked key merger knowledge, dimensional understanding, proper resonance. With me guiding and Adhivar's cosmic capabilities, we can bypass protections.*
Draven felt anticipation building. First Anchor retrieval finally beginning.
"Pack, prepare for combat," he commanded. "Corrupted golems likely guard location. Overlords, coordinate support. Luminestra, Adhivar guide us through wards."
Alliance formed battle-ready formation while approaching ruins with focused determination.
First challenge imminent.
***
The ruins rose before them crystalline structures half-buried in ice and snow as merger-era architecture was unmistakable in elegant geometric patterns. Dimensional wards shimmered visibly around perimeter while protective magic still functioned after millions of years.
Luminestra's presence pulsed with recognition. *Here. First Anchor resides within central chamber. But...*
She paused while sensing further.
*Corrupted golems active. Twenty minimum, possibly more deeper inside. And the wards require solving before entry architectural puzzle designed by merger minds.*
Adhivar's cosmic awareness extended while examining wards carefully. "Puzzle is complex but solvable. Requires approximately one hour calculation and adjustment."
Draven surveyed ruins as pack surrounded him protectively while allied Overlords positioned strategically.
"Then we begin," he declared. "Adhivar, Luminestra solve the puzzle. Everyone else prepare for combat once wards drop. We're retrieving First Anchor today."
Genesis Codex pulsed with determination.
The hunt had truly begun.
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