https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-762-Toledo-Never-Misses-Out-on-the-Fun/12585298/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-764-Shadow-World-The-Eternal-Punishment-Unending-Part-1-/12585302/
Chapter 763: Lanchi's Final Shadow World Challenge
Chapter 763: Lanchi's Final Shadow World Challenge
A week later.
"Today is yet another day filled with hope."
"It's a brand new weekend, meow. You've been in the Kreise capital of Brillerda for 15 days now, and it's Sun Calendar October 14th. With autumn deepening, the leaves outside are starting to turn yellow."
"And winter is drawing nearer; you know this will be a particularly tough winter for the Allied Forces... Meow meow meow."
Before it could finish its sentence, Lanchi held a small piece of dried fish to its mouth.
The Cat Boss could only pause its speech to devour its favorite treat.
But before it could finish, Lanchi held its head in place.
"That's all for today's broadcast, Cat Boss."
Lanchi said to the bewildered Cat Boss.
"Meow?! "
It never expected Lanchi to figure out how to counter its Meow-Meow Fist so quickly.
"You two are really something else."
Talia commented as she slowly walked back and forth between the kitchen and the dining table, clearing the breakfast dishes while wearing an apron. She couldn't help but remark on the daily interaction between Lanchi and the Cat Boss.
The Cat Boss wasn't wrong, though; the climate in Brillerda was indeed prone to turning chilly in the coming days, with significant temperature variations between day and night. The chilly winds that blew at night served as a reminder to pay extra attention to keeping warm.
On yet another quiet weekend morning, Lanchi sat leisurely on the soft, milky white sofa in the first-floor villa, savoring the moment of tranquility.
"Lanchi, meow, you're quickly becoming the brightest new star in magic engineering in the Kreise Empire, a rising star from the Saint Kreise Abbey."
The little black cat encouraged its mount, patting Lanchi with its paws as they sat on the sofa.
The feeling from their time on the Northern Continent had returned.
Sure enough, their 'Lan Cat' combo was wreaking havoc once more.
With a week's worth of effort, and with Abigail's proactive support, his theory of Magic Power Fission was not only gaining traction within the Empire's magic engineering circles but also drawing increasing attention from the Allied nations. This forced the Kreise Empire to overturn opposing opinions, trace the source of the intelligence leak, and expedite practical research in this area.
Professor Landel had given numerous lectures in Brillerda, and every day, many officers from the Empire's special departments and military industry experts visited him.
"Sigh, I wish I had a ninth-order Divine Beast protecting me too. I'm living in constant fear."
Recently, the number of assassination attempts on his life had increased. Whenever he left the Saint Kreise Abbey without disguise as Professor Landel, a car from the Empire's military would tail him.
On the one hand, they might be surveilling him, but on the other, they were also protecting him.
At this juncture, Professor Landel served as an ideal bait to a certain extent.
Anyone who followed him and harbored ill intentions would undoubtedly be suspected of being a significant enemy spy.
Currently, the Empire's Special Operations had an important task, ordered directly by Emperor Saint Baldur the Great and executed by Duke Dex: to find the spy within Brillerda who had been spying on the latest research developments regarding the principle of Magic Power Fission and leaking the information to the Allies.
"You, you really have no shame before the Empire's Special Operations, do you?"
The Cat Boss witnessed Lanchi blatantly lying to Duke Dex as he promised to keep a close eye on any suspicious individuals around him and to show no mercy to anyone who posed a threat to the Empire.
Nicolai, the chief of the Countermeasures Department, and Maguire, the captain of the Action Team, kept a close eye on Lanchi day and night. Nicolai seemed genuinely suspicious of Landel, while Maguire was trying to find the Allied spy among Landel's associates but couldn't uncover any clues.
This week, Lanchi spent most of his time outside of academic work, maneuvering between the Empire's Special Operations and dealing with Dex, Nicolai, and Maguire.
"I have no choice. There are rumors that Duke Dex of the Empire's Special Operations intends to step down, and his successor is either going to be Nicolai or Maguire. Nicolai is a lieutenant colonel, and Maguire is a colonel, so logically, it should be Maguire. However, until Duke Dex makes a formal decision, if Nicolai were to accomplish something significant and get promoted to the same rank as Maguire, Duke Dex might give the position to his protege Nicolai. That's why they're both keeping a close eye on me."
Lanchi put down the newspaper in his hand and explained to the Cat Boss.
A trip to the Shadow World might be a good idea.
At the very least, it would divert the attention of the Empire's Special Operations away from him for a while.
"Why would Duke Dex step down when the Empire needs capable people the most?"
The Cat Boss asked, perplexed, as it had been unable to understand this issue during the past few days of following Lanchi around.
"It's possibly because the Empire's Special Operations have been overly active in Brillerda recently, causing unease among the people. They also wield a lot of power, sometimes even superseding the military in terms of execution priority. This has led to no shortage of criticism from both the common folk and the elite. Emperor Saint Baldur now wants to take personal control of the Empire's Special Operations. On the one hand, it could quell some of the negative sentiments within the country, and on the other, he will undoubtedly place Duke Dex in an even higher position by his side to counter the increasingly influential General Jacinto. After all, Duke Dex's influence within the military has always been undeniable."
Lanchi folded the newspaper and picked up the Cat Boss, continuing,
"Rather than saying that Duke Dex doesn't want the position anymore, it's more accurate to say that he's anticipated Emperor Saint Baldur's next move and has proactively expressed his intention to retire. This way, when the Emperor asks him to return to his post later, as you said, 'the Empire desperately needs your service, Duke Dex,' it will seem perfectly natural and give him even more significant authority. It won't appear as if Emperor Saint Baldur is deliberately suppressing General Jacinto, either."
"He shared his speculation with the Cat Boss.
'It's hard to say for sure.'
'Meow...'"
The Cat Boss was just a cat after all.
Let Lanchi deal with these power struggles; it had plenty of its own tasks to worry about.
"Sigh, I'll deal with the Empire's Special Operations later. For now, it's time to head to the Shadow World Gate at the Saint Kreise Abbey."
Lanchi's gaze was drawn to the picturesque view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows as he spoke.
The hues of the season had quietly descended upon the courtyard, painting the garden in a vibrant palette of autumnal hues.
Golden leaves blanketed the lawn, and the distant murmur of a babbling brook mingled with the warbles of canaries, forming a melodic symphony of the morning.
Lanchi picked up the hot chocolate from the coffee table and took a leisurely sip, letting the rich aroma spread across his palate.
His mood, much like the warm beverage, was soothing and pleasant.
During this time, Talia had switched their drinks to hot beverages.
As expected of a gourmet from the older generation, she knew the best seasonal treats to enjoy.
"..."
In the kitchen, Talia untied her apron and clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.
Just when she thought Lanchi was being considerate, he had to go and ruin it.
"We can leave now."
She walked out of the kitchen, her expression neutral, and addressed Lanchi.
It was already past eight o'clock, and they were expected to arrive at the Void Gate by nine.
"Oh, alright."
Lanchi stretched leisurely and replied.
"Get ready. It's about 2.2 miles to our destination," the Cat Boss reminded them.
Without a word, Talia dissolved into an orange glow and disappeared from her original spot.
Lanchi, confirming that 【Insanely Jealous Demon King】 had returned, walked towards the entrance hall, grabbed his gray overcoat from the coat rack, put it on, locked the door, and strolled along the garden path towards the Saint Kreise Abbey campus.
"You're wearing that diamond-patterned vest again," the Cat Boss commented as it perched on Lanchi's head, observing his choice of attire as they walked through the garden.
In the early days of the Protoss Empire, Lanchi's outerwear could have been black, beige, or purple, often paired with a white shirt and a light brown diamond-patterned vest.
However, after a fateful encounter, Lanchi had developed a fondness for gray outerwear, and his style had evolved significantly, gradually phasing out the initial diamond-patterned vest in favor of more formal dark-colored shirts.
"It's getting chilly," Lanchi replied.
An extra layer was just what he needed.
On this crisp autumn morning, the air carried a hint of frost, and one wouldn't be surprised to see their breath condense into white mist at night.
It was a quiet weekend morning, and given the early hour and the vast expanse of the abbey, their journey was devoid of human activity.
As they boarded the abbey's shuttle, they occasionally spotted a groundskeeper or two and a handful of students making their way towards the school buildings.
Lanchi gazed out the window, taking in the serene atmosphere.
It seemed like Talia hadn't spoken to him in a while.
"Master, are you feeling down today?"
Based on Lanchi's observations, Talia had looked happy during breakfast, so she probably wasn't in a bad mood.
"Your fiancee from the Allied Forces has been located. You must be pleased," Talia replied in his mind.
"I heard she just arrived in Brillerda today. We'll have to ask Miss Unity for her opinion," Lanchi acknowledged Talia's thoughts.
"What if she refuses? Then we'll have to rely on you, Master," Talia added.
However, neither he nor Talia had the time to meet with Unity today, as their Shadow World reservation was already set.
"...Since you're counting on me so much, I suppose I could lend a hand. After all, I am your teacher," Talia's mental tone softened.
"Of course, of course," Lanchi said, sensing Talia's improved mood.
The same went for Torriado.
He mentioned that his fiancee had been contacted through the Resurrection Church, and he would have to make a long trip to bring her back personally. He would need to discuss the specifics with her in person, as she didn't trust him through mere communication. If she agreed, Lanchi guaranteed that his fiancee would arrive in Brillerda by the time he returned from the Shadow World.
"Their Dimensional Branch sure is interesting. First, the Dimensional Saintess reprimands the Dimensional Bishop, and now the Bishop has to meet with his direct subordinate in person," Talia chuckled.
"I don't think the Dimensional Bishop holds the lowest position in their Dimensional Branch. It's probably the opposite in that branch compared to the others," Lanchi mused.
In the North Continent, for instance, it was unthinkable for the Extinction Saint Child, Anello, to dare shout at the all-powerful Extinction Bishop, Askesan.
"Your journey to the North Continent does sound intriguing. I wasn't interested before, but now I'm curious. When you return, tell me all about it during one of my bored moments.
"Ever since Talia found out that Lanchi had met Professor Cid at the Northern Continent, she gradually felt that Lanchi's story from his time in the Northern Continent might be interesting."
However, she was never one to rush, and time was on her side, even if it took five or ten years.
"I hope this trip to the Shadow World won't take too long."
Lanchi gazed out the window as he chatted with Talia.
The flow of time might be different for him and Talia.
But the task at hand for the Kreise Empire was urgent, and he wanted to make the most of every day if possible.
"Eighth-order Shadow Worlds are usually calculated by the month. Some can last up to half a year, and of course, there are eighth-order Shadow Worlds that last less than a month. There's about a fifty percent chance of drawing one that lasts less than three months."
Talia had read many books from the Southern Continent.
The duration of Shadow Worlds increased significantly with higher orders, but the correlation was not absolute. According to statistics from the Southern Continent's Shadow World Association, the mean duration of eighth-order Shadow Worlds with recorded histories was 107.5 days, but the variance was substantial, making it likely to encounter either very short or extremely long Shadow Worlds.
"Iphatia is still waiting for you to get her the antidote."
Talia also hoped for a short-duration Shadow World.
She felt that after reuniting with her sister, Iphatia had returned to being the harmless, adorable little bun she used to be.
Now, Iphatia borrowed Barton's communication magic every day to chat with Talia, and their sisterly conversations often lasted for an hour or two.
"By the time the Shadow World ends, Headmistress Violet will likely be back. Even if she's just in the vicinity of the Botswana Province, the Empire won't keep her away from the capital for too long."
Lanchi and Talia communicated via thoughts as their destination gradually came into view outside the window.
In the central area of Saint Kreise Abbey, a majestic and peculiar building stood tall, quietly nestled among the surrounding district clusters.
Its appearance was out of place, more akin to an impenetrable fortress. Its deep blue structure resembled a mechanical Rubik's cube, encircled by layers upon layers of barrier spell formations, emanating a crisp lilac glow. An invisible protective barrier separated the building from the outside world, clearly visible to the naked eye.
Even from a kilometer away, one could sense the intangible oppressive aura emanating from this structure.
Only those with valid identification from Saint Kreise Abbey or an Imperial Challenger License could pass through the sole entrance, undergoing several strict security checks before setting foot inside.
Lanchi disembarked from the bus, cat in arms.
He strode through the entrance and into the building, finding himself in a spacious and cavernous hall with a transparent floor. At the innermost part of the underground area stood a solitary, gigantic Void Gate.
Its appearance was bizarre yet breathtakingly beautiful, like a creation of the gods. Its surface was smooth as a mirror, with liquid starlight flowing along its edges, colors shifting between dark purple and silver-white.
"Good morning, Professor Landel."
The staff member dressed as a Moon Priestess greeted Lanchi with a smile and used a magical instrument to register his identification.
"Good morning."
Lanchi replied politely.
Entering the Shadow World in the Kreise Empire was not as cumbersome as in many nations of the Southern Continent, as the empire had a complete and independent monitoring system.
People like Professor Landel were on the whitelist.
The gate slowly opened.
"May the Moon Goddess bless you."
The Moon Priestess gestured for Lanchi to proceed.
"May she bless us all."
Lanchi thanked the priestess as he took back his identification, then walked towards the Void Gate.
Violets of light flowed across the entire gate, appearing and disappearing, with countless stars swirling in the vortex, reflecting his silhouette.
After walking several hundred steps, he arrived at the Void Gate with the nervous Cat Boss.
"Are you ready?"
Lanchi smiled and looked down at Cat Boss.
Although this wasn't Cat Boss's first time challenging the Shadow World, Lanchi felt that Cat Boss might still be afraid in this unfamiliar environment.
Just by approaching, one could feel an invisible pulling force, as if the Void Gate wanted to suck in the souls of those who dared to venture into this unknown world.
"Meow!"
Cat Boss's fear dissipated at the thought of the Divine Beast's lure, and he patted his paws eagerly.
"How about you, Master?"
This was the first time he and Talia were teaming up to enter the Shadow World.
He never expected that there would come a day when he and Talia would challenge the Shadow World together.
Each time he entered the Shadow World, his teammates were different.
But finally, at the last moment, the game-given Demon Princess could be of use.
"What do you mean, 'given'? I'm the chosen one, the only one!"
Talia emphasized.
"Huhu."
Lanchi walked straight ahead, stepping through the gate as if he were walking through water.
In an instant, sound, sight, consciousness, and even time itself vanished. All that remained were the breaths of the cosmos, endless stars, and the abyssal void.
In that place, two worlds intertwined and depended on each other, shaping each other, and after everything was inverted and remade, they arrived in a brand-new world.
【Blood Moon Blighted World, Final Node "Eternal Tears of Rain", Historical Projection Unlocked.】
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
