Chapter 42
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At this pace, Linda could break through to the Foundation Phase again in less than half a year.
Linda reined in her aura and got up, heading over to Emmett. She saw him sitting next to Alfredo, staring seriously at Alfredo’s stuff.
“What’s going on?” Linda asked.
“Check it out,” Emmett said, pointing at everything Alfredo had dumped out of his Infinite–Expansion Satchel.
Even though Alfredo was an elite student of Nimbus Bastion, he didn’t have much on him.
There was a second–tier sword and a few Fortifying Boluses. They were all basic items. The only real treasure was a few hundred Luster Shards.
The rest was just junk.
“What?” Linda asked.
But soon, her gaze caught on another stone. It looked kind of like a Luster Shard, but its color was much deeper. It didn’t give off any mana, but somehow, it stood out from the rest.
Since this was just a low–tier Infinite–Expansion Satchel, it didn’t have any owner’s seal on it.
Linda casually beckoned, and the stone landed in her hand. She took a closer look, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
The stone had a subtle blue hue. When she tilted it toward the light, she could make out some charms etched within.
Emmett looked dead serious. “That’s a Dreamstone.”
Linda mused, “A Dreamstone from Dream–Weaver Fens? I’ve heard these stones can help you attune to illusions and hone your illusion techniques.”
“That’s just the ordinary kind of Dreamstone,” Emmett said seriously.
Linda arched an eyebrow, giving the stone a little toss in her palm. “So this one’s not ordinary?”
Emmett said while getting to his feet, his face solemn, “Definitely not. This one’s straight from inside the Dream–Weaver Fens. You can think of it as a Focusing Stone.
“It’s just as crucial as the Lucent Mere is for me. If you refine and absorb it, you can wield illusion magic for a short while, and even grasp the secrets of shaping a Veil.”
Linda’s heart skipped a beat as she thought, “The secrets of shaping a Veil?
‘Isn’t that basically creating your own pocket dimension?
“That’s on a whole other level‘
Emmett said seriously, “This stone’s got no spirit left. It’s just an edge fragment, already spent, so it can’t be used again. There’s no power left for enlightenment.
“But the fact that it’s here means the Focusing Stones within the Dream–Weaver Fens must’ve been badly damaged.”
Linda was starting to follow his train of thought. “So you mean that something’s happened to the Dream–Weaver Fens too?
He said, “People always say Dream–Weaver Fens is just one Veil,ut it’s actually two. Most mages only ever make it to the
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first one. But you…”
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Emmett sneaked a glance at Linda before adding, “You’re the only one who ever uncovered the secret behind the Dream- Weaver Fens, which is me.”
Emmett puffed out his chest, looking proud.
He continued, “Normally, Dream–Weaver Fens should’ve lasted at least several thousand years. But if the Focusing Stones have been ripped out, and the Emmett is falling apart…”
Linda didn’t need Emmett to spell it out. She could already see where this was headed.
Linda thought, “This Veil is on the verge of collapse. Something’s off with this trial!
Linda didn’t hesitate. “We’re getting out,” she said.
She slipped out of the Amethyst Band, which instantly reappeared on her finger. Alfredo was left behind, just as Linda had left him.
“Should we bring him along?” Emmett asked.
Linda shot a glance at Alfredo, still lying by the river, but kept moving. “No need. Someone like him probably doesn’t know anything useful. Let’s just check things out ourselves.”
Linda hopped on her sword and sped off toward the mountain’s belly.
The wind howled around her as she flew, running through the situation in her head. The moment the Nimbus Bastion students showed up, they all made a beeline for the Ram–Head Valley.
Everyone knew Ram–Head Valley was where the Sovereign Pips were, so anyone after them would naturally head there first.
But Linda felt that the Nimbus Bastion students had gotten there suspiciously fast.
Linda had only landed at Battering–Ram Ridge by accident, so she figured she might as well check it out first.
But mages at Condensation of the Primal Core would be gunning for the mountain’s belly, where the real loot was.
On top of that, there were three of them in total.
That didn’t fit the usual teleportation rules at all.
Linda felt that the only possibility was that they already knew this Veil was about to collapse, and someone told them to go straight for the Sovereign Pips.
If that was the case, then Alfredo and his crew definitely weren’t the only squad in here.
There had to be more waiting in the mountain’s belly.
Linda picked up speed on her sword, cutting through the mist as she shot toward the broad terrain of the mountain’s belly.
As she flew, she caught sight of something unsettling. Black cracks were flickering across the sky.
Emmett said, “Figures.”
Linda’s gaze sharpened. “Based on your guess, how much longer can this Veil hold out?”
Emmett replied, “If it remains dormant, it could last a hundred years. But if fighting breaks out, it’s anyone’s guess.
“The more turmoil, the quicker the collapse. Under normal circunstances, a month shouldn’t be a problem.”
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“Got it,” Linda replied.
Linda urged her Trial of Conscience to surge ahead.
In the blink of an eye, Linda plunged into the dense, treacherous forest.
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At that moment, two teams were frantically fleeing through the forest. At the very front, a girl was lugging a giant, rainbow- hued boulder that towered over the trees.
She barreled forward, head down, tearing through the dense woods.
Everyone who caught sight of her was left utterly stunned by her sheer, monstrous strength.
Not far behind her, Craig Chavez was struggling to keep up. He yelled, “Laura, just toss it in your Infinite–Expansion Satchel
Laura Farrell, face smeared with dirt but eyes shining, looked puzzled. “It won’t fit in my Infinite–Expansion Satchel
Craig was about to smack his forehead in exasperation.
“The ring, Laura!” he called out.
He meant the ring they’d borrowed from Mack before heading out.
Laura replied, “I tried, but the ring said it needs some time.”
That was when Craig finally understood why Laura was still hauling the thing around.
He thought, ‘It needs time, sp this rainbow ore might be way too high–level for the ring to handle right now.
‘With Laura’s current level of spiritual sense, she couldn’t move it yet.
Craig was running so hard he felt like his soul was trailing behind him, but there was a whole squad hot on their heels, making it impossible for them to even think about stopping.
“Rafael can’t hold them off for much longer. I’ll buy you some time. Just get it into the ring.” Craig shouted.
Laura nodded, but didn’t slow down. She darted off to a secluded spot and started trying to store the boulder in the ring.
She was saving this for Linda.
‘Not a chance anyone’s getting their hands on it!‘ Laura thought.
Craig skidded to a halt, frantically rummaging through his Infinite–Expansion Satchel. He grabbed two bottles and dumped their contents onto the ground in a flash.
He even took out the powders he usually saved for emergencies.
The ground hissed as white smoke billowed up, melting into the thick fog. Craig quickly popped an antidote, then backed away fast and slipped into the forest.
He still gripped a bottle in his hand.
The bottle was transparent. Inside, a few tiny ants were crawling around.
Craig took a deep breath. “Don’t let me down, little guys.” He opened the bottle and let the venomous ants crawl out.
As soon as the ants crawled out, they spread their wings and buzzed into the air.
They could fly.
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Chapter 42
Craig kept backing deeper into the woods. Rafael’s voice got closer. “You ungrateful punks.
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“We found that Luster Shard mine first. We were nice enough to let you have a share, and now you’re chasing us down for more?
“Screw you.”
As he finished, a volley of blood–red arrows came whistling through the air.
Rafael jumped aside, barely dodging. He caught sight of the purple streaks on the arrows and started swearing up a storm.
Rafael shouted, “Blood Rainbow, I know who your boss is. You think those masks can fool me? I know exactly what you’re up
- to.
“Your boss killed his brother and father, stole his brother’s spot, and even married his sister–in–law.
“You losers just go along with it, helping him bully and oppress everyone else, throwing your weight around like a bunch of thugs.
“If I ever get out of here, I’ll bring justice down on you.
“I swear I’ll make you pay. Oh shit. What the hell is that smell? Why can’t I use my mana? Crap, it’s poison. I’m out.”
But while Rafael was faking his collapse, he suddenly unleashed a flurry of ice arrows.
Everyone started cursing up a storm.
“Check out my secret weapons,” Rafael yelled, flinging a bunch of hidden darts.
Rafael’s nonstop yelling was giving everyone a headache. They were all chasing after him, just itching to wring his neck.
Rafael really understood just how screwed he was.
‘If Laura doesn’t get here soon, we’re done for, Rafael worried to himself.
“Laura!” Rafael shouted.
‘Laura, we need you now. Rafael thought.
