Translator: SumTLMan
When Horus saw Angel emerge from the hall holding Rosen’s head, a flicker of emotion appeared on his usually frozen, ancient expression.
The “Mechanical Beast King” Rosen might not be the pinnacle of combat power, but he is unquestionably formidable in defense. Moreover, Rosen is a bona fide second level wizard of true knowledge, on par with Horus in realm.
How could such a powerful Rosen be reduced to just a head?
Was it the power of that arrow?
Horus now somewhat understood why they all previously sensed an intense foreboding of danger. The power of that arrow had truly exceeded their imagination.
Sanders also wore a somewhat somber expression. Angel had previously mentioned that the situation wasn’t optimistic. He had surmised that Rosen might have encountered a calamity, but he hadn’t expected such a horrific outcome. Rosen, with his entire body augmented with alchemical tools and mechanical enhancements, touted unparalleled defenses, yet he was now in this state.
Who could have done this? Could it be a legendary figure?
“Is he dead?” Gloria hesitantly asked Angel.
Without responding, Angel sat down and swiftly melted a piece of orihalcum from his bracelet into a receptacle platform. He then took out his experimental tools and a rune-engraving pen, rapidly etching onto it.
“To Lady Barbie’s disappointment, I’m not dead yet,” answered Rosen’s head, which was held aloft by Angel’s Magic Hand.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” Gloria replied, clearly familiar with Rosen. “If you had died and Muse became the head of Sky Mechanical City, I fear I’d have trouble finding my favorite ingredients here.” Her tone wasn’t one of schadenfreude but genuine relief.
“What is Angel doing?” Sanders inquired at that moment.
Rosen pleaded, “I requested assistance in crafting a rune of Energy Equilibrium because my Mental Space and Magic Source Vortex have already begun to deteriorate. I need external intervention to, at the very least, slow down its rate of collapse.”
The vortex collapsing! Apart from Sanders and Angel, who was earnestly designing the rune, everyone present drew a sharp intake of breath.
This likely ranks among the direst situations any wizard fears to face.
Once the Magic Source Vortex collapses, it signifies the irreversible demise of a wizard. Moreover, such a collapse could sweep across the mysterious internal realms like the Land of the Soul and Sea of Consciousness, rendering even the soul unable to escape.
Although the disintegration of the vortex isn’t an irreversible situation, once the process begins, salvaging it becomes profoundly challenging.
Gloria looked at Rosen with a complex gaze. Facing such a significant calamity, he could still remain so composed, even seeming indifferent when speaking about it. Indeed, it befits a person capable of governing Sky Mechanical City.
When Gloria had lost her physical body, she had wallowed in desolation for a whole week.
If Rosen can speak so calmly about it, it implies things haven’t completely gone astray. Or perhaps they have, but Rosen isn’t willing to admit it.
Regardless of the truth, it isn’t their place to delve deeper. After all, this can be regarded as the internal affairs of Sky Mechanical City. The fact that they aren’t adding insult to injury is already quite restrained on their part.
After a brief silence, Sanders inquired, “Was it an arrow that harmed you?”
Rosen, without questioning how Sanders knew about the “arrow,” surmised that perhaps Angel had informed him. He simply confirmed, “Yes.”
“Where is that arrow now?” Sanders cast a glance towards the grand hall, still awash in the Sea of Light, and asked, “Is it still inside?”
Rosen replied, “… It has vanished.”
To be precise, after the arrow struck Rosen’s heart, it transformed into a shimmering mirage and completely disappeared from sight.
The arrow vanished? Such an answer seemed inconceivable, yet the assembled group wasn’t overly surprised. The ability to traverse the void without affecting anything in the physical plane and to launch a destructive attack on someone already surpassed their understanding. Hence, something even more baffling was still within their realm of acceptance.
“What exactly was that arrow?” Gloria inquired.
Rosen didn’t reply, for even he was in the dark at the moment.
As the crowd intended to probe further, an ethereal figure emitting a faint blue glow suddenly materialized beside them.
Simultaneously, a peculiar teleportation formation appeared on the wall behind them. An attractive young man with noticeable dark circles under his eyes stepped out from the formation’s runes.
The gentle blue luminescent being was none other than Antonio, the guardian spirit of the Research Institute.
The young man who emerged afterward was another city lord of Sky Mechanical City and the Director of the Research Institute. He was known as the uncrowned king of the alchemy realm in the Southern Region——”Mediocre” Muse!
The Muse they were acquainted with was usually carefree and languid. However, the Muse present portrayed a rare seriousness, his demeanor even more solemn.
After Muse appeared, he first observed the people around him and then focused his attention on the head of Rosen held by Angel.
Upon seeing most of the runes intricately carved by Angel on the platform, Muse seemed to have comprehended the situation. He took a gentle sigh of relief, glad to see Rosen was still alive.
Muse remained silent, not wishing to interrupt Angel’s etching. He paid no heed to why Sanders and the others were present, simply standing quietly to one side, waiting.
During this time, Antonio vanished for several tens of seconds. Sanders could sense where he went. Antonio headed outside to Infinite Battle Tower. He closed the door he had previously opened and simultaneously dissuaded some wizards who were drawn to the light. Once all was done, Antonio returned to the corridor, sealing the metallic hall’s main door, completely isolating the fluctuating sea of light within.
Angel carved at a rapid pace. Within less than three minutes of Muse’s arrival, he sketched out a rune symbolizing energy equilibrium on a simple carrier platform.
As a beam of light flashed, the platform emitted an extraordinary aura, indicating the successful creation of the rune. Then, with utmost care, Angel manipulated a Magic Hand to position Rosen’s head at the center of the platform. Rosen whispered his thanks, then closed his eyes, and began to realign the chaotic Magic Vortex in his Mental Space, harnessing the power of the energy equilibrium rune.
Only at this moment did Muse, who had been silent until now, softly remark, “To craft an alchemical tool that can achieve energy balance in such a short span of time is a feat only an alchemist adept in enchantment can achieve.”
“Thank you,” Antonio softly expressed his gratitude to Angel.
While they did possess tools similar to the energy balancing one, they were unaware of Rosen’s specific needs. The time it would have taken for them to learn of his needs and then search for the appropriate tool could have been too long for Rosen to endure.
Angel’s timely intervention had contributed immensely to Rosen’s chances of survival.
“Are you alright?” Muse noticed that Angel’s complexion was extremely pale.
Angel took a deep breath, leaning tiredly against the wall, “I expended a lot during my journey here. A brief rest should suffice.”
Muse nodded and then looked around, “This isn’t the place for a discussion. We’re unaware of the specifics regarding the light in the main hall. To avoid potential risks, we should leave.”
As Muse spoke, he produced an unusual short rod and gently tapped the floor with it.
A teleportation formation immediately appeared beneath their feet.
With a flash of light, including the unconscious Melanctha, everyone vanished from sight.