"Again? Your Majesty, are you beginning to grow weary of my visits?"
Hearing this, Li Mo spoke up.
The seemingly young magus, dressed in a white coat, walked upon the grand palace floor. In the empty hall, only the sound of footsteps echoed. He held his head high, chest out, brimming with confidence. The achievement of single-handedly transforming the entire Lostbelt was the capital of his pride.
"If it's about the Fantasy Tree, my answer has already been made clear. What cannot be done, simply cannot be done," Scathach-Skadi said.
Roughly a few days ago, the young magus before her had made a proposal: he needed the Fantasy Tree. By then, he had already researched the Fantasy Tree for some time and could replicate its mystery. He volunteered, hoping to modify the Fantasy Tree.
Naturally, he was refused. Mainly because the magus before her had explained the process in too much detail, and there was a risk period that could not be guaranteed. In matters concerning the survival of the Lostbelt, without absolute certainty, Scathach-Skadi would not agree. Even if he was a great contributor, it would not do.
Li Mo said, "But, respected Queen, do you truly believe the Fantasy Tree is without problems?"
His voice echoed in the palace, sounding clear and cold. Skadi asked, "Let's dispense with intrigue and scheming, shall we? I trust Ophelia, just as I trust you."
Whether it was Ophelia or Li Mo, they were both her beloved children, both receiving her equal care.
"My fondness for little Ophelia is not low. Her look of bewilderment is quite endearing. So I absolutely have no intention of sowing discord," Li Mo said.
Ophelia gave him the feeling of a child, not worth mentioning. If it were Kirschtaria or Daybit, he would be more concerned.
Perhaps this was arrogance?
No, this was strategic disdain.
After a pause, Li Mo added, "The Fantasy Tree has a certain backdoor. Its effect, after growing to a certain stage, is to nurture some kind of vessel? I've studied it carefully and believe what it nurtures is a physical body for the descent of some existence."
This statement was nine parts true out of ten. Backed by the 103,000 Grimoires, Li Mo had accumulated vast knowledge of the arcane, enough to complete an analysis of the Fantasy Tree—even if not a full one, he could simulate it.
Within it, he also sensed something inside the Fantasy Tree.
—However, his research results stopped there.
The final statement was not a research finding. Because he already knew the Alien God was born from the Fantasy Tree—of course, whether it was born or transmitted was another matter.
Knowing the outcome and reverse-engineering the process, wasn't that simple?
"What are you implying?"
"I think even little Ophelia probably doesn't know the secrets within, right?"
"It seems that Ophelia's captain has concealed quite a few things?"
"Who knows? Your Majesty, you cannot allow a lifeline to be held in someone else's hands."
The interior of the palace became utterly quiet.
On Skadi's face, a rare thoughtful expression appeared.
She said, "What you say makes sense. But Li Mo, can you resolve that so-called risk period? Or do you have a method to replace the Fantasy Tree?"
The magus named Li Mo was probably the strongest human magus in Skadi's memory, wasn't he? Even Loki was not much stronger than him.
If he could produce a viable replacement method, proving its feasibility, then Skadi would not reject his proposal.
Li Mo said, "I haven't fully understood the creation principle of the Fantasy Tree. But creating something with a similar function is possible."
Imitating and learning were what he excelled at. He was not good at original creation, but if he couldn't even imitate, borrow, and amalgamate, then what kind of magus was he?
He handed a model of a tree to Skadi. The latter examined it carefully.
So-called gods were existences far surpassing ordinary humans. As the only god of Scandinavia, after the Fantasy Tree took root, she understood its importance to the Lostbelt.
She could feel the connection between the Lostbelt and this Earth. And that same kind of connection could also be felt in the model tree before her.
"What preparations are needed to replace the Fantasy Tree?"
When a decision must be made, it must be made decisively.
Upon learning that the Fantasy Tree had a backdoor left by an unknown party, anyone with a sound mind would choose to modify it. Especially when they had the capability.
Li Mo was that capable person.
He paused, then said, "Given the current situation, creating something that can temporarily replace the Fantasy Tree is not difficult. But creating something that can permanently replace it is very hard."
Then he elaborated from a technical perspective. Although he was only a half-expert, probably no one had more experience than him in imitation. The mystery level of the Fantasy Tree was high, but Li Mo could still imitate it.
In his conception, before modifying the Fantasy Tree, he would imbue the "New Bifrost" with similar properties to stabilize the entire Lostbelt. Afterwards, he would use the modified Fantasy Tree to secure the Lostbelt's existence.
"So, what do you intend to transform the Fantasy Tree into?" Skadi listened to Li Mo's explanation, and after he finished, posed a question.
"Star Anchor."
Li Mo gave the answer decisively. "I've heard that the era of King Arthur on the British Isles was the last of the Age of Gods. Among them, the Holy Spear Rhongomyniad, wielded by King Arthur, was the tower connecting the surface and inner layers of the world, stabilizing the inner and outer worlds. I want to transform the Fantasy Tree into something like that."
"You want to turn the Fantasy Tree into a weapon, is that it?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The name of the weapon, I've already thought of it: 'Spear of the Chief God.'" Li Mo said. "It can also be called 'Gungnir.'"
Gungnir.
The Spear of the Great God!
That was Odin's weapon. That was the weapon of the King of Gods.
What name could be more fitting for the "Star Anchor" than this?
Skadi said, "You had your eye on the Fantasy Tree a long time ago, didn't you?"
"Yes. Because the Fantasy Tree is too intriguing. What kind of thing could allow a world line that has already been pruned to continue on another world line?" Li Mo said openly and honestly.
Why?
This was the secret to how he, as a magus, had come this far.
Skadi said, "I understand. Once you have completed it, come see me again."
"Understood."
Li Mo left the castle quite easily.
Skadi watched his departure, then looked up at the ceiling above. The icy blue ceiling blocked her vision, but now the entire castle was her mana pool. Using the castle's methods, her perception of the entire Lostbelt had expanded several times over.
Things unseen in the past now appeared before her eyes.
"'Spear of the Chief God,' 'Gungnir'..."
"Great God, is this your guidance?"
As the words fell.
Scathach-Skadi heard the sound of two ravens circling in the air, the flapping of their wings.