"..."
'Take down a Calamity?'
Cocotte didn't believe that.
A Calamity was a manifestation of the world's elemental forces. Although it was already shocking enough that Viktor could defeat a Storm Dragon King, saying that he'd defeated a Calamity before…
The power difference between a Storm Dragon King and a Calamity was simply too enormous.
But she didn't want to make Viktor angry. Even though she didn't believe him at all, Cocotte still nodded.
After all, even she had never seen what a Calamity really looked like.
Just the fact that a Storm Dragon King had been beaten to death by a human mage for the first time was enough to shatter her worldview quite a bit.
The group talked as they walked. Soon, the storm around them began to calm, and a long-missing ray of light broke through.
"We've arrived."
Cocotte, who didn't know when she had woken up, suddenly spoke from behind Viktor.
Aurelian also stopped and looked ahead.
The sight before her eyes made her feel slightly uneasy.
The surrounding walls seemed alive, constantly bulging and sinking. Between the ruins floated stairways that twisted like slow-moving tentacles.
Even the floating clouds were slightly distorted, reflecting shifting faces and morphing without pause.
As those clouds gradually faded away, she finally saw the sight known as the Skyland.
A pure white structure stretched upward, its twenty-four wings endlessly fluttering, so radiant that the light reflecting off it seemed to tear the sky open.
The building was divided into seven circular layers. On the uppermost layer stood three towering statues, three human heads, half-broken, fused together and suspended in the air.
Led by Cocotte, they arrived at the third circular layer.
When they pushed open the slanted gate, a pure white light shone down from above.
In the hall of the Council stood only one familiar figure, Haim Horn.
Like a vision of the mind, his face couldn't be seen clearly.
A thousand people would see a thousand different faces.
Only his eyes were unforgettable.
"Welcome to the Mage Council, Lord Viktor."
Haim's voice was gentle and reassuring.
"Please forgive the Council's abrupt reception. The other councilors are occupied with important matters, I hope you can understand."
"They only appear once a year, during the Grand Mage Council."
Viktor nodded. That, he understood well.
He had met all the elder mages of the Council before and knew their identities were far from ordinary.
People of such high standing naturally had much to attend to.
Haim and Cocotte were both administrators of the City of Mages, though their situations were different. Cocotte lived in Endymion only because she had no choice.
Though she held the title of councilor, she felt more like the Council's mascot.
The Mage Council consisted of twelve members, each one a powerhouse.
In game terms, they were all above level 48, peak fourth-tier mages, though only a few had reached the fifth tier.
Haim also noticed the princess standing behind Viktor. He bowed slightly and said, "Welcome, Your Highness."
Seeing Haim, Aurelian hid behind Viktor, uneasy. In her eyes, this mage was a weirdo.
She felt nervous, she could sense just how powerful he was the moment she entered.
But this faceless mage seemed to know her?
"Don't be surprised, Princess Aurelian," he said.
"The wisdom of mages encompasses all things. And among our Council, there is one member you might already know."
Aurelian looked confused. The illusionary mage didn't hide anything and said, "Rachel Azure, the headmaster of your Empire's Academy."
"But he's currently in the Empire, repairing the damaged academy. You won't be seeing him today."
Haim looked at the princess, but though he was secretly astonished, he didn't show it.
Mages were all shrewd people. The moment he saw Aurelian, Haim understood that Viktor had already handled everything.
The Mage Council might be independent of any nation, but that didn't mean it was stronger than them.
Let alone the Empire's immense power, no mage in their right mind would dare provoke Aubrey Sol, that monster.
Of course, even if the princess hadn't come, Haim had already planned to agree to Viktor's request.
The more he looked at Viktor, the more impressed he became.
Viktor's overwhelming strength in the Magic Canyon had made Haim realize that this man was worth any price to recruit.
Considering Viktor's high position in the Empire, he was even the princess's private tutor, that status alone was quite intimidating.
Viktor met every requirement the Council could ask for, except morality.
As for morality?
Oh, my god, mages had a very flexible sense of morality.
If a mage didn't do bad things, that already made him a good person.
"Enough with the flattery. Where's the thing I asked for?"
Before Haim could even figure out how to start, Viktor had already cut straight to the chase.
"Don't be impatient, my friend. What's yours will always be yours."
Though Haim's face was hidden, his amused tone made his smile clear.
He waved his hand, and two rifts in the void tore open, from which fell a robe and a staff.
The black staff's shaft was carved with ancient runes, and a gem with a crimson gleam was embedded at its top, brilliant and mysterious.
The robe's collar flowed with faint purple patterns that spread down its seams; its red-black fabric looked simple yet refined.
"These two items were custom-forged by the dwarves' finest magical craftsmen, priceless treasures."
"Of course, these are gifts from the Mage Council to you, Lord Viktor. Free of charge."
He chuckled lightly and gestured, and the two pieces of equipment floated toward Viktor.
Viktor examined them, and their attributes appeared before his eyes.
[Staff: Urust]
[Effect: +700 Spell Power, +50 All Resistances, +40% Casting Speed]
[Skill: Copy: 30% chance to instantly duplicate the last spell without consuming mana. Increases chance by 15% when equipped with 'Gaia'.]
[Mage Robe: Gaia]
[Effect: +5000 HP, +50 All Resistances, +30% Spell Power]
[Skill: Veil: Every 360 seconds, creates a magic shield that blocks one enemy attack. After the shield breaks, it stuns all enemies within 5000 meters for 1 second.]
The equipment's stats left Viktor quite satisfied, without doubt, they were perfect for his current level.
Before he could speak, Haim continued, "Lord Viktor, crossing the Magic Canyon has already proven your strength. You are worthy of a seat among the Council."
He flicked his finger, and a round insignia floated toward Viktor.
On the silver disk were engraved three half-broken human heads.
When Viktor accepted it, a faint thread seemed to link him with Endymion.
A councilor's identity, what a novelty.
After all, no player had ever reached this position before.
A councilor of the City of Mages always enjoyed the Council's full support and protection. This identity carried great status in any nation.
"This position was decided unanimously," Haim said. "From now on, Cocotte will no longer serve as a councilor."
There could only be twelve members. With Viktor joining, one had to step down.
Naturally, that person could only be the "mascot," Cocotte.
She merely pouted and said, "I don't mind, as long as I can keep sleeping."
Vega squinted and spoke to Viktor through their mental link.
["So mages always have such flexible morals?"]
This Haim, when he'd first corresponded with Viktor by letter, their negotiations had been full of gunpowder and tension.
Yet now, he was grinning like an old chrysanthemum, just short of engraving flattery across his face.
But Vega understood these mages.
Viktor's strength was far beyond that of a normal fourth-tier mage, so great that even Vega couldn't comprehend it.
Before meeting Viktor, no one could have imagined that a mage could possess such terrifying offensive power.
'Weren't mages supposed to be elegant?'
'Calm, calculating, and mysterious, reciting noble incantations,' That was what Vega thought a mage should be.
Viktor? He only matched the "calm and calculating" part.
His magic was pure violence...
After everything was settled, Haim prepared to leave.
"Lord Viktor, now that you've joined the Council and matters are done, I'll take my leave."
"If you have any further questions, you can ask the former councilor, Cocotte."
"Have fun, Lord Viktor."
"Mr. Haim."
Just as Haim was about to leave, Viktor called out to him.
He turned, curiosity in his eyes.
"Lord Viktor, is there something else?"
"Have you forgotten something?"
Viktor stood with his hands in his pockets, staring calmly at him.
"Hyjal, the power source of Endymion."
Councilors had the right to visit Hyjal, where natural energy was immensely abundant.
Any mage who trained there would see their magic power grow significantly.
Hearing Viktor's request, Haim fell silent.
In truth, he had been trying to avoid this topic all along.
Recent prophecies about Hyjal's instability had left the Council uneasy, so everyone was avoiding the subject.
But before he could make up an excuse, Viktor spoke again.
"Don't forget why you came to me."
"When you ask for someone's help, you need to show sincerity, Mr. Haim."
Hearing this, Haim sighed and shook his head.
Since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well go along with it.
"Very well, Mr. Viktor. Please, follow me."
Aurelian still seemed dazed. Much of what her teacher and the high mage said was beyond her understanding.
What was a councilor? What was Hyjal?
She didn't know much about Endymion, but she was clever enough to know when to stay quiet.
So she didn't ask.
Haim turned to her and said, "Princess, you must wait here in the Council chamber for a while."
"Only councilors may enter Hyjal."
Aurelian looked toward Viktor. When she saw him nod, she nodded as well.
"I understand."
Cocotte yawned and pointed to herself.
"Hey, what about me? Can I come too?"
"Of course. As a former councilor, you still have the right to enter Hyjal."
Haim Horn grasped the emblem on his chest and drew a line in the air with one finger.
From the void, twisted branches extended outward, sprouting leaves as a dark, deep passage appeared before Viktor.
Tiny eyes blinked on the buds, all staring at Viktor.
"This is the passage to Hyjal."
"Come, Mr. Viktor."
"Cocotte, you too."
Under Haim's guidance, Viktor stepped into the lush, shadowy path, Cocotte trailing behind.
The narrow path spiraled downward into the depths.
Their feet fell on a transparent walkway, aside from the few plants at the start, everything else was pure darkness.
This was a separate dimension.
Soon, the group reached the end of the path.
It felt as if they had passed through a transparent wall, and before Viktor's eyes appeared a gigantic emerald-green magical tree.
Its sprawling roots reached deep into the void. Viktor looked downward, just like in the game, Hyjal's true source couldn't be seen.
The colossal tree before him looked as if it had been cut in two, its upper and lower halves separated.
From the jagged split in the trunk floated fragments of bark-like magical matter orbiting a glowing orb.
That green orb pulsed continuously, channeling energy into the great tree.
Its upper branches extended toward the sky, leaves brushing the dome. Around its crown circled seven rings of white light.
Each ring represented one layer of Endymion's structure.
"Mr. Viktor, we've arrived."
"This… is the deepest part of Endymion, Hyjal."