NOVPUB
Chapter 92: 032: Departure and Journey
This is a scroll much larger than an ordinary one.
Standing over one and a half meters tall, its rolled-up diameter is close to thirty centimeters. The material appears to be the skin of some exceptionally powerful magic life form, and Lynch can feel waves of intense elemental fluctuations emanating from it—spatial, perhaps?
It looks ancient already; the decorative patterns on its surface belong to the era of the ancient wizardry, and the sealing mud has faded significantly.
Avery suddenly turned her head and asked Lynch, "Do you know what this is?"
Lynch shook his head. "No."
For some reason, he suddenly felt that Avery looked smug, as if her lips had curled into a faint smile?
She explained, "The Abyss Transmission Scroll of Larmondo—surely you’ve heard of it?"
Lynch froze, and his eyes showed a hint of astonishment.
Larmondo was a wizard organization from the Acadica Era, specialized in abyssal research. The Abyss Transmission Scroll was one of their magical inventions at the time.
Its function is seemingly simple—it enables long-distance spatial transmission.
Lynch gave Avery an odd look. Why didn’t you bring this out earlier?
Perhaps guessing Lynch’s thoughts, Avery explained, "It’s not that simple. To use it, a prolonged magic circuit activation is required beforehand, and..."
"Its mechanism involves using the mutual tug between the abyss plane and our void power to facilitate transmission. You understand what that means, right?"
The Abyss is a world distinct from the Wizard World—similar, perhaps, to the relationship between Earth and other planets.
Just as gravity exists between planets, a powerful spatial force called void power exists between the various worlds in this universe.
Some wizards discovered that this force could facilitate ultra-long-distance spatial transmission—essentially opening a void, entering it, and using void power to transport oneself to the destination before returning to the original world, thus completing the spatial transmission.
Lynch understood: "Pollution, right?"
This scroll utilizes void power from the Abyss plane. But so far, wizards have only scratched the surface of understanding the Abyss. All they know is that it’s a place of severe pollution and immense danger.
It’s rumored that Wizard Saros, one of the Seven Great Judges of the Shadow Tower, lost his physical body and transformed into a unique lifeform due to abyssal research. Lynch also recalls that the Larmondo wizard organization met its demise because of their research into the Abyss.
If this scroll is used for transmission, there’s a high chance of being tainted by abyss power, leading to unpredictable mutations that no one can foresee.
Avery continued, "Once activated, this scroll’s energy allows one person to complete a long-distance transmission. I’ve set spatial coordinates in the Tower, so once initiated, it will return us to the original coordinate point."
After a pause, she added, "My enemies don’t know I have this scroll, so using it to return would be entirely safe."
For some reason, wizard research on spatial topics has largely stagnated. Many space-related spells are remnants of ancient times, and scrolls like this one are extraordinarily rare—each use diminishes them.
Lynch fell silent for a moment and asked, "So you plan to take the risk and use it to return?"
It wouldn’t be unreasonable, given their current predicament. Heading to Crescent Bay and then north to the Ramos Duchy before turning east to return to the Dark Forest sounds straightforward, but navigating this route would be fraught with countless dangers.
Though they spent only a day or two leaving the Dark Forest, its geographic expanse is enormous. Traversing it by foot, crossing mountains and valleys, would take half a year at the very least.
Along the way, they’d face innumerable threats: venomous insects, ferocious beasts, powerful magic lives. Additionally, the area they’d traverse is chaotic and lawless, where black, white, and gray wizards run rampant, along with the possibility of pursuing forces...
Under such difficulties, using a transmission scroll—even with its risks—would be infinitely safer than traveling mountains and valleys.
Avery nodded. "It definitely comes with certain risks, but right now, there aren’t many good options..."
Saying this, she turned her gaze to Adam, who sat in the corner, and continued, "After all, his situation doesn’t permit him to travel on foot. The only choice is to have him take the risk and use this scroll. The rest... we can only pray for him."
Lynch was stunned and spoke with some surprise, "You’re planning to let Adam use the scroll?"
Without needing to ask, he already knew this item’s value couldn’t come cheap.
Avery countered, "Or do you have a better idea?"
Lynch thought for a moment.
Given the current situation, escaping while treating Adam’s injuries seemed too far-fetched. Additionally, attempting to transform him would leave irreversible trauma, taking an enormous toll.
Although using the scroll might result in abyssal pollution or unknown mutations, there indeed wasn’t a better option right now.
Lynch nodded. "Alright."
The scroll unfolded on the ground like a flat blanket. Lynch placed Adam atop it, and as the scroll activated, the space above twisted, and a spatial rift faintly appeared in the center.
A powerful suction swept downward toward the scroll. With a swish, the scroll and Adam vanished together, disappearing before Lynch and Avery’s eyes.
Avery exhaled deeply.
Then, she turned to look out the window. Despite the roaring flames outside, she inexplicably felt cold.
Tightening the cloak around her, she said, "Let’s go, then."
Without further words, she set forth boldly into the uncertain path ahead...
...
Days later, at Four Seasons Manor—a luxurious magical estate built from magic stones and countless rare materials. Owned by the Tavendish family.
In a room within the manor.
"Crash!"
A crystal goblet worth tens of thousands of magic stones shattered upon the floor. Under the magic crystal lamp’s glow, the shards reflected an enraged face.
A young man of Avery’s age stood there. His features bore some resemblance to hers, though his demeanor carried none of her poise and elegance. Instead, his air was steeped in grim darkness.
He roared, "Are you all useless bastards?!!!"
"So many of you mobilized, yet you couldn’t handle two mid-level apprentices and a single low-level apprentice. Were you all raised on shit?!"
The room was crowded with individuals whose ranks spanned low-level apprentices to mid-level apprentices, with even one high-level apprentice present. Yet none dared make a sound, formal silence filling the air.
Finally, the high-level apprentice, Rolf, braved himself forward to respond, "The main issue was intelligence. There was another person in their party—someone the report described as a low-level apprentice who turned out to be a mid-level apprentice. Furthermore..."
"Mid-level apprentice?"
The young man sneered, "Are you telling me so many of you failed your entire operation because of a mere mid-level apprentice?"
"Are you insulting me or disgracing yourself, Rolf?"
Rolf opened his mouth yet refrained from responding, for the excuse did sound implausible. Even he suspected that subordinates had simply botched the mission and were grasping for excuses.
Shaking his head, the young man worked to calm himself down; frustration would serve no purpose.
He asked, "Where are they now?"
Rolf exhaled in relief and quickly replied, "None of the checkpoint exits have spotted them. We suspect they’re hiding somewhere."
"Hiding?"
The young man sneered venomously, "Clearly, you don’t know her. Sitting idle and waiting for death could never be her style!"
He approached the long table standing nearby, where a basin of sand rested. He turned the basin over, pouring the grit across the table before raising his hand. Instantly, the sand dispersed to form rivers, lakes, mountains, and forests—the terrain of the Seven Kingdoms.
His gaze fixed upon the 3D map, a faint smirk tracing his lips.
Pointing a finger, he dragged it across the map: "Here, moving west. Toward Crescent Bay, then north to Ramos Duchy. They intend to loop eastward to return to the Dark Forest."
"The safest place is the most dangerous one, is it? Oh, my dear sister, you’re far too naïve!"
He narrowed his eyes, decisive now: "Connect the magic mirror. Get me a line to those over there."
For him, action was mandatory once resolved—his modus operandi dictated that no stone be unturned, and no effort spared. This was Luwa Tavendish’s creed of life.
At this juncture, neither side could show the slightest concession in their fight.
One of them.
Had to die.
Gazing at the map spread before him, Luwa said earnestly, "Sister, you’ll do your brother one last favor..."
"Die in peace!"
