Chapter 704 — Magic Network & Divine Fire

Lady in White. The strongest Dragon of the Blood Forest Realm. The master of the forbidden area.

The white-haired woman had many identities and titles.

Yet the one that was the most important was none of these.

Rather, it was her being Liora’s pet!

Upon hearing this particular word, Ysset couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

In the past, although she had accepted this status and acted as Liora’s mount, it would be difficult to say that she had been happy about it.

However, over the past year, that feeling had changed completely.

After all, she had left the Blood Forest Realm and witnessed the magnificence of the world beyond it.

She learned how vast the Cosmic Universe was and how small the Blood Forest Realm was in comparison.

Most importantly, she learned of the terrifying nature of the woman before her.

Her master had surpassed the Emperor rank! This was all Ysset could say at the moment.

However, she felt that things were not that simple.

Even when she compared Liora with the Human Emperor of the past, Ysset felt that she was countless times more powerful. Even among beings that surpassed Rank 10, she was bound to be extraordinary!

Countless thoughts raced through Ysset’s mind.

In the end, they all boiled down to a single sentence.

"My Lord, it’s my fault. I haven’t been practicing hard enough."

She immediately apologized!

Although she felt that she couldn’t be blamed at all, Ysset was wiser than to contradict Liora’s words. It was better to admit fault.

Liora knew her thoughts.

In fact, she understood very well that Ysset could not be blamed.

Ysset had already made rapid progress since she had left the Blood Forest Realm, partly due to her own talent and partly due to the superior environment of the Cosmic Universe.

More importantly, however, it was because of Liora’s own existence.

Dragon of Time!

This form of hers still remained even after her advancement.

Even while not active, its influence would spread in its surroundings.

Liora could tell that with every passing second, the dragon bloodline within Ysset’s body would be stimulated further, as though undergoing a bloodline awakening.

The closer she drew to Liora, the more powerful the effect would become.

This gave her an idea.

It was a plan not only capable of helping Ysset grow stronger, but something that could perhaps increase her own strength as well.

Thinking that she had some time until her plan in the Human Federation bore fruit, Liora didn’t hesitate.

"Don’t resist," she said softly before waving her hand.

Ysset had no time to react. She instinctively did as told, restraining her own power.

Soon, she felt an oppressive force envelop her. Then, a sudden tug.

Before she could react, the world around her became dark.

When she opened her eyes a second later, she was no longer in the hall, nor in the Human School. Even the Nova Terra Planet had disappeared.

What had replaced all of this was a vast sea filled with celestial bodies.

And she... was currently floating in the space outside them all.

Just as she was wondering what to do, a figure coalesced a few feet away from her.

"I’ll give you an opportunity. If you’re lucky, you might be able to advance further."

"Rank 11 is a given. Whether you can reach Rank 12 will depend on your own efforts," Liora said.

Then, the familiar force descended upon Ysset yet again, dragging her away toward one of the many worlds within the Cosmic Sea.

--

"It’s time! It’s finally time!"

On the top floor of a high tower that seemed to pierce through the sky and reach into the heavens, an excited shout suddenly echoed.

A young-looking man stared at the blue web floating in front of him. His excitement was impossible to conceal.

He had succeeded! His experiment had finally succeeded!

After millions of years, he had finally managed to build the Magic Network!

Recalling the efforts he had gone through all these years, the man couldn’t help but tremble.

It had been billions of years since the creation of the world. By now, the legend of the Dragon of Creation had long since become a tale regarded as a myth.

Even so, humanity’s situation had hardly become any better since then.

Humans were simply too weak!

Whether it was the mighty dragons that towered above all existences or the magical beasts that possessed innate powers beyond cognition, they were not something humans could contend with.

Although the existence of Mana had given them ways to fight against these creatures, the situation of humanity was still delicate.

All the opposing races had powerful beings serving as their ancestors. Without a true powerhouse having been born in the human race, there was no way for humanity to stand on the same level as them.

... Until now!

Staring at the Magic Network in front of him, the man burst out laughing.

At first, his voice was low. But as time passed, his laughter grew louder and louder until it spread throughout the tower.

Then the kingdom. Then the entire world.

Within moments, manic laughter echoed throughout the Mortal Plane, alarming countless creatures.

Those weaker were astonished. They could not comprehend what was happening.

As for the strongest among them, they all turned toward the human kingdom in unison.

A bloodthirsty light flashed in the eyes of several of those beings. Their auras surged, and they looked ready to take action and kill this anomaly.

Unfortunately, they soon discovered that it was too late.

Before they could take action, the laughter suddenly ceased.

From the highest tower in the human kingdom, azure threads rushed out and wove into the sky, transforming into a web that bound the entire world.

Then, a booming voice resounded throughout the Mortal Plane.

"Today, I, Hermes, establish the Magic Network!"

"From now on, any human who has refined Mana can connect to the Magic Network, gaining knowledge and assistance in their spellcasting."

Accompanying these words was a soaring aura, stemming from the magic tower and quickly spreading beyond it.

It carried a sense of holiness and majesty.

Ordinary creatures could not recognize what this meant.

But those who had previously tried to stop Hermes did.

Their expressions visibly changed.

"Divine Fire!"

"...Demigod!" they slowly spat.