Victor soared through the sky, his robe billowing as he maintained a steady pace. Below him, rolling hills and dense forests stretched endlessly, a sea of snowy green occasionally broken by frozen rivers and small villages. He wasn’t in a particular rush, as he wanted to savor the journey, but at the same time, he had a route planned out.

  As he passed over Brightmoon City, he glanced down at the bustling streets. The city was quite lively for its size, and he couldn’t help but think of Lillie. The city that had once shunned her now carried on, utterly oblivious to the fate of their former lord’s family and the girl they had cast aside.

  Leaving Brightmoon City behind, Victor picked up speed. His path led eastward, toward a region where several cities were located, including the main city under the direct influence of the Arcane Radiance College. However, he had no intention of returning to his old academy.

  Beyond the city, the landscape slowly changed from forests and villages to a vast, murky expanse — the Malevolent Swamp. This region was infamous for its treacherous terrain and the countless extraordinary life forms that dwelled within. When he had first traveled to the Thornwood Forest, this swamp had been one of the greatest obstacles in his path. But now, except for a few dangerous magical beasts, the creatures lurking below no longer posed any real threat to him.

  As Victor flew over the swamp, the thick mist rising from the murky waters below obscured much of the land. The stagnant air carried the scent of decay and damp earth, totally different from the fresh sky above. He was just about to increase his speed when—

  Whoosh!

  A massive shadow surged upward from the depths. In the blink of an eye, a colossal fifteen-meter-long serpent with dark, scale-covered skin and glowing amber eyes lunged toward him with its jaws wide open, aiming to swallow him whole.

  Victor barely glanced at it before raising his hand. With a mere thought, a wave of Cosmo energy erupted from his fingertips, forming a sharp, crescent-shaped slash that cut through the air toward the assailant.

  The serpent’s forward momentum halted instantly. A clean line formed across its midsection before its upper half slid off its lower half, crashing into the swamp with a massive splash. The remaining part of its body twitched violently before going still, staining the murky waters with its dark, steaming blood.

  Victor scoffed. “Didn’t even last a second.”

  Based on his estimation, the serpent was almost on par with a newly advanced Elemental Adept Magus. But aside from its sheer size, it had little else going for it. Still, being able to kill it by simply manipulating elemental energy and without using a Bet-tier spell, Victor sure had gone a long way since his battle against the queen spider.

  After retrieving the useful parts of the beast and storing them in his interspatial ring, Victor resumed his flight, leaving the swamp behind as he soared toward his next destination, maintaining a steady pace as he passed beyond the Malevolent Swamp. The mist gradually faded, giving way to rolling plains and scattered woodlands.

  A full day passed as he continued flying nonstop. The wind howled past him, ruffling his Magus robe as he soared high above the land, where few could follow. Occasionally, he spotted villages and small towns below — isolated settlements where farmers and traveling merchants went about their lives, utterly unaware of the powerful Magus gliding silently above them.

  Victor Asteriscus

  HP: 100%

  MP: 1480/1739

  Despite the constant expenditure of infused mana, his reserves remained plentiful. His adventure and insights gained inside the Dreamscape had greatly improved his efficiency, allowing him to travel without rest for a long period of time. Nevertheless, he knew that he would need to stop soon, not because of exhaustion, but because he had finally reached a major landmark on his journey.

  When the sun dipped toward the horizon, Victor spotted the silhouette of a grand city rising in the distance. It was surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls, resembling an island floating in the sky. Unlike the medieval-style cities and towns he had passed before, this one had a distinctively different atmosphere — tall buildings lined the streets, adorned with massive bronze and iron pipes that billowed out white steam. Towering clockwork towers and spires reached for the sky, some connected by intricate walkways and steel bridges, while rotating gears and mechanisms embedded into the architecture gleamed in the evening light.

  Most notably, massive dirigibles — far larger than the one Victor possessed — hovered above the city. Some were cargo airships, while others were clearly meant for passenger travel. They docked at enormous floating platforms where merchants and travelers disembarked.

  Additionally, two long steel cables stretched between each of the twin obsidian towers at the city’s center, with the smaller towers below the cliffs. Cable cars were gliding back and forth, being pulled by the giant rotating gears, carrying passengers high above the streets. The entire city was a seamless blend of magic and machinery, pulsing with industrial ingenuity.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Victor slowed his flight, descending toward the city’s outskirts. This would be a convenient place to rest briefly before hitching a ride on a dirigible toward the nearest industrial hub near his family’s territory. Furthermore, it was the perfect opportunity to gather useful information before continuing his journey.

  Soon, his boots touched down on the paved road covered with an inch-thick snow leading into the city. Unlike the usual dirt paths, this road was well-maintained, lined with lampposts powered by tiny light stones and mana crystals. The city’s name, Tesserath, was engraved on a gold plaque near the gates — one of the major trading hubs in the region, and a melting pot of commerce, industry, and Magus influence. Even a major Magus market was located here, drawing all sorts of Magus forces from all over.

  Victor pulled up the hood of his robe, blending seamlessly into the bustling crowd as he approached the entrance. Flashing his insignia as an acolyte of Arcane Radiance College to the guards, he was granted passage without issue.

  Inside, the city was alive with activity — merchants peddling exotic goods, workers hauling crates toward mechanical lifts, and Artificers fine-tuning automatons that scuttled between storefronts delivering parcels. The scent of oil, metal, and freshly baked bread filled the air, mingling with the distant sound of steam engines hissing from the towering factories deeper in the city. Compared to this place, Brightmoon City felt like a backwater village.

  As he passed a newsstand, a paperboy’s voice rang out over the noise. “Special report! Strange occurrences in the eastern frontier! Read all about it!”

  Victor paused for a moment, glancing at the printed headline. The article mentioned rumors of anomalies appearing in the border regions, such as unexplained supernatural phenomena, a newly discovered ancient ruin, and a supposed Magus sighting of a spatial distortion.

  Interesting. Could this mean a secret pocket dimension was on the verge of appearing? Or perhaps the remnants of a forgotten Magus lab and experiment?

  Victor didn’t linger as he continued toward the city’s airport, a massive floating platform where dirigibles came and went at regular intervals. He would have to first book himself a ticket for a fast-travel dirigible heading east to his homeland. That was, of course, if nothing else caught his attention first.

  Approaching the ticket counter, Victor asked, “How much for a VIP ticket to the Aporo region, Twin Amber City?”

  “Ten novice-grade mana crystals,” the seller replied curtly.

  For most acolytes, this fee was steep. However, for a loaded official Magus like Victor, it was nothing more than pocket change. Without hesitation, he retrieved the exact amount from his interspatial ring and placed the shimmering crystals on the counter.

  The seller barely reacted as he processed the transaction, sliding over a small engraved plate — the ticket. “The departure will be tomorrow morning.”

  “Mm.” Victor nodded and turned around.

  There were multiple tiers of tickets available. The cheapest cost only one or two mana crystals, depending on the destination, but those passengers would be crammed into a tight space with little comfort. In contrast, a VIP ticket guaranteed a private room, one nearly as spacious as the larger cabins on his personal dirigible. It was an easy choice.

  With the ticket now in hand, Victor made his way toward the lodging district to secure a place for the night. Naturally, he chose one of the most extravagant inns in town called “Rose Garden.” It appeared that this place catered to many wealthy merchants and even powerful mages, offering luxurious rooms, refined amenities, and magic wards for added security and privacy.

  After paying for a night’s stay — a cost that would’ve made the old Victor flinch — he ascended the polished staircase to his assigned room on the third floor. The hallway was quiet, with velvet carpeting underfoot and magic lanterns glowing softly along the walls.

  Opening the door to his room, the interior did not disappoint. It was spacious and tastefully decorated, with a four-poster bed adorned with silk sheets, a cozy fireplace that radiated a comfortable warmth, and a small bath in the adjoining room. A faint aroma of flowers lingered in the air, likely from the diffuser on the table.

  Victor sat by the window for a moment, watching the dirigibles glide silently across the city skyline. However, his night wasn’t over just yet. After a short rest, he stood up and prepared to head out. It was time to visit the other reason he came to Tesserath — the hidden Magus market beneath the city.

  As he descended the staircase, there was a commotion near the inn’s front counter, cutting through the ambient murmur of the lounge.

  “What do you mean there are no vacant rooms left?! Do you have any idea who I am?” A man’s sharp voice echoed.

  “I apologize.” The innkeeper bowed. “The last room was rented out just minutes ago.”

  Victor paused at the foot of the stairs, looking at the source of the voice. There, standing at the counter, was a young man clad in travel-worn but expensive acolyte robe. His long, golden hair was tied back in a neat tail, and his face was contorted in frustration. Pinned to his chest was a finely crafted sigil brooch — a clear sign of status and influence.

  Beside him stood a young woman with striking blonde hair, also dressed in an acolyte robe. Her posture was calm, but the faint glow of mana around her suggested she was no less formidable. From their fluctuations, both of them were at the peak of the third stage of Initiate Attunement — about equal to where Victor himself had once been before he came to the Thornwood Forest.

  “Tch. This is absurd,” the man snapped. “Do you know how far I’ve traveled? And now you’re telling me there’s no room? I demand you evict someone of lesser standing!”

  “I’m afraid I cannot do that,” the innkeeper said firmly, though sweat was starting to form on his brow. “All our guests are of equal status once checked in.”

  Victor wasn’t interested in the drama, but something about the man’s voice tugged at his memory. He narrowed his eyes briefly to study him more closely before realizing that he had met this person before. Ah, I remember now. That’s right. Wyne — the apprentice of one of the deans back at Arcane Radiance College, who also comes from a marquis household. No wonder he’s acting like he owns the place.

  It could be said that his status was almost comparable to that of Graviel’s, but for the current Victor, it was not something worth noting.

  As Victor was about to slip out of the inn’s main entrance, the person in question blocked his path and pointed at him.

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