CHAPTER 170: AN ALLIANCE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Zane’s gaze drifted lazily toward the dwarf who had been staring at his wrist for the past ten seconds. Dwarf’s eyes were locked onto the technowatch like a predator spotting prey.

The dwarf finally stepped forward, beard swaying, voice rough and confident.

"Give me that artifact on your wrist. I’ll pay you."

Zane didn’t even look bothered.

"No."

The word dropped into the room like a stone.

The two other guests — the tall human woman in white robes and the serene elven sage — blinked in mild surprise. Even Lucen’s smile twitched.

Grom frowned, leaning in. "Do you even know who I am, lad?"

Zane tilted his head slightly. "Do I need to?"

Before the dwarf could bark back, Lucen smoothly stepped between them.

"Alright, Zane," Lucen said, rubbing his forehead, "let me introduce our guests first."

He gestured to the human woman.

"This is Elena Voss, the newly appointed chairwoman of the Dawnspire Institute of Solvanyr. Youngest archmage in the kingdom."

Elena inclined her head politely, her mismatched red-and-blue eyes studying Zane with quiet interest.

Next, Lucen motioned to the elf.

"This is Vira Thornleaf, chairwoman of the Sylvathen Arcane Conservatory. Known among her people as the Wise Sage."

Vira offered a gentle smile, though her dark-patterned emerald eyes lingered on Zane longer than necessary.

Finally, Lucen gestured toward the dwarf, who looked increasingly impatient.

"And this is Grom Ironfury, chairman of the Stonefang Combat Forge, master of artifact engineering, and the former mentor of our own Mira Sorenhal."

Grom puffed out his chest proudly.

"Exactly. So now you understand, lad—hand me that artifact. I’ll double whatever you were paid for it."

Zane let out a soft breath, almost amused.

"Knowing your title doesn’t change anything for me," he said calmly. "And I’m not a ’lad’."

He lifted his wrist slightly, the technowatch catching the light, and met the dwarf’s gaze with cool indifference.

"I’m Zane Creed."

A brief silence followed. Elena’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Vira’s faint smile deepened, as if intrigued. Grom froze, torn between irritation and uncertainty.

Grom opened his mouth again, beard bristling, ready to bark something at Zane — but Zane casually cut him off.

"And this?" Zane lifted his wrist slightly, tapping the technowatch with one finger. "I didn’t buy it, didn’t find it, and definitely didn’t take it from anyone."

His deep-violet eyes narrowed with a faint, amused challenge.

"This is my own creation."

Grom’s eyes widened a fraction. A dwarf who had spent his entire life forging artifacts—speechless. Elena’s brows rose in interest. Vira’s calm gaze sharpened.

The dwarf inhaled, clearly about to explode with a dozen questions—

But Caelum stepped in before the room could turn chaotic.

"That’s enough, Grom," the chairman said, voice quiet but carrying weight. "You can interrogate him later."

Grom grumbled under his breath but backed off, though his gaze stayed glued to Zane’s wrist like a starving wolf eyeing fresh meat.

He crossed his arms.

"Fine. Then get to the point. Why did you and Lucen summon the three of us here? What’s this meeting about?"

Elena stepped forward slightly, her mismatched eyes steady. "I’d like that answer as well."

Vira nodded, soft voice carrying an undercurrent of crystalline authority.

"Chairman Caelum... what exactly are you hiding?"

The room dimmed for a moment, as if the air itself recognized the shift in tone. Caelum sighed, his light-blue eyes sharpening with a rare seriousness.

"It’s a long story," he began, resting one hand on the table.

"But since all of you saw the reports... and since the situation is now too big to ignore..."

He looked each of them in the eye — Elena, Vira, Grom... and then Zane, who simply watched in silence.

Caelum exhaled.

"Let me tell you everything."

He straightened.

"About the Abyssal breach...

and why this time, the whole world is in danger."

.

.

.

.

Caelum’s voice filled the meeting chamber as he recounted everything—

the ancient seal,

the Abyssals,

their banishment,

and about Vassel who were working in the shadows to bring them back.

He spoke of the underground base, the ritual sites, the traitors that could be hidden among kingdoms...

and the night he himself almost died.

"And lastly," Caelum finished quietly, "the Abyssal commander who struck me down... would have killed me—if not for Zane’s brother."

Silence dropped like a stone.

Elena’s expression tightened, her mismatched eyes glowing faintly.

"You’re telling us," she said slowly, "that the seal on the Abyssal Realm... is breaking? And these creatures plan to invade the world again?"

Caelum nodded.

Vira pressed a hand to her lips, leaves on her earrings trembling.

"To think such a large-scale organization operated unseen... for decades..."

Her green eyes darkened. "This is no small threat, Caelum."

Grom slammed his fist into his palm, expression grim.

"And you’re saying this lad’s brother"—he jabbed a thumb toward Zane—"was the one who saved you?"

Zane smirked lightly.

"He sure did. My brother’s pretty heroic like that."

Caelum continued, tone heavy.

"The Abyssals’ greatest danger isn’t just their power or numbers. Their mana exists in a state fundamentally incompatible with ours."

He looked at each of the three chairs.

"When Abyssals mana spreads, normal mana... gets corrupted. Any mage fighting them is weakened the moment they enter the battlefield. That’s how I felt it."

Elena whispered, "Mana collapse..."

Vira frowned deeply. "So even high elves would lose their magical advantage against them..."

Caelum nodded grimly.

"Exactly. Warriors and physical fighters also dont fare much better since they covered their body with mana... and the corruption can even damage the body."

Zane suddenly stretched lazily.

"Well, the good news is," he said casually, "my brother identified their energy pretty quickly."

The three chairs turned to him.

Zane leaned back with a faint smile.

"It’s called Dark Mana—that’s the name he heard it. Apparently he picked it up during fighting the Abyssal who nearly killed Caelum."

Grom blinked.

"Dark... Mana?"

Elena frowned. "Something that can corrupts mana...?"

Vira’s eyes narrowed with interest. "A counter-force, perhaps?"

Zane shrugged, utterly unbothered.

"Who knows? My brother’s the one who heard it. I just repeat it."

Caelum let out a deep breath.

"That’s everything. The truth of the Abyssal threat... and why we need unity between all five great academies."

The room was silent again.

But this time—not from disbelief.

From the weight of war.

Elena folded her arms, her dual-colored eyes narrowing.

"So what should our approach be, then? We can’t simply sit and wait for an invasion."

Vira nodded softly. "Our first priority must be rooting out this Vassel Organization. An entity capable of weakening the seal under every kingdom’s watch... We cannot allow such parasites to burrow deeper. And we must identify the traitors within our own walls."

Caelum exhaled, shoulders heavy with responsibility.

"The war is inevitable. Whether in months or years, the Abyssals will come. My plan is simple—we prepare the next generation. I want to form an alliance between all five academies. Joint training, exchange programs, and inter-academy competitions. Rivalry creates pressure. Pressure creates growth."

He glanced at each of the three leaders.

"For decades, political tensions between kingdoms prevented any cooperation. But this crisis is bigger than borders. So—what do you say?"

Silence fell.

One by one, they gave their answers.

Elena Voss spoke first. "Dawnspire Institute will... hold off for now. Something like this cannot be approved without the Solvanyr king’s consent."

Vira Thornleaf bowed her head. "Sylvathen Arcane Conservatory accepts the alliance. The elves will not stand idle while the world is in danger."

Grom Ironfury crossed his arms, beard bristling.

"Stonefang Combat Forge declines. Our kingdom’s relations with Solvanyr are a flaming mess. The king won’t even consider a joint meeting, let alone an alliance."

Zane, leaning casually against the wall, sighed.

"Why are both of you acting like kids?"

Elena shot him a glare.

"Zane Creed, you may not understand, but unlike Astralis Arcanum, our academies answer directly to their kingdoms. We can’t even form an unofficial alliance without royal approval."

Grom grunted. "And with the current politics? Forget it. My king would sooner chew rocks than stand beside Solvanyr’s representatives."

Zane’s lips curved into a slow, amused smile.

So that’s how it is...

Looks like I’ll have to pay some kings a visit.