Chapter 246: Crystal Balance
"Hey, Fran's already that far ahead, why aren't you worried at all? Hurry up and catch up..." Salomon was practically more anxious than Leon, and after watching Fran disappear down the road, he kept urging several times.
"What's the rush? He can't fly away..." Leon, on the other hand, showed no sign of anxiety, trailing Fran at a leisurely pace, tracking him by a faint residual magical fluctuation.
In fact, if Salomon hadn't been so hasty, Leon wouldn't even have needed to track the magical fluctuations—he already knew exactly where Fran was headed...
Thirty thousand years later, the library held little information about Four Seasons Gorge, so Leon was just as unfamiliar with this place as Suas and the others.
But things changed once they entered the Skyspire...
Especially after stepping onto the third floor of the Skyspire, Leon suddenly remembered—he had indeed seen a document, one about the construction of the spire itself. That document mentioned Vaughn placing a set of Soulbound Relics in a massive alchemy workshop to keep it running. That set was none other than the legendary Crystal Balance.
A colossal magisteel furnace, production halls like ant colonies, crisscrossing assembly lines—Leon was certain there was no larger alchemy workshop than this. With both clues aligning, even a fool could guess: the third floor of the Skyspire was exactly the workshop mentioned in that document.
Moreover, Leon remembered quite clearly—the document back then had originated from Mercury Tower...
And yet, at this very moment, Fran claimed he was feeling dizzy...
Things had reached this point—if Leon still couldn't figure out what Fran was up to, he might as well find the hardest block of tofu and bash his head against it...
Sure enough, after tracking Fran all the way, Leon found that the supposedly 'dizzy' Fran wasn't looking for a place to rest, but was sneaking toward the center of the Magisteel Forge.
According to the document, the Crystal Balance was placed right at the heart of the Magisteel Forge...
At this point, Leon no longer needed to keep tracking—he'd already guessed almost exactly what Fran wanted, what he could do, and even how things would turn out.
Ten minutes later, Fran reached the center of the Magisteel Forge. He glanced around, made sure no one had followed, then finally pulled a crumpled piece of parchment from his pocket and began chanting the incantation written on it in a low voice...
As Fran chanted, a wisp of white smoke began to rise from beneath his feet. At first it was just a faint haze, but soon it thickened, gradually coalescing into an ancient, weathered face before Fran's eyes...
"Human, are you the one calling me?"
"A-are you Lord Griffin?" Fran was clearly startled, instinctively stepping back a few paces before nervously asking, "The avatar of the Crystal Balance?"
"I didn't expect, after all these years, someone would still remember my name. Yes, I am Griffin, the avatar of the Crystal Balance. Human, you've awakened me from my slumber—what is it you seek?"
"Wonderful, Lord Griffin! My name is Fran, a Grandmaster from Mercury Tower. I learned of your existence from ancient texts and came here with reverence and humility, hoping to obtain your power. By the way, I know restoring your freedom requires a vast amount of mana—I’ve brought plenty of Mana Crystals for you. If you agree, I’ll use them right away to help you regain your freedom!"
"Oh?" The ancient face formed from smoke suddenly let out a laugh. "Human, do you want me to serve you?"
"Y-yes!" Fran took a step back, then mustered his courage and pulled out a pouch full of glittering Mana Crystals—the lowest were Tier-10, the highest even reached Tier-20. "As long as you agree, all these Mana Crystals are yours!"
"Heh, human, what did you say your name was again?"
"My name is Fran."
"Very well, Fran. You want me to serve you—no problem..."
"Lord Griffin, you agree?" Fran's eyes suddenly blazed with excitement.
"Let me see..." A tendril of smoke coiled around Fran, circled him once, then merged back into the ancient visage. "Not bad, a Tier-5 Archmage, and your Arcane Sigil is Timeweaver's Hand. With this level of power, you barely qualify for my service. But Fran, if you want my service, you must pay a price..."
"Of course, of course, Lord Griffin! I'm willing to pay any price!" Fran's eyes sparkled, so eager he didn't even bother to ask what the price was—just nodded repeatedly.
This was the Crystal Balance...
Even Master Nolan couldn't praise the Crystal Balance enough. Supposedly, it was a set of three top-tier Soulbound Relics. Once you mastered the set, you'd instantly possess Title Archmage-level power, and your alchemical skills would soar to the level of a Worldshaper. At that point, you'd be on par with Master Nolan himself—let alone Caron or Sylas West, they'd all have to look up to you.
As for a mere Matthew Merlin...
I could crush him with a single finger!
"Very well, human. Sign this contract, and I shall serve you." The aged face formed from smoke uttered a spell, and within the hazy mist, a contract inscribed with Nesser runes materialized.
"A contract?" Fran's heart leapt. He took the contract covered in Nesser runes, scrutinized it carefully, and only then did he relax a little.
This contract isn't all that harsh...
Essentially, it keeps both parties on equal footing. I may borrow the power of the Crystal Balance, but I can't overly restrict the other side—and vice versa. When needed, the other party will provide me with strength, and in return, receive a certain amount of Mana Crystals.
In short, it's an equal contract.
A trade between power and Mana Crystals.
"What, are you unwilling?"
"N-no..." Fran was already intoxicated by the power within reach. With the Crystal Balance urging him on, his composure shattered, and he barely hesitated before making his decision: "I accept! I'll sign!"
With that, Fran bit his index finger and used his blood to sign his name on the contract.
Almost the instant the contract was completed, the aged face formed from smoke burst with a "whoosh" into a wisp of mist, vanishing into the contract itself...
"Lord Griffin?" Fran was startled. Before he could recover, a staff and two rings emerged from the swirling haze...
"Is this... the Crystal Balance?" The powerful magical aura radiating from the staff and rings left Fran frozen in place. After nearly a minute, he finally reached out to gently touch the floating staff before him...
Immediately, Fran felt a surge of power flooding into him. Though fierce and overwhelming, it felt perfectly natural, as if this power had always belonged to him. The unprecedented strength made him grasp the staff instinctively, then slip the two rings onto his ring fingers...
"This truly is the power of a Title Archmage..." Fran gripped the crystal staff tightly, eyes shining with newfound confidence—the kind that comes only when one is strong enough to sweep aside all rivals.
In this moment, Fran felt he had truly been reborn.
With the Crystal Balance in hand, even if he faced Caron head-on, the outcome was uncertain. As for Sylas West, who used to scold him at will—now, with just seventy percent of his strength, Fran could easily defeat him.
This feeling was simply incredible...
Standing amidst the swirling mist, Fran examined the Crystal Balance set on his body, feeling the surging power within. After a long while, he finally burst into a fit of joyous laughter...
"Matthew Merlin, just you wait..."
At this moment, Fran was utterly lost in the thrill of his newfound strength, completely unaware that every move had already been observed by Leon and Salomon.
"Leon, aren't you going to do something?" Salomon was nearly frantic. Watching Fran obtain the soulbound set, his magical aura soaring to Title Archmage level—perhaps even beyond Sylas West—Salomon couldn't help but urge Leon again and again.
"When did I ever say I was going to intervene?" Leon gave Salomon a bewildered look, cast an acceleration spell on himself, and said, "I should be thanking Fran! Come on, let's go—we have more important things to do..."
"Huh?" Salomon nearly dropped his jaw. He stared at Leon for a long moment before stammering, "You—you—you followed Fran all this time just to watch him get the Crystal Balance?"
"Of course! If he didn't take the Crystal Balance away, how could I possibly go after what I'm really looking for? You think that old geezer is truly asleep? Let me tell you, he's fishing—for fools like Fran. Just watch, Fran's tears are coming soon..."