Chapter 1337
Leon Merlin finally experienced firsthand the peculiar, bone-deep dangers lurking within the Endless Void. The sensation was nothing like what he'd imagined—he found himself wondering, not for the first time, if the universe itself was quietly conspiring against him.
Now, as the bloodline resonance pulsed ever stronger, Leon Merlin felt impatience stirring within him. Was it really Thornton Merlin himself? The possibility gnawed at him, making it hard to keep his composure.
He studied the projection of the planet, a flicker of hesitation crossing his mind. It looked so small, almost insignificant, but anything capable of casting its shadow into this subspace had to be far more formidable than that bizarre potato-shaped planet he'd first encountered. At the very least, its gravity would be exponentially stronger—he could almost feel the oppressive weight pressing down, a silent warning of what awaited.
Leon Merlin retrieved the Death Tome, inscribed an Anti-Gravity Spell onto the Sage's Chapter, and activated it, letting its magic settle over him. Nothing happened. Of course it didn't—there was no gravity here, not even the faintest pull. For a moment, he wondered if he should feel frustrated, or simply resigned to the endless peculiarities of this place.
He summoned the Void Owl, its silent presence reassuring and uncanny all at once. As it prepared to carry him into the planet’s normal space, Leon Merlin couldn’t help but wonder—was this trust, or simply necessity?
A ripple of soul energy emanated from the Void Owl, and Leon Merlin’s brow furrowed in response. He felt the subtle warning within that pulse—an unspoken question, or perhaps a gentle admonition. What exactly was the Void Owl trying to tell him?
"It can only carry those born extraordinary through the void?" Leon Merlin muttered, a trace of sarcasm coloring his voice. Was that supposed to be reassuring, or just another cosmic joke?
As the Void Owl’s message settled in, Lord Shaun and Lord Anderson immediately bristled, their indignation almost palpable. Leon Merlin could sense their frustration, the sting of exclusion sharpening the tension between them.
"You damn bastard, how dare you leave us behind..." Lord Shaun snapped, his voice trembling with outrage. The words hung in the air, raw and accusatory, echoing the resentment swirling between them.
Lord Shaun bared his teeth, clearly ready to invent some excuse and lunge at the Void Owl for a bite, but Leon Merlin simply gathered Andefa, Lord Shaun, and the others, stowing them away with a flick of his will.
The Void Owl would never deceive him. It was a being born extraordinary...
Leon Merlin glanced at the Void Owl, and suddenly, a realization dawned on him. He had advanced to Sky Rank, emerging from the Gate of Rebirth. Outwardly, he seemed unchanged, yet the essential difference was profound. He was still constructed as a human, but now he too had become an extraordinary lifeform.
Thinking about how readily the Void Owl had submitted, Leon suspected this transformation played a major role...
For one extraordinary lifeform to yield to another is not so difficult to accept. But if it were to submit to someone who was not born extraordinary, there would likely be fierce resistance.
Void Beasts are almost never tamed. That, too, is probably due to this reason. Even if a mage undergoes the final transcendental transformation and becomes extraordinary, there is still an inherent difference—or perhaps, a flaw.
Future mages have studied this: the quality of one's transcendental transformation is directly linked to their potential. If the transformation is imperfect, that potential will eventually run dry.
This is a truth, but at its core, it seems no one has ever truly unraveled it...
Those creatures with terrifying bloodlines—once their blood awakens, they can sleep their way to Sky Rank. It must be because the mark of an extraordinary lifeform is already imprinted in their blood. Natural growth, for them, makes becoming extraordinary almost effortless.
After a moment's thought, Leon Merlin suddenly realized that the benefits of a perfect transcendental transformation were far greater than he had ever imagined.