Chapter 441: White Tower Star Ring |
「Vivian, you really should review the modern history section of 《Ancient Magic History》. These are all quite basic things, you know—」
「Cough, cough, I remember now—I was just a little dazed for a moment.」
Hearing Janna’s voice through the sound transmission, carrying a faint tone of “reprimand”, Vivian coughed in mild embarrassment before quickly turning her head, pretending indifference as she looked out the window.
The city of Dordogne covered an enormous area. Even with the mechanical carriage running at a speed comparable to that of an automobile from her previous life—provided there was no traffic—it still took nearly fifty minutes to reach the region where the White Tower stood.
「So this is the White Tower? It’s magnificent!」
The one who spoke was Yuli-Shelan, whose appearance was sweet and charming.
In truth, it wasn’t just her. The moment all the apprentices inside the carriage caught sight of the White Tower standing proudly in the distance through the windows, every one of their faces revealed an expression of astonishment.
Pure white. Towering. Mysterious.
Apart from the nearly two-hundred-meter-tall tower body itself, what shocked everyone even more was the enormous Star Ring encircling the tower in a vast circular formation.
As the carriage drew nearer to the White Tower, Janna, who could now see the full shape of the “Star Ring,” couldn’t help sighing in her heart.
However, unlike the “Saturn Ring” of her previous life, which was formed of ice, dust, and rock particles, the “Star Ring” surrounding the White Tower was truly made of countless stars drawn from the vastness of the cosmos.
Of course, according to Janna’s conjecture, the stars within that “Star Ring” were merely illusory projections of the real cosmos, rather than actual celestial bodies.
「Honored Sage, may I ask—are the stars surrounding the White Tower real, or are they illusions?」
Just as Janna was still pondering, Jose-Gold, sitting beside Gushan-Rav, suddenly spoke up.
「They are all real.」
Real!?
Hearing Gushan-Rav’s words, Janna couldn’t help widening her eyes in surprise.
「Those are the actual bodies of the Fallen Stars from the 【Material Plane】—compressed billions of times over. Therefore, if you wish to stay alive, do not approach the 【White Tower Star Ring】 carelessly. Otherwise, you will only lose yourselves within the 【Fallen Stars】.」
【Fallen Stars】?
Listening to the unfamiliar term spoken by Gushan-Rav—something she had never read in any of her textbooks—Janna’s thirst for knowledge once again surged uncontrollably.
「We’ve arrived. Everyone, get off.」
As the mechanical carriage came to a stop near the White Tower, the group began to step down one after another.
「Welcome to the White Tower. I am 【Number 1009】, your guiding spirit.」
No sooner had they stepped off the carriage than a peculiar, book-shaped creature fluttered over and began introducing itself.
That thing… wasn’t it an alchemical creature?
Looking at 【Number 1009】’s strange form, Vivian couldn’t help sending a curious voice transmission to Janna.
「It should be a Spirit Realm creature. I can feel the presence of life emanating from its body.」
Hearing Janna’s reply, Vivian nodded slightly.
「For this occasion, I shall be the one responsible for guiding you into the barrier. Please, follow me.」
Saying so, 【Number 1009】 began to flap its wings—made from its own book covers—and flew toward the direction of the White Tower.
Seeing this, Janna and Vivian exchanged glances before following behind Anthony-Rook and the others, heading together with 【Number 1009】 toward the entrance barrier of the White Tower.
「So the 【Star Ring】 around the White Tower is actually a guardian barrier——」
Sensing the magical fluctuations around them, Janna and the others, under 【Number 1009】’s guidance, successfully passed through the barrier.
Then, as they stepped across the 【Star Ring Barrier】, the scenery before their eyes underwent a breathtaking transformation.
「Is this… the universe?」
Space twisted—stars replaced the sky. A second ago, it was still bright daylight, yet now the heavens had turned dark, and even the towering two-hundred-meter White Tower had vanished, replaced by a boundless expanse of glittering starlight.
「Everyone, ahead lies the 【Book World】 created by the 【Lord of Wisdom】. Apart from the participants of this trial, the rest must remain here.」
Hearing 【Number 1009】’s announcement, Janna’s first reaction was to look toward Anthony-Rook in front.
「You all go on. I’ll wait for you here.」
At his words, Janna, Vivian, Gawen-Toul, and Soro-Flare—the four apprentices representing White Coral Academy—nodded in unison. Together with the three apprentices from Blackbone Grove and Mist Tower, they followed 【Number 1009】 deeper into the “universe.”
「Whalala——」
They had barely taken a few steps forward when, suddenly, a gigantic book—at least three meters tall—appeared right before them.
The pages turned.
Before they could even react, 【Number 1009】 had already flown into one of the book’s pages and disappeared.
「Such a huge book!」
Gawen-Toul couldn’t help exclaiming in awe at the sight of the colossal tome.
「Whalala——」
The pages flipped again. Seeing 【Number 1009】 already enter the 【Book World】, Reiman-Tulan didn’t hesitate—he jumped straight in.
Immediately afterward, Jose-Gold and Yuli-Shelan, the two Black Wizard apprentices who refused to fall behind, followed suit and leaped into the book.
「Let’s go in too.」
Unlike the aggressive Black Wizard apprentices who always competed for first place, the White Wizard apprentices led by Janna were more cautious.
After confirming that the book showed no abnormal reactions, Janna and her companions entered the 【Book World】 one after another.
「Whalala——」
The pages turned rapidly. Once everyone had entered the 【Book World】, the book slowly closed, transforming into a dazzling burst of starlight before vanishing into the vast cosmos.
「Let’s head out as well. Given his usual style, they won’t be coming out anytime soon anyway.」
With that, Gushan-Rav lightly tapped his bone staff, and a large expanse of white bone swiftly sprouted beneath his feet.
「By the way, Anthony, you still owe us that meal—.」
「Whalala——」
The sound of pages turning echoed constantly in Janna’s ears.
At the very moment she leapt into the 【Book World】, she felt her entire body dissolve into countless black symbols resembling tadpoles.
Her vision shifted—from color to black and white—before once again transforming into a crayon-like texture filled with grainy color.
「Respected Miss Janna-Roland, welcome to the 【Book World】 created by the 【Lord of Wisdom】. I am your guiding messenger, 【Number One】.」
【Number One】?
Wasn’t it 【Number 1009】?
Hearing the unfamiliar voice beside her ear, Janna’s previously dazed consciousness gradually cleared.