A brand-new tower rose proudly on the high ground west of Winterkeep Castle, with the perpetually snowbound peaks of the northern realm stretching into an undulating curtain behind it.
The tower was built of steel and concrete, with a hexagonal base and clean, straight lines. Flowing light drifted through the runic patterns and Magic Conducting Metal along its lower section, as if it possessed surging life. Massive support structures with Mechanical Structure and a Crystal Array formed from multiple crystals were fixed atop the tower. In the frigid winds of this far northern land, a translucent Magic Shield kept out the frost and snow, while the Crystal Array at the summit continuously made minute adjustments to its structure and angle within the shield.
It had not yet been activated. At the moment, the Crystal Array was further adapting to the magical environment around Winterkeep Castle.
Amid a gust of snow and wind, Victoria and several High Rank Mages slowly descended from the sky onto the high ground, which was tightly guarded by several military watchtowers and a ring of fortifications. She raised her head and saw the tower gleaming in her line of sight, piercing the heavens like a sharp sword. A faint smile inevitably appeared in her eyes.
This was probably the most beautiful of all the Magic Net main hubs across the Empire—its white color scheme and simple, forceful lines might have seemed plain, yet they perfectly complemented the surrounding environment. When designing this tower, Victoria had personally participated in several stages, ensuring that the northern main hub's style matched the equally snow-white Winterkeep Castle beside it to a certain degree. Now, she was extremely satisfied with the tower's final appearance.
And its connection to Winterkeep Castle went beyond that.
Beneath this high ground beside the castle's main