Dark Star Ascending

"You didn't agree to team up last time, so I found some other people to go explore on my own.

The result was that we luckily obtained a treasure...

Unfortunately, Oren just happened to stumble upon it.

And then, as you all saw."

Olinda explained the cause and effect to Roy, connecting everything.

"What exactly are those so-called treasures?" Roy asked curiously.

He began to suspect that the Thunder Demon Eye in his hand was one of them.

The war between the Merman and Giant tribes was also because of this.

Olinda said, "Actually, you don't need to be jealous. Most of them are just inexplicable remnants of flesh and blood, and fragmented odds and ends. Besides causing monsters to mutate and bringing radiation pollution, they're useless.

Only a very few...

Only a very few are useful."

"For example, the thing in your hand?" Roy raised an eyebrow.

Olinda remained silent, clearly not wanting to discuss it further with him.

Roy didn't want to press too hard, so he changed the subject. "Alright, I won't pry into your secrets. You continue."

Olinda said, "Oren had the capital to advance more than a year ago, but he deliberately delayed his promotion to prevent being forcibly conscripted and losing the opportunity to enter there and retrieve treasures!"

Roy was surprised again. "That's possible?"

But the Wizard Tower did have such a rule.

After being promoted to Wizard, one could not remain in their home territory without special permission.

Newly promoted Wizards would be under the unified command of the Seven Towers Alliance, assigned to various worlds for external conquest and colonial rule.

That vast, boundless universe... those brutal planar battlefields...

Not everyone could survive.

"Then how exactly can we use that passage?" Roy regained his senses, focusing on this crucial question.

Olinda said, "Someone at the Astrologia Wizard Tower has divined that approximately every 23 years, a dark star passes near our Wizarding World, affecting the Astral Void.

This signifies tidal forces in space.

This year, December 12th, is when that dark star will appear in the sky.

Astrologers have announced that the entire week starting from that day is the Week of Demonic Nature, which is greatly beneficial for monster evolution, but it also has the function of opening spatial channels."

"December 12th..."

Roy estimated that if he could speed up his cultivation, he might be able to materialize all his Will Runes and reach the peak level among Advanced Apprentices in terms of Mental Strength.

At that point, perhaps he could contend with someone like Oren.

"There's still enough time to grow!"

He felt a slight surge of excitement at this thought.

But then he remembered something else. "With such a long time, Oren can accumulate more capital!"

Olinda said, "You're very perceptive... He is indeed collecting materials flowing out from inside. It's said he's planning to refine a very powerful Puppet."

Just as he suspected!

Roy immediately felt a strong sense of crisis.

A few days later.

A errand runner knocked on Roy's door, bringing him good news.

"Lord Roy, someone has responded to your message on the bulletin board. They are willing to trade, offering some of the materials you need and 3000 Magic Stones for that Lord-level Fish Pearl!"

"Is that so? Take me to him."

Roy couldn't rest and immediately said so.

Not long after, he arrived at another location in the same accommodation area and completed the inspection and transaction with the other party.

This was great news; someone had finally taken this valuable item off his hands.

Roy, without delay, immediately headed to a shop on Market Street and purchased a large quantity of materials, stocking up on the Blood Mercury raw materials needed to replace his entire blood supply.

"It's finally time. Inject the second tube and continue increasing the Blood Mercury ratio!"

Returning to his residence, Roy busied himself.

Over the past few days, he had verified many things through various means, confirming Olinda's words.

"Olinda didn't lie. Oren is indeed planning to refine a Puppet and is actively preparing for the Dark Star Ascending on December 12th to enter and seek treasures.

Also, Sophia and two other Elite Apprentices actually know about this and might also be seizing that opportunity!"

Some things were not secrets within specific circles; secrets were always for those who were out of the loop.

She had already heard of events that had such a wide scope and affected so many people.

Roy suddenly realized that his current strength and status as an Advanced Apprentice were not enough, far from it.

Only by reaching a level on par with Oren, Sophia, and the others would he be qualified to plan for the "treasure mountain" within that spatial rift.

But fortunately, he still had time.

Perhaps he could grow stronger during this period.

Roy had personally practiced the entire process of refining Blood Mercury, so his movements were still familiar as he thought.

After a while, he refined another batch of this liquid metal, which had the consistency of mercury but a deep scarlet color and a faint fluorescence.

This time, it was still a 100-milliliter dose, which he injected into himself using a syringe.

This Blood Mercury would slowly absorb ordinary blood within the body, adjusting blood pressure, blood oxygen, and blood sugar according to the body's condition...

Therefore, it required a period of time for full integration.

Roy stopped and decided to meditate for a while before going to the library to read.

Besides improving his physique to Advanced Knight or even Great Knight by replacing blood mercury, he still had many other things to do.

For example, manifesting all 24 Will Runes.

Another example, mastering more Spell Models, even if it was just a superficial understanding rather than delving deeply into the Inheritance series.

He also needed to purchase Enchanted Items and stock up on consumables like Alchemical Bombs and Healing Potions.

And various talismans and equipment.

All of these were the foundations built through gradual accumulation!

After a night.

Wu Lu Zi!

The Will Rune appeared in the air in a three-dimensional projection, emitting a silver light above Roy's palm.

This was the second Will Rune manifested.

His Spiritual Power had increased slightly again.

"The self-made diluted Meditation Potion has good effects...

If I can maintain this pace, manifesting two or more each month, I have a chance to reach the level of an Elite Apprentice around December!

However, apprentices at this level not only need adequate Spiritual Power but also knowledge and reserves of various foundations."

With the goal of "promoting to Elite" established, the more than 300 days that had previously felt quite ample suddenly seemed insufficient.

He could only seize the time and improve himself.

Roy got out of bed, dressed, and washed up.

He didn't even have time for breakfast before heading to the alchemy room in the suite to check the Thunder Demon Eye he had confiscated from the Merman Lord.

"It's time to deal with this thing.

If I utilize it fully, I might be able to significantly enhance my combat power in a short period!"