In the city center stood an especially massive palace complex, as though an entire mountain had been hollowed out to build it. Farther away, a strange tower piercing the clouds drew the eye. At its peak seemed to be a huge, slowly rotating glass sphere that faintly radiated ominous energy fluctuations.
The entire city was like a precise, cold machine, every component operating according to predetermined rules. This was the imperial heart of this erroneous time and space.
A place where totalitarianism, terror, and twisted technology had been pushed to their limits.
"Attention, passengers. Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for landing."
The airship slowly descended from the high skies. The drone of its propellers sounded dull and weary in the thin air, while its enormous shadow swept across the neat, chessboard-like streets below.
"I need to find what I'm looking for quickly."
Through the porthole, Ian stared at the oppressive imperial capital, calculating how to infiltrate the king's Treasure Vault and search for materials to repair the Time Machine, as well as clues to the secret of immortality.
He closed his eyes slightly and silently circulated his magic power, sensing the city's energy field.
He could detect the omnipresent anti-magic interference waves. Like an invisible iron net, they suppressed all supernatural power. Yet he could also sense an extremely faint but exceptionally ancient Magic Power Fluctuation deep within the black spire at the city center—it was certainly not something technology could imitate. It was more like... some kind of sealed wizarding relic.
"Perhaps it's there."
Ian had already prepared to act the moment he got off the airship. However, just as it was about to dock with the air harbor tower and the passengers began gathering their belongings—
"Rumble!"
Without warning, a pale bolt of lightning tore through