Entering the Magic Furnace

"No human below Legend could face the mighty power of an Ancient God head-on. His ability might be able to help you ascend the steps, but once you went up, you would have entered Vili's Divine Kingdom. He would either be expelled from the Magic Web and suffer a violent backlash, or he would have his soul scattered on the spot."

"What?"

"To be honest, when I advanced, I used the power of the magic furnace. When I ascended the steps, I even thought it was Your Majesty summoning me back." The queen shook her head. "Every Fairy Queen's advancement is like this: first returning to Vili's side, then being reborn. Now you know why it's impossible for him to come back from the steps in one piece, don't you? Let alone a mortal—even a fairy herself has to make every possible preparation."

After learning the truth, Tania sat beside Landen's bed and pondered one question: why did this human insist on using this method to help her advance? Perhaps it was pressure to survive, perhaps it was affection. In any case, Tania decided that before she advanced, she would do as much as she could for Landen—such as that red Array Core, and such as everything she would do here today.

Inside the Magic Furnace Room, the flame Great Fairy Fiana was controlling the magic furnace. Ley Line energy flowed along the city's arrays into the Honeycomb area. To Tania, last night's experience had felt like touching the threshold without being able to enter; the entire day had felt hollow and empty. And now, beneath her feet, the array had already lit up, and more than sixty Elemental Towers flickered with her will.

The storm of mana gathered once more. The Great Fairy hid herself above the Mentor Tower.