However, things were completely different on this planet.
The rulers of the city cluster centered around Fuyuan City had all made guesses about the relationship between Eden and Moros.
Wary of the necromancer's power, they did not dare take any action against Eden.
Though a beauty's charm was difficult to resist, the powerful and wealthy clearly valued their lives more.
The powerful figures in other regions were not blind. Seeing the strange attitude of Fuyuan City's elite, they naturally had their own misgivings.
Under such circumstances, Eden's situation was naturally far better than that of her counterpart in official history.
Just as Eden was beginning to shine in the halls of classical music and rapidly rising to prominence, researchers at a Collapse Energy research institute in Xinke City achieved an epoch-making breakthrough.
Thanks to the full support of several vampires transformed through Moros's Vampire Transformation Ritual, the institute finally developed humanity's first batch of Collapse Energy-enhanced cold weapons whose power surpassed that of conventional firearms of the same tier.
As one of Fuyuan City's many satellite cities, Xinke City's Collapse Energy research institute was closely connected to Fuyuan City's elite.
Therefore, it was only natural that several of the original sixteen vampires had been invited to participate in the research.
After all, being chosen as guinea pigs for Moros's Vampire Transformation Ritual was itself sufficient proof of the standing these transformed vampires held in the eyes of Fuyuan City's elite.
Even after the ritual elevated them into noble Childe-class vampires, their status still found it difficult to undergo any qualitative leap.
Following rigorous internal testing at the institute, these vampires displayed astonishing combat power when wielding Collapse Energy cold weapons.
Simulation results showed that a vampire armed with a specially made Collapse Energy cold weapon could swiftly and efficiently wipe out a well-equipped Special Operations Team in complex terrain such as city blocks.
Such test results undoubtedly sent the value of the Collapse Energy-enhanced cold weapons developed by Xinke City's Collapse Energy research institute soaring, turning them into important bargaining chips in the eyes of countless powerful figures.
At the same time, the strength displayed by Childe-class vampires made Fuyuan City's elite even more interested in transforming into vampires, a nonhuman species blessed with long lives.
However, while Fuyuan City's elite immersed themselves in fantasies of a wonderful future, the Collapse Energy within several blocks centered around Xinke City Collapse Energy Research Institute quietly began to increase in a subtle manner.
Honkai, this power, always emerged alongside the development of civilization and gradually grew stronger with civilization's prosperity.
Although this growth had its limits, it was obvious that the Pre-Collapse Civilization had not reached the Cocoon of Finality's true upper limit.
In that case, when the current civilization's technology achieved another breakthrough, Honkai's power would likewise grow stronger.
Once Honkai's power accumulated to a certain degree, catastrophic Honkai disasters would inevitably descend upon this beautiful blue planet.
And this time, the one about to be baptized by a Honkai disaster was Xinke City Collapse Energy Research Institute, which had achieved tremendous breakthroughs in the application of Collapse Energy.
Three months later.
"Hah..."
Moros let out a long breath, his gaze falling upon the brown-covered Spellbook.
Through his perspective, he could clearly see the striking and mysterious Ashan common tongue written on one page of the Spellbook—Mind Control.
"I finally learned it."
Moros murmured softly, a relieved smile appearing on his face.
Even with the life level of the Legendary Rank, several consecutive months of intense mental exertion had left him deeply exhausted.
Yet all of that effort and sacrifice had been rewarded at this moment.
Mind Control was the first third-tier spell Moros had mastered through the orthodox spell-learning process.
But it would not be the last Battle Spell he mastered through self-study.
Moros believed that since he could learn Mind Control, this third-tier Dark Magic spell, he could naturally learn other third-tier spells as well.
This change in mindset was Moros's greatest gain from this round of magical study.
Closing the open Spellbook, he stretched, feeling vitality return to his weary body as it loosened.
After summoning a Spectral Dragon, Moros had just been about to ride it beyond Graveyard City to recruit the units accumulated in the wilderness creature dwellings when a magical communication from outside the Demiplane interrupted his plans.
"Hi, did you miss me?"
In the communication, Pink Fairy Lady greeted Moros with her usual liveliness and playfulness.
Ever since Moros had given Elysia a Spectre Jar when they last parted, the two had become much more frequently connected.
From time to time, Elysia would share her joy, confusion, and even trivial daily matters with him through magical communication.
Had it been anyone else, Moros might have felt somewhat impatient with such frequent and unpredictable communications.
But because it was Elysia, every communication felt especially precious to Moros.
No one could refuse genuine care and concern.
Although Moros's values had already diverged greatly from those of ordinary humans due to the erosion of negative energy and his prolonged magical research, he had always cherished his sincere feelings for Elysia just as before.
"Of course."
Moros replied gently, the corners of his lips lifting into a faint, indulgent smile.
He waved his hand, signaling the Spectral Dragon to wait quietly where it was, then cast magic once more to shape a high-backed chair formed from force fields.
Leaning back leisurely in the chair, Moros continued chatting happily with Elysia.
Invitation and the Demiplane
During their relaxed conversation, Moros quickly grasped the core purpose of Elysia's magical communication.
She enthusiastically invited Moros to attend one of Eden's concerts in the Far East with her.
In only a few months, Eden had earned the qualifications to hold a solo concert through her extraordinary talent.
Even with all sorts of favorable circumstances supporting her, one could not help but marvel at Eden's exceptional ability.
"It would be my honor!"
Moros gladly accepted Elysia's invitation. A sly glint flashed through his eyes, and he promptly extended a sincere invitation to Pink Fairy Lady as well.
"After the concert, Elysia, would you be interested in visiting my territory?"
Moros's words revealed his intention. He wanted to have a deeper conversation with Elysia, perhaps even reveal part of the truth.
He firmly believed that whether Elysia knew of his identity as a necromancer or understood the existence of the Demiplane, she would not make things difficult for him.
In Moros's heart, Elysia was someone worthy of his trust.
Or rather, if there was anyone in this world whom he could trust without reservation, it was undoubtedly Elysia.
Upon receiving Moros's invitation, a bright and warm surprise flashed through Elysia's beautiful azure eyes.
"Of course, Moros. I would be very happy to accept your invitation."
Pink Fairy Lady's smile blossomed like a flower, her narrowed eyes gleaming with delight.
Her expression even made Eden, who had been quietly watching her magical communication with Moros from the side, feel a little jealous.
Sensing Eden's faint dissatisfaction, Elysia grinned and took Eden's hand, asking warmly.
"My dear Eden, what are you thinking about? Moros invited me to visit his territory. Would you like to come too?"
Eden froze slightly. She truly had not expected Elysia to invite her so directly.
As a fellow user of the Spectre Jar, Eden knew very well that Moros could also clearly hear their conversation at this moment.
She looked into Elysia's star-like eyes, and a faint ripple stirred in her heart.
However, having embarked upon the path of pursuing art, even someone as talented as Eden had to pay a price.
After briefly recalling her schedule following the concert, Eden sighed softly, a trace of apology flashing through her eyes.
She realized that she truly did not have enough time to accept her best friend's invitation.
"Elysia, I'm truly grateful for your invitation. But unfortunately, my upcoming schedule is quite packed, and I may not be able to make time to visit Moros's territory."
Knowing Pink Fairy Lady's personality well, Eden understood that if she did nothing, Elysia might refuse Moros's invitation because of her.
So, she made a small request.
"Still, I believe you and Moros will definitely have an unforgettable time there. Please convey my apologies and thanks to him for me, all right?"
"Mm..."
Seeing Elysia's puffed-up little face, Eden could not help reaching out and lightly poking it. The soft touch instantly brightened her mood.
She smiled as she coaxed her.
"All right, all right, don't be angry. When I have time, I'll definitely go play with Moros with you, okay?"
Elysia's lips curled upward slightly at Eden's actions. Though she was still somewhat disappointed, the dissatisfaction in her heart had already faded away.
"All right, then. I'll reluctantly accept your apology. But remember, next time you absolutely have to come with me!"
Listening to the interaction between Elysia and Eden on the other end of the magical communication, Moros wore a knowing smile.
He understood deeply that all the effort and busyness he had previously invested for Eden had received the sincerest response at this moment.
This friendship and trust filled him with incomparable satisfaction and happiness.
At the same time, Moros was full of anticipation for Eden's upcoming solo concert.
He could not wait to witness Eden's presence on stage and experience her extraordinary talent and charm.
After cutting off the magical communication with Elysia and Eden, Moros slowly rose from the transparent high-backed chair formed from force fields.
With a light wave of his hand, the completely transparent force-field chair quietly dissipated into the air like an illusory bubble, leaving no trace behind.
Let's go.
Stepping onto the Spectral Dragon crouched atop the Mage Guild's observatory, Moros gave the order.
"Roar!"
Under the necromancer's command, the Spectral Dragon let out a low growl, flapping its tattered dragon wings covered in dense Death Mana as it shot into the skies of the Demiplane and flew toward the most distant wilderness creature dwelling from Graveyard City—the Graveyard Military Outpost.
Graveyard Military Outpost: Increases the weekly growth rate of certain high-tier Graveyard creatures within the occupier's territory. This structure may be used to recruit high-tier Graveyard creatures.
It was precisely because of the existence of many wilderness creature dwellings like the Graveyard Military Outpost that Moros had previously lacked sufficient resources to recruit the accumulated units.
To be honest, riding a Spectral Dragon was not particularly comfortable.
At least, not for the living.
Even if one could ignore the biting cold and wild storms at high altitude, the Death Mana permeating the Spectral Dragon's body would mercilessly erode nearby living beings.
Had the sturdy barrier formed by the surging magic around his body not protected him, Moros would never have chosen this method of travel.
But reality had no ifs. Relying on his exquisite control over magical shields, the necromancer still stood steadily atop the Spectral Dragon's head.
Looking down from high above, the Demiplane's magnificent scenery stretched out beneath him, and Moros felt exceptionally calm.
This was not his first time soaring through the Demiplane's skies on a Spectral Dragon.
Moros clearly remembered the day the first Spectral Dragon had slowly crawled out of the Dragon Vault. He had ridden it then and experienced a perspective similar to today's.
Yet unlike today, when Moros had patrolled the Demiplane's skies on that Spectral Dragon, he had also cast the fifth-tier Dark Magic spell Curse of the Underworld several times, easily annihilating several newly spawned wild monster forces.
Those wild monsters had been as fragile as stalks of wheat beneath Moros's spells and the Spectral Dragon's breath, utterly incapable of resistance.
Moros's Demiplane environment had been created by a certain great existence in complete imitation of the natural environment of Ashan World.
Within Ashan World, there existed a peculiar natural phenomenon known as Special Week.
Week of Toads, Week of Hens, Week of Dragonflies...
Week of Wyverns, Week of Centaurs, Week of Skeletons...
Week of Plague, Week of Absurdity, Week of Magic...
All kinds of Special Weeks, with differing buffs, debuffs, or no effects at all, had an enormous influence on Ashan World's environment.
And within Moros's Demiplane specifically, every single-creature week left behind quite a few wild monster forces of the corresponding type.
Unit Recruitment and Transformation
After using Battle Spells and the Spectral Dragon's breath to clear away the Iron Golem and Steel Golem forces that had appeared on the road due to Golem Week, the Spectral Dragon arrived above a Graveyard Military Outpost.
This wilderness creature dwelling, capable of recruiting high-tier Graveyard creatures, resembled a church painted black, solemn and imposing.
It emitted a chilling aura, as though it could devour all surrounding light and vitality.
This was not merely an illusion.
In truth, any high-tier Graveyard Magical Building would inevitably leak a trace amount of Death Mana.
Before you continue