Wizarding World.
Ian confirmed with Zul one last time that the Black Erosion Realm was safe and he could teleport there again.
With a thought, he activated the Mimicry Rune. He now looked like an ordinary Flame Demon commander, neither especially strong nor weak—nothing that would stand out in the Abyss.
Ian glanced at the scrolls on his workbench. They were all theoretical models of the Abyssal Third Layer.
There was too little data. Most of the models were guesswork.
But he could be sure of one thing: the Third Layer's rules were far more complex than the Second Layer's. Any wizard below level six who went in would be walking to his death.
He closed the laboratory door and stepped into the Teleportation Array.
Dragon Domain, throne hall.
When Ian appeared in the center of the hall, Zul was lounging on the throne, toying with a fist-sized Rule Crystal.
Seeing Ian, Zul tossed the crystal to him.
"You're back."
Ian surveyed the hall. The crystals in the vaulted ceiling shone much brighter than last time. The floor had been relaid, and the reliefs on the walls had been restored.
"You renovated the place?"
"With the fortune the Black Dragon saved up. Might as well use it."
Zul rose from the throne and stretched. His joints gave a faint creak.
With two Lord's Authorities bolstering him, he seemed like a different person from half a month ago.
The air trembled slightly as he walked, and a terrifying aura occasionally leaked from him.
Through their soul connection, Ian knew Zul was growing stronger every day.
"Let me give you a quick report." Zul counted on his fingers.
"We're already gathering resources from both worlds. The advance team is helping refine them, and there's been no trouble."
Ian nodded. "How efficient is