Entering the Secret Realm (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Readers!)

As the wizards of the Thorn Ring sized up the other three factions, those factions were watching the Ring of Law just as closely.

After the airships stopped, the tower lord leading the Thorn Ring contingent left their vessel. Powerful wizards rose into the air from the other three factions' airships as well.

A bald wizard in a golden robe emerged from the Lava Brotherhood's airship. Bright flame patterns marked his scalp, and he held a black staff made of burning stone. An orange-gold crystal was set into its tip, making it look extraordinarily splendid.

The wizard leading the Water Palace was a woman with a graceful figure. She wore a long robe that seemed woven from plant fibers, and her hair hung to her waist in vine-like strands threaded with vivid little flowers and leaves.

Her skin was green, a healthy, lush shade. Her hands were empty, and a smile lingered on her lips, giving her the radiance of sunshine after rain.

By contrast, the wizard leading the Black Marsh was the other extreme. No one could make out their face behind a mask bristling with strange feathers. Their robe was odd too: pure black, traced with white markings that writhed like worms whenever the wind blew.

They radiated a thick aura of darkness and evil. As the only faction here with ties to black wizardry, the Black Marsh was plainly the most feared. The other three Spell Airships had stopped far away from it.

The four powerful leaders gathered together. Light from a Rune Magic Array enveloped them as they appeared to begin a discussion.

Dago heard Violet speak.

"Looks like the Dusk Crystal Church and Thunder Tower won't be coming to the second line. They probably won't join the third line either."

"Do they think the resources