Light of All Worlds

"Bee Ox stone, Sea Rhinoceros horn powder, Sunshine Orange, Moon Hibiscus, Garden Fodder Grass, and Sunflower... Hmm, let me test its effects."

At the Ganzros City branch of the Secret Potion Symposium, a gray-haired old man in a dark robe long enough to drag across the floor held a pile of yellowish-brown powder up to an oil lamp and sniffed it.

Then he scooped up a little powder with a translucent spoon and licked it. His body reacted involuntarily. "It strengthens the body and has a special effect in that department. Those noble lords who aren't knights or mages should love this potion..."

"Archmage Tingen, are you sure you won't consider joining the Secret Potion Symposium and switching to potion-making? I think you have a real gift for it. If you joined us, you'd soon become a renowned master potion-maker."

Switch to potion-making? Like hell.

I've always believed no field of study is above another, but I'm Gen Ting, guardian of Ganzros City and an archmage who's mastered Evocation, Conjuration, and Abjuration. Why would I switch to potion-making?

Because you potion-makers are rich?

Do I look like I need money?

If a Wishcraft scroll hadn't mysteriously vanished from my home, and I didn't need its power for the place I'm about to venture into, would I be making potions to earn enough to buy another one?

Tingen was about to refuse when he felt a gentle radiance brush over him. The protective spells on his body activated automatically, raising a barrier.

Almost at once, he recognized the nature of the power.

An aura of goodness, the power of order... Someone has summoned a projection of the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain in Ganzros City. The summoner must be at least Legendary.

And the energy erupted from my Wizard Tower.

Remembering the Demigod staying in his Wizard Tower, Tingen smiled. "Mr. Green, I've suddenly become quite interested in the Secret Potion Symposium. Let's discuss my joining."

As soon as he finished speaking, dawn's light swept away the deep night that shrouded Ganzros City.

Day had broken!

Endless radiance engulfed Tingen's Wizard Tower.

The bookshelves, obsidian, egg chair, and view of Ganzros City began to fade. Towering peaks, lush green valleys, and winding paths took their place.

There was no blazing sun or tranquil moon in the sky, only golden stars glittering across it.

Golden light bathed everything, lending the rolling mountains and verdant valleys a sense of hope.

This is Mochulia, the Golden Heaven of the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain... The moment Jiang Hao saw the scene spread out before him like a painting, he instinctively knew some of what it was.

As the Land of Radiance.

As the embodiment of the ideal of Supreme Good.

The Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain was a realm of law and goodness, compassion and mercy.

Justice, kindness, order, divine grace, and mercy were its eternal laws. Good beings stood ever vigilant against evil in every form.

But the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain was also home to the Lord of Dawn. Dawn Lord Amon Aito's Divine Kingdom rested within Mochulia, the Golden Heaven.

In the distance, a mass of illusory, blazing flame took shape and became a great sun. It rose into Mochulia's sky like dawn breaking through darkness, casting the light of boundless hope across the whole realm. So brilliant was its radiance that it instantly eclipsed the golden stars.

That handsome man must be the Demigod known as the Light of All Worlds... He didn't summon a projection of the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain to create a favorable battlefield, as an ordinary Demigod would. He pulled me from Ganzros City into Mochulia, the Golden Heaven.

...Dawn Lord Amon Aito wants to deal with me himself.

He really won't give up on me.

Jiang Hao calmly raised the Yata Mirror and aimed it at the Light of All Worlds. His likeness appeared on its surface.

To his astonishment, an identical Light of All Worlds stepped out.

The mirrored Light of All Worlds curled his lips and spoke.

"First, Dawn."

Boom!

An explosion rang through the void. A visible ripple swept across Mochulia, the Golden Heaven, and the scene wavered. The towering peaks, lush green valleys, and winding paths faded from Jiang Hao's sight, while the radiant sun grew translucent, layer by layer.

The bookshelves against the far wall reappeared before Jiang Hao. The obsidian floor and egg chair returned to normal, as though everything that had just happened were an illusion.

Jiang Hao knew better. It would be rude not to return the favor, so he spoke.

"Then, Noon!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark red sun rose inside the little Wizard Tower, casting its glow over the bookshelves, floor, and egg chair.

The moment Jiang Hao spoke, unmistakable astonishment crossed the Light of All Worlds' face. When did this evil Demigod steal my divine technique, Radiant Trio?

But when the dark red sun rose, his astonishment turned to fury. This wasn't his Radiant Trio at all.

Then the dark red sun slammed into the mirrored Light of All Worlds.

Damage transfer, activated!

Bang!

The Light of All Worlds staggered back several steps. His spine bent at an unnatural angle, and extensive burns appeared across his body, as if he were the one who had been struck.

Strike while he's hurt. Jiang Hao raised a hand, gripped Longinus, the Godslayer Spear, and charged.

At the same time, the Yata Mirror in his left hand reflected the Light of All Worlds once more. Another mirrored Light of All Worlds emerged.

He smiled. "First, Dawn!"

Endless radiance poured down from the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain, engulfing the entire Wizard Tower.

The landscape of Mochulia, the Golden Heaven, slowly appeared, interweaving with the scene inside the tower.

"Then, Noon!"

The vast radiance projected from the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain burst into flame. Every place covered by Mochulia, the Golden Heaven, became a realm of pure white fire.

The Light of All Worlds and his mirror image both caught fire.

The mirror image had named both himself and the Light of All Worlds as sacred enemies, targets to be struck down.

Amid the flames, the mirrored Light of All Worlds spoke with a smile. "Finally, Sunset!"

At his words, the radiance pouring down from the Sevenfold Heavenly Mountain contracted sharply. It condensed into two enormous, dusky fireballs that came crashing down.