At this moment, Ed, Middle Tier strategist with a Psionic Energy Compatibility attribute of 28 points and the exclusive Psionic Energy ability [ Otherworldly Half ], felt this very clearly.
In the farthest reaches of this world, there seems to be a bottomless vortex that is frantically devouring all the Psionic Energy in the entire world.
Contaminated Psionic Energy inherently carries Aberration side effects; if a living being were to do such a thing, it would be no different from drinking poison to quench thirst.
Ed sensed something was wrong and woke up somewhat disgruntled. Fine plant tissues formed a formal robe on his body, similar in material to linen, with white and light green hues.
Aside from his overly youthful appearance and the eye-catching location of the Symbiotic Tree, he looked no different from a Tree Worship Church archbishop.
Ed's formal attire wasn't due to any particular clothing preference, but simply out of politeness; he didn't want to meet his upcoming guests in informal clothing.
If even he could sense the intense Psionic Energy fluctuations, there must be another person in this ancient castle who could sense them as well.
Given her detective-like thinking and hound-like keenness, it was impossible for her not to report to me after discovering something amiss.
Bang bang bang.
There was a knock on Ed's study door.
"Come in."
The door opened a crack, and Willow poked her head in. Only after confirming that Ed was in a presentable condition did she formally enter the study.
As expected, the Lich Lady is never absent without reason when something related to Psionic Energy happens.
"You came to me because of the intense Psionic Energy fluctuations?"
"Yes, boss, you felt it too?"
"Of course, I'm not some Low Tier nobody who knows nothing."
As usual, Ed made a joke about strength, a topic Willow used to quite like.
The reason she used to like him so much was because Willow found that in just a few months, she seemed to be losing her temper and couldn't beat her boss anymore.
When one's strength is at a disadvantage, this kind of sarcastic remark, which carries a slight sense of superiority and is not meant to be derogatory, will naturally turn its attention to oneself.
To avoid being accidentally hit by the boomerang, Willow has gradually changed her habit of discussing ranks.
However, Ed seemed to have picked up her unwanted habits, and whenever he saw her, he would always find an opportunity to complain about her.
"You're right, boss, but this kind of Psionic Energy fluctuation is definitely not something an ordinary being could cause."
Can you do it?
Ed looked at the lich who had come specifically to visit him.
"I'm sorry, I can't."
Willow shook her head:
"This must be a High Tier one."
"Can you tell exactly who it is?"
Willow shook her head regretfully:
"No, boss, while there aren't that many High Tier in this world, there aren't that few either."
"Moreover, in order to advance to High Tier, regardless of what system one was in before, one must also cultivate Psionic Energy. Therefore, I cannot even be certain that this is a High Tier cultivator who mainly cultivates the Psionic Energy system."
"However, given the intensity of this fluctuation, it's quite possible that he or she primarily cultivates Psionic Energy system."
Ed looked out the window in the direction Valhalla was directly east.
Due East?
Aside from the Wilderness of Chaos that still lacks a powerful ruler, three major forces still exist in the East: the Graycast Corridor, the Eternal Domain, and the Demon Realm.
Could it be the Grand Foundry Master?
Ed was the first to rule out that idea.
If one day he sees the Antasia inexplicably broken into pieces and flying eastward, he will immediately identify the Grand Foundry Master as the prime suspect.
However, the current anomaly is a violent fluctuation of Psionic Energy. Even the strongest beings will always use their most proficient domain in battle, so it is unlikely that the Grand Foundry Master, even if he has mastered Psionic Energy, would use an ability with such a wide range at this moment.
Could it be the Eternal Domain?
Ed remembered Xilǐ'er, who had returned home with Gray. According to reports from [ Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] and others, Xilǐ'er had disembarked when the Antasia arrived at the crossroads of the Graycast Corridor, the Eternal Domain, and the Wilderness of Chaos, and should be home by now.
This mysterious armored figure is shrouded in secrets, and the highly distinctive infinity symbol Psionic Energy Circuit on his chest unabashedly demonstrates the Twin Kings ' mastery of the Psionic Energy field.
Thinking this, Ed nodded to himself:
"I think it might be one of the Twin Kings who made the move."
"Possibly."
Willow nodded in agreement, then muttered to herself:
"But who were they fighting with? The Grand Foundry Master?"
Ed denied her guess:
"Probably not. Although the Graycast Corridor and the Eternal Domain, the two gatekeepers of the Demon Realm, have some disagreements, they generally consider the overall situation. If they wanted to start a full-scale war, they would have done so already."
"That makes sense, then there's only one possibility."
"What?"
Ed looked at Willow with a puzzled expression, only to see a rare hint of excitement on her face:
"I bet the Twin Kings have captured a Grand Duke! They must be locked in fierce combat right now."
Before Ed could even consider the possibility of Willow's conjecture, he saw the lich begin to cast the "curse":
"Please don't let it be Wens, please don't kill him..."
Isn't Wens your enemy?
"Yes."
Willow's expression returned to normal, and she spoke in an exceptionally serious tone:
"So I will kill him myself."
"Alright, if one day you really manage to kill a grand duke..."
Ed grinned mischievously.
"Please hand over his body to me; I have a great use for it."
Willow had already witnessed Ed's methods, and upon hearing Ed say this, she nodded approvingly.
"Please torture him severely..."
"Buzz!!!!"
A sharp ringing in his ears caused Ed to frown instantly. He looked at Willow and saw that the lich was also frowning and covering her ears with both hands.
Although his level wasn't very high, Ed adapted to the interference in a very short time thanks to his steady and methodical approach.
He helped the slightly dizzy Willow to a chair, only to find that her gaze was completely captivated by the view outside the window.
Is there anything?
After helping the lich to sit up, Ed also turned to look out the window.
At that moment, a blue-green aurora, resembling both a bridge spanning the sky and a surging river, appeared out of nowhere in the dimly lit heavens.
The tinnitus disappeared, Ed heard a "clattering" sound. He looked down and saw that Willow's hands and legs were trembling. The impact just now seemed to have caused her great harm.
Willow looked up, no longer at the magnificent and bizarre aurora outside the window, but at Ed.
Blood brimming with Psionic Energy was now flowing from her ears and nose, but the lich ignored it, simply saying in a trembling voice:
"That High Tier, the High Tier who just absorbed a large amount of Psionic Energy..."
Ed held his breath, waiting for Willow to continue.
"... dead."