The dark hall, adorned with various runes and streaming lights like countless stars, stretches across the deep blue dome, conveying a sense of vast infinity.
Beneath the dome, seven figures sit on large metal chairs each stamped with different rune imprints, gathered for a meeting of the seven Ring Masters of the Silver Magic Ring.
"This time, with the Ancient Witch Revival Association causing trouble, Black Nightmare Swamp and Melt Crystal Lake have been greatly weakened. Thorny Palace may well be completely eradicated from the South...
Our Silver Magic Ring has not been established for long in the South, and our foundation is still shallow... Now it seems, this has turned out to be a good thing..."
A middle-aged man, handsome and with a brass pocket watch embedded by his right eye, ticking ceaselessly, spoke with a hint of sigh.
"Back in the Central, I had heard of the Ancient Witch Revival Association’s name. It was said that this organization had once led the overthrow of a Central Wizard Empire, affecting several Wizard Empires, with dozens of large Wizard Forces participating and even a Level 6 Wizard perishing...
I read about this battle in an ancient book, once considering it merely an old tale, never thinking that one day we would actually have a real encounter with this evil organization..."
Among the seven, seated at the highest place, a man dressed in a magnificent golden robe covered in a soft crystal glow, his face unclear, spoke softly: "How is the internal investigation into the Ancient Witch Revival Association proceeding?"
"One round of investigation has concluded, all members have re-signed the soul contract, excluding those whose identities have been confirmed, who have defected from the Magic Ring, and the 156 official members who disappeared for unknown reasons... No further suspicious persons found so far..."
A deeply voiced response came from Caroni, a heroic-looking man, who is the Ring Master of the Third Magic Ring.
The man in the golden robe continued softly: "Issue a task to all members of the Magic Ring to pursue the defectors.
The other five major forces are also conducting their investigations; we should soon receive the list of defectors to add to our pursuit list..."
Caroni and the others nodded.
At this moment, a Ring Lord Level figure couldn’t help but speak up: "The Ancient Witch Revival Association has reignited, and it even involves the lost World Stone... Shouldn’t we notify headquarters about this matter?"
"It only involves several medium Wizard Forces, a few Level 4 Wizards... even if we report it to headquarters, it won’t attract much attention.
As for the lost World Stone, it is already shattered, and repairing it would require at least a century, even if a large Wizard Force exhausted all its resources..."
The man in the golden robe said, pausing suddenly, then casting his soft, crystal-like gaze towards a figure in the corner, his look becoming gentler.
He gently called out the name.
Long-haired and stunning, Kosti slowly raised her head, her presence seemingly brightening the dim hall momentarily.
"The member under your command who holds the coordinates, have you not found him yet?"
Kosti shook her head, remaining silent.
"He might have been turned by the Revival Association, or possibly captured."
Someone with a grave voice spoke, "This is a seed of unrest. I had initially suggested destroying the coordinates... Let’s add this person’s name to the priority pursuit list."
Kosti looked at the speaker, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Caroni and Archiduo sitting in the hall also showed changing expressions.
The man in the golden robe pondered for a moment, about to speak, suddenly, Kosti’s voice rang out first in the hall.
Everyone looked up at Kosti.
Previously expressionless, Kosti’s face now emitted a faint mystical light as she looked at the Communication Stone in her hand and softly spoke, "He has.. come back on his own."
A massive white albatross broke through the clouds, flapping its wings gently as it landed atop the silver-white tower.
Kosti stepped down from the back of the albatross, waved her hand casually, and the enormous albatross burst into numerous bright Light Points, scattering in the air.
Waving her Magic Wand lightly, Kosti sent out a faint wave of energy; the metal dome atop the silver-white tower melted away like water, revealing a square entrance.
Descending through the entrance, Kosti landed in a huge room piled with countless books; a colorful-feathered Borbi flew towards her, flapping its wings.
Kosti casually brushed Borbi aside, taking steps toward the room’s exit.
Soon, she stopped near the spiral staircase exit, her gaze falling on a slender figure standing by a large floor-to-ceiling crystal window.
Kosti’s eyes flickered slightly as she called out a name.
The figure, facing away from her, slowly turned around.
Underneath the broad and magnificent silver-gray robe appeared a face of a youth, handsome to almost a bewitching level.
The youth seemed weak, his face extremely pale, the usual pride and vigor in his brows gone, replaced by a thick, nearly unmeltable sense of deep exhaustion.
The youth smiled, nodding at Kosti.
With a voice mixed with relief and concern, Kosti softly breathed, "You’re finally back."
Ronan softly recited a complex Spell, and after finishing the incantation, raised his hand, tracing a mysterious and intricate pattern in the air.
The pattern solidified in the Void, searing into redness as if burned by fire, then vanished.