After two minutes of silence, the Emperor settled on mobilising manpower to hasten the process. "How long would it take if you had the help of another arcanist?" He asked, his piercing blue eyes locked on Selene's. Yet, he clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction at the Academy of Transformation's dean.
After Mara's public humiliation, he detained the stupid Zane, who dared to qualify this weakling as a transformation genius.
"I doubt he'll be as strong as me. So probably two hundred and forty years, give or take," replied Selene, his lips curling into a wry smile. That's how extensive the difference between him and other arcanists was. After all, he had almost unlimited mana under the sun and with Anorvalë in hand, not to mention his exquisite control, already in the early stage of the seventh tier.
That was his secret to use spells without casting.
A trace of shock filled the emperor's eyes upon hearing the ghostly elf's confident answer, wondering if he was truly that capable or just arrogant.
"What If I take part in the project? Can we increase the artillery power?" He asked, raising his brow. Truthfully, the answer intrigued him.
"Mhh," Selene pondered, scanning the faint mana the man exuded, then his body. "Probably a hundred years," he said through gritted teeth. Thankfully, Adam's copy had taught him humility not too long ago, or he wouldn't have accepted his assessment results despite their clarity. Undoubtedly, the archmage was more powerful than him.
'Probably in the late-stage,' he thought, his jaw muscles bulging. Never had he met someone that close to the magus, even seven thousand years ago. The six weaklings he had single-handedly repelled only reached the early stage at that time.
The emperor nodded at his words, understanding where Selene placed himself on the power ladder through this brief conversation. To hasten the construction and meet the imposed time limit, he would need the help of another archmage or several arcanists.
"Troublesome. What if I bring eighty adepts and another arcanist?" He asked again, using all the workforce he could gather, including Ossian's soul reapers.
"If everyone follows my instructions by working six hours a day, we might build it in a decade," replied Selene, holding his head as complex calculations flashed in his mind. After twenty seconds, he noted, sure about the project's feasibility. "As for the cannons and energy supply, you'll have to figure it out yourself," he concluded, a proud smile broadening on his face.
"Don't worry. I'll pilot it myself once built!" The archmage said, joy filling his heart as anticipation caused his legs to tremble. If he could increase the cannon's strength and bombard the other archmage's territory, he would rapidly force them out of their shell. They would have no choice but to duel him when things reached this point, and as the strongest...
Upon reaching this thought, a rare bright smile broadened on his face.
'I'll have the world and its mana in my palm, he thought, wishing to jump ten years into the future.
Gazing at the elf in satisfaction, he declared, "I'll give you a one hundred thousand square kilometers of territory bordering the northern and western seas. The climate is moderate, and resources are abundant. However, I'll ask you to treat the locals fairly and not act with prejudice because of our differences."
The trio looked at the emperor, shocked by his generosity. Even if it was a ridiculously modest part of the southern continent considering its terrifying scale, its premium location and climate made it incredibly valuable. After all, elves liked nature. A desert wouldn't have been an ideal place to live.
"Thank you," Selene said, nodding in appreciation. He knew his grand return wouldn't please the royal, and conflicts were bound to happen. Thus, he planned to relocate his duchy to avoid repeating past events. Yet, working for a decade would grant him an official territory inside which no one would bother him!
"Don't mention it," answered the emperor, waving his hand before adding. "If I pull your island, we can reach the place in three hours. You can settle in a forest and explore for a few days before I return with enough manpower."
Without wasting time, the man rose from his seat and shot through the room's opening under Adam and Julius' bulging eyes. Then, mana swirled as the archmage retrieved something from his robe's inner pocket and transformed. Rapidly, his limbs elongated. Sharp talons replaced his feet as lustrous, black feathered wings sprouted from his back.
Spanning several kilometers long, a massive avian magical beast flapped its wings, raising dreadful gales under them.
Upon feeling the life force exuded by the creature, Julius' face turned as pale as a ghost's. 'He is more overwhelming than last time!' He thought in alarm, realising the man had toyed with them during their negotiation. He wasn't a little stronger than Vivian at all. His physique was leagues above hers!
As everyone watched in terror, the transformed emperor's beak opened, letting words filter, "Hold onto something!" He warned as chains weaved themselves from mana before his beak. Next, they extended, tightly wrapping the underside of the island.
Finally, he closed his blade-like mouth on them before darting on the horizon, dragging the entire island behind with the mighty flap of his wings like its several million tons were weightless.
Once again, the duchy trembled madly as the wind crashed on the tree houses. The terrorized citizens desperately held anything they could to stabilise their footing. Mages used spells to fix themselves, while Selene urgently used his mana to create a dome of burning white light around the island.
Thankfully, the sun approached its zenith, allowing him to draw unapparelled energy from its bright rays to sustain the colossal shield.
"How did we survive our meeting?" Adam asked, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he eyed the ferocious creature.
"I told you we shouldn't mingle with him!" Answered Julius, his shaking legs and trembling eyes showing how the man scared him. Yet, under these emotions, a flash of resolve ignited in his heart. 'You are stronger now, but I'm a cultivator!
Once I reach the seventh tier, I'm sure my body will be more exceptional than yours,' he thought, impatient to resume his cultivation to surpass the second most powerful man on the planet.