321 The Birth of A Peregrination

Time moved quickly when one was engaged in an academic quorum.

It did not seem to take a long time before sounds of movement could be heard n the Magus Lab, which meant that the girls had woken up; however, the master and his apprentice did not seem to want to end their conversation.

While conversing, they stumbled on a conundrum they could not reach a conclusion on: "What name should we give our next technique."

"You have been inside the Void, so why don't we take a stroll outside?" Baiyi said, out of good will. The battle for a chance to descend was a hard one for the Archmage; it would be cruel for him to deny his teacher a chance to go outside.

"Oh, being in the company of the kids would do just fine! Especially when you, Son, have something more important to do," the Archmage said as he stood up and stretched, just like humans did.

After that, he exclaimed softly, "Haha! Gods, the secret Pseudo-Descent spell permits stretching to feel as good as real! I really have to admire my handiwork; my secret technique can replicate such a complicated action so flawlessly!"

"Please. Don't tell me that all the complex structures we constructed were for these lame functions," Baiyi murmured. "Don't tell me you even listened to those perverted Voidwalkers, the Cleric and the Paladin, and simulated the functions and feel of a tongue... right?"

The improved version of their secret Pseudo-Descent Technique was very much better than the one they used to place on the hammerhead shark. They had added more functions, placing heavy emphasis on an accurate depiction of the stimuli from the five senses. This was because he wanted every Voidwalker to experience as much realism as possible, allowing them to enjoy real-world experiences; it will make them feel as though they had been borne again. However, in order for the consciousness to enter the real world, it would have to latch onto Baiyi's consciousness.

"Please! I designed this secret technique myself! There are so many other important functions... This realistic feeling is just one of those bonuses," the Archmage replied with a rare serious tone.

He stepped out of the Magus Lab before Baiyi did, and they headed towards the yard.

The students were still upstairs having their baths, so they had yet to see the new Soul Armature walking around downstairs.

Baiyi followed the Archmage to the yard and watched him wave at the alacritous flowers, greeting them. He stepped forward and flicked the Man-eating plant that was just about to bite the Archmage's butt. "What's with this 'more important thing' that I had to do?" Baiyi turned and asked his master.

"It's definitely not about reviving the Rohlserlian Empire," the Archmage said, allaying his student's unspoken fear. "I just want to pass you the last of my legacy."

"Teacher... your knowledge, experience, and your throne have been passed to me. It's more than enough, please. I'm... I'm not overly ambitious," Baiyi said, declining hastily.

"Don't say something that might make you regret!" The Archmage replied, with a chuckle, as he watched his student. "Think about it. What's the one thing I haven't given you?"

Baiyi froze. There was only one thing left that the Archmage had not given him. "It can't be— "

The Fifth Walker paused, then continued with a whisper. "The Book of Servitude? But it's already— "

"Gone? Hmm, that's quite correct; yep. When I'm gone, it'll be gone; However, naturally, when I returned, it'll also return," The Archmage said, mysteriously. He stirred the mana within his old militia armor body and created a gigantic formation right in front of himself.

"H-hold on a minute!" Baiyi blurted out. "Sir, this isn't... necessary."

"What's the matter? You think you're already overpowered without the Book of Servitude?" The Archmage replied, with a smile.

"N-No. That wasn't what I meant... I just thought that it was your most valuable and important legacy, my Teacher. I have no intention of just snatching it from your hands," the Fifth Walker replied, with genuine concern. "I would rather wait for the day you to Descend to the world properly. Maybe then we can go about reclaiming it." 

That was the truth. It had never been all about power, to Baiyi. Although the Book of Servitude was a book of immense power, Baiyi could not bring himself to pilfer the very last possession the Archmage had.

The Archmage said nothing. He slowly strutted to Baiyi's side and lightly clapped a hand on the Fifth Walker's shoulder.

Like an old, wise sage advising a young acolyte, he said, "My child... Sometimes, you could stand to be more greedy."

"I'm touched by your choice, but you're wrong. It's no longer mine. The moment I named you as my heir, it became yours." The Archmage continued, "The reason why I wanted to descend now... was because I wanted to give you the help you need to claim it."

The formation rose again, and this time, the Archmage kept his focus on it.

The scene of the battle between the Archmage and the Demigod Lich's Grim Reaper resurfaced in Baiyi's mind. His mind kept replaying the part wherein the book transformed into a royal scepter, and that was when Baiyi felt like he understood something...

"Well, to be honest, I should have told you the means to summon it. But I'm pretty sure that once you have the book, you'll understand that this spell isn't one that could be taught to someone else. In the end, I'll have to do this myself. It is kinda annoying, but, on the other hand, it does draw out a befitting sense of solemness and glorious purposefulness..." The Archmage murmured to no one in particular. 

The formation began to glow with different dazzling colors; one would think that the spaces within the intricate structure of the formation were being occupied by different parts of a rainbow. 

However, anyone who had a modicum of magical knowledge would find this sight frightening. This was because the color of the glow a formation emitted depended on the type of mana that was being imbued into it. It should have been impossible for a formation to host this many types of mana simultaneously!

Anyone who accidentally saw this may begin to feel as though everything they thought they knew was all a lie. Thus, it was fortunate that no one was privy to the events happening in Baiyi's yard, or they would become disillusioned with the world and their lives.

Baiyi, however, knew better. The formation looked ostensibly singular, it was actually the amalgamation of multiple formations. It had been created using a technique that was retroactively inspired by the more modern way of casting magic, by piecing runes together — the perfect blend of two different magical systems.

Perfect combinations like this were the hottest research du jour among academics of theoretical magic. Baiyi was sure that if he wrote a paper about this formation, including how to use it, his name would never be forgotten.

However, he believed that the Archmage had an even simpler and more convenient way to summon the Book of Servitude. Therefore, the only reason why his teacher had opted for such a flashy formation was probably because there was a deeper meaning to it.

"Alright; I'm not entirely sure if this worked, for I'm only here because I am borrowing your consciousness. Theoretically, it should now function as planned because you're my appointed heir... " The Archmage said — words that Baiyi could not really understand — as he took his hands off the formation.

The variety of colors emanating from shone brightly, like the light from an overcharged neon sign. Soon, the sky no longer seemed like it was morning. It was as though it had a big disco ball within it, which was emitting this varying colors of light.

"Your aesthetics is seriously..." Baiyi paused in mid-sentence and decided to just watch the light show.

The Archmage replied in unconcerned tone. "What do you know about aesthetics anyway, kid? This is my super-secret code to summon the Book of Servitude! Only me could use it! Look at it... isn't it just the coolest thing ever?!"

The Archmage jovially replied; it seemed as though he had become that dour old geezer, who everyone recognized.

The lights began shimmer faster and glow brighter; it almost became blinding. Suddenly, as if it couldn't take the load anymore, the formation exploded with a "bang!". The explosion created motes of colorful lights, which soon disappeared completely.

"... Did we fail?" Baiyi asked, in concern.

"Hell no! It was a success! When do I ever fail at things?" The Archmage replied, beaming from ear to ear.

Baiyi stretched an arm forward and waited for a while, but nothing came flying into his hand.

"Patience," the Archmage said reassuringly.

After those words, Baiyi did not wait for much longer before something happened. His senses suddenly felt a strange frequency pulsing in the South. It was not mana or combat chi, neither was it a frequency that could be sensed with psychic energy.

It was something else entirely. Any attempt to accurately describe it would be futile. This unexplainable sensation had invoked the feeling that, in a distant location, a powerful being had gently roused; or the feeling of a leviathan opening its eyes slowly after years of slumber.

Despite the great distance, Baiyi could hear its thundering heartbeats.

He was not alone, for all of whom were very powerful, in the realm, had sensed the very same presence.

In the Tower of Babel, where the Sorcerers' Association was situated, the most powerful sorcerers looked in the same direction simultaneously. In the deepest part of the vaults of books within the Doors of Conundrum, the greatest sages slipped into deep contemplation, and their books were forgotten. In the Northern Land, warriors had been training since the crack of dawn, but they suddenly stopped and gathered together to discuss what their senses had picked up. In the Holy City of Canningham, the Pope hurriedly finished the morning's mass, in the Temple of Auguries, and then he, too, turned to look in the same direction, lost in his thoughts.

Within the hall of the unnervingly chilly Basilisk, where the highest ranks of Godsfalls cultists gathered, the three depraved silhouettes met and quickly began to device another plot...

Contrary to what the others had felt, Baiyi did not find the frequency cold, terrifying, or even suffocating; instead, he found it warm, comforting, gentle, and familiar.

This felt just like the consciousness he had come in contact with when he first arrived at the Void.

Back then, he was just a feeble soul — a lonely man from Earth, who had spent way too much time alone. He had been floating aimlessly in the darkness of the Void, alone, not knowing when he would perish. He knew only desperation and forlornness... until a surge of consciousness came into contact with him, whispering in a deep voice, "There's no need to be afraid, child..."

"So this is it," Baiyi said, in understanding.

"Go. That's where the Book of Servitude is. Go and claim what is yours," the Archmage said to Baiyi.

"Aww. I thought it was going to fly into my hands," Baiyi mumbled, with some resignation.

"That easily?! Do you think you can obtain the greatest and most guarded treasure of the Rohlserlian Empire just by extending your arm? What do you think it is, a pigeon?" The Archmage retorted, clearly annoyed.

"Well, you should have, at least, warned me that there's going to be a peregrination of some kind so that I could prepare for it," Baiyi said, with a mirthless smile.

"Besides, since you decided to make such a big show of it, I'll bet you attracted everyone to this treasure hunt now. Are you sure that I'll be able to get it before someone else does?"(and presumably the readers) ...Nope. You never!]