Chapter 645: The Star Spirit

In the Star Association, the Supreme Spire.

Inside the room at the very top of the spire, called the “Star Dome Between.”

Countless stars, like a galaxy spread across the heavens, filled the pitch-black room as if within arm’s reach.

The transparent ceiling was not the sky, but a warped vision of the Star Realm, as if directly connected to it; occasionally, the shadow of a colossal Star Whale would glide past, emitting a silent roar.

The floor was paved with shattered meteorites, each fragment inscribed with an ancient star prophecy—genuine relics.

Unlike the commonly passed-down “Star Gazing Enhancement” among ordinary Star Spirits.

This exquisitely crafted room, costing thirty million Jin Along, served no practical purpose whatsoever.

It was purely a display object.

Patak—

Six floating Starlight Lamps emitted a dim glow, hovering behind six robed Seers of Return.

Their white robes were tightly sealed, revealing not a single inch of skin.

They sat around a floating, massive circular stone platform.

The five-million-value platform’s surface was inlaid with countless glittering stardust, forming a dynamic image in midair.

On it, the scenes of the Trialists within the [Pale Corridor].

Each trialist had their own unique magical perspective.

“Gartzak, who do you favor?”

One woman asked, her deep red hairtips visible, curling upward from beneath her white hood.

“It’s not about who I favor; only those refined by Starfire prove themselves worthy of the Star Association’s greater use.”

The man named Gartzak spoke in a low voice.

Another chimed in: “I think Medlin is impressive. Born of noble lineage, yet she possesses exceptional craftsmanship talent for a Star Spirit—her magical puppets are quite remarkable.”

“I agree with Wicks. I recall Medlin’s magical puppets—if fortune grants her suitable materials, she might advance further, keeping pace with her master.”

The platform’s image shifted to Medlin.

The girl in the [Pale Corridor] still had her chest grotesquely swollen; such a size should naturally bounce with gravity and movement.

Yet it showed no natural fleshly elasticity, not the slightest ripple.

Medlin lifted her chin haughtily; her magical puppet’s palm released a beam of lunar light, instantly piercing through a stone gargoyle vanguard.

Someone suddenly snorted.

“Hmph. Medlin’s family supports you, Orion—you don’t need to flatter her so blatantly.”

“Motas, you’re slandering me!”

Orion, who had just supported Wicks, grew agitated, his tone betraying a hint of guilt, as if his weakness had been exposed.

“Whether it’s slander or not is for everyone to judge—not for me to decide.”

“You!”

“Cough, cough.”

A crisp, aged cough interrupted their exchange.

The argument ceased instantly.

All turned to the first Seer of Return, Elris, whose fingers were interlaced.

Elris spoke slowly, his voice heavy with age:

“This trial differs from past ones. Besides filling the vacancy of the Security Department Head, the winner will also serve as a candidate for the [Skybreaker] role—directly tied to our future Star Gazing and Return. Set aside personal feelings and self-interest.”

“Apologies.” “Apologies.”

Halia, the only woman in the meeting, spoke again to ease the tension:

“I never imagined the Magic Goddess’s Magic Web Curtain could wield such power—it completely obscures the stars, rendering our Star Gazing nearly useless.”

Gartzak spoke low: “The Magic Goddess… is ultimately a deity of this world, not ours…”

“The Magic Goddess is not a Star Spirit deity. Her identity before ascension proves she is solely a human god.”

“Perhaps she’ll dabble as a mage’s god too, heh.”

“Precisely. That’s why we need a [Skybreaker] to carve a hole through the Magic Web Curtain… Everything we do is to find the path home.”

“Perhaps, far out in the stars, lies our Star Spirit deity—or a chance to ascend.”

Here,

Everyone’s breathing grew heavier.

Zzzz—

The platform’s image suddenly rippled, distorting violently.

“The labyrinth’s magical fluctuations are affecting the feed.”

Gartzak checked briefly and immediately concluded.

Wicks, finding an outlet, frowned: “Motas, didn’t you handle the labyrinth repairs?”

“One effect of the Magic Goddess’s Magic Web Curtain—it’s hard to fully eliminate. It’s stabilized now.”

Motas refused to argue.

“Will it affect the trialists? Cause changes in the labyrinth?”

“Unlikely. It’s merely a labyrinth with incomplete ruins.”

Pus—

The image reappeared, but no longer focused on Medlin.

Instead, a colossal blue dragon, towering like a mountain, roared skyward, dominating most of the frame.

“Oh? Flint’s son, Buvalo—he’s taken control of an adult blue dragon, one of the strong contenders for the relic.”

Halia smiled and introduced.

“A fine young man—if only he weren’t so infatuated with Medlin.”

Wicks chuckled.

“Who’s his opponent?”

“Hmm… Haley, Haley Strauss.”

“Who’s that? Never heard of her.”

“Captain of Security Department’s Second Squad, seventh-rank high. Her father, due to prolonged Star Gazing to peer into the Outer Realms, retired with an incurable Corrupted Soul Disease.”

“Another child of a great figure who sacrificed for the Star Spirit future… hmm, why is there a human?”

“That seems to be Haley’s vanguard.”

“A human?”

Wicks blinked in surprise.

Humans do possess decent talent.

But as vanguards, they lack too many innate, potent spiritual arts, and their fickle thinking poses a serious challenge to enslavement spells.

Generally, unless no choice exists, no Star Spirit would select a human as a vanguard.

“His rank isn’t bad—eighth-rank.”

“Perhaps a supportive vanguard?”

Trials have seen contracts signed to invite powerful beings for aid—this is not forbidden.

Star Spirits consider connections part of strength.

“But an eighth-rank human facing an equally eighth-rank adult dragon has little chance of victory.”

The current human era excels in manufacturing and sheer numbers.

In individual strength at the same rank, humans are unremarkable.

Of course, this applies to vanguards.

Mages are harder to judge—after all, there are domain mages and legendary mages, specialized types.

“ROOOOAR!!!”

The giant blue dragon in the image suddenly erupted in a pained roar.

Vast clouds of frost and ice spread from its claws up its body.

“Oh? It’s suppressing it…”

“Blue dragons have weak frost resistance—this can temporarily suppress, but Buvalo, as a mage, won’t just stand by.”

“Heh… hope this human can withstand the dragon’s lightning breath… What?!”

The speaker lost composure, voice filled with shock.

Others watching other trialists turned to look.

In the image, the comparatively “small” human hung suspended in midair, fist still mid-swing.

The dragon’s massive head, far larger than the human, had twisted violently backward.

Its grotesque, rugged lower jaw exploded into a massive, jagged wound—dragon blood and teeth sprayed through the air, exposing shattered, ruptured jawbone.

(End of Chapter)