Chapter 278: Observer Effect

"Time Observation Tower."

A semi‑planar nexus handcrafted by a demigod lich, using a void prism as its core, the order gears of the Mechanical Realm, and countless Divination runes as materials.

At the same time, it is also a Mage Tower with special functions.

According to Seagull No. 1, the pocket space where this nexus resides has been fixed by Arthur Leck with an extremely powerful Mystic Lock.

The so‑called Mystic Lock is a Legendary Level large‑scale ritual spell.

Normally, a Mystic Lock refers to an enormously resource‑draining Legendary spell whose casting time stretches for years; all Spellcasters (or groups of Spellcasters) who enact a Mystic Lock choose a permanent method, allowing the Mystic Lock to exist eternally in the Multiverse.

This also raises the cost of releasing a Mystic Lock.

In fact, the Dragon Madness curse, which emerges once every thousand years and drives all dragons on Toriel Planet into a self‑destructive frenzy, was the Mystic Lock originally released by the elves.

The elf mage who once wielded the Chaotic Demon Star sacrificed almost all hellfire dragons; only with such massive power could he create a Mystic Lock that covers the entire Toriel Planet.

Moreover, the Mystic Lock fixed by Arthur Leck on the body of the Time Observation Tower is equally powerful.

"This is a Legendary Level Divination Mystic Lock, a spell my master created after obtaining the Vikna Anthology; the master calls it Instant Eternity," the voice of Seagull No. 1 echoed through the empty upper level of the Time Observation Tower.

"Centered on the Time Observation Tower, the world within a 100‑kilometer radius will be affected by the spell, and the flow of time will be almost halted."

"This is not the disguised junk of the Nine‑Ring spell Time Stop," Seagull No. 1 said with contempt.

Naimi Xisi was also curious; normally, because the Time Stop spell exists, most mages naturally categorize the ability to alter time under the functions of Transformation spells.

However, the entire Time Observation Tower is inscribed only with Divination runes, and the so‑called Instant Eternity is also a Divination spell, which completely contradicts the common knowledge of the mage community.

Addressing Naimi Xisi's doubt, Seagull No. 1 patiently explained: "Time Stop is classified as a Transformation spell because its essence does not actually stop time."

"Time Stop temporarily alters the Spellcaster's neural response speed, allowing the Spellcaster to act at near‑light speed, thereby achieving an effect that appears almost stagnant compared to the surrounding world."

"Naturally, this principle falls within the domain of Transformation spells."

"But this is merely a dead end destined to have no future."

"Aside from massless light, no creature can reach light speed; even approaching it is impossible, so the casting theory of Time Stop condemns it to forever only achieve a half‑baked, pseudo version of time stopping."

"The true means of controlling time, of course, are wielded by Divination seers who master the future and Causality—doesn't that make more sense?" Seagull No. 1's tone was filled with reverence and excitement; Naimi Xisi could see that its master was probably a pure fanatic of Divination spells.

"My master once said that time is affected by an omnipresent force, and Instant Eternity modifies that force to halt time." "Unfortunately, with the master's ability, the influence extends only to this modest 100‑kilometer radius pocket space; the world here is almost a completely separate existence from the outside, where only an instant passes, while here decades have already elapsed."

"Hmm," Naimi Xisi frowned, sensing something was off.

Seagull No. 1 said it had been here for 52 years. But during the Maztek period it was already approaching the stage of breaking through the mature dragon age; not to mention 52 years, even an additional year could cause it to fall into slumber.

Why is it still lively and showing no signs of slumber now?

He voiced this doubt, and fortunately Seagull No. 1 had an answer: "Of course, it's thanks to the merits of Divination spells!"

Although merely a mechanical core, Naimi Xisi could imagine this loquacious core puffing out its chest like a proud watchdog.

"According to the master, influencing that unknown force to stop time is extremely dangerous for ordinary beings. Chaotic force can twist even the mightiest dragon's body into a tangled rope."

Naimi Xisi understood; although not well‑versed in physics, he had heard of the notion that "strong gravity affects time." In the universe, the entity called a Black Hole is a celestial body with infinite gravity.

If this theory holds, the gravity released to achieve a near‑time‑pause effect could indeed twist a dragon's body into a rope.

"The master, using Divination spells, severed the connection between the outside world and the pocket space; the unknown force here has turned it into a world unseen by ordinary people."

"Although the principle is unknown, this guarantees the safety of the beings residing here," Seagull No. 1 explained,

!

"The premise is that those outside the pocket space lack any means to detect the situation here."

Naimi Xisi was somewhat bewildered: why? How does the ability of outsiders to see—or not see—affect one's own safety?

Seagull No. 1 replied indifferently: "I don't know that, but my master warned me. He has used Billion‑Level Divination runes to completely isolate this place from any external contact; no one can devise a way to spy on the pocket space from outside."

"However, the only loophole is the authorization of the semi‑planar nexus's owner."

The Tower Spirit's voice became mechanical and solemn: "The new authorized party must never, under any circumstances, grant anyone the right to observe the pocket space. Viewing from the outside while living beings exist within the pocket space will cause unimaginable consequences; under no condition may any intelligent being observe this place from the outside."

"The subjective agency of intelligent beings influences the world beyond your imagination; this is the final words left to me by the former tower master, Arthur Leck."

After the Tower Spirit finished explaining, silence fell within the tower. Naimi Xisi, lacking a solid grasp of physics, naturally did not understand the deeper meaning of the demigod lich's words.

In fact, if an all‑knowing, all‑powerful deity existed in this world, they would also find that the pocket space has become a completely black, unobservable black box.

That demigod, born in the medieval age of magic, independently grasped the physical theory known in modern society as the Observer Effect, without any teacher's guidance.

Since Naimi Xisi could not presently locate the theory's principle, it set them aside and asked, "What does this have to do with my age bracket's inability to breakthrough?"

(End of Chapter)