As days went by, Ivan repaired the defensive barrier while keeping an eye on Christian’s actions, watching him research the Ant Beings Sacred Altar.
That night, the Twin Towers had an unexpected visitor.
“Sorcerer Ivan, I hope you’ll forgive my presumptuous visit.”
“Presumptuous? There’s no need for that, Sorceress Andaya. I couldn’t be more pleased by your arrival.”
Ivan always adhered to the principle of reciprocating kindness with even greater kindness. He welcomed Andaya to the living room, where they took their seats opposite each other.
He mulled over the reason for her visit—had she discovered that she was being watched?
“Sorcerer Ivan, how is the progress of the repair work?”
“We haven’t encountered any significant difficulties so far, and I estimate that we will be able to restore 23 bundles of runes before long.”
“I heard you’ve also included Sorcerer Randall in the repair work?”
“Yes, Randall is my mentor with quite impressive enchantment skills. I needed someone I could trust with more responsibility, and Randall immediately came to mind.”
Previously, as the team became more skilled at working together, even Heidi, who had only been able to do menial tasks, began to participate in the repairs, so Ivan took the opportunity to bring in Randall to earn credits alongside them.
This had happened two days before.
Just as Ivan suspected Andaya wanted to insert someone into their efforts, she changed the subject.
Andaya was a woman of cool demeanor. She began to make idle conversation, which truly puzzled Ivan, but he had enough patience not to ask about her intentions until she revealed them.
“Sorcerer Ivan, we are allies watching out for each other, aren’t we?”
“Of course. Before the discovery of the Ant Beings Sacred Altar, Christian and I were the closest of allies.”
At his response, a hint of discomfort flickered across Andaya’s face.
“Given the circumstances of Mongna Ant Land Cottage, we’ve always been on the same side, natural allies, right?” she said after a two-second pause.
“You’re not wrong there,” Ivan nodded slightly.
“As allies, it is necessary to watch out for one another, and if one side is in trouble, the other must not just stand by.”
“Indeed, one shouldn’t merely stand by when it’s within one’s power to help.”
Andaya wanted more than this response, but she couldn’t force Ivan to commit to anything. She insinuated that if Ivan were to do something beneficial for the alliance, there would surely be a reward afterward—her side would not be vague about it.
Ivan knew she was referring to Christian’s situation. She didn’t spell it out and neither did Ivan, who simply indicated his willingness to help when he could.
In fact, within Christian’s residence, there was a Sorcerer Christian who was, unbeknownst to others, inside a small space.
This was also why Ivan did not want to reveal the truth.
Seeing that he agreed, Andaya finally got up and left the Twin Towers.
“To go to such lengths for Christian, it seems their relationship needs to be reassessed,” Ivan muttered. He could tell that Andaya seemed somewhat anxious today and found it difficult to have to make small talk with her and him.
Andaya’s visit was just a minor interlude; the work on repairing the Ant Being barrier continued uninterrupted.
One day, Ivan sensed something unusual through the Ant Being barrier. With a thought, part of his perception settled on the murky space outside.
“What is Christian trying to do? Isn’t that the kind of rune that’s etched on prey, just like what’s depicted in the underground chamber murals? That’s something that’s only painted on for ritual preparations.”
“To activate the Ant Beings Sacred Altar in this way, it’s mostly likely a sacrifice of other creatures. Can this really work?”
Ivan watched the person in the small space who was getting ready to take further action, puzzled. Could the protective membrane of this small space be causing interference, making what he saw different from what Christian saw?
The altar’s runes emphasized intention over form, but he was unaware that Christian, limited by enchantment skill, had not come to the same realization he easily discerned.
After several days of research, Christian concluded that the Ant Beings Sacred Altar could indeed assist him in undergoing a transformation. Therefore, he decided to formally activate the Ant Beings Sacred Altar and pursue the path to becoming a Level 2 Sorcerer.
After arranging all the necessary items, he sat down directly in the center of the Ant Beings Sacred Altar.
Under Ivan’s puzzled gaze, Christian activated the Ant Beings Sacred Altar and set it into high-speed operation.
“This guy is really reckless, opting for an all-or-nothing gamble.”
The Ant Beings Sacred Altar and the defensive barrier were connected in some way, subtly drawing on the power of the defensive barrier to sustain itself. By initiating the Ant Beings Sacred Altar in this manner, what was originally a trickle of power began to surge intensely.
Ivan didn’t know what to say, so he tried to cover up for Christian, attempting to mask the increasingly noticeable commotion. He didn’t know how long he would be able to keep it concealed, but he estimated not for much longer.
In the confined space, Christian was solely focused.
Once the Ant Beings Sacred Altar began operating, he could feel a strange force being generated, continuously burrowing into his body, inducing some kind of transformation.
“It’s started.”
Christian suppressed his tumultuous emotions and drank two potions he had prepared in advance, making his final preparations to ascend to Level 2 Sorcerer.
Soon, he sensed something amiss – as if at the pinnacle of prosperity, only to decline – the power within his body started to overflow outward, devoured by the Ant Beings Sacred Altar.
“This isn’t right. Could the Ant Beings Sacred Altar be fake?”
This thought sprang into his mind, and realizing he could not stop the outflow of power, he stood up and ran outside, trying to shut down the operation of the altar.
The Ant Beings Sacred Altar wouldn’t shut down!
His body had been locked by that strange force from before!
Spiritual power and lifeforce were both spilling out!
He was unable to cast spells!
Christian’s complexion changed drastically as he frantically tried to mobilize the power within his body to disrupt the energy binding him, taking difficult, step by step movements toward the outside.
This, too, accelerated the loss of his own power.
“Sorcerer Ivan, this is a long-plotted scam.” In a moment of crisis, Christian noticed someone appearing, just a silhouette formed from energy particles – unmistakably his ally Ivan.
“Let me help you out of the predicament first.” Ivan’s previous opinion had been correct; it didn’t take long for him to witness the other falling into a trap. Recalling their past pleasant cooperation, he decisively revealed his form.
“Good, I’m counting on you.”
“My apologies.”
From Ivan’s perspective, Christian at that moment looked like a person being electrocuted. If he could just knock him away, breaking that connection, he could help him escape the predicament.
Accompanied by a muffled sound, Christian, who had been struggling to walk just a few steps, was hit by a heavy blast of energy, flung to one side, and at the same time, freed from the clutches of the altar.
“How are you?”
“Not bad.”
Christian sat on the ground, his complexion deathly pale, and clearly looking several years older than before, indicating the great toll this incident had taken on him.
He looked at Ivan with complex emotions, ashamed but also grateful. If it weren’t for Ivan’s timely arrival, he might have lost half his life and suffered severe damage to his essence.
“I’ll cover for the commotion. We’ll talk about the rest when you get back.”
Ivan waved his hand, stopping whatever Christian was about to say; this wasn’t the place for conversation.
Christian left in a disheveled state.
What eased Ivan’s mind was that, without the power sustaining it, the Ant Beings Sacred Altar automatically stopped operating.