Chapter 421: Imprisoned, I Defend, You Attack

The situation surrounding Wang Yu at this moment was bizarre. He could perceive extremely turbulent spatial currents; the state of the space around him shifted with every passing instant. Yet, there was no magic present here—these spatial disturbances were being generated by magical forces from a much greater distance.

"Wang Yu, that is your name, is it not? I have been observing you for a long time. You are a truly unique existence. Your origins are unknown, and you seem to lack the grand ambitions held by others as brilliant as you. Your patterns of action are a mystery, and I cannot discern what it is you ultimately intend to achieve."

"My abilities have no effect on you. Prophecy cannot glimpse the trajectory of your future, nor can it find the traces left by your past. But, since you exist, all your actions must inevitably leave marks upon this world. As long as I collect enough of these traces, they will be sufficient to piece together the nature of the power you possess."

Wang Yu was attempting to decipher the state of the surrounding space when Celine’s voice resonated in his ears. Her tone lacked emotional fluctuation, yet she spoke of him with a hint of contemplative sentiment.

Without ceasing his observation of the space, Wang Yu merely raised an eyebrow. He had long known that one day, this special quality he himself did not fully understand would be noticed by others, and it was highly probable that those who wielded the power of "prophecy" would be the first to take note.

The spatial configuration around him presented a strange state. The location where Wang Yu stood seemed to be an immense corridor, its walls so distant that even if he extended his Chariot power to its limit, he could not reach them.

As for the overall structure of this corridor, the paths at either end stretched on without end, approaching the deceptive concept of "infinity."

"You have grown truly fast, much faster than I had imagined. Among the human race, I have never seen an existence grow so rapidly, not even those I have known before."

"Certain traits and abilities you possess make me doubt whether you are truly of the 'human' race. Compared to them, I am more inclined to believe you are a creature of the Abyss—only you do not resemble one. You are rational and methodical; this is something a creature of the Abyss could never achieve, at least not since the Morning Star explosion."

"We did not necessarily have to become enemies, did we? Our disagreement lies only in this kingdom and its monarch. You are special; your resistance to mental corruption could actually allow you to replace the role of Doren Charlemagne."

"Therefore, if you are willing to let go of this hatred and cease your actions to seize this kingdom and slay him, or perhaps temporarily lay down your resistance so we may have a proper conversation, we might not have to cross swords."

While racing against time to grasp the situation, Wang Yu was forced to listen to Celine’s incessant chatter. He did not fully understand what she was talking about, but after a brief analysis, it seemed she and her associates were orchestrating something massive.

Because Wang Yu intended to slaughter Doren Charlemagne and transfer the ownership of Alastair to someone else, he had likely touched upon a link in their grand design, forcing them to step out and deal with him.

"So, what is it you are actually trying to do? If you don't tell me, how can I talk to you properly?"

Wang Yu frowned, then drew the Shattered Meteorite Blade, responding to Celine.

"Our goal is to create an 'ideal kingdom' that belongs to all intelligent races."

Celine responded quite simply, though her words reminded Wang Yu of something he had encountered before.

"Are you a clown?"

The Shattered Meteorite Blade in his hand transformed into the Weaver’s Tome under the influence of the Artifact-Forging Hammer, and the question slipped out.

Although the remark sounded aggressive, Wang Yu was not trying to mock her. He had genuinely thought of the Clown—the "Ideal Kingdom Circus" that had once entered Alastair, which he, Shael, and Edward had been ordered to handle. Could there be a connection between the two?

"..."

The other party fell silent for a moment, likely not expecting Wang Yu to blurt out such a thing, but she soon realized what he meant and replied calmly.

"Perhaps, but the methods they employed were absolutely wrong."

Opening the Weaver’s Tome, Wang Yu began to rapidly piece together the corresponding basic spell circuits to form the technique he desired. He had already sensed it and was certain that magic was not forbidden in this area; he could cast spells at will.

"That’s nice, then. An ideal kingdom or whatever sounds lovely. If everyone could get the life they wanted, that would be truly great."

While operating the Weaver’s Tome, Wang Yu took the time to respond. He was quite sincere; if Celine could truly establish an ideal kingdom, Wang Yu would have no objections.

"In that case, are you willing to become a part of us? If so, today is indeed an unexpected windfall."

"Can I kill Doren Charlemagne and take Alastair?"

"No. He is a pillar in our plan. Even if you are willing to join us, I cannot confirm if you are capable of replacing him."

"Then you’re talking nonsense. This 'ideal kingdom' of yours doesn't seem to fulfill my ideals at all."

Wang Yu clicked his tongue, making his stance clear. His hatred for the royal family was set in stone; he had to destroy them. If they hadn't targeted him in the first place, would he have come knocking on their door? The problem certainly didn't lie with him, and regardless of what others thought, his own mind was perfectly clear on the matter.

As for Celine asking him to give up on Doren Charlemagne and temporarily cease his resistance? Was she treating him like a fool? Who knew if the things she said were just gibberish? If he stopped resisting, he would be slaughtered immediately.

Even if he took a step back and assumed there was a chance she wouldn't attack, the probability was unknown, so he might as well treat it as a coin toss. Wang Yu didn't even need to think—he would choose the option that allowed him to kill Doren Charlemagne.

"It is a pity. Regardless, the choice you have made will not be the correct one."

As their conversation concluded, Wang Yu completed the spell structure in the Weaver’s Tome. Spatial Spell: Phase Gate activated, and Wang Yu’s figure vanished amidst high-priority spatial fluctuations.

"..."

A soft sigh escaped Celine; she seemed deeply disappointed.

When his form reappeared, Wang Yu observed his surroundings and discovered that his relative position within the entire space had not changed.

He had just accumulated a massive amount of mana, continuously strengthening his spell, and had traveled over 2,000 meters. Yet, for this space, it was as if he had remained exactly where he started.

"It seems it isn't that simple..."

He whispered to himself, his Chariot power spreading outward. However, the corridors, which should have been composed of mana, were too far away. Even if he tried to use his Chariot power to shatter the elements maintaining this space, he was completely unable to reach them.

"Boom!"

From a distant location, a beam of light erupted and shot toward him, targeting Wang Yu as he drifted unsteadily within the space.

He stepped into the air, using a pedal made of Void energy to quickly dodge, narrowly avoiding the sudden torrent of energy.

But this was only the beginning. Within this space, various types of spells began to fire from all directions: twisted, pitch-black spheres of chaos, explosive fireballs, rotating giant wheels, sharp and sturdy metal spikes, and clouds of highly corrosive acidic gas...

The multicolored glow from the erupting magic bathed the area around Wang Yu. Multiple spells mixed together, reacting with one another to form even more chaotic mana turbulence. These attacks almost completely covered the space around him, leaving him with very little room to maneuver.

Running rapidly across the pedals created by Void energy, he dodged the relentless torrent of spells trailing behind him. He raised a hand to punch, shattering a deep black thorn that suddenly lunged from his side, then unleashed a "Dragon Roar" toward the front, the fan-shaped impact force causing the acidic cloud ahead to dissipate.

Chariot Power: Silent Hall had been activated, preventing any further spell attacks from manifesting in his immediate vicinity. However, the matter formed by spells released from afar was not affected by his anti-magic field. The sky remained filled with light and projectiles, and the space that imprisoned him could not be broken.

Wang Yu’s running speed was by no means slow, but as he sprinted, he discovered that he remained at the center point of this space—the space was moving with him.

And this space was vast—so vast that his Chariot power could not reach or destroy the structures composing it. He was in a state of having power but nowhere to exert it; every punch he threw felt as if it were hitting cotton, entirely meaningless.

This was a domain Celine had analyzed and created specifically for him. It was not overly complex—merely a spatial cage that followed Wang Yu’s movements—but it was incredibly effective.

Wang Yu felt as if he had returned to the first time he fell into the Void. It was a similar situation; although the Void could not affect him, he had no place to land, only able to fall endlessly, waiting for his death.

But this time, not only could he not escape, he had to face an endless bombardment of spells. While he could sustain himself with his current strength, he could not keep it up forever...

"..."

Silently, he tore open a Void rift and leaped into it without hesitation. Since there was no way out here, he would simply go somewhere else.

But when he stepped onto solid ground and looked through the Void cube space occupied by his door, he discovered that outside his space, a circle of familiar existences surrounded him. In terms of appearance, they were identical to the "Infinite Corridor" of the outside world.

"This is troublesome..."

This truly exceeded Wang Yu’s expectations. Celine’s understanding of his abilities was deeper than he had imagined. This cage was not only aimed at Wang Yu in the material world; even within the Void, her power existed.

"Just like the outside—too far away to touch. But are these existences material? That would mean this person has a connection to Roland..."

Within the space occupied by his door, Wang Yu was temporarily safe from external attacks. As long as he remained here, this space was indestructible. Yet, he still seemed unable to escape the cage Celine had crafted for him.

Wang Yu’s abilities were indeed exaggerated; if he could touch the structure with his Chariot power, he would likely be able to usurp control of this Void directly. But the problem remained: he needed to make contact with his Chariot power, and Celine had not given him that opportunity. It was a simple principle, yet it was extremely effective against Wang Yu.

"I can't reach the Lady of Night... and this space is not truly invincible. I fear I might really be trapped and killed here by this person if I am alone."

Shaking his head, Wang Yu muttered to himself. He was in the Void, and not seeing the Lady of Night meant he could not contact her. Furthermore, through his subsequent exploration, he had discovered the limitations of this space occupied by his door.

When Wang Yu was outside this space—that is, in the material world—the door...

The void region of the domain could indeed exist indefinitely in an indestructible state, yet should Wang Yu step within, his mental energy would be slowly drained away.

Yes, mental energy—a capacity Wang Yu seldom prioritized—was the vital element anchoring his existence within this expanse.

Back when he first utilized wizardry through the "key," Wang Yu had confirmed that exhausting his mental energy would not result in the catastrophic collapse or death typical of ordinary wizards; he would simply be rendered unable to cast spells, and replenishment was as simple as sleep.

Now, while ensconced within this space, Wang Yu’s mental energy would steadily deplete. Once spent, he could no longer remain in this "invincible" sanctuary, and because the space existed, he would manifest a physical form within the void, rendering him vulnerable to attack.

He could either collapse the space and return to a state untouchable by the void, or retreat to the material world to recover his strength; yet neither option was viable, for both would leave him trapped. In short, facing Serine, Wang Yu was in a checkmate—an inescapable, certain death.

But Wang Yu was not alone.

"I'm counting on you! I admit, I was a bit reckless this time."

Wang Yu bowed toward Avia at his side, his expression far more vivid when facing the girl.

"It’s not your fault. We planned this together, after all. We assumed your current strength would be more than enough, but we didn't account for such an unforeseen variable. 'Predicting the unpredictable' is easier said than done."

Avia smiled, placing her palm upon the threshold of his gate. Though he appeared reckless, he always consulted her, and she never questioned his decisions, just as he never questioned hers.

Through the gate, Wang Yu transferred the authority of the Chariot to her. As the permissions shifted, the magic began to obey Avia, moving in massive, complex, and orderly currents under her command.

Wang Yu’s power possessed a remarkably high ceiling; the Chariot was like a sprawling, lush skill tree, where constant development unlocked diverse effects.

The Throne of Command, the Silent Hall, the Void Engine—these were all branches of that tree. Through constant practice, one could master the power, refining control and unleashing greater potential.

For instance, with the Silent Hall, Wang Yu did not strictly need such a vast radius; theoretically, he could have halved the area to deploy the Void Engine simultaneously, but his mastery had not yet reached that level of perfection.

Since the Chariot could manipulate magic, it could naturally be used to weave various spells, and due to its absolute nature, it offered a degree of control far more precise and effective than a standard mana vortex.

Undoubtedly, this power was better suited for a mage, a profession requiring immense knowledge and superior logical capacity—qualities Wang Yu lacked. His brain was merely sufficient for the task at hand.

Thus, he needed an external brain, and fortunately, he had one: a young mage who deserved the title of genius far more than he, the cheater, ever could—Avia.

Wang Yu did not know the true extent of Avia’s current spellcraft. While the limitations of her own mana vortex restricted the power she could output, her sheer magical aptitude could only be described as terrifying.

So, what would happen if the Chariot were handed to Avia, allowing her to unleash the full extent of her spellcasting mastery?

"Let's go. I’ll hold the line, you strike!"

"Understood! You tank, I carry!"

Tearing open a rift in the void, Wang Yu leapt out, the magic boiling around him, vast as a dragon, yet as docile as a loyal hound.

Chariot: Spellweaver.