38. [The Megalith], Model of the Universe

"Elian, I have imagined the gap between us countless times. I have pondered just how vast the distance is between myself and the Mage King of Eldor."

"I used to think we were only separated by a hair's breadth..."

Gurt's tone carried an undisguised despair.

"Until today, I realize there lies an uncrossable chasm between us..."

At this, Gurt laughed.

A heartbroken laugh.

During the previous subjugation of the orc tribes, Elian had barely intervened directly, at most offering some supplementary assistance from the sidelines.

This had led Gurt to misjudge Elian's true strength.

Thinking back now, Gurt suspected this too was all part of Elian's design.

Elian was not surprised by Gurt's despair—

The overwhelming power he had displayed, the effortless mastery of "deliberately utilizing his opponent's specialized school of magic," far surpassed not only the level of a Ninth-Ring Mage, but even exceeded the normal operational standards of most junior Legendary Mages.

This was the combined result of a more profound spell reservoir, more precise magical control, greater practical combat experience, and more advanced tactical thinking!

"Your Majesty, you possess such astonishing might and miraculous magic, yet you still harbor the desire to share magic with those wretched commoners of the surface..."

"You are truly unbelievable, my great Majesty."

The more Gurt spoke, the harder he laughed, as though he had long accepted his inevitable doom and was uttering his dying heartfelt words.

"An individual's power is always limited. I once believed in myself too deeply, and in the end, I failed," Elian said indifferently.

"Elian, do you really believe that among those surface commoners—those ordinary people whom fate has denied the opportunity to touch magic—someone in the future will become as powerful a mage as we Grand Masters, or even as powerful as you are now?" Gurt asked again.

"Yes," Elian replied as a matter of course.

"We—these mage nobles dwelling in the high heavens, are not special, nor are we chosen by fate."

"We are merely luckier, having encountered magic a few seconds earlier than everyone else."

"From the time the earliest ancestors of humanity learned magic until now, a mere three hundred years have passed, less than half the lifespan of an ordinary elf."

"On the scale of ages, this is merely a fleeting instant."

"Gurt, nothing is predetermined by fate. If there is such a thing, it simply means our magic is not powerful enough to reweave the threads of destiny."

Listening to Elian's words, listening to the flat, unmodulated tone of this imperial sovereign who was even younger than himself, Gurt felt countless complex emotions intertwine in his heart.

At that very moment, Helen suddenly stood up.

The beautiful, golden-haired woman, Eldor's Grand Master of Transmutation, stood tall and straight at that moment, staring fixedly into Elian's eyes like a brave warrior.

"Your Majesty Elian, we have lost this battle, and we accept our defeat with absolute humility."

"We anticipated our end and have accepted such an outcome..."

Helen was certain that, given Elian's character as they remembered it, the three of them—who had failed in their assassination attempt—along with Cassandra, the Grand Master of Divination who had provided the intelligence, were all doomed to die without a doubt!

Having calmly accepted this outcome, she felt surprisingly much more relaxed inside.

Compared to the state she had lived in over the past half-year, constantly plotting to overthrow Elian, discussing assassination plans, and keeping her nerves on edge every second, she actually felt much lighter...

"However, great Majesty, before we face our ultimate judgment, I wish to obtain the answer to a question from you..." Helen's voice gradually lowered.

Elian nodded gently:

"Very well. Go ahead and ask."

"In truth, Helen, your performance in the battle just now was already quite brilliant. You must have poured a tremendous amount of effort into transforming into that dragon."

"You deserve such an answer."

"Thank you for your mercy!" Helen bowed, and asked sincerely:

"Your Majesty Elian, please tell me, what on earth is your ultimate goal?"

"Since this year, you have grown a bit strange. Reticent, pushing forward with reforms that subvert tradition, you seem burdened with deep thoughts and distant aims."

"You are already the most powerful mage among mankind, a godlike emperor standing at the peak of the mountain."

"Perhaps only the legendary Archmages in the Elven Court, or the ancient dragon spellcasters who inherited the legacy of the primeval dragon empire, could keep pace with your achievements in magic!"

"What more could you possibly want, my Majesty?"

Elian smiled knowingly:

"A very good question!"

"What is it that I truly want?"

Right before the three Grand Masters, Elian raised a hand and cast an illusion projection, rendering a vast three-dimensional landscape.

It was a gigantic wheel.

"What is this?"

All three Grand Masters looked simultaneously at the three-dimensional image projected by Elian.

"This is a model of the cosmos."

"I call it—[The Great Wheel]."

Elian explained to the three like a patient teacher.

In the ancient era of Eldor, human mages still held a very superficial understanding of the various planes.

Perhaps they could use certain spells, such as "Interplanar Scrying," to accidentally link with other planes and communicate with powerful otherworldly entities—which was also the principle behind some divination spells.

Thus, they knew that beyond the present world, there existed other spatial planes.

However, aside from the mundane Prime Material Plane, they remained entirely blank regarding which specific planes existed and how these planes related to one another.

"The so-called Great Wheel is a simplified model for us to easily comprehend the structure of the cosmos and the relationships among the planes..." Elian recounted leisurely.

A model of the cosmos, a model for mapping interplanar relationships?

Both Gurt and Helen were quite astonished.

When had Elian completed the survey and reconnaissance of the various planes, and even deduced the corresponding model theory?

And why was Elian telling them this at such a time?

Despite harboring the despair of certain death, they still could not resist looking toward the illusory projection in the air, eager to catch a glimpse of this so-called cosmic truth in the final moments of their lives.

This was the nature of mages, the mages of the ancient magical empire era.

They were both ruthless demons and, at the same time, relentless pursuers of knowledge and mysteries.

Had they lacked this initial thirst for knowledge, they could never have reached where they were today, becoming the supreme pinnacles of their respective magical disciplines.

Elian pointed his finger toward the center of the wheel, teaching like an instructor:

"This is the present world where we live, the Prime Material Plane!"

"It encompasses the earth beneath our feet—this planet that nurtured the earliest civilization, the vast outer space, and numerous planets that may harbor life. All of these belong as a part of the Prime Material Plane."

He then pointed his finger toward the inner ring of the wheel—

"This is the Inner Planes, also known as the [Elemental Planes], representing the foundation of matter and the basic elements that compose all things."

"The Inner Planes can be divided into the four elemental planes of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, as well as the Positive Energy Plane symbolizing life, and the Negative Energy Plane symbolizing death and undeath."

"The boundaries where these elemental planes intersect can be further subdivided into even more quasi-elemental and para-elemental planes. For instance, the Lightning Plane, the Mineral Plane, the Ooze Plane..."

Kader, the Grand Master of Abjuration, remained immersed in the panic of defeat, trembling helplessly.

Yet Gurt and Helen listened with rapt attention.

This formed an exceptionally comical scene—

The defeated culprits of a failed assassination stood like students, lifting their curious heads and patiently listening to the king who had conquered them recount the mysteries of the universe.