The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

The world seen by high-level professionals is different from that seen by ordinary people. This is because the laws governing the world as seen by high-level professionals are different from those of ordinary professionals. Their control over magic has undergone a qualitative change, which is why historically only high-level professionals could use super-level magic.

Of course, what high-level professionals see differently is not only the laws governing the world, but also a towering structure that seems to reach almost to the sky, a tower so tall it doesn't look like a human creation at all.

The tower stands silently, seemingly a long chain piercing the heavens. But upon closer inspection, one discovers that the tower is not truly connected to the heavens. Instead, it appears as if abruptly severed, leaving only a base on the ground, as if the gods in the sky do not wish for humanity to ascend to the heavens through this tower.

The tower, like a severed arm, stretched futilely into the depths of the sky.

The tower is also covered with cracks, and there are many ancient, moss-like substances on the outside, making it impossible to discern the original color of the tower.

In contrast, there is the tower’s massive base, which resembles a city. This is where the professionals controlled by the tower and the tower’s official employees live. Some of these bases are connected to the tower, while others are houses distributed separately around the tower.

If you look closely, you'll find that these houses are somewhat similar in style to the small buildings that Lind initially built on the banks of the River Tears in the North. They are similarly copied and pasted, with the same rough geometric blocks and the same exposed gray-white building materials, which makes these buildings appear solemn and austere.

The only difference between these buildings is probably the different inscriptions on them. The tower once tried to decipher them, but perhaps the deciphering failed, or perhaps it was eventually discovered that these inscriptions had no special meaning, and the project was subsequently abandoned.

Within this seemingly silent, desolate, yet solemn city of Jidi, lies what is arguably the strongest fighting force on the continent, and these strongest fighters are keeping a close eye on the black dragon flying in from the horizon.

Erex's pupils were fixed on the tower before him, which, as always, was built even higher than the dragons could fly.

Although he had heard that the path to the upper levels of the tower had always been closed, or perhaps there was no path at all, Erex was still annoyed. The tower seemed to be proclaiming that humans and elves had once reached heights that even dragons had not been able to achieve.

Erex roared and soared straight into the clouds, increasing his altitude continuously, while the spellcasters on his back wailed, "Lord Erex, we can't go any higher, we can't go on!"

But Irreles ignored it and kept climbing, trying to surpass the tower in front of him, until the magical vortex under Irreles' wings could no longer provide the power to rise, and until the scar on Irreles' head began to cause phantom pain.

Finally, Erex returned to its normal height. At this moment, vines, like roads, extended from the tower, winding around it and stretching outwards. The exhausted gray elf, leading a group of tower researchers, slowly emerged from the vine-woven path.

"Errick..."

The elf glanced at Erex in mid-air, her eyes filled with an indescribable mix of pity, sorrow, and perhaps both.

"Anastasia, it's been a long time."

Erex's eyes gleamed with wild joy: "I can't believe you're still alive, you old codger! This is wonderful! Now I can kill you with my own hands!"

Erex excitedly spread his enormous wings and circled in the air, almost shaking the spellcasters on his back off.

“Erex, that’s why I said you’re wild and untamed. You’re no different from those animals in essence. You’re just a bigger, winged lizard.”

The elf's tone was quite disappointed, and upon hearing the elf's assessment, Erex angrily flapped his wings and roared, "Wildness, savagery, and the survival of the fittest are the most basic rules of this world! We dragons are the strongest race in this world and should rule over everything!"

Seeing the enraged Erex, the elf simply waved his hand, and a huge gold coin suddenly spewed out from the vines. Erex, as if by reflex, flew straight toward the gold coin.

It wasn't until he grabbed the huge gold coin with his claws that Erex realized what was happening.

"That's why I say, Erex, you're just a bigger lizard."

"You, you! Anastasia!"

The spellcasters on Erex's back all shrank their heads. Although the cold wind at high altitude made them very uncomfortable, they dared not utter a word.

The black dragon was utterly enraged, and its breath, giving no one time to react, was unleashed upon the elf. However, the high-level professionals behind the elf simply wove a glowing shield, which blocked the black dragon's furious breath.

In the skies above the entire world, it is extremely difficult to use magic except for dragons. There is only one exception: the area around towers. This is one of the reasons why even dragons, who hold the most noble air superiority in the world, cannot destroy towers.

“Erex, I thought you would understand once you reached the other side of the sea that the abuse of super-tier magic can only lead to the destruction of this world, and that no one likes war.”

"Why can't you do business like your kin, earn some gold coins, and sleep soundly on a bed made of gold coins?"

The black dragon's roar interrupted the elf's speech. Erex roared, "Because the wilderness is the true face of this world! Anastasia, you humans and elves always pretend to care about this world, always thinking of yourselves as the masters of this world. I want to see what you can do for this world!"

As he finished speaking, Erex's neck and abdomen were scorched red by flames, and a storm began to rise around him. Dragon breath and magic spread like ink across the sky above the tower.

"Errick, you haven't improved at all compared to before!"

As the vines began to extend, the professionals in the tower followed them, preparing to block Erex.

But looking at those high-level professionals, Erex grinned maliciously and said, "Do you think I would come here to die unprepared? No, Anastasia, even if it means destruction, I will take you down with me!"

At this moment, the spellcasters on Erex's back finally began to move, and the professionals in the tower immediately sensed an ominous aura.

"Super-tier magic? Erex, there's no super-tier magic in the sky that can support a magic circle, nor can it use those materials that provide magic power! Are you out of your mind?!"

Seeing a hint of panic finally appear on the elf's face, Erex's pupils blazed with madness as he roared, "I am the magic circle itself! I am the source of magic! Anastasia, don't forget, the sky is our dragon territory!"