Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Elminster, finding himself unable to remain hidden, straightforwardly expressed his admiration for Hill.

In his words, Hill’s skill in making strange objects had already surpassed his own, and was even comparable to Azuth.

Elminster had always taken pride in his spell creativity and never boasted about his alchemical prowess.

But Azuth’s fame in alchemy was almost universally known across Toril.

Like the success of the Ring of Winter, which owed credit to the Winter Maiden, but without Azuth’s meticulous craftsmanship, it couldn’t have been so powerful.

The Staff of the Archmage was something many mages desired most as a divine artifact.

Yet, when Elminster’s words spread, many sorcerer Torils felt indignant and even directly went to the temple of the Deity of Mages to specifically raise the matter... where the Deity of Mages silently acknowledged it.

Though he didn’t say much, it was enough to make sorcerer Torils no longer underestimate the lord of Agleya who had already left Toril, and even feel heartbroken over it.

Although Hill rarely mingled with outsiders, and even rarely associated with those who didn’t meet faction requirements... he was nevertheless in the Mortal World, seemingly having no discrimination against people or things, even being able to smile at little fairies.

There’s always someone who thinks wherever they go they’ll be a welcomed guest... can they be worse than little fairies?

But, those folks who can’t even compete with the Undead Tribe for jewelry, it all just doesn’t matter.

Lansendel completely overlooked the reality that, over the years, fewer than three Toril people have successfully spent those 300,000 gold coins.

He was just very curious that, when even Hill’s ability had astonished people so, how strong must Master Fran, who showed only briefly and then left Toril, really be?

There are many stories about Master Fran from the mouths of the Undead Tribe, but Lansendel completely couldn’t imagine from these stories just how strong the other party was.

So, he could only temporarily believe what they said, that there was a gap of an Aber between Hill and Fran.

But, just how strong must they be?

Lansendel was actually quite regretful that during the time the Archmage stayed at Hill’s Floating Castle, he didn’t have the opportunity to communicate with him... always admiring those who push the limits in their field.

However, Lansendel also understands that the Archmage’s extraordinary success in Alchemy doesn’t mean his strength can be as great.

Even deities have limits; if one side is more, inevitably another side must be less.

Though the Undead Tribe doesn’t know much, Fran’s age can still be reckoned.

Even Elminster, before reaching three hundred years, did not have the ability to stand before powerful divine power.

At that time, he still had Mystree’s full trust!

Not to mention, aside from him, Floating Castle had Shaer and Celene.

Hill would absolutely not let his family take such risks.

Even with Lynn having a deity backing him, Hill was quite unwilling to let him intervene!

If it were about matters concerning others, Lansendel would likely not be so composed... he actually doesn’t particularly like how people always fearfully avoid him.

He, as Lord of Dawn, isn’t it possible to scorn everything?

But Hill’s caution, he naturally accepted.

Hmm... Still, one’s own friends understand oneself.

Lansendel just regrets not having had a few words with such a talented individual.

After all, the array in front of him, seemingly complex to the extreme, with nodes densely packed and so obscured it can’t be seen clearly, Lansendel truly couldn’t understand why Hill thought so little of it, even wearing a face as if a fool could destroy it.

Celene, however, had fewer thoughts than Lansendel... to her, such a thing as an array was simply a mystery.

Her Power of the Silvermoon could accomplish any task... as long as she desired to.

Thus, she only stared at the order gods surrounding the array and earnestly asked, ”Hill, what’s wrong with this array?

Is it intentional or accidentally intentional?”

Although her question was roundabout, Hill still understood it.

Celene was really sharp when it came to matters related to war.

Though she didn’t know where the issue with the array lay, she immediately saw the crucial point: no matter how useless the order gods might be, their courage to use this array outside the Pool of Life must be backed by some confidence.

Moreover, it might have been used successfully in the past... when dealing with Miska, the order gods came up with many similar things.

So, if for Asmodier this array was essentially nonexistent, it certainly wasn’t due to the Lord of Hell’s strength, but rather a traitor had left a countermeasure in the array.

”All the lines are crooked.” Hill stared at the giant screen for a while, ”The nodes are also not accurate.

Some areas even have size discrepancies.

At first, I thought the array was going to explode!

But, it appears it’s the crystallization of order gods’ million-year efforts, though teetering, it just won’t collapse.

Thus, there must be some lines that should be tilted at a 15-degree angle, now turned to over 60 degrees, and crooked at an opposite angle.”

Then Hill saw three puzzled faces... even Shaer hadn’t understood.

He could only compose himself and added an explanation: ”The larger the angle, the sooner that diagonal line will intersect with another line inclined towards it.”

Shaer immediately understood.

Celene, however, still had little stars in her eyes.

Fortunately, Lansendel directly used his claw to draw the two inclined lines... Although the magic arrays were mainly based on the alignment of stars, such composite arrays often used parallel lines in the middle during linkage.

On these parallel lines were various nodes corresponding to external star lines.

The reason parallel lines had to be used was naturally because those nodes would mutually influence and repel, causing the array’s effects to suddenly change or even degrade.

Although diagonal lines with small angles would also have this influence, many arrays were not extensive enough to cause these slanted lines to collide.

Therefore, mages with somewhat less stable foundations did not have high requirements for this technique.

However, for a deity capable of assisting in completing such a complicated magic array to have such a conspicuous angle problem, there was clearly something amiss.

Furthermore, the lines he interfered with were not all problematic, but appeared at intervals... this allowed the other diagonal lines to conceal his actions.

An array capable of enveloping the entire Pool of Life must be incredibly vast.

If one still somewhat trusted their companions, it would indeed be difficult to spot the anomalies among those dense lines.

Hill was able to notice it partly because he was viewing the magnified image on the giant screen.

Another reason was that his excessively stable foundation made him sensitive to these crooked lines.

An excellent perfectionist can always find the different-colored one among hundreds of dizzying grids.

Hill was just like that.

To him, if these lines were meant to be severed, then those lines with excessive angles were to be eradicated as heresy.

However, he also knew that what he said was indeed not very clear... he was unsure how to clearly explain something this basic and obvious.

Wasn’t this something instantly recognizable?

”Hill.” Shaer was intrigued by Hill’s explanation, ”Can you point out those lines with excessive angles?

Let me see if I can deduce who’s behind this action.”

Hill thought for a moment and waved his hand, summoning the dark red Murderous Vine.

Murderous Vine could make its tendrils as fine as silkworm thread, and its color was noticeable enough. Most importantly, it communicated with Hill in mind and attacked precisely.

Blood-red fine lines quickly spread across the new giant screen, then meandered left and right, nearly weaving a net.

Even Hill couldn’t help but stare in surprise.

To be able to hide so many problematic lines among them, it certainly wasn’t the array’s supporter!

Instead, it was one of the principal weavers.

It might even be the array’s earliest creator.

Hill’s mouth couldn’t help but open slightly.

Though the God of Order’s parliament generally rotated leadership, there were always a few members who garnered most of their colleagues’ trust and managed some daily affairs.

Major tasks like the creation of this array were typically spearheaded by these few.

To put it more bluntly, those who initiated the Battle Angel project back then must have been these select few.

In other words, the God of Order who convinced others to create Battle Angels now intends to become Asmodeus’s subordinate!

What kind of mess is this?

Hill’s fingers twitched slightly, and a layer of mist quickly appeared within the Magic Tower... he somewhat doubted whether he was currently in an illusory realm.

”Hill, while I think your suspicions are quite reasonable,” Lansendel spoke dazedly, ”I can assure you that no one’s illusory realm could manifest such a perfect version of me.

Look at my feathers; do you think anyone could replicate them?”

Before his voice fell, Dew of Moonlight filled the Magic Tower.

Celene unceremoniously conducted a second wakefulness test.

Lansendel could only flap his wings, adding a layer of Rose Radiance to the silver-blue shimmering Magic Tower hall: ”Although I don’t think I’ve entered an illusory realm, I won’t let Celene embarrass me alone!”

Hill helplessly turned his head to Shaer... he needed a presence that was calm enough to give him some confidence.

”William said that the ones using the giant screen were indeed me and Lansendel, without interference from other forces.” Shaer, seeing Hill’s gaze, gave him a reassuring answer.

But it was obvious she was also taken aback.

Yet for Shaer, no matter how much the others talked or tested, nothing was more reassuring than William’s words.

”What is all this?” Hill could only mutter, entrusting his grievances to the God of Order on the giant screen.

What exactly did you do to make one of your own leaders decide to become a lackey of the Lord of Hell?