Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

Chapter 1083: Part 3: Departure

From MCʼs Perspective:

”Vincent,” Galvin began, his voice low but filled with a strange mix of pride and sadness. ”Best of luck for your future. I hope to see you in the Sub-Taboo Hall one day.”

There was a weight to his words, a deep understanding of the journey I had taken so far. Galvin had watched me grow from a raw, unrefined talent—a mere wizard seed—into a force strong enough to be counted among the core members of the Sub-Taboo Hall.

It was no small feat. My rapid ascension, once thought impossible, had become a testament to both my determination and the sacrifices along the way.

I met his gaze, feeling a rare moment of connection. ”Thank you, Elder Galvin,” I said sincerely. ”For everything. Your guidance has meant more than I can express.”

For a few more minutes, we exchanged words, brief but meaningful. Then, with one last nod, Elder Galvin turned and left. His departure was as effortless as his arrival—one long, measured stride, and in the blink of an eye, he covered a distance that would have taken ordinary men hours.

His mastery of rule power made such feats second nature to him, but even knowing that, the speed with which he vanished from sight was still breathtaking.

Once alone, I allowed myself a moment to take in my surroundings. The eerie silence of the barren region pressed in on me, but I found it oddly comforting. No prying eyes, no lurking enemies. Just the wasteland and me.

After confirming that no one else was near, in an instant, appeared inside the Gregor Mansion. The ancient manor materialized around me, its grand halls and flickering torches offering a stark contrast to the desolate land outside. Here, within these walls, I was safe for the time being.

But even as I stood in the familiar surroundings of the Gregor Mansion, my thoughts were already racing ahead. There was no telling how much time I had before those who were after me caught wind of my movements. Time was a luxury I could not afford to waste.

Meanwhile, as Galvin made his return to base, the barren region quickly fell away beneath him. His mind was calm, focused solely on the successful completion of the task.

He trusted in the desolation of the wasteland to cloak their movements, believing no one would pay attention to such a forsaken place. After all, what could possibly interest anyone in a land devoid of mana, where even the strongest wizards hesitated to step foot? To him, the mission had gone unnoticed, their secrecy intact.

But far beyond his awareness, a chain of events had already been set into motion. The special aircraftʼs flight, unnoticed by most, had caught the sharp eyes of enemy spies who had been quietly observing the border. Their vigilance paid off when they saw the rare craft entering the skies above the barren region—a place that no wizard, from any country, had any reason to visit.

The spies, stationed discreetly in remote outposts, marked the strange occurrence immediately. They watched in silence as the aircraft entering desolate region and quickly relayed their observations back to their superiors.

Confusion buzzed through their ranks. Why would anyone venture to such a hostile, magic-drained region? It was an anomaly, and anomalies had a way of catching the attention of those in power.

Back in the neighboring countryʼs capital, the report was received with swift concern. High-ranking officials debated the possibilities, their minds racing through the various reasons why someone—anyone—would take an aircraft to a place so strategically insignificant. What were they hiding there? What was the purpose of such a covert visit?

Speculation ran rampant, but none of the answers they came up with felt right. Something about the situation nagged at them, the uncertainty too great to ignore. The decision was made quickly—forces would be dispatched to investigate.

Within hours, a contingent of elite wizards, trained in reconnaissance and skilled in covert operations, were on their way. Their mission was simple: find out what was happening in the barren region and, if necessary, intercept whoever or whatever was responsible for the mysterious flight. They moved with the precision of a well-oiled aircraft, each step calculated, each move part of a larger plan.

While Galvin was flying back to the base, completely unaware of the eyes now trained on him, these forces were already preparing to move into the wasteland.

Their orders were clear: they had to uncover the truth behind this unusual activity. Galvinʼs confidence in the barren regionʼs emptiness had shielded him for now, but the neighboring country was no longer content to let such an event go unexplored.

The forces sent into the wasteland were unlike any ordinary patrol. These were specially selected wizards and experts who could survive even in the mana-drained environment

Their abilities were finely tuned for hostile terrains, and they had the tools necessary to sustain themselves in areas where others would falter. Their leaders had equipped them with mana-imbued artifacts and survival gear designed to counteract the barren regionʼs magic-draining properties.

As they advanced toward the wasteland, they moved under the cover of night, their footsteps silent against the cracked earth. The mission was shrouded in secrecy, not even the lower ranks knew the full extent of what they were looking for.

But the stakes were clear—any hidden activity in such an area could signal something much bigger than a simple mission. If they could uncover whatever was being concealed in that lifeless region, it could give them a strategic advantage, perhaps even destabilize the delicate balance of power between the two countries.

Galvin, in the midst of his journey back, felt none of this tension. He believed he had executed the mission flawlessly, his only thoughts on reporting back and ensuring that Vincent had safely reached his next destination.

Yet, far behind him, the forces of the neighboring country were closing in on the barren land, their eyes peeled for any signs of disturbance. What they would find, no one knew, but the quiet winds of the wasteland were about to witness the stirrings of a hidden war.