The Synthesis Wizard

The Sal Plains, located in the northwest region of the continent, stretched endlessly under the clear skies.

A horned deer leisurely grazed on the lush grass, but suddenly it raised its head, sensing danger. It glanced around nervously.

In the next instant, a distortion appeared in the void, tearing the deer apart into a spray of blood. Immediately following, a small black hole rapidly expanded into a three-meter-tall and two-meter-wide portal.

Figures clad in long robes stepped out one after another.

"So, this is the Starlight Continent?" Andrew remarked as he surveyed the surroundings, a trace of disdain in his tone. "The energy particle concentration here is lower than I expected."

"Well, the planar barrier hasn't been fully repaired yet, and the Starlight Continent isn't a primary plane. It's only natural that its energy density is inferior to the Umbral Moon Plane," another mage replied.

"That's true."

Andrew nodded in agreement, but his eyes caught Evan frowning deeply. Curious, he asked, "What's wrong, Evan?"

"I can't sense the location of the Starry Tower," Evan said, his eyes fixed on the crystal ball in his hand. His pale face was filled with confusion and unease.

The others were taken aback by his words.

"What's going on?"

"Could there be an issue with the device?"

"That's unlikely. Lord Liam personally crafted it, and we checked it thoroughly before departing. It shouldn't malfunction!"

"Could it be that the Starry Tower has been destroyed?"

The last suggestion silenced the group momentarily.

Moments later, several of them burst into laughter.

"Impossible!"

"I don't believe there's anyone on the Starlight Continent capable of destroying the Starry Tower."

"Milton, when did you become a comedian?"

The mage named Milton shrugged but didn't argue. He also found his own guess far-fetched.

Evan raised a hand to silence the chatter and said gravely, "Regardless, something has clearly happened to the Starry Tower. We need to locate it and figure out what's going on."

The others nodded in agreement.

The Starry Tower was a secret outpost left by the Obsidian Throne on the Starlight Continent. While they didn't particularly care whether it had recruited any "slaves" over the past millennium, the resources within—namely alchemical concoctions and Pearls of Spirit—were a significant asset they couldn't afford to lose.

Evan continued, "The planar barrier here is still incomplete. Lord Liam's mage tower will need more time to cross the barrier. Before he arrives, we should gather information and try to control a few countries. Once Lord Liam is here, we'll begin the conquest of the Starlight Continent."

Andrew smirked. "If you ask me, we could take over the entire Starlight Continent ourselves. There's no need to wait for Lord Liam."

His confidence was echoed by several others.

From their perspective, the Starlight Continent had been sealed off and energy-deprived for a thousand years. The mage heritage and development here were likely in an extremely weakened state—if they hadn't vanished altogether.

Whether or not the continent even had formal mages was questionable.

Even if there were a few mage apprentices and knights, no matter how many, they couldn't possibly withstand twelve full-fledged mages.

"Don't underestimate the situation. We know nothing about the current state of the Starlight Continent," Evan cautioned, though inwardly he shared Andrew's confidence.

"I'll search for the Starry Tower. The rest of you should split up and gather information. Act as you see fit, and use the Bone Crow to communicate if you uncover anything significant."

The group nodded and dispersed in different directions.

"Andrew, let's see who can take control of the most territory first," a mage called out to Andrew as they parted, grinning.

Andrew cast him a sidelong glance. "Sure. What's the wager?"

"Three bottles of alchemical concoctions."

"Deal!"

With a hearty laugh, Andrew shot into the sky, speeding toward a distant horizon.

Before long, a town came into view, its size suggesting it was a significant settlement.

Andrew's spirits lifted as he descended over the town, scanning it from above. His gaze quickly locked onto the most lavish-looking estate in the center.

The fastest way to gather information was to locate the local noble lord.

In a flash, Andrew disappeared from the sky and reappeared inside the estate.

Spreading out his mental power, he quickly identified his target. He vanished again, materializing moments later in a grand living room.

Viscount Karen was sipping tea leisurely when a shadow flickered before him, and a figure appeared out of nowhere.

"Who are you?!"

Startled, Viscount Karen jumped to his feet, ready to act. But his movements froze as his gaze met Andrew's piercing, otherworldly blue eyes.

A faint glow emanated from Andrew's eyes, and the viscount's expression went slack. His face became vacant, and he stood motionless, completely under Andrew's hypnotic spell.

"A legendary knight, hmm?" Andrew remarked, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected the first noble he targeted to be a first-circle legendary knight.

In a resource-starved plane like the Starlight Continent, legendary knights should have been rare.

Could it be that the recent increase in energy particle density had led to a rise in legendary knights?

Andrew put the thought aside for now and began his interrogation.

A hypnotic spell cast by a formal mage was something even a legendary knight couldn't resist.

Under the spell's influence, Viscount Karen answered every question without hesitation.

As the interrogation progressed, Andrew's expression turned from curiosity to shock.

The Starlight Continent was already unified?

And a mage faction with formal mages had emerged?

Andrew was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

The unification of the Starlight Continent was surprising but still within the realm of possibility. However, the emergence of a mage organization was an entirely different matter.

In a resource-scarce plane, the number of mage apprentices should have been minimal. Even with the gradual recovery of energy particle density over the past century or two, the increase shouldn't have been significant.

Yet, according to Viscount Karen's account, this "Star Alliance" not only had its own mage academy but had also trained tens of thousands of mage apprentices!

What was even more unbelievable was that the Star Alliance had formal mages, and not just one or two!

"How is this possible?" Andrew muttered, stunned.

"How could the Starlight Continent possibly have the resources to train so many apprentices and formal mages?"

It was a situation beyond belief. Even if the resources from the Starry Tower were fully utilized, they wouldn't be able to achieve such numbers.

If Andrew didn't have confidence in his hypnotic spell, he would have suspected that Viscount Karen was lying to him.

"What's the origin of this Su Nan mage?"

The name of the Star Alliance's apparent leader filled Andrew with unease.

A local of the Starlight Continent had somehow managed to create a mage organization from scratch. While it might not yet qualify as a formal mage faction by interplanar standards, it was already a remarkable achievement.

That such a figure could emerge from an elemental desert like the Starlight Continent was astonishing.

"If you were born in the mage golden age a thousand years ago, you would undoubtedly have been hailed as a prodigy," Andrew muttered to himself.

Yet, admiration aside, Andrew's plans hadn't changed.

The Obsidian Throne was determined to claim the Starlight Continent. If Su Nan surrendered and handed over the Star Alliance, the Obsidian Throne might spare his life and even absorb him into their ranks. Otherwise, they would have to eliminate him and his faction.

"Though a mage, someone who advanced during an era of elemental scarcity will never match the foundation or power of those who ascended under normal conditions."

"Let's hope they're wise enough to submit. Otherwise, I'll show them what a true mage can do."

Andrew chuckled coldly, extending a finger to press against Viscount Karen's forehead. With a flick of his wrist, a translucent gray shadow was pulled from Karen's body.

The shadow writhed and struggled but was bound by invisible forces, unable to escape. It was drawn into a crystal, vanishing completely with a faint, pitiful wail.

The crystal glimmered and transformed into a clear, pale gray gem.

At the same time, Viscount Karen's body collapsed onto the sofa, lifeless.

"Not bad. The soul's quality is excellent."

Satisfied, Andrew pocketed the soul crystal and strode toward the exit.

The current state of the Starlight Continent had exceeded his expectations. Though he looked down on the so-called Star Alliance and its local mages, he wasn't arrogant enough to think he could take them on alone.

"Looks like the wager will have to wait."

Initially, Andrew had planned to target a powerful nation, showcase his strength, and force its rulers into submission. But given the circumstances, that plan was no longer viable.

The priority now was to regroup with his companions and locate the Star Alliance's headquarters to strike decisively.

"Too bad this useless fool didn't know where the Star Alliance is based. I suppose I'll have to ask the Emperor of the Starry Empire."

Exiting the mansion, Andrew no longer bothered to conceal his presence. He soared into the sky.

At the same time, a crow insignia on the back of his right hand began to glow faintly. Moments later, it peeled off his skin and expanded into a skeletal crow the size of a human head.

The bone crow flapped its bony wings and sped off into the distance.

The bone crows of the Obsidian Throne excelled in tracking. As long as they were on the same plane, they could locate other members of the Obsidian Throne, regardless of distance, and facilitate remote communication with their handlers.

In essence, they were tools for automatic tracking and long-distance communication.

Andrew had released his bone crow to quickly reunite with his allies.

However, the crow had flown less than a hundred meters when a bolt of lightning shot through the air like a meteor, shattering it with a loud bang.

Andrew's gaze snapped toward the direction of the lightning.

There, a robed man sat cross-legged atop a peculiar dragon beast.

The dragon beast, over ten meters long, was covered in pearlescent scales that shimmered faintly with a golden glow. Its pair of translucent silver wings sparkled in the light.

Andrew immediately recognized the creature.

It was a Storm Dragon Beast, a high-tier sub-dragon species also known as a Cloud Dragon or Wind Dragon. Typically dwelling in the clouds, these creatures commanded the power of storms.

Judging by its size and scale luster, this particular Storm Dragon Beast had an unusually pure bloodline. It might even be on the verge of a bloodline evolution, making it likely a fourth-circle legendary beast.

And for someone to have tamed such a beast, the robed man's identity was evident.

"A mage of the Star Alliance?" Andrew squinted.

The man smiled faintly. "You must be a mage from the Obsidian Throne. We've been expecting you. By the way, where are your companions?"

Andrew's expression darkened.

How did this man know he was from the Obsidian Throne?

And from his words, it seemed the Star Alliance had been aware of their impending invasion for some time.

A flurry of doubts filled Andrew's mind.

"Stop wasting time with him, Xieman."

A cold voice echoed from behind.

Another man, his face devoid of emotion, slowly ascended into the air, cutting off Andrew's retreat. Together, the two mages flanked him.

"We're lucky to have been nearby and caught this guy. If we don't take care of him quickly, the Witch-Hunter Legion will steal our credit," the second man said.

Xieman blinked, then laughed. "You're right, Corell. We need to finish this fast."

Witch-Hunter Legion?

Naming their forces after hunting mages—how arrogant and domineering!

What infuriated Andrew even more was their dismissive tone, as if they had already won.

"Such big talk!" Andrew sneered. "Let's see how capable the mages of the Star Alliance really are!"

A mere two mages, likely first-circle vaporized stage mages from the elemental desert era—did they truly think they could defeat him two-on-one?

The battle erupted in an instant.

All three began chanting simultaneously, spitting out short syllables to cast their spells with efficient brevity.

In a flash, dazzling magical light exploded across the sky.

Crack!

Countless sharp, spiked white bones burst from Andrew's body, enveloping him in a protective shell that rapidly expanded.

Though he scorned the so-called Witch-Hunter Legion, Andrew wasn't foolish enough to face more enemies. From the outset, he unleashed his innate ability to end the fight quickly and reunite with his allies.

In moments, a colossal skeletal beast over twenty meters long took shape in the air. Its canine form bristled with spiked bones, radiating dense negative energy that seemed to stain the entire sky a pale gray.

"[Bone] innate crystal ability?"low appeared at the center of his forehead, quickly spreading as his skin turned a gleaming silver.

Whoosh!

Liquid silver poured from his pores, forming sharp spikes that shot outward in a torrential storm, crashing toward Andrew like an unstoppable flood.

At the same time, Corell activated a similar innate ability, unleashing a barrage of silver spikes at Andrew.

Boom!

Caught off guard, Andrew was instantly swallowed by the silver torrent.

The countless spikes tore throu

gh him like a whirlwind, grinding away the bone layers protecting his body. In moments, his massive skeletal form shrank significantly.

"What kind of innate ability is this?!"

Translators note: Sheman = Xieman 

Corell = Corey

Dark Throne= Obsidian Throne

--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/LegendaryTL

Thanks!