Before they left, Lucien met the allied representatives personally.

They all looked tired and humbled and excited.

And slightly offended that the facility was closed.

Lucien stood before them with Clara at his side.

"I hope the Echo Crucible was useful."

The representatives exchanged glances.

Useful was such a small word for what had happened to their self-respect.

One elder stepped forward and bowed.

"Representative Luc, useful is an understatement."

Another said, "Our disciples learned more from losing inside that facility than from winning in three ordinary tournaments."

A third looked pained.

"Our faction’s combat training methods require revision."

Lucien smiled.

"That is a good discovery."

Lucien continued, "This trial period was free because we needed external feedback. When the Middle branch opens publicly, the Echo Crucible will become available under regulated access. It will not be free."

No one looked surprised.

In fact, several looked relieved.

If something that valuable remained free, they would have suspected the cost was hidden elsewhere.

Lucien added, "Early allied associates will receive priority booking during the first opening phase."

That restored their spirits immediately.

Clara then spoke gently.

"Your records will remain. If you wish to defend them, you may return after opening."

That line struck harder than any sales pitch.

Several representatives straightened.

One clenched his fist.

Another whispered, "I will reclaim first place."

Lucien watched them with great satisfaction.

Good.

They were already advertising to themselves.

Finally, Lucien gave them a direct request.

"When you return to your factions, speak honestly. Do not exaggerate."

Several representatives looked at him strangely.

Lucien smiled.

"The truth is enough."

That silenced them.

Then one elder nodded deeply.

"Yes. It is."

•••

The representatives left the Middle branch changed.

They had arrived curious.

They departed obsessed.

Their factions received them with questions.

They answered with stories.

They spoke of the Echo Crucible.

Of enemies that punished arrogance.

Of reports that exposed mistakes.

Of scoreboards that could raise a disciple’s name across factions.

Of trial rooms where defeat did not kill, but taught.

Of scenarios where power alone failed.

Of a facility where status could be fought for under standards no old family could bribe.

That last part spread fastest.

Because in the Middle Continent, reputation was currency.

And Lootwell had just introduced a machine that could mint it.

•••

Lucien stood later inside the now-quiet Echo Crucible.

The halls were calmer after the representatives left.

The scoreboard remained lit, preserving the early records.

He looked at the names for a moment.

The trial had succeeded.

More than succeeded.

The facility worked on his people.

It worked on outsiders.

And perhaps most importantly, it worked on the Middle Continent’s pride.

Eirene approached from behind.

"Their reports have already begun spreading."

Lucien nodded.

"Good."

"Some factions are asking if they can apply for trial access before public opening."

"No."

Seran entered from another hall, smiling.

"The refusal will make them want it more."

Lucien laughed.

The Middle branch was almost ready.

The Echo Crucible had been tested.

The allies were hooked.

The hostile factions were quiet but watching.

The friendly factions were speaking.

The neutral factions were growing restless.

And all across the Middle Continent, anticipation began to gather like stormlight behind clouds.

•••

Lucien did not make the Middle Continent wait for long.

Another month passed.

By the end of that month, the Middle Continent branch was finished.

Or at least, finished enough to open.

In truth, a territory like this would never truly be finished. Lootwell itself had proven that. Every time Lucien thought a district had reached completion, Lilith would decide that a building could be improved by defying a few more natural laws.

But for the purpose of receiving the world, the branch was ready.

•••

The final month was not spent only polishing walls and arranging flowers.

It was spent making movement possible.

Lucien asked many of his people to migrate to the Middle branch.

Not permanently.

He had learned long ago that forcing people to choose between home and duty created quiet bitterness. Instead, he arranged rotations.

Families could transfer temporarily. Guards could rotate. Chapel workers could serve both locations. Craftsmen could join construction support and return later. Administrators could move by schedule rather than exile.

And to make that possible, Lucien improved the instant-teleportation network again.

The change came from something he had learned in the special location of the elemental women.

Conditioned teleportation.

The old arrays moved people from one place to another.

The new ones recognized who had the right to move.

Lucien stood in the main territory’s transport hall with Eirene, Vivian, the elemental women, and several array masters while the improved formation awakened beneath them.

Marina’s eyes brightened.

Lucien pointed toward the corresponding route.

"The people from your Water District in the main territory can use this array to travel directly to the Water District in Middle Continent branch, but only if they carry your mark."

Marina blinked.

Then she turned toward him slowly.

"My mark?"

"Yes."

Lucien looked at the others.

"Each district will have a conditioned route. The authority figure of that district can mark approved people. The array reads the mark, confirms identity, checks whether the person is permitted to travel, and only then opens the path."

Everyone’s eyes glowed.

A group of workers stepped into the main territory’s array.

A breath later, they appeared in the Middle Branch’s corresponding district.

The two territories no longer felt separate.

They felt connected.

And because the districts were intentionally patterned after the main territory, the people would not feel displaced when they arrived.

The Water District still had its flowing canals and mist gardens.

The other districts were the exact copy.

The Market District kept its organized chaos.

The transit halls remained clean and heavily guarded.

Lucien had not copied the districts because he lacked imagination.

He copied enough of it so his people would not feel lost.

Home could have more than one location if the path between them was gentle enough.

•••

The administration of the Middle Branch also took shape.

Lucien gave authority to the three true Liberators in his territory.

Tavian. Mirelle. Auren.

"You three will serve as major representatives here," he said. "You will also handle rotation schedules, and the flow of personnel between the branch and the main territory."

The three Liberators accepted their authority with the sort of happiness that tried to wear discipline and only partly succeeded.

•••

Seren also came. The Serpentile arrived with her people.

Moltsage came with her.

He still looked like an old man trapped inside a child’s body.

Lucien met them personally.

Seren bowed slightly.

"Brother Luc, I would like to stay in the Middle Branch for a time."

Lucien looked at her.

"For Senior Moltsage?"

Her gaze softened.

"Yes. The Middle Continent may help him remember. This place is closer to many things connected to his past. And perhaps the Echo Crucible, the academy, or the Liberator records may provide something useful."

Moltsage looked up at Lucien.

"I am told I was impressive once."

Lucien smiled.

"You still are."

The childlike old man snorted.

"Flatterer."

Seran arrived not long after.

The moment he saw Moltsage, his usual expression changed.

The smile remained.

But something behind it softened.

"Old friend," Seran said.

Moltsage looked at him quietly.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then his brows furrowed.

"You are annoying."

Seran laughed immediately.

"That means some part of you remembers me."

Moltsage studied him.

"I do not know why, but looking at you makes me want to refuse cooperation."

Seran placed one hand over his chest.

"Beautiful. Our friendship survives."

Seren covered her face with one hand.

Lucien laughed.

He still felt indebted to Moltsage.

So he agreed without hesitation. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

If there was a way to help Moltsage recover, Lucien wanted to find it.

Some debts were not settled by thanks.

They were settled by continuing to care.

•••

Through the early allies, Lootwell’s name had already spread across the Middle Continent.

So when Lucien sent word to the allied factions that the grand opening would occur in one month, the Middle Continent stirred.

The allies were the first to move.

Starveil Observatory sent a procession of diviners, scholars, and gift-bearers.

Mirror-Sun Hall dispatched representatives with ceremonial mirrors wrapped in silk and guarded by silent practitioners.

Jade Horizon Pavilion sent disciples who looked far too eager to return to the Echo Crucible.

Ninefold Ledger House sent merchants, accountants, negotiators, and enough sealed chests that Kael’s smile became almost spiritual.

Clearwater Meridian Sect sent healers and water-law practitioners, many of whom immediately requested permission to observe the Celestial healing complex.

Every allied faction treated the invitation as both honor and opportunity.

They opened their strongest defensive mechanisms before leaving their homes.

Mountain shields rose.

Ancestral formations activated.

Hidden elders awakened.

Contract beasts were stationed at gates.

No one wanted a rival faction taking advantage of their absence.

That caution was wise.

Unfortunately for secrecy, such movements could not remain hidden.

The moment allied factions began moving, the rest of the Middle Continent reacted.

Friendly powers prepared gifts.

Neutral powers sent observers.

Troublemakers sharpened their excuses.

Factions that had previously tried to spy quietly now debated whether attending openly would look like weakness or prudence.

Some decided on prudence.

Others decided on pride.

•••

The final month became a blur of organization.

Lucien divided his time with almost offensive efficiency.

When guests arrived early, Clara accommodated them.

When alliance documents needed review, Eirene handled the first pass and Lucien signed the final versions.

When suppliers needed sorting, Kael smiled at them until they somehow agreed to reasonable terms while feeling grateful.

When construction details needed final adjustment, Lilith and Anvil-Horn solved problems by making the problems regret existing.

When transit flow became too complicated, Tavian, Mirelle, and Auren began building the rotation offices into a proper system.

When spiritual morale needed calming, Vivian walked through the districts, spoke to workers, blessed anxious children, and made people feel like the territory had already accepted them.

When trouble arose in the main territory, Lucien returned.

Then returned again.

Then used Split Body and Parallel Thoughts until multiple Luciens were seen in different offices, construction sites, chapel halls, and transit rooms across both territories.

At one point, Marina saw three mini Luciens reviewing documents beside the main Lucien and gasped.

"My prince, you have become paperwork mitosis."

One mini Lucien looked up.

"That is not a term."

"It is now."

And just like that...

Time flew.

Or perhaps Lucien beat it into submission.

Either way, the preparations finished before the month ended.

•••

On the morning of the opening, the Middle Continent’s roads were no longer roads.

They were rivers of people.

They had been camping outside the safe zone for days.

Lucien stood inside the sealed central gate chamber, looking over the final list.

Vivian stood beside him.

Eirene was on his other side.

Clara waited near the chapel entrance, serene as ever.

Seran stood with the Liberator representatives, smiling like a man who had personally invited chaos for tea.

Virel and Aniel were present as honored partners from the Celestial Dominion.

Lilith stood with Anvil-Horn and the construction division.

Marie, Kaia, Sylra, and Marina were positioned near Lucien.

Astraea and the other ancient beasts were present too.

They were placed strategically across the opening grounds.

Their presence made powerful visitors feel as though the mountains had grown opinions.

Luke and Cienna were there.

Cielius too, beard magnificent as ever.

Sebas and Elunara stood calmly among the honored guests.

Kael looked impossibly pleased.

Elias looked tired, proud, and extremely ready for the day to be organized.

The three true Liberators, Tavian, Mirelle, and Auren, stood in their official positions.

Lucien looked at them all.

For a moment, he allowed himself to feel it.

Everything begun with one small territory.

Now, here they were.

A branch in the center of the Big World.

A territory built to connect powers that had once stood apart.

Vivian looked at him softly.

"Are you ready?"

Lucien exhaled.

"No."

She smiled.

"Good. That means you understand what this is."

He looked at her.

Then laughed quietly.

"Fair."

Eirene glanced at the time array.

"It is time."

Lucien nodded.

The message was sent.

Across the branch, relay towers awakened.

Communication devices lit up.

The chapel bells rang first.

A sound that traveled through the territory and beyond its outer boundary like light passing through crystal.

The barriers shimmered.

For the first time, the outer veil lowered.

Lootwell Middle Continent Branch revealed itself fully.

The crowd outside fell silent.

That silence lasted only a breath.

Then awe spread.

Vivian stepped forward.

Her voice carried through every public projection.

"Welcome to Lootwell."