Aiven and Olivia followed behind Tom the Orange Cat in the "Gray Forest", journeying through it, and unexpectedly encountered several [Echoes of Residue] repaired with "Porcelain Repair" techniques.

After swiftly defeating them, the colorful porcelain fragments were discarded, and the shining gold all became the orange cat’s spoils.

Aiven was convinced.

It was undoubtedly the high-quality souls of himself and Olivia, two Great Wizards, that attracted these creatures fatally, causing them to break the usual "New Moon" stealth and continuously attack.

If other Great Wizards were thrown into this [Forbidden Magic] environment, they might have been helplessly slaughtered by these [Echoes of Residue], but they did not realize that people were different.

Although Aiven’s wizard level was only Tier 3, his knight level, completely unaffected by [Forbidden Magic], had already reached Tier 4, making hunting naturally turn into gifting.

"Your Excellency, although there are thousands of [Residue] in the entire ’Gray Forest’, not many [Echoes of Residue] can reach Tier 3. We’ve probably eliminated half along the way.

It’s hard to understand why these creatures would come out to die during the ’New Moon,’ when their power is weakest. If it were ’Full Moon,’ even a [Titled Knight] would have a hard time dealing with them.

But this time, we’ve struck gold! Little fish dry snacks, little fish dry snacks, meow～"

Tom enjoyed the pleasure of being pampered by "Cat Slaves," his furry tail swinging excitedly back and forth.

Whiz! Whiz! Whiz!

All three, two people and one cat, were high-tier Transcendents, and swiftly flew through the treetops, soon leaving the "Gray Forest" behind.

After crossing another stretch of equally uninhabited rolling hills, a vast expanse of green farmlands appeared before them, along with a distant fortress-style "human" city of no small scale.

They passed various roadblocks, bunkers, and watchtowers along the way, making it evident that the overall atmosphere wasn’t as peaceful as it appeared on the surface.

Finally, aside from them, pedestrians began to gradually increase on the road.

Even to Aiven and Olivia, accustomed to all sorts of strange sights, their eyes were opened once more.

There were noblewomen with rabbit heads, officers with frog heads, postal workers with dog heads... Normal human order was completely filled by various animals.

There was no established food chain relationship, living harmoniously together.

Hm-chuff... Hm-chuff...

The pack animals on the road turned out to be large snails, almost as big as a small house.

Overall, it resembled the appearance of humanity in the early steam industrial revolution, maybe even slightly beyond.

It happened to be evening.

A large swan in uniform was flapping its wings, lighting the street lamps along the city’s roads one by one, likely serving as a "Lamp Lighter" in the municipal system, a characteristic occupation of this era.

Of course, throughout the journey, Aiven also keenly noticed that it wasn’t just various animals coming and going, but also half-human, half-animal beings with animal heads and human bodies, human heads with animal bodies, or entirely humans.

It wasn’t really appropriate to call them beastmen, better to call it the Animal Kingdom.

Moreover, citizens of the Animal Kingdom did not seem to have any obvious status differences due to their appearance.

No wonder this Orange Cat Knight Tom wasn’t concerned about the two of them looking different; it turned out that aside from the Ceramic People, everything here was considered as themselves.

"Your Excellency, we’ve arrived. This is ’Aguirre Ancient City,’ the location of the Mushchinnu Kingdom’s Great Divine Hall.

The sky is about to turn dark. I’ll first find a place for you two to stay in the city.

As a Royal Knight, I’ll seek an audience with His Majesty Rhine overnight. He’ll be extremely pleased to meet such powerful individuals like yourselves, meow～"

Upon stepping into this city, Aiven and Olivia immediately felt the originally unbreakable [Forbidden Magic] effect loosen significantly, while they both looked up at the majestic temple on the city center hill.

Their [Eye of Profound Wisdom] and [True Sight Demon Eye] restarted, easily sensing the declining magic element activity centered around the temple.

It seemed like all the active magic elements in the Secret Realm were concentrated here.

In the prior discussion (cat-petting) under the guise of travelers, Aiven and Olivia had already obtained the gist of the Secret Realm from this somewhat naive Orange Cat Knight.

This is a vast Secret Realm with an area of about 430,000 square kilometers, surpassing the territory of many human kingdoms.

The nation composed of animals is called the Mushchinnu Kingdom, while the one formed entirely by Ceramic People is called the Aviru Kingdom, and the "Gray Forest" serves as the border between the two.

The origins of the two tribes have long been difficult to verify, but they each see the other as invaders of their homeland, with relations fixed as [eternal enemies], and their war has lasted countless years.

The specific origins of those ceramic [Residue] and [Echoes of Residue] aren’t really a secret.

They can be understood as expelled uncontrollables within humanity, but they not only have acquired uncontrollability but possess inherent uncontrollability as an extraordinary species.

For example.

Just like defective and fragmented products fired in pottery kilns, Aiven, whose family owns a kiln, knows that even the most skilled techniques cannot ensure a 100% success rate, let alone a magical creature?

All defective products are disposed of by the Aviru Kingdom into the "Gray Forest," becoming a barrier for the Ceramic People, as well as the frontline of war.

Their spiritual power fluctuates with the phases of the moon.

Every time the moon is at its weakest during a "New Moon," the Animal Kingdom organizes hunts for [Residue] in the "Gray Forest."

If left unchecked, it wouldn’t be long before the entire "Gray Forest" becomes filled, threatening the kingdom’s safety.

The gold Tom collected from the [Echoes of Residue] was the solidified original essence of souls according to the rules of this Secret Realm, and [Spiritual Gold] was even more precious than regular gold.

The kingdom’s policy has always been unlimited high-price buying.

Moreover, only when a single [Residue] absorbs enough intelligent creature souls can it slowly evolve into a powerful [Echoes of Residue].

In other words, those gold pieces were once citizens of the Animal Kingdom.

However, the specific use of [Spiritual Gold] seems to relate to the secretive origins of Ceramic People and animals, and even Tom, as a Great Knight, doesn’t fully know.

It’s only known that in ancient mythical legends.

The two kingdoms respectively worship different gods, Lam God and Raham God, both representing the power of creation hidden in the primordial chaos of the mud.

The Ceramic People worship Lam God, representing the clay in the mud; various animals worship Raham God, representing the sweet water in the mud. The Ceramic People were born from the flames, while the animals were born from the sweet water.

In the completely magic-forbidden Secret Realm, each has a Great Divine Hall filled with active magic elements, which is evidence of the protection they receive from their respective gods.

"Mushchinu Kingdom, which differentiated into various animals from the same origin, and the Ceramic People Aviru Kingdom, who use spiritual power, both seem to be excellent material forms.

It seems necessary to explore their secrets while searching for the ’Crowned Wizard’ Paracelsus."

Looking at the bustling city and crowded streets before him, Aiven stroked his chin.

What a pity.

Powerful ship sprites like "Gem River" are not recognized by the "Life Tree" at all.

Because "Gem River" was not birthed from the advanced knowledge of the "Life Tree School" but rather the magical [Legendary Battleship Skill: Artificial Life Form].

Additionally.

Although this species, which can be called "ship sprites," does not have a strict concept of gender and can reproduce asexually, allowing one person to create an entire race,

it’s not simply a matter of reproduction for these "biological entities" that can serve as space battleships; the difficulty of reproducing normal high-tier Extraordinary Creatures is well known, and she is no exception.

Moreover, the promotion ceremony requires a stable and reproducing race.

By the time "Gem River" reproduces a race, the day lilies would have cooled.

But Aiven is also planning to establish a research project to quickly find a way to make her a mass-produced princess.

Just at this moment.

"Huh?"

Aiven’s [Eye of Profound Wisdom] suddenly spotted a somewhat familiar female figure that flashed past a small window of a building several kilometers away. But upon a second glance, there was no trace to be found.

...

At the same time.

On the other side of the Gray Forest, directly opposite the Animal Kingdom’s "Aguirre Ancient City," lies the Royal Capital of the Ceramic People, Erbil City of the Aviru Kingdom.

Inside the castle, which combines grand style with a touch of fantasy, the kingdom’s upper echelons are conducting a career assignment ceremony for a group of outstanding "newborns."

The ruler standing at the forefront captured everyone’s attention.

A vibrantly colored and intricately patterned conjoined Ceramic Person.

Their bodies completely joined, with an irate male head on one side and a cold-eyed female head on the other, both wearing crowns cast from [Spiritual Gold].

This was the ruling duo of the Ceramic People’s realm, the "King Sun Face" and "Queen Moon Face."

Standing behind them were two Ceramic People of obviously high status.

One was adorned in a beautifully made Cyan Porcelain Armor, the Knight Commander "Cyan Porcelain Knight," while the other wore a matte Black Pottery Armor, the guard leader "Black Pottery Commander."

"Gulp!"

Sensing the unmistakable Tier 4 aura emanating from them, Jelos, standing among a group of newborn Ceramic People, couldn’t help but swallow nervously.

Although he wasn’t thrown directly into the Magic Forbidden Land, landing in the Ceramic People’s stronghold from the start didn’t exactly bode well for Jelos.

However, he had undergone significant changes by this time, and no longer bore any human characteristics such as flesh and blood.

His whole body had turned a bright silver, akin to cold and shiny mercury, with surging spiritual power continuously coursing through this form, making him hardly different from a regular Ceramic Person at a glance.

[Talent Magic: Trait Incarnation: Arrogance]

Effect: Amplifies different traits within the soul to the extreme, granting a corresponding unique extraordinary ability while keeping the main body unchanged.

This marked the third ability—spiritual power—following [Fury: Berserker] and [Envy: Flame Demon Spirit].

"You! As an exceptional talent with Tier 3 strength from birth, I grant you the name ’Bright Silver’ in the name of the King.

Join the knight contingent of the ’Cyan Porcelain Knight,’ and march when the full moon comes."

The bizarre and curious-looking king lightly pointed at Jelos, standing out among the crowd both in strength and appearance, determining his profession.

Just as in the mindset of an orange cat, anything not made of ceramic is considered kin, the Ceramic People’s ideology is the same—if it’s not a flesh and blood creature, it is one of their own.

Over time, there will always be a few anomalies, like the kingdom’s top warrior [Titled Knight: Giant Shield of Ten Thousand Walls], who is not present at the moment.

Even if he felt inwardly miserable, Jelos could only step forward and bow in response like the others:

"At your command, Your Majesty!"

In the short time since arriving here, the first word he was taught was [Full Moon Ceremony].

Even complete Ceramic People have similar tastes to damaged Ceramic People.

During each month’s full moon, the Ceramic People Kingdom organizes a troop to invade the Animal Kingdom, capturing sacrifices and throwing them into the sacrificial furnaces, using the power of the sacred fire to extend the race.

Ooooo...

Fifteen days from now marks the full moon, and the bloodthirsty spiritual power tide is already surging ceaselessly here.

The newcomer Jelos didn’t dare move a muscle.

A husky has found itself among a wolf pack, what should I do? Waiting online, feeling a bit urgent.