Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength

"Starting from the relationship between the whole earth and sky, will begin to construct our cognition..."

Ronald activated the first spell, [Celestial Sphere].

Using the terrain data just collected from the [Star Map], he precisely locked onto the building below, and simultaneously locked the tome on the table as one of the nine key points of the [Celestial Sphere] spell.

Then, the Divine Comedy was also taken out by Ronald, and the incantation was recited immediately:

"I walked half of our life's journey,

Yet entered into a dark forest,

Because I lost the correct path..."

Immediately, Ronald unfolded [End of Human Reason] to surround himself, then targeted [Greedy Original Sin] at the state of the ruins below.

——[Ruins-Lachmont]

——A stable labyrinth born under the interference of the tome, will bewilder and swallow all living and dead.

"Swallowing the living and the dead..."

Ronald murmured reading the information given by [Greedy Original Sin].

However, the consumption of [End of Human Reason] was too great, he had no time to ponder, so while he was still in good condition, he continued to initiate the next...

No!

It should be said the three spells:

"The greatest improvement in productive labor, and the greater skill, dexterity and judgment manifested in utilizing labor, seems to be the result of division!"

"Starting from the relationship between the whole earth and sky, will begin to construct our cognition!"

[Distance Measurement], [Invisible Hand] and [Star Traction].

Among them [Distance Measurement] defined the distance between Ronald and the tome as extremely close, causing the limited range of [End of Human Reason] to appear directly above the tome far on the ground.

Subsequently, [Invisible Hand] quickly destroyed the building, using the spell to pull out the tome and open a path for Ronald.

And finally, [Star Traction].

It was the spell used with Ronald's maximum effort, striving to extract the tome from its original position as fast as possible!

Boom——

In an instant, the rooftop of the castle below was smashed by the spell.

Feeling his spell working smoothly, and the information continuously fed back by [Celestial Sphere], Ronald confirmed the tome was rapidly flying towards him through the dust!

Success...?

If Ronald successfully acquired the tome, the anomaly obstructing people by the ruins would naturally disappear.

However, things are never that simple.

Though within the effect range of [End of Human Reason] the harm of the tome was eliminated. But when Ronald clearly saw the book appear in the air, mere hundreds of meters away from him.

Swish——

Suddenly, it disappeared.

Accompanied by a resonance with the magic power within the entire ruins domain, the tome instantly relocated to its initial position without an observable trajectory.

Moreover, due to Ronald's previous actions.

This time it was buried within the debris instead of placed on the tabletop.

"..."

"Is it really like this..."

Facing such a scenario, Ronald managed a bitter smile and quickly deactivated the lock on the tome before [End of Human Reason] expired to prevent further complications due to magical power conflict.

His plan was substantively correct, though reality brought more changes.

[End of Human Reason] sealed all harmful reactions from the tome, but those 'non-harmful' responses weren't controlled.

So, just now, as Ronald was about to pull the tome from the ruins, it triggered some mechanism on its own and returned to its original position.

Even because Ronald had destroyed the castle's ceiling.

Attempting other measures afterward may bring further troubles due to this.

"Forget it, failure is failure."

"Such matters can't be solved immediately just because I stepped in."

Ronald lamented quietly for a moment, swiftly adjusted his mindset and again confirmed with [Greedy Original Sin].

——[Ruins-Lachmont]

——A stable labyrinth born under the interference of the tome, will bewilder and swallow all living and dead.

Identical to the information obtained before the action.

His attempt failed, but given considerable caution, the overall situation didn't worsen or change because of it.

This was a reward for his cautiousness.

Thinking this within, Ronald naturally prepared to return to his initial position and reunite with others.

However, the next second, his expression changed abruptly!

"No way! Where are the people?"

Ronald accelerated, dashed straight towards the starting ground.

As he put in all his concentration to attempt extracting the tome, all other casters remaining at the previous location inexplicably disappeared!

Except for Il, who Ronald possessed a soul fragment of, he now lost his sense of everyone else. Even Costate, whom he trusted immensely, was included.

In such a short time... How could this be?

With his fastest speed, Ronald returned to the original position.

On the ground, the hellish black fog he left was unchanged, and the bushes seen earlier remained untouched.

Yet the people who should be standing here, not a shadow could be found.

"Hmm!"

Suddenly, Ronald halted mid-air.

Because he noticed the boundary of the black fog left on the ground had shifted several meters closer to the bushes.

During this time, he did not continue controlling the spell!

Examining the evenly advancing boundary line on the ground, the only explanation was the swallowing range of the ruins expanded outward.

"..."

Facing this scenario, Ronald darkly waved his hand.

Under his control, the hellish black fog spread forward, then once again confirmed the ten-second delay and three-meter entry rule were unchanged. But based on Ronald's remembered range, it did indeed push inward several meters.

Everything became clear.

While Ronald was away, the interference range of the ruins changed.

Due to its ten-second delayed swallowing and three-meter range advantages, casters remaining here couldn't react as the boundary spread.

Even suddenly seeing people disappear ahead.

The time left for them to respond would likely be insufficient to ensure their escape from peril.

As for Costate...

Ronald instructed the maid to grab the yarn end, naturally, Costate would execute the command meticulously. Not to mention her standing at the forefront, likely being at the initial impression position.

Even aware of approaching danger.

In comparison with Ronald's directive later, Costate would decisively abandon her own safety.

"Damn it!"

Having figured it all out, Ronald clenched his fist in fury.

Though he might not care much about others' conditions, as for Costate...

"Hmm?"

At this moment, Ronald's expression froze suddenly.

In the pouring rain of the dark night, he suddenly saw within the life-consuming boundary of the ruins, a small figure made of tree branches standing on the ground, beckoning to him!