Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 917 - 852: Hope Still Remains

Like popping a cork, the sky ruptured into a circular hole with a muffled rumble, revealing a deep darkness behind the blue expanse. A rapidly expanding atmospheric ring unveiled a colossal celestial body emerging from behind the veil of the heavens. The atmosphere was torn apart, and the escaping air was snatched by the descending star, wrapping itself around its barren surface like a flowing ribbon. Those gazing at this extraordinary scene felt their breaths quicken, their faces flushed red, their panting as loud as if they had narrowly escaped drowning. Worse still, beings like the Elves—Children of Nature—had already clasped their throats and collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolling back as they succumbed to asphyxiation. The air density plummeted, thinning the atmosphere, and the concomitant loss of magic power rendered many races unable to adapt. Even humans were struck by altitude sickness.

The world began plunging into darkness. Under the divine brilliance shining down, humanity sensed the end days descending upon them with stark clarity. The atmosphere was ripped apart, and the ominous contours of another land loomed in the sky without disguise. It blocked the sunlight, radiating a sense of impending doom. They could discern its jagged mountains, flat wastelands, swirling sandstorms carried by turbulent winds, and fiery rains of burning rock falling from the skies. Pierced by the ear-splitting noise of the atmosphere being drained away, they saw fear frozen on others’ faces, while their own eyes fixated on the full image of Mars in its terrifying entirety. The lands merged at the horizon, leaving a luminous white line. They were trapped between engulfing stellar bodies, as if swallowed by a gaping maw dripping with blood.

The earth bared its fangs. Beyond the Golden Barrier, rocks erupted skyward like horns, while unseen hands pulled stones from beneath the surface, assembling into towering pillars that stretched towards yet another piece of celestial terrain. On the other side, Mars underwent an even more thorough disintegration. A chunk of its crust, captured by gravitational forces, explosively broke apart, transforming into torrents that connected to the rising stone columns. The two planets attracted, entangled, and tore at each other, their collision inevitable—soon becoming indistinguishably one. As for the people on the planets, I imagine they will witness the fusion as fireworks before their end.

Raymond stood at the heart of the Divine Kingdom. This sanctuary constructed from humanity’s will remained undamaged by the upheaval, though the surrounding turbulence shook it. For now, they were safe, but everyone understood that this state was fleeting. The elation of defeating the creator was swept away by the upheaval of the cosmos. Under the radiant holy light, solemnity shadowed every face.

The oppressive weight of earth closed in. The skies dimmed further, and the stench of churned soil permeated the air, filling nostrils. Around them, stone pillars as vast as mountains formed thick, heavy armlets, trapping the glow of holy light. Within the spreading darkness, this sole beacon of brightness appeared to weaken.

The layered stone columns suddenly began to emit light. Unlike the holy radiance, eerie green specks resembling bioluminescent fungi awakened on the pillars, forming a circular pattern around the barrier, growing upward along the columns’ trajectory.

"Advanced Magic Research Society?" Raymond had barely spoken when his right hand darted out like lightning, grabbing hold of a Lich that had suddenly appeared beside him.

"Mr. Raymond." The subdued Mr. Stasis greeted him nonchalantly. Once set down by Raymond, he promptly adjusted his collar. "This Golden Barrier — it grants immortality to any race within, doesn’t it?"

"As long as they are my comrades, they shall attain eternal life in this place."

Mr. Stasis nodded and knelt on one knee before Raymond.

"Then I, Stasis, scholar of Chronomancy from the Advanced Magic Research Society, pledge allegiance to the Holy Light."

Raymond paused briefly, quickly understanding the intent. Closing the distance in no time, the Angel of Light extended an arm to pat Stasis on the shoulder.

"This deed to save the world — I acknowledge your righteousness."

A golden glow began to radiate from Mr. Stasis, who promptly extended his palm. A cluster of green specks beneath his control gradually transformed into gold. Correspondingly, the surrounding green-tinged stone columns metamorphosed into golden pillars. The Stasis Force Field completed its shift into the realm of the Divine Kingdom — "justice" had conquered "time."

The Golden Barrier expanded upwards along the surrounding pillars, evolving from a planar shield into a three-dimensional domain, encompassing the Stone Forest, the meteor showers above, and the gaps between the planets.

The soul flames turned radiant gold. Mr. Stasis, looking less like a Lich and more akin to a Holy Spirit, let out a relieved sigh.

"Thank goodness it’s done. The World Pivot. President! The preparations are complete!"

An answer came in the form of cannon fire. A bolt of lightning slashed through the core of the barrier, scattering residual sparks that slowly dissipated. At the midpoint between the two planets, the epicenter of rampaging air and rock, particles collided until they shrank into their smallest forms, unleashing an energy potent enough to annihilate any substance.

The heavy armor of Apocalypse crumbled, exposing skeletal remains engulfed in raging flames. All nearby particles, like feral beasts, attacked him relentlessly, dismantling him molecule by molecule. Feeling his material continuously disintegrating, the president of the Advanced Magic Research Society sneered.

"Destroy me? I am destruction."

[Advanced Magic Research - Origin Explosion]

In an instant, he merged with his own antimatter, triggering an even more unhinged and chaotic self-detonation. Particles scattered wildly under the surge of energy, countless waves spilling into every direction beyond Apocalypse’s immediate surroundings. Driven by the force of energy, these particles assaulted the barrier on both sides, ceaselessly counteracting the gravitational pull of the planets.

For a brief moment, the repellent force of Apocalypse’s self-detonation balanced the mutual gravitational interactions of the two celestial bodies, maintaining a temporary stasis. But as the energy dissipated, the equilibrium would inevitably collapse once more.

"Alright, we’re temporarily safe." Mr. Stasis shifted his focus from the massive explosion wrought by his president. In the crowd, he began looking for his next target.

"But..." Raymond, Apocalypse’s longtime adversary, fully comprehended his enemy’s capabilities. That annihilation reaction could match him evenly for a short while, yet explosions were always transient.

Unless they kept exploding.

The energy waves hadn’t even fully dispersed when another massive explosion erupted in the sky.

Because the Divine Kingdom Barrier of holy light granted Apocalypse immortality, Mr. Stasis had adjusted this immortality into [material permanence] unique to Apocalypse. Annihilation reactions no longer consumed Apocalypse’s own substance, enabling him to self-destruct infinitely, continually resisting planetary gravitational forces.

It was as if a support beam had been placed between the two planets — the literal collision of Mars and Earth was now perpetually in stasis.

"Everyone, please heed my words!"

Leveraging the credibility earned from halting planetary collision, Mr. Stasis temporarily secured a quiet environment.

"Our resistance against Mars’ impact is only temporary. Our magic power is limited, and this is a project that demands enormous consumption. To save our world, we need everyone’s magic power."

"Next, the Advanced Magic Research Society will collaborate with other societies from Andrei Academy to construct a massive magic energy absorption device around the barrier. Please contribute your efforts voluntarily, especially those capable of shouldering more — help us design disaster mitigation plans and buy precious survival time!"

With one voice, the crowd complied as the Angel led them forward, and even the towering Nia nodded earnestly.

Mr. Electromagnetism and Death Star II quickly delivered an improvised colossal ring-shaped device, its core equipped with a magnetic levitation structure allowing the battery packs to fully discharge magic power. Subsequently, Dragons, Dragon Priests, Angels, Holy Spirits, Gods, Liches, and other High Demon Breed Races were placed atop it as batteries, supplying energy to both the continually exploding Apocalypse and the barrier itself.

Mr. Stasis sought out Mr. Scholar.

The Blue Dragon Priest looked at this Lich advancing quickly amidst the praise of others and said little. Sudden planetary collision, the calm countermeasures by the Advanced Magic Research Society — the connections were undeniably apparent to those with insight. Many of his students were troublemakers, Advanced Magic Research was the troublemaker among troublemakers, yet in such dire circumstances, Morocoy had no intention of sparking internal discord. Unity and resolve — that would suffice.

"So long as the crisis is solved." Morocoy spoke slowly to Stasis.

"Actually, the crisis isn’t fully resolved, Teacher." Stasis whispered as he surveyed the surroundings.

"...Didn’t you stop the planetary collision?" Scholar pointed upwards.

"We only solved the planetary collision, but there are other unresolved issues that are less immediately apparent. Apocalypse’s role as the pivot stabilized gravitational forces, but Mars’ incoming inertia is still acting on this planet in full. Our planet has already deviated from its orbit. Per the deviation angle, we are now falling towards the sun. Additionally, the sudden increase in mass has altered our rotation, and atmospheric losses are compounding..."

Mr. Scholar listened as Stasis raised one horrifying issue after another, his nonexistent brain aching slightly. They had achieved everything the Salvation Association might deem possible.

Morocoy couldn’t help but feel irate, snapping: "Then why aren’t you solving the damn problem? Are you waiting for me to help you!?"

"Yes, Teacher. Actually, Advanced Magic Research has exhausted all options. We’ve never simulated scenarios involving planetary collision, and the current situation is unprecedented for us. We need to calculate countless experimental parameters, but time is terrifyingly short. This is practically wishful thinking. Teacher, we need your monstrous computational ability, as well as all your fellow Spellcasters whom you’ve taught."

Mr. Scholar glared at him.

"I don’t understand one bit of the knowledge you people dabbled in."

"You can learn, Teacher. Your learning ability is monstrous too; someone like you as a master of spells could surely grasp this quickly. We have ready research notes, and the Advanced Magic Research Professors here can teach in person anytime. Except Apocalypse, you understand."

"This is absurd. I may not be up to the task..."

"Ah, Teacher, gravity just informed me, orbit projection says we only have fifty-three hours before we’re caught by the sun’s pull."

"Where are your papers? Get the law to summon everyone!"

Mr. Stasis rushed off, but not without leaving one final remark.

"Teacher, while learning, don’t forget to fuel the energy nodes in the Magic Network. Its output is also vital for us."

"Understood, now get lost."

Immersed in researcher mode amidst chaotic pressure, Mr. Scholar silently dissipated the tension of teacher-student conflict between him and the Advanced Magic Research Society.