A New World, an immersive game experience

Chapter 555 - Joren's Struggle

"Yeah, what I mentions before. Mana storms and chaotic energies. This type of magic causes mana to become unstable, which in mass will turn into chaotic energies and could lead to a mana storm."

Silence settled in as everyone tried to think of the consequences of such a thing. They finally understood why Eldrian was against relying on this type of magic. However, it was still their enemy's main weapon.

"How can they use it so sustainedly?" Myropsis questioned, not understanding if this was all true, then why weren't they just wiped out by a mana storm during a fight, any fight.

"It takes a while for the unstable mana to reach critical levels." Eldrian answered, "And I know that the magic I am using is even more unstable than normal. Mine is born out of random experimentation and luck, whereas theirs has been improved upon for thousands upon thousands of years."

"It is quite likely that they have learned how to cast spells in minimalistic ways, as a type of ability. Which I actually think is also part of spirit magic."

"Wait, what are you saying?" Myropsis questioned, the last part having thrown her.

"My thoughts are that abilities are the 'skills' of spirit magic. And due to them originating from within and relying on your own power instead of external mana, I think they are a stable version of it. I also think runes and arrays, in some ways, tap into this too, in a stable manner."

"However, now is not time for theory crafting. I also know that the gods normally help maintain the balance for long periods, which is why there are normally periods of peace after an invasion."

'Is this related to Miracle?' Ceph asked and Eldrian mentally nodded.

'Yes, but it is more complicated than them just asking the gods to hold and let go of the balance. Their control is far weaker than even they might know.'

"There is actually a prophecy among the Alicorns..." Eldrian paused and waited for Ceph to share it, for it was his burden and torment.

Nodding, the teen elf stepped forward. "That prophecy was that with my birth, the birth of a black Alicorn, with it... The destruction of the world will commence."

"At first, I assumed that this only meant the invasion would not end. As many oracles declared," Eldrian added.

"But, adding this knowledge behind it..." Myropsis's eyes flew wide as she made the connection. "Does that mean, if they destroy all civilized kingdoms... Is the world truly going to end?"

"I don't know, but I don't want to find out."

Everyone nodded, indeed, the worst possible outcome would be if they had to actually test the prophecy. The best would be to make it never come to be.

However, how were they to do that? They couldn't even push back the undead and monsters invading them. They couldn't even save their kingdom even while putting their very lives on the line.

Evale and Vivian knew this all too well. They had both thrown themselves fully into the war after their loss, yet all the anger in the world could not change a thing.

This, in fact, was something that made them bitter. They couldn't understand why Eldrian could simply rely on his emotions to bring down an army. Yet, here they are. With all the pain and anger in the world, unable to do a thing with it.

"If you decided to share all this with us; Eldrian, do you have a plan?" Pelaros asked.

"Of sorts." Eldrian didn't know if it would actually work, but he hoped it might. "Firstly, you need to stop underusing us Chosen."

"I don't follow... I understand that you can make a difference, but they are all still Tier 4."

"We are, but so what?" Elizabeth countered, everyone turned to the new arrivals not having expected anyone else to join. Thanks to the constant night assaults most of the guild were active at night too (day IRL).

Eldrian frowned, 'So that is the monitor, feeling... How the hell do the legends block it?' He could vaguely feel that he was being monitored, but he couldn't tell from where exactly nor could he think of a way to destroy it.

Luckily, it seemed that GAIA wanted him to stand a fighting chance.

[Activate distortion field? <Cost 1000XP, drain 1XP per day>]

Eldrian almost felt like laughing when seeing how cheap that was. Of course, he immediately activated it.

***

"We-we lost... How is this possible?" One of the people on the monitoring team monitoring players who had been close to Eldrian mumbled.

Moving closer, Joren sighed. "It's the same as what happens when we try to monitor legends and mythic grade creatures."

The only reason why their monitoring had worked in Avgi was because Agamemas and Zamia had been curious about Eldrian and they hadn't been too worried about being seen. It was normally just an uncomfortable feeling they would rather not have. Like an itch, you couldn't help but scratch, and scratching it meant destroying whatever was responsible for the itch.

"What are you saying, that our target is far stronger than we suspected?" General Axel asked, having immediately been informed of the situation when the rumors had started to spread in the city.

"No, I don't think that's it." Joren frowned, his instincts told him that it wasn't that simple. However, he didn't want to voice his unproven theories. He also still heavily carried the last words Eldrian had told him.

'I've seen it... But it can't be.' He still couldn't accept that trying to discover something so wonderful would have such catastrophic consequences. Or rather, he wasn't willing to accept it.

Progress must lead to improvement. If that was not true, then what had he been doing with all his life? All those years spent slaving to make the simulation work properly, to keep control and help drive humanity forward.

How could all that instead drive humanity to extinction? It just wasn't right.

Regardless, the doubt had made him do his best to try and subtly make things harder for them to find Eldrian. More than once Joren had caused a technical failure to help Eldrian escape when things had gone from bad to worse for the target.

Luckily for Joren, he had managed to keep his sabotage under wraps. He was also the most knowledgeable about the AI and the only one with whom System would work with. She did not reply to any other developer.

This ensured that he would stay in the loop, at least enough to gather information until he could make up his mind.

'No, this disturbance feels more like something the AI are doing. Considering we didn't know that Eldrian entered the game, nor how. It is quite likely that he and the AI are on the same side, or at least they consider us a mutual enemy.'

'Which is troublesome. And it was also about the time that Eldrian disappeared that System started acting more normal. Which I should have been thrilled about, but... It felt wrong. Like we were moving backward.'

'And what if discovering magic would really lead to the world's end? Is it worth the risk? Is this like pandora's box? Once opened it cannot be closed?'

The thought caused Joren to shiver. Moving back to his desk, he secretly sent a message to System. Hoping that the changes in her were still there, that she wasn't just an AI doing her job. But rather an AI with her own ideas and dreams.

The message was simple {please get me in contact with Eldrian}.

AN: A big thank you to everyone who continues to read and support the story on WN.