Chapter 246: 030: Relic of Odyssey Wheel
The process of exploring the ruins went very smoothly, as extensive preparations had been made beforehand, and there were also detailed blueprints of the site included in the Book of Knowledgeâ
No one knew where Wizard Somda had managed to procure these blueprints, but they contained a complete record of the interior layout of the Magic Power Alchemy Research Institute, including the defense system, living system, and even details down to every room and bedroom.
Following the instructions on the blueprints, Lynch was able to easily locate several areas with weaker defenses and successfully infiltrated the ruins.
During the exploration, he encountered some resistance, primarily coming from alchemy devices like the Alchemy Demon Eye and Alchemy Armor, and even several Alchemy Guards created by Lynch himself were present, standing vigilantly. The defenses were impenetrable; if the facility were in its prime, Lynch might never have made it inside.
Unfortunately, time had eroded its strength over the past ten thousand years; most of the alchemy devices had already depleted their energy. When Lynch entered, they were nothing more than immobile decorations, rusting alongside the path and engulfed by weeds.
In terms of active resistance, he only faced two challenges. The first was upon entering the main entrance, where he encountered a single Alchemy Demon Eye.
This particular device could simulate a spiritual system attack using its demonic eye. Richardâs journal had mentioned how sailors fell victim to mutual slaughter aboard, most likely due to this mechanism.
The second battle occurred just as he was about to reach the control room. Outside the control room door lay an entire array of alchemy trapsâDissolving Beam, Alchemy Guards, Alchemy Bombsâall erupting into chaos as soon as one dared to pass through.
Strangely, these two areas still retained operational energy, though the reason remained a mystery.
The Demon Eye was relatively easier to handle. While its spiritual attacks posed significant threats to Lynchâs servants, its combat abilities were weak, allowing Lynch to direct his followers to overwhelm and defeat it swiftly.
However, the control room proved far more troublesome. Six Alchemy Guards emerged, complemented by Dissolving Beam, Alchemy Bombs, and other difficult adversaries.
Ultimately,
The skeletons and zombies were almost entirely annihilated, Barton and Frankenstein were severely injured, and Iron Armor Little Treasure was all but destroyed.
Only after paying this grievous price did Lynch successfully enter the control room.
âSo powerful⊠Is this the strength of a top-tier wizard organization? Even their subsidiary institutions are this formidableâŠâ
Lynch wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, deeply affected.
If it werenât for the meticulous preparations he made, the existence of the blueprints, and the fact that over ten thousand years had passedâwith energy exhaustedâhe may not have been able to get in at all.
âWhat treasures could be guarded here?â
Lynchâs anticipation grew fervent.
Once inside the control room, everything became far more manageable. Lynch located the central device controlling the facility, injected his pre-prepared Spiritual Imprint, and seamlessly obtained control, systematically disabling the defensive armaments.
It was here that Lynch finally unraveled the mystery behind the residual energy maintaining the facilityâ
Humans.
The Witch Master likely foresaw the inevitable depletion of Magic Stone Crystal energy in the near future. To sustain basic energy supply for the site, he altered the defense protocolsâtransforming what should have been disorienting mist into a Technique with alluring properties capable of drawing wandering humans to the island.
Once lured, spiritual contamination would coerce them into killing one another; their flesh after death would be transported to preconfigured magic arrays to be converted into energy, keeping the facility operational.
The Alchemy Demon Eye encountered earlier was the core component responsible for spiritual output, enjoying priority energy supply, which explained its continual operation.
âWhat a geniusâŠâ
âEven in dire circumstances, devising means to sustain energy operations like this⊠though the method is rather cruelâŠâ
The conversion of human and other biological flesh into Magic Energy to fuel alchemy devices is known in the field of alchemy as âBiological Magic Energy.â However, the efficiency of this method is exceedingly poor and thus rarely employed.
Having acquired control and disabled the defensive mechanisms, Lynch meticulously inspected every corner to confirm there were no hidden dangers before finally setting foot on the island himself.
The moment he stood in the control room, Lynch inexplicably felt a surge of excitement.
He had essentially inherited a complete Wizard Tower, with its internal facilitiesâliving systems, defensive systems, cultivation systemsâall perfectly preserved. Though its energy was depleted, providing power could breathe life back into its functions.
Furthermore,
This place was entirely constructed from the body of a World Species Island Turtle. Equipped with propulsion systems and more, it essentially functioned as a giant, fully operational multi-purpose Wizard Ship of superlative quality.
The facilityâs ability to release such extensive mist fields implied a classification equivalent to the Third Ring Domain level, rivaling large wizard organizations like the Shadow Tower.
âWith this base, I finally have a fixed retreat. If trouble arises in the future, I can hide here.â
âBut noâŠâ
âI canât celebrate just yet.â
The operational costs of a facility equivalent to a Third-Ring Wizard Tower are astronomical. Just the energy consumption alone is staggering, explaining why the tower was abandoned for Lynch to retrieve.
At the moment, his modest fortune couldnât even sustain its basic activation.
âIâll need to find a method to earn Magic StonesâŠâ
Marking this thought mentally, Lynch resumed his exploration.
Soon, his excitement escalated further as he stumbled upon another precious discoveryâ
Alchemy materials!
Within the storage room, Lynch uncovered an entire trove filled with alchemy materials: Starry Sky Gems, Abyss Crystals, Rune Secret Silver, Sun Treasure Diamonds, Moonlight Dust⊠rare materials of all kinds, both familiar and unfamiliar, abounded in the collection.
âOh my heavens!â
Standing before the treasure house, Lynch was overwhelmed by an almost dizzying sensation.
These items defied valuationâthey were treasures so rare that Lynch even spotted materials only referenced in ancient texts. Even the casual sale of one piece could incite chaos in the marketplace!
His heartbeat accelerated as he immediately thought, âIâll need to alter the sailorsâ memoriesâŠâ
Though he had anticipated valuable treasures hidden within the ruins, Lynch had never imagined such extraordinary riches. The cache was well beyond what his current abilities could defend or control.
âUnearned wealth invites trouble!â
The value of this trove could tempt not just Third Ring but even higher-level organizations. Should its existence be revealed, Lynch couldnât fathom the consequencesâŠ
Gradually cooling his excitement, Lynch continued exploring the ruins until he discovered what truly set his pulse ablazeâ
Knowledge.
An entire, intact library remained. Its scale exceeded that of the three libraries combined within the Shadow Tower organization, filled with books, scrolls, and a myriad of written recordsâall focused on alchemy.
âOdyssey WheelâŠâ
Holding one of the books in his hands, Lynchâs emotions surged; these were relics from ten thousand years ago, belonging to the once-dominant Five-Ring Wizard Organization whose Sky City remains an unparalleled sanctuary in the hearts of alchemy wizards.
âOn the Nature of Magic Energyâ
âElement Collisionâ
âThe Hidden Truth of the World Behind the Fine Elementsâ
âDimensional Discourseâ
Casually leafing through a few, each title stood out as profound, and their content introduced Lynch to entirely new realms of knowledge. A mere glance made him yearn to immerse himself in them, reading obsessively through till dawn.
âIâll read them later.â
Shaking his head, Lynch forced himself out of his state of exhilarationâthis wasnât the time for study.
Taking out his pre-prepared Space Ring and Space Pockets, he collected the libraryâs books, alchemy materials, and all valuable items. His strength wasnât yet sufficient to control the facility itself.
Despite its long-standing obscurity, the possibility of future discovery by others, however slim, urged cautionâhence Lynch decided to secure all treasures within movable storage.
During the sweep of one particular room, Lynch stumbled upon an unexpected findâ
A skeleton.
Given the control roomâs records indicating all wizardsâ corpses were sent to the furnace to be converted into energy, Lynch hadnât encountered any bodies thus far.
Why, then, did a single corpse remain here?
First releasing several precautionary spells to confirm no abnormal spiritual fluctuations, Lynch then directed a skeleton servant to inspect the scene. Once sure no danger existed, he approached the body personally.
Within what appeared to be a study, a skeleton lounged in a chair behind a desk, draped in a tattered cloak.
It reclined against the backrest, one hand stretched across the desk with a finger pointing at its surface.
On the desk, where the finger directed, sat a crystal ball alongside a grain-sized gem fragment of dazzling red resembling Blood Crystal, tied with a black chain.
Examining the skeleton, Lynch found no visible injuries; it appeared to have died of natural causes. Its pose suggested an attempt to leave a message for anyone who came after.
His focus then shifted to the crystal ballâa device specifically designed to convey messages.
The embedded Magic Stone within it was intact; minerals preserve their energy capabilities over time.
Pressing the activation switch, the crystal ball illuminated, casting a beam of light upward. A cloaked old manâs ethereal image materialized in the projection.
An aged voice, carrying somber weight, spoke, and its first words immediately widened Lynchâs eyes.
âThe research results of the Philosopherâs Stone are complete.â
âButâŠâ
âThe Odyssey Wheel is gone.â
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