Heir of Synthesis: The World Mage

Priam released Mirra, who immediately began healing the little over a thousand survivors of the 11th Branch. Although the nightmare was over and those people were finally safe, the atmosphere remained heavy. No one could truly celebrate.

After all, thousands of comrades from the three factions had fallen brutally along the way.

While they waited for everyone to be healed, Priam went over to the three faction leaders.

"Five months ago, I happened to come across a battlefield that had been devastated only recently..." Daraen revealed, staring at Priam with a grim, tormented expression. "When I approached to investigate, I was able to confirm that all the corpses belonged to the 11th Branch. They were members of the two Mage Master factions... Apparently, they realized that something terrible was happening and tried to gather together to resist. In the end, they were massacred all at once. Gathering together only made the executioners’ job easier."

A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the group.

"Even knowing that we could be wiped out in a single battle if we failed... staying scattered made us even easier targets. That’s why I started hunting down the whereabouts of my people," Daraen finished.

Priam understood that logic perfectly.

Within that inner realm, there were specific locations where the density of resources and treasures was overwhelming. Some branches had detailed maps; others didn’t. However, after spending a few months traveling through that realm, any competent Mage could sense the convergence of the energy currents and deduce the locations of high-level zones.

Therefore, although the territory was vast, the natural flow eventually funneled all Mages toward the same regions. Regrouping the faction was merely a matter of time. All they had to do was go to those places and find one another.

Shione, Lumiere, and Flaris had adopted the same strategy. Three months after arriving, they marched toward the high-density areas and gathered their soldiers. In their case, however, the effort had been far greater because they didn’t hold the title of Faction Leaders.

The Leaders, on the other hand, carried emblems whose resonance could be sensed by their subordinates from dozens of kilometers away, making it much easier to find a meeting point.

Daraen had traveled through those areas, rescuing her members. Inigo and Sallya, driven by the same sinister premonition, had done the same. When they crossed paths in those regions, they decided to merge their forces.

Until, finally, rumors about the island in the lake reached their ears. At first, they feared it was some vile trap. They had even heard that Priam was there, but that could still have been a trap.

In the end, they were cornered.

Amid an unrelenting pursuit, they had no choice but to run north, praying that the rumors were true.

---

As soon as Mirra finished the treatments, Priam led the group back to the northern lake in a swift march that lasted only a few hours.

As they stepped onto the island, the scene that greeted them was grotesque: the ground was littered with hundreds of enemy corpses, and pools of blood were still slowly flowing toward the water.

Priam’s faction soldiers were methodically cleaning up the battlefield, collecting the spatial rings and useful equipment from the dead.

When they saw the island’s troops, Sallya, Daraen, and Inigo nearly had their eyes pop out of their sockets.

Every soldier radiated a wild, turbulent, and uncontrollable aura. Their eyes gleamed with irregular flashes, showing that they were temporarily unable to contain their own energy.

That was the unmistakable sign of a Mage who had just broken through a rank!

This state of instability lasted for days until the Mage consolidated their foundation to reach Level 1 of the new rank.

"This can’t be possible..." Dandara muttered in disbelief.

Beside her, Priam let out a short snort. He had already anticipated this scene when he left: it was obvious that the rats would attack the moment he left the island. However, his confidence in his generals and the strength of his soldiers was absolute.

The faction had not only exceeded expectations, but every soldier had fought to their limit and broken through to the Mage Master rank during the slaughter, exactly as he himself had done in the past.

Dandara, on the other hand, had been so eager to show Priam her new power that she had begged to accompany him on the rescue, missing the opportunity to advance during the battle.

Priam turned his head and noticed Dandara’s hilariously dramatic expression. A faint smile escaped him; she definitely didn’t know the meaning of moderation and showed everything she felt without the slightest shame.

"Don’t be so upset. You’ll have an even greater opportunity soon," he comforted her in a calm tone.

Hearing that, Dandara looked at Priam and nodded firmly, her eyes burning with renewed determination.

With the island pacified, Priam called a meeting with the three faction leaders of the 11th Branch.

Without beating around the bush, Priam revealed the whole truth behind what had happened in that realm.

As his words echoed through the room, Sallya, Daraen, and Inigo’s faces turned deathly pale.

The Sorcerers possessed the ability to breed Corrupted Beasts within that world? That meant that, when the final convergence event took place, no Mage would have the slightest chance of survival.

However, upon discovering that the 8th Branch had made a pact with the Sorcerers in exchange for the annihilation of the 11th Branch, a blazing fury erupted in the chests of the three.

"Anyway, I’ve already eliminated Dioma and Mikhella, who were the most troublesome ones," Priam declared in a calm yet ruthless tone. "The Mages of the 4th Branch have been practically wiped out. Adding the dogs we defeated today to that, only the weaker members of the 8th Branch and their allies remain."

He paused, his expression turning serious.

"The only real threat we have left is the Sorcerers. Inevitably, we’ll have to cross blades with them. Only by crushing this threat will I be able to complete the Sovereigns’ mission in peace."

Hearing the mention of the Sovereigns’ mission and the imminent battle against the Sorcerers, the three leaders swallowed hard, staring at Priam with utmost gravity.

Complete the Sovereigns’ mission? That was something entire generations of geniuses had miserably failed to accomplish over the centuries. Yet Priam’s tone was devoid of any doubt. He wasn’t bragging or making an empty promise; he spoke with the cold certainty of someone simply announcing an inevitable fact.

Immediately afterward, the hearts of the three leaders began racing.

If Priam truly achieved the impossible, the influence and resources allocated to the 11th Branch by the Main Sect would reach astronomical heights. All of them would benefit immensely.

After giving them a few moments to take it all in, Priam continued in a firm voice:

"Now that you understand how serious the situation is, I’ll be straightforward: gather your people and hide as far away from the center of this world as possible. Stay on the outskirts, isolated. That’s the only way you’ll ensure your survival."

This mission had a set time limit. Once the deadline expired, whether victorious or defeated, all survivors would be teleported back to their world.

Historically, the central realm was considered the safest area, which made every living Mage march there without hesitation. Without Priam’s cold warning, the 11th Branch would blindly march straight into a deadly trap set by the Sorcerers.

Hearing those words made Daraen, Sallya, and Inigo’s expressions freeze. Then, the three of them let out the breath they’d been holding as they understood the real meaning behind the order.

Priam intended to fight a brutal battle... and at that level of confrontation, anyone who didn’t meet the standards of his faction would simply be a burden.

The trio’s eyes fell to the ground, overwhelmed by a crushing wave of humiliation and inferiority.

They had entered the sect through the exact same examination as Priam. They had been hailed as the greatest prodigies of their generation, proud and untouchable. Yet, in an incredibly short amount of time, the gap between them and Priam had become wider than the sky itself.

Worse, Priam’s three generals had already left them behind in terms of pure combat power. And at the rate that this army of Mage Masters was evolving, even the rank-and-file soldiers on the island might surpass them soon.

The pride they had carried had already been ground into dust.

Priam remained silent. He knew his words had deeply wounded the three’s dignity, but he offered no empty consolation. In the world they lived in, strength was the only absolute truth.

Until...

"If you’re not willing to simply hide... why don’t you just join our faction?"

Dandara’s voice rang out like thunder to the three of them, breaking the heavy silence.

The three jerked their heads up, staring at the half-beast in shock. However, their astonishment lasted only a few seconds before quickly turning into a bitter and realistic understanding.

They clenched their fists so tightly that their nails nearly pierced their skin.

Faction Leaders? Super-geniuses?

They had failed miserably. They had led thousands of soldiers to their deaths and watched their own forces be reduced to pieces. The leadership of any one of them had proven tragically insufficient. And as for their individual power, clearly, it wasn’t anything to brag about either.

Without exchanging a single word, the three turned toward Priam at the same time.

It would be a lie to say that the three of them had never considered this possibility before. But... how could they accept it? They had always been far above average, and they believed that they would turn things around one day.

But now, reality had hit them square in the face. At the same time, they felt that if they refused this opportunity, it might never come again.

As he looked into their eyes, Priam let out a faint snort.

"Hmm... if that’s what you want, I’m fine with it." He turned his head toward Dandara. "Our time is extremely limited. Since you suggested this, can you guarantee that you can organize them and integrate them into the army in time?"

Dandara promptly nodded with a sharp smile:

"Yes. The individual strength of the three is undeniable. Our army currently lacks experienced spearheads for intermediate battle formations. With a few days of intensive training, I can turn them into extremely useful assets."

Priam turned his gaze back to the trio:

"The final decision is yours. Abandoning the position of Faction Leader isn’t a small step. I already have three trusted generals, but if Dandara approves of your performance in this battle, I can grant each of you the same position in the future."

Daraen, Sallya, and Inigo processed those words.

The horse was passing right in front of them, already saddled. This was a defining moment in their lives.

The humiliation they had felt moments ago gave way to a brutal determination.

Almost in a single movement, the three bowed deeply toward Priam and answered in unison.

"We accept the offer."

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