Alistair and Riseth were among the very last to leave, with only a few individuals skilled in magic still lingering within the compound. They had waited until everyone else was ready to depart, not knowing how long the Realm Catcher would last once it began containing Nivareth.

  Alistair focused his full attention on the Realm Catcher as he withdrew the small, fragile-looking cube, using telekinesis to hover it in front of him. The cube turned idly on its axis, its metallic plates, pistons, and wires seeming almost alive as they vibrated faintly with power. It responded to the realm energy around it, already coursing excitedly through its frame, a dim green light glowing from within despite Alistair not yet channeling his own mana into it.

  Even with his growing mastery of magic and his ability to see the arcane substrate, he couldn’t discern much of the magic coming alive within the Realm Catcher. Its inner workings were hidden behind countermeasures, deliberately obfuscated, and what little he could sense was far beyond his comprehension.

  "Whoever created this didn’t want the user to replicate the Realm Catcher," Hara, the magic specialist of the Beshin clan, said, her tone carrying a faint edge of disappointment.

  Alistair could sense the disappointment not only in her but also in Nomura and some of the Inquisitors who had remained to observe.

  "Perhaps we see more once it does its work," Riseth suggested as she nudged Alistair on to get it over with.

  Alistair nodded and focused on the cube, moving it closer to the realm with his telekinesis before carefully infusing it with mana. The cube truly came to life, spinning on its own as it began to expand, reminiscent of the nanomachines of the Tok’eall, who had hosted the Coalition negotiations between the fifty strongest independent factions and allies. The cube grew unnaturally, its size increasing far beyond its original dimensions. Alistair had to strain his focus, forcing himself not to be distracted by the cube’s physical transformation and instead concentrating on the still-obfuscated magic at play.

  Some aspects of the magic couldn’t be hidden, but there were large gaps and an unfathomable depth that Alistair could only guess at as the cube continued to expand. It grew large enough to envelop the entire realm before abruptly compressing again, shrinking back to its original size and consuming the realm in the process. Now, the brightly glowing cube hovered silently in the space where the realm had once existed, containing it entirely within.

  An earthquake shook the entire compound as Alistair watched the tendrils anchoring the realm to this plane sever and snap like ropes cut under immense tension, each one recoiling violently before being drawn into the cube. Alistair held his ground, steadfast, continuing to channel mana into the cube even as startled yelps from others in the chamber echoed around him.

  As suddenly as it had begun, the earthquake ceased. The Realm Catcher’s glow dimmed, returning to its earlier state as it spun idly on its axis, as if nothing had happened. Yet Alistair could sense the strain on the small cube, its structure trembling beneath the surface. He knew with certainty that it would only hold for a few days at most before the realm broke free, tearing through the device to re-anchor itself.

  With a beckoning gesture, Alistair let the cube float swiftly to his side, giving it a quick once-over before storing it in his storage. He could feel the subtle strain as the storage adjusted to the immense magical weight of the cube.

  "I hope you enjoyed the show," Alistair said, flashing the small procession a winning smile. "But this Realm Catcher will only last a few days at most, and we need to return home as quickly as possible. I’d rather not find out what happens if this realm tears itself free in my storage during a jump—or in deep space."

  This elicited a few chuckles and grateful nods, while some of the inquisitors teleported to the surface after offering respectful bows.

  "Thank you for the opportunity to witness the magic in action," Hara said with a small smile. "I’m looking forward to exploring some of the wonders your clan has to offer once the gate between our worlds is established."

  "We would be happy to have you," Riseth replied, returning the smile.

  After saying their goodbyes, Alistair and Riseth quickly teleported before boarding the vessel waiting for them it quickly took them to the Kaiako's waiting for their arrival, the jumpdrive already primed to leave the system behind.

  Fortunately, their return trip was uneventful, with no further ambushes or disruptions. Before long, Alistair and Riseth stood in the chamber prepared for the realm, located at the edge of Rathos near the ocean, deep beneath the earth. The placement was chosen as a precaution, in case something went wrong or had unforeseen consequences. Though the Synth Alliance had reassured them there wouldn’t be an issue, and aside from the realm’s usual behaviors—such as the constant leakage of aspected mana—they shouldn’t expect any problems.

  Most of the important clan members were present to witness the anchoring of their newly acquired realm. Alistair glanced over his shoulder, catching the glance of Nessyra, who held Dexter in her arms, the Yagan letting his tongue loll out with a goofy expression. She hadn’t been overly happy with the type of realm they had chosen, as she would have preferred one with more obvious economic advantages and fewer problematic inhabitants.

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  The dragons had also joined them, settling in quite well—particularly Zephi, who relished her newfound freedom. She spent much of her time in the Crucible, making friends or running dungeons, often accompanied by Simon. He had taken on the role of something akin to her legal guardian, protecting and looking after her while she remained a guest of the clan.

  His mother and sister stepped up to him after double-checking the runic network they had laid down in the chamber. The array would not only contain anything in case of an emergency but also provide detailed recordings of everything happening within the formation, hopefully granting them additional insights.

  "The runework is ready," Melissa said, brushing off her knees as she approached, a wide smile on her face. "Let’s see what you brought."

  His mother patted his arm reassuringly as she passed, offering him a warm smile before joining Melissa. They walked to stand behind him.

  Alistair retrieved the Realm Catcher from his storage, feeling the magical weight pressing on him as he pulled it out. For a moment, he almost imagined the small cube exerting a subtle pressure on him, as though it had taken on a physical heaviness while contained. While his telekinesis didn’t exactly struggle, thanks to the way the Realm Catcher was designed, he understood that without it, he wouldn’t have been able to even budge the sheer magical density and weight of the realm. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to manage it even at a higher grade without specialized skills and magic.

  He carefully positioned the cube at the center of the formation. It pulsed faintly, almost as if in anticipation of being unleashed, and the tension in the room grew almost palpable as every eye fixed on the small glowing cube. Alistair let his mana flow into it once more to release the realm. But unlike the steady flow from when he had captured it, the cube now drew viciously on his mana.

  Suddenly, the cube expanded and shattered, its metallic parts evaporating into nothingness as the extreme magical density of the realm burst forth. The energy washed over them, filling the chamber and infusing the rock, veins of mana forming almost instantly. Tendrils of immense power lashed out, cracking the magical concrete and triggering another earthquake as the realm anchored itself to Lacustrine with what felt like both desperation and excitement. The magic vibrated wildly, resonating through the chamber as the anchoring established itself.

  Those present were wide-eyed at the sheer display of power being unleashed. Sotarr’s spirit appeared next to Alistair, his emblem having retrieved itself from Alistair’s inventory—something he hadn’t even known was possible.

  Alistair could hear both Zephi and Rovari making choking sounds as they felt Sotarr’s overwhelming aura, though he didn’t spare them a glance. His focus remained on the realm, which expanded and retracted rhythmically, pulling in and expelling magic as if it were taking deep breaths after holding its breath for too long.

  "Incredible," Sotarr commented. Alistair could only guess how much Sotarr could discern in this spectral form, but it was clear that he was impressed.

  "Disciple greets master," Alistair said with a polite bow before flashing a toothy grin. "I thought you were busy?"

  "I was, until you two went and killed somebody's disciple," Sotarr retorted with a low chuckle, his gaze fixed on the realm as it slowly settled and the portal established itself.

  Sotarr let out a thoughtful hum as he studied the portal, the attention of the entire room shifting from the realm to him.

  "Not sure which disciple you’re referring to," Riseth replied smoothly. "We just returned from a retaliatory strike against the Blackmarket Syndicates, where we liberated this realm."

  A toothy, predatory smile spread across his spectral form as he eyed Alistair and Riseth.

  "Just know that this particular master had planned to have you and those around you assassinated. He is dead now, but understand this—your actions have consequences, and I will not always interfere on your behalf. If I did, you wouldn’t grow," Sotarr said, his tone firm but laced with an edge of amusement.

  Alistair grimaced slightly before shaking his head. This was nothing new; everyone present understood that they would be targeted simply for who they were. He had no doubt that members of the Blackmarket Syndicates weren’t the only ones who would try to kill them if given the opportunity.

  "Your intervention is appreciated," Alistair said, offering Sotarr an appreciative smile.

  Alistair couldn’t help but notice the awkwardness in the room. The dragons stood frozen like deer in headlights, while the rest of the clan leadership seemed unsure whether to leave or risk disrupting the sudden reunion. Sotarr appeared to notice as well, his spectral form shifting as he finally turned to face them.

  "Apologies," Sotarr said, his tone calm but amused. "The energy I sensed through the token was rather unusual, and I couldn’t resist my curiosity. Don’t worry about me—carry on as you please." His aura withdrew further, and he gave them a winning smile, his long, sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.

  "Don’t mind if I do," James said, unbothered, as he stepped closer to the magic circle beneath the newly anchored realm. His mother and sister accompanied him. They spoke in hushed tones as public akashic screens materialized in front of them, displaying magical reactions and energy readings.

  Alistair observed as the others began to leave, having seen what they came for and not wanting to waste time gawking or interfering with those working on the arrays. No one seemed eager to linger and risk upsetting Sotarr, as the dragon rarely cared to interact with the rest of the clan members and had frequently shot down any attempts at asking questions or striking up a conversation with him.

  However, as Nessyra was about to leave, Sotarr took a long step that brought him suddenly beside her. She looked up at him in surprise.

  "Your mental defenses are almost too tight," Sotarr commented, his tone even. "When you hear the voice, don’t shut it out," he added, his piercing gaze softening slightly as a faint, more pleasant smile curved his lips.

  Nessyra furrowed her brows. "What voice?" she asked.

  "My wife’s voice, of course," Sotarr replied. His smile widened just a touch, his tone lighter. "She has chosen you as her prospective disciple. Based on the avatars I can sense, you seem a far more excellent choice than I had been led to believe. I hope you do not shun my wife’s Offer."

  Nessyra’s demeanor softened as she returned his smile. "I will certainly consider the offer. I appreciate the heads-up."

  She turned once more and left without another word, and Sotarr let her go, his gaze lingering as he watched her and the others leave. The two new dragons, however, remained frozen in place, still staring at him. King let out a sigh as he gently grabbed Rovari’s arm, coaxing her toward the exit.

  "I should have perhaps been less confrontational with her," Sotarr mused aloud before turning his attention to King. "Speaking of which, the same goes for you. I think it is time we finally talked."