The once-thriving Reno Port had now become a battlefield.
Destroyed buildings were scattered everywhere, while the wreckage of warships floated across the surface of the sea.
The armies of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and the Ganwu Empire were locked in fierce combat, with the entire port shrouded in smoke and gunfire.
[The situation is far worse than we imagined,] Silvermoon said, staring at the battlefield in shock. [They have already begun a full-scale war.]
[And judging by the scale of the fighting, this is no minor conflict,] Rowan observed the battlefield carefully. [Both empires have committed a massive number of troops.]
From above, hundreds of warships could be seen clashing across the sea.
Countless warriors flew through the sky as attacks formed from various Laws erupted like fireworks.
The scale of the battle had already far exceeded anything that could be called an ordinary struggle over an inheritance.
[We need to find somewhere safe to land,] Rowan said as he searched for a suitable location. [Then we can begin gathering information.]
They chose a small island on the outskirts of the port as their temporary base.
The island was relatively secluded, and its distance from the main battlefield made it considerably safer.
[First, we need to understand how this war began,] Silvermoon said as she began organizing their investigation. [What exactly triggered it, and what does the timeline look like?]
[There is something even more important,] Rowan added. [We need to find the person or organization that first spread information about the Storm King's inheritance.]
The two divided their responsibilities.
Silvermoon focused on gathering detailed information about the outbreak of the war, while Rowan concentrated on tracing the source of the inheritance rumors.
Silvermoon first approached several civilians and merchants who had fled the port.
Through their conversations, she gradually pieced together the timeline of events.
Three months earlier, mysterious individuals had begun spreading information throughout the taverns and intelligence exchanges of Reno Port.
They claimed that they had discovered the exact location where the Storm King Severus had died.
The information was extraordinarily detailed.
It included precise coordinates, descriptions of the structure, and even partial details about the inheritance itself.
[The strange thing is,] a merchant who had fled the war told Silvermoon, [the information appeared in different places at almost exactly the same time, and the content was nearly identical. It was clearly organized.]
More importantly, the information quickly reached the ears of both empires.
Almost immediately after the rumors began spreading, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and the Ganwu Empire started gathering their forces around Reno Port.
[That reaction was far too fast,] Silvermoon analyzed silently. [Unless both empires had already been watching this place, there is no way they could have reacted so quickly.]
At the same time, Rowan made an important discovery.
Through several special channels, he managed to locate several of the key individuals who had first spread the rumors.
However, what surprised him was that every one of them had now disappeared.
[They vanished completely,] an information broker told Rowan cautiously. [It's as if they simply evaporated from the world. And there was something strange about them when they were spreading the information. Their behavior was unnatural, almost as if something was controlling them.]
[Controlling them?] Rowan immediately seized on the key word. [Can you describe it in more detail?]
[It's difficult to explain,] the information broker said, recalling what he had seen. [Their eyes were empty. Their voices sounded mechanical. And after spreading the information, they left immediately without asking for any payment.]
The description reminded Rowan of the warriors who had been affected by the Rage Formation inside the Storm Temple.
Empty eyes.
Mechanical behavior.
Those were classic signs of mental manipulation.
[So there really is someone controlling things from behind the scenes,] Rowan confirmed silently.
To obtain more information, Rowan decided to take the risk of contacting several warriors who were still active around the port.
Although the war continued, some neutral forces were still operating in certain areas of Reno Port.
Inside a hidden underground bar, Rowan met a middle-aged man who claimed to be an independent intelligence broker.
The man claimed to possess inside information about the conflict.
[You want to know the truth?] the intelligence broker asked with a mysterious smile. [The truth doesn't come cheap.]
[Price is not an issue,] Rowan said directly. [I want to know the real reason behind this war.]
The intelligence broker studied Rowan carefully before lowering his voice.
[Three months ago, a mysterious organization was operating in secret. They not only spread information about the Storm King's inheritance, but also provided both empires with certain "special intelligence."]
[What kind of special intelligence?] Rowan pressed.
[False information about the other side's strength and intentions,] the broker explained. [They convinced the Black Dragon Mountain Empire that the Ganwu Empire was planning an attack against them. At the same time, they convinced the Ganwu Empire that the Black Dragon Mountain Empire had hostile intentions.]
It was a classic strategy of sowing discord.
By feeding both sides false information, the mysterious organization had created misunderstandings and hostility between two powers that had originally possessed no direct reason to clash.
[What are the characteristics of this mysterious organization?] Rowan continued.
[That's difficult to say,] the intelligence broker replied with a shake of his head. [Their members rarely reveal themselves, and whenever they do appear, they disguise their identities. But there is one strange detail. Anyone who has interacted with them experiences a period of blurred memories afterward.]
[Blurred memories?]
Rowan's expression changed slightly.
That was another sign of mental manipulation.
[Yes. It's almost as if they were brainwashed,] the intelligence broker confirmed. [And this only happens to people who have come into contact with that organization.]
Rowan obtained several more details from the intelligence broker, including possible contacts and locations where the organization had operated.
The information was limited, but it was enough to establish a lead.
After reuniting with Silvermoon, the two began organizing everything they had gathered.
[Looking at the timeline, this was clearly a carefully planned conspiracy,] Silvermoon analyzed. [First, they spread information about the inheritance to attract the attention of both empires. Then they used false intelligence to intensify the conflict, eventually triggering a full-scale war.]
[And their methods were sophisticated,] Rowan added. [They used mental control techniques to ensure that the people carrying out their plans could not provide useful clues. Even if something went wrong, tracing the mastermind would be extremely difficult.]
[Those methods are very similar to the "servants" mentioned in the Storm King's records,] Silvermoon said, recalling the information they had discovered inside the sleeping chamber. [The servants of the Dark Lord are indeed creating chaos.]
[The question now is how we find the true identity of this mysterious organization,] Rowan said, thinking about their next move.
[I have an idea,] Silvermoon suggested. [Since they are using mental control techniques, they must require some kind of special device or formation. We can investigate from that angle.]
The suggestion made sense.
Mental control was an extremely advanced technique, but it could not be completely traceless.
Large-scale mental manipulation, in particular, would require tremendous energy and highly complex equipment.
[Are there any suspicious energy fluctuations around Reno Port?] Silvermoon asked.
Rowan recalled the information he had sensed earlier inside the Storm Temple.
[There are indeed some anomalies. But at the time, all our attention was focused on the inheritance, so we didn't investigate them carefully.]
[Then let's take a look now,] Silvermoon suggested.
The two left the island and began searching the area around Reno Port for suspicious energy sources.
With the advanced perception abilities Rowan had gained from the Storm King's inheritance, they quickly discovered a clue.
On a deserted island approximately fifty kilometers from Reno Port, there were obvious traces of residual Law energy.
The energy carried strong characteristics of the Laws of the Spirit System.
The scale was also enormous.
[A large-scale mental control formation was once active here,] Rowan said as he carefully analyzed the remaining energy. [Judging from the traces, it operated for at least several months.]
[And its output was extremely high,] Silvermoon added. [It was powerful enough to affect the entire population of the Reno Port region.]
They conducted a detailed search of the island and discovered the remains of the formation's basic structure.
Although the equipment itself had been removed, the fundamental runes carved into the ground remained.
[The style of these runes is ancient,] Silvermoon said as she studied the marks on the ground. [They don't resemble modern technology.]
[I had the same feeling,] Rowan replied. [I have seen this rune system in the Storm King's records. It belongs to an ancient form of mental control technology.]
The discovery further confirmed their suspicions.
An organization capable of using ancient mental control techniques was very likely connected to the "servants" mentioned in the Storm King's records.
[We still need more evidence,] Silvermoon said. [The clues we have now are not enough. Especially when it comes to the organization's true identity and objective.]
Just as they continued searching, a spatial fluctuation suddenly appeared on the island.
A moment later, a portal opened before them.
Several mysterious figures wearing black cloaks stepped out.
[Someone is investigating our base,] the leader of the mysterious figures said in a low voice. [We must eliminate these witnesses.]
[Looks like we found the right place,] Rowan said.
He and Silvermoon immediately entered combat readiness.
The mysterious figures were powerful.
Every one of them possessed strength equivalent to at least the eighth level of the Stellar Rank.
More importantly, the techniques they used carried obvious characteristics of mental manipulation.
[Mental Shock!]
One of the mysterious figures released an invisible mental attack.
However, such an attack posed little threat to Rowan and Silvermoon.
Rowan was protected by the inheritance of the Storm King, while Silvermoon, as a Domain Lord, possessed sufficient resistance against mental attacks.
[You are not ordinary people,] the mysterious leader realized that his opponents were far from ordinary. [To resist a mental attack like that, your strength is quite impressive.]
[Who are you? Why are you deliberately turning the two empires against each other?] Rowan asked directly.
[We are the loyal servants of the Dark Lord,] the mysterious figure admitted without hesitation. [We provoke conflicts to collect more negative energy and prepare for our master's resurrection.]
The answer confirmed all of their suspicions.
The Dark Lord truly existed.
And his servants were indeed creating chaos throughout the universe.
[When will your master resurrect?] Silvermoon pressed.
[Very soon,] the mysterious figure replied with a cold laugh. [Once we gather enough energy, our master will descend upon this universe once more and bring a new order.]
[Then you won't live long enough to see that day,] Rowan said.
He had decided to eliminate these dangerous fanatics.
The battle erupted instantly.
The Dark Lord's servants were genuinely powerful, and they worked together with remarkable coordination.
Most of their techniques involved mental control and negative energy, making their methods of attack extremely unusual.
[Shadow Bind!]
One of the servants released black energy tentacles that shot toward Rowan, attempting to restrain his movements.
But Rowan's strength had been greatly enhanced by the inheritance.
He was already far beyond an ordinary Stellar Rank warrior.
With ease, he broke free from the restraints and countered with a Wind Blade that sent the servant flying backward.
Silvermoon also displayed the strength of a Domain Lord.
Her water-based attacks were particularly effective against enemies who relied on dark energy.
[Purifying Waters!]
Silvermoon released the Laws of Water, imbued with powerful purifying properties.
The attack possessed a natural suppressive effect against dark energy.
When several servants were struck by the Purifying Waters, the black energy surrounding their bodies began to dissipate.
Their strength immediately dropped.
The battle ended quickly.
Although the servants were not weak, they had no chance against the combined might of Rowan and Silvermoon.
Before the battle ended, Rowan successfully captured one of the servants while he was still conscious.
Through a mental probe, Rowan extracted more important information from the captive's memories.
[I see,] Rowan said after completing the probe.
His expression became solemn.
[The Dark Lord's servant organization is far larger than we imagined. They are not only operating here. They have bases throughout the entire star region.]
[And their target isn't limited to the conflict between the two empires,] Silvermoon said.
She had also obtained information from the captive's memories.
[They are planning an even larger war. They intend to plunge the entire star region into chaos.]
The discovery filled both of them with deep concern.
If the Dark Lord's servants succeeded, the entire star region would be plunged into an endless war.
And the negative energy generated by such chaos would accelerate the Dark Lord's resurrection.
[We must report this to the company's headquarters immediately,] Silvermoon suggested. [This has already exceeded what we can handle on our own.]
[Agreed,] Rowan nodded. [But while we wait for assistance, we cannot simply sit around and do nothing. At the very least, we must do everything we can to prevent the current conflict from escalating further.]
The two decided to split up.
Silvermoon would contact the headquarters of the Virtual Universe Company and report the threat posed by the Dark Lord.
Rowan would attempt to contact the commanders of the two empires and use diplomatic means to ease the conflict.
[Remember, the evidence we have is still limited,] Rowan reminded Silvermoon. [When reporting to the company, emphasize the urgency of the investigation.]
[I understand,] Silvermoon replied. [I will contact the higher-ups as quickly as possible and try to secure additional support.]
Silvermoon traveled alone to a safe zone farther away from the deserted island.
The space there was relatively stable, making it suitable for long-distance communication.
As a senior mediation specialist of the Virtual Universe Company, she possessed special authority that allowed her to contact the headquarters directly.
[I hope the headquarters takes this threat seriously,] Silvermoon silently prayed.
She activated the ultra-long-range communication device she carried with her.
The device was one of the company's most advanced technological products.
It could cross a distance of tens of thousands of light-years and directly connect to the core communications network of the headquarters.
Once the device activated, a translucent holographic projection appeared before Silvermoon.
The connection status appeared across its surface.
And then, a line of information suddenly appeared.
Connection established.
Silvermoon's expression instantly became serious.
The first thing she saw was not the familiar communication interface of the Virtual Universe Company.
Instead, a dark red symbol slowly appeared within the holographic projection.
A symbol she had never seen before.
At the same time, the communication device began emitting an unfamiliar energy fluctuation.
Silvermoon's pupils contracted.
[This isn't the company's communication network.]
A cold voice suddenly emerged from the device.
[We have been waiting for you.]
Silvermoon's expression changed dramatically.
The next moment, the space around her began to distort.
A strange spiritual force spread through the surrounding area.
[You...]
Before Silvermoon could finish speaking, a terrifying mental force suddenly surged toward her.
However, the force was blocked by an invisible barrier.
Silvermoon took several steps backward, her expression becoming extremely cold.
[You dared to intercept a direct communication channel of the Virtual Universe Company?]
[Intercept?] The voice laughed softly. [No. We merely used your communication device to send a message.]
[Who are you?]
The holographic projection suddenly flickered.
A dark figure slowly appeared within it.
Its face was completely hidden beneath a black hood.
Only a pair of crimson eyes could be seen.
[You already know the answer.]
Silvermoon's expression became grim.
[A servant of the Dark Lord.]
[Correct.]
The dark figure's smile widened.
[And you are one of the people who has been interfering with our plans.]
The surrounding space suddenly began to tremble.
At the same time, an enormous energy fluctuation erupted from deep beneath the deserted island.
Silvermoon immediately sensed something was wrong.
[What did you do?]
[Nothing complicated,] the dark figure replied. [We simply allowed you and Rowan to discover this place.]
Silvermoon's face changed.
[It was a trap?]
[Of course.]
The dark figure's voice became increasingly cold.
[The Storm King left behind far too many secrets. We have spent countless years searching for his inheritance. We could not allow it to fall into the hands of someone who might interfere with our master's resurrection.]
The energy beneath the island continued to rise.
A massive formation began to activate.
Countless ancient runes lit up across the ground.
Silvermoon finally understood.
[The formation was never abandoned.]
[Exactly.]
The dark figure laughed.
[You thought you were investigating our base. In reality, you walked directly into our trap.]
At that moment, Rowan suddenly appeared in the distance.
He had clearly sensed the abnormal energy fluctuation and rushed over immediately.
[Silvermoon!]
[Rowan, don't come any closer!] Silvermoon shouted.
But it was already too late.
The entire island suddenly erupted with terrifying energy.
The ancient formation rose into the sky, transforming the surrounding space into a vast cage.
A massive spiritual force swept outward.
Even Rowan's expression changed.
[This is...]
[A resurrection formation,] the dark figure said.
Its crimson eyes seemed to glow with madness.
[The negative energy accumulated over countless years has finally reached the required level.]
[The war between the two empires was only the final catalyst.]
[And now...]
The entire star region suddenly trembled.
Far away, in the depths of the endless void, an ancient and terrifying presence slowly awakened.
The dark figure spread its arms.
[Our master is returning.]
A wave of darkness swept through the universe.
At that moment, Rowan felt something.
A terrifying consciousness had awakened.
It was ancient.
It was vast.
And it was filled with endless malice.
The dark figure's voice echoed through the formation.
[The resurrection of the Dark Lord has begun.]
Rowan stared into the distant void.
His expression slowly became cold.
[Then let's see whether this so-called Dark Lord can truly return.]
The next moment, the Storm King's inheritance within Rowan's body began to erupt with overwhelming power.
The entire sky trembled.
A storm began to form across the starry void.
The final battle had begun.
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