As time slowly passed, both Lock and the Tiger Knights scattered across various locations, focused intently on their timing tools, and the atmosphere grew solemn.
8:59:50.
Counting down ten seconds, nine, eight, seven… three, two, one!
"Activate!"
As the last second fell, Lock raised the staff of light high in his hand, activating the ritual with all his might. The staff immediately emitted a dazzling light, like a sun.
The surrounding Theocracy troops immediately cast special magic on the obelisks. On the activated obelisks, magical patterns quickly lit up, emitting powerful magical fluctuations.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Lines of magic formations rapidly appeared between the obelisks, connecting these magical structures one by one, forming a huge magic circle on the surface of the dungeon.
Immediately, the entire dungeon, enveloped by the magic circle, slowly rose, eventually breaking through the ground and appearing on the open field very close to Eivenburg, forming a perfect structural combination with the entire castle.
The giant stone statue glowed with sacred light in the darkness, forming a pillar of light reaching the sky!
Centered on this pillar of light, a small beam of light suddenly rose ten thousand meters northwest of Eivenburg.
This beam of light immediately split into two after appearing, stretching out a thin membrane of light like an unfurling scroll.
The two light rays moved rapidly in two directions, on the ground and in the sky, at an uncatchable speed, forming a regular circle with Eivenburg as its center.
When these two light rays converged again in the other direction, the entire Eivenburg and a large surrounding area were completely enveloped within the circle, and the light membrane gradually closed, forming a hemisphere that inverted the locked faceplate onto the earth.
Suddenly!
The earth vibrated violently, and a rumbling sound spread. In the areas outside the hemisphere, whether human, monster, or beast, all perceived this enormous commotion.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
In McGrady Village, closest to Eivenburg, the alarm bell in the village square suddenly rang loudly in the darkness.
All the villagers who were sleeping were awakened by the bell, and then immediately felt the earth shaking and their houses swaying violently.
"Oh no!"
"Get out of the houses!"
The villagers immediately shouted, urging their family members who had not yet woken up, then, without much thought, wrapped their clothes around themselves, hugged their children, and ran out of their houses.
After running out of their houses, they immediately went to the location of the alarm bell.
During an earthquake, the village square was a relatively close open area, and since someone had rung the alarm bell, they might know what was happening. Moreover, the safest place in the village was next to the square, the specially constructed guard station.
When they arrived at the square, they indeed saw a fellow villager striking the alarm bell.
It was a young man in light armor with an iron sword, an apprentice guard from the guard station.
Next to him was a mature middle-aged man, wearing the silver-white armor that the villagers both respected and envied.
"Basha, what exactly happened?" The village chief immediately asked the middle-aged man with a nervous expression. Usually, this alarm bell was only rung in emergencies such as the village being invaded by magical beasts or bandits.
Basha looked around, confirmed that all the villagers had gathered there, and then slowly said, "Everyone, there's no need to be nervous, it's just a precaution. This great earthquake was caused by the benevolent Lord Lock; it seems that he is doing something big. To prevent anyone from being affected, I rang the alarm bell."
"Oh, so it was Lord Lock!"
"That benevolent Lord can actually cause an earthquake of this magnitude; he's truly amazing!"
"Isn't that obvious? I think that Lord is a god; otherwise, my Mark wouldn't have suddenly become so powerful, able to kill an Ogre!"
"Old John, you're showing off your boy again!"
"Don't mind him, that's just his personality. When my son grows up, he'll also participate in the Eivenburg selection, and he'll definitely be better than his son then!"
As soon as the villagers heard Lock's name, their nervous expressions immediately relaxed, and they began to discuss animatedly.
As long as it was the Lord's instruction, it would definitely be something beneficial to everyone, and they just needed to follow it.
Basha watched the villagers' lively discussion, knowing his work was done, and couldn't help but turn his head towards Eivenburg.
Although he was not a formal Tiger Knight, as the guard captain of this village, he had also received news from his superiors that Lord Lock was about to begin a large-scale conscription, and he would be recruited as a drill sergeant to train recruits for the Lord.
Thinking about it now, Basha felt very excited.
The news of Lord Lock becoming the Golden Princess's fiancé had spread through all the villages around the territory. Everyone did not doubt that this Lord was about to become the ruler of the kingdom. At that time, they would also be able to become regular kingdom soldiers and bring their families to become 'city people'!
Knowing that he might not be able to become an elite unit like the Tiger Knights, Basha was still full of hope for the future, all thanks to Lord Lock!
The situation in McGrady Village was just a small microcosm; when the great earthquake arrived, all the villages under Lock's jurisdiction had received prior notice.
Although some houses that were not very sturdily built were damaged, not a single villager was injured.
Not only in this area, but also deep within the vast Tob Forest, a huge earthquake occurred.
The timid monsters fled in the opposite direction of the earthquake, and battles due to crossing territories were seen everywhere.
In the forest, there was a palace built of wood, surrounded by other defensive facilities, including city walls, that were still under construction. This was a disguised Nazarick stronghold built according to Ainz's requirements.
Aura, wearing a white vest, looked with a puzzled expression towards the northwest of the forest. The location of the earthquake seemed to be there, and she hadn't had time to explore it before due to various matters.
However, she learned from the local monsters that it seemed to be an area occupied by many tiger-like magical beasts.
If unrest occurred so close, it might expose this stronghold, so what should she do now?
Just as she was hesitating, a teleportation gate suddenly appeared behind her. The Ruler of Death, wearing a magic robe and holding a replica of the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown, emerged with the female demon and female vampire.
"Lord Ainz!" Aura immediately noticed the two and bowed to Ainz.
"Aura," Ainz first greeted her, then immediately turned his head to the northwest, "A great earthquake occurred there. What caused it?"
"I apologize, Lord Ainz, because I was worried that acting on my own would affect your plan. I haven't investigated yet," Aura said apologetically.
She originally thought she would be scolded, but to her surprise, Ainz just patted her shoulder.
"It's right to be cautious," Ainz said with satisfaction. This world was not safe, and he was very pleased that Aura had not acted rashly. "Albedo, send out an Evil Eye Demon to investigate."
Albedo acknowledged the command and immediately began to mobilize troops. A large eyeball flew out of the teleportation gate, its eerie tentacles grasping a special tool, and flew towards the northwest.
As the Evil Eye Demon acted, Ainz waved his hand, and a mirror appeared before the few of them, displaying the scene seen by the Evil Eye Demon as it flew.
"Let's see what exactly happened."
Not long after, the Evil Eye Demon seemed to have reached its destination, or rather, 'saw' its destination.
A huge land mass floated above the distant forest, like a floating island, enveloped within a spherical protective shield. In the center seemed to be a castle, surrounded by a ring of forest, where many tigers could vaguely be seen patrolling like soldiers.
Below this 'floating island' was a bottomless pit, which, from the marks, perfectly matched the bottom of the island.
"Hmm? What is this?" Ainz was a little puzzled. From the surface, it seemed to be caused by some kind of magic, but he didn't remember any magic in Yggdrasil that could produce a similar effect, so was it indigenous magic of this world?
Who exactly was casting this magic? Why did they dig out such a large piece of land from the forest? Also, why was there a castle in the forest?
For a moment, many questions arose in Ainz's mind.
But in the next second, a giant magic circle immediately unfolded beneath the huge floating island.
"Magic circle… could it be him?" Ainz saw the magic circle and immediately thought of a human, Lock Kote Albert.
In the battle in the Royal Capital, Ainz had become extremely wary of Lock, especially that kind of magic circle, which left a deep impression, so he involuntarily connected it to him at this moment.
But, this doesn't seem to be an offensive type of magic? He couldn't be sure if it was the other party.
Suddenly, a phantom island, ten times larger than the floating island before them, appeared in the sky. This illusion was so clear that even from Ainz's current position, he could see it clearly by just looking up slightly.
Ainz was startled and immediately stood up from his chair, "Be careful!!!"
The surrounding Guardian immediately surrounded Ainz with serious expressions, and Albedo immediately activated the special effects of defense. Even if it wasn't an attack directed at them, such a large area might still affect this place.
But to their surprise, the illusion had not yet changed; instead, the floating island in the surveillance mirror changed first.
The magic circle below the floating island seemed to be activated, making the entire island ethereal, then slowly flying towards the illusion in the sky, eventually merging with it.
Ainz also noticed that not only this floating island, but also twelve other similar land masses, merged into the giant island of that illusion, becoming part of it.
At this moment, on the giant stone statue outside Eivenburg, Lock's lips slowly curved into a smile, and the World Item, Avalon, in his hand transformed into specks of light and disappeared.
The Island of Sanctuary was completed!
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