Chapter 402: The Dimensional Rift

Helag didn’t have the luxury of time to slowly dismantle the ritual. It was already too late.

The small rift in the air was like a wound on human skin. If left alone, it would naturally heal over time.

But the ritual was like a virus, preventing the wound from healing.

Meanwhile, the force on the other side of the rift was like someone actively pulling the wound open.

Even if Helag destroyed the ritual, it would only solve the problem on this side.

He had no way of dealing with the force from the Abyssal Plane on the other side.

Normally, the world’s willpower would make it incredibly difficult to tear open such a rift, but the ritual on this side had made it easier.

Helag could feel the immense power leaking from the other side, though he couldn’t tell what kind of entity it was.

If something that powerful managed to come through, it would be catastrophic.

For now, the small rift wasn’t large enough to support the descent of such a powerful entity, and whoever was on the other side wasn’t reckless enough to force their way through.

Beings of that magnitude could only descend through a stable dimensional passage, similar to how the wizard plane had invaded the elven plane.

By establishing a stable passage, they could enter other planes without being crushed by the world’s will.

Though the rift was slowly expanding, it was far from becoming a full-fledged dimensional passage, meaning the powerful entity couldn’t come through yet.

Helag was relieved that he had absorbed most of the life force, preventing the ritual from reaching its full potential.

Otherwise, if a dimensional passage had been fully opened here, the entire Land of Dawn would be in grave danger.

The mere thought of it sent chills down Helag’s spine. Here, he was just an ordinary first-level crystallized wizard, without the strength he had while in the Abyssal Plane.

If something powerful came through, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

His only option would be to flee—perhaps even through the rift into the Abyssal Plane, where he could activate his bloodline imprint and have a chance at survival.

That is, if he didn’t die trying to pass through the rift.

Helag looked at the slowly expanding rift and drew the World Tree Bow, firing an arrow directly at it.

The arrow vanished into the rift, disappearing without a trace.

Helag knew the arrow had likely flown straight into the Abyssal Plane.

After firing the arrow, he put away the World Tree Bow, picked up David, and ran.

The rift was still too small for anything significant to come through, except perhaps some weak, minor creatures.

But if the rift continued to grow, stronger monsters would surely follow.

Helag couldn’t stop the rift from expanding, so his only option was to flee, return to Crystal City, and immediately report the situation to Seranthiel.

This was a matter of great importance, affecting the safety of the entire Land of Dawn.

Helag glanced at the stars to get his bearings, then sped off toward Crystal City.

He could feel the Abyssal aura behind him growing stronger, prompting him to quicken his pace.

Helag had followed this aura to find the old man, whose body reeked of the Abyssal Plane.

In the polluted zone, this aura stood out because, while the zone housed Abyssal creatures, their aura had changed over the years.

Creatures born and bred in the polluted zone had a different Abyssal scent, altered by their environment.

But this pure Abyssal aura was unmistakable, and Helag had tracked it to the scene.

Had he arrived any later, David would have been dead, and the dimensional passage would have fully formed.

If communication stones worked in the polluted zone, Helag would have already notified Seranthiel.

Dimensional rifts were a serious matter that needed to be dealt with immediately, or it could be too late.

“You’ve advanced to a crystallized wizard?” David asked, sensing the magical energy radiating from Helag.

Helag nodded, “I advanced not long ago.”

David sighed, “You really are incredible. Even in the Land of Dawn, there are few talents like you.”

“Talent doesn’t matter. What matters is how far you can go. The road is still long.”

Helag had seen many powerful beings and knew how weak he still was. He wasn’t one to be arrogant or complacent.

Being called a genius didn’t mean much. Almost every wizard was a genius in their own right.

As Helag carried David, they continued their journey, chatting along the way. Helag learned about David’s experiences over the past few years.

David had traveled to many places with the Eastern Source Trading Company, learning the ins and outs of various trades.

His honest and diligent work earned him the respect of the company’s management.

Part of this respect came from David’s background, as he had been introduced by Pruis, and the company had to show some courtesy.

Helag had spent two days searching the polluted zone before finding David.

Now, it would take about a day to return, maybe faster if Helag pushed himself.

But he wasn’t alone—he had David with him.

David was injured, and they had to stop occasionally to rest. Pushing too hard would worsen his condition.

Though David insisted Helag didn’t need to worry about him, Helag still took breaks to give him time to recover.

By midday the next day, Helag finally saw the silhouette of Crystal City.

In his Power of the Titan form, Helag looked like a small giant.

A giant clad in dark gold armor, carrying a man, approached the city gates, drawing immediate attention.

“Who goes there!” Wizards in robes atop the city walls shouted down, eyeing Helag and David warily, their magical energy ready to strike.

Helag stopped, not wanting to provoke an attack from the guards.

In such a public setting, he didn’t want to dispel his Power of the Titan form, especially with two women watching from above.

He pulled out his communication stone and said, “I’m Helag, a formal member of Seranthiel. Here’s my communication stone.”

The wizards on the wall exchanged doubtful glances before one of them pulled out a communication stone to verify.

The leader, a red-haired female wizard, was the head of Crystal City’s security department. She found Helag’s name in the records.

After some thought, she descended from the wall with three others, approaching Helag.

Helag gently set David down and said, “This is my communication stone, and this is my follower, David. He fled into the polluted zone after the airship crash, and I went in to rescue him.”