Chapter 425: The Loner

After learning about the concept of the plane’s chosen, Helag recalled the World Tree and the elves in the elven plane.

The World Tree and the elves seemed akin to the plane’s chosen of the elven plane.

The World Tree, the largest entity in the elven plane, spread its roots throughout, with countless branches forming smaller World Trees.

The elves thrived alongside the World Tree, becoming the dominant race in the elven plane.

Both the World Tree and the elves were clearly favored by the elven plane’s world will.

Comparing this to World X-617, Helag speculated that the World Tree might have started as an ordinary tree, growing into its current form under the world will’s favor.

The elves likely began as a regular race, developing alongside the World Tree with the world will’s aid.

The elves’ ancestors were probably plane’s chosen, and Helag imagined their arduous journey to establish the elven race, undoubtedly supported by the world will.

The plane’s chosen weren’t limited to one individual.

Throughout the elves’ history, many plane’s chosen likely emerged, selected by the world will.

Historically renowned elves might have been plane’s chosen.

Helag then wondered who the plane’s chosen of the wizard plane might be.

The wizard plane’s strongest were undoubtedly wizards, but many powerful beings existed within this group.

Strength alone didn’t determine a plane’s chosen, making it difficult to identify.

Helag recalled a Knight named Karim encountered long ago in Dragonspine Highlands.

Karim seemed like a plane’s chosen, capable of reviving upon death.

However, Helag reconsidered, finding it unlikely.

The wizard plane’s elite were wizards; even grand knights served merely as followers.

Yet, Karim was called a Light Knight, suggesting higher knightly realms unknown to Helag.

Helag dismissed the thought, unrelated to him.

His current goal was to follow Medel, who knew more than he did.

When the world will appeared, Helag planned to seize control.

This might antagonize Medel, but Helag had no choice; some things couldn’t be compromised.

If Medel caused trouble later, Helag would deal with him.

Otherwise, Medel’s background posed a future threat.

Helag preferred avoiding conflict with the Taylor family, lacking the means to eradicate them.

The Red Witch Elia alone was beyond his current reach.

Observing Medel’s group, Helag distanced himself from the valley.

About a kilometer away, Helag set up the Wildfire Tent in a secluded spot.

Once activated, the tent concealed Helag, appearing as a large rock from outside.

Helag laid a moisture-proof mat, sitting to eat rations and drink water.

To avoid detection, he refrained from lighting a fire.

Though fires were possible inside the Wildfire Tent, Helag deemed it unnecessary, opting for caution.

From this distance, Helag could monitor Medel’s group without risk of detection.

Mountains, jungles, and rivers separated them, making non-magical surveillance impossible.

Medel’s group felt secure, sheltered within a third-tier magical array called Sanctuary.

Sanctuary, used by pioneers in polluted zones, was invaluable, possessed only by powerful factions.

Medel obtained one through family channels, specifically for Operation Cradle.

With all participants being crystallized wizards, the third-tier array was an impenetrable fortress, or so Medel believed.

Inside Sanctuary, two tents accommodated Medel’s group.

Tessa hadn’t set up her tent, implying her intentions.

***

The next morning, Wade returned from scouting, reporting, “Master, nothing unusual.”

Medel nodded, retracting the Sanctuary array into his spatial ring.

“Which way?” Wade asked.

Medel glanced around, casually choosing a direction, “That way.”

His information was limited; no one knew where the plane’s chosen might be, relying on luck.

Noticing their departure, Helag dismantled the Wildfire Tent, using shadow spells to follow at a distance.

The world was vast, and half a month passed quickly.

During this time, Medel’s group encountered no one, traveling peacefully.

Helag followed patiently, collecting and documenting unfamiliar plants by day.

At night, he meditated in the Wildfire Tent.

The stars here differed entirely, yet moved systematically.

Helag recorded their positions and distributions, anticipating future use.

While meditating, Helag noted the world’s energy particle density was much lower than the wizard plane’s, slowing meditation.

However, with the Divine Core’s energy support, the impact on meditation speed was minimal.

Medel’s group, after half a month, hadn’t met anyone, nor made progress finding the plane’s chosen.

Medel grew frustrated, but the vastness was unavoidable.

One day, while searching, they finally encountered another Operation Cradle participant—a lone young man, appearing in his twenties.

“Medel!” the young man exclaimed, recognizing Medel immediately.

Seeing Medel with two companions, he grew wary, feeling anxious.

“You know me? That makes it easier. Would you like to join my team?” Medel invited with a smile.

The young man hesitated, shaking his head, “No, thanks. I prefer working alone.”

—