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Chapter 792: Nightfall
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
At the beginning of the new year, the weather in Holm was still gloomy and cold. It seemed to have been a long time since anyone saw the sun. In Allyn, on the other hand, vague mist spread out into a blurry world around it. In the darkness caused by the mist, stars rose in sophisticated trajectories, constructing dense and thick magic circles.
All the steam magic trains bound for Allyn were instructed to stand by, and all the sorcerers who returned from the outside world and who were about to leave the City in the Sky, after witnessing the mist, realized that the defense of Allyn had been activated and knew better to barge into it based on their common sense.
Some of the sorcerers who happened to be trapped in the mist found themselves teleported to the streets of Allyn after a while of dizziness.
"Why has the defense of Allyn been activated?"
Both the members of the Highest Council, such as Atlant and Erica, and the grand arcanists, such as Oliver and Vicente, were rather surprised and confused after they perceived the changes of the City in the Sky.
However, they had received a message that was sent out by Hathaway, who was watching over the City in the Sky, as well as Douglas and Brook. It stated that for a certain important and urgent reason, the defense of Allyn would be temporarily activated for forty minutes at most. Then, everything would be back to normal, and they would report the reason and receive the investigation of the Highest Council.
The members of the Highest Council were not infuriated by that, because according to the regulations of the Congress of Magic, in case of emergencies that could not be reported to the other experts in time, the grand arcanist who was watching over the City in the Sky could take expediencies after being approved by the president or the vice president. It was obvious that neither Douglas nor Brook objected to it.
What they were confused about was actually the urgency of the matter, which did not even give Hathaway enough time to inform them. Such a thing never happened before. After all, the legendary sorcerers all had their own demiplanes that were connected to the Allyn magic tower. It was very convenient to reach out to them.
Concerns and speculations brewed in their heart. Suddenly, they saw a run rising in the mist and illuminating everything around!
Under the sun, continuous and highly-rising mountains, exuberant forests, clear lakes that were as peaceful as mirrors, and meadows that looked like carpets appeared inside the mist in turns, as if the whole City in the Sky had been teleported into a different world.
"Linsorde?"
"The Land of Truth?"
"The World in Mirror?"
The different references that flashed in the mind of the experts had the same meaning. It was the demiplane of Douglas, the Emperor of Arcana and the president of the Congress of Magic!
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Had it been manifested in the main material world?
It was not entirely unachievable. With the assistance of magic circles, Oliver and the other grand arcanists were all capable of that. However, it was pointless. Same as the alternate dimensions, demiplanes were rejected by the main material world. Even though it was manifested in this place, it would be no different from arriving through projection or borrowing the power of the demiplane. It was a complete waste of time and materials.
Before they figured out what was going on, astonishing changes happened in the Land of Truth again!
The blue sky where the sun was shining suddenly turned dark, and the sun became smaller and smaller, until it was only slightly brighter than common stars.
A boundless cosmos arrived. Stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and everything else functioned according to the motion law of celestial bodies connected into systems and nebulas. Some of the places did not have the slightest light, as if even the rays had been entirely absorbed.
"The celestial bodies motion system… Is this part of Mr. President's cognitive world?"
Because of the blockage of the defense of Allyn, Oliver could only see the appearance. He made a conclusion based on that.
"The demiplane and the cognitive world are combining in such a way. Maybe…" Vicente considered possibilities without any cases that he could refer to. He had a vague guess.
After the unexpected incident, the few legendary sorcerers who were not far away from each other had already talked through their demiplanes and exchanged their opinions.
Such an unusual phenomenon had never happened before, and so, it was particularly thrilling. Considering that Lucien Evans discovered the sun a few months ago, how could those legendary not have any speculation?
At this moment, the real sky suddenly turned dark. The citizens of Rentato immediately had the feeling that the noon sky had turned into the late-night sky.
"The sky in my place has turned dark, too…" In the capital of the Duchy of Calais, Erica stared at the sky that was as dark as ink and spoke with a shivering voice of disbelief.
"What? The sky in Cocus is darkened too?" Oliver repeated, finding it hard to believe.
They had personally experienced and witnessed many unusual phenomena caused by the half-solidification and solidification of cognitive worlds. It was not unusual that the advancement into the peak of legendary could affect a country, but such a massive darkening was too unbelievable.
Very soon, they received feedback from the local branches of the Congress of Magic.
The sky in Brianne was darkened!
The sky in the Solar Islands, the Pearl Islands, and the ocean around was darkened!
The sky in the north coastline and the neighboring area was also darkened!
In the meantime, in the Holy Heilz Empire, the Schachran Empire, the Duchy of Orvarit, the Dark Mountain Range, the Boundless Ocean, and every other place, regardless of whether it was day or night, the sky had been reduced into pitch darkness, as if the sunlight had been blocked and absorbed by something!
In the Holy City, Melmax was obviously stunned for a moment. At first, he thought that a certain saint reached the peak of legendary, but he denied the idea very soon. With his capabilities at the peak of legendary and his control over the defense of the Holy City, it was impossible for him to have neglected the godly power that was supposed to arrive overwhelmingly. On the contrary, he sensed no anomalies at all in the range under his watch!
"What happened?" Melmax looked at the sky, hoping to find some clues. In the meantime, he activated the divine power circle of the Holy City in case of unexpected attacks. Whether or not Benedict III gave any order, he had to do that. It was the responsibility of the captain of Temple Knights who was stationed in Lance.
In the dark and sunless sky, stars that felt both real and illusionary shined brilliantly, with indescribable mysteriousness.
They were moving in the sky slowly, as they had always been and would always be.
"This… This is the starry sky of destiny!" Although Melmax was a knight, he had fought sorcerers for many years and had a deep understanding of them. So, he realized what the starry sky was without any trouble.
Suddenly, his pupils constricted violently, and one of the illusionary stars in the sky glowed, eclipsing all the other stars of destiny. Then, the star launched down a brilliant but flashing light, which landed on the ground somewhere far away like a laser.
Melmax turned around abruptly and appeared out of Benedict III's residence in a blink. He had a terrible feeling!
"What? His Holiness is praying and not to be disturbed?" Faced with the red robes that guarded Benedict III's residence, even Melmax, an expert who had the manners of a knight, could barely control himself.
Did the pope not notice the astonishing phenomenon outside?
The red robes shook their heads. "His Holiness did not give any instruction on that."
"Then, go in and report it immediately. I believe you've seen the changes in the sky," Melmax urged while he searched for the source of the anomaly with divine power items.
"The City in the Sky? Douglas is trying to break into the demigod level?" Melmax clutched his longsword tightly.
At this moment, the trajectory of destiny that had been covered by Douglas and Brook was already clear. After all, everybody had seen the unusual phenomenon!
"Lord Melmax, I have used the way of contact for emergencies, but His Holiness did not give any reply…" The red robe looked rather scared.
Melmax calmed down. "I'll go to Allyn now. Perhaps His Holiness has gone there to stop them when the sky was darkened without having the time to inform us."
He could only comfort himself in such a way. How could the pope be out of reach at such a critical moment? He couldn't have been in an alternate dimension, could he?
Inside the Dark Mountain Range…
"What? The Primordial Ancestor cannot be found?" Dracula glared at Danisos with his crimson eyes. They were shocked by the unusual phenomenon even though they were in the Dark Mountain Range.
The wounds on Danisos' back hadn't even recovered yet. He replied, not in a good mood, "We can't find her or reach out to her. The Observer is gone too."
The legendary experts like the Demogorgon of Eyes and the Elder Mind all felt a headache coming on. They knew that their president wasn't too reliable, and they had been prepared that all of them had to search for her through hard work, but they did not know that it would happen so quickly…
The Elder Mind thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps, she's already gone to Allyn. The president is close to the Congress of Magic. Douglas must've asked for her protection before he made the attempt."
"That should be the case… We ought to take a look at it too. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from the process." Ogre, the Umbral King, was both frustrated and delighted.
Similar things were happening in the depths of the Boundless Ocean and the ninth level of hell. As for the abyss, the Demogorgon of Darkness could not allow the Will of Abyss to arrive at the main material world without preparations.
…
One of the stars of destiny left a narrow, long, and brilliant path behind, which fell at the center of the cognitive world and the Land of Truth precisely.
"Mr. President is trying to break into the demigod level…"
Oliver and the other legendary sorcerers realized what was going on. They looked at the process in both shock and wariness.
…
Inside the World of Souls, in the projection of the Dark Mountain Range…
After the Lord of Hell leaped out of the crater, the burning fire of hell on the ground surged toward the spherical magic circle. From the projection of hell, huge devils arrived in legions that looked like tides.
Caught unprepared, Fernando only had the time to stop Maltimus with the Storm Barrier, but he was unable to block the other devils and the fire of hell.
At this moment, a cold wind that felt like it came from the darkest and filthiest place blew out of the power of the World of Souls that was absorbed by the spherical magic circle. Immediately, the fire of hell died out, and the devils attacked their companions or brutalized themselves crazily…
The strong sense of familiarity stunned Viken who was fighting the Silver Moon in the sky. Had he come, too?
It was exactly Monster Viken, his other self!
Although he still couldn't leave the Realm of Gates, he could briefly spread out his power in the World of Souls through special arrangements!
Chapter 793: Rise and Decline
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In the dirty and cold wind, the shape of a human was soon outlined. He had exactly the same look as Benedict III and was wearing a similar robe, except that the color of his clothes was pure black, and the crown above his head did not carry any sacredness but looked more like the extreme of corruption and pain.
He was holding a black staff in his hands that was mixed with the air of the God of Truth, and the reversed projection of the seven-floored Mountain Paradise floated behind his back. It looked like a pyramid with the tip pointed downward.
In the strange projection of Mountain Paradise, the creatures and the angels were not playing music, praising the god, or sharing joy. Instead, every floor displayed a different view.
On the topmost and the most spacious floor, holy spirits and angels were smiling at each other, but they were intentionally stretching out their arms and legs, blocking each other and even ambushing their companions from the back.
On the next floor, the angels and holy spirits seemed to be full of desires. With intense lust on their delicate faces, they were having sex everywhere.
On every floor, jealousy, arrogance, hate, and other different negative feelings corrupted the angels and holy spirits. Even the floor at the bottom was no exception. The infinite light looked like endless pain and desperation!
Monster Viken intentionally revealed his appearance, attire, and power in the exact opposite way that Pope Viken was showing, so that those who were smart enough could figure out a way to deal with Pope Viken!
Maltimus' real body seemed to be always enshrouded in the invisible mist. Only the two sharp devilish horns and the crimson eyes could be clearly seen.
In the meantime, his eyes which carried vague mockery did not change at all, as if he had foreseen the arrival of Monster Viken. Also, he intentionally slowed down the destruction of the spherical magic circle and surrounded Monster Viken with the projection of hell. The smoking volcano and the soul-freezing plain were more and more real.
As long as they were not in the Realm of Gates, Maltimus wouldn't be scared of "Monster Viken" at all. His features of primeval devils could not affect the Lord of Devils!
For Maltimus, it was a rarely-seen opportunity to fight with "Monster Viken", which could help him find Pope Viken's weakness or learn lessons to deal with him. So, it wouldn't matter even if he was more or less slow. As far as he knew, the last step for Viken and Thanos to become a demigod took more than ten minutes. There wouldn't be a problem as long as he disrupted the process before Lucien Evans' complete success.
Hehe. Viken, who was fighting the Silver Moon in the sky, sensed Maltimus' "sluggishness". He did not have any good feelings about the big devil who was cunning and treacherous.
The black fire on the sword of the Silver Moon seemed to be burning everything. Every time it hit the Blessed Realm, the fire would be stuck to it and melt a few cracks on it, resulting in the collapse of the Blessed Realm.
"Light of Paradise!" Viken raised his platinum staff.
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Wu! Wu! Wu!
In the projection of Mountain Paradise behind Viken's back, a seraph blew the horn in the paradise.
Wu! Wu! Wu!
The solemn and distant horn echoed in the sky, and the project of Mountain Paradise emitted a clear and brilliant light. Angels flew out of their illusionary incarnations and congregated into an overwhelming, sacred tide of holy light, which ran toward all directions and turned the whole sky into an ivory ocean.
In the ocean of holy light, the bright moon floated, and the brilliant light cut the waves.
Taking advantage of the brief window, Viken's body suddenly became illusionary, as if it were about to spread out. Influenced by that, the body that Monster Viken turned into had the same dispersion.
Then, the projection of Mountain Paradise in the sky and the corrupt Mountain Paradise on the ground became magnets that attracted and approached each other. However, the spherical magic circle with which Lucien was trying to break into the demigod level was in between!
Squeak, squeak.
Due to the attraction of the two demigods that were of the same origin but opposite to each other, the spherical magic circle operated in much greater difficulties. The reaction that could've taken one minute would take two minutes now!
Pope Viken looked down at Monster Viken indifferently and coldly. I am the actual Viken, and you are just a "vine" that is attached to me. Do you think I cannot suppress you even though I cannot get rid of you?
After confirming that Lucien would hide in the World of Souls to complete the ritual, I already foresaw that you wouldn't let go of the opportunity!
Now, it would take Lucien at least half an hour to complete the ritual. How long can your power that's leaking from the Realm of Gates last?
As long as Monster Viken's power was suppressed, the ground would be more and more like hell, and the extraction of the power of the World of Souls would be weaker and weaker. In no more than half an hour, the spherical magic circle would collapse on its own due to the lack of energy!
Maltimus intentionally held the generation of hell and continued attacking Monster Viken.
Monster Viken had to spare half of his attention to resist the influence of Pope Viken. Had it not been for the help of Fernando, it would've been barely possible for him to persist. Pope Viken in the sky, on the other hand, had plenty of uncanny divine powers and spells. While suppressing Monster Viken through their weird connection, he was not entirely on the losing side against the Silver Moon. He truly deserved to be the strongest demigod. Besides, he hadn't performed God's Arrival yet!
After he became a demigod through the power of faith, Viken no longer had a cognitive world, but he could indirectly cast spells through the power of his demiplane. After all, the magic models engraved in his soul were never gone.
After more than ten minutes, even though the Lord of Hell was not trying his best, Monster Viken was on the verge of collapse because he had to overcome the boundary of the Realm of Gates.
Suddenly, his gloomy and skinny face put on a mocking smile. "You were too careless. I've stalled you for such a long time!"
The voice echoed, breaking the solidification of the black, white, and gray.
Right when Maltimus had a bad feeling, Monster Viken suddenly crumbled into the air that was as dark as ink and descended. In the meantime, the Lord of Storm threw out a strange alchemical item that melted with the black air into a chaotic, upside-down gate.
On the gate, red and bloodthirsty eyes were popping out crazily, before the gate was opened after a boom. A monster that was randomly jumbled by countless pieces of meat, limbs, and eyes flew out.
It was the Will of Abyss!
Since it was the World of Souls, it was not as difficult for the Lord of Hell and the Will of Abyss to arrive. So, with part of his power as the sacrificial offering and the preparations that the Congress of Magic made in advance, Monster Viken summoned the Will of Abyss!
Since the Will of Abyss was an uncontrollable factor, they should be the one directing his arrival!
Monster Viken was merely a distraction and a trap to tempt Maltimus!
The mocking smile on the corners of Maltimus' lips was frozen. Although the lunatic hadn't fully recovered from his wounds, he was too insane to care about his own life. It was barely possible to beat him back in ten minutes!
Was he going to watch Lucien Evans reach the demigod level without being able to do anything?
Hardly had the Will of Abyss arrived when he smelled the most disgusting and annoying air of devils, so he simply shot out the disruptive rays toward Maltimus.
In the sky, Viken was angry. If Maltimus hadn't been too selfish, Monster Viken would've been finished more than ten minutes ago. Even though he summoned the Will of Abyss, the additional time should've been enough to crush the subsequent attacks.
Instead of considering the things on the Lord of Hell's side, he focused his attention on dealing with the Silver Moon and launching "divine punishments" on the spherical magic circle down below. It was a pity that Maltimus was stalled by the Will of Abyss and Fernando was spared. They resolved his attacks again and again.
On the other hand, since Monster Viken returned to the Realm of Gates, the pope did not need to devote part of his attention to affect him. So, he gradually suppressed the Silver Moon, but it was impossible for him to beat Alterna back any time soon.
Time went by. Seeing that the spherical magic circle down below was more and more condensed, as if a terrifying blast was being prepared inside, Pope Viken narrowed his eyes.
Then, he raised his platinum staff, and he seemed to be in a different world. Holy, superior, overwhelming, and hollow air spread out.
"You are one, and everyone."
"You are the moment, and forever."
"You are the creator, and master."
The pious prayers and praises echoed from the mouths of the holy spirits and the angels. In the projection of Mountain Paradise behind Pope Viken's back, layers of holy light were gathered into the infinite light on the seventh floor.
It was God's Arrival!
Pope Viken had directly used God's Arrival!
Viken put on a gentle and kind smile again. It's both your wisdom and your weakness in letting the monster summon the Will of Abyss with part of his power. Now that his essence and power declined, it means that I am capable of performing "God's Arrival" again, as long as my physical body pays a minor price!
His hair became white, and he waved his hands, bursting out all of the brilliance.
Chapter 794: Proud
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The overwhelming, superior light on the seventh floor of Mountain Paradise broke out, and the purest and most flawless light swept out, transforming the sky into a glowing ocean and removing all sounds, colors, and feelings.
The extraordinarily bright moon surged toward the spherical magic circle down below overwhelmingly. At this moment, space and time did not seem to exist anymore, and the light of God's Arrival was simply flowing unstoppably. The spherical circle and Lucien in it seemed to have been frozen in the decayed page of a history book.
Even Fernando, who was outside of the range of God's Arrival, could only sense the things within one meter from him. Beyond it, there was nothing but the magnificent and divine brilliance in his eyes and the field of his spiritual power.
Right then, a silver moon rose in the vast holy light that purged everything in the world, dreamy and freezing.
After the silver moon appeared, God's Arrival seemed to have been delayed briefly, and the spherical magic circle, as well as Lucien inside, were enlivened.
Pope Viken was not surprised at Alterna's blockage. She was not the target of this "God's Arrival", which had been focused on the spherical magic circle, and she was only slightly affected. So, it was only reasonable that she helped to delay it briefly so that Lucien Evans would have an opportunity to escape.
It was a pity that she was a little bit late. Lucien Evans had reached the most critical moment to break into the demigod level, and he was inseparable from the spherical magic circle. He was destined to be killed by God's Arrival.
Pope Viken was quite sorry about that too. He had never intended to kill Lucien Evans so easily. The road ahead was too perilous, and such an excellent explorer was inestimably valuable. If only the guy had been not so ambitious and adept at planning that he had to kill him.
The silver moon quickly dimmed, and even though the light of God's Arrival was slightly delayed, it was about to reach above the spherical magic circle.
Suddenly, Lucien, who had been refreshed inside the spherical magic circle, raised his head and looked at the holy light thoughtfully.
Then, his lips curled into a gentle smile.
This is… Pope Viken could perceive what was inside the spherical magic circle through God's Arrival. He was rather stunned that Lucien was neither frustrated nor desperate but was smiling at him as if he was bidding farewell. He suddenly had an ominous feeling.
Boom!
Lucien's body that was in the white shirt and yellow waistcoat exploded entirely, like a watermelon that was thrown to the ground from ten thousand meters high!
Flesh and blood splashed out, and the light of God's Arrival completely drowned the place!
Inside a secret chamber in Babel in the Atomic Universe…
A weirdly-shaped silver amulet, which looked like part of twisted intestines, released bright but not dazzling light in a long box that was fully embedded with gems. The feeling of exuberance and vitality immediately filled the room.
Natasha, who was guarding the place with her longsword in her hands, became solemn after seeing that. She grasped the Sword of Truth tightly, ready to chop any attack that followed!
The energy of the magic gems flowed into the silver amulet, and the other materials in the long box were dismembered and melted. The silver amulet lost its beautiful appearance and was reduced to a messy, bloody cluster that dissected and grew.
The internal organs grew out, the bones grew out, the muscles grew out, and so did the skin and the hair.
Natasha's solemness was gone. She looked at the scene with a smile, not disgusted at all but scratching her chin with great interest. "So, the body that hasn't taken shape is so hideous…"
Lucien's naked body was finally full. His skin was clean, his muscles were tough and smooth, and he looked like a statue.
Then, he slowly opened his eyes. The glittering holy light seemed to be still lingering in his deep and dark eyes.
"God's Arrival?" Natasha observed him up and down like a naughty boy and asked curiously.
The residues in Lucien's eyes were gone, and he nodded softly. "Thankfully, my appendix was waiting for me at home. Otherwise, I couldn't have avoided God's Arrival even though the Silver Moon delayed it."
Since the very beginning, Lucien had planned to dodge Pope Viken's critical strike with self-explosion!
He was proud that he had an appendix!
"What does it feel to confront 'God's Arrival'? How terrible was it?" Natasha asked quickly. She was always interested and curious about battles.
Lucien's lips twitched. "Do you want me to talk to you naked?"
"It's not like you've never talked to me naked," Natasha said, not fearing that her eyes would be blinded by the nudity at all. Of course, she also tossed the clothes that she prepared in advance to Lucien.
Then, she asked intentionally, "Where are your gears? They were not destroyed in the self-explosion or God's Arrival, were they?"
She made fun of him because she knew very well that her husband was a miser in nature, and that his heart would've been broken if the few legendary items were lost.
Lucien put on his clothes and chuckled. "They're kept by my teacher, of course!"
...
In the ocean of holy light, the spherical magic circle disassembled and melted quickly.
Fernando, who had been intentionally keeping away from God's Arrival, simply cast a spell and opened a space-time gate, jumping toward his demiplane. The Will of Abyss, who was right next to the spherical magic circle, had no time to dodge it. Due to the influence of God's Arrival, his eyes were broken and his arms were falling. Black and chaotic water was springing from the ground under his cries.
"He was not melted with the demigod circle?" Pope Viken was not surprised that Lucien blew himself up at all. As a legendary sorcerer in the past, he knew very well about the escape and resurrection methods of sorcerers. What was beyond his expectation was that Lucien Evans could've detonated himself so easily at the last moment without being affected by the spherical magic circle at all.
Had he avoided the blast and replaced his body with an alchemical item before that?
That would have suggested that he was not trying to break into the demigod level at all. Then, why was he doing all this?
Thinking about that, Pope Viken squinted. Not bothering the Will of Abyss and the Lord of Hell down below, he simply tore apart the space and returned to the corresponding location in the main material world.
The Lord of Hell realized the anomaly too. He burst out all his strength and drove the Will of Abyss, who hadn't recovered from his wounds and was hit by God's Arrival again, back into the abyss. Then, he also tore apart the space and returned.
The dim silver moon was long gone, and the sky of the World of Souls was gray again. However, a silver-haired man in a red shirt and a black coat slowly paced out of the woods and chuckled. "I didn't even have a chance to make an entrance. How sad."
...
Outside of Allyn, the white mist grew dense, covering the "natural views" that were no different from the real landscape as well as the cognitive world that looked like a vast cosmos. The only thing that could be clearly seen was the brilliant starlight from the sky.
It took Melmax twenty minutes to reach Allyn before he saw the thickening mist. Taking a deep breath, he raised his longsword and charged toward the City in the Sky. Douglas had to be stopped from reaching the demigod level!
Although he knew very well that it was barely possible for him to break the defense of Allyn without the help of a demigod, he had no choice except to charge at such a moment as a knight!
The longsword of the Holy Avenger passed the sky and hit the ivory mist. On the other side, Belkovsky, the brawny pontiff of the North Church, had flown over too. He was surrounded by holy light, with a pair of glorious wings that were purely made of godhood on his back. It was obvious that he had performed "God's Grace".
However, the moment he showed up, a green arrow that carried the air of the natural cycle traveled through space and reached before him, forcing him to drop the plan of attacking Allyn and focus his attention on dealing with this "Nature's Punishment".
In the high sky, the elven queen, who was wearing a refreshing, green dress, had decided to help her ally.
Dracula, the Night Dominator, and Danisos, the Dragon of Time and Luminosity, were both hiding in the dark without taking any action because they were in a dilemma. On one hand, they were happy to see Douglas' advancement, but on the other hand, they were fearful about the future. Also, since the few legends of the Congress of Magic hadn't taken action, they had to consider carefully whether or not they had advantages.
At this moment, the "starry sky" suddenly constricted toward Allyn, and all the stars fell like rain, presenting a brilliant and dreamy view.
Then, the dark night fell again. Not the slightest light could be perceived. Even the senses of top legends could only cover a dozen square kilometers around them.
In the pitch darkness, Melmax suddenly had a terrible feeling and retreated toward the Holy City without thinking. Belkovsky did the same.
In the meantime, Viken, who was still in the depths of the Dark Mountain Range with his pope robe and his holy crown, was staring at the inky sky gloomily.
At such a moment, how could he not realize what had happened?
Right when he was about to raise the platinum staff, on the horizon of the dark sky, a scorching sun suddenly leaped out, dyeing half of the sky vermilion!
...
"You stalled them for twenty minutes and wasted a 'God's Arrival'?" Natasha became rather confident after hearing Lucien's unhurried introduction. "It seems that Viken and the Lord of Hell will miss the end of the show."
Lucien chuckled. "The corresponding location after they leave the World of Souls is the Dark Mountain Range. It will take a lot of time for them to reach Allyn from there, unless they have deployed teleportation circles in advance. Otherwise, even a demigod will have to spend at least twenty minutes on the way. Also, Allyn is not as easy to locate as the artificial planets in the high sky. It will be barely possible for Viken to lock onto the City in the Sky from somewhere far away."
"Hehe. Are you not scared that Viken and the Lord of Hell did set up teleportation circles in advance?" Natasha intentionally argued with him.
Lucien put on his waistcoat and smiled. "Why do you think Mr. Rhine never showed up?"
"Well…" Natasha thought of something else and suddenly asked, "If the Congress were faced with such a situation, what would you do?"
"Orbit strikes from the artificial planets, of course." Lucien warmed his body. "However, the current orbit attacks cannot break through the defense of Allyn."
Chapter 795: Outburst
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
On the top floor of the Allyn magic tower, the spot where Douglas was standing had turned into a swirl that was spinning and absorbing everything around. This was because even though the rays had been absorbed by it, it was deep and dark with the world-destroying horror.
Brook and Hathaway controlled the defense of Allyn, ready to resist the attacks of demigods, while they observed the changes carefully and gathered experience for themselves, hoping to figure out the mechanism of the process.
They saw that the materials in the magic circle that were prepared in advance floated crazily and got absorbed by the swirl almost at the same time. They saw that the Land of Truth, which had been manifested in the main material world, and Douglas' cognitive world were broken under the enormous attraction force and pulled into the vortex overwhelmingly. They saw that the lines and patterns of the magic circle were removed from the ground and gathered into a ball, melting into the darkness…
The unimaginable changes made Brook rather anxious, particularly when Allyn, Hathaway, and himself seemed about to be absorbed when the attraction force came to the strongest point. He almost performed a legendary magic spell to resist it.
At this moment, Hathaway stopped before him and shook her head slightly, hinting him to wait longer.
The starry sky of destiny collapsed, and stars fell like a heavy rain into the dangerous and dark swirl.
The swirl came to an abrupt halt and stopped moving. Even the time and space around seemed frozen.
Brook and Hathaway both sensed the overwhelming energy inside the swirl and the strange feeling that was still developing. However, everything was blocked within the swirl, and they wondered if it could break out.
The atmosphere was more and more depressing, and all the clocks in Allyn were ticking more slowly. Having noticed the anomaly, Heidi and the other arcanists looked at the dark sky where there was absolutely no light both anxiously and hopefully, hoping that dawn would soon arrive.
Right at this moment, the center of the swirl began to fluctuate more and more intensely. Then, it began to spin again, in exactly the opposite way like just now!
From the center of the swirl, scorching glows were spewed out fiercely. In the end, a "sun" that was as red as fire burst out and rose to the sky!
The brilliance of the sun sprayed out and drove the deep darkness away, proclaiming the return of light.
Stars burst out from the swirl and flew toward the sky, occupying their own location and not eclipsed by the sun at all. The starry sky of destiny was established again!
Melmax tore apart the air and flew back toward the Holy City, not bothering Allyn on his back at all.
Suddenly, the darkness before his eyes was illuminated, and the clouds around turned gold. He also felt that terrifying heat that seemed to be melting his armor and his body from his back.
Not good! Melmax secretly exclaimed and tried his best to accelerate and get out of the range of the influence. At this moment, the illusion of the all-melting heat was suddenly gone, and his back was cool again.
However, Melmax did not feel lucky at all, because he had a much stronger sense of danger than a moment ago!
Without any hesitation, he used the power of the Holy Avenger and burned his blood power, even though he might be joining the arms of the Lord a hundred years earlier than he should have as a consequence.
Melmax was consumed by sunlight, as if he were the incarnation of the Sun God. The light escaped quickly.
At this moment, Brook and Hathaway saw the darkness that also gave the feeling of absorbing everything jumping out of the swirl. It did not affect the environment but ascended into the sky directly.
A reflection of the black hole? Both of them understood something.
Hardly had Melmax ignited his blood power when he sensed an unprecedented enormous attraction force from his back. A gigantic hand seemed to have grabbed his waistband and was dragging him back brutally.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
His armor was broken into countless tiny pieces and thrown backward in a metal storm.
Thanks to her decision just now, he finally got rid of the most dangerous attraction force.
It was not until this moment that Melmax realized he was only one meter away from the place where he attacked Allyn a moment ago. The people who were observing in secret seemed astounded by his humiliation.
Having no time to observe it more carefully, Melmax turned into a beam of sunlight that shot toward the Holy City.
…
Deep inside the Dark Mountain Range…
Pope Viken saw the rising sun and the stars jumping into the sky. He quietly put down the platinum staff that he just raised. It was too late…
His face was gloomy, but he did not burst into a fury. Instead, he calmed down and observed the whole process.
After the stars, the dark swirl flew into the sky, the brilliant constellations in different images flew into the sky, the nebulae that looked like a series of glorious gems flew into the sky, and so did the galaxies that looked like glittering long rivers…
"This is a simulation of the real cosmos…" Viken realized something.
…
The elven queen, Dracula, Danisos, and the other experts, as well as the ordinary people in Rentato, Cocus, Antiffler, and other places, all stared at the real cosmos that had arrived on earth, feeling that everything was a magnificent and astoundingly beautiful dream.
Suddenly, the spreading cosmos collapsed toward the top floor in the Allyn magic tower.
Brook and Hathaway watched the starry sky gather at the center of the magic circle that had disappeared into Douglas, except that he had an additional casualness and everlasting transcendence compared to the "Emperor of Arcana" before. He seemed to be the high and mighty cosmos that surrounded the planet now.
He had turned into a demigod!
"Congratulations, Mr. President." Hathaway, who hardly ever smiled, beamed with joy.
In complicated feelings, Brook said, his eyes slightly wet, "Congratulations on becoming a demigod, Master."
Although he had always been an old-school gentleman, he couldn't hold back his real feelings.
Douglas meant to say something, but he only shook his head with a smile in the end. He patted Brook's shoulder and said to them, "One day, you will explore this level on your way, because this is a path of demigods for all sorcerers."
"Master, what spiritual and physical changes do you experience after turning into a demigod?" Brook meant to offer more congratulations, but it still eventually became an arcana question. That was what he was used to.
Pondering for a moment, Douglas said, "My body is melted into my soul, and my soul has been transformed into a different state, like the unification of the duality of particles and waves. However, if I want to appear in reality, I have to collapse in one of the directions. That is to say, you are not seeing the complete me right now, but only one of my possibilities. If I want to carry out all my strength as a demigod, I will not be able to sustain for long. Otherwise, I will either be unable to influence the world or be forced by the world to collapse…
"That's perhaps the real reason why the natural-born demigods like the Silver Moon are restrained and why their performances are only steady in their own alternate dimensions or through other ways… Viken's way to become a demigod is based on the power of faith, so the flaw is avoided. However, it's another proof that their demigod states have a lot of insidious problems and does not have the properties of real demigods."
Considering Douglas' description, Hathaway pursued further, "Then, what's the real state of demigods?"
"It's a state that cannot be seen, heard, smelled, or touched. In such a state, you cannot sense anything even if I am standing right before me. You can even pass me, and the magic you perform will not affect me. It's like we're in two overlapping but independent worlds. That's probably the reason why the Silver Moon is never discovered." Douglas was happy to share his findings. "Therefore, such a status is flawed and incomplete. Once we figure out those problems, we should be able to touch the secrets of real gods."
Then, he paused and smiled. "Let's hold that thought and cancel the blockage of Allyn first. I need to thank Lucien for his help, without which I couldn't have succeeded. As for the friends who are watching the show, you'll invite them to visit and see if they have the courage to come."
…
In and out of Allyn, when they saw that the cosmos collapsed and the air of transcendence spread out, all the extraordinary people with remarkable visions understood that Douglas had successfully reached the demigod level. He had become the third demigod after Thanos and Viken in the Magic Empire who made the advancement step by step on their own!
The three of them had one thing in common, which was that they were all sorcerers!
However, Douglas was the only one who used a standard approach that did not require the dissemination of faith and could be repeated by any sorcerer after studies!
"A demigod… The Congress of Magic has a demigod now. Yet another unknown field of arcana has been conquered." In ecstasy, Oliver was ready to go to the Allyn magic tower. He was in such a high mood that he almost couldn't wait to write a long poem.
Atlant and the other sorcerers stared at Allyn in a daze, unable to say anything for a long time.
The elven queen, Dracula, Danisos, and the other legends also looked at the City in the Sky with complicated feelings.
In the Dark Mountain Range, Pope Viken suddenly said in a self-mocking smile, "The path of sorcerers…"
"Are you going to ask the Bird of Death to provide the approach?" The Lord of Hell's laughter came from the other side.
Viken did not reply, because both he and Maltimus were clear that "Bird of Death" died the moment Douglas successfully became a demigod. He would never show up again. Even if Viken revealed to the Congress of Magic who he was, it would only be considered slander.
Now that Douglas had succeeded, which ambitious legendary sorcerer would choose the path that relied on primeval devils and faith?
"For the past ten years, Lucien Evans has overshadowed Douglas and made us neglect him. All our attention was fixed on Lucien Evans at the critical moment," Viken said with a coarse voice. It was the sequela caused by God's Arrival.
He had been completely tricked by Lucien this time!
Suddenly, he remembered a detail. "Lucien Evans began the preparation of materials three years ago. He exchanged knowledge with the North Church a long time ago too. He couldn't have started to plan for this at that time, because even the sun hadn't been discovered yet back then. Who could tell when Douglas could break into the demigod level?
"… So, he was probably preparing the materials for real. He helped Douglas to distract our attention partly to deceive us too. He's misleading us into thinking that this is a trap and he will not walk on this path…" Viken slightly raised his head and stared at the everlasting black fog above the Dark Mountain Range. "Is he really so confident about the observer effect?"
Chapter 796: Congratulation and Proposal
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Around the City in the Sky, the bright sun dyed the white clouds gold. The pitch darkness a moment ago was gone. It seemed that the world had turned from an abyss back into a normal one.
Deep in the clouds, the magnificent-looking Rudolf II stared at Allyn in silence for a long time, before he heaved a sigh and disappeared from the sky.
Although he had regained the strength of the peak of legendary, he would need more accumulation and great opportunities in order to become a demigod. It wouldn't be easy and natural at all. Also, the way to become a demigod that he modified was one based on faith after all. Even though he had recovered the memories of Thanos during his first advancement, the odds of success were still not high, and he could die in the process with one moment of carelessness.
Therefore, after witnessing Douglas successfully become a demigod based on the sorcerers' traditional "cognitive world", the Sun King, who used to be the brilliant consul of the Magic Empire, felt that he couldn't keep up with the wheel of history any longer and that he had been drowned in the river of time, obsolete and outdated. Faced with the new "sun" in the new era, he found it so dazzling that he only wanted to run away.
But eventually, the proud and confident side in his heart still won him over again.
"We're invited to visit?" Ogre, the Umbral King, saw that the defense of Allyn was canceled, and the loud and magnificent voice of the alchemical life echoed in the high sky.
Dracula floated in the sky and looked down at the clean, modern Allyn, before he snorted, "Do you want to go?"
"Hehe." Ogre chuckled in embarrassment and simply opened the gate to his own demiplane. Douglas had become a demigod, and he was also an authentic sorcerer. How could Ogre have the courage to visit his place? If anything happened, he wouldn't be able to escape at all!
After Ogre left, Dracula, Danisos, Belkovsky, and the other experts all returned. Although the City in the Sky was like a vulnerable and alluring lamb that had been skinned now that the defense had been canceled, it was a place no less dangerous than the Holy City in their eyes.
The elven queen thought for a moment and lowered the altitude, landing on the Allyn magic tower.
...
The moment the defense of the City in the Sky was canceled, space-time waves spread out from the 33rd and the 34th floors of the Allyn magic tower. All the members of the Highest Council who were in the main material world and who were not mired in relics had come in a hurry, partly to send their congratulations and partly to learn the mysteries of the demigod level as soon as possible.
By the time Lucien and Natasha, who were also curious about the demigod state, arrived, more than half of the Highest Council had been gathered in the conference room.
Douglas, who was receiving congratulations from Oliver, Hellen, and Vicente, stood up immediately after Lucien walked in and greeted him with a smile.
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"Arcana Above…" Before Lucien offered his congratulations, Douglas had approached him and given him a warm gentleman hug.
"Without your help, it couldn't have been as easy for me to reach the demigod level, if I could even find the path to the demigod level at all." Douglas patted Lucien's shoulder and loosened his arms, expressing his gratitude sincerely.
Lucien smiled rather shyly. "I only offered the dessert; what filled the belly was the main course before it."
"Huh?" Douglas knew well what Lucien was trying to say, but Hathaway was rather confused about the metaphor. She had never been good at literature.
Lucien explained with a smile, "Mr. President's studies on the celestial bodies' motion system and gravity are like the main course, and my discovery of the sun is like the dessert. You cannot neglect the main course just because you feel full after eating the dessert in dinner. As a matter of fact, the main course is the most important reason to stop your hunger."
Hathaway frowned indifferently, as if she were confused why it was expressed so subtly when it could've been expressed straightforwardly.
"Lucien, it's not good to be too modest. Your arcana studies in the past decade are the most brilliant and important part of the history of magic." Douglas was in a lot of mixed feelings.
"My modesty is not the issue at hand right now. I think the most important thing right now is to satisfy our curiosity. I believe that everybody cannot wait to hear the mysteries of demigods from you now, Mr. President." Lucien directed the topic back to track.
Fernando, who had arrived as quickly as possible, returned Lucien's equipment to him and said loudly, "You can express your gratitude in private. All I am interested in is the specialness of the demigod state, the things that we need to pay attention to during the advancement, and the corresponding arcana mechanisms."
Douglas clapped his hands with a smile. "Before I answer your questions, I have to ask one thing. Where are our guests?"
"None except Aglaea dares to visit Allyn," Hathaway replied coldly.
"Then, let Aglaea attend our meeting in case she chooses a wrong path in the future." As he spoke, Douglas became solemn and said to the members of the Highest Council who were present, "I hope that you won't choose the wrong path either.
"In the past, the road ahead of us is covered in a mist, and it's understandable that we made mistakes during our exploration. However, the mist is now cleared, and a straight path is lying right before us. There's no reason to walk in any other direction. The Congress of Magic will not tolerate such deviated sorcerers."
The atmosphere was slightly frozen, but none of the Highest Council showed any emotional change.
"After watching you successfully become a demigod through the cognitive world and the demiplane, I don't think any sorcerer will make an irrational choice," Oliver replied with a smile. Vicente, Hellen, Atlant, and the other legendary sorcerers expressed their attitude too.
After Aglaea came in, Douglas began to answer everybody's questions about demigod. It was basically the same as what he described to Brook and Hellen.
"… Up until so far, demigod does not have a corresponding arcana mechanism, and there is no place for demigod in the arcana system either. That's something we need to work on in the future, like how we studied the nature of magic," Douglas concluded in the end.
Lucien listened attentively. When Douglas mentioned that he had to "collapse" in order to appear in the main material world, he scratched his chin, deep in thought.
"Do legendary knights have to go through such status transformation too?" Natasha asked. She had been particularly persistent and passionate about that.
Douglas nodded his head. "All the demigods should be in a similar state. So, changing with the aim toward such a state should be the main theme for every growing legendary knight. I think you should associate it with training and fighting."
The first legendary knight was born under the "direction" and "experiment" of sorcerers. So, Douglas, who was from the Magic Empire, had a lot of understanding of the subject.
Including the elven queen, all the experts present had asked the things they wanted to know. They were still digesting the new knowledge, and nobody asked any more questions.
Seeing that, Douglas stood up and said, "Is this all? Then, I'll have to explore myself now."
Chewing on Douglas' descriptions just now, Aglaea suddenly realized with mixed feelings that the Congress of Magic was the most powerful force on par with the South Church right now. With one demigod and four top legends, it was even stronger than the South Church to some extent!
Of course, considering that it was easy for Viken to carry out his full strength in the main material world, and Viken could perform "God's Arrival" with "Mountain Paradise", the two forces were still equal.
Right when Douglas was about to "run", Fernando suddenly opened his mouth. "I remember that you devised the delayed choice experiment and the quantum eraser experiment before, except that they could not be conducted due to the high requirements. What about now? Can you accomplish them?"
Most sorcerers looked at Fernando in shock. The two experiments were likely to shake the current arcana system. If the result turned out to be bad, everybody's worldview and outlook would be completely subverted, and they had to seriously consider Lucien's observer theory.
Do we have to be so fast? Give us more time to be mentally prepared!
Douglas' gentle smile was gone. He said in hesitation, "The requirements are indeed met now, but I can only know whether or not the experiments can be conducted after I confirm it. I'll tell you the result later."
Fernando said solemnly, "If an arcanist is too scared of a certain result to run an experiment, he doesn't deserve to be called an arcanist. Exploring the unknown and the truth is the fundamental reason why I chose the path of arcana. I will not betray that. So, I would like to know the results of the two experiments, and whether or not they reveal the truth of the world."
"As a matter of fact, it is not a serious problem. The microscopic domain is a new field with many debatable issues. Nobody has constructed their cognitive world based on that. So, even if the two experiments disrupt our understanding, it will only shake our worldview and outlook but will not blow up our heads. Our cognitive world won't be broken and solidified either." Pondering for a moment, Oliver agreed with the proposal. His eyes behind his gold-edged glasses were full of the earnestness for exploration.
Hellen was not distracted at this moment. She said calmly, "The shake of understanding of the world will also cause the arcanists to feel frustrated. Their cognitive worlds won't be steady, and their strength will stagnate as a result."
She did not offer any example, but there were a handful of members of the Highest Council who could not advance into the legendary level because their worldviews had been disrupted by the achievements in the microworld.
"However, even if my strength might stagnate, I still would like to know what the result is," Hellen added and looked at Douglas firmly.
For arcanists, the desire for knowledge and exploration was their specialty. If they knew that the answer was up ahead but could not reach for it, they would rather be killed. As for whether or not the answer was acceptable, it would be a different matter.
Douglas looked around and saw that everybody had similar countenances on their faces. So, he sighed half in relief and half in concern, "At the very least, I have to get the experiment devices prepared first."
"In that case, let's live stream the experiment," Lucien suddenly interjected, making everybody look at him in shock.
Chapter 797: Audience
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
"Have you lost your mind?" Vicente, in a bag of bones, looked at Lucien in shock. His low voice was full of surprise, and a fire was jumping fiercely in his eye sockets.
Blood and brains would not be spilled this time, and no skulls would explode, but what benefits could there be if most arcanists stagnated because of their collapsed worldviews? Wasn't it too perverted?
Although the other members of the Highest Council did not say anything, their eyes and their faces suggested that they thought the same as the Lord of the Undead. It was too insane. Live streaming the experiments that even terrified them to all the arcanists? You are really the Fallen Morning Star, aren't you?
Maintaining a gentleman's smile, Lucien said, "A long stagnation does not mean no hope for advancement. As long as they view and explore the world based on experiments and mathematics, they will be able to reshape their worldviews and find their own paths sooner or later. There won't be too many insidious problems.
"If they do not have the courage to face such experiments that do not threaten their lives, how will they explore the fields where common sense makes no sense? If we do not educate them on the mysteries of the microscopic domain with experiments before the opinions about the microworld are built into the components of their cognitive worlds, are we going to offer them the results after they transform such opinions into parts of their cognitive worlds during their advancements subconsciously? By then, however subtle we are and however the experiment results agree with the common sense of most people, some people would have lost their heads, and their cognitive worlds might be broken and solidified."
Douglas rather agreed with Lucien's words, but he was still not concerned. "Isn't a live stream too hasty? We should confirm the experiences first before we consider in what way we should inform the other arcanists."
"This is another lesson for them. In the past, they were almost protected by us, and they do not understand the 'cruelty' of arcana studies. Since there is no life-threatening danger this time, just let them face the blast. With such an experience, when they are faced with other revolutionary theories in the future, they will be able to treat such theories more objectively, and the danger of brain explosion will be minimized." Lucien retained his gentle smile, but Natasha and the other people who were familiar with him somehow sensed his bad humor in it.
"It sounds reasonable…" Hathaway and Hellen nodded and agreed with Lucien, but they somehow felt that something was not right.
Lucien went on. "On the other hand, I believe other forces will be tempted to watch the live stream too. The experiments this time are simple, clear, and consist of the truth of the world. It will be a major shock for them too. So, let them feel the torrent of arcana again."
"If Viken perishes after seeing the experiment result, the two experiments you devised will be the most classic experiments in history." Oliver had a very creative mind as a playwright. He was full of passion for creation when he pictured the scene that he described.
Up until so far, the most well-accepted classic arcana and magic experiment was the double-slit experiment with electrons that Lucien conducted. Its design was simple and clear, and although it was difficult to create the experiment device, it was not too complicated. However, the result of the experiment was utterly unbelievable.
Douglas couldn't help but put on a smile too. "Most arcanists have grown under the strikes of your repetitive disruptive theories. They'll be far more resistant to the two experiments than those who watch them for the first time. Perhaps somebody will be really overwhelmed and start to question their lives and themselves, unable to make any further advancement in the future."
By you, he was not just referring to Lucien but all the grand arcanists and part of the legendary sorcerers present.
In his usual meanness, Fernando said, "That's because the arcanists who cannot stand the strikes would have either been killed or eliminated."
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Douglas' smile was gone. He said very solemnly, "I'm very curious about the two experiments myself. My very first thought after I became a demigod was that I could find out their results, which must contain the fundamental secrets of our world. I don't know if you felt it just now, but the demigod state I described matches the duality of waves and particles very well. Particles and waves are unified on a higher level, but only one side of them can be observed by us. Therefore, to explore the mysteries of quanta is to explore the mysteries of demigod."
"Then, let's live stream it." Brook leaned against the back of his chair and closed his eyes. He seemed to be looking forward to the results of the two experiments too.
After the quantum field theory that described the electromagnetic force was established, his broken and solidified cognitive world had already started to revive. As long as the problem of infinity was resolved, he would be fully recovered, and he would be able to find his own path to the demigod level.
"Then, let's live stream it." Douglas nodded his head.
...
Half a month later, the students of the third generic school, who had just returned from the new year holiday of 830, were suddenly notified that the morning classes were canceled. They were asked to gather in the square where a stream screen had been established to watch an experiment live stream.
"An experiment live stream? What experiment?" After living together for more than two years, Ali had grown familiar with his classmates.
Charlot, the class monitor that he asked, shrugged, implying that he did not know either. "Perhaps, the satellite TV channel invited a certain senior-rank arcanist to perform live experiments, and the school is organizing us to watch it so that we can learn the standard experiment procedures and understand the significance of arcana experiments…"
Talking so much so eloquently even though he does not know anything… He truly deserves to be our monitor. Ali was secretly impressed. He was both curious and confused about the live stream. For an ordinary person who hadn't even become a magic apprentice yet, he did not think that he would have a second chance to watch the experiment of a senior-rank arcanist again in his life.
Thanks to the development of arcana, thanks to the arcana planets that Mr. President and Mr. Evans invented, thanks to the rapid development of electromagnetism messaging, and thanks to Ms. Heidi for her unforgettable contributions to the creation of stream screens… Otherwise, he wouldn't even have one chance to watch it, much less "again".
Arcana Above, that's the charm of arcana and magic, and these are the changes that they have brought. Ali drew a cross out of habit and expressed his gratitude.
In Allyn, Rentato, Cocus, and every city that had a branch of the Congress of Magic, the sorcerers who had spare time all watched the stream screens in confusion, wondering what arcana experiment it could be.
Inside the Atom Institution, the smaller-sized stream screen that Heidi made in person was rippling and waiting for the signal.
"What experiment can it be?" Annick had always been interested in arcana.
Heidi sniffed. "I have a bad feeling. If we see our teacher in the live stream later, we should blow up the screen as soon as possible, or else it will be our heads that would be blown up."
Everybody burst into laughter, knowing that Heidi was merely expressing her speculation and uneasiness in an exaggerated way.
At this moment, the noises of electric currents echoed, and the screen became clear. A room full of experiment devices, as well as a kind old man in a tailcoat and a handsome and gentle young man, was displayed.
"It's really our teacher!" Heidi clenched her fists, but she did not blow up the stream screen as she said before. Instead, she focused her attention on the picture, waiting for the experiment to begin.
The experiment must be very important, or their teacher wouldn't have chosen to stream it at all.
The instinct of the arcanists' exploration of the world made her overcome her fear and look forward to the experiment. Around her, Annick, Sprint, Katrina, and her other friends were the same.
"Mr. President?"
"Mr. Evans?"
Exclamations burst out in the Allyn magic tower, in the Tower, in the headquarters of the Will of Elements, and in every place that could watch the live stream. It was a live stream of Mr. President and Mr. Evans' experiment?
Their hearts were immediately palpitating in curiosity and expectation as well as fear and panic. Mr. President was alright, but Mr. Evans' "remarkable" accomplishments chilled and horrified them to the bones. For example, one of the most famous lines in a play that described arcanists was exactly "Is my head still intact?".
It was needless to mention his nicknames such as "Headcrusher" and "Brain Eater".
"Mr… Mr. President…"
"Mr. Atom Controller…"
"The Fallen Morning Star…"
In the squares and schools, the ordinary people saw Douglas and Lucien, who intentionally refrained their vibes, and these ordinary people only recognized their identities through the subtitle.
"An experiment conducted by grand arcanists in person?" Ali's eyes were almost popping out. It was already beyond his wildest imagination. Not just in the Magic Empire, but even in the Congress of Magic where the hierarchy was not too rigorous, the senior-rank sorcerers barely had a chance to watch the experiments of the Excellencies if they were not the students of the grand arcanists.
In places like Holm, "grand arcanist" was almost a synonym to "god".
COMMENT
What were the experiments that the two grand arcanists were about to stream?
...
"What? Douglas and Lucien Evans are about to stream arcana experiments?" In the Holy City, Pope Viken, who had just finished the daily treatment for Melmax, received the report from a red robe.
The red robe said in a panic, "Yes, but I don't know what the experiments are. I was worried that I would be swallowed by the holy light, so…"
"As long as you are pious and determined, you won't be swallowed by the holy light whatever you are faced with," Viken said solemnly. Then, he performed divine power and received the signal.
In Antiffler, Rudolf II began to watch the show too.
Chapter 798: The Quantum Eraser Experiment
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
On the top floor of the Allyn magic tower, in the studio that had temporarily been arranged into a laboratory, other than Douglas and Lucien, who was working as his assistant this time, all the members of the Highest Council who could come were gathered. Samantha, Louise, and the other personnel of the Sky Television Channel were also waiting attentively and uneasily.
Although they were not clear about the experiment that was to be publicly streamed, they had guessed a thing or two seeing that the big shots of the Highest Council were both wary and tempted, and that "Brain Eater" Lucien Evans was personally involved in the experiment. Was it a decisive and disruptive experiment in the microscopic domain? Was it one of the thought experiments that the Excellencies proposed earlier?
Faced with the camera, Douglas tried to make himself look less grave. He said kindly and peacefully, "Everyone, I believe that you've already known that I became a demigod."
In the generic schools and the noble school, Ali, Longman, Jane, and all the other students nodded in excitement, as if they were communicating with the Emperor of Arcana face to face. The unusual phenomenon that day was too eye-catching and glorious. Nobody could've missed it!
In the Holy City, Viken thought to himself, Is he using the experiment as an excuse to officially announce his advancement into the demigod level, in order to increase the morale and confidence of the supporters of the Congress of Magic?
He did not think that any experiment was a threat to himself. After all, he did not have a cognitive world anymore, and the heart of faith was completely under his control and would not be shaken. Therefore, he received the signals without worries and drew a wall in his library to display the image.
After learning the way to steal the power of faith and gather godhood from Viken, the Grand Cardinals had a deeper understanding of the "God of Truth" too. They believed that nothing could shake their heart of faith easily. Therefore, they were also watching the stream in various ways, hoping to figure out the Congress of Magic's purpose as soon as possible so that they could take countermeasures.
The red robes, on the other hand, were mostly in a dilemma. They were curious about what the experiment was and why it was streamed, but they were too scared to watch it directly. They could still see their partners who were swallowed by the holy light and turned into torches or fireworks!
"The celestial bodies' motion system… Advancing because of the sun… Perhaps you are the real 'Sun King'…" After hearing Douglas' announcement, Rudolf II looked at the screen in self-mockery. "I should focus on the path of the 'God of Truth'."
His talk to himself seemed to be a full stop for his identity as a sorcerer in the past.
On the stream screen, Douglas said with a smile, "It's indeed important to have become a demigod, but for me, the most delightful thing is that I am now able to explore the realms that I couldn't with the capabilities of a demigod. For example, I would like to know if there's another planet that has intelligent lives in this boundless universe. Another example, the two thought experiments that Evans, I, and other arcanists devised can be accomplished now."
Ali was so captivated that he really felt the heart of exploration that was full of passion about the unknown and the faith in arcana that did not change because of one's strength.
Now that a demigod talked so calmly and casually, he had an even deeper understanding of the charm and the vision of grand arcanists!
As for the other arcanists, knights, and ordinary people who admired the demigod, they also somehow felt that the universe was too vast for any demigod under Douglas' casual narration.
"Two thought experiments?" Viken knocked on the table, speculating which two thought experiments they might have been. It was not because he was not smart and keen enough, but because the grand arcanists like Lucien had proposed far too many thought experiments.
Douglas pointed at Lucien who was next to him. "The stream experiment this time will be completed by Evans and me together so that you will truly see the wonder of the microscopic domain. Honestly speaking, I do not know what the results will be like either. We will face any possible situation together with all of you."
"The microscopic domain?"
"The microscopic domain!"
The demigods like Viken, Rudolf II, and the Lord of Hell all became solemn. After Lucien proposed the quantum superposition state and the notions like dispersion and collapse, they realized that it had a lot of similarities to their own existence and dedicated all their attention to the microscopic domain. It was also the reason why they neglected Douglas previously.
They looked at the screen carefully and confirmed whether or not the experiments were affected by other factors through various methods. They vaguely guessed what the thought experiments would be.
"Firstly, Evans will demonstrate the double-slit experiment with electrons." Douglas slightly backed off and gave the stage to Lucien.
Lucien took off his top hat and put it on the shelf, as casual as if he were at home. Such an attitude gradually calmed the scared and anxious arcanists.
Then, Lucien began to repeat the double-slit experiment with electrons that he did a few years ago.
When the electrons passed through the two slits and formed the classic interferometric fringes on the screen behind, both the ordinary people like Ali, Longman, and Jane, as well as the arcanists like Heidi and Annick, exclaimed in amazement. Although they had known the result through personal experiments or newspapers, they were still shocked that the electron, which had a mass, momentum, and trajectory, could behave as pure waves.
After Lucien installed an alarm next to the slits, confirming exactly which slit the electrons passed through, the interferometric fringes on the screen were gone, and the electrons behaved as pure particles.
"Well…" Even though they had read the record about the double-slit experiment from Arcana Voice and newspapers, ordinary people like Ali, Longman, and Jane never had the opportunity to witness the experiment in person. The experiment was so simple and easy to understand, but the result was too unbelievable. So, they all shook their heads in confusion and disbelief, unconvinced that the interferometric fringes were gone just because they observed which slit the electrons passed through!
Was the electron more marvelous than magic?
Inside the Atom Institution, Heidi, Katrina and the other arcanists watched their teacher conduct the experiment solemnly. What was most scary about the experiment was not the phenomenon but how to explain it!
Annick grabbed a cup nervously, trying to calm him down by drinking water. Sprint, on the other hand, held his hands tightly and stuck them to the experiment table before him, not revealing his feelings. They had both guessed which two thought experiments would be done next!
What would the result be like?
After interpreting and demonstrating the double-slit experiment, Lucien said with a smile, "Next, we are going to transform the experiment to minimize the interferences while keeping the mechanism the same."
Then, Lucien deployed a new experiment. Through a demonstration, he proved that it was equal to the double-slit experiment just now.
"They're indeed equal. There's no problem at all…" Fernando nodded.
The demigods like Viken and Rudolf II did not have a profound understanding of arcana, but as demigods, it was fairly easy for them to decide whether or not the two experiments were equal.
"Next, we will conduct the quantum eraser experiment, which is a variant of the experiment just now. Just now, you must've seen that when the two 'alarms' next to the slits recorded the electrons as they passed through the slits and sent out alarms, the interferometric fringes were gone, and the particle properties were manifested.
"Now, we will only make the alarms record but not let them send out any alarms, and they will erase the records immediately after they record the information. What will we see then? Will the interferometric fringes be gone?"
Lucien lucidly explained the mechanism of the experiment instead of the real experiment process.
"Of course, the interferometric fringes will be gone, and the particle properties will be revealed. It's essentially the same as the previous experiment. The only difference is that we cannot know which slit the electrons used to pass through the alarms now, but can our knowledge affect the experiment result at all?" Having studied the basics of arcana for years, Longman had a few guesses about the experiment, which seemed rather "simple".
The ordinary students like Ali and Jane and most magic apprentices and arcanists thought the same. The only difference between this experiment and the previous one was whether or not the "experimenter" knew the trajectory of the electrons. However, whether or not the experimenter knew it shouldn't affect the objectivity of an actual experiment.
Annick did not put down his cup because he had been completely devoted to the experiment. Sprint, Heidi, and the others also held their breath and waited for the result, which would either suggest that the world was normal or prove that the world was so unbelievable and illusionary. Which would it be?
Would it be normal or abnormal?
Viken, Maltimus, and the other demigods were even more solemn because it also concerned their understanding of the world. Did Douglas and Lucien really not know the result?
Douglas walked to the experiment table. He demonstrated the "erasion" effect with the newly-added experiment devices. After everybody saw it clearly, he chuckled. "I'm rather curious about the result myself. Let's begin now."
All the people who watched the live stream held their breath and focused their eyes on the screen, waiting for the result of the experiment.
Douglas activated the experiment. At first, it was the regular procedure, and the interferometric fringes appeared. Then, the quantum eraser experiment was begun.
Would the interferometric fringes disappear, and would the particle features be displayed this time?
COMMENT
The alarms had caused such a result previously!
Time went by one second after another, but the interferometric fringes on the screen were still so clear, so beautiful, and so classic!
The ordinary people like Ali and Longman and most of the magic apprentices and arcanists could barely close their mouths, and they couldn't have looked more hilarious. The only difference between the current experiment and the previous one was whether or not they knew the trajectory of the electrons, but how could their knowledge affect the result of the experiment?
This was too illogical!
There was nothing but quietness in the studio, except for the heavy and hasty breath.
Crack!
The cup in Annick's hands fell on the ground and broke into pieces, and water splashed everywhere. He kept murmuring to himself, "The observer effect…"
Boom!
Before he knew it, Sprint pushed down the experiment table before him.
Pope Viken seemed to be both delighted and surprised by the result. He said to himself in a low voice, "The observer effect!"
Chapter 799: The Worldview Destroyer
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
"The observer effect!" At the same time, in the Maple Palace in Antiffler, the previous Sun King, as well as the current Rudolf II of the empire, stood upon his throne and blinked to before the screen. His eyes were deep and solemn but also filled with delight.
At this moment, he seemed to have grasped the key to return to the demigod level!
Although the current experiment did not have double slits and the beeping alarms and that it adopted a brand-new design, through which the purpose of recording and erasing was cleverly achieved, Douglas and Lucien had demonstrated the equivalence of the two experiments a moment ago. According to Lucien, the current experiment had ruled out many unnecessary "interferences" so that the subtle "effect" would not be sabotaged. That was the reason why the experiment could only be conducted after Douglas became a demigod.
Therefore, all the intelligent lives with the slightest knowledge felt that their whole bodies were shaking. Was their observation the key to the disappearance of wave features and the appearance of particle properties?
Then, was the world still objective and actual?
Was it the observer effect that Lucien Evans proposed?
Before the experiment table, Douglas' raised hands were obviously shaking. It was obvious that he found the result unacceptable. However, everything had been designed and conducted by him in person, without any negligence or other influences. The result was real and trustworthy.
Lucien proposed the thought experiment at the beginning exactly to prove the observer effect!
Although the reasons other than the observer effect could not be excluded just yet, all the arcanists were forced to consider the possibility that the observer effect did exist. At the very least, until they found another theoretical explanation, they could not neglect the observer effect anymore!
Douglas stabilized his hands that seemed to be dispersing and repeated the experiment, but the transformed interferometric fringes were as clear as before.
Once, twice, thrice… After five times, Douglas raised his head and said solemnly in a low voice, "The duplicability suggests that the result of the experiment is legitimate. After today, all the arcanists can apply to repeat the experiment with those devices."
The studio was in dead silence. Samantha, Louise, and some members of the Highest Council were still in confusion, disbelief, and resistance. Brook, Fernando, Hathaway, Hellen, Oliver, Vicente, and the other legendary sorcerers were deep in thought. After the great shock, they began to consider alternative explanations other than the observer effect.
Inside the Atom Institution, Annick shook his head and paced back and forth, not bothering that he was walking on pieces of glass. His mouth opened and closed, as if he wanted to propose another reason. Sprint, on the other hand, was stunned. There was no telling what he was thinking.
"The observer effect… Is there really an observer effect?" Heidi murmured.
The experiment was designed to confirm the observer effect, and the result undoubtedly showed that it was working.
Inside the generic school, Ali looked at his classmates and asked both them and himself, "It's impossible. If our senses are the reason for everything, will our world still be objective and actual? This does not agree with arcana at all…"
The comparison of the two experiments had manifested a horrifying conclusion.
"At the very least, it's our own observation, not gods, that caused it. Our fate is still in our hands," Charlot, the monitor, replied subconsciously.
"Well… Well…" The students next to them were so overwhelmed that they felt the arcana they learned had been entirely overturned. What was right?
On the stream screen, Douglas no longer looked as grave as before. Gently and solemnly, he said, "This is the end of the quantum eraser experiment. In the next, we will run the second and the last experiment, which is Lucien's experiment of deferred choice. We are going to transform the classic double-slit experiment again to better highlight the result."
He replaced the double-slit experiment with another experiment and demonstrated the equivalence.
"The previous double-slit experiment let us know that, if we choose the wave features and design an experiment accordingly, we will eventually see the diffraction patterns, but if we want to see the particle properties and add alarms, it will be the pure overlapping spots of light on the screen.
"In such cases, our choice and the corresponding arrangement lead to different results."
Douglas was cautious enough to not speak of the observer effect but said "choices" and "corresponding arrangement".
The arcanists who watched the live stream nodded. Whatever the theoretical explanation was, Mr. President had just described the objective facts of the experiment. There couldn't be anything wrong about that.
Douglas went on. "What if we delay the choice? In the previous experiments, the electrons had obviously passed two slits and two routes, thereby engaged in self-entanglement, when they behaved as waves; and when they behaved as particles, they must've passed only one of the slits. Then, what will happen if we make a choice after the electrons choose a route but haven't reached the screen? Will we see the electrons coming from two routes or from one?"
Since the double-slit experiment had been transformed, Douglas used routes instead of slits to refer to the process in between.
"Whatever the choice is, the route of the electrons has been fixed before the choice, and it cannot change…" The ordinary people like Ali had recovered from the shock of the quantum eraser experiment just now. They began to speculate what might happen with their shallow knowledge of arcana.
Annick shook his head to keep himself away from other explanations of the quantum eraser experiment and focus his attention on this experiment.
The new experiment that his teacher proposed was also related to the observer effect, but Annick did not think that the result would be in favor of the observer hypothesis. After all, whether the electrons walked on two routes or on one had been fixed before the choice was made. "Observation" couldn't change what had already happened, could it?
Pope Viken in the Holy City held back his delight and watched Douglas prepare the experiment expressionlessly.
What was the experiment trying to prove?
He did not think anything unexpected would happen after the major shock just now. The new experiment was more likely meant to prove a certain bold hypothesis wrong.
Rudolf II sat on the throne in the Maple Palace and watched the experiment in silence. He somehow had a bad feeling.
The members of the Highest Council in the studio and Samantha, Louise, and the other staff were also slightly confused. Was Lucien Evans trying to prove that the current observation could change the past? It was a thought that was even more unbelievable than reversing the time!
The past had been fixed. How could it be changed?
Douglas activated the experiment. The detector sent out a signal, suggesting that the electrons came on one route.
The experiment was repeated and repeated, proving again and again that the electrons were only coming on one route after the preliminary procedures.
Suddenly, when the electrons finished the preliminary procedures and hadn't reached the detector, Douglas quickly added a new experimental device that showed that he chose the wave properties.
At this time, the detector in the other direction and the current detector beeped at the same time nonstop.
Douglas' face was pale because he knew exactly what it meant!
It meant that, after he made a choice, the electrons, which had undoubtedly been traveling on one route, came from two directions. The past had been changed!
Their "observation" had changed the past of the electrons!
Thud, thud, thud.
Samantha stepped backward until she hit the wall. Her face was gloomy, and her eyes were widened and filled with tears. Did it mean that the strict law of causality did not work in the timeline? A cause could happen after the consequence? The present could change the past?
Crack, crack, crack.
The notebooks and quills in the hands of most members of the Highest Council fell to the ground. The coldness and shiver from the depths of their soul made them unable to say anything. It was even more unbelievable and incredible than any magic!
Even the grand arcanists like Brook and Fernando were slightly confused at this moment. How was it possible? The choices at present decided what happened in the past?
The noises of items being broken echoed in the entire Allyn nonstop, but nobody said anything. It was like a city of silence.
No arcanists wouldn't be overwhelmed by such an experiment. They felt that the world was collapsing and everything was an illusion!
Many of them rubbed their heads so hard that they almost wanted to crumble it so that they wouldn't be as painful and desperate. Had it not been for the fact that it did not concern the components of their cognitive world, corpses, blood, and brains would've been all over the ground everywhere. Few arcanists above the middle rank could've survived it.
Even so, they had sensed the collapse of beliefs. They felt that they did not recognize this world anymore. There was nothing but grayness in their eyes.
The students who were watching the stream like Ali and Longman found it even more unacceptable. They swallowed hard, finding it hard to believe that the consequence actually decided the process. It was the opposite of their common sense and natural instincts!
Nobody could say anything as they watched Douglas repeat the experiment.
Boom!
The Maple Palace in Antiffler had such an intense explosion that the most splendid and magnificent palace was reduced into ruins. Covered in wounds, Rudolf II murmured to himself as if he had gone mad, "Determinism, law of causality… Determinism, law of causality…"
He did not calm down again until a long time later, but he knew very well that he could only count on a miracle, or "Mountain Paradise" that was under the control of Viken, in order to return to the demigod level, because his worldview had been completely destroyed.
Thanos, the most distinguished genius in the Magic Empire and the first expert in history who found the path to the demigod level, truly understood what "Worldview Destroyer" meant!
In the Holy City, Viken was equally lost and overwhelmed at first, but then, he burst into crazy laughter. "The observer, the law of causality on the reversed timeline, and the present changing the past. I got it now! I got it now!"
Chapter 800: Notoriety
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Viken's laughter was undisguised. The two red robes that stayed out of the library looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering why His Holiness was laughing so crazily when the Congress of Magic was streaming. Had Douglas' head been broken after he became a demigod, and he publicly announced that he would surrender to the Church in the stream?
Other than that, they really could not think of a second reason why the Congress of Magic's stream made His Holiness delighted instead of angry.
Of course, they knew very well that it would never happen.
After a good laugh, Viken resumed calmness and held back his feelings. It was Douglas' experiment after all and could not be entirely trusted. What if the guy was intentionally deceiving him? He had to repeat the experiment a few times himself to confirm the result before he made any further plans.
The experiment this time was not too complicated, and the difficult parts were the delicate control and craft of devices. For Pope Viken who had profound alchemical knowledge and who had been focusing on and studying arcana, it wasn't too intricate. The greatest difference between him and the grand arcanists was not the practical abilities but the way of thinking under the arcana system. Therefore, it was impossible for him to design such an experiment, and he could only follow the research progress of Douglas and Lucien.
…
In the square, as Douglas repeated the experiment, "This is impossible!" burst out nonstop. The ordinary people who had been listening and watching the Congress' programs were more or less taught with common sense and logic. How could they not be appalled by the fact that the result decided the process? Also, it was completely in violation of their daily experience and their natural instincts as intelligent creatures!
However, as the result of the experiment was confirmed again and again, their fear was gradually diminished. After all, magic was itself something beyond their imagination. The reason why the fallout of the law of causality did not disrupt their minds was that it had already been destroyed by magic a long time ago.
"Magic is so marvelous!" A senior gentleman announced excitedly, "It can extend your life and change the past!"
A sorcerer, who had happened to pass by and therefore watched the stream in the square by the way, looked at him "poignantly". Could the two things even be compared?
This sorcerer's head and eyes were swollen with blood. He felt that his understanding of the world and his life had been turned upside down. Everything had turned illusionary and did not mean anything anymore. After all, the decisions at present would change the past!
Before, all the sorcerers believed that the past was as unchangeable as the future was unpredictable. However, the past turned out to be changeable right now?
His ears were humming as if there were a rumble of thunder. He turned his head at a loss, wondering if he were in a dream.
Another old man who was wearing a soft hat also exclaimed in excitement, "Yes. Magic is so marvelous. I'm told that the senior-rank sorcerers could extend their lives by hundreds of years and remain as vigorous as when they were young!"
They focused more attention on that than they did on the dreamy experiment result where the present changed the past.
Many bards and playwrights around, after recovering from the shock, were thrilled. Such a fantastic experiment had inspired them. They couldn't wait to create spectacular and astounding stories. For example, when a "strong observer" killed someone, all his traces in the past would be erased and replaced by other people and things. Therefore, nobody would remember him anymore, and nobody would even know that such a person once lived in this world…
The more they thought, the more excited they became. Some of them even squatted and recorded their inspirations with their pens and paper.
It was foreseeable that the mysteriousness of the microscopic domain would feed a bunch of playwrights and bards.
Not as simple and happy as them, the students in the generic schools and the noble schools were in excruciating pain. The experiments that Mr. President and Mr. Evans conducted in person overthrew their most basic common sense and violated the most fundamental logic. They held their heads that were almost splitting apart. On one side, it was a regular world with regular knowledge, and on the other side, it was the unbelievable world revealed by the experiments just now. They fought intensely inside their brains like angels and devils.
At this moment, they experienced what pain and disruption were. For the first time in their lives, they regretted picking up so much arcana knowledge!
Why… Why did I come to watch an experiment where Mr. Evans was involved?
Why did I want to kill myself?
Ali thought in a daze. Am I real right now? Is my every thought right now changing my previous self?
"No, no, there has to be another explanation. No mathematics can describe this…" Longman tried to calm himself down, but he could not stop himself from murmuring.
While they were in pain and feeling lost, the magic apprentices and the arcanists were dead silent, as if they were not even breathing. The other people couldn't help but worry that their heads would explode at the same time.
In the studio, Douglas repeated the experiment and got the same result, but he did not stop and simply continued mechanically without any expression on his face.
It was not until Lucien coughed that he heaved a long sigh and stopped the experiment. He spoke to all the audience solemnly, "I believe that the most fundamental stance for the arcanists is to respect experiments, phenomena, and mathematics."
His words sounded like an announcement. Samantha, Louise, and the other arcanists who were involved in the stream could barely keep standing on their feet. They collapsed on the floor, just like how their previous knowledge, common sense, and natural instincts could no longer support their worldviews.
In Allyn, Rentato, and every place that the stream was available, the arcanists had similar reactions. The sorcerers who were good at astrology, in particular, were sobbing silently, as if they were mourning for the dying determinism and the law of causality that might have been sabotaged.
Over the past few years, determinism had reached the verge of destruction, but they were always reluctant to admit it and did not face the reality until they suffered such a powerful and disruptive blast. They were more vulnerable than ever.
Indescribable sorrow, loss, confusion, and desperation enshrouded the City in the Sky and the major branches of the Congress of Magic.
Douglas looked around at the studio. He saw that except for Brook, Fernando, and the other few legendary sorcerers who were considering questions solemnly, the other arcanists all seemed weak and overwhelmed. Thinking for a moment, he said, "The most important thing for us right now is to figure out why such a result appears. It must be noted that microscopic particles are a matter that can disperse everywhere. Maybe we can find an explanation in other ways, instead of forcing us to believe that the present can change the past."
His words rejuvenated the shocked arcanists and gradually recovered them.
After the stream was over, Douglas sighed softly as he watched Samantha and the other arcanists leaving in sadness. "In any case, it's high time that they pay enough attention to the problems of determinism. In the age of the grand development of arcana, there are as much glory, splendor, delight, excitement, and ecstasy, and there are sorrow, pain, and desperation. This is an epoch of smiles and tears."
"But after today, without theoretical breakthroughs, most arcanists in the Congress will stagnate for ten years because of the instability of their cognitive world caused by the disruption of their fundamental principles." Brook, who had the experience of being broken and solidified, walked over with mixed feelings.
Fernando stared at the experimental device but was as mean as before. "It's better to stagnate right now than to stagnate in the future, at which time their lives would stagnate for good. Right now, we have one demigod and four top legends. It's enough to protect them while they reshape their worldviews."
Footsteps echoed outside. Annick, Sprint, Heidi, and Lucien's other students reached the studio. After they watched the experiment, they could not control themselves anymore and wanted to ask their teacher as soon as possible.
Looking at that, Douglas smiled bitterly. "It was you who proposed both of the two thought experiments, Evans. So, I believe that most arcanists, magic apprentices, and ordinary people with basic arcana common sense will be terrified the moment your name is mentioned after this stream."
"How notorious I am…" Lucien scratched his chin and smiled helplessly.
"Master, is this really contradictory to the law of causality? I don't really think so…" Though introvert and shy, Annick had been unusually persistent about arcana questions. So, after greeting the Excellencies, he asked his teacher without any delay and expressed his opinion.
Hearing his question, Douglas, Hathaway, Oliver, and other people moved their eyes on Lucien's face too. They were also interested in Lucien's opinion on the experiment.
Lucien seemed to have foreseen Annick's question. Without thinking, he answered, "It's possible that Mr. President's opinion is true. The electrons disperse in space and come from all routes, and only after we choose a result we want to see will they collapse on one or two routes. It's not because the present changes the past, but because the electrons haven't collapsed before the choice is made, and the routes were never decided until then."
Before the choice is made… Annick's eyes widened. "The observer effect?"
Such an explanation resolved the contradictions about the law of causality, but it also highlighted the observer effect!
Lucien's lips pursed. He smiled at Annick but did not say anything else.
Fernando and the rest of them shook their heads, still reluctant to accept the observer effect. Therefore, they all left and returned to their own homes, contemplating and trying to figure out an explanation that neither stressed the observer effect nor violated the law of causality.