Eve of the Storm in the Wizarding World

After that day, Queen Lilith suddenly reclaimed all cultivation resources for her own use.

Previously, when Lilith found herself unable to advance further, she had decisively halted her own consumption of resources, instead channeling them to nurture new talents, hoping to cultivate a worthy successor. Yet, how rare was such a genius?

The fastest-growing orthodox witch had only just reached level five, still far behind Lilith herself.

"Now that the queen has reclaimed all resources, is she planning a breakthrough to the legendary sixth-level wizard?"

"This is our Babylonian kingdom's greatest fortune!"

Elderly witches wept tears of joy.

"Our orthodox witches may finally rise again. Once we have a level-six wizard, we might yet contend against the Death Monarch Emperor Medusa. After all, she hasn't broken through to level seven."

"The seventh-level is merely theoretical—how could it be so easily attained? Even the Three Witches of the past failed to cross that boundary. No matter how extraordinary Emperor Medusa is, she won't accomplish it easily."

...

Li Shengjiang's existence was kept an absolute secret.

Everyone believed that Lilith herself was preparing a breakthrough. Indeed, Lilith was ruthless and decisive, investing the kingdom's entire wealth and all the knowledge left by the Three Witches, satisfying every one of Li Shengjiang's requests.

No one knew she did this all for a weak little monster—a mere slime.

Year 341 of the Babylonian Kingdom.

Despite massive national investment, Lilith remained stuck at level five. The citizens of Babylon felt profound disappointment.

Year 362 of the Babylonian Kingdom.

Lilith once again expended enormous resources but still showed no sign of advancement. The people's hopes for her reached rock bottom.

"If our Queen can't break through, why not nurture new talent instead?"

"Exactly. With these resources, we could surely raise several level-five wizards!"

This year, the people completely lost faith in their once-great Queen Lilith.

Year 381 of the Babylonian Kingdom.

Crack!

Suddenly, an explosive thunderbolt tore through the sky above Babylon.

Everyone on the streets froze in shock, staring upward. The clear blue sky was rapidly shrouded by swirling clouds, forming a vast vortex.

"What is that?!"

People shouted in astonishment.

Soon, everyone rushed outdoors—even men holding their babies stared up at the sky, bewildered.

The previously cloudless sky was now covered by swiftly gathering black clouds.

"Storm clouds? Is a storm coming?"

Standing atop the Babylonian royal palace, Lilith gripped her wooden staff, staring upward with difficulty beneath the overwhelming pressure.

"No, these aren't ordinary clouds!" Lilith suddenly shivered uncontrollably, murmuring as she stared into the darkening heavens.

"That's... That's...!"

From within the swirling storm clouds emerged an enormous, dazzling black rose, its petals rich and intricate, consuming the sky itself. At its forefront stood a beautiful woman clad in a deep crimson witch robe, holding a wooden rose staff, overlooking the entirety of Babylon with cold, indifferent eyes.

"The Flower of Death."

Death Monarch Emperor Medusa waved her rose staff high, descending upon Babylon. Her boundless magic stirred the heavens, causing darkness to envelop the capital as the colossal rose prepared to crash down.

Even before its descent, fierce winds howled, and suffocating pressure assaulted Lilith.

Boom!

Lilith trembled violently, death closing in instantly.

Yet, just before her body crumbled, the pressure abruptly vanished.

"Too weak," Medusa murmured indifferently, hovering in the skies. She cast one final, disappointed glance at Lilith before turning away.

"What a pity. My old rival has fallen so low. I heard you were collecting resources from the entire kingdom—I thought you might achieve a breakthrough."

Her cold voice faded as she drifted away into the distant sky.

"In the era of the Three Witches, the three balanced and supported each other. But in my era, Medusa's era, I stand unmatched for over two centuries. The loneliness of invincibility—I've desperately sought someone worthy to challenge me, yet found no one. Without a worthy opponent, how can I ever reach the legendary seventh level? Such is my tragedy, the failing of this age."

Medusa's strength had already surpassed even the legendary Three Witches.

In their time, the Three Witches barely opened the path to level six before passing away. Now, Medusa's terrifying power brought absolute despair to anyone witnessing it.

"She has completely surpassed the Three Witches. Even if she hasn't reached level seven, her power is unfathomable," Lilith whispered through trembling lips, blood trickling from her bitten lip. "Can we truly defeat this monster?"

"I...I don't know."

In a secret alchemy chamber within the royal palace, a small, round, harmless-looking slime with an adorable head tentacle stared upwards, deeply shaken. "I thought I was close. I'm already at level five, and when equipped with 'Grantham' and my alchemy-powered airship fortress, I believed I could at least rival the Three Witches of old... but Medusa...give me another ten years!"

"Ten more years?"

Lilith fell silent, flames of determination reigniting in her eyes. "Then I'll continue to bear scorn and gather everything you need."

In ten years, the world would finally change!

Lilith's eyes gleamed with intense resolve.

If the dark age of Babylon, which had already lasted over two centuries, did not end soon, the kingdom would fall forever into ruin.

Babylon had placed all its hopes on this small slime's shoulders.

"That's enough research for today." Li Shengjiang suddenly bounced up, preparing to leave. "I must return to the coven. Those little witches will get worried if their pet disappears for too long."

Lilith trembled slightly as she watched his back. Softly, she asked, "You've grown so powerful yet still choose to go back and let those little girls hug and squeeze you as their pet. You hide your true strength, pretending to be a mere level-three wizard. Why continue to stay with them?"

"Because they're my family," Li Shengjiang said warmly, bouncing away cutely. "In my past and present lives, my family left me too soon. Those girls are all I have."

Lilith remained silent.

She didn't doubt the sincerity behind his words. After all, his entire slime race suffered unspeakable atrocities in the Rose Kingdom. The Slime King and Lilith shared a common enemy.

"Family, huh? Those girls sure are lucky... and you, Grantham, the great Alchemy King... I envy you for having someone to care about," Lilith whispered with bittersweet emotion, gently smiling as the adorable creature bounced away.

"Garfeld...all these years, you've suffered terribly too, haven't you?"

Lilith suddenly seemed dazed, gazing up at the distant sky through a palace window. Memories flooded her mind—images of the knight who had silently protected her, the man she loved deeply but who now lived humiliated as the queen of the Rose Kingdom.

"If... if all this ends someday..." Her eyes filled with tears. "Then I'll step down as Queen, and Garfeld and I will retire quietly into the mountains."

At that moment, a female minister approached from behind.

"Shall we continue sending resources to the secret chamber?"

"Yes," Lilith answered coldly, immediately regaining her composure.

—A Babylonian king never sheds tears.

…

Meanwhile.

At Elizabeth's Witch Coven.

In their humble, dilapidated room, Elizabeth and her friends anxiously stared out into the street.

Then, suddenly, a bouncing, cute creature appeared on the street outside.

"You finally came back!"

"It's dangerous outside—why do you keep wandering off?"

"Exactly! You're only a little level-three wizard. So many powerful witches roam the streets. Just now, Emperor Medusa herself visited the Babylonian palace! Her magic nearly destroyed the entire city! We were so scared you'd gotten hurt."

The adorable young witches quickly picked up their precious pet slime, tenderly hugging and squeezing him.

"I'm fine! Just went out for a little stroll." Li Shengjiang smiled brightly, bouncing playfully, his head tentacle waving happily.

No one—not even these caring little witches—had any idea their cute little pet slime held unimaginable power, or that he alone was Babylon's last and only hope!