It was an outrageous story.

Most ordinary wizards had four or five circles. Anything above those numbers was considered decent. The absolute limit for those without the title of a 'genius' was around the seventh or eighth mark. Only a little more than a hundred had reached the ninth, and the realm just above that was of the ranks of legendary.

To say that Kierra had casually reached the fifteenth circle... would be a ridiculous story.

However, the mana she held was genuine, and she wasn't going to stop at the fifteenth, either. If she found no faults or drawbacks with operating two mana hearts at once, the archwizard planned to keep adding more and more hearts to her body until her brain could not keep up with that level of casting anymore.

Even then, items like magic staff could help extend that limit further.

The possibilities were looking promising.

Central Divine Realm.

''Heh... the weather is so lovely today—☆''

The world had been peaceful these days. Ever since the unorthodox faction was eliminated, demonic arts had gradually gone extinct, and with the heart and soul of the evil path gone, other criminals were also laying low for the moment.

Walking along an ordinary grass trail, Kierra quietly took in the scenery around her.

Mountains spanning thousands of miles.

Green plains swaying ever so gently in the wind.

A tall, clear blue sky.

Honest, hard-working farmers carrying crops on their backs.

Busy merchants pulling their carts full of goods.

Children chasing after birds.

''...''

Soon, this place's serenity would be disturbed by that unknown force of evil. Kierra was determined to protect it... but then what?

After completing that task and truly rising to the ranks of gods, what would be there for her anymore?

Once again, the archwizard was scared of boredom. Say, when she completed both cultivation and wizardry, what would be left to do?

When Kierra asked herself that question, she instinctively turned back to the people who had been following her.

August and Diamante arguring.

Yu Chen, Tian Yun, and Mie Xieren debating magic.

Kang Shuren and Bai Qing laughing together.

Shen and Lan hovering behind.

Cosmos walking quietly aside, observing life.

Though often bickering, these women gave off a strong sense of alliance. Thinking back, life with them was always eventful. Even when there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy going on, watching them gave Kierra the sensation that she wasn't just wasting her time doing nothing.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

''You seem to be in a good mood, master.''

Angelica, who was striding near the archwizard, remarked.

''Is that so?''

''Certainly better than the old you, I think.''

''Better than the old me, huh.''

Still Kierra Scarlett Aspenova, but a better one.

She liked the sound of that.

With a slight sigh and a slight smile, Kierra continued on her path, carrying a lighter heart than before.

----------------------------------------

On a breezy afternoon at the plain near the White Lotus Sect, a woman quietly landed.

''Good afternoon...''

''Too slow.''

At Kierra's accusing remark, Yan Shi happily cowered. As she attempted to kneel and hug the archwizard's thigh, she was frozen in place by the other women's glares.

Nevertheless, she appeared even more aroused, and it took a good while before everyone could get going.

Accessing the realm above wasn't too difficult for Kierra. Still, Yan Shi had promised to escort them, so there was no reason to waste her energy.

''Welcome, esteemed archwizard.''

''Mhm.''

This time, the gathering spot was Wen Zhuwei—the Heavenly Shura's house.

Initially started as a mere stroll to exercise some mana for Kierra, the trip somehow turned into a checkup for the realm above. Indeed, it had been a while since the time Kierra defeated the Heavenly Venerate.

''Thanks to your presence, the other side seems to be afraid to run rampant like before.'' The Heavenly Shura said, a multitude of tea cups and refreshments swirling onto the table. ''With the other emperors finally stopping turtling before the corrupt Heavenly Venerates, we were able to reclaim a large portion of the lost land.''

''Do you have a map?''

''Of course.''

Soon, the surface of the oak table itself turned into a surprisingly detailed map, clearly highlighting the locations and points of interest. If the invasion had halfway taken over the realm before, those cancerous spots now only accounted for around a fourth-tenth of the total area.

''With this pace, we should be closing into their very base right when the gate opens.''

Kierra nodded, hearing Wen Zhuwei's explanation.

''However... there are certain stories on the frontline right now.''

''Hm? What stories?''

''The fiends... they have been getting tougher to deal with.''

Most certainly, it was because either there was a nucleus that radiated corrupt energy at ground zero or those near the same spot got stronger, corresponding to their exposure time.

Whatever it was, the need to clear the cancer of this world was apparent.

'In the end, what is it?'

This curious yet appalling disease, one that targeted divinity. If it came from space... was there a risk that it could someday invade Kierra's home planet?

No, certainly not. There was no divinity where Kierra once lived.

She hoped so.

Afterward, Kierra sweetly kissed Kang Shuren once and left her with the Heavenly Shura.

''Stay here for a bit, Shuren. Zhuwei will give you some pointers.''

''Hey, no, when did I say that—''

''She will. Now, go.''

And so, having ruined Wen Zhuwei's precious day off, Kierra and her crew headed to the frontline again. Standing before a lifeless wasteland where grotesque creatures roamed, a certain pink-haired woman enthusiastically stretched.

''Aight! Let's do a warmup before we jump right in—☆''

''No, aren't we here to watch Kierra? Why—''

''Heh.''

Yu Chen's moving lips were put to rest by Diamante's slender index finger.

''Naive young lady, think about it. After Kierra fired her spells... there won't be anything left.''

''...''

Little did the smirking phoenix knew, Yu Chen was several hundred years older than her.

On another front, Kierra was getting ready, ramping up the mana in her blood. As the hearts beat faster and the circles swole, the archwizard's body was overwhelmed with a seemingly endless amount of power.

Thick, glitter-like white smoke leaked out from her hands' veins, then being blown by the wind for a mesmerizing effect. Beyond that, there was enough mana to literally crush the space around her body.

With a single thought, Kierra gently gathered it in her palm, creating a swirling core of pure mana.

'There seems to be no problem drawing it out.'

Next, it was time to verify the performance.

''CHAIN. CRYSTALIZE.''

⌈Crystalize—3★⌋

A basic offensive spell that even novice wizards could cast. Kierra had chosen it instead of an advanced spell simply because it was a non-elemental one, meaning she would be able to monitor her output without the need to keep up with the transitioning process.

Sharp spikes grew out of the mana sphere, and when Kierra splashed it forward—

————————!!

For a moment, everything was engulfed in a blinding blast. The intense mana flares, combined with the sheer density of Kierra's power, created a chain of never-ending, exploding crystals.

That day, the world was drowned in a sea of glitter.