Eirik was about to enter the ancient forbidden zone, a place where ancient powers from the past still slumbered, waiting for a time when they might awaken. He was going there to help Pixie.
The news spread like wildfire among the players.
"Of course it’s Eirik, the son of the Archmage. He's only at the Savant level, but he's still daring enough to step into the forbidden zone!"
"I remember when Elvynna-senpai and Eirik were together, they had reached the Grandmaster level. It was only then that the whole family dared to cross the Reincarnation Sea, right?! And now Eirik, only a Savant, is going in?!"
"Each forbidden zone is different, each with its own mysteries and dangers. They can’t really be compared."
"Can't compare? In this life-simulation game, Eirik’s the guy who’s walked out of a forbidden zone. Isn’t he stronger with the Archmage bloodline than the Eirik who’s just an ordinary citizen?"
The chatter grew louder.
Some had already noticed that Eirik’s card in the game had a different image—he looked far more handsome, with golden borders, a special edition version.
That limited-edition Eirik was definitely stronger than the regular one!
It was like comparing special and regular cards in some card games. The difference was night and day!
“No wonder the difficulty is so high. Eirik, the Archmage’s son, is so strong and handsome!”
“Waaah, why does Pip always get all the good stuff?!”
The crowd murmured in sympathy.
“My silly sister, it should be you going into the forbidden zone…”
Fiona, from the Fox Clan, couldn’t help but feel the pain.
She was tempted to shut down the viewing interface—she couldn’t stand watching anymore—but her little hand hovered over the button and faltered.
She still wanted to see what the forbidden zone looked like.
The ancient forbidden zone in Central Continent had a reputation far greater than even the Reincarnation Sea.
There were countless legends about it.
It was said that several Archmage-level beings lay dormant there, waiting for the right time to rise again. Some of these ancient Archmages had been alive for hundreds of thousands of years, sealing away their own energy, falling into slumber, and waiting for the perfect moment to awaken…
Even in sleep, their terrifying magical power would alter the very rules of the area, creating new laws and monsters that filled the land with dread.
That’s what made these places "forbidden zones."
【You and Pixie have entered the outer boundary of the ancient forbidden zone.】
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【The servants accompanying you are all trembling, barely able to stand. But soon they realize that as long as they stay close to you, they can move through the forbidden zone as though it’s a peaceful path, with no danger at all!】
【Previously unreachable magical treasures—Dragon Crystal Fruit, Ether Emeralds, and other treasures only found within forbidden zones—can now be gathered with ease!】
【Eirik’s unique talent, the Forbidden Zone Walker, has activated. You carry the mark of your Archmage-level mother, making the rules of the forbidden zone ineffective against you.】
【You’ve gathered plenty of treasure.】
“This talent is so useful,” Eirik couldn’t help but marvel.
The only downside was that he’d already consumed or used most of the treasures in this forbidden zone. The effects of reuse were greatly diminished.
These things were better off going to Pixie.
It was the perfect opportunity for her to increase her strength.
And so, on their journey, Pixie devoured all sorts of magical potions like she was snacking on candy.
The female players watching couldn’t help but be awestruck.
“This treatment... Who wouldn't be jealous?”
“Damn, I’m so jealous I could cry!”
The crowd sighed in unison.
“Fennec, you’ve really missed out on so much!”
One player suddenly chimed in.
That comment quickly gathered a lot of likes, and soon the screen was flooded with condolences for Fennec.
All of this was supposed to be hers!
Fennec looked at the messages and felt nothing but helplessness. She was in the middle of focusing on learning magic, so could people not mention her right now?!
Eirik was impressive, sure, but what did that have to do with her?
However, Fiona, seeing the scene, felt a sharp pang of pain in her heart, as if it had been wrenched from her chest.
Her fox ears drooped, and she couldn’t help but regret it, wishing she could just die right there.
Her sister was such a fool!
Apparently, this new game+ had random starting conditions, and chances like this might never come again…
Meanwhile, Eirik hadn’t forgotten the main purpose of his trip, which was to find and awaken an ancient powerhouse.
Soon, he found one—a powerful figure who had once been an underling of his mother, likely a guard or something similar.
【You slowly start to break apart the energy substances surrounding this middle-aged man, and the terrifying aura that leaks out immediately shocks everyone. The servants nearly collapse from the pressure.】
【“Grandmaster Lv4! The so-called little guard of the Archmage’s son is actually a Grandmaster Lv4?!”】
One player screamed in disbelief.
A Grandmaster Lv4 was only one step below the Archmage level.
And this person was just a mere guard?!
No wonder Eirik was so impressive!
【In the darkness, the middle-aged guard slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing Eirik, his face lit up with joy, and his hands trembled in excitement.】
【“Your Highness, by awakening me, has the path of rules in the starry sky already begun? Even if I must die, I shall escort you to the Archmage level!”】
The “path of rules in the starry sky”?
What was that?!
The players’ nerves were on edge. This was something they’d never heard of before!
Clearly, this old guard was hinting at something significant!
This was undoubtedly a massive secret.
At this moment, everyone’s hearts were racing, eager to understand more.
“The path of rules in the starry sky…”
Eirik, however, understood more than the others.
Back when that nameless Archmage-level powerhouse had altered the world’s rules, other Archmages had searched the universe for a way to allow their descendants a chance to ascend. They had finally discovered a special place, where the effects of the nameless Archmage’s power would be diminished, and their offspring would have a better chance of advancing to the Archmage level.
That place was known as the "path of rules in the starry sky."
It was a perilous cosmic journey, but if one could reach the end, they would have the chance to ascend!
"Is it really so complicated to reach the Archmage level? The path of rules in the starry sky? Back in my day, Elvynna and I simply found a place and adjusted the rules ourselves. Even my son Thal reached the Archmage level without much trouble..."
Eirik couldn’t help but mumble in his heart.
Of course, anyone who knew the truth would probably think he was bragging.
【Ahem, I didn’t wake you up for the path of rules in the starry sky, nor for ascending to the Archmage level. I just… well, I met a woman…】
Eirik slowly explained.
The old guard was dumbfounded.
You woke me up for a mere Practitioner-level woman?
Eirik felt no guilt. You’re just an NPC. I’m here to ask for your help, so what’s the big deal? You’re just an NPC.
Anyway, Pip needs to grow stronger!