Chapter 229
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Lost World's Ten Great Ancient Ruins
In Lost World, there are elements known as the Ten Great Ancient Ruins.
These refer to the ancient ruins said to have particularly great influence, though to Seong-un, they felt like something plausibly lined up just to make the list sound impressive.
'The top three most popular castles make sense, but things like the planted towers or the Great Walls are utterly useless.'
The Ten Great Ancient Ruins consist of four towers, three castles, two walls, and one road. The first time Seong-un saw them compiled was in a YouTube video that organized them.
But in Seong-un's view, some of them had significantly lower importance when actually playing the game, feeling like they'd been thrown in just to make up the numbers.
For instance, among the two walls, the 'Great Wall' was an architectural structure with no particular meaning.
It generally appeared in Lost World as an enormous ancient city wall spanning about a third of the continent, but had no other notable features.
In the early game, it formed borders on either side, but by mid-game, it was used as a quarry, and by late game, it became irrelevant.
On the other hand, the truly highly valued ones were the three castles, with the Empire holding the ones boasting autonomy and mobility.
'And...'
Among the ancient ruins, the one playing the biggest role in the game was one road: 'Rasdasil Ruins'.
This ancient ruin, sometimes called the Ruined Road or Ruins Path by players, derived its utility not from the ruin itself, but from the role it played.
'Rasdasil Ruins is the origin of magic.'
If players in Lost World are consistently encouraged to investigate ancient ruins, their entities learn of Rasdasil Ruins' existence through various pieces of information discovered there.
Another method is raising mages; even if mages don't know much about ancient ruin info, having at least one grand mage allows them to track the existence and location of Rasdasil Ruins.
According to ancient ruin information, Rasdasil Ruins was the birthplace of magic.
'What was the lore again? Eldar would know best... Something like, before even the ancient gods appeared, super-ancient scholars created magic there.'
Seong-un didn't know the minute details.
But he knew better than anyone what function Rasdasil Ruins served in the game.
The overall appearance of Rasdasil Ruins was made of ancient stone architecture, with a massive sinkhole in the center. This sinkhole had a diameter exceeding 300 meters.
Though called a sinkhole, it wasn't naturally formed; its walls were inscribed with countless spells estimated to span several eras.
Rasdasil Ruins itself was akin to a 'magic that creates magic'.
The reason it was called a road was because of the sloped path spiraling down along the abyss to the bottom. What's intriguing is that nothing has been proven about what's at the bottom of this abyss beyond the slope.
But understanding Rasdasil Ruins didn't require going all the way to the bottom.
If that massive hole in Rasdasil Ruins collapsed—specifically, if more than a third of the edge broke—it would lose its function.
'In other words... magic disappears.'
Players in Lost World called this the Magic Seal.
In Lost World, the Magic Seal was one of the major elements determining mid-to-late game.
If the damage was minor, it could be repaired, but once it reached a third, for some reason, even repairing it as before wouldn't revive the magic.
When Rasdasil Ruins collapsed, magic vanished from the world.
All mages lost their magic, magic-constructed objects fell or crumbled, those extending their lives with magic died, and drawing or chanting previously valid magic circles and spells did nothing.
The ones triggering this Magic Seal event were usually players who didn't take kindly to magic's existence.
Even players like Seong-un, who didn't receive full support from mages, commonly employed a few court mages for benefits.
But if they suffered losses from mages and magic-produced tech and equipment—especially if their own gains from magic weren't great—the Magic Seal was an essential rite of passage.
'Because the closer you get to modern tech development, the greater the synergy between magic and technology.'
To establish a proper fight, you had to seal magic before entering modern civilization.
But for Hegemonia right now, the Magic Seal was an even graver matter.
Seong-un had acquired magic through his personal domain.
Thanks to that, a considerable number of mages were aiding the Blackrin Empire, and their use of magic strongly influenced Seong-un's faith and experience gains.
'...Though being called the Magic God is definitely a demerit.'
In any case, one reason he could fight evenly with the God of War was that Seong-un had magic.
'But if magic disappears...'
A significant portion of war weapons, and much of Blackrin's current tech civilization, were influenced by magic to varying degrees.
'Even optimistically, if magic vanishes, about a quarter of functions would halt.'
The disappearance of certain tech doesn't just mean simple loss.
It brings chaos in itself.
To fill the void, you'd have to scrape together available resources somehow, and in that process, technical and social issues would erupt simultaneously.
There was also the faith issue of Seong-un being the God of Magic.
'If Hegemonia succeeds in sealing magic, it's a powerful signal that they've landed a solid hit on the God of Magic.'
That alone wouldn't mean certain defeat.
Even if it happened, Seong-un believed he could still beat Hegemonia.
'But for Hegemonia, it's a high cost-performance punch. Even knowing we'll defend, they have no reason not to attack.'
Mazdari said,
"Still, that's fortunate. We're on the defending side."
Seong-un thought so too.
In the case of Rasdasil Ruins, it could appear on any continent.
But fortunately, Rasdasil Ruins was located on the Third Continent.
The ogre Dordol said,
"However, Rasdasil Ruins is in the northeast of the Empire. Supply lines are tricky due to the mountains, and defense is difficult. Meanwhile, attacks from the First Continent can use the seas freely. If an invasion force lands, blocking them will be tough. The distance from the northeast coast to Rasdasil Ruins is less than a day."
Rakrak said,
"What's currently at Rasdasil Ruins?"
Dordol continued,
"Ten mages dispatched from the Magic Tower, a research team of about a hundred from Baseniol, plus a battalion of guards, and one local division."
"Is the division at full strength?"
"It's understrength."
"Level of defensive facilities?"
"There are a few coastal defense bases from twenty years ago. But they won't hold against the upgraded naval guns in the meantime."
Rakrak looked up at Seong-un.
Seong-un caught Rakrak's intent and immediately said,
"Unconfirmed, but given how many domains are hidden, they're likely preparing forces already. Can't pinpoint numbers or speed."
Rakrak turned to Dordol and said,
"We need to hurry."
"First, check for aerial infiltration. Assuming they moved right after our last operation, they might already be close."
Rakrak pointed out,
"Also consider a two-pronged operation."
"Where do you think they'll aim?"
"Orazn."
Dordol frowned.
"That's too far."
Mazdari chimed in,
"Not Maganen, but Orazn?"
Rakrak said,
"Possible if the United Kingdom's landing force is large-scale. If they strike the eastern coastline all at once, it's feasible. We might have to defend with just the local division."
Dordol said,
"The enemy's main force is in the south."
"That was true until moments ago."
"Pulling forces from there means the United Kingdom abandons the Four Continents."
"Then we'd have to go down to claim gains. While dealing with local resistance and planting flags, the Three Continents get hit. But skipping the gains means losing too much if we lose Rasdasil."
"We can redirect units."
"Our route is longer. We have no ports on the Four Continents' south. We'd load as much as possible, but we'd still be slower than the enemy. Even an hour late is late. My estimate... half a day difference?"
"Did you calculate that?"
"No."
Dordol pulled out a fountain pen and calculated.
A few seconds later, he said,
"...That much difference, yes. You're right."
"There's also the Ronante-Oroban Alliance."
"Considering routes, defending that many troops is tough. We'd have to abandon Rasdasil and fall back the defense line. If we prepare for Magic Seal now..."
"No. We have more moves available. Mazdari, we need to talk to the Emperor. Faith still left?"
While the apostles talked, Seong-un checked the time via system.
Then he said to Rakrak,
"We need an operation plan within the hour."
"No support?"
"For the time being, all gods except me are moving for base defense and disruption. Guardians available later—I'll inform then."
"Hm, alright."
"And..."
Seong-un leaned forward slightly, looking down at the apostles.
"Ovin, Toolbo, Aruna."
"Yes!"
"Huh?"
-What is it?
Rakrak, Mazdari, and Redin, as if expecting it, ignored the three apostles and continued the meeting.
Seong-un said,
"As Dordol predicted, the airship fleet is approaching. And as mentioned, Rasdasil Ruins has too few garrison troops and inadequate defenses. You three have to hold it alone. Go."
Seong-un gave them no time to reply or refuse.
As Seong-un snapped his fingers, Ovin Mavru, the mad Toolbo, and phoenix Aruna's views shifted.
The so-called special forces apostle Ovin realized he was falling.
How high? Nothing but clouds below.
The air felt cold and thin.
'Even the Lord jokes too much!'
Ovin steadied himself mid-air, then looked around.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Piercing the harsh air friction battering his ears was a hearty scream from a single ogre.
Ovin reduced air resistance, approached the ogre, and grabbed him.
"Mommy!"
"Toolbo! It's me."
"O, Ovin?"
Ovin confirmed Toolbo, clamped his legs around Toolbo's chest, and pulled the cord from his pack.
-Bang!
Ovin felt his shoulder straps yanked hard.
His massive 'All-Purpose Military Pack' had deployed its parachute.
There was a famous anecdote that Ovin's pack always contained everything needed at the right time, which had become one of his skills.
Ovin didn't find it embarrassing. He did have mild OCD, and it was true he always carried necessities.
"Why so scared? You ride faster things."
"But flying through the sky is scary."
"Even with a beak?"
"Pardon?"
Ovin looked around.
'As the Lord said, Aruna should be around here too...'
Ovin and Toolbo plunged into the clouds.
'We've fallen far, so maybe not clouds—sea mist.'
But it wasn't as Ovin thought.
Emerging below the clouds revealed a new sight.
Toolbo shouted first.
"Ah, that's...!"
"Just as you said."
Dozens of airships lay beneath Ovin and Toolbo's feet.
The airships bore white bases emblazoned with black and red geometric symbols representing wrath.
It was the United Kingdom's airship fleet.