As the Guild Master rapidly crawled toward Tilis, its tentacles unleashed a barrage of magical attacks in her direction.
"Tilis! Be careful!"
As always, Elder Margery was deeply concerned for Tilis's safety. Seeing the Guild Master suddenly shift its target, she immediately rushed to support Tilis.
However, before Margery could reach her, Tilis effortlessly dealt with the overwhelming magical assault.
This was the first time Luo Wei had observed her technique up close. With a calm expression, she retrieved a magical orb, chanted a brief incantation, and an invisible force field slowly expanded, deflecting all the incoming spells.
Though the magic was now deflected, the Guild Master's massive body was steadily closing in.
Its white eyes were fixed intently on Tilis, and its mouth roared with unrestrained fury.
"Devour!"
"Devour!!"
Tilis's face twisted in disgust. Her staff pointed directly at the Guild Master's grotesquely distorted human face, and a towering beam of light erupted into the air.
The beam, like an unending torrent, persisted for over ten seconds. The sheer magical energy was too much even for the Guild Master's massive form. Its entire body trembled violently, its tentacles writhing wildly in agony.
Tilis sneered at the Guild Master, her voice dripping with mockery. "I suppose all the elite mages of your faction have been devoured by you, haven't they?"
"You foolish creature. Did you think that by acquiring such a body, you could become a god? Did you believe that by devouring those mages, your magic would grow stronger?"
"I've told you before—spend more time studying, more time researching, instead of wasting your days on petty schemes and trivial matters."
Tilis's staff once again aimed at the Guild Master's face. At the same time, the two elders mirrored her actions.
"Finish it. I'm in a hurry," Tilis commanded.
In an instant, powerful magical energy gathered from three directions, the blue light blindingly intense.
It seemed that in the next moment, the Guild Master would be obliterated by the combined might of the three mages.
But then, something unexpected happened.
The Guild Master's massive body shuddered violently. Its flesh twisted and expanded, its gaping maw opening wide as it let out a piercing, horrifying screech.
The sound reverberated through the confined space of the underground level, causing the two elders to falter. Their spellcasting was interrupted, and their hearts pounded uncontrollably.
[Sanity check in progress...]
Luo Wei frowned as he stared at the Guild Master's colossal form. Mental attacks like this were devastatingly effective against humans with weak mental fortitude, even against genius mages.
He immediately turned to Helena beside him, casting a [Control] command on her, then shifted his attention to Tilis.
Tilis's expression remained unchanged, but her body began to exhibit a strange, pulsating motion, like erratic electrical waves, and it didn't stop.
It seemed that the closer she got to her destination, the more pronounced this state became.
Tilis gazed at the Guild Master, which had now grown several times larger and become even more frenzied, her eyes filled with impatience.
"Damn it, is this never going to end..."
While the elders supporting her hoped this journey would result in the Guild Master's demise, Tilis's purpose here was entirely different. Yet, she had been constantly delayed by what she considered trivial matters.
Her cold, purple eyes swept over the Guild Master's massive form before she turned expressionlessly to the two elders.
"Deal with the Guild Master. I have more important matters to attend to."
"You're leaving now?" Elder Roens was stunned. The current problem hadn't been resolved yet—why the rush?
Tilis glanced at him, her purple eyes conveying an unyielding determination.
Killing the Guild Master was a secondary concern. She had more pressing matters to attend to, and she couldn't wait any longer.
As always, Elder Margery supported her. "Go ahead. We'll hold it off here and make sure it doesn't interfere with your research!"
Tilis nodded in satisfaction, then turned her gaze to Luo Wei beside her.
"Let's go!"
She tightly gripped Luo Wei's wrist and, without hesitation, pulled him into a teleportation circle.
"Brother, be careful!" Helena barely had time to react before Luo Wei's figure began to fade.
Luo Wei, seeing Helena's anxious expression, was about to say something when the scene before him abruptly changed.
He was no longer in the dark, empty underground level but had been transported to a bright, spacious room.
"This is my and my teacher's research lab. It's where we once stored the corpse of the Sea God."
Tilis looked around, her face showing a hint of nostalgia.
"Finally, I've returned here..."
[Chapter 3: The Shadow of Hegles]
[Save Point: Divine Research Institute, Underground Level 2]
[Save Attempts Remaining: 5/5]
The save point suddenly appeared, and Luo Wei's heart tightened with tension.
We're finally here...
He took a deep breath and, like Tilis, surveyed the surroundings.
The walls and floor were pristine white, likely maintained by magic. The items on the tables were completely free of dust, making the room resemble a modern hospital's sterile ward.
In the center of the room stood a large glass case emitting cold air. It was wide and spacious, but the lid was now open. This must have been where the Sea God's corpse was once stored.
"This is the place that has been calling to me. We've finally reached the end of our journey."
Tilis ran her fingers along the long table, taking slow steps forward. Her fingers trembled slightly from excitement.
"That voice told me that something of mine was stored here."
"Once I find it, my wish will be fulfilled..."
Luo Wei followed silently behind her.
Tilis's body was now pulsating erratically, like chaotic electrical waves.
"I remember now. This is where I witnessed the divine miracle!"
Her pace quickened.
"I saw it all back then..."
"But why are the memories after that so hazy? I can't recall them at all..."
Tilis stopped in confusion at the end of the path. There was no way forward.
She stared at the empty table.
It was the last table, lined with glassware, no different from the others.
Luo Wei watched her, puzzled about what she intended to do.
Tilis, deep in thought, observed the table for a while.
Suddenly, as if prompted by something, she reflexively extended her hand and began to chant a spell.
Luo Wei immediately saw the table vanish, revealing a small, aged box lying quietly on the pristine floor.
"It was an illusion. I must have set this up before I left..."
Tilis murmured as she slowly crouched down. Luo Wei, curious, moved closer.
Under their watchful eyes, the small box was gently opened.
Inside was a torn piece of paper and a small, faintly glowing sphere.
Luo Wei's attention was immediately drawn to the paper. It was a page torn from *Usoma's Notes*, the final and most crucial page of the entire notebook.
Tilis looked at the two objects, her eyes filled with confusion. This wasn't what she had expected.
While she hesitated, Luo Wei picked up the torn page.
He first examined the front. The handwriting was even more frantic than the last part of *Usoma's Notes*. After much effort, he managed to decipher the words:
"So this is what the Gate is! It controls time and space, the omniscient and omnipotent deity who knows the past and future! Isn't this the very essence of truth?!"
"And I, fortunate enough to have touched the greatness of It, can wield such power!"
"I will return to the past! Even if I can't stop it, I must know what truly happened in that history! Oh heavens! I can't wait any longer. We are finally saved!"
This is the front side of the paper. Though the handwriting is chaotic and the emotions are intense, it still radiates a sense of confidence.
But when Luo Wei flipped to the back...
What greeted him were rows of twisted, long-dried bloodstained words.
The words exuded despair and sorrow.
"The fundamental logic of the world has already been corrupted. The problem of the mages... it is unsolvable."
"Do not open the door. The eerie entities in the space-time continuum, the Hounds, will hunt you endlessly, relentlessly."
"If you see the teacher's notes, it means I am already dead."
"Let go of these obsessions. There is nothing we can do. The teacher wishes for you to live well."
"Goodbye, Tilis."