Although Xu Zhi scoffed at Future Skywhale, he couldn't help but smile.
"There were some deviations, but the overall direction is still on track. The Magic World is developing just fine."
He knew that in the long run, the most cautious—those who lay low—were often the ones who survived.
Future Skywhale was never one for grinding. He was addicted to casual farming games, the type to research tech trees and tinker with machinery instead of fighting monsters.
To him, science and technology weren't just tools—they were the true magic.
Xu Zhi bit into a juicy apple and frowned slightly.
"So Circe had such plans before her death? She roped in Medusa to help perfect Resurrection Magic… planning to come back from the dead?"
That old witch's ambition ran deep.
Frankly, if Future Skywhale hadn't forced Medusa's hand, Xu Zhi would still be clueless about Circe's posthumous scheme.
He wasn't some omniscient god. He was just a "farmer."
He hadn't even noticed Gilgamesh's murderous intent until it was nearly too late.
A single day in the sandbox equaled a hundred years. Even when he watched closely, it was impossible to catch everything—people were little more than afterimages, darting back and forth at hyperspeed.
His so-called godhood was all smoke and mirrors.
"I'm just a countryside farmer living a slow life," he muttered.
"That spell earlier… it was Soul Magic."
The Magic World didn't actually have an afterlife. Souls of powerful beings like Gilgamesh would linger as mindless phantoms after death. That made communication with the dead theoretically possible.
But the civilization was still too primitive. Soul Magic remained an undeveloped field.
"Should I restrict its development?" Xu Zhi paused. Then shook his head. "Nah. Let's see where it goes. Diversity fuels progress."
If they succeeded—if ancient heroes like Gilgamesh or the Three Witches could be brought back—then the Magic World would only become more exciting.
And when Xu Zhi eventually became a Sixth-Level Legendary Wizard, maybe he could learn the spell himself.
At the very least… he wanted the power to bring back people he cared about.
With that thought, Xu Zhi finished his apple and leisurely moved on to his lunch.
Then something odd popped up.
"Huh? Future Skywhale logged out? After uniting the entire world?"
Not only that, he was now bragging like mad in the game forums.
Xu Zhi fell silent.
Time dilation meant that one hour outside equaled more than four years inside the sandbox.
And he still chose to log out… just to show off?
...
The Kingdom of Babylon, Year 412.
The Emperor of Alchemy, Grantham, ruled the world.
He abolished slavery, struck down tyrants, and unified the Three Great Kingdoms:
—The matriarchal Kingdom of Roses atop the mountains,
—The magical Kingdom of Babylon in the plains,
—And the desert-dwelling Beastmen Kingdom of Nefertis.
Under his rule, the knowledge of alchemy spread like wildfire.
Words like magic arrays, alchemical formations, gears, mechanical arms, artificial lifeforms—once unheard of—became everyday vocabulary.
Previously, orthodox witches lagged behind the ruthless Rose Witches. But alchemy flipped the script.
Only orthodox witches, with their refined spiritual power, could practice the delicate art of alchemy.
The Rose Witches, with their violent, unstable power, were only good in battle—not in the intricate drawing of magic formations.
A golden era dawned.
Magic tools and alchemical constructs revolutionized life. Airships soared. Boats powered by alchemy cruised rivers.
The evil witches, unable to keep up, faded from the world stage.
In that same year, Emperor Grantham once again invited Medusa to abandon her wicked ways and join him.
She refused.
With no choice, he sealed her away on Gorgon Island, beyond the shores of Oceanus.
It took him over three years to set up a massive sealing formation, powered by thousands of Slimes.
He couldn't kill her—he wasn't a true Level Seven—and Medusa was a master of Soul Magic. She would always be a lingering threat.
In the Palace of Babylon, a squishy little Slime bounced on the golden throne. A gleaming crown sat atop his round head.
"I can't destroy her completely, so the only option is to wait for her to die of old age."
By his side stood Lilith, silent and aged, along with her lover Garfield. After a moment, she spoke softly:
"Your Majesty, I'd like to retire. I'm over two hundred years old now. Even with your Elixir of Longevity, my time has come."
Grantham looked at her with deep emotion. The former queen of Babylon, once mighty and proud, had grown old and tired.
"…Go. You've worked long enough. I'll protect the Kingdom from here on out."
After her departure, Grantham turned to his courtiers.
"I will begin four years of isolated training. I leave behind my fortress and 10,000 Slimes, all linked to Circe's Mental Domination spell. Use them to protect Babylon."
The ministers bowed.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. We will defend the kingdom with our lives."
Grantham nodded, then bounced away.
Behind him, the witches couldn't help but gush:
"He's just too cute!"
"No one would believe the mighty Emperor of Alchemy is this adorable!"
...
In his underground lab, Grantham stood before seven cryogenic pods. Inside lay the Seven Little Witches, still and silent.
"They only made it to Level Three… Elizabeth barely reached Level Four. Even with the Elixir, they've lasted 120 years at most."
Grantham's expression turned dark.
A normal lifespan was 30–40 years. At Level Three or Four, maybe triple that.
Even the legendary Sixth-Level witches didn't live beyond 250.
"I'm already over a hundred. I've crossed the halfway point."
He was strong, yes—but still only a Level Six Wizard in essence. His time was limited.
"My journey in this world has just begun. I can't let it end like this."
He fell silent.
Then, Future Skywhale logged out.
...
He pulled off the VR helmet, blinking in disorientation.
His stomach roared. His bladder screamed.
"I used to think those stories about people staying in Internet cafés for 20+ hours were exaggerated. I was wrong. So wrong."
He hadn't dared to eat, drink, or even go to the bathroom for almost an entire day. A few minutes outside equaled weeks inside—far too risky to leave mid-crisis.
But now that everything was stable?
"Oh God… going to the bathroom feels like heaven!"
After taking care of business, he summoned the maid. While his meal was being prepared, his secretary rushed in.
"Boss! Mr. Smith from the US Power Grid Company wants to negotiate a major contract. And tomorrow night, you have a meeting with Qian Du's AI Car division—"
"Shut up! Tell the vice presidents to handle it! I've got more important things to do!"
He stormed off, leaving the secretary stunned.
That composed, dignified CEO—the tech world's idol—had vanished.
What happened in the last 24 hours?
…
Back in his room, Future Skywhale logged into the game forum while wolfing down food and immediately posted:
"HELP! URGENT! NEED ADVICE!"
"After over a hundred years of biding my time, building tech, and uniting the world, I've finally become the invincible Emperor of Alchemy.
But now my seven beautiful witch wives are dying of old age! They're frozen in life capsules, and I don't know how to save them!
PLEASE HELP! Urgently waiting online! Thanks in advance!"
The forum erupted.