Mage Adam

The five level-eight Diluses, though badly injured, still clung to life.

The central altar continued to feed them energy, helping them slowly regenerate. New tissue replaced the charred remains, gradually healing their wounds.

Meanwhile, in the asteroid belt, the remaining planes had pulled back, hiding behind a thick, gray defensive shield.

By now, Adam and the other seven Explorers were back on their ship. The fight was so intense that no mages had the time to acknowledge their return. Instead, a high-level alchemical golem escorted them to a private room.

Sandy, back to her usual bubbly self, leaned excitedly against the window. "Five more of those huge bugs showed up. They seem pretty tough."

Through the window, Adam could see ten level-eight Diluses near the planes. Two stood guard at the central altar while the other eight led their forces, piloting massive Void Fortresses against the mage army. 

They looked unusual, but there was a definite resemblance to the modified mage towers Adam was familiar with.

He couldn't help thinking of the Devourer. He had gained enough power to leave Titania and return to its own kind, yet he hadn't. He seemed to be aiming higher---perhaps even at becoming a level-nine creature. Looking back, he wasn't just seeking freedom; maybe he had his sights on overthrowing the leader of its group.

More and more transdimensional mage towers appeared on the battlefield, teleporting in from the rear. They immediately joined the battle, and the ship's main and secondary cannons fired non-stop. 

The Seventh Tower had set up a massive alchemical array, pulling energy from the void to fuel the ongoing fight.

The transdimensional mages abandoned their ships and joined the battlefield. In their true forms, they were larger than some of the spaceships, unleashing spells that ripped through the Diluses' defenses in relentless waves.

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Adam wondered if additional legions had arrived while he was on his mission. From what he could see, half of the legions he'd seen on Titania were now engaged in this fight. It looked like the command center was determined to end this battle in one decisive move.

But all of that was far from the minds of the Explorers. Led by the ever-spirited Sandy, they had already kicked off a feast in their room.

"These are some top-tier snacks. I always collect the best food on my missions," Sandy said proudly as she shared her stash with everyone, occasionally tossing a tasty bite Adam's way.

Inspired by her, the other mages began pulling out their own rare treats. As seasoned Explorers, their collections were filled with strange and valuable delicacies, each with unique properties that could benefit mages.

One bloodline mage even pulled out the heart of a Void Deathbird. If a mage apprentice near the peak of body-refining got their hands on it, they could experience a serious bloodline boost and potentially reach formal rank.

Compared to the rest, Adam felt a bit "broke." The Dragon Plane had been short on resources, Cthulhu was bleak and lifeless, and Titania had been all about metal and machines. After going through his collection, he realized he had nothing worth showing off.

"Are we really okay just sitting here while everyone else is fighting?" Adam felt out of place. 

If they'd been in a standard army, they might've been punished for kicking back like this while a battle raged outside. It felt like slacking off, and he worried it might lower morale.

But the food was hard to resist. As he took another bite, his mind drifted back to his early days at Mordo Academy. He remembered walking into the dining hall for the first time, so amazed by the feast that he briefly considered learning magical cooking. 

Of course, after becoming a mage, he didn't need regular food anymore---he could sustain himself with magic alone. That old dream was long forgotten.

Sandy waved off his concerns with a casual flick of her hand. "Chill, Adam. Explorers always work like this. No one's gonna blame us. Besides, did they give us any follow-up orders? Nope. That means we're off duty. And maybe this might be the last time we all hang out together."

The other mages around them nodded, seemingly at peace with the situation.

Seeing the confusion on Adam's face, Sandy explained, "This battle's the official start of the war against the Devouring Diluses. From now on, they won't need Explorers like us. Soon, someone's going to come by to hand out our rewards, and then we'll head back to the Mage World."

It clicked for Adam. She was right. Judging by the way the other mages had treated them during registration, it was clear they wouldn't be part of the formal military units. 

And now, being so deep in enemy territory, where powerful Diluses roamed, he wouldn't be able to take on exploratory missions at his current level. There really wasn't much left for them to do here.

Time flew by. Outside, the battle was reaching its final stages. 

The battle mages who had been waiting in reserve started moving in, prepping for ground operations in the asteroid belt. 

Higher up, the transdimensional mages had turned the tide. They carefully boxed in the level-eight Diluses, making sure they couldn't pull off any desperate moves like self-destruction. 

Inside the ship, the feast was starting to wind down.

As Sandy had predicted, a high-ranking battle advisor soon knocked on their door. He didn't seem to care that they were lounging around and smiled warmly. "Thanks to your hard work, the first battle went off without a hitch. On behalf of the command center, I'm here to distribute your rewards. Let's make this quick---do you want resources or Origin power?"

There was no hesitation. Adam and the others all opted for Origin power. The advisor seemed prepared for this. He handed out eight sealed crystals containing the precious energy and said, "Your settlement is complete. Your services won't be needed for the rest of the war, so you'll need to leave the fleet before the ground operations wrap up."

It might've sounded like they were being brushed aside now that they weren't needed, but no one seemed to mind.

The advisor continued, "The ship's teleportation hall will open a portal just for you. It'll take you straight to the Gate of Truth. From there, you can choose whether to return to the Mage World or go somewhere else."

After he left, Sandy turned to Adam with a knowing grin. "See? That's how it is. In the real fights, the other mages are better suited for the job. We, the temporary help, are better off leaving quietly," she said, breaking the seal on her crystal and absorbing the Origin power with a satisfied sigh. "Ah, still not enough. Anyway, let's trade contact info. Adam, you've got access to plane coordinates, right? I hope your prices are good."

Adam nodded and exchanged Mage Network signals with everyone. "I'll make sure they're fair."

Suddenly, Sandy pulled out a sleek new communication device, waving it like it was some rare treasure. "You probably haven't been back to the Mage World recently, so you wouldn't know about this. It's amazing---way better than the Mage Network. Doesn't even need magic power. Super convenient."