<h4>Chapter 249: Suffocating Pressure</h4>


    <i>Buzz!</i>


    A soul-stirring vibration abruptly filled the air.


    The azure space-time portal before Sein’s eyes morphed into an endless passage.


    This experience reminded Sein of his journey to the Sand World, particrly the moment when he passed through the portal to reach that world.


    The difort and soul-tearing pain he had previously experienced were now significantly less intense, though still noticeable.


    Had Sein not been through a simr ordeal before, he might have overlooked this anomaly.


    He could not help but marvel, “Has the space fortress, a masterpiece of the Magus World’s alchemy, been perfected to such an extent in every aspect? Even the disorientating effects of time-space travel seem to be minimized significantly.”


    “But then again, it might also be that my promotion to Rank One mage has significantly strengthened both my constitution and mental focus, making this form of travel less strenuous for me,” he mused.


    The travel time within the spatial passage felt brief to Sein, seeminglysting only a month from the moment they entered the azure portal.


    Yet, upon emerging at the other end, a message from the Divine Tower of Verdant me announced that a year had psed in the Materia Astral Realm!


    “We are approaching Battle Zone Two on the outskirts of the Neisse Star Domain. Sporadic battles may ur. Please remain calm and stand by in your designated zones,” a calm voice from the space fortress’ main control room instructed, reaching all the full-fledged mages.


    It was Master Andres who delivered this announcement.


    After another jarring shift, the space fortress emerged from the spatial passage.


    As Sein looked out from his room, the vista that unfolded was a star domain alive with numerous stars and intermittent shes of explosions deep in the starry expanse.


    Unlike the “serene order” of the Magus Star Domain, it was visibly more chaotic.


    In the distance, a fiery explosion erupted amidst the endless darkness.


    Meanwhile, countless metal ruins and debris near the fortress floated into Sein’s view.


    Most of these remnants, glowing bluish-white, were unfamiliar to Sein.


    However, among the ruins and debris scattered around, Sein recognized a few familiar items crafted by the alchemy of the Magus World.


    For instance, he spotted half of a war airship, now scrapped, near a shattered meteorite.


    “The war seems quite intense. This is the outskirts of the Neisse Star Domain. If most of the Neisse Star Domain has been upied by the Magus Civilization as Master Lorianne had said, then this is likely thest desperate resistance of the Neisse Civilization.


    “Could this be the smaller half of the Neisse Star Domain that had yet to fall under the Magus Civilization’s control?” Sein wondered internally.


    His spection, as it turned out, was not far from the truth.


    As a magus adept in observation and analysis, Sein had correctly surmised that this star domain was indeed thest stronghold of the Neisse Civilization.


    Following the trail of frequent explosions and fires, one could reach arge ne known as the Neisse World in about half a year.


    That was where the most intense battle between the overlords was taking ce.


    Grandmaster Feylis the Verdant me had mentioned her limited involvement in the Viridian Venom me World war.


    This restraint was part of a benefit exchange with the Pyro Secret Society.


    Feylis, a powerful Rank Six mage, hadmitted herself to the war in a medium-sized ne adjacent to the Neisse World. Her mission was to assist the Pyro Secret Society in gaining full control of this ne.


    The Viridian Venom me World, where Sein and hispanions were headed,y on the opposite side of the Neisse World and on the outskirts of the Neisse Star Domain.


    Ever since the Magus Civilizationpletely surrounded the Neisse Star Domain, severing itsmunication with other civilizations, the Viridian Venom me World had been living in constant apprehension.


    Anridar the Venom me Demon King, a Rank Five creature in the Viridian Venom me World, had repeatedly surrendered to the Magus World, expressing its willingness to join the Magus Alliance despite the high cost involved.


    Rather than letting it be part of the Magus Alliance and subjecting the ne to a slower, more insidious form of exploitation by the Magus Civilization, Feylis the Verdant me preferred a more direct approach.


    The Rank Six mage aimed to swiftly exploit the Viridian Venom me World to its fullest, extracting everyst bit of its value.


    Rumors had circted within the space fortress about the possibility of sporadic battles nearby.


    Yet, until the three space fortresses carrying Sein and the others departed from the interster teleportation array and reached the vicinity of the Viridian Venom me World half a monthter, they had not encountered any battles up close.


    This left Sein, who harbored a curiosity about the Neisse Civilization, feeling somewhat disappointed.


    “I’ve heard that the Neisse Civilization’s main force is an army of constructs. I wonder how unique and special they are,” Sein mused to himself.


    The Viridian Venom me World was a fiery low-level ne, characterized by its many green venom mes that were visible from the Astral Realm.


    Inparison to the grandeur and vastness of the Magus World, it was significantly smaller.


    From the vantage point of the space fortress, Sein could clearly see almost the entire Viridian Venom me World.


    As Grandmaster had revealed during the faction’s gathering, the ne consisted of just two continents separated by a sea of crimsonva.


    Its total area was only slightlyrger than the Viridescent Land under the influence of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring in the Magus World.


    If he were to draw aparison, then the Viridian Venom me World was akin to a mere grain in sizepared to the vast expanse of the Magus World.


    Anridar the Venom me Demon King was the only creature above Rank Four in this world.


    This scarcity indicated that the ne’s overall strength and potential were limited.


    Had the Viridian Venom me World not been rich in resources essential to the Verdant me faction, it might have escaped the notice of the Feylis altogether.


    The three massive space fortresses, now hovering beyond the Viridian Venom me World, exerted immense pressure on this low-level ne, a ce of constant fiery eruptions and burstingva bubbles.


    Anridar the Venom me Demon King, acutely aware of its surroundings, felt an almost suffocating pressure as soon as the fortresses appeared.