100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 558 - Passing Days

The Middle branch's primary objective was communication devices.

However, beneath this overt purpose lay more profound reasons:

Recruiting allies.

Fortifying the continent.

Establishing a robust public framework.

Embedding Lootwell's influence at the heart of the Big World.

Lucien had no desire to rule the world.

Such a goal sounded incredibly taxing.

It also sounded like the sort of title that prompted either swift subjugation or furious rebellion from fools.

Lucien sought something far more practical.

Influence.

Sufficient influence to sway critical decisions when opposition grew perilous.

Enough trust to ensure his words were heeded before disaster struck.

Adequate strength to thwart those who mistook liberty for license to wreak havoc upon all others.

He possessed knowledge unknown to most of the world.

The Abyss. The sealed timeline. The Primordial Incarnations. The consciousness of the Black Mass. The pronouncements of the Tree of Creation. The Origin Core.

All these loomed behind his choices, like an unseen tempest threatening everyone.

Lucien couldn't disclose everything to everyone.

Not at this juncture.

Perhaps never.

Therefore, he chose to build.

Systems could ready people for truths they weren't yet prepared to comprehend.

This belief had become fundamental to him.

Once, Lucien had aspired to construct a sanctuary for his people.

He no longer deemed that sufficient.

Perhaps it had never truly been enough.

In a cosmos where Abyssal Arch-Lords could debate timelines, where Primordial Entities coveted the Origin Core for reasons transcending the universe, and where diminutive worlds floated amidst the desolate remnants of perished possibilities, absolute safety was an illusion.

A protective wall could crumble.

A formidable barrier might fall.

A secluded haven could be discovered.

Even a deity might seek entry.

No.

A refuge was inadequate.

He required something more potent than mere concealment.

He needed a mobile shield.

A civilization capable of sustained endurance.

A responsive, interconnected network.

A populace that could evolve rapidly enough to confront impending storms before they escalated into extinction-level events.

Lootwell originated as his domain.

Now, he intended for it to become a mechanism for the world's survival.

This thought frequently occupied his mind.

Especially when observing the Middle branch taking shape from the landscape.

This endeavor was not about evasion.

It was about embedding himself so deeply into the world that when cataclysm arrived, it would encounter organized resistance, not scattered victims.

It would face a united front.

• • •

Lucien stood in solitude near an unfinished terrace, gazing down at the central construction zone.

The wind carried a symphony of sounds: dust, light, the clang of hammers, distant merriment, urgent commands, the profound groan of shifting earth, and the subtle thrum of active energy arrays.

Progress was undeniably underway.

Yet, Lucien’s expression turned grim.

For somewhere beyond the confines of the Big World, smaller worlds continued their aimless drift.

The mere possibility of Primordial Incarnations reaching them first sent an unsettling chill through his heart.

• • •

Thus, days melted into nights.

Whenever Lucien could spare the moments, he searched.

When time was scarce, he contorted his schedule ungracefully.

The Obsidian Tower became his vantage point into the vast emptiness.

The interplanar void stretched before him, depicted in successive layers of receding distance.

Lucien searched.

Again.

And again.

Constantly.

He extended tendrils of his perception through the tower’s sophisticated instruments, attempting to trace faint resonances of world-shells, planar rifts, and the delicate pulse of nascent laws.

More often than not, his efforts yielded nothing.

The gray expanse was simply too immense.

That was the fundamental difficulty.

It lacked any dependable navigational markers.

On one occasion, Lucien pursued what appeared to be the rhythmic pulse of a small world for six continuous hours.

It transpired to be a defunct planar fragment, endlessly replaying its final dawn.

He remained seated in contemplative silence for a prolonged period upon this realization.

Then, he dismissed the holographic projection and massaged his weary eyes.

Occasionally, Seran accompanied him on these searches.

At other times, Lucien ventured into the void alone.

Sometimes, they both emerged from the gray expanse to investigate a promising lead with more direct methods.

More frequently than not, their expeditions concluded without success.

Yet, neither of them relented in their pursuit.

• • •

Meanwhile, the construction endeavors proceeded unabated, indifferent to Lucien’s mounting frustrations.

The Middle branch expanded at an astonishing pace.

Lilith, it seemed, had discovered a renewed fount of inspiration.

She declared that the primary administrative hub of the Middle branch would not be situated on solid ground.

When this pronouncement was first made, the planning chamber fell into an expectant hush.

Lucien slowly lifted his gaze from the schematic.

"What precisely do you mean?"

Lilith gestured towards the central district.

"This entire section ought to be airborne."

Anvil-Horn erupted in robust laughter.

Seran’s smile manifested instantly.

Eirene’s eyes sparkled with evident intrigue.

Lucien intently studied the diagram.

Lilith calmly manipulated the holographic display.

A substantial portion of the projected territory ascended above the core district, delineated by a shimmering outline.

Lucien observed the elevated structure.

"That doesn't resemble an administrative zone. It appears to be a floating city."

Lilith offered a single, decisive nod.

"Precisely."

Lucien closed his eyes briefly, absorbing the declaration.

She certainly stated it as if he had merely grasped an obvious conclusion.

Virel, who was present, let out a soft chuckle.

Aniel offered a gentle smile.

"The Celestial Dominion boasts floating cities," Aniel stated. "We are able to provide ancient levitation ward structures and the principles of balance."

Lilith's eyes sparkled with interest.

She had discovered a worthy challenge.

And whenever Lilith encountered a challenge, structures began to behave as if they had been awaiting their destined creation in humble anticipation.

The Middle Continent placed great importance on appearances.

This was one of Seran's astute observations.

In this realm, mere power was insufficient. Power had to be outwardly displayed. It needed to be sculpted into monumental symbols, grand enough for proud factions to feign respect for their practical applications, rather than succumbing to their potent emotional intimidation.

A floating administrative city would convey a multitude of messages simultaneously.

This new branch was intended to be permanent.

Lootwell possessed the capability to construct above the existing land.

Lootwell could rigorously control all access points.

Lootwell would not be compelled to beg for recognition.

And most crucially, any individual seeking an audience with the true administrative core of this nascent territory would be required to enter through a path meticulously chosen by Lootwell.

No unauthorized aerial approaches. No swift ascents. No cunning sect elder drifting in with a concealment art and an overabundance of self-assurance.

The sole official entryway would be established through an instant-teleportation link situated within the central chapel.

Clara, as one might expect, was thoroughly delighted.

"Excellent," she declared.

Lucien regarded her with a discerning gaze.

"You seem to find that amusing far more than is warranted."

"My lord, it is a truly magnificent design. Those who aspire to attain authority must first undergo a process of purification, registration, and a thorough review of their conduct."

Clara beamed.

The system for entry became an integral component of the grand plan.

Wind restrictions, spatial locks, pressure fields, and identity verification protocols would encircle the entire city.

Should anyone attempt to breach these defenses by flying through them, they would face repulsion, forced grounding, containment, profound humiliation, or a polite escort to the perimeter.

•••

The concept of the floating city originated as a mere idea.

Then, Lilith transformed it into a formidable reality that demanded a solution.

Her study of Celestial levitation wards proceeded with such remarkable speed that it left three veteran Celestial engineers speechless for several prolonged minutes.

On the sixth day, the initial foundation ring began to ascend.

It did not immediately achieve sustained levitation.

It hovered a mere finger-width above the ground.

The assembled workers ceased their activities.

Spectators collectively held their breath.

Lilith slowly raised her hand.

The golden clauses exerted their influence, tightening their hold.

The foundation ring lifted another inch.

Then another.

Subsequently, the entire ring achieved a state of stable equilibrium.

A resounding cheer erupted throughout the construction site.

Lilith did not outwardly display a smile.

However, her eyes shone with a triumphant gleam.

•••

Lucien then turned his thoughts to the dungeon.

Yet, Lootwell's Ascension Spire held too much significance to be replicated without meticulous care. It served as one of the territory's foremost pillars, and its intricate internal mechanics were deeply intertwined with the primary territory, the dungeon batteries, the influence of the Origin Core, and the individuals who had evolved alongside it.

An exact replica would inevitably be weaker.

Worse still, its creation would be a demonstration of carelessness.

"This branch requires something distinct," Lucien mused.

Consequently, Lucien dedicated even more of his time to studying the fragment of the Origin Core.

The sixty merged fragments pulsed with an erratic rhythm, much like a broken heart desperately attempting to recall the body it was once a vital part of.

Its inherent authority had demonstrably grown.

And most importantly, Lucien could perceive the emergence of distinct possibilities.

Lucien's gaze sharpened with newfound focus.

Perhaps he could uncover a vital clue within it.

Not to replicate another Ascension Spire precisely, but to devise a structure with a parallel purpose yet a fundamentally different nature.

A construction that would be uniquely characteristic of the Middle Continent branch.

And thus... Lucien meticulously divided his time amongst various crucial tasks.

Experimentation. Diligent study. Strategic location. Constructive building. Careful oversight.

Gradually, with each passing day, he acquired deeper understanding.

As the days progressed, Lucien persisted in exploring the latent potential concealed within the amalgamated Origin Core fragments. He rigorously examined their authority, refined their operational functions, and implemented modifications wherever feasible without jeopardizing the network's overall stability.

He never ceased his quest for the elusive smaller worlds either.

When the construction efforts required his direct involvement, he lent his expertise to the building process. When an overwhelming number of decisions accumulated within Lootwell, he returned to provide oversight for the main territory. During any available moments of quietude, he devoted them to intense study.

He continued this rigorous routine until his dedicated efforts finally yielded significant results.

The tangible outcomes began to manifest visibly.