Heinrich had told the Necromancy Tower Master all this to ask if she would join his plan in the final stages. If she agreed, no further explanation was needed. If not, Heinrich urged her not to take any unnecessary actions, and if she feared attracting trouble, he suggested she temporarily leave the Arcane Federation.
"Wait," Anaxa suddenly realized something, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean by 'shattering the cage'? Which cage?"
The Necromancy Tower Master quickly explained the "Knowledge Lock" situation, then said, "The so-called 'cage' is an invisible barrier 9,000 meters above us, completely enveloping our world..."
Before she could finish, Anaxa interrupted. "Heinrich's ultimate goal is to shatter that barrier at 9,000 meters altitude? No, that's not a cage—it's protection!"
"That shield was painstakingly constructed by the Twelve True Gods to protect this world from the influence of Evil Gods from beyond. If it's broken, our world will be directly exposed to their gaze!"
Anaxa then hastily explained the concept of "each world being a bubble in a vast, dark sea teeming with predators."
"Ah... ah?" The Necromancy Tower Master froze, stunned. She remained motionless for over ten seconds before finally asking, "Is... is this true?"
Knowledge was indeed locked. The Barrier's blockade prevented wizards from accessing any information beyond the world's borders—an absolute form of isolationism. For scholars, this was a truly despair-inducing reality.
It was only natural, then, for wizards who craved truth to yearn to explore the world beyond. Like the Wizard Hero from three centuries ago, whose initial motivation for gathering his team was simply to find companions to sail with him on a Magic Ship and explore the unknown.
From Heinrich's perspective, Anaxa could fully understand his actions. Had Heinrich known the truth about the world beyond the Barrier, perhaps he wouldn't have acted as he did. But therein lay the problem: as someone confined within the Barrier, how could Heinrich possibly obtain such information?
Anaxa possessed this knowledge only because Tribios, as a god, had communicated directly with Artemis, the Moon Goddess. Heinrich, being merely human, had never had the opportunity for face-to-face contact with a True God. Even if such an opportunity arose, he likely wouldn't deign to communicate with such beings.
After all, Heinrich believed that the gods had constructed this prison, imprisoning everyone. Why should he trust their word? What if they were lying?
Anaxa declared, "This is absolutely true! We must stop Heinrich before he destroys the Barrier!"
Previously, Anaxa and Hyacine had refrained from intervening, believing this was an internal matter for the Arcane Federation. But when the situation threatened Okhema and the entire world, they had no choice but to intervene.
However, after Anaxa spoke, the Necromancy Tower Master hesitated. She had survived this long precisely because she avoided meddling in others' affairs, fleeing from any hint of trouble.
When Heinrich revealed the truth to her, she had no intention of joining his cause. Her first instinct was a strategic retreat. She had only come to inform Anaxa of the truth before fleeing, considering it a gesture of goodwill.
But now, Anaxa had used the word "we," clearly inviting the Necromancy Tower Master to join their effort to stop Heinrich. This put her in a difficult position.
This mission was clearly going to be incredibly troublesome and dangerous. What if they died accidentally? After a moment's hesitation, she said, "You two might be demigods with immense power, but the Floating City is no pushover either. Trust me, you won't gain any advantage fighting Heinrich there."
Normally, one might assume that breaching an impregnable fortress from the inside would be easier than assaulting it from the outside.
But the Floating City was different. It had extensive defenses against internal intrusion. The Necromancy Tower Master explained, "Take the Ninth-Level Enchantment School's Ritual Magic, the God-Binding Lock. This magic was specifically designed to restrain god-level enemies, capable of sealing divine power. The Floating City is undoubtedly riddled with these traps!"
Meanwhile, as Anaxa and the Necromancy Tower Master conversed, Pela had completely fainted beside them. She recognized every word they spoke, but when strung together, she couldn't make sense of a single sentence.
Floating City, a weapon against gods... Knowledge Lock... Everything beyond the world is an Evil God... What on earth was all this? The sheer weight of these concepts was crushing Pela's young mind.
The Necromancy Tower Master's final words, "Perhaps both of you Demigods," lingered in Pela's mind. But who exactly is this "you" she's referring to?!
Despite the confusion, Pela grasped the general meaning. "But... don't we have no reason to fight Headmaster Heinrich? Couldn't we just tell him the truth and convince him to abandon his plan?"
The Necromancy Tower Master froze, a look of sudden realization dawning on her face. That's right! We don't need to fight Heinrich to the death. Persuasion is the key!
Her gaze fell upon Anaxa, who stood before her. Isn't Anaxa the perfect one for this? He can argue circles around anyone, reducing them to shreds with his words.
Clenching her left fist, the Tower Master slammed it into her right palm. "Good! Let's hurry and stop Heinrich! We can't let him make such a grave mistake!"
Since there was no apparent danger, she was naturally eager to agree. This mission offered a triple reward: gaining the favor of two Demigods, rescuing Heinrich from the brink of disaster and earning his gratitude, and preventing a catastrophic error. What a win-win-win situation!
The moment the Tower Master finished speaking, the four felt a violent tremor beneath their feet. Then, the entire ground began to rise slowly!
With all foreign visitors expelled, the Floating City was now officially taking flight!
Anaxa's Divination School projection magic remained active, allowing the four to witness the colossal city—over twenty kilometers in diameter—ascending ever higher: ten meters, fifty meters, a hundred meters!
The city's upper levels were a tapestry of towering structures, while its underside resembled an inverted mountain peak, a sight so awe-inspiring it seemed like a divine miracle.
Earlier, a merchant who had been expelled from the capital and vowed to denounce the Arcane Federation in other nations now stared upward as the nation itself took to the skies. His eyes widened like copper gongs, his jaw dropped open in utter astonishment.
After a moment of stunned silence, he muttered, "Never mind... I won't condemn them after all..."
The perspective shifted back to Anaxa's group. He, Hyacine, the Necromancy Tower Master, and Pela had just exited the Transmutation Tower. Logically, with the Floating City freshly activated, Heinrich would likely be at its core.
But as they stepped outside, a massive half-body projection of Heinrich materialized directly above the Floating City. His gaze swept over the scene below as he calmly announced, "I have a momentous announcement to make! We are embarking on an unprecedented endeavor!"
Heinrich then slowly began to explain the concept of the Knowledge Cap and his plan to slay the gods and shatter this limit. He didn't reveal the specific steps of his plan, only its underlying principles and ultimate goal.
After all, with the entire city now airborne, he had to explain his intentions. He couldn't possibly lead a group of clueless individuals into battle!
Heinrich continued, "From the moment I discovered the Knowledge Cap had been locked two centuries ago, I felt utter despair. We've all been living like prisoners, trapped in a tower woven by the gods."
"Some might find life within this tower comfortable enough, but I disagree. I want to see what lies beyond its walls, no matter the hardships or the strength of the enemies we face. That's why I've been preparing for this moment for two centuries!"
"My fellow Wizards, you are the most elite and powerful spellcasters in the world. I humbly ask for your aid. Help me reclaim the inherent right of humanity: the pursuit of knowledge and the freedom to explore the world!"
The moment he finished speaking, the projection in the sky bowed deeply. Everyone lives within a "prison," a prison that may be vast or small. The largest prison is the world itself, while the smallest might be each individual's eyes.
The places one can see define the interior of the prison, while the unseen realms lie beyond its walls. Some find contentment in such a confined world, even reveling in their limitations, but Heinrich could never accept this.
If Heinrich were a fish trapped in a bathtub, he would leap out, even if it meant suffocating on the floor. If he were a caged songbird, he would relentlessly batter against the bars until he exhausted himself to death. That was the kind of man he was.
After bowing, the aerial projection continued, "If you are willing to assist me, simply declare 'I agree.' The Illusion Nodes scattered throughout the Floating City will detect your voices and project the task requirements before you. If you prefer to leave, head to the northernmost point of the Floating City, where Teleportation Arrays have already been prepared to transport you away."
"One last solemn word: Though I have prepared for this for a long time, there is no foolproof plan in this world. I cannot guarantee this plan's absolute success, but I will do my utmost. If I succeed, there's no need for further explanation. But if I fail, I hope the world will remember this history and that in the future, others will continue the path I could not complete."
After the relatively short but deeply sincere speech concluded, Anaxa and Hyacine simultaneously let out long sighs. Anaxa said, "Let's go find Heinrich."
Just then, several white-robed wizards appeared before them, blocking their path. One of them turned to the Necromancy Tower Master, his brow furrowed deeply, and said, "Friedrich, you refused the Headmaster's invitation and should have left immediately, not dragged others here to sabotage this plan!"
This was precisely why the foreigners had been expelled earlier. Heinrich didn't want unreliable foreigners underfoot while executing such a crucial plan. What if they tried to stir up trouble? It would only complicate matters.
In contrast, Heinrich deeply trusted the natives of the Arcane Federation—or rather, he placed unwavering faith in the very word "Wizard." He believed that even if they didn't actively assist, they certainly wouldn't obstruct his plans. After all, breaking the Knowledge Lock and shattering the cage could only benefit any true Wizard.
Yet now, an unexpected complication had arisen: Anaxa and his companions.
Seeing the situation, the Necromancy Tower Master immediately interjected, "No, Headmaster Heinrich's assumptions are completely wrong! The Barrier at 9,000 meters altitude isn't a cage, it's protection! If Heinrich continues to push forward with his plan and shatter the Barrier, the consequences will be catastrophic!"
However, the Diviner glanced at Anaxa before turning his gaze back to the Necromancy Tower Master. "So, you learned all this from him?" he asked calmly. "You choose to trust an outsider who infiltrated the Arcane Federation with unknown motives, rather than Headmaster Heinrich?"
"Uh..." The Necromancy Tower Master was left speechless. She glanced at Anaxa, and the truth was undeniable. To the Arcane Federation, Anaxa and Hyacine were outsiders, especially since both were Demigods.
Suppose Heinrich's theory is correct—that the Barrier 9,000 meters above is a prison created by the gods. Could it be that the gods discovered Heinrich's plan and, at this crucial moment, exactly one year before his plan was to be executed, Anaxa and Hyacine arrived? Perhaps their true purpose is to sabotage Heinrich's plan and prevent humanity from escaping their divine prison?
But that doesn't add up, the Necromancy Tower Master thought. If Anaxa and Hyacine intended to intervene, why hadn't they acted sooner? Why wait until the Floating City ascended? There were countless opportunities before.
Moreover, it was she who had revealed Heinrich's plan to Anaxa, prompting him to decide to stop it. After a brief moment of reflection, the Necromancy Tower Master reaffirmed her suspicions.
At that moment, Anaxa declared, "Let me see Heinrich. I have a way to prove my words are true."
The simplest method would be the Wizard Divine Artifact, the Magic Ship. This vessel can leave the world and sail the pitch-black outer sea. It's worth noting that when Okhema first acquired the Magic Ship, it was in a damaged state. However, after all this time, Melly had long since repaired it.