Imprisoned for a Trillion Years, I Was Worshipped by All Gods!

No one knew how much time had passed.

It felt like countless years, and yet only a fleeting moment.

When Alan finally came back to his senses, the woman in the wedding dress was smiling warmly at him.

He glanced to her side—empty.

The image of Nicolas she had painted was now gone.

Just as Alan was about to speak, the woman raised her hand, and a staff of emerald green light appeared in her palm, surrounded by an intense concentration of magical energy.

Alan immediately recognized it—it was the same staff that had floated above the castle gates!

As she held it in her palm, her fingers gently caressed its surface, as if stroking the skin of a beloved.

"This staff was forged by the two of us together long ago," she said softly. "Though it's been worn down by the passage of time and no longer at its peak, it's still a tier-platinum staff, beyond the level of tier-gold. It should be of some help to you."

With that, she handed the staff to Alan.

Looking at the tier-platinum staff so close at hand, Alan swallowed hard, visibly drooling with anticipation.

Up until now, the strongest staff he'd ever seen had only reached tier-gold. A tier-platinum staff was extremely rare and highly valuable—practically priceless!

And from what the wedding-dress woman had said, this staff had once even surpassed the tier-platinum level!

This was an unbelievable opportunity!

Alan carefully received the staff. "Thank you, Senior. I promise I won't tarnish its name."

The woman simply smiled, unbothered.

"This staff is called the Divine Oak Staff. It once symbolized our love.

Now…"

She smiled again—a free, unburdened smile—as her entire figure began to fade into mist.

"Senior—what's happening to you?" Alan asked, watching her slowly dissolve into shimmering light.

The woman turned her head, gazing at him one last time.

"I am someone who was forgotten by both time and the one I loved.

Now… I'm just being forgotten completely."

She chuckled softly.

"Let me give you one last piece of advice, from someone who's been there—

If there's someone you love, don't let her slip away.

Don't be like me."

And with that… she vanished completely.

Alan sighed, then bowed deeply in the direction she had disappeared, offering his heartfelt thanks.

If not for her, he would never have obtained this Divine Oak Staff.

Even just holding it, he could already feel the rich, condensed elemental energy within.

There was also a peculiar resonance between it and his staff-sword—as if they shared a magical kinship.

Just as Alan was familiarizing himself with the Divine Oak Staff, a sharp shout rang out nearby, echoing through the castle:

"Stop! Don't let her escape! The tier-diamond magic skill is in her hands!"

More gusts of wind howled as figures rushed forward!

Alan turned toward the noise—and saw the Third Princess streaking through the air like a golden flash, darting out of the side hall with incredible speed.

Behind her was the voice's owner, chasing with everything he had—

A young man cloaked in misty water vapor, his speed enhanced drastically.

Alongside him was the woman in the revealing red dress. The two of them were moving fastest, both locked onto the Third Princess.

"Hand it over," the red-dressed woman snapped coldly. "That skill is not something you can handle."

The Third Princess's expression was calm.

"Then come take it."

Provoked by her taunt, the red-dressed woman—hot-tempered by nature—couldn't hold back.

Surging fire elements erupted around her as she struck!

The Third Princess's face turned slightly disdainful. She gripped her long blade tightly—

And in the next instant, a slash wreathed in frost burst forth!

The blade light turned the rising heat of the air instantly frigid.

The fireball conjured by the red-dressed woman—about the size of a human head—vanished the moment it touched that chilling sword energy.

BOOM!

The clash of ice and fire sent waves of scalding steam surging in all directions, unleashing explosive shockwaves.

The Third Princess was forced back slightly, landing beside Alan.

The red-dressed woman also staggered back, slightly worse off.

Though she'd lost the exchange, a smile appeared on her face.

Because while she'd held the Third Princess back, others had taken the opportunity to surround them!

Nearly all the other top-tier mages in the castle now turned their attention toward the Third Princess.

She was holding a tier-diamond magic skill—and they all wanted it.

In the world of magic, spells were divided by both school and tier.

Tier-iron spells, like the basic fireball, were common and held little value.

But tier-bronze spells were out of reach for most casual mages, accessible only through academies or major factions.

Tier-gold spells were exceedingly rare.

Tier-platinum spells could spark open conflict between entire factions.

And as for tier-diamond spells…

They were priceless.

So rare that entire kingdoms would go to war over them. On the Kener Continent, they were as rare as phoenix feathers.

So when these young elites realized the Third Princess had obtained one, none of them could resist the temptation.

They all wanted it.

If they could bring such a spell back to their own factions, the rewards would be immense.

Their entire faction would be elevated in status and power.

Now, as the Third Princess stood surrounded, the red-dressed woman sneered.

"Third Princess… we're all here for the legacy. Hand it over, and no one will harm you."

Many of the other prodigies quickly nodded in agreement.

The Third Princess had just demonstrated her strength, which made some wary.

Otherwise, they'd have already attacked, rather than negotiating.

The Third Princess glanced around, then turned to Alan.

"Do we hand over the spell—or fight our way out?"

Alan scanned the group of wolves closing in and asked seriously:

"Is the spell important to you?"

The Third Princess nodded.

"It suits me perfectly. Outside, even if you had ten million mana stones, you couldn't buy it."

Ten million mana stones?!

Alan was stunned.

Then he tightened his grip on his staff-sword and the Divine Oak Staff.

"In that case… let's fight."

He turned to the crowd.

"Everyone—yes, a tier-diamond magic skill is valuable. But the rule stands: finders keepers.

That's all I have to say. Who agrees, and who disagrees?"

The group stared at him like he was an idiot.

Even the Third Princess covered her face.

Alan… really was too naive.

In moments like this, no one would play by the rules.

"For someone so naive, you're quite adorable," the red-dressed woman giggled behind her hand.

"Just have her hand it over, and we'll let you go."

Alan stared at her.

"So you're saying… you disagree?"

The red-dressed woman smirked. "That's right. What are you going to do about it—bite me?"

In the next instant, Alan charged straight at her.

[Blade Spirit] erupted with overwhelming force!

Empowered by both his staff-sword and the Divine Oak Staff, it surged like gasoline on fire—forming a raging, crushing wave of pressure!

The red-dressed woman's expression faltered—

She hadn't expected the "useless sidekick" beside the Third Princess to unleash such terrifying Blade Spirit!

Blade Spirit!

To master intent at his age was incredibly rare—those who did were all elite geniuses of powerful factions.

Not to mention—Blade Spirit, Spear Intent, and Blade Aura were known as the Three Supreme Combat Intents.

Even she couldn't afford to take it lightly!

She immediately gripped her crimson Flame Dragon Staff, and waves of magic gathered at its dragon-shaped head.

With a deafening roar, a jet of fire burst forth—raging forward dozens of meters, engulfing Alan.

But as the flames surged forward—

They were instantly distorted and shredded by Alan's [Blade Spirit],

disintegrating into mere flecks of elemental light.