Chapter 637: The Queen Intervenes

Though Duke Marcus had attended rudimentary anatomy lectures, he never imagined mages as a mystical amalgamation of both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional realms.

Before him lay the same external shell, but an entirely different internal structure.

In the three-dimensional realm, the brain controlled his bodily functions: directing each organ, ensuring the lungs breathed, the heart pumped blood, and the liver detoxified...

However, in the illusory vision of the two-dimensional, his spirit, stemming from his will, controlled the magical circuits. Within this mental realm, the flow of magic resembled countless finely-divided tree roots. Yet each circuit, save for the end that absorbed elemental forces, eventually formed a loop.

Circulating continuously, ceaselessly forging a stronger, more resilient loop.

This wasn't a complex process.

It was exceedingly straightforward.

The "Starlight Moonbeam" that surged into Duke was akin to a sudden immense force pressing down on him.

Nothing in this world comes easy.

Instant success merely signifies meticulous prior preparation.

On the surface, achieving Moonlit Brilliance seemed wonderful.

But in reality?

Could it truly be that simple?

To face the Third Dark Portal War, and possibly confront the first through sixth-generation Lich Kings, Duke laid a solid foundation for his magical prowess early on.

It's akin to laying the foundation for a skyscraper.

Had Duke's prior magical circuits been of third-rate quality, they would've crumbled like a matchstick bridge under pressure.

The magic circuit model he used was almost the finest obtainable in this era.

Built upon the robust "Arcane Throne", with both the "Phoenix Blaze" and "Crown of Frost" soaring side by side.

Moreover, in perfect sync with the system sprite, Duke's psychic control system was eons ahead of its time.

Aware of the mages' historical evolution and the potency of new magic, Duke's circuitry was progressive, ensuring pure magic flow with a perfect balance between the three magical elements, adhering to this world's arcane rules.

Duke's eyes shimmered with arcane light as he 'looked' within. The intruding "Starlight Moonbeam", though aggressive, displayed the circuits' unmatched flexibility. The aging circuit walls rapidly shed, and the resulting debris, rendered useless, was swiftly expelled through the finest branches, out of his body.

Inside, the circuit walls, sponge-like, greedily absorbed the "Starlight Moonbeam" from the outside, and the newfound radiance spread to every circuit in his body.

A sight as beautiful as the dawn dispelling darkness and illuminating everything.

At this moment, Duke encountered a snag.

There were no issues when the "Starlight Moonbeam" entered the "Arcane Throne" and "Crown of Frost" circuits. However, the "Phoenix Blaze" felt mismatched.

It wasn't Malygos deceiving Duke.

Being a primordial magical force of Azeroth, the "Starlight Moonbeam" perfectly matched any magic system of this world.

The issue was the environment.

This was the Dragon Shrine!

Neutral forces were acceptable, but to manifest Phoenix power in the holy ground of dragons was sheer provocation.

Seemingly agitated, the Dragon Shrine's power started invading Duke, with a clear aim: destroy the Phoenix-affiliated magical circuit.

Dragon energies, tinged with a hint of dragon's might, relentlessly bombarded Duke's mental defenses, obliterating everything related to the Phoenix - circuits, magic, and cells infused with Phoenix flames.

In this moment, Duke was pitted against the entire mystic force of the Dragon Shrine!

"Ugh!" Caught off-guard, Duke spat out a mouthful of blood.

A grave miscalculation!

Malygos flinched. As the Spell-Weaver, he immediately grasped Duke's plight. If left unchecked, Duke's circuits could collapse, rendering him useless in the magic realm.

Despite a fleeting hesitation, Malygos moved to assist Duke.

Both publicly and privately, he couldn't let Duke perish here.

Yet, someone acted swifter.

Defying Malygos' will, Alexstrasza, the eldest of the guardian dragons, forcibly entered, largely due to his non-resistance.

It reflected Duke's significance to her - risking a rift with Malygos to intervene.

"Fool! Abandon your Phoenix circuit; I'll give you something better!" As she spoke, Alexstrasza pressed her powerful palm onto Duke's back.

Duke truly realized the terrifying might of this world's apex beings. He believed his mental barriers, co-developed with the system sprite, were impeccable.

But against the Red Dragon Queen's assault, they melted like snow.

She employed a direct approach, identifying and neutralizing the spirit attributes on Duke's defenses, breaking down his will-powered spirit into primal thoughts.

Had she intended harm, Duke would now be mindless.

Clearly, she did not.

Although flames are wild and unrestrained, after Alexstrasza took over part of Duke's psychic control, she obliterated Duke's internal Phoenix circuit, expelling it entirely.

Duke spat another mouthful of blood, which bizarrely transformed into a murky flame upon leaving his lips.

Duke could 'see' countless golden threads, reminiscent of tree roots, sprouting and spreading from his heart, extending to every part of his body, then looping back to the heart.