Moon’s Labyrinths - Chapter 312

“Hope . ”

Sungyoon felt his heart lift a little bit when he heard that word . Humanity was facing an existential crisis, and this word was the bright sun shining its light on humans .

“It’s a word we need more than ever now . ”

“Mmm!”

Emily, Tim, and Grace felt the same way .

No, every Connector felt like that . They savored the word .

“The magicians went through all kinds of hardship to make the seed of hope . They didn’t have food or water . The only sustenance they had were the occasional monsters that flew toward the city . They survived by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the monsters . The magicians lived a substandard life even when compared to us, who could gather a variety of foods in the Great Labyrinth . ”

The water and plants existing inside the Great Labyrinth were imbued with powerful magical energy . Therefore, humans couldn’t eat anything from the Great Labyrinth . If normal humans did that, they would die; magical energy would run rampant in their digestive system and crush their organs . If Connectors did it, they wouldn’t die, but they would suffer from a stomach ache and a reduction in physical strength . Since the descendants of Planote had nothing else to eat, they had no choice but to eat and drink such items despite the negative effects .

However, the people living in the Mage city didn’t even have those resources . The only thing they could do was find a way to stop the dead monsters from turning into moonstones . Of course, the descendants of Planote also knew about this method, and they also ate the monsters; but they had other choices . The people of the Mage city had lived a much more miserable life since they had only one way to extend their life expectancy .

“The magicians, who had been elites of our society, had to become miners . They dug tunnels underneath the tower to create an enormous magic diagram . It wasn’t a task that could be finished through a single generation . The survivors started to mingle their flesh to procreate . They did it solely to finish this device . ”

The atmosphere in the room became solemn . The group couldn’t fathom the amount of sacrifice needed to carry out such a task . It wasn’t just the magicians of that era; they fettered their children with this responsibility too .

How desperate must they have been? How much soul searching they had to do to take such measures?

‘Moreover, we didn’t find the remains of any humans or monsters here . ’

Sungyoon looked at his surroundings . When he had arrived in the capital city for the first time, he had encountered a Skeleton . According to Plu-El, the corpses left behind in the capital city were infused with magical energy when the Moon was created, and magical energy turned them into monsters .

However, the group hadn’t encountered a single Skeleton here .

This raised the question of where were all the remains .

Sungyoon could guess that he wouldn’t find a happy ending here .

“The magicians’ descendants were born to make this device . They lived to make this device, and they died to make this device . They even ate the corpses of their dead comrades to sustain themselves . This device was the fruit of their labor . However, they realized they needed a core to complete the device . It was the most important ingredient . ”

Plu-El pointed at the large crystal in the middle of the pillar .

“It was the heart of the magic diagram . It would move the ambient magical energy to activate the magic diagram . However, the magicians were short on materials . ”

The core needed and had to move massive amounts of magical energy, but in this place, it was impossible to find materials that could do that .

“They didn’t give up . They received inspiration from the monsters . If they didn’t use the special method to kill the monsters, the monsters’ corpses turned into moonstones . Realizing this, the remaining people in this city used the magical energy within their bodies to create a similar phenomenon . They transformed themselves into the materials needed to create what they needed . This was how the heart of the magic diagram came into creation . ”

Everyone looked at the crystal, which was the remnant of those who gave up everything to eliminate Grenoid . Some Connectors made the cross, and some prayed .

“The only thing left was the powerful magical energy that would be wielded by the magic diagram . The only place having magical energy of that magnitude was the Moon . The last remaining magicians, who had changed their bodies into magical energy, used a part of the power generated to synchronize with the crystal . They changed the trajectory of this city to crash toward the Moon .

“The story ends there . Those were the last words written on the pillar . ”

Right now, the Mage city was on the Moon, which only meant one thing .

“They were successful . ”

“Yes, they were . ”

Plu-El responded to Sungyoon’s words with a prideful voice . The ones who had carried out this monumental task weren’t technically her ancestors . Still, they were akin to distant cousins . She wasn’t arrogant like Aruwen . However, even if she didn’t openly display it, she was proud of being a descendant of Planote .

“They left behind their will within the Mage Gem, and they left it outside the city . After sealing the city, they made it so that only the person with the Royal Gem could enter this city . They did this because they determined one needed the Royal Gem to defeat Grenoid . Moreover, only the Royal Gem can properly handle a crystal of that size . ”

“That’s why I couldn’t open the door . ”

Bruce nodded as if he had an epiphany . At this point, his antics regarding the door was getting a bit old with the others .

“Sung Hyunwoo must’ve found the Mage Gem by coincidence, and he must’ve seen the will . That’s why he knew this place had the method needed to defeat Grenoid . Of course, I have no idea why he would give us this information . ”

Whenever Plu-El talked about Sung Hyunwoo, a menacing expression appeared on her face .

“Thank you for the story about the great sacrifice made by the magicians, Ms . Plu-El . We are all deeply moved by their sacrifices . However, you know what our situation is like . Could you please tell us how we are supposed to defeat Grenoid?”

Russell was very careful, so he didn’t offend Plu-El and the other descendants of Planote .

“I understand . ”

It seemed she didn’t feel offended by his words, and Russell inwardly let out a sigh of relief .

“The principle behind it is simple . We have to return all of the Moon’s magical energy to Earth . ”

“We have to do that with magical energy?”

“Yes . It was the reason Grenoid could trample our civilization, which had been blossoming like a flower . It has an oppressive ability to control magical energy . ”

Plu-El rubbed her hands .

“Magical energy can create numerous phenomena . It isn’t an exaggeration to call it all-powerful . It’s an overwhelmingly powerful and endless source of energy, and Grenoid can freely wield this source of energy . That’s why Grenoid is almost invincible . It was so deadly against our civilization because we based our civilization on magical energy . This was why we fell so easily . We were so desperate that we exiled all the magical energy from Earth . ”

Plu-El turned around to look at the pillar . She spoke as her eyes fell on the crystal .

“If this thing is completely activated, all the magical energy of the Moon will be sucked back toward Earth . Even the great Grenoid won’t be able to wield its absolute power . Its domination of magical energy becomes useless if there’s no magical energy . ”

“Is there any way we can stop the monsters from attacking Earth?”

Defeating Grenoid was an important problem, but right now, they needed to stop the monsters from invading Earth . Earth was their home base, and it needed to regain stability .

“Once the magic diagram is activated, it would establish a force field between the Moon and Earth . The magicians were worried that Grenoid’s control over magical energy can extend beyond space . Therefore, they created this method . The force field will block the portals . ”

“That means they can no longer send the monsters to Earth . ”

“Yes . However, you should think this through . We’ll be in the same boat . We won’t be able to use the portals either . ”

“It’s a double-edged sword . ”

Russell rubbed his chin .

“Still, isn’t it better than hundreds of thousands of people dying on Earth?”

“You do have a point . ”

Russell didn’t have a rebuttal, so he agreed with Bruce .

“However, I’m sure we can strategically use this information to create the best-case scenario for us . I’ll have to discuss it with the Mayor first . Moreover, the situation on Earth might have changed since we last contacted them . ”

Russell didn’t voice out that he suspected things would’ve worsened on Earth .

“Yes . That’s right . We gained a method that’ll allow us to choke out our enemies . We have no reason to rush this . ”

“Anyway, we can head back now since we can come here anytime we want . The Knight can travel here at any moment . Moreover, I will be able to come here once I awaken the Mage Gem . ”

“Ah . The Mage Gem won’t awaken for a while . ”

Plu-El shot down Russell’s words .

“Is something wrong with it?”

“The magicians purposefully stopped the Mage Gem from awakening . All the function of the city was converted into maintaining the magic diagram . The Mage Gem can only awaken when the magic diagram is awakened . ”

“What the hell? That means it’ll be useless for the near future . ”

Bruce was disappointed .

“That’s the gist of it . ”

Russell didn’t express it, but he was also disappointed .

“We’ll head back as soon as we are done here . We have to relay this information . ”

At Sungyoon’s words, everyone started getting ready to head back .

***

“Good! Very good!”

As expected, the Mayor became so happy that he started clapping .

“I can sleep a bit better at night now!”

Black circles had appeared below his sunken eyes . It seemed he hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep since he had lost Armstrong city .

“We just need to solve one more problem, then humanity will be out of danger . Of course, this problem is the most difficult one . ”

“What are you referring to?”

“I’m talking about the curtain call of the Moon falling toward Earth, Ms . Plu-El . ”

Even if they could stop monsters and defeat Grenoid, all would be for naught if the cradle of humanity was damaged .

“Do you think the Moon might return to its normal trajectory when we defeat Grenoid?”

The Mayor asked the question because he wanted Plu-El to deny such a possibility . However, Plu-El’s answer was cold as ever .

“I do not believe it will . The rituals did their job in changing the trajectory of the Moon . However, the Moon is moving under the law of nature . We need to apply a new force to it to revert its trajectory . Otherwise, even if we defeat Grenoid, the Moon will continue to head toward Earth . ”

“I see . ”

The answer disappointed the Mayor .

“Then let’s do what we can . It’ll take a long time for the Moon to fall to Earth anyway . Right now, we have to stop monsters from coming to Earth . We have to stop Kevil from performing the rituals so that the Moon doesn’t accelerate further . Our time won’t shorten . ”

“Should we immediately activate the seed?”

“No . ”

The Mayor spoke in no uncertain terms as he cut off Sungyoon’s desire to act .

“We have to take back Armstrong city before we do that . ”

“Armstrong city?”

“Yes . We can’t use the portal once we activate the seed . If we want to return from the Moon, we have to use the spaceships . We need Armstrong city for that, and I have no idea how much manpower and resources we’ll need to pull that off . ”

Just imagining it was horrifying . The Mayor shook his head from side to side .

“I have no idea if we’ll succeed or fail . I personally think the odds are very low . However, we have to keep the portals open until we take back Armstrong city . ”

“But Earth will continue to take damage if we keep the portals open . ”

Emily’s worries were valid, and the Mayor didn’t deny that fact .

“That’s why we have to attack it as soon as possible . If possible, we have to do it right now . ”