After that day, Queen Lilith abruptly began reclaiming all resources crucial for magical cultivation and redirecting them for her exclusive use.
In the past, within the Kingdom of Babylon, when her own magical growth had reached a bottleneck, Lilith had made the selfless decision to stop consuming rare materials and instead devoted her efforts to nurturing new talent. But a true prodigy was nearly impossible to find.
The most promising orthodox witch had only just broken through to the Fifth Level—still a far cry from Lilith, a veteran Fifth Level Witch herself.
"The queen is hoarding all the resources again. Could it be… she's about to make a breakthrough to become a Legendary Sixth Level Witch?"
"A blessing from the heavens for Babylon!"
An old man wept with joy."There's hope for us orthodox witches! If we have a Sixth Level Witch, maybe we can stand against the Empress of Death, Medusa. She hasn't reached the Seventh Level either."
"The Epic Seventh Level? That's just a legend! Even the Three Witches never made it before they died. Medusa isn't the only genius to walk this world—it's not that easy!"
No one knew the truth: that Lilith had not resumed her cultivation for herself.
Future Skywhale's existence remained perfectly hidden.
Everyone assumed the queen was on the verge of transcending her limits. In reality, she was sacrificing the kingdom's resources for the weakest creature imaginable—a Slime. She gave him unrestricted access to the ancient tomes left behind by the Three Witches and fulfilled every request without hesitation.
Year 341, Kingdom of Babylon.
Lilith remained a Fifth Level Witch, and disappointment swept through the people.
Year 362.
Once again, she devoured vast amounts of resources. Once again, no progress. Hopes plunged lower than ever before.
"Your Majesty, if you cannot ascend, why force yourself? With those resources, we could have raised several Fifth Level mages!"
"We should invest in new talent. A second genius may yet rise in Babylon!"
That year, Babylon's love for their queen turned cold.
Year 381.
CRACK!
A thunderclap split the skies.
People in the streets froze and looked up. A swirling vortex of clouds gathered in what had been a clear blue sky.
"What is that?!"
Panic erupted. Children were lifted into arms, neighbors rushed from homes. Dark clouds thickened overhead.
"Rain? A storm?"But Lilith, standing atop the Royal Palace, her wooden staff clenched tight, felt something different. A terrible pressure bore down on her as she looked upward.
"No…" she whispered, trembling.
The sky churned. White clouds darkened into ink, and from the vortex bloomed a massive, jet-black rose. Suspended before it, a crimson-robed figure stood—a hauntingly beautiful woman, clutching a rose-engraved staff, gazing down upon Babylon.
"The Flower of Death."
It was Medusa, the Empress of Death.
Raising her staff high, she pointed it at the capital. Mana surged like a tidal wave, shaking the very sky. The black rose loomed, poised to fall.
Time froze.
Lilith staggered under the crushing pressure. Death hovered inches away.
Then... it vanished.
Medusa strolled casually across the sky, her gaze lingering one final moment on Lilith before she turned away.
"What a shame," she said, voice echoing like a ghost in retreat. "I heard you were hoarding the kingdom's resources. I thought… perhaps… you were finally ascending."
Her voice faded into the distance."Back in the era of the Three Witches, they had each other to challenge and surpass. But I, the reigning Empress, stand alone. For over two centuries, I've ruled a world devoid of rivals. Without a peer, I cannot transcend. To be born in such a dull age—what greater curse could there be?"
Her magic had exceeded even the Three Witches. Though she had not reached the mythical Epic Seventh Level, her might was unmistakable.
"She's surpassed them… completely."
Lilith's lips bled from tension. "Can we… even defeat this monster?"
"I-I don't know."
Inside the palace's secret alchemy lab, a plump little Slime wiggled his ahoge nervously."I used to think I was close," said Future Skywhale.
"I'm already a Fifth Level Wizard. With Grantham equipped, sitting in my flying alchemy fortress, I might match the Three Witches. But her? Give me ten more years."
"Ten years…"Lilith's voice was barely a whisper. But a spark rekindled in her eyes."Then I'll keep shouldering the scorn, the sacrifice—everything. I'll give you what you need."
Ten years from now, the world will change.
Lilith's gaze blazed.
The Dark Age of Babylon, nearly two centuries long, must end. If not… only annihilation awaits.
The Kingdom of Babylon has staked everything—on a Slime."That's enough research for today."
Future Skywhale began hopping toward the exit.
"Time to head back to the coven. The girls get worried if their little magic pet vanishes too long."
Lilith staggered slightly, watching his back."Even now… you're so powerful, yet you still let those girls treat you like a pet… letting them cuddle you and squish you however they like. Where's your dignity as one of the mightiest beings in the world?"
"Because that's my home,"
Future Skywhale said, bobbing out the door with a bright smile. "In my past life and this one, I lost my family early. They're all I've got."Lilith was silent.
She didn't doubt his words. The Slime race had been hunted in the Rose Kingdom. This King of Slimes shared her enemy.
"Home, huh… I envy them. I envy you too, King of Alchemy Grantham, for having people to care about."
She watched him go, a faint smile softening her face."Garfield… you've had it hard too, haven't you?"
She turned toward the window, dazed, eyes drifting to the sky.
In her mind, she saw him—her former knight, her lost love, now the Rose Kingdom's Royal Consort."When this is all over…"
Tears welled in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks.
"I'll leave the throne behind. I'll retreat to the mountains with you, Garfield… and live quietly, far away from war."
Just then, a witch minister entered behind her."Shall we deliver the next batch of resources to the palace, Your Majesty?"
Lilith turned.
Her face, once filled with longing, was now cold as ice."Send them."The ruler of Babylon does not cry.
Meanwhile, in Elizabeth's Coven…
The room remained just as humble as always. Elizabeth and the young witches anxiously watched the street.
Then, a familiar bouncing shape appeared.
"You're finally back!"
"Why do you always wander off? It's dangerous out there!"
"Yeah! You're only a Level Three Wizard! What if you ran into someone powerful? We heard Medusa appeared at the Royal Palace! Her magic blanketed the entire sky! She could've destroyed everything! We were terrified!"
The girls rushed to the Slime, hugging and squeezing him with worried affection."I'm fine," he said cheerfully. "Just went for a walk."
His ahoge swayed adorably. He grinned.
None of them—not even his closest companions—knew the truth.
This cute little Slime…
Was the last hope of the Kingdom of Babylon.
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