In a grand, ornate royal hall, the king, priests, and Egyptian nobles sat, watching the center of the room with unreadable expressions. No mockery, no sympathy, no arrogance. As for the sorcerers, some showed shock, others anger or fear, and a few barely concealed their satisfaction.
They had all witnessed what had just happened—the sorcerer they had called a "miracle," the successor to the First Tower of Magic, had been defeated effortlessly. He had been just one step away from achieving the highest title after reaching the sixth level—an accomplishment no one had neared in centuries. And yet, he had fallen to someone who hadn't even reached the beginner level among sorcerers.
That sorcerer, once believed to be an unbeatable genius, could not comprehend what had happened. He had unleashed spells from the third level, then the fifth, and finally one of the most devastating spells capable of obliterating an entire city. Yet, none of them had any effect. Meanwhile, that mysterious apprentice had only used a small fireball. But as it approached, the sorcerer felt an overwhelming weakness, as if his very existence was collapsing—as if he were nothing more than a speck before the explosion of the universe. He had no choice but to surrender.
His mind screamed:
"Is this possible? Is it just an illusion? How was I not even a match for him?! I've fought dragons, survived countless battles, and now... I lose like this?!"
Before he could fully process his shock and denial, the voice of the High Priest cut through the silence, calm yet as heavy as stone:
"Do you still not understand? Death is the most important thing."
The sorcerer stared at the priest in disbelief, but the latter continued before he could respond:
"Look at that apprentice. He is the weakest among the temple's students, yet he defeated you with ease. Do you know how many apprentices we have? Imagine if immortality were real—do you think the priests would allow apprentices to inherit it? Why would an immortal elder give up his power, wealth, and luxury?"
Then, his voice sharpened:
"Even if they did, what would happen? The temples would be overrun with immortal elders, each hoarding wealth and resources while the apprentices struggle to grow. The gap would widen, and the common people would become mere tools for their desires. Corruption would spread, and power would become law. And when an immortal elder desires a young girl, but finds she loves someone else, what would stop him from taking her? Nothing. The world would collapse."
"And worse... even if the number of immortals were small, how would you feel seeing your friend, your brother, or your lover achieve immortality while you are doomed to die? Wouldn't you envy them? Wouldn't you hate them? Wouldn't you try to kill them or steal their secret? This wouldn't be a world—it would be hell."
The sorcerer, despite his shock, tried to argue:
"But if everyone knew they were going to die, wouldn't they descend into chaos as well? If life is short, no one would care about consequences."
The priest smiled, as if expecting the question:
"True... but there is a difference. After death, there is judgment. And when you know you will be judged, you think before you act."
Then, in a quieter but firmer voice, he added:
"Life is just a journey, and death is its final destination. If you try to escape it, you'll find yourself running endlessly, clinging to life by any means. But in the end... you'll realize you're fleeing from the inevitable. And if you look at the thing carrying you, you'll find it has died too—because that is life. Even if you ride an immortal horse and run for millions of years, in the end... you will look at the world and see that it has died. Because even the world itself will perish one day."
The priest paused for a moment before speaking again, his voice unwavering:
"You and your group—you do not matter to us. Whether this apprentice won or lost, it is of no importance. We do not waste our time as you do. Everyone in this hall is thinking of only one thing: how they will leave their mark before they go. We are not like you. We did not even show the slightest joy when you lost, because, quite simply... it was not surprising."
The meeting ended, and the sorcerer left with his group, still reeling, his thoughts spiraling. His entire understanding of the world was crumbling before him—a nightmare from which he would never wake. He did not know what to do, so he sent a report to the "Land of Magic," where it was met with great astonishment. But the only response he received was:
"We must uncover the secret of the Egyptian priests and the source of their power."
For centuries, sorcerers attempted to infiltrate the temple, but all attempts ended in failure. Even when he became the "Master of the First Tower of Magic," his primary goal remained to uncover the secret.
Yet no one succeeded. From the second to the fifth master, none could even come close to the truth.
Then, during the era of the Sixth Master of the Magic Tower, the first real breakthrough occurred. Someone had managed to glimpse a fragment of the secret. But before he could comprehend it, he was discovered—and his memory was completely erased.
When they attempted to recover it through magic, they found nothing... except for a single message he had sent before he was caught:
"A power different from mana... A different system... The secret of the gods... and the plan... The time is approaching."
Then, the message abruptly stopped, leaving them with no clear understanding.
Ages passed, the masters of the Magic Tower changed, but no new discoveries emerged. However, when the priests suddenly vanished and were replaced by others, everything began to shift.
And within just one century, Egypt collapsed, and its secrets were lost with it...
At that moment, everyone in the grand hall—immortal trainers, shamans, and sorcerers—stared in shock. One thought echoed through their minds:
"How is this possible? The sixth level, which no one had reached in thousands of years, was defeated this easily?!"
Next Stop: And now, after this shock... what is the next step?
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Did you enjoy this chapter? Share your thoughts with me—and if there's anything you're curious about, don't hesitate to ask!
A special thank you to my new female readers! While this story is male-oriented, I truly hope you find it engaging. If there's something you love or think could be improved, I'm all ears. Your feedback matters!"