Saarthal suddenly became lively. The College's mentors were the first to arrive, coming quietly and orderly through the passage. Master A-Ran, who led them, looked at the eye of magnus with great eagerness. Accompanying him were Thalmor overseers. That High Elf mage named Ancano, with a face as foul as if it had festered for three years in a sewer cesspool and then fermented for twenty-four hours in a pile of flies, warned everyone that this unknown sphere was the property of the Thalmor.
A-Ran frowned, "Ancano, are you serious?"
"Of course. I think, if there are no problems, in my capacity as the sole representative of the great Thalmor, and on behalf of the three-province alliance of Summerset Isle (the High Elves' homeland), Valenwood (also known as Valenwood Province, the Wood Elves' homeland), and Elsweyr (the Khajiit's homeland), I am requisitioning this... area? Well, I don't care what this pile of Nord stench is called. In any case, it's under our management now. Does anyone have an objection?"
Beside Ancano, several spellblades in full gleaming Elven armor drew their weapons as a threat.
The College's teachers and students gathered behind the tall Master A-Ran. The old Dark Elf showed a thoughtful expression and was about to say something when a violent explosion rang out. Saarthal, which was firmly rooted in the mountain, suddenly had its'skullcap' blown open. Amidst the roaring sound, an ear-piercing laugh came, and a group of mages in crimson-purple wizard robes rushed in from the blast hole in the cave ceiling. The leader, riding a giant black mutated unicorn beetle, shouted in his hollow and frenzied voice: "The eye of magnus! It's the Black Worm Society! This is the offering for the descent of the great Witch God!"
The students were still bewildered by the sudden incident, but several mentors showed looks of horror, exclaiming "Impossible!" Even Ancano's hands trembled in front of these uninvited guests.
Jonas murmured, "The eye of magnus, could it be that Magnus?"
Brelina secretly whispered in his ear, "Of course it's the God of Magic! Could it possibly be Pelagius II's youngest son?"
"That makes sense."
The people around them couldn't help but roll their eyes at their intimate whispers. Can't you be a little more serious? These newcomers are truly up to no good!
The group calling themselves the Black Worm Society consisted of six individuals in total, but four were liches and two were semi-elementalized wraiths. With their arrival, a large number of flesh atronachs, like wriggling maggots in a cesspool, also crawled out of the breach. They tumbled onto the ground like dumplings dropped into boiling water; some, poorly stitched together, even had their eyeballs and intestines fall out, making the students nauseous and the others pale.
Brelina: "These things are so ugly!"
Jonas: "I'm a little hungry."
"..."
The Black Worm Society is an ancient Necromancer organization from an earlier era. Its founder is Mannimarco, also known as the King of Worms, the King of Necromancy, the servant of Molag Bal, the mastermind of the Soul Burst, an accomplice in the Planemeld, and the God of the Worm Moon.
This individual once studied with the Psijic Order but was expelled for researching forbidden magic. He subsequently established the Worm Cult. His powerful magic attracted countless people to follow him in researching witchcraft.
Due to a Dragon Break event known as the Warp in the West, people are unclear about the ultimate fate of this Witch King. Some say he became the moon over Coldharbour, others say he became the satellite of Aka's Star, and still others say he became a god through the power of the Dragon Break, or even that he was killed by the Arch-Mage of the Mages Guild, and so on.
Regardless, the Worm Moon remains the patron god of all Necromancers. The ritual for creating black soul stones requires the intervention of the Worm Moon's power.
The people of the Black Worm Society had no intention of exchanging pleasantries or debating; they immediately instigated conflict. These liches and wraiths flew in mid-air, completely disregarding the 'Levitation Act' enacted by the Empire in 3E421, and wildly threw ice storm spells, their arrogance blatant.
A-Ran shouted, "Protection!"
The mentors and students erected a combined barrier to defend against the frenzied flesh atronachs and elemental attacks. The previously arrogant Ancano silently led his subordinates into the barrier.
Just as the fighting began, more people rushed in. An old Imperial mage with white hair peeked in from the breach. Seeing the Black Worm Society's group flying wantonly, he angrily cursed using a Muffle spell, "You over there! Hey! I'm talking to you! Gentlemen, you have clearly violated the 'Levitation Act' and are excessively using Necromancy. In the name of the Arch-Mage of the Imperial Mages Guild, I order you to cease your attacks and surrender!"
Jonas mumbled, "The 'Levitation Act'? Is there such a thing? I haven't heard of it."
The old man's ears were sharp. "You, boy, over there, I heard you! Now I suspect you're also a hidden offender. I'll come for you after I deal with these bad guys!"
The leader of the Black Worm Society sneered, "A mere clown."
The twisted unicorn beetle he rode on fired a bluish-black electric current from its horn, striking the Arch-Mage. The old man shrieked, his neatly combed white hair exploding, and his figure vanished from the breach. It was unclear if he was dead or alive.
A-Ran was about to try his hand, casting two fire storm spells to clear the area, when suddenly the colors of the world before him were drained by a powerful force. He saw everything around him fall into stagnation, as if it were a charcoal drawing. "This is... time stop?"
If the ultimate arcana of the Destruction school, the Elemental Storm, was a profound technique that would earn the thumbs-up of all mages, then Time Stop was a terrifying secret art that would make even Daedra Princes tremble. The difference between the two was a matter of crossing life-level tiers.
Time, after all, is the domain of Aka, the Dragon God. This great god is truly unfathomably powerful. Didn't Lorkhan, as mighty as he was, still get smashed into pieces? Not long ago, Dagon came to the mortal realm to destroy the world, only to be beaten to a pulp by a Dragon Soul projection summoned by a mortal sacrificing a Charm. No matter which god, demon, monster, or ghost saw him, they had to respectfully call him Brother Dragon. To frolic on His venerable head, to chain the river of time, such an art is nothing short of marvelous.
In the world of time stop, all inherent colors were suppressed, becoming blurry and of poor quality, thick as if soaked in glue. Then, light passed through as if through a pale green glass, filtering out a clear, wave-like light. Objects were once again covered in this color, making everything appear greenish, like having an eye disease.
"Pardon the intrusion, Master," a gentle baritone voice spoke in a gentle imperial language.
A-Ran watched as a hooded figure emerged from the void before him. His appearance was very indistinct in the time-stopped world, but his voice was clear and precise.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"