Mercer swiped a finger through the air, and the massive holographic sand table in front of him instantly lit up.
A scorching, rich world unfolded before their eyes.
Rolling mountain ranges stood like a frozen, raging sea. Dark red Molten Rivers flowed slowly through the valleys, emitting heat waves visible to the naked eye.
"This is the Molten Iron Mountain Range."
Mercer's voice echoed throughout the hall.
"A material plane with high Magic Power activity. The environment is harsh, the energies are violent—a mortal wouldn't last a day here. But for those of us in the Alchemy School, this place is paradise."
On the sand table, an area was dyed blue to represent safety, and at its center was Forged Fire Fortress, the very fortress beneath their feet.
Outside the fortress, however, more than two-thirds of the region was marked in a glaring red.
"I have operated here for forty-seven years and currently control about thirty percent of the area."
