Chapter 10: The Tavern

Chapter 10: The Tavern

In this multiverse, while the dimensional barriers between the major planes are nearly unbreakable, it doesn’t mean the planes remain entirely isolated from one another.

On the contrary, intersections between planes inevitably occur for various reasons—ranging from minor interactions like mutual summoning and cooperative battles to major conflicts such as dimensional invasions and outright wars.

If the Internet God truly isn’t a deity native to the Azarea Continent, then the situation becomes far more complicated!

At best, it might simply be here to spread faith and harvest Source Essence.

At worst, it could harbor sinister, ulterior motives—such as plundering souls, resources, or even outright occupying the plane.

From the Internet God’s Prayer, "Great existence from the Azure Star," the mages could almost certainly conclude that it was an outer deity.

But what was its purpose here?

No one could guess.

The emergency meeting ultimately concluded in a heavy atmosphere.

Three of the Four Pillars of the Keville Empire decided to meet the Internet God.

The overwhelming momentum of the Internet Divine Technique’s spread was no longer something they could stop—unless they killed the Internet God, eliminating the source of the problem.

But how easy was it to slay a god?

Thus, meeting it, gaining a deeper understanding, and then making a decision was undoubtedly the most rational choice.

In a Meditation chamber engraved with countless runes, Dandell, under the protection of Qimoer and Beixi, chanted the Internet God’s Prayer, summoning the Internet.

Then, Dandell fell silent.

He waited for the Internet God’s response. The Divine Prohibition Rune Array here had already been deactivated. He believed that with the uniqueness of his Soul Power, the Internet God would inevitably take notice.

Half an hour passed.

"This…" Dandell frowned.

Qimoer and Beixi exchanged glances.

After a brief pause, Dandell vibrated his Soul Power and spoke softly, "I am Dandell, Dean of the Felix Magic Academy. Respected Internet God, I believe there may be some misunderstandings between us. Might we meet to discuss this in person?"

Before two seconds had passed, a Virtual Scroll suddenly flickered.

Dandell’s eyebrows rose as he saw a message appear in his unique social account, generated based on his soul fluctuations.

He opened it and found that his friend list had inexplicably gained a new contact—none other than the Internet God itself.

The message read:

"Sure! I’ve heard the Warrior’s Blood at the Mage’s Hat near your academy is quite good. Let’s meet there tonight at eight!"

Dandell replied somewhat awkwardly, "As you wish, Respected Internet God."

The conversation ended, leaving Dandell with a strange expression.

This Internet God seemed… rather amiable?

No, no!

Evil gods excel at deception. He mustn’t be fooled.

……

The night was dark, a cool breeze drifting through the air.

Inside the Mage’s Hat tavern, Daisova sat silently at the bar, sipping his Pioneer Punch.

The lively atmosphere of the tavern seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Though the academy hadn’t yet formally issued his expulsion notice, after causing a scene in class, he had decided to leave on his own—sparing the school the trouble of expelling him.

This drink would likely be his last in Willis City.

Tomorrow, he would depart, chasing freedom.

Did he regret it?

Perhaps.

After all, this was the place where he had pursued knowledge and honed his craft, the very ground where his reputation had soared...

Ah, forget it. Now he was infamous, someone everyone avoided. Friends? What a joke!

"Hey, buddy, mind buying me a drink?"

The greeting snapped Daisova out of his melancholy. He turned to see a young man dressed in a peculiar black coat, a white shirt underneath, and rough blue fiber pants, grinning at him.

Well, well. Had the once-renowned magical prodigy of Felix fallen so low that even vagrants dared to mooch off him?

Daisova tilted his chin toward the bartender, signaling the man to take the order.

"Thanks! One Warrior's Blood, please."

The young man called out before plopping down beside him. "Bro, you look miserable. Got dumped by your girlfriend?"

Daisova rolled his eyes.

The bartender slid over a crimson cocktail, teasing, "He’s Felix’s magical genius—he does the dumping, not the other way around."

Daisova shot back, "Big mouth!"

The bartender chuckled. "This Warrior's Blood is on me. Oh, and thanks for the Mithril Ring you gave me. Gotta say, it opened a whole new world for me. Now I can barely call myself a magic apprentice!"

With that, he proudly extended his right hand—a flicker of flame sprouted from his palm.

The most basic, most underwhelming fire spell: Burning Hands.

Yet, it was also the romance of a mage!

"Congratulations," Daisova said with a knowing smile.

The happiest moment on the path of magic was always the first successful spellcast—no matter how useless or impractical it was.

"Future Grand Magus, I’ll take your congratulations!" The bartender puffed up with pride.

But his arrogance was short-lived.

"Pfft. A tiny flame makes you a noble magic apprentice? Then I guess I qualify too." A young mercenary in leather armor at the bar raised his hand, conjuring a fiercer, brighter crimson flame than the bartender’s.

"My god, Little Colin, you’re a magic apprentice now?"

"When did you guys become magic apprentices?"

The mercenary and bartender instantly drew gasps from the tavern’s patrons.

"If I had to guess, you learned through the Internet, didn’t you?" Someone, annoyed by their showboating, pointedly revealed the key.

"The Internet? What’s that?"

"Here, this is the Internet! Listen, buy a few Interconnected Rings—get one for every friend and relative. Not only can you contact anyone anytime, but you can also learn magic, Battle Aura, Divine Techniques... Hell, there’s even cookbooks in there!"

"You can learn magic from this thing?"

The uninformed at the bar were stunned.

Further away, some patrons shut their mouths, pricked up their ears, and turned to look.

"Of course! As long as you have Points, you can even study Forbidden Magic! Check out this Library—I bet it has more books than the Felix Magic Academy!"

"Besides the Magic Book, there are also Online Classes. Here, take a look—it's just like the Felix Magic Academy, but they teach online! Last night, I listened to a lecture by the 'Youthful Mentor,' and it was absolutely brilliant! I have a feeling I’ll become a powerful mage!"

"You’re lucky. The latest Internet update allows login through prayer. Back then, I had to spend two gold coins just to get a Mithril Ring—pissed me off!"

"Though prayer login isn’t great. It tires you out easily. Magic Rune Login is still the best."

At this moment, those who didn’t know were itching with curiosity, desperately asking around.

Those who did know mostly didn’t treat it as a secret. They directly activated the Internet Divine Technique, enthusiastically explaining while watching the stunned expressions of others, feeling utterly satisfied.

"Leader Harryman, have you signed up to be an Online Classes mentor? I read the Recruitment Rules—with your Battle Master realm, you’d definitely qualify as a Battle Aura mentor."

Someone called out to a mercenary leader.

"Haha, to be honest, I’ve already applied! Got approved this afternoon. Once I wrap up some things in the next couple of days, I’ll start teaching!"

Leader Harryman declared with a flushed face. In the social culture of the Keville Empire, being a mentor was a highly noble and respectable profession.

Even someone like Harryman, who could be considered middle-class, felt immensely honored at the prospect!

Don’t let his "wrapping up some things" fool you—he had no real business to attend to. He was just nervous and hesitant, afraid to go live.

These past few days, he’d been endlessly rehearsing in his mind—how should he speak to appear knowledgeable and worthy of his Battle Master status?

The thought that in a few days, he’d become a glorious Battle Aura mentor—not only gaining fame across the Keville Empire but also earning heaps of Points to exchange for Advanced Battle Aura Techniques—filled him with excitement. He raised his glass and shouted, "Praise the Internet God!"

"Praise the Internet God!"

"Hahaha, I fucking love the Internet God!"

Some echoed the sentiment, while drunkards expressed their adoration in their own unique ways.

The tavern grew even livelier.

This kind of scene had actually started a few days ago.

Whenever someone mentioned the Internet, the atmosphere in the tavern instantly escalated, with everyone joining the discussion.

From the tangible power of magic to distant tales from some remote town, and even the divine conspiracies mentioned on the Forum—there was always something to talk about.

When the mood was high, strangers who’d just met would activate the Internet Divine Technique, Add Friends, and promise to drink together again next time.

Without realizing it, people began to feel that life had more purpose.

Amid the commotion, Daisova glanced at the freeloading man who had been listening intently and tilted his chin. "Hey, brother, do you have an Internet magic artifact?"

"Huh?" The young man blinked in surprise.

That reaction told Daisova everything. He took off his own Mithril Ring and tossed it over. "Here, it’s yours! Channel your Soul Power into it—well, if you’re not a mage, just focus your attention on the ring. You can activate it that way. Pick a power that suits you and work hard!"

The young man caught the Mithril Ring, utterly stunned.

Daisova stood up, downed the Pioneer Punch in his cup, and prepared to leave.

Just then, the tavern's lighting suddenly brightened, and the clamor in the room instantly quieted by a third. Countless people instinctively turned their gazes—only to see a group of noble mages push open the door with an imposing aura.