Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 417 The Mastermind

“The palace is on the top floor of the temple,” Rowan explained to Silvermoon. “We need to use a teleportation device to get there.”

"A teleportation device?" Silvermoon was somewhat surprised. "This temple even has an internal teleportation system?"

“Yes, and it’s very advanced,” Rowan said, invoking the teleportation system through the master key. “The Storm King is indeed a technological genius; the complexity of these facilities is beyond imagination.”

A soft light enveloped the two of them, and space began to distort and change. In less than ten seconds, they were teleported from the hall on the ground floor to the entrance of the palace on the top floor.

The entrance to the palace was a massive door, over ten meters high and five meters wide. The door appeared to be made of some special metal, its surface engraved with extremely intricate storm patterns. These patterns were not static decorations, but rather seemed to flow slowly, as if a real storm were churning within them.

“This door itself is a work of art,” Silver Moon exclaimed. “The carving is so exquisite, and it even has dynamic effects.”

Rowan held up the crystal key, and the storm pattern on the door immediately reacted. Countless rays of light shot out from the pattern, resonating with the key. With a deep rumble, the massive door slowly opened to both sides.

Behind the door was a wide corridor, with countless luminous crystals embedded in the walls on both sides, illuminating the entire space. These crystals were not merely lighting devices, but rather some kind of recording device, storing a wealth of information.

"What's inside these crystals?" Silver Moon asked curiously, observing the crystals on the wall.

Rowan used the master key to retrieve relevant information: "These are memory crystals, containing records of the Storm King's experiences and research during his lifetime."

"Can we take a look?" Silvermoon asked excitedly.

“Theoretically, it’s possible, but it requires special equipment,” Rowan continued deeper into the corridor. “Besides, these are just ordinary records; the truly important information should be in the core area of ​​the palace.”

The corridor was long, about a hundred meters. It took the two of them a few minutes to reach the end of the corridor, where the main area of ​​the palace was located.

Pushing open the last door, Rowan and Silver Moon were deeply shocked by the sight before them. It was a huge circular space, at least fifty meters in diameter and twenty meters high. The entire space was designed as a miniature model of the universe, with countless stars floating in the air, nebulae slowly rotating, and even tiny black holes running within it.

"What is this?!" Silver Moon stared in disbelief at this wondrous space.

“A cosmic simulator,” Rowan recognized the device’s function through the knowledge he had inherited, ““The Storm King used it to study various phenomena in the universe, especially the formation mechanism of cosmic storms.”

The precision of this universe simulator is astonishing. Every star and nebula within it operates strictly according to the proportions and physical laws of the real universe. Even more remarkably, this simulator can reflect changes in the real universe in real time.

"The Storm King's research abilities are truly unfathomable," Silvermoon exclaimed. "To be able to create such a precise cosmological model, his understanding of the universe has reached a level unimaginable to ordinary people."

Besides the cosmic simulator, the palace contains many other amazing facilities. One wall is covered with countless energy weapons, each radiating immense pressure. Another wall is a huge bookshelf filled with thousands of ancient books and research materials.

The most striking feature is a huge desk in the center of the room. This desk is also made of that special crystal, and its surface projects various complex charts and data. Even after so much time, these projections are still clearly visible.

“This should be the Storm King’s last research data,” Rowan said, walking toward his desk. “Perhaps we can find some clues in it.”

The projected content on the table was extremely complex, containing a large number of mathematical formulas, rule diagrams, and some symbol systems that Rowan had never seen before. But through careful observation, he began to discover some patterns.

"These materials all seem to be related to time," Rowan analyzed. "Look at these formulas; they all involve advanced applications of the laws of time."

Silvermoon leaned closer to examine it. "And these charts look like design blueprints for some kind of countdown device."

Indeed, there are several diagrams on the table that clearly represent the design of some kind of time-related device. The complexity of these devices far exceeds the comprehension of the average person, but judging from their overall structure, they seem to be designed to slow down or stop some kind of time process.

"The Storm King is studying the laws of time?" Silvermoon asked doubtfully. "Isn't he famous for the laws of storms?"

“Strong-level martial artists typically have a broad understanding of multiple laws,” Rowan explained, “and the laws of time and space are often interconnected. Given his profound understanding of cosmic storms, it’s not surprising that he’s familiar with the laws of time.”

The key question isn't whether the Storm King studied the laws of time, but rather why he studied these time-delay devices. Judging from the information, he seems to be trying to prevent some inevitable event from happening.

“Wait, there’s a written record here,” Silvermoon noticed a peculiar crystal plate on the corner of the table. “It has something written on it.”

Rowan took the crystal tablet and carefully read its contents. The text was written in an ancient common language, but the grammar and vocabulary were highly personal, clearly the handwriting of the Storm King.

"Time is running out, and the prophecy is gradually coming true. The resurgence of the Lord of Darkness seems unstoppable. I must find a way to slow down this process, at least to buy more time for those who come after." Rowan read the contents of the record.

"The Lord of Darkness?" Silvermoon frowned. "What is that?"

“I’m not sure either,” Rowan shook his head, “but judging from his tone, it must be some kind of extremely dangerous entity. The Storm King clearly sees it as a huge threat.”

Continuing to read, the record mentions even more worrying information:
“According to my calculations, the complete resurrection of the Lord of Darkness will take approximately ten thousand years. During this time, he will continuously send his minions to create chaos throughout the universe, collecting the energy needed for his resurrection. I have designed a time-sealing device in the hope of slowing down this process.”

"A time-sealing device?" Silver Moon pointed to the design drawings on the table. "Could these be it?"

“Very likely,” Rowan said, studying the blueprints carefully. “If these devices were actually built, they might still be operational right now.”

This discovery deeply unsettled both of them. If the Storm King's records were true, then a terrifying being called the "Dark Lord" did indeed exist in the universe, and it might be gradually resurrecting.

“We need more information,” Rowan decided to investigate further. “There should be other records here.” The two began a systematic search of the various documents in the palace. The ancient books on the shelves recorded a large amount of the Storm King’s research results, including his understanding of various laws, his observations of cosmic phenomena, and some prophecies and speculations.

In a thick logbook, Silvermoon discovered more records about the Dark Lord:

"According to ancient prophecies, the Lord of Darkness was once one of the most powerful beings in the universe, but was sealed away during an epic war. The prophecy says he will resurrect at a specific time, bringing unprecedented catastrophe."

“I’ve spent a lot of time studying these prophecies and found that the time calculations in them match my observations of cosmic phenomena very closely. I’m afraid this isn’t just a simple legend, but a reality that’s about to happen.”

"When were these records made?" Rowan asked.

Silvermoon checked the log's timestamps. "Approximately five thousand years ago, shortly before the Storm King's death."

“So according to his calculations, it’s still about five thousand years until the Dark Lord’s full resurgence,” Rowan said, performing a simple mathematical calculation, “but during this time, those servants should be constantly active.”

This deduction led both of them to think about what was currently happening. Could the sudden conflict between the two great empires over the succession of the Storm King be related to the activities of these "servants"?

“We need to find more specific information,” Silvermoon suggested, “especially the descriptions of the servants.”

The two continued their search and, in a secluded corner of the palace, discovered a special secret room. This room required a special key to open, and the master key in Rowan's possession happened to meet the requirements.

The interior of the sealed room was not large, but it was meticulously arranged. A huge star map hung on the wall, marked with countless positions and times. On the table were some special detection equipment and thick observation records.

“This should be the Storm King’s secret research lab,” Rowan observed the surroundings, “specifically used to study information related to the Dark Lord.”

The star map was marked with extremely detailed information, including records of anomalous activity in various regions of the universe. Shockingly, many of these markings pointed to the star system where they were currently located.

“Look here,” Silvermoon said, pointing to a marker on the star map, “the area around Port Reno is marked as a 'high-risk zone,' and right now.”

Indeed, the star chart clearly indicates that a major event will occur in Port Reno at some point in the future. Although the specific details are unknown, the color and symbols of the markers suggest it is definitely not a good thing.

"Could it be that the conflict between the two empires is not accidental, but part of some larger conspiracy?" Rowan began to realize the seriousness of the matter.

Deep within the research lab, they discovered the final record left behind by the Storm King. This record used a special encryption method, and only those who inherited the legacy could decipher it:

“My time is truly running out. The servants of the Lord of Darkness have begun their operation; they are plotting a massive conspiracy. I must activate the time-sealing device before I die, even if it only delays time a little.”

"To those who inherit my legacy: If you are reading this, it means my plan has at least partially succeeded. But the danger is far from over; you must stop the resurgence of the Lord of Darkness. Remember, the true enemy is not the conflict on the surface, but the manipulator hidden behind it all."

"The events at Port Reno are just the beginning; a greater crisis lies ahead. Trust your instincts, find like-minded partners, and only by uniting all forces that can be united can this disaster be stopped."

After reading the record, Rowan and Silvermoon fell silent. They had originally thought they were just there to handle a normal conflict between two great empires, but they never expected to be drawn into a massive conspiracy involving the safety of the entire universe.

"What should we do now?" Silver Moon asked Rowan for his opinion.

“First, we need to reassess the current situation,” Rowan calmly analyzed. “If the Storm King’s speculation is correct, then there must be deeper reasons behind the conflict between the two empires.”

“Furthermore, we cannot ignore the position of Virtual Universe Corporation,” Silvermoon added. “If this truly involves the resurgence of the Dark Lord, the company will certainly have corresponding countermeasures.”

“So what we need to do now is gather more information and then contact the company,” Rowan decided. “At the same time, we also need to closely monitor the movements of the two empires to see if we can find any clues about the mastermind behind it all.”

Just as Rowan and Silvermoon were about to leave the palace, the entire building suddenly began to shake. This shaking was different from the Imperial Legion's previous attack on the protective shield; it was more intense and more persistent.

"What's going on?" Silvermoon looked around warily. "Has the protective shield been breached?"

Luo Wen quickly checked the temple's status using the master key, his expression immediately turning serious. "Not only has the protective shield been breached, but a large number of martial artists have entered the temple, and they are moving here rapidly."

"Is it the Imperial Legion?" Silvermoon asked.

“Not entirely,” Rowan carefully sensed the intruders’ energy signature. “Besides the Imperial Legion, there were warriors from other factions. It seems we’ve been in the palace too long; the situation outside has changed drastically.”

Indeed, during their exploration of the Storm King's palace, the external situation had fundamentally changed. The Imperial Legion had finally breached the Temple's defensive systems, and at the same time, other powerful forces had arrived on the scene.

Most importantly, Rowan now exudes the unique aura of the Storm King's legacy. This aura is extremely noticeable to experienced martial artists; anyone can sense the immense power contained within it.

“We must leave here immediately,” Silvermoon advised. “Being besieged in this enclosed space is too dangerous.”

But it was too late. Rapid footsteps echoed from the entrance to the palace, followed by intense energy fluctuations. Clearly, the intruders had reached the top floor and were attempting to breach the palace's defenses.

"Prepare for battle," Rowan calmly gave the order, while simultaneously mobilizing the new power within his body.

The legacy of the Storm King not only granted him a profound understanding of the laws of nature but also significantly enhanced his combat abilities. Now, he is confident he can fight even against multiple equally powerful opponents.

(End of this chapter)