Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 228 Alkaim

At the Pentagon, a technical officer hands a printed image to his superior in camouflage combat uniform. "Colonel, one of our Keyhole satellites suddenly lost contact while passing over the Soviet Union. This is the last image it captured."

The colonel glanced at the image in his hand. "Why is it so blurry?"

"The signal was subjected to very strong interference; this is the image that has been technically restored."

"What are these black things?"

"Like a storm."

"Six storms forming a hexagon?"

"I'm sorry, Colonel, we didn't know."

"Is it possible that it's a weapon? For example, a laser weapon specifically designed to target satellites?"

"Well..." the tech officer hesitated for a moment, "we can't rule out that possibility..."

"Are there any images from other satellites?"

"Our other satellite attempted to take pictures, but... the signal was even more blurry, and there was almost no reconstructed image; it was as if that area was blocking our observation."

"What are they hiding? Could it be a new military base?"

"..."

The colonel pondered for a moment, then said, "Continue the investigation, prepare the data, and I'll report to the joint council."

However, a few minutes later, the colonel returned looking puzzled. "There's no need to investigate this anymore. The minister has given the order that this matter involves state secrets."

……

The Soviet Union, Southern Ural region, Arkaim Basin.

Various mysterious legends have been passed down here for generations. Here, people's clocks malfunction, the magnetic field becomes disordered, people's heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature change abruptly, and the air temperature also changes dramatically in a very short time.

Some say this is a base for alien spaceships to take off and land. People have also discovered extremely ancient city ruins here, which are a huge city ruin composed of many concentric circles, like a mysterious magic circle.

But in another dimension unseen by ordinary people, an incomparably magnificent city stands here.

It seems that it was once a mountain range, but the east and west sides were hollowed out and filled with various buildings layer by layer like a pyramid.

At the highest point of the city's mountain, a massive golden-domed castle sits as if perched in the clouds, overlooking the entire city.

Powerful and ancient magic keeps the palace, known as the "Palace of Spring," at a constant temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius, making it eternally spring-like all year round.

At that moment, a young wizard rushed into the palace in a panic. He wore a robe made of patches of various colors and a headdress adorned with feathers. He shouted to everyone he encountered, "I want to see Grand Duke Ivan!"

A moment later, he was brought before a tall, handsome middle-aged wizard. "Azir? What's wrong? Why are you so flustered?"

"Grand Prince Ivan, the great shaman Alexei has passed away."

"What?"

"The deer spirit brought news of his death. It is absolutely true."

"How did he die?" Alexei, as one of the most prestigious shamans in the Alkaim Shamanic Council, held significant political importance in this magical city. Neither he, as the city's governor, nor His Majesty the Emperor residing in the Spring Palace could ignore his influence.

"Our people are investigating, but according to the reports that came back, the great shaman was fighting a terrible force in the Bryansk Forest where he was practicing."

"You mean, someone killed him?" Grand Duke Ivan asked in astonishment. "Who could do such a thing?"

Unlike most European countries where wizards are scattered among Muggles, in the vast land of Siberia there is only one city where wizards gather: the holy city of Alkaim.

Hundreds of years ago, countless wizards gathered here to resist persecution by the Papacy and established this sanctuary.

In this city inhabited by hundreds of thousands of wizards, the most powerful combat wizards are all in the Emperor's Guard, and nearly half of them have been taught by Alexei.

That great shaman could summon the four elemental spirits and even command all things within a region through "incantations".

In the hearts of many Alkaim wizards, the great shaman Alexei was like a god walking among mortals.

Who has the ability to kill someone like that?

"Go, investigate thoroughly, and be quick!" Ivan said impartially.

His Majesty the Emperor is approaching adulthood, and the debate over whether he should begin ruling as regent is intensifying. A shamanic council will soon be convened to discuss the matter. The opinion of the usually neutral Alexei is of paramount importance, but why has he died at this crucial moment?

This could be an opportunity, but it could also be a trap. He must take the next step before His Majesty the Emperor and figure things out!

Azir left the side hall and was preparing to head to the Heavenly Terrace, the only place outside the palace where spirits could travel.

But suddenly, a voice called out to him, "Azir, long time no see."

……

Bryansk Forest.

Azir suddenly appeared from a whirlwind.

But he was accompanied by an exceptionally beautiful boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old.

As soon as the two appeared, they smelled a strong burning odor in the air, along with a chill that made their hair stand on end.

"Azir Shaman." A wizard approached.

"How's the situation? Have you figured out what happened?" Azir asked.

The latter glanced at the boy beside him, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Something terrible has happened here. The whole forest has become very strange... I'll take you to see it."

Azir led the boy behind the wizard, and soon they understood what he was saying.

This forest seemed to be twisted by an extremely terrifying force.

Most of the trees were burned to charcoal, but some seemed to have burned more thoroughly, becoming upright ashes. They even saw a tree whose leaves retained their original shape, grayish-white, which collapsed into a pile of white ash at the slightest touch.

This was still within the realm of understanding, but soon they saw oak trees from which crystals grew, beech trees whose leaves were flames yet did not burn themselves out, and camphor pines twisting like vortexes.

The earth cracked open with countless fissures, some surging with electricity, some spewing flames, and others howling with wind.

"The elements..." Azir suddenly said, "The elements in this region are completely in chaos."

"Great sky spirit Nepolev, please answer me..." He tried calling out the true name of a nearby sky spirit, but received no response.

The spirit world, which should have been bustling with activity, was now completely empty, as if everything had been submerged by a great flood.

The further they went, the stronger the chilling feeling became. Gradually, a patch of green appeared before their eyes. It was another tree, but it was strangely cracked with countless fissures. A cold and terrifying magical power flowed through the fissures, shimmering with a bright green color.

Azir reached out his hand, but was suddenly pulled back by the boy behind him.

The boy's voice was very pleasant. "Don't touch it. You'll die."

"This is a death curse."

(End of this chapter)