Even in the Beyond, where Practitioners originate, becoming one is like a lottery, a draw made under cold stars and ancient training grounds, and if it is in their fate, they might become one in their lifetime, and most never reach it.

Now, with this technology and these findings, humans were clearly preparing to go against that fate, and Adyr quite liked the idea, letting it settle as a plan worth pursuing.

"Thank you for your hard work. I have no doubt you will reach the desired results," Adyr said to the Head Researcher, and he also thanked Selina, Rhys, and others for their hard work and detailed studies.

The reports were even better than he expected; their development was not only unbelievably fast but also headed in a direction that was almost without error.

Now, after hearing everything he wanted to hear, Adyr began the main topic he wanted to raise.

"I'm currently on my way from the marketplace to the Velari Kingdom." He paused to make sure everyone's attention was on him, then continued.

"I'm not alone. I'm coming with other races, having an alliance for a joint mission with the full power of the Lunari and the Gorathim included."

The people who heard him say those two names drew a sharp breath as their focus sharpened another degree.

They all already knew the races and structure of the entire Outer Region, and knowing that, they were also aware of who was currently ruling at the top of the chain in the whole place, a hierarchy etched into every map and report they kept.

Adyr making an alliance with those top two races was, in itself, even more worthy than all the Player Headquarters had achieved so far.

A lone man with no external support had surpassed an entire world, a legendary tale made real before their eyes.

But this was also why they chose Adyr as the spearhead and became dependent on his leadership in the first place.

They wanted someone to show the way amid this chaos, and before they even realized it, the man they chose had already drawn that path before them. The only thing left for them was to walk behind him.

"Many hands raise the walls; a single blueprint makes the city," Henry Bates murmured. His hands curled into fists as he looked intently at the one who had designed that blueprint.

"My agreement with them is to lay siege and wage war against the Umbraens and fight them with the purpose of erasing their presence from the Outer Region entirely," Adyr finally stated his intention and plan, then added the part that would shock them next.

"But for this mission, I don't want to use their help, and my intention in bringing them is for them to be spectators, not to be one of the parties."

The City Managers, who had stayed silent for so long, finally seemed to come back to life as one of them raised her aged and wise voice, "Do you mean you want to conduct this war with only our own power?"

She apparently understood the intention behind it, but she looked doubtful about some details, a fine crease forming between her brows.

To voice those important details, another City Manager asked, "Do you think our current power is enough to take on one of the top races in the Outer Region? You should know the Umbraens are known as the strongest, even among the other top two races.""

The doubt was evident, as there was no way they could beat a Titled Rank 4 Practitioner with their current power, as well as the other 3 Rank 4 and many Rank 3 Practitioners known to be under them, a count that made the room feel tighter.

"I understand your doubts, but it is essential for the plans I have in mind, which we don't currently have time to discuss," Adyr said, then continued, keeping the pace clipped and controlled.

"The Umbraens have 3 Rank 4 Practitioners, and I will trust Liora Virell to take them on, as she is also a Titled Practitioner now," Adyr dropped another bomb casually, letting it land and moving on as he ignored their shocked faces.

"As for the Rank 3 and lower ranks, I believe you can work with Velari Practitioners to take them out, and I suppose our power would be enough for that?" He scanned the faces to get the answer he wanted, reading confidence and readiness.

Selina stood to answer, "I believe we have enough power for that."

Then Rhys stood as well. "No problem on my side." He looked almost cager for the war ahead.

With those two agreeing and showing confidence, the room went silent again until an even bigger problem was raised by Henry Bates. "What about their leader, that Dragon Rider? He is a Titled Practitioner and currently the strongest one around, if my intel is not wrong"

Everyone's attention focused again on the solution Adyr would suggest.

If he used the Lunari and Gorathim leaders, those two Titled Practitioners would easily go against Sevrak, but since he did not want their involvement in this war, he had to have a better plan in mind.

And, of course, Adyr had a special plan for that, one they would never have expected or imagined, and he spoke with a calm smile, the calm of a decision

already made.

"Don't worry about him. I'll handle it myself."

Adyr's declaration pushed everyone one level further into shock, even more than his alliance with the other two top races.

"Are you saying you have already reached the power level of a Titled Rank Practitioner?" Another City Manager asked, finding it hard to believe yet

holding high expectations.

They still couldn't gauge the true power of a Rank 4 Practitioner, since none of them had seen one in combat. Even so, they had a rough idea from reports and

secondhand accounts.

Though Pacthold also had Rank 4 Practitioners, they served in management roles, figureheads who maintained balance and order and kept the gates to the Midlands running. Their authority existed to stabilize, not to strike. "Power of a Titled Practitioner?" Adyr repeated the question like a murmur, giving himself a few seconds to think, then answered honestly.

"I'm still at Rank 3, still a little far from reaching Rank 4, but with some strategy and the combination of my Rank 4 Sparks I have in hand, I believe I can be a

good rival for Sevrak"

Though Adyr's pure damage output was not very high, especially against a Nether Path opponent, his defense-and-evasion build was enough to change

the equation.

His innate ability allowed him to dodge any attack and then rewind his body by 3 seconds. Separately, his Citadelith Spark skill transferred incoming damage. Together, they created a loop that erased the enemy's best efforts and made him feel almost invincible, even against Sevrak.

He could at least hold him back and stall him while the others besieged the city

and took down the other Practitioners, buying the minutes that decide

outcomes.

Of course, to be sure, he first needed to fight him to prove that his strategy

would work.