"Wait," Mimir said as she looked at the crystal ball. "Is that the Mirror of Self? I don't remember you using it to design this test level."

"I didn't," Vincent said with a severe expression.

"Then?"

Vincent touched the crystal ball as he murmured an incantation. He frowned after failing to find what he was looking for. Then, his eyes suddenly glowed all white as if he were a god looking down on mortals. Of course, a better description of his appearance was that he had too much energy coursing through his body, resulting in it leaking through his eyes.

Vincent cast another spell on the crystal ball. A few seconds later, he disappeared from the room, teleporting to an isolated house located in what would be considered Germany in the modern period of Reality 7. Vincent saw a man in a black magic robe with the red symbol of infinity, sickly pale skin, brown hair, and deep red eyes.

"Vile creature from the Veilbreakers, you dare interfere in my affairs," Vincent said with a rough voice, not hiding his fury. His body instinctively released a pressure that would make any sentient creature with the slightest intelligence cower in fear. Vincent raised his hand, preparing to smite this creature.

"You might want to look around," the dark wizard said.

Vincent paused and observed his surroundings: "Warding Field?" One of the highest forms of Warding Magic is the Warding Field, also known as Magic Field, Bounded Fields, Spiritual Field, Divine Sanctuary, or Heaven and Earth Array, depending on the culture.

Warding Fields do not merely protect an area, but exponentially boost a wizard's magical abilities. The best fields can provide almost unlimited arcane energy for a wizard and remove the burdens from using Arcane Magic on the mind and soul. There is a saying common in the Astral Cosmos: Never fight a wizard in their magic fields.

"Do you think this can stop me?" Vincent sneered.

"I would be stupid to think such a low-level magic field was enough to deal with an Arcane Lord," the dark wizard chuckled. "But it should buy me enough time to run away."

Vincent stared at him. "Your hands have extended too far."

"You seem to have forgotten who the aggressor is in this scenario? You and the Mark One's guardian have co-opted the first shift. You are the one who has broken the covenant? Do I need to remind you of the price paid for your action?" The dark wizard had a meaningful look on his face as he stared at Vincent's left arm.

"What I do is none of your business," Vincent snapped back.

"By that logic, you cannot control how we retaliate."

"I've had enough of your nonsense. Thurisaz!" As Vincent uttered the incantation, the ancient rune materialized before him, releasing a small, powerful, yet contained lightning storm that destroyed everything in its path. The small mansion, the dark wizard, the Warding Field, and the surrounding thirty meters were incinerated, leaving burn marks and lightning sparks.

"Did you get him?" Mimir said as he suddenly teleported onto Vincent's shoulder.

"No, someone took away his soul," Vincent said with gritted teeth. These Veilbreakers were the most despicable of people across all seven realities. No matter what the High Council tries, they have failed to eradicate these dark wizards. The worst part is that these people have successfully occupied Reality 7 and are slowly driving it to its destruction.

"What are you going to do?"

"The plan will continue as usual."

"Are you sure about this?" Mimir asked. "What about your arm?"

Vincent looked at his left arm. He dispelled the illusion charm he cast, revealing an utterly black arm up to his elbow.

"A small price to pay."

"You call that a small prize? Your arm will be completely useless unless an Archmage or God King chooses to help you. Wait, is that what you're planning?"

"I've reached the limit of my potential, and this may be my only chance to see the path ahead," Vincent said calmly.

Mimir sighed deeply. "What exactly is your plan? You should understand the Arcane Council will not help you." The Archmages have disappeared from the world, and rumors suggest that only the upper echelons have the means to contact them. However, many people do not even believe that to be true.

"If the kid survives his third shift, I can report to the council, and they'll have no choice but to take me seriously. If he can survive all seven shifts under the Veilbreaker's manipulation, Project Eight will be cancelled, saving a lot of resources and even lives. Then, I can be rewarded," Vincent explained.

"Have you forgotten your post? How do you expect to do your job with one missing hand?" Mimir argued.

"The sealed demon is on its last breath, so it should be alright. Plus, aren't Liu Xing and Kerma here?"

"They have their own duties."

"Which are not as serious as mine. Anyway, in the worst-case scenario, I'll ask a friend for help and pay the necessary price."

"You are risking too much," Mimir complained. This plan relied too much on a random kid they had met for less than a month.

"That's why I must continue to push the limit of the covenant and help him as much as possible," Vincent replied with stern eyes.

"What if your gamble fails and you lose everything?"

Vincent did not immediately answer her. Instead, he looked in the distance. "Do you remember three hundred years ago when I first summoned you as my familiar?"

"I do," Mimir nodded. "You were an ambitious young lad at Nordstern Magic Academy, full of ambition and drive. Sadly, your magical talent was only above average."

"And do you remember what my dream was?"

"To be an Archmage."

"I still remember those days. Many of my classmates, who were more talented than I, never even became Grand Sorcerers. A few geniuses achieved the [Arcane Ascension] in their 50s, but it took me 120 years."

A 120-year-old Arcane Lord was young, as the most basic Life Extension Spell, which slows down the body's aging process, can allow humans to live for more than 800 years.

"More than 200 years have passed since then, and I've never forgotten that goal." Many people told him he would never be an Arcane Lord, but he defied expectation. After more than 120 years of studying and training, he met the requirements for the [Arcane Ascension Ceremony] and survived the process, proving everybody who doubted him wrong. However, Vincent was not satisfied. His dream was not achieved.

Unfortunately, the path ahead had eluded him. Life had beaten Vincent, and he had to accept his fate. His talent would not allow him to walk the Archmage Path. However, he might have an opportunity if he could meet one and get their advice or training. Christian was the way to that objective.

Mimir sighed deeply. "I'll support you, of course." A familiar was bonded to their summoner, meaning Mimir would accompany Vincent until the end of their life. "But I will still complain. This plan is too reckless."

"I know," Vincent smiled.

"What do you want to do with the mirror?" Mimir asked.

"The purpose of the shifts is to train him. If he cannot survive this little trick, then there is no future for him." Although he planned to help Christian, he would not coddle him.

"I'm more interested in how these vile things entered this plane?" Vincent said with a ferocious look. This plane was separated from a parallel dimension of Reality 7 to turn into a seal of a Demon Lord. As the keeper of the seal, he had absolute control.

At least, he should have. Christian's entry was from a power even above him, but he should have been aware when a member of the Veilbreaker entered this place.

"It seems a lot of people are about to die," Mimir muttered. The only explanation for this oversight was that a traitor was involved, and he knew how Vincent dealt with traitors.

"Let's go," Vincent said as he apparated away.