Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong Chapter 2582: 1423: The Lord's Contemplation (Part 2)

A wave of relief and excitement washed over the gathered allied strongmen as they processed these words.

While many had previously suspected as much—given that something must have restrained "Corrosion" for three millennia—it was now confirmed that a heaven-defying Magic Restriction truly exists, enveloping the entire Earth!

Leo Ray, however, remained deep in thought, his brow tightly knit as the experts surrounded him.

This revelation pointed toward another grim reality: the Great Catastrophe was likely a pre-ordained event, orchestrated by the same powerful entity that established the Magic Restriction.

Based on every clue he had gathered, only one being possessed such power: the "Prompting Voice" of the Deity.

This theory was supported by the fact that while the "Prompting Voice" had brought forth Xiao Jing and other matters related to the [Stone of God], it had never provided a Stone Spirit specifically designed to neutralize "Corrosion."

“If that is the case, is this entire ordeal a meticulous script written by the ‘Prompting Voice’? But as a Deity, what could be the motive for forcing the Ten Thousand Clans and ‘Corrosion’ into a final, bloody confrontation?”

“No, that perspective is too narrow. Could the arrival of a billion Lords also be a variable meant to fight ‘Corrosion’? What is the nature of this grand chessboard, and what does the ‘Prompting Voice’ ultimately desire?”

Leo Ray exhaled slowly, trying to steady his racing heart.

He had unraveled the mechanics of the Great Catastrophe, yet he felt he was still miles away from understanding the fundamental truth of this world.

“Everything must trace back to the Era of Blankness; of that, I am certain.”

“Furthermore, there is more to this heaven-defying Magic Restriction than what has been shared. It cannot be just a simple wall.”

Shifting his focus back to the present, Leo Ray addressed the Seeker: “Your Excellency, this Magic Barrier you speak of—its purpose isn't merely to keep you out, is it?”

“Oh?”

The Seeker, still inhabiting the form of Xiao Jing, tilted her head while listening to Leo Ray’s inquiry.

However, unlike the natural charm of the original Xiao Jing, the Seeker’s movement was stiff and eerie, resembling a reanimated corpse.

“If the Magic Restriction was only a physical barrier, and you could bypass it simply by exploiting loopholes during Magical Ley Lines eruptions, the Great Catastrophe would have consumed us long ago.”

Leo Ray’s eyes sharpened as he continued: “Take your escape from the depths of the Ley Lines into the Loren Royal Capital as an example. That eruption wasn't natural; it was caused by the Alliance Army shattering the Absolute Defense Barrier tied to those lines.”

“Your Majesty is correct. Since a pact exists between ‘Corrosion’ and the mastermind behind Poluso, replicating such an event wouldn't be difficult—they could even do it in large numbers.”

Grey Elder nodded in agreement, stroking his silver beard thoughtfully. “It stands to reason, then, that some other limitation has stopped you from doing so. The Magic Barrier must serve a function far greater than just blocking a path.”

“I suspect the Magic Barrier acts as a lethal poison to ‘Corrosion.’ Even a mere touch might reduce you to cinders. Since the unstable passages created by Ley Line eruptions are fraught with contact with the barrier, that is likely why ‘Corrosion’ cannot manifest in massive quantities.”

“I have clearly underestimated your intuition.”

A flicker of helplessness appeared in the Seeker's eyes. She spoke truthfully: “But you have only grasped half of the reality. If it were that simple, the ‘Ruins Returner’ would have sacrificed countless ‘Corrosion’ to reach this place, as our numbers grow faster than yours.”

“The truth is, after many trials, the ‘Ruins Returner’ discovered that once the amount of ‘Corrosion’ in this realm hits a specific threshold, the Magic Barrier’s power surges. The loopholes in the Magical Ley Lines vanish instantly. Consequently, the number of ‘Corrosion’ that can slip through is too small to truly threaten the Ten Thousand Clans.”

“After all, [Stone of God] wielders are common among the elite powers, and even mid-tier factions are aware of us and have battled us frequently.”

The Seeker shrugged. “That is the primary reason ‘Corrosion’ has been unable to launch a full-scale invasion.”

“What a mysterious system. Could the ‘Prompting Voice’ have designed this as well? A way to train the Ten Thousand Clans to fight ‘Corrosion’ before the real war starts?”

Leo Ray nodded, his mind spinning with new possibilities.

“Or perhaps, it was designed to allow ‘Corrosion’ to slowly acclimate to this world’s environment, preparing them to eventually drown it.”

While Leo Ray pondered, the allied experts felt their spirits lift.

The realization that the Magic Barrier had loopholes had initially filled them with dread, but the existence of such a formidable secondary defense was a great relief.

“I would suggest you don't celebrate yet.”

Noticing their joy, the Seeker frowned. “When I crossed the Magic Barrier, it was already fraying. I fear it is now on the verge of total failure. When that sky falls, so will your world.”

The Seeker shook her head with an air of resignation. “Of course, I cannot hide from the judgment of the ‘Ruins Returner’ forever. But before that happens, I assume you have no intention of letting me walk free?”

The Seeker stared into Leo Ray’s dark eyes, her voice devoid of emotion. “Lord of the Human Clan, if you have the power to shield the White Knight, you have the power to destroy me. I confess, I cannot defeat you.”

“Your Excellency, why such grim talk? We are currently traveling the same road; why would I strike you down?”

Leo Ray replied with a light shrug and a faint smile.

“Lord of the Human Clan, are you serious?”

The Seeker’s eyes widened in shock. “I am ‘Corrosion’!”

“I am aware. But you are also the Seeker. Furthermore, regardless of your motives, it is an undeniable fact that you saved the White Knight.”

Leo Ray’s expression turned serious. “For those reasons, I see no cause to execute you right now. However, mark my words: if you attempt any deception, I will show no mercy.”

Leo Ray had a secondary motive for this mercy.

The Seeker was the only "Corrosion" entity they could actually talk to. She possessed a wealth of information that could prove vital to their survival in the future.

“If that is your decision, then I am exhausted. I hope our paths never cross again.”

The Seeker fell silent, her body becoming as rigid as a statue.

A moment later, the White Knight collapsed. When he eventually stood up, rubbing his temples in pain, the haze in his eyes vanished, replaced by a familiar, gentle light.

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I have caused you great trouble!”

Recovering his senses despite a splitting headache, the White Knight bowed deeply to Leo Ray.

“Rise. You haven't been a burden; in fact, you’ve done us a great service. Thanks to you, we understand ‘Corrosion’ and our current peril far better than before.”

Leo Ray reached out to help him up, smiling warmly. “However, because of the current situation, I must limit your movements for a while.”

“Your Majesty’s word is law. I am willing to lay down my life for you; a few restrictions are nothing.”

As he replaced his mask, the White Knight nodded firmly.

“White Knight, wait outside the hall for now. I will designate a location for you shortly.”

Leo Ray gave a slight nod and signaled for Crisis and the others to lead him out.

Once the White Knight had departed, Grey Elder stepped forward, his aged, wrinkled face marked by a look of extreme gravity.