Wizard: Starting With the Knights Breathing Method Chapter 2838: 579: Maya Joins the Team! The Origin of the Nest!

A month had passed.

Starlight danced across the endless expanse of the Sea of Ruins.

Silver beams occasionally sliced through the clouds and fog, while at other times they surged with the winds and tides.

The landscape around shifted without pause, as strange birds and peculiar beasts, skilled in navigating the astral realm, zipped by the vessel now and then. A few even spotted the modest craft, casting curious looks before dismissing it and flying away.

Within Secret Room Number One, Levi observed the fresh species he'd spotted and committed its features to memory, then jotted it down in his "Magical Creatures Atlas." Before he knew it, the number of otherworldly beings he'd found and noted himself had surpassed a thousand.

"The cosmos stretches out wide and without end."

He murmured with a sigh, just as a bell chimed from beyond the door.

Rowling entered and inquired:

"I hope I'm not disturbing your cultivation."

"I wasn't cultivating; I was just watching Star Realm Creatures."

"Glad to know that. Elena and the rest always mention how you've been pushing your cultivation non-stop for more than two thousand years. Looks like you're finally taking time to savor life."

"Indeed, life passes quickly; no point in hurrying excessively."

"If you've got a moment, could you fill me in on the Nelarayan situation and our plans for this trip?"

"Of course, let me summon Ritter."

Moments later, Ritter stepped in from his meditation chamber. The Purple Lightning Heart Ape had shifted into a tiny monkey shape, perched adorably on his shoulder.

Fascinated by the silver spacecraft, both the man and the monkey had been exploring it these past days, amazed at how Nora's craftsmanship outshone anything from Nelarayan.

The trio delved deeply into the Beast Master civilization's details and strategies for handling a potential refusal of their invitation.

For the journey ahead, Levi aimed to head first to the Flora Realm to see the Spider King and Little Rou, before pressing on directly.

En route, should they near the Dark Treasure Map's area or the Council of Ten Thousand Clans’ base, they'd make a stop if convenient, but skip any major deviations if it was too out of the way.

Levi planned to duplicate the treasure map and hand a version to the Spider King, letting its followers conduct a gradual search to free up his schedule.

As the discussion wrapped up, Rowling prepared to head back to her quarters when she sensed something unusual, turning her gaze to the window. Levi did the same, his face turning grave.

Far off in the distance, golden radiance seemed to bloom, and unseen ripples of combat swept toward them, effortlessly halted by the protective array enveloping Aid the Vast Sea.

Two streaks of white light clashed with a golden glow, stirring nebulae into turmoil and whipping the sea into massive swells—a truly awe-inspiring sight.

A sharp, resonant cry of a bird rang out across the heavens, unveiling a massive golden-winged avian with wings spanning three thousand zhang, ripping through space with its talons and unleashing tempests via slashing feathers.

Legendary Creature, Maya!

Facing it stood two avian-headed humanoids with angelic forms, each bearing twelve wings, one gripping a curved scythe, the other brandishing a chain.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The relentless clamor of steel striking steel filled the air.

"Serving as the mount for our Great Angel Commander would be your greatest honor and fortune. As your life nears its end, we could perform a Divine Enthronement ritual to turn you into an angel like us, granting you immortality. Doesn't that sound perfect?"

One angel, with a head like a penguin, declared this.

The other, sporting a crane-like head, added:

"You call yourself the Sky King, deity of myriad eagles, yet you're only shaming yourself. From time immemorial, our Lord—the Sky God and God of Birds—stands as the sole true Sky God. Born as a bird, you belong under our Lord's banner. Cease this futile resistance."

Maya responded icily:

"I've dwelt in peace for twenty thousand years, and I hold no desire to enter the Divine Kingdom. I want no part of that kind of eternal life."

The pair of angels let out faint sighs.

"So obstinate."

With that, they merged their powers, unleashing a savage divine technique that birthed a swirling storm vortex spanning almost ten thousand miles, trapping Maya inside with no way out.

All at once, a ray of light pierced forth and plunged into the maelstrom. Before the angels could make out what it was, a overwhelming power shattered the gale. The vortex faltered and slowly dissipated, and Maya had vanished from sight.

The two angels exchanged puzzled glances.

"What was that? Who just intervened?"

"Was it a god stepping in?"

"Damn it, don't they realize this is our Lord's Divine Domain?"

"With Maya getting away, what's our next move?"

"We'll report it exactly as it happened and leave it to our Lord to decide."

...

Back inside the ship.

The enormous golden bird stirred awake and beheld a man and a woman, their visages coming into view.

Its gaze flickered as it regarded the swordsman in black armor, filled with disbelief:

"It's... it's you."

Levi smiled and responded:

"It's been a long time."

This was the same Maya he'd met on his initial voyage through the stars. At that point, Levi had been merely a Sixth-Circle Wizard, content to watch from a distance without drawing near.

That time, Maya had shed a single feather near Levi, though he hadn't dared to claim it. Eventually, the Spider King discovered it and brought it back, allowing Levi to forge it into the divine artifact "Wind Thunder Wings."

Now, circumstances had shifted dramatically; his level matched this Level 9 Middle Stage Maya's, and his power greatly exceeded hers.

"I never thought you'd be the one to rescue me."

As Levi channeled the Power of the Green Emperor Dragon into her, Maya's wounds mended right before their eyes, and she voiced her thanks amid her astonishment.

With recovery nearly complete, Maya shifted into the form of a grown woman with blonde hair, dressed in gleaming golden armor, her look both luminous and fierce.

"My gratitude to you both."

Rowling eyed Maya and questioned:

"What made those two angels pursue you earlier?"

Maya proceeded to recount her plight in full detail.