In the Pentagon, a technician handed a printout to a colonel in camouflage fatigues. "Colonel, one of our Eye-in-the-Sky satellites suddenly lost contact while passing over Soviet airspace. This is the last image it captured."
The colonel glanced at the image, "Why is it so blurry?"
"Signal interference was extremely strong. This image is after technical restoration."
"What are these black things?"
"They resemble storms."
"Six storms forming a hexagon?"
"Sorry, Colonel, we don't know."
"Could it be a weapon? Like a laser specifically against satellites?"
"This..." The technician hesitated. "We can't rule out that possibility..."
"Are there images from other satellites?"
"We tried with another satellite, but... the signal was even blurrier, almost nothing could be restored. It's like there's a shield blocking our observation."
"What are they hiding? Could it be a new military base?"
"..."
The colonel pondered for a moment, "Continue the investigation and prepare the documents, I'll report to the Joint Chiefs."
However, a few minutes later, the colonel returned, puzzled, "Stop the investigation. The Secretary has issued an order; this matter involves national security."
...
In the Soviet Union, in the South Ural region, Arkaim Basin.
This place has always been shrouded in various mystical legends. Here, clocks malfunction, the magnetic field becomes chaotic, and people's heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature fluctuate wildly. The air temperature also undergoes drastic changes in a very short time.
Some say it is a base for the landing and take-off of extraterrestrial spacecraft. People have also found extremely ancient city ruins here, formed by many concentric circles, resembling a huge city ruin like a mysterious magic array.
But in another dimension unseen by ordinary people, an incredibly magnificent city stands here.
It seemed to have once been a mountain range, hollowed out on the east and west sides, filled layer by layer with various buildings, like a pyramid.
At the highest point of this mountain city, a huge golden-topped castle sits in the clouds, overlooking the entire city.
Powerful and ancient magic keeps this palace, named "Spring Palace," at a constant temperature of 20-30 degrees, eternally like spring.
At this moment, a young wizard in a patchwork robe, adorned with feathered headgear, rushed into the palace, shouting to everyone he met, "I need to see Grand Duke Ivan!"
Soon, he was brought before a tall and handsome middle-aged wizard, "Azar? What's wrong, why are you so panicked?"
"Grand Duke Ivan, the Great Shaman Alexei has passed away."
"What?"
"The Deer Spirit brought the news. It's certain."
"How did he die?" Alexei, as one of the most prestigious Great Shamans of the Arkaim Shaman Joint Council, held significant political importance for this city of magic. Whether for him, as the city's governor, or for the Emperor residing in the Spring Palace, Alexei's influence could not be ignored.
"Our people are investigating, but according to the messages sent back, the Great Shaman battled a terrifying force in the Bryansk Forest where he practiced."
"You mean someone killed him?" Grand Duke Ivan was astonished. "Who could do such a thing?"
Unlike most European countries where wizards live scattered among muggles, in the vast lands of Siberia, there is only one wizarding city, the holy city of Arkaim.
To resist persecution by the Church, hundreds of years ago, countless wizards gathered here, establishing this sanctuary.
In this city of several hundred thousand wizards, the most formidable combat wizards are in the Emperor's Guard, and nearly half of them had been taught by Alexei.
The Great Shaman could summon the spirits of the four elements and even command all things in a region through "True Words."
In the hearts of many Arkaim wizards, the Great Shaman Alexei was like a god walking among mortals.
Who had the power to kill such a person?
"Go, investigate thoroughly, and quickly!" commanded Grand Duke Ivan.
The Emperor was about to come of age, and debates over whether he should start governing were becoming more intense. Soon, a Shaman Joint Council meeting would be convened to discuss this. Alexei's usually neutral opinion was particularly important, but he died at this time?
This might be an opportunity, but it could also be a trap. He had to figure things out before the Emperor, to stay a step ahead!
Azar left the side hall, ready to head to the Sky Street Terrace, the only place in the palace outskirts where one could traverse the spirit world.
But suddenly, a voice stopped him, "Azar, long time no see."
...
In the Bryansk Forest.
Azar suddenly appeared from a whirlwind, accompanied by a strikingly beautiful teenager around fourteen or fifteen years old.
As soon as they appeared, they smelled a burnt odor in the air, along with a chilling coldness.
"Shaman Azar," a wizard greeted them.
"What's the situation? Did you figure out what happened?" asked Azar.
The latter glanced at the teenager beside him, hesitated for a moment, "Something terrible happened here, the whole forest has become very strange... I better take you to see it."
Azar followed the wizard with the young boy. Soon, they understood the meaning of the latter's words.
The forest seemed twisted by an incredibly terrifying force.
Most of the trees were burned to charcoal, but some seemed to burn even more thoroughly, turning into standing ashes. They even saw a tree whose leaves maintained their original shape but turned gray and collapsed into a pile of ash at a touch.
This was within the realm of understanding, but soon, they encountered an oak tree with crystals growing from its branches, a beech whose leaves were flames yet didn't burn itself, and a pine twisted like a whirlpool.
The earth was cracked with countless fissures, some filled with electricity, some spewing flames, and others whistling with wind.
"Elements..." Azar suddenly said. "The elements in this area are completely chaotic."
"Great Spirit of the Sky, Nebolev, please respond to me..." He tried calling the true name of the nearby sky spirit, but there was no response.
The spirit world, usually bustling, was now eerily empty, as if submerged by a flood.
The more they walked forward, the stronger the chilling sensation became. Gradually, a hint of green appeared before them, another tree, but eerily split with numerous fissures, a cold and terrifying magical force flowing through, flickering with emerald light.
Azar reached out his hand, but suddenly, the young boy behind him grabbed him.
The boy's voice was pleasant, "Don't touch. You will die."
"This is the curse of death."
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