"You're steering the boat?"
Sonia gave Ash a puzzled look, her eyes filled with doubt.
For any sorcerer, exploring the Void Realm was undeniably crucial. No, it wasn't just important—it was the single most essential part of their growth. Almost every miraculous encounter, breakthrough, or ascension occurred in the Void Realm. Sorcerers were willing to spend their entire lives exploring it, leaving the mundane world as little more than a stage for boasting between expeditions.
Despite its critical importance, the Void Realm remained a mystery. There wasn't a single comprehensive guide for navigating it. There might be guides, but Sonia was far from privileged enough to access such resources.
Earlier that day, during a lecture, Sonia had specifically asked Professor Tellozan if he had any helpful tips for exploring the Void Realm. Tellozan, ever honest, shrugged with his usual stoic expression.
"Sorcerers stand on equal footing because we all enter the Void Realm equally ignorant," he said matter-of-factly.
Sonia could tell that Tellozan respected her potential. She also knew he was a typical swordsman—too proud to bother feeding falsehoods to weaklings.
If even a three-winged Saint-Domain sorcerer like him couldn't provide reliable tips, Sonia didn't hold much hope for the so-called "Observer" in front of her.
"The Void Realm isn't without danger," Sonia warned, her tone growing cautious. "If I die here, I'll need three full days of rest just to recover my mental state."
Yes, sorcerers could die in the Void Realm.
The most common death? Drowning.
Any sorcerer who ventured too deep into the Sea of Knowledge or lingered too long without moving risked being swallowed whole. That was why Sonia was so shocked by the presence of the little boat beneath them. It wasn't just a convenience—it was a lifesaver, removing one of the most significant risks in the Void Realm.
Death in the Void Realm wasn't merely symbolic. It caused severe damage to a sorcerer's soul, and the stronger the sorcerer, the greater the damage. Recovery time could range from days to years.
For rookies like Sonia, the toll was a relatively light three days of rest. Fully-fledged Silver-ranked sorcerers would need at least fifteen days, Gold-ranked sorcerers might need months, and Saint-Domain or Legendary sorcerers could spend years in recovery.
Failure to explore the Void Realm meant stagnation—an immediate 90% drop in growth potential. This was why sorcerers adopted wildly different approaches: some opted for a cautious, steady path; others gambled recklessly, betting everything on high-stakes exploration.
Sonia used to lean toward the risk-takers, mainly because she had nothing to lose. But now, after discovering her talent for swordsmanship, she was more cautious. Tellozan himself had evaluated her future potential:
"Twenty years to reach Gold rank is a given. Forty years for Saint-Domain—entirely possible."
In the Starry Nation, a two-winged Gold sorcerer was no small figure. They could secure a minor noble title and live a life of relative prestige. For Sonia, that was already a dream come true. If she could ascend to three-winged Saint-Domain status, she could establish a family and leave her mark on history.
Her pragmatic goals weren't due to a lack of ambition. The harsh realities of her current life simply forced her to focus on holding onto what she had. The world might be beautiful, but for Sonia, only the part she could grasp was worth striving for.
Still, even with her newfound caution, Sonia knew she couldn't just stay still in the Void Realm. Every teacher, including Tellozan, had warned her: never remain in the same place for too long.
No one truly understood what happened if you stopped moving in the Void Realm, but the stories were chilling. Those who froze in place soon found themselves dead in the real world, their hearts ceasing without warning. Not even the most skilled healing sorcerers could save them—because their souls had already departed.
One common saying among sorcerers was this: "In the Void Realm, standing still is the same as dying."
"I heard the safest bet for first-timers is to move toward the shallowest part of the mist," Sonia said.
This wasn't a definitive strategy, just a tip passed down by seniors at Swordflower University. The success rate was barely 60%, with the remaining 40% of cases ending in peril. Still, in the complete unknown, 60% was a risk worth taking.
"No, we're going that way."
Ash pointed toward the densest, most impenetrable part of the mist. It loomed like a wall, thick and foreboding.
"What? Are you serious?" Sonia's tone rose, but before she could protest further, the boat began moving on its own, gliding steadily toward the dense fog.
"You can control this boat?" Sonia asked, her attention now diverted. "Is it your doing?"
"Yep."
"Then why did you trick me into jumping into the water earlier!?"
Seeing Sonia's hand inch toward her wooden sword, Ash hurriedly waved his hands in surrender. "I didn't know I could control it back then! When I told you to jump, I was genuinely curious!"
"Curious to see me make a fool of myself?"
"Curious to see how you'd handle the water… Wait, wait! Calm down! We're entering uncharted territory here—danger could appear at any moment!"
The boat glided through the thickening mist. Despite her frustration, Sonia huffed and sat back down, gripping her sword tightly.
As the layers of mist passed, Sonia felt something strange—a sensation like knowledge flowing into her body. Her consciousness grew sharper, her skin began to glow faintly with a silvery sheen, and flashes of swordsmanship techniques filled her mind.
This was why sorcerers had to explore the Void Realm. Simply by moving, they absorbed its knowledge, which condensed into Silver Mana, the foundation of a sorcerer's strength.
When enough Silver Mana accumulated, it could crystallize into Silver Wings—the hallmark of a true sorcerer.
In that moment, Sonia finally understood why so many sorcerers were addicted to the Void Realm. The sensation of constant growth, of learning more and growing stronger with every passing second, was intoxicating.
While Sonia basked in this newfound clarity, Ash seemed more preoccupied with something else—he was staring intently at a translucent screen floating before him.
At the center of the screen was a small boat surrounded by eight squares, one of which was labeled "Worth the Journey" while others bore labels like "Pointless Effort" or "Courting Death."
Ash grinned. This Exploration Mode was proving invaluable.
Soon, the mist parted to reveal a small, fog-shrouded island.
Seeing the island, Sonia's heart skipped a beat. Something about it felt familiar. Her mind flashed back to the trial she'd undergone in her dreams under the Observer's guidance.
No wonder he seemed so confident. If he could simulate Void Realm trials in her dreams, real exploration was likely child's play for him.
The boat slowed to a stop, and as the two stepped onto the island, the dense fog around them dissolved.
From the haze emerged a figure—a hunter, clad in a wide-brimmed hat and wielding a long rifle.
"Beyond seven steps, the gun is swift."
The hunter raised his rifle, taking aim.
"Within seven steps, the gun is both swift and precise."