Cursed Immortality

In the northern wing of the Witch Palace, Jacob stood in front of another blue portal, reading to depart for the trial plain, which was going to descend in a few minutes. 

Since this was his primary objective, it was impossible to delay, and he didn't want to lose control of his body either. So, he willingly decided to move out. 

As for this portal, it didn't lead anywhere near the Vile Witch Valley. In fact, Jacob found that the witch palace wasn't even located in the Vile Witch Valley but hidden somewhere in the neutral plains closer to the coastal line. 

These portals are made with a unique rank runic array called the Space Portal. Space Portal required a Great Elder Rune Artificer, a rank higher than the Elder Grandmaster, to make this array in two specific points before connecting them with their unique array signatures.

In the entire Epic Plains, the Witch Queen Margret was the only Great Elder Alchemist, but even she was only able to create three of these Space Portal Arrays because of the rarity of the materials. 

She made one space portal in the Vile Witch Valley that led to the inheritor grounds, and it activated, but Jacob destroyed it. 

However, the remaining two space portals were specifically made for the owner of the Witch Palace. One led to somewhere in the center of the Epic Alive Plains, while the other was at the border between the Alive and Dead Plains! 

Since Jacob had inherited the entire Witch Palace, he was able to get his hands on the extremely precious map of the epic plains and many locations, including the Witch Palace, which was marked in it. 

Furthermore, that map was left in a specific star watch, which should be the best in the epic plains, and with that star watch, he could give commands to the palace system remotely and open these portals or even the main entrance. 

Without the Star Watch, it was impossible to enter the witch palace anymore unless extreme force or a superior rune artificer than the Witch Queen Margret appeared. 

That's why Jacob was very reluctant to leave this fortress and wanted to spend some more years, at least until he could absorb everything. Just the workshop in this place was enough to give Jacob the freedom to bring 60% of his weaponry knowledge to fruition. 

In the end, he had no choice but to focus only on the important things, and now he was ready to leave and exit. His decision was…

"Alright, as soon as I exit, close this portal!" Jacob gave the command and entered the mirror-like portal. 

The next moment, Jacob found himself in a dark tunnel wide enough to hold him, and the only light was from the portal, which soon disappeared as the portal vanished the moment he crossed it. 

Although it was dark, he was able to see with his night vision clearly. He moved forward towards the hidden exit. 

After walking for over a hundred meters, he found a runic gate blocking his way. This gate was just like the one in the inheritance ground. He took out a new crimson key, which was apparently the master key of the witch palace, and inserted it into the keyhole. 

The next moment, the runes on the gate shimmered brightly, and sounds of cogwheels spinning were heard, and the next moment, the door shifted. 

Jacob saw greenery on the other side, and he walked out. Looking back, he saw the gate was installed in a cliff, and as he took out the key, he started to close off. The moment he was locked, the gate's appearance changed, and now it appeared as part of the cliff. 

His lips rose, "How thoughtful. No wonder no one had ever discovered this place after so many years." Pleased with the security, he finally paid attention to the thick forest he was in. 

Since he remembered the pathways around this portal, he knew where he had gone. However, right at this moment, Jacob felt a vibration on his new star watch. 

Startled, he looked at it, and the next moment, the static voice started ringing. 

"Warning…warning…warning! 

"Someone is attacking the Epic Void Star Serve! 

"Please use any means necessary to stop the attack, or the epic plains will be cut off from the star network for years! 

"Anyone who can stop this attack will be granted immense rewards!"

Jacob was shocked when he heard those unknown words, "What in the world?" 

He had no idea what was going on and thought the star watch was malfunctioning as it kept repeating the same message, and nothing else would open. 

'Could it be something is really attacking the star network? But who? And what is this Epic Void Star Server? Even if someone is crazy enough to attack it, shouldn't it have some defensive measures?' Jacob wondered with a frown. 

However, a few seconds later, Jacob suddenly looked up as he heard a massive explosion, and thereafter, a blinding white light covered the entire blue sky. 

Jacob's eyes widened because that white light seemed somewhat familiar, 'I couldn't be?' He thought with bewilderment.

However, looking at the star watch, then that ridiculously loud explosion followed by the white light that could cover the sky, Jacob felt a chill running down his spine, 'Don't tell me someone used the White Sun Missile against the star network no less?!'

Jacob knew just how destructive the white sun missile was and its aftermath. Although he sold them knowingly of what kind of destruction they were capable of, he never thought someone would use them against the Star Network. 

'No! It's just a coincidence!' He rejected the silly notion. 

However, when he looked at his star watch, which fell silent after that explosion, he found himself sweating because there was written, 'No Star Network Available!' 

No matter how he looked at it, this didn't seem to be a coincidence but a huge scheme! 

As the white light started to vanish, Jacob's heart turned colder and colder, and in the end, he inhaled a deep breath and muttered, "Now this spells serious trouble!"