Heir of Synthesis: The World Mage

The planet Verdant Star floated through the cosmos of the Mortal Plane like an emerald heart. It was almost completely covered by very bright green vegetation, being a rare planet where natural life was absurdly vast.

Despite being rare, this place wasn’t truly special. That was because, in the same solar system, there were four other similar planets that eclipsed its rarity.

These planets were Vermilion Star, Aureate Star, Purpure Star, and Ebony Star.

All of them possessed dense natural vegetation and gave off a glow in completely different shades from one another. But, in the end, the 5 sibling planets were almost identical, with only a subtle difference in the predominant energy.

Why did five planets so similar exist together?

Anyone from the Mortal Plane would know the answer: this entire solar system was the domain of a single Sage.

He had literally created life on those planets, allowing nature to develop. The races only came to inhabit them after that. Everything was done using his abilities and magical domains. Because of that, it was common for them to be similar.

The entire universe was full of places that were almost identical, very close to one another.

...

Going back a few hours in time, before Priam returned to the building where the people of his clan were.

On the planet Verdant Star, it was early night inside the Ylisse clan.

The ”Great Elder” was in the meeting hall, together with the clan Elders. He was positioned in the highest chair, where only the Leader should sit. According to the rules, whose reason the Elders didn’t know, he really was the Leader now.

During the absence of the previous Leader, which could last days or years, technically, the Great Elder assumed that position in body and soul. Besides that, no one could say anything like ”Temporary Leader” or call him by his previous title.

Anyone who dared mention that could be severely punished.

Did it seem strange? Obviously.

But this situation happened from time to time, and many generations had already passed with this rule existing. So, it had already become something normal for everyone.

At that moment, the ”Clan Leader” was discussing important matters for the future.

Orlaith sent him, once a day, all the conclusions from the meetings she had. Only he knew where she was and what she was doing, but he couldn’t tell the other Elders directly.

”I can’t understand. Why should our invested resources completely change direction? We’ve lived for millennia focusing on creating more powerful members. The results weren’t as expected for a long time, but we were getting there...” an Elder asked, indignant.

The Leader snorted. He couldn’t say the real reason, but it was an order from above.

He took a deep breath, ready to give some random answer to make them accept it. But...

**BUZZ**

At that moment, the entire planet began to tremble. An intense and disturbing buzzing made all living beings feel a primitive fear.

It lasted only a few seconds.

Everyone in that meeting room shot out of the building, frightened.

”!”

When they looked up, their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

The whole horizon... the entire planet, everything was covered by a golden light, as if it were a divine and sacred mist.

Then...

Dozens of ”stars,” pulsing with a radiant celestial-blue light, appeared high above.

The glow was so intense that all living beings turned their eyes away, almost going blind.

But... those figures from the Ylisse clan, who were the most powerful on the planet, managed to focus on it with great effort.

”They’re... Sages... no... what...”

Several stammered, unable to understand.

They were humanoids, but just trying to focus on them... all the Ether and bloodline in their bodies froze, and their entire existence was completely suppressed. They felt their knees fall to the ground against their own will.

A Sage wasn’t that terrifying!

They had already read many reports from other places in the Mortal Plane. Over the millennia, Sages really did appear on these planets.

The descriptions were always exaggerated. But no matter how incredible they were, they were still within a recognizable scope.

Those figures, however... it was like seeing untouchable Gods. Those people... they didn’t seem mortal!

”!”

”Immortals...”

One of them stammered, and everyone reached the same understanding at the same time, becoming completely catatonic.

Legends about immortals had always existed, but there had never been any information or proof of their existence. That didn’t stop Mages from dreaming and seeking that ”immortality.”

Now... these figures felt they had found something no one should be able to... but the feeling wasn’t good at all.

The ”stars” calmly moved toward the surface. Each second felt like an eternity, as if a mountain were pressing down on them more and more.

They all converged right above the clan’s territory.

The intense light around them went out. Two dozen of them approached toward the heart of the clan.

”!?”

Those Elders became even more terrified.

At the center was a short and very thin man, with a simple face and short black hair. He was extremely normal, with absolutely nothing different from an ordinary human from Earth.

But...

All of them were identical!

There were more than twenty completely identical figures. Whether in appearance, aura, or any other parameter, there was no apparent difference.

They stopped less than a hundred meters above the clan’s ground.

”Vanculari race... and Eyes of the Wind race... the bloodline signature corresponds almost completely to these races. This is the only place. We found the planet.” The one in the center spoke with a calm and indifferent voice.

He sighed lightly.

”Nice to meet you. My name is...

James Wube...”

His voice sounded polite. It was strange because he had no reason to be. These mortals were less than ants to him.

Everyone behind him snorted.

”Why the hell are you using our name?”

”You were only the first, that doesn’t make you better than everyone, idiot.”

They began cursing collectively. Strangely, all of them had the same tone and way of speaking.

”Okay, okay,” the central one sighed, turning around and apologizing lightly. ”I just got a little excited, after all... he might be listening to us. His reaction would be great to see, wouldn’t it?”

Everyone behind him suddenly stopped, understanding. They quickly extended their senses across the planet...

Seconds later, they narrowed their eyes.

One of them spoke dryly. ”Meh... that little bastard really knows how to hide. No one seems much more shocked than the others. Anyway, let’s get on with it. He can’t escape now.”

That central figure took a deep breath, a little frustrated.

”This mutant little brother of ours... really is troublesome...”