Chapter 1: The End Times

However, at that moment, his father, who was engaged in the alchemy business, had an accident

Lin Yun looked up at the sky with a face full of fear, and then his face suddenly turned pale.

As that faint and dim light extinguished, the world of Northrend was on the brink of its true apocalypse

Now, this contract is placed right in front of Lin Yun. The amount stated is actually not large, totaling only 8,000 gold coins. When Rogge Merlin was still around, the cost of a single magical experiment conducted by Mafa Merlin could easily exceed this amount.

Eight thousand gold coins is an utterly despairing figure for the current Mafai Merlin; even if he sold everything he owned, he would still be unable to repay it

Sigh... Lin Yun exhaled, dragging his weary body through the desolate streets. There was not a sound to be heard around him, as if the entire world had been reduced to just Lin Yun himself.

For example, in Northrend millions of years ago, although at that time, the magical civilization was far from mature, countless mages were still groping their way along thorny paths, and humanity had not yet utilized magic to create one miracle after another as they would later. However, at least during that time in Northrend, the sky had not yet been torn apart by the Void Storms, and the land had not yet been covered by boundless deserts. Between heaven and earth, there was an abundance of inexhaustible and limitless magical power.

The most important thing is that living in that era, one does not have to spend night after night plagued by nightmares of the world's destruction

Otherwise, why is it that everyone else can traverse through time and space to save the world and conveniently establish a grand empire, while I must hunt for food in a scorching desert, and perhaps at any moment, I may also have to accompany this soon-to-be-destroyed world to its grave

This guy is truly unfortunate... After digesting the remnants of those memories in his mind, Lin Yun couldn't help but exclaim that this person named Ma Fa · Mei Lin is indeed unfortunate to a certain extent. A young man from a well-off family with a bright future has been brought down to this state, which is quite remarkable in its own right

As the repayment date drew closer, the already exhausted Ma Fa · Mei Lin finally broke down. After having breakfast this morning, she inexplicably fainted, and when she woke up, she had transformed into the current Lin Yun...

In the next moment after the light extinguished, a void storm tore through the sky, with massive meteors descending from above, engulfed in flames. A violent surge of energy surged forth, frantically tearing at the already fragile space. Outside Hather City, the howling winds roared, and a vast expanse of yellow sand was swept up, surging towards Hather City like a colossal tidal wave.

This naturally also includes the creditors of the Shanjin Chamber of Commerce

However, now ... ...

The once vast house is now desolate, so much so that even the mice hesitate to enter. The last servant secretly fled with dozens of gold coins three days ago. Now, apart from an old butler who remains loyal to the former master, only Lin Yun, who has traveled through time, is left in this house.

The sheltering tower in the center of the city is still operational, yet its faint and dim light always evokes the image of an aging elder. This sheltering tower, which has protected Heather City for over 3,000 years, is now nearing the end of its final moments.

Oh, by the way, there is also a contract...

At the very least, it should be changed to a different time, shouldn't it

"That's not right, it's really a bit cold..." Lin Yun had lived in Heather City for twenty years, and had long since become accustomed to the scorching sun overhead and the searing desert outside the city. This chill, which he had not felt for twenty years, crept up his back like a venomous snake slithering into his clothes, sending a shiver down his spine

It is a pity that hetushu.com is already a thing of the past

... ...

The issue is that the present is not like the past

It must be said that this Marfa Merlin is indeed quite unfortunate, as he stands on the threshold of becoming a Level 9 magic apprentice, just one step away from donning that black robe and becoming a truly respected mage

Humanity grows weaker day by day, the vast fleet of magic vessels remains forever docked in the harbor, the terrifying magic crystal cannons can no longer emit their deafening roars, and the countless planes have returned to tranquility, no longer needing to worry about unexpected guests suddenly arriving

This is Northrend, a world that once nurtured an extraordinarily brilliant magical civilization, yet has now descended into death due to the depletion of magic

The only thing they left behind was the library that Lin Yun had just departed from, which housed as many as ten thousand magical books. Each volume was a crystallization of their lifelong knowledge and experience. Had it existed in an era before the depletion of magical energy, it would have driven any mage to madness.

The sounds of cries for help, prayers, and screams

In Lin Yun's view, they are even less useful than a simple Figaro formula; at least the Figaro formula allows one to extract a tiny bit of magic from the void during meditation, whereas those profound and powerful spells can only become leisure reading during moments of boredom in this world where magic has completely run dry

This almost desperate future sent a chill down Lin Yun's spine

Even those mages who were once powerful enough to challenge the gods began to fall one after another. It was at this moment that they were horrified to discover how powerless they were against time without their magical powers. One legendary name after another was engraved on tombstones, only to be buried in the earth as Northrend declined, ultimately forgotten by people over the long passage of time.

They lie quietly in the library, covered in thick layers of dust, serving no purpose other than to evoke memories of the once-glorious world of Northrend

During the peak period of Northrend, humanity truly developed magic to an astonishing height. At that time, mages possessed the power to annihilate the world, traversing the void to battle across countless planes, with numerous races trembling beneath their staves

For Lin Yun, who has survived in a post-apocalyptic world for over twenty years and is constantly seeking to extract even a trace of magic, this is a paradise he has longed for.

Unfortunately, with the depletion of magic, all of this has come to an end

It seems quite good, a privileged family background, and a bright future

The sky over Heather City was pitch black, an endless darkness that swallowed the last glimmer of light between heaven and earth. The protective tower that had safeguarded Heather City for thousands of years finally exhausted its last bit of magic over the long passage of time

Then, it was engulfed by endless darkness

A storm engulfed the fleet of the Shanjin Trading Company, with no survivors among the hundreds of people, including Rog Merin, and the invaluable cargo sank into the sea

When Lin Yun woke up, the sky above had turned a deep blue, devoid of scar-like cracks and the blood-red sunlight. Outside the city, there was no longer an endless expanse of desert

After transcribing the last character of the Figaro formula, Lin Yun carefully closed his spellbook and left the desolate and decaying library

The dense forests, the continuous mountains, the rushing rivers, everything contributes to the boundless vitality of this world

One of the seven major guilds in Qianfan City, the Shanjin Guild, was almost emptied by creditors overnight. Every day, the families of the victims come to demand compensation, crying for their deceased loved ones while taking away the last remnants of their belongings. Mafai Merlin, who has lost his source of income, can no longer continue his expensive magical studies. He had to interrupt his path as a mage a month ago and return home to help deal with various debts.

"I have indeed been very unfortunate..." Having arrived in Northrend for twenty years, Lin Yun has always been troubled by his own luck

Once again, before setting sail, Roger Merlin customarily granted his cousin a share of the profits, requiring no investment whatsoever; he would simply await the return of the fleet to receive a substantial dividend

The ground beneath our feet is collapsing, the entire world is shaking violently, towering buildings are falling, and vibrant lives are disappearing

However, at this moment, Lin Yun, who has awakened in heaven, has no time to feel happy at all

No one expected that this time at sea would encounter a shipwreck, and even fewer could have anticipated that just after Roger Merlin left, his dear cousin would come knocking at the door demanding money based on the contract

The world of Northrend is gradually heading towards death, and the resources upon which humanity relies for survival are also dwindling. The number of humans living in Hather City is decreasing, and if this continues, it is possible that Hather City will transform into a true dead city in this silence, without even having to wait for the final moment to arrive

Finally, it has come... Lin Yun stood outside the door of his residence, his expression blank as he gazed at it all.

From the remnants of memories in my mind, it appears that the original owner of this body was named Marfa Merlin, a relatively diligent Level 9 magic apprentice who once studied under the great mage Seth. His father, Rog Merlin, used to run an alchemy business and managed the Shining Gold Chamber of Commerce, one of the seven major trading associations in Qianfan City

The sky above is gray and hazy, marked by deep wounds, which are the rifts torn apart by the Void Wind. The blood-red sun shines down as if reflecting back its light, recklessly dissipating its brilliance and heat. The scorching sunlight floods every corner of the city, while simultaneously evaporating the last remnants of life from the city.

The one who delivered this contract was Fariel, the cousin of Roger Merlin. According to their family hierarchy, Mafa Merlin should address him as "cousin uncle." When Roger Merlin was still around, he took considerable care of this cousin, providing him with substantial dividends each year. Later, he spent a significant amount of money and used numerous connections to secure him the position of constable in Qianfan City, which is truly a lucrative post, as he could receive a plethora of red envelopes each year.

This is a true disaster, the entire Qianfan City has been stirred.

This is too unscientific

However, it is still not acceptable; this Uncle Fario is not as easy to talk to as he used to be

Because Lin Yun discovered that he had unexpectedly occupied a strange body

Compared to the apocalyptic world, where extracting even a trace of magic becomes exceedingly difficult after countless years, the current era of the Northrend world resembles a shameful nouveau riche. Abundant magic is omnipresent, and even the air seems to ripple with a strong magical aura, which is inexhaustible and limitless, allowing any mage to squander it at will

After being quiet for thousands of years, Heather City suddenly became incredibly noisy, with blood and fire filling every corner of the city. The last city of humanity has also reached the end of its life

They even refer to themselves as living deities. In fact, if it were not for the depletion of magical power, some among them could indeed possess eternal and indestructible life, as they have thoroughly comprehended all the secrets of magic and fully possess powers comparable to those of deities

Of course, there is magic, an omnipresent magic