Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

  For this battle, the enemy had deployed eighteen floating ships and five hundred sky-skis. Other than the three fastest ships, The-O decimated every fleet, including those trying to fight back and those trying to flee. To the fright of many, The-O only used ten to twenty minutes to finish off the enemies.

  This display of overwhelming power put an end to thoughts of doubt and resistance against the Archmage. More victories followed this one. The battle was going so smoothly, it no longer mattered if The-O was being controlled by the Archmage or set to ‘Auto-Battle’.

  With the cheap weapons and other forms of technical support offered by the Engineer Walker and the Blacksmith Walker, the faction, whose headquarters was at Treasure Bay, began to expand at breakneck speed. In a month, the faction conquered three major cities and destroyed four hostile guilds, whose survivors were quickly annexed. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the Archmage’s faction had become the most feared force in this world.

  Conquering other areas went so smoothly, the Archmage no longer participated. The-O was stationed at the center of Treasure Bay like a patron saint statue, watching over the prosperous city. Under its watchful, godly eyes, the locals willingly carried out the tasks assigned to them by the Voidwalkers — all of whom relaxed and awaited the good news.

  “At this point, we must continue to supply them with food, medicine, weapons, and other equipment,” the Archmage said during a debriefing. “According to my estimates, it would take five years for this world to be united under a single force. This will net us a population of three hundred million; only then could be considered the right time for us to reap what we sowed.”

  “There’s no need for force. I’m sure every one of them will consider the new world a beautiful paradise, so they’d chose to move there, like the faithful embarking on a pilgrimage. At that point, reward, punishment, despotism, and oppression are what we’ll need to rule them with.”

  When the Archmage was done with his speech, a round of applause rang out.

  This was not out of the ordinary for the old man, who used to be a warmongering emperor. For the plan’s lack of guile and finesse, it was highly-efficient and time-compliant, as Baiyi’s new world would be completely inhabitable in five years. That would be the best time to send all three hundred million people, who would act as coolies and work on the new world. [1]

  “As for me, I’m knee-deep in our mining marionette project. The marionettes produced would be able to work under extreme conditions,” the Engineer Walker said. “We’re talking about solidified reserves of unadulterated mana. If we can excavate them, we’ll not need to worry about running out of mana for centuries.”

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  “The cost of making those marionettes is too high, though, no? It’s not worthwhile. I would humbly suggest that we invest in decent protective gear, instead. I’m sure there are more than a few foolhardy idiots amongst the three million hundred coolies, yes? They’ll make excellent miners,” the Devil Walker said, presenting a rather wicked idea. “If you allow me to return to my hometown briefly to ascend the throne as an Abyss Lord, I could provide you all more free labor! You see, highly-saturated mana may be lethal to humans, but it’s ecstasy to us demons……”

  “Not bad. We can give this idea some consideration.” Baiyi nodded. “Alright, now that we have settled this otherworld’s issues, let us turn our attention to the world behind that second portal……”

  As Baiyi’s understanding of the Temporal Laws deepened, he learned how to open the second portal without the War God. This portal led to another unexplored world that had magic. A preliminary investigation painted this world as a relatively traditional one, with an ordinary civilization, but further investigation was planned.

  More portals to other worlds were established, and the Voidwalkers, for a time, focused all their attention on exploring these new worlds. Although these worlds had different cultures, histories, and societies, not one of them was accomplished in science. These worlds each had a unique approach to technology, and some of them had civilizations as advanced as Isythre’s. However, every one of these worlds used magic. It was a letdown.

  A report containing a thorough analysis of the data collected from the otherworlds — as well as data from subsequent experiments designed the implied conclusion — was launched shortly after. The Voidwalkers had, to their dismay, proven that these portals could only lead to worlds that were connected to theirs. These otherworlds were similarly closed and positively limited, a stark contrast to the vast, ever-expanding universe that Baiyi was from, wherein Earth, other galaxies, and many other planetary objects could be found.

  It was only natural that science-centric civilizations would not be discovered from closed universes like these.

  Despite the disheartening conclusion, the Voidwalkers forged on, making use of the discovery of the otherworlds. Each one of these worlds had something unique to offer: the formula for a tonic that could significantly extend one’s life expectancy; crazy plants that react accessibly to external stimulation; temerarious crops evolved with hyper-adaptivity to just about any external condition; a delightful trick that could 2D characters climbed out of phones [2]; a wondrous charm that made one popular and well-liked among women, but the user had to be appropriately gentle.

  The abundance of unique ore resources and the discovery of fantastic flora and fauna were the cherries atop. The exploration of these otherworlds had significantly benefited the Voidwalkers. This was evident on a morning that the Engineer Walker called over the other Voidwalkers.

  Grinning with pride, the Engineer Walker led over a curvy young lady and announced, “Meet my wife!”

  The other Voidwalkers were shocked!

  “After our last inter-world trip, I was struck with an inspiration to create a hyper-sentient, super AI! Using the cutting edge marionette technology, I made my wife!” The Engineer Walker beamed, after which he patted the shoulder of the beautiful AI. “Come, greet everyone!” [4]

  Other than a somewhat glassy look, this beauty would not pass for an android. She walked over, as the Engineer Walker instructed, and politely introduced herself to Baiyi. “Good day to you, Mr.Hope. I am Master Engineer Walker’s wife.”

  Her behavior did not differ from a human’s. In fact, this beauty acted like a well-mannered woman of the upper class, well trained in etiquette and decorum. If the Engineer Walker had not informed them that she was an AI, Baiyi would have thought that the girl was abducted.

  ‘Since when did technology advance this far?’ Baiyi wondered.

  “Ahahahaha! This could be the most significant contribution made to mankind! I have invented the cure to a plague that has bothered so many young, single men for eons!” The Engineer Walker boasted.

  “It’s amazing! She’s even more gorgeous than me,” Lady Assassin Walker murmured. She walked over and cupped the android’s cheeks, and with a tone of slight jealousy, she said, “Even her skin is better than mine……”

  “This is because I’ve been nourished by my master’s love since my birth. I am sure that if you were given the same treatment, you, too, will — oomph, mmpff?” Before the beautiful android could finish, the Engineer Walker quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

  Cough! Cough!! “She was just fooling around!” The Engineer Walker stuttered and quickly dragged his wife away.

  Since then, the Engineer Walker had been updating and optimizing his wife. Every season, the beautiful android would be given another appearance, and the Engineer Walker would show her off again.

  “Must you change your wife every season?” Baiyi asked flatly.

  “Shouldn’t a man change his waifu every season?” the Engineer Walker, who had his arm around his wife’s shoulder, replied dismissively. Now, his wife had the appearance of a high schooler with a bob haircut. She was young, ‘fresh’, and vivacious.

  Technology continued to advance, and the human population in the new world was soon resolved. Of the twenty otherworlds where portals had been created, some were in similar situations with the first otherworld discovered by the Voidwalkers. The natives there were living in poor conditions, waiting for their world to disintegrate. The prospect of migrating to a new world was quickly embraced by them.

  Then, there were slaveholding worlds, from which Baiyi bought humans from local governing bodies. There were also otherworlds hostile to outsiders. When the Voidwalkers arrived, these xenophobic natives immediately took up arms and attacked, but they were defeated and taken hostage.

  The Voidwalkers continued to explore otherworlds, and eventually, the number of people in Baiyi’s new world reached three billion. Baiyi decided to stop the exploration, and allow nature — and the natural ability of humans to reproduce — to take its course in population control.

  Air filled the atmosphere, and the flora and fauna blossomed in the new world. Time was ripe for human habitation. The three billion people that Baiyi had won over were to the new world, and the hard work of the pioneers and the technology of the Voidwalkers — along with their ‘whip or the honey system’ was used to kickstart the new civilization.

  The advance in magic and magic-tech engineering allowed this process, which was supposed to take millennia to complete, mature in only centuries. Baiyi continued to meddle with the flow of time between Isythre and the new world, so the centuries passed in a few years for the Voidwalkers.

  It was a pretty peculiar sight to behold. Forests and wildlands were conquered; mountains were flattened; many farmlands were made; roads were paved at breakneck speed, and small settlements eventually became cities. Baiyi felt as though he was playing a live-action version of Civilization.

  Baiyi did not relax his authoritarian surveillance, though. As the ultimate custodian of this world, no cause of instability could escape his eyes. Religion? Not a chance. Emancipation and freewill? Unacceptable. These were forbidden till Baiyi deemed it time to allow them. [3]