The devil, intriguingly enough, is a spirit that doesn't keep bad blood. Not too long after his unexpected transformation into a magic wand, he surprisingly let go of any hard feelings about the event. Sometimes, he even thought this change might have been a good thing. Being cradled in Adam's grip felt weird and limiting, but at least he wasn't thrown into risky missions as expendable bait. This new role brought a sense of security.
Being a devil with no grand dreams or aims, his simple wish was to keep living and experience the never-ending wonders of the mage realm.
The Tower provided three essential mission tools for Adam this time.
Firstly, there was a spatial anchor, handy to ensure that beginner mages wouldn't be flung away by the fierce etheric tempests in the vast void. Next came a magic scroll. If a mage on an expedition stumbled upon a new Plane, this magic would aid in piercing its shield. Last but not least, an information recorder was given. After collecting enough valuable info, it could link up with the Mage Network and relay all the details back.
Each tool was meant for support, and none directly enhanced one's fighting skills.
"Master, the mages from the Tower sure are tight-fisted. They couldn't even hand out something that might save your life. You're putting everything on the line, and it's a mystery if that promised five percent profit will be significant or even worth the danger," the devil remarked, his eyes darting uneasily over the many 'Adams' bustling around the lab. He shuddered a little, then ventured to converse with one of these Adams.
For now, Adam's function was akin to an undercover agent back on Earth. He wasn't allowed any items that could give away his true identity. If he made it back, he'd earn the status of a hero; if he met his end in a foreign Mage Plane, it would be as though he was never real to begin with.
Adam set aside the mission tools and picked up the information container for a thorough read. At this moment, getting a grasp on the general info regarding the mission's Plane was of utmost importance.
"A Plane dominated by dragons?"
The information container offered sparse details: Information gleaned by a lone mage journeying between dimensions. After the Tower decoded and scrutinized the data, their preliminary conclusion was that dragons, majestic and powerful, were the main occupants of this mission's Plane. The possibility of lesser creatures living under the dragons' wings wasn't dismissed. As for the overall power dynamics, it remained a mystery.
Adam was somewhat familiar with dragons. They stood as elite entities within the mage realm, and spotting dragons in other subjugated Planes wasn't rare. Yet, a world entirely under dragon governance? That was unheard of.
The scanty details didn't faze Adam. This was the typical challenge of an Explorer. If they had all the facts at hand, direct invasions would be the next logical step, and there'd be no need for discreet advance scouting.
Over the following three days, Adam diligently invested his resources to grasp the rudiments of teleportation. His aptitude shone through as he swiftly got the hang of it. Stocking up his portable space with ether crystals, he soon found himself stepping into the teleportation hall, positioned on the Tower's ground level.
The teleportation hall buzzed with even more activity than the mission chamber. Considering the Tower was one of the very few in the mage world, it acted as a pivotal transit point for mages far and wide. For the maiden time, Adam felt submerged in a lively throng. To his astonishment, the energy levels of the entities brushing past him palpably overpowered his own.
It was in this revelation, amidst beings of formidable might, Adam had an enlightening moment, "I've truly donned the mantle of a mage."
Without warning, a radiant light beam engulfed Adam. As it receded, he found himself displaced, ensconced in a solitary space devoid of other mages. His sole companion was the shimmering spirit of the Tower.
"Mage Adam, your inaugural exploration odyssey commences now. Teleportation sequence: Five, Four..."
Hastily, Adam merged the devil into his consciousness, procured the spatial anchor, and wore it as a pendant, all while ensuring his energy remained undisturbed.
"One. Commencing teleportation."
"That sudden jolt... it must've outstripped the light's velocity."
"If I make it back, can the lab validate the remaining mathematical models?"
"Is this my second interdimensional voyage?"
While being propelled through the enigmatic dimensional fissure, a flurry of thoughts danced in Adam's head. But soon, darkness cloaked him, subduing his awareness, heralding the commencement of his lengthy voyage through space.
Once the dimensional crack tore open once again, releasing Adam, his mage armor sprang into action. The spatial anchor radiated a gentle luminescence, calming the volatile etheric currents swirling around him. A display blinked showing the spatial readings: 658745, 156764, 214564.
Blinking open his eyes, Adam stood in awe of his mage armor. Only amidst this vast expanse did he genuinely recognize the marvel of his magical defense.
Navigating within the furious maelstrom of ether, every minute encounter and the prodigious energy it displayed, instilled in Adam a profound respect for the perilous nature of his surroundings. Yet, his mage armor endowed him with the freedom to weave through the void, even with his novice mage capabilities.
And it would be remiss not to acknowledge the pivotal role of the spatial anchor.
Attempting to speak, Adam wasn't surprised when silence greeted him. He swiftly called forth the devil, morphing it into his trusty magic wand. The runes embedded on it illuminated, wrapping him in a robust electromagnetic cocoon.
Everywhere he looked, vast nothingness greeted him, save for the tempestuous ether storms. The Tower's pinpointed coordinates seemed to be slightly askew; his intended Dragon Plane destination seemed a distant dream.
In the vacuum of space, even minor deviations in coordinates translated to monumental spatial differences. Now, fortune would be his guiding star.
Adam made subtle tweaks to the unit values showcased on the spatial anchor. The anchor ascended, and an unseen energy thrust him forward, effortlessly weaving through the etheric disturbances along the way.
For Explorers like Adam, navigating the vast and treacherous maze of the mage Planes wasn't merely about facing tangible perils. The crippling loneliness, the seemingly interminable solitude, could be equally tormenting.
By the time-measurement of the mage Plane, Adam and the devil had been drifting through the void for what felt like an entire decade. The monotony had become so taxing that the devil even harbored thoughts of ending his existence out of sheer desperation. Just when hope seemed a distant memory, a kaleidoscope of colors pierced the inky void.
A vast continent, simply hanging in the vastness of the void.
A rush of exhilaration surged through Adam, revitalizing his weary spirit. The devil, on the other hand, was so emotionally charged that he battled to keep its wand shape. Adam, sensing his turmoil, exerted control to stabilize him.
But Adam wasn't one to leap without looking. He spent a full month meticulously observing this floating land from a distance. Only when he was convinced that no powerful beings could emerge from its crystal barriers did he decide to inch closer. Intriguingly, this Plane did not exert any gravitational pull outwardly.
Stowing the devil safely away, Adam, wrapped in his protective mage armor, unrolled the mystic scroll. As the enchanting magic danced around it, subtle waves began to distort the crystal barriers of the Plane, allowing Adam to seamlessly integrate into this new Plane.
But there wasn't a moment to lose, nor was there time to adjust to the new Plane's unique dynamics. Without hesitation, he invoked the potent reincarnation spell.
With a soft "thud," Adam's form dissipated, turning into a stream of information. He hurtled towards the majestic mountain range below, where towering peaks stretched skyward for countless kilometers."
