Two days later, the Eleanor floating island completed its final resupply at the Cliffside Dock and ascended, flying towards the Dawn Territory's heartland.

Seeing it off were nearly a hundred thousand residents of Neverwinter—people crowded the streets, climbed onto rooftops, and even ascended the Impassable Mountain Range, all to witness this historic moment. The entire western side of the city was packed with people, once again setting a record for the number of people in a group activity.

And this was just a portion of Neverwinter's population.

Even more people were busy in factories, ports, and farmlands, participating in the expedition in another way.

It also happened to be the same day that the total population of both the Border Region and the Longsong Region officially exceeded one million, with more than half coming from Wolfheart and Everwinter. Although they were not as devoted to Neverwinter as the early migrants, they could still feel the unparalleled shock from the surging crowd and the extraordinary significance of this day.

Accompanied by neat volleys of salute cannons, the Eleanor first traveled along the mountains to Longsong Fortress, then turned west, drifting further and further away, eventually disappearing from everyone's sight.

However, the residents' high spirits did not cease because of this.

The Greycastle Weekly's follow-up reports led to record-breaking newspaper sales. Whether on the streets or in the alleys, everyone was talking about this expedition. Gradually, the departure day gained a common nickname, which people called Miracle Day, representing the beginning of mankind's conquest of the skies. This was the second event to be named after the Miracle Building.

Life on the floating island was much calmer.

After the initial excitement wore off, the engineering team continued to devote themselves to their intense and orderly work.

The Sky Knights were the same. Aside from the routine reconnaissance flights, all trainees had to take off at least once a day to familiarize themselves with the surrounding terrain. The massive floating island, the busy take-off and landing area, and the smoke-filled furnace area formed a unique landscape.

"How do you feel? Can you still adapt to this new body?"

In the core area of the floating island, Roland stood at the bottom of the mine pit, looking at the Eleanor, which was firmly bonded with the Godstone pillar.

In this month, not only had the pillar grown much larger, but the Mother had also grown many new tentacles that burrowed into the soil beneath her feet, like a rooted plant—according to her, these tentacles could provide her with additional perception, thereby allowing her to better control the floating island. In a sense, the floating island was a shell, and the tentacles were her nerves.

"Much better than before," Eleanor's voice was light and cheerful. "I can see, I can hear, I can think. What more could I ask for? Compared to Elana and the others, I'm already very lucky."

"Third Seat, you are too kind," Pasha lowered her main tentacle. "Everyone knows that if it weren't for your initiative in merging, none of us would have survived. Besides, you didn't even know this day would come. Your courage is enough to—"

"I'm talking about the result, not the process," Eleanor interrupted her. "I believe there were more than just me who were willing to dedicate themselves to the Association at that time. I just happened to be the first."

It seems her condition is indeed good, Roland thought. He had always been a little worried that a witch who had fought demons for decades would end up becoming a demon herself, which might cause psychological problems. But now it seems that Eleanor's state of mind is exceptionally mature, and she doesn't feel the slightest bit troubled by her body.

"I know what you're thinking," Eleanor suddenly turned the topic back to him. "Afraid I'd get depressed and shut myself off? If I were the only one left in the world, maybe I would. But everyone is basically here now, and the war prospects are much better than they were four hundred years ago. There's so much new knowledge to learn, how can I have time to shut myself off?"

"Uh... learning?"

"The Association was able to become the ruler of mankind not just because of its abilities. We also possessed the most advanced technology and ideas at the time. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call us the three representatives. Now that the Association's glory is gone, we still need to learn to keep up with the times."

Roland was speechless. This familiar wording was clearly learned from the God's Punishment Witches. God knows what they taught. "So where have you gotten to in your studies?"

"University," Eleanor replied. "Almost graduated."

"It used to be Celine and Ling teaching Eleanor, but now it's Eleanor teaching them," Pasha added with a smile.

Wait, she's only been awake for two months, and she's already finished the university curriculum? Roland clicked his tongue inwardly. He hadn't thought too much about Eleanor forcing back Mask before, but now he realized that he might have underestimated the ability of dozens of brains learning together.

"Oh, right, I also created a small core device that might be helpful for the upcoming battles."

At Eleanor's signal, Pasha rolled up a palm-sized skeleton and spread it out in her "palm". It floated gently, with a blue light shining at its center, much like those giant magic power cores.

"What's this for?" Roland asked curiously.

"It can simulate some telekinetic abilities, thereby affecting external objects... such as turning handles, pulling triggers, etc. If I combine it with specific mechanical devices and firearms, I can control them with magic power," Eleanor explained. "Although Mask stripped this body of its mobility, it didn't seal off the magic power—which also means that when enemies attack, I can control weapons and personally join the battle. The principle is quite similar to the automated weapon stations in the Dream World."

Roland opened his mouth in surprise.

And it didn't end there. She continued, "Shooting is essentially a calculation, which is exactly what I'm good at. Compared to ordinary soldiers, I can increase the hit rate of firearms to over 90% within their effective range. The disadvantage is that I can't move flexibly, and I have to work with fixed turrets and deploy tentacles and miniature cores in advance. But at least in the battle to defend the floating island, these weapon stations will become extremely efficient."

"How many can you control at the same time?"

"That depends on the number of tentacles," she paused. "I think at least several hundred, right?"

Just thinking about hundreds of machine gun turrets, or even cannons, firing accurately at the enemy under Eleanor's control, Roland couldn't help but click his tongue. But this wasn't what he was most impressed by. What he was more concerned about was Eleanor's approach of combining magic power and machinery. The knowledge of these two, one from Mask Nasoper, and the other from the Dream World, she not only absorbed them, but also actively merged them together! If given time, how much change could she bring to this world?

"If it weren't for the fact that this operation can't do without the floating island, I really wouldn't want you to throw yourself into the battlefield," Roland revealed his thoughts. "What humans need most now is a guide in this regard."

"Oh? Are you not afraid that what I know far exceeds you?" Eleanor seemed to be chuckling.

"Eleanor..." Pasha seemed to want to dissuade her, but didn't know how to.

"Why be afraid?" Roland asked rhetorically. "It's normal for successors to surpass their predecessors. At least it means that civilization is indeed constantly progressing. If human knowledge is limited to me, then the future would be truly bleak."

"..." She was silent for a while before speaking again, "As a king, you're indeed not very qualified. But..."

"... you are a trustworthy leader."