Chapter 284: Different Portal Location (1/2)
A Rank 2 Transcendent of a higher world…
That's an opponent I wouldn't be able to best even if I opened my Domain of Valor. At best I would be close to the UPL of a Rank 2 Transcendent but for the quality of our skills? I would only be confident with my Energy Control.
Besides, we also don't know whether he's an early, intermediate, or late-stage Rank 2 Transcendent. The difference in UPL between Rank 2 and Rank 3 Transcendent would surely be higher than the difference between Rank 1 and Rank 2 Transcendent.
If he's currently placed at the late stage then even Sofiel would be hard-pressed to fight him. There's also a number of possible higher world methods that he could employ during a battle.
Now, I wonder which Great One is his ancestor? Among the six Great Ones, I only have information on two of them and it's not even enough to provide us an idea of how strong they really are. The first one being that Great One Zaraya who created the method to send someone's Energy Clone to Earth to possess an Earthling and establish the Dark Cult. And the second one was the Great One who created those Sacrificial Spheres for a Transcendent to send an Incarnation depending on the sacrificed strength.
”I will talk to the World's Will. The situation suddenly changed. Sofiel, if they knock on your doors, do not engage. We still don't know the extent of their strength. I will call again.”
They're the ones in plain view after all. If they decide to attack the remaining natives, they will go straight to the three territories. Jayna and I can be considered as a rogue and we're assuming the appearance of a Noxian.
Before the call ended, I told them to mark our position on their map and the next Zone that the World's Will marked as the target for tomorrow. If something happened, I asked Fleur to teleport to the nearest body of water and pick us up. We will immediately come with her if she ever shows up tomorrow.
With that, the day ended for us. Jayna managed to calm down soon as well but she asked me to keep holding her. Compared to that Incarnation in the Mansion Ruins, the surge of that Dark Energy was too weak. It's not enough for me to feel the helplessness that I felt back then.
As the night passed and the sun brightened the sky once more, two more surges of Dark Energy washed over the whole world. As soon as that finished, the World's Will pulled my consciousness to her place.
”A stronger Transcendent has descended.”
The silver-haired World's Will started. The seriousness in her voice showed that even she felt the threat from it. The week-long lull in the activities of both sides now led to this. We became too cautious and I wouldn't really blame her for failing to pinpoint the Portal's location. It was surrounded by Zones that one wouldn't be able to pass through undetected to reach it. And that place was still only a suspected location.
”I've decided to do what you suggested. I will join your group. But we will not stop at one. We will continue until we reach and close the Portal.”
”Do you have a plan? What about its location? Have you confirmed where?”
If I based it on what I felt last night then it should be where she suspected.
”It's not at the location I suspected.”
”Huh? But I felt that the origin of those surges came from the same direction where your suspected place is located.”
”True. It originated there. However, that's what they let me think. The surges of Dark Energy from before were all weak enough that it couldn't let me pinpoint the origin.”
She then conjured another screen again. Depicted in there was her Incarnation flying under the guise of the night.
From left and right of her Incarnation were the dome-like black membranes of the Dark World Zones.
After separating with us yesterday, she had her Incarnation travel deep inside the Zone-infested areas of this world.
A minute later, the time when the stronger than normal surge of Dark Energy arrived at the recorded video of her Incarnation. In front of her, the point of origin of the Dark Energy surge could clearly be seen.
”Is that?…”
”Yes. That's the place I was suspecting as the Portal location.”
”Then, aren't you right? The origin is undeniably there.”
”Look closely.”
What's there to see?
I focused on the screen where she replayed the scene she just showed me. And like she said, something's different. She was clearly played by them. If not for the stronger than usual surge of Dark Energy and coming that close to her suspected location, she wouldn't notice.
”Where's your Incarnation? Is it still fine?”
On the scene which continued to play out, her Incarnation was instantly detected and was chased by a number of Transcendents. Even after we killed a number of them, there's still a sizable amount left.