Chapter 292: Entering the Zone (2/2)

I know we have to close it… but… I couldn't help but think about entering it to take a look at our enemies' world.

It's a bit foolish, I know. But I couldn't help but become tempted to do that. Well, let me curb that temptation for now. It's better to focus on what's in front of us.

With Bulwark of Invulnerability, Energy Shield and Nullification Zone opened, I stepped forward and entered the Dark World Zone.

[You've entered a special zone. Merged Dark World Zone A1]

[This zone is cut off from the World's Source Energy.]

[The existing Source Energy inside this zone is Level 2 Dark Energy.]

[You aren't adapted to the Level 2 Dark Energy]

[Flux Energy Automatic Energy Conversion can be activated]

[Rate of Conversion: 1 unit of Dark Energy = 3 units of Flux Energy]

[Conversion Debuff: -15% Strength and Endurance]

[This Merged Zone has placed certain restrictions to beings not adapted to the existing Source Energy. 20% Reduced Energy Control and Stats]

Upon reading that series of notifications, it instantly made my head hurt. Just an addition of one zone, the restriction doubled. We'll be fighting in here with our original stats. If not for the Domain of Valor to somehow abate the effect of the restriction, we will have to fight while weakened by it.

But… something's odd… I could still feel the danger but why is there no one waiting for us at the entrance?

I looked around and all I could see was a wide plain with a glaring huge hole in space in the middle of the plains. Beside it was the three devices working properly to continuously increase the size of this Dark World Zone.

Well, based on the geography of the land, this place is truly a plain, without hills, mountains or any sort of bodies of water in sight. However, why are there no guards or even some sort of structure and traps to defend that Portal?

”What is this place…”

Fleur muttered when she entered after me. Like me, she was baffled with the sight and not of the stronger restriction.

”That's the Portal?”

Jayna asked as her eyes were fixed on that eye-catching hole, in the middle.

”I don't know but this felt eerie and exciting at the same time.”

Hikari fixed her glasses and started to look around our surroundings.

However, when Boris entered, the voice that came out of his mouth was shaky as he instantly moved out of the place.

”Daisuke… I can see it. They're covered in an illusion. Dodge!”

Illusion? Is it too advanced that my Adaptability and Energy Control couldn't pick it up? Or is it because it was stabilized perfectly that there are no unnatural undulations in the surrounding Dark Energy?

”He's right. All of you, dodge. Let me handle this.”

Just like the previous Zone, the Incarnation jumped out from behind us and exercised her overwhelming energy control. As soon as the Dark Energy started to turn chaotic, numerous Energy and Physical-based attacks were simultaneously unleashed all around us.

”Get back!”

I hurriedly moved in front of the Incarnation and pulled her behind me. Even if she's just a concentration of Elemental Energy, she's still a part of the World's Will and most importantly, she's not invincible.

Seeing the incoming attacks of varying degrees of strength, I pulled out something from the Necklace and activated it.

From out of nowhere, the towering All-Black Metagen appeared in front of me with its cockpit open.

”Fleur, get them all behind me!”

I shouted to the calmest among them before using an instacast Flash Step spell to enter it. The Metagen booted up in an instant and my Flux Energy quickly circulated through the Metal Giant while using the last bits of Meta Energy inside its engine. With the Regenium Sword in its hand, the blue-colored Swordforce instantly flowed out from me and into the sword.

And a few moments after that, I activated a Sword Skill, a moment before the rain of attacks reached us.

Counter!