Chapter 179: Graduation Ceremony (3) (1/2)
The layer of clouds parted way, revealing the landscape below. Jyorta exclaimed at the wonder that had been constructed in such a short time frame. The previous flat ground had been completely terraformed.
There were three distinct regions in the rectangular landscape, divided along its length. The centre region was covered by rock pillars, congregated around one another to paint the feeling of narrowness. There were some wide areas in between but they were a minority.
The region in the east was a body of water, forming a large pond. Tiny shrubs were growing on the surface of the still water, concentrated at discrete locations, numbering few but spanning large areas. The shrubs didn't seem to have any anchors, gently moving across the water surface, spurred by the winds that flowed in the region.
They bloomed with large flowers, with each spanning 20-30 centimetres in size. Since it was morning, they had just begun to bloom, unravelling the large petals, coloured between pink, lavender, and yellow.
Floating islands were spread across the water body, hovering just above the water surface, the gap between them less than 10 centimetres. They were cylindrical in shape, flat in nature, with a radius of one metre, coloured yellow. A faint fluctuation of psychic energy covered them, signifying a fusion of a Relic within its structure.
They seemed to be made from marble, Tier 5 Artifacts hence determined by their colour.
The region in the west was similarly a water body, but one that was murky. It was a swamp, possessing colours of olive green, mixed with dark brown and yellow. The water seemed heavy, lacking any visibility underneath. The surface was covered with bubbles, the ones that burst seeping a faintly pungent odour into the air.
It was apparent from the coloured gas that was released by the bursting bubbles. Also, faint mist escaped from the surface, as if it was boiling, the sounds produced audible to the students seated atop the walls.
Hovering two metres above them were floating islands, shaped like inverted cones, with the top surface being a flat circle, spanning a radius of one metre. Their pointed ends stopped 10 centimetres above the swamp.
There also existed large mounds peaking out of the swamp, their surface rugged but also inherent with a natural symmetry. These mounds were more or less the same size, with the occasional few thrice larger than the rest.
To his left, bordering the rocky region in the centre and the water region in the east was a giant beehive, spanning a height of 60 metres, spreading along the wall, occupying a width greater than 80 metres.
A species of bees flew around the beehive, with each spanning almost 15 centimetres in height. Among them, some spanned almost 30 centimetres in size, their bodies showcasing hardened exoskeleton armours.
They were quite near to Jyorta's seat, allowing him to observe them the first thing when the layer of clouds parted way.
”Spindle Bees!” Jyorta exclaimed, watching some of the Spindle Bees fly up, having noticed the seated students. When they reached the same altitude of where the layer of clouds existed before, they hit a psychic barrier, their paths impeded. After trying to press forth a couple of times, they buzzed and retreated.
Another eye-catching thing was the column of water that made a path across the rectangular ground, flowing in the air without any support, defying gravity. Swimming within them were large fish-like existences, their aerodynamically designed bodies flapping their tails around, causing the water to spill forth the column, soon attracted back after travelling for some distance.
”River Whales!” Jyorta recognised them, having gone through the documents pertaining to them in the Portal the first thing after he returned to the military academy. He researched through all the four Frenzy Beast races that threatened the safety of Marble City, exclaiming at their powers and uniqueness.
The four Frenzy Beast races bordering Marble City were different from most of the other Frenzy Beast races in the world. It was because of their unique Traits, ones that worked equivalent to Skills.
Frenzy Beasts were incapable of being imbued with the Traits manufactured in Marble City. This had been concluded after numerous trials that spanned many decades. But, that didn't mean that the Frenzy Beasts were incapable of gaining Traits.
It was only impossible for them to be imbued with the Traits manufactured artificially. But, they were capable of being born with certain Traits.
This was thanks to the ability of the Frenzy Parasite that caused mutations. After numerous generations, with every generation experiencing certain changes in their genetic material, until finally evolving into a brand new species, they would eventually be born with a Trait.
But, such a phenomenon was incredibly rare, with the number of Frenzy Beast races that managed to pull off such a feat only numbering in the single digits. But, out of them, four such races bordered Marble City.