Chapter 1563 - The Truth (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The Petrachelys slowed her descend as she approached the broken area close to the bottom of the rift while three droids broke off and started to carefully scan the area.

The cavern was the deepest part of the mantle and was very close to the molten planet’s core. The extremely high temperature there made it hellish. If that was a normal planet’s internals, such a high-temperature place would not appear in such a stable cavern; everything there would be consumed by lava and every cavern of faults would collapse upon itself. Yet, the First Born’s existence allowed such an improbable planetary structure to become a reality.

Around the planet’s core, there were many similar caverns, which the First Born had tunneled through and reinforced to accommodate its massive organs or use for other things. There many epic and awe-inspiring scenes within the cavern: above was a heated yet sturdy thousand-meter thick dome, and below was rolling lava as well as a few floating islands created from the First Born’s tentacles. Connecting these places was a massive tentacle and a deep quartz column. Due to the weak force of gravity, the lava surge against the tentacles and quartz column flowed down slowly as if in a slow-mo picture. It was breathtaking but lethal.

Beneath the lava was the molten core. The First Born would not usually soak directly in it. It would grow around the core and bury its brain deep into the caverns in the planet’s mantle. Hao Ren believed that behind these massive main nerves was such a cavern.

“Based on the status and location of the rift when we enter, this is probably the ‘deep structure’ that was exposed after the First Born expanded the crust. See those shattered remains of the tentacles, that’s the deepest part of it.” Hao Ren pointed towards the holographic projection, his head bent slightly towards Vivian as he said. “The description N-4 mentioned should be there. The very same thing that the human astrologers saw three thousand years ago.”

Vivian frowned as she looked at the cracked rocks and scattered crystals. “I never thought that it would have not fully healed even after so long, and in this sorry state too. I thought the high temperature would have simply melted everything.”

“Those black fragments are no longer rocks. They are a product mixed between the bits from the tentacles and rocks, and normal lava won’t even scratch it.” Hao Ren shook his head. “Only temperature close to the sun will be able to destroy these things.”

Lily blinked hard as she stared intently at the crystal fragments laying around. “Pretty stones! Eh, Mr. Landlord, Mr. Landlord! Think we can take a couple home later?”

Vivian glared at the werehusky. “Can’t you behave yourself in this serious moment?”

Hao Ren did not mind too much of what the werehusky had said and said while deep in thought. “If I’m not wrong, those crystals are probably the remains of that meteorite storm three thousand years ago that N-4 had mentioned. Nolan, get the droids to collect some samples and place them in the lab. Oh yeah, if confirmed that they are harmless, cut a small piece for Lily to play with.”

The werehusky broke into a big smile as she heard that and did not even catch Hao Ren’s ‘My pet dog got bored of her toys and I have to get her a new one’ sort of expression…

The droids collected the required samples and at the same time have managed to find a crack that linked deeper into the core.

A powerful energy signature was coming from that crack.

“The crack is too small, the ship won’t fit.” Hao Ren shook his head as he saw the droid’s report. “We are too close to the brain core and the nervous system is intricate here, having the droids to dig a hole is probably asking for trouble. We need to go on foot, who’s with me?”

“Me! Me!” Lily after Hao Ren had promised her a new toy (while not given to her yet) was in a state of euphoric loyal and she gotta ‘help’ whatever Hao Ren was up to. “I’m strong and good at digging holes, if we get stuck inside somehow I can get us out!”

“A sleigh-pulling dog like you want to go somewhere that’ll roast you alive?” Nangong Wuyue gave Lily a suspicious look. “I already feel like I’m evaporating just by looking.”

Lily wagged her tail in response. “No worries, we have the life hoops anyway. Once the shield is deployed it’s 26c everywhere!”

Vivian gave the happy-go-lucky husky a dismissive glare, she then nodded towards Hao Ren. “I’ll follow as well.”

“Me too,” Y’zaks said with a smile on his face, an expression of nostalgia was palpable. “This place reminds me of the hot spring back home… Ah, nostalgia.”

“…”

The Petrachelys descended slowly and landed on one of the flatter surfaces of the shattered rocks. Hao Ren and the three stepped out of the ship and into the hellish underworld.

Even with the life hoop’s protective shields, he felt a wave of hot air greeting him in the face as soon as he got out of the ship. This was not real of course, but an automatic illusion stemming from the roiling lava around him. He could not help but try to wipe the non-existent sweat off his forehead. “Damn this place is hellish, why does the First Born love this sort of god-forsaken place?”