Chapter 684 Void Vortex (1/2)

Joshua had been flying for over dozens of hours.

In the Void, speed and distance alone were meaningless. What separated worlds were simple 'dimensional coordinates gap'. In other words, two neighboring worlds were not in proximity in a physical sense, but having a trace of overlapping in coordinates. As for two worlds faraway from each other, it was essentially a tremendous difference in coordinates.

Therefore, speed is not required to move from one coordinate to another—level of ability was needed instead.

The higher the level of ability, the greater the energy output and in turn one could move faster through dimensional turbulences and coordinates. In fact, moving amidst the Void actually requires energy and spirit, ascertaining and shifting one's own dimensional coordinates, which differs greatly in the common definition for flying… If Joshua's standard cruising velocity in vacuum was one-tenth of lightspeed—in other words, thirty thousand kilometers per second, he would be able to displace coordinates of several worlds.

”Why not use the Multiverse Sacrificial Grounds?”

Karlis's will had kept communicating with Joshua. The Steel Python told the warrior about many news regarding the survivors of Grandia: they were now farming on the land where the Flame had reignited. Green seedlings sprout across mountains in the summer, with many adepts nervously watching over them—there would certainly be a grand harvest come autumn.

Apart from that, the many survivors from Grandia formed adventurer parties and colonies as they began to spread out over various reaches on Karlis in search for new places to settle. Like young trees that were branching out, they were exploring the new albeit barren world.

Karlis the Steel Python felt emotional over that. As the intelligent beings flourished and moved, its once dying fire showed signs of stabilizing—the Flame Joshua gave it had been rootless duckweed that would be utterly extinguished in decades, but now, the once dying world of Karlis regained vigor thanks to signs of life, slowly recovering for the better.

Now, however, it did not keep exclaiming in wonder over that, asking the warrior doubtfully about another matter instead.

”The coordinates we are heading to is extremely far, but it would be very quick by teleporting through the Multiverse Sacrificial Grounds… It isn't efficient to move like this through dimensional turbulences and the Great Mana Tide itself, or perhaps you intend to train your ability to move through the Void?”

”Not quite,” Joshua answered briskly. ”I don't do meaningless things… I have my plans.”

And in truth, the warrior did.

The reason he did not use the Multiverse Sacrificial Grounds and directly moved physically through the Void was not to hone his mobility in that space, but instead to examine the density of 'Steel Authority' scattered amidst the Great Mana Tide.

Before Joshua left Mycroft, the world had seen the rise of 'mages' and 'successors', populations with unique abilities. While their abilities were mostly weak and would vanish after lasting a few days, there was no question that the Steel Shards in the Great Mana Tide had washed into the world once more under those waves of energy… While the situation at present was controllable for the various factions, what should they do if there were more evokers who wielded inconceivable ability?

For example, there were abilities where the users could create ice or produce head without limit. While both disappeared almost right after they surface, or that it actually was not unlimited since it consumes one's Steel Strength, it would certainly raise chaos within the world if it kept appearing.

Therefore, the warrior planned to use the time of his journey in the Void to survey things in real-time, collecting Steel Shards from the Great Mana Tide beside him and infer about the secrets behind them… perhaps they were shattered worlds from the heart of the Multiverse just as his predicted, but that requires proof before he could warn the people of Mycroft and get the world to stay alert.

And that plan bore considerable fruits.

”In the dozens of hours advancing in the Void, I detected over two thousand completely different Steel Particles… this means that, on a conservative scale, over hundreds of worlds destroyed.”

In flight, Joshua spread and looked towards his palm, where thousands of differently colored particles gathered into a chaotic starry cloud, slowly revolving as if to form a planet. The warrior's gaze was grave even as he stared upon those shattered Steel Particles, and there was no reason why he should not be—who would have the gall to laugh knowing that over hundreds, or perhaps thousands of worlds were destroyed? After all, he had not even come across a thousand worlds before!

”Most are basic Steel Shards that control elements such as flame, water, tempest, and earth, while a rare few are related to spatiality, psionic or other domains like transformation… It's fortunate that those would not affect the world too much, or many wild animals or magical beasts would incidentally awaken otherwise. Have to warn the others when I get back to hunt such awakened enchanted creatures.”

That was the only thing that he could be pleased about. Due to the attributes of Steel Shards and the Flame, magical creatures with lower intelligence would not attain those gifts, with only a rare few able to attain the unique powers from the Void… Otherwise, Mycroft might see large populations of superpowered cats and dogs, or any similar creatures.

”By the way, Karlis, you were saying that we are heading to a small world… What is it actually like, and how extensive is its limit over supernatural powers? How should I face the enemy?”

That question had suddenly crossed Joshua's mind when the Steel Python mentioned that 'we are quite close to our destination'. ”What are the so-called limits?” He asked Karlis through their spirit link. ”Could it be that I can't use powers that exceed a certain boundary?”

”That's not what it means.” Karlis shook its head in response. ”The limit refers to the world itself, not you… what I meant with 'a small world' is that the entry of any profound being is enough to overstretch it, causing it to burst apart. As a Legendary champion comparable to a Void Behemoth, you could easily offset the balance of that world utterly when you unleash your powers without restraint, causing it to self-destruct.

”Fragile Order could never resist greater Order. It is that world which could not withstand the advent of your full power, and not you being restrained by it.”

”Is that so.” Joshua could not help but sigh, before adding uninterestedly, ”If that's the case, wouldn't that world be incapable of supporting the presence of a powerful enemy? That's dull… Then why did it—the World Will—ask for aid?”

”Its current circumstances are very complicated that the World Will alone could not solve it. Hmmm… It's difficult to answer that question, but we are about to arrive—it would be better if you discussed it with the requester.”

Karlis appeared to struggle for an explanation then. In the first place, it was just contacting, making exchanges and sending aid to other World Wills encountering adverse circumstances: It only knew that a world needed the help of an outsider, and was willing to prepare a handsome reward, which was why it contacted Joshua.

Still, the warrior did not mind that. It was fine if he did not have any powerful foes—he could simply run a lap around the Void and hunt some Void Behemoths after he handled that world's issue, and it would be best if he could find Leviathan: Having encountered it twice but not quite finishing it off was rather disgruntling.

At that very thought, Joshua kept displacing his own coordinates in the Void. His speed was so swift that he left worlds after worlds behind him, and he soon unwittingly arrived at dimensional region further away from the world of Kronos, which was actually in the depths of the Abyss.

In the Void that was painted a lustrous white by the Great Mana Tide, there were distinct waves that sent shudders to hearts—it was the trace of a champion passing through the dimensions, a single ray flashing in silver that wrought the ripples amidst the vast Void in the background, piercing heavy clusters of white shrouds and energy tide. It headed straight ahead, bypassing worlds.

It was in that moment that Joshua, flying at full power, sensed that something was not right.

”There are fewer, worlds… Moreover, Steel Shards… the density of Steel Particles is rising?”

It was no illusion. As Joshua looked around, he could see that the worlds he left behind were growing fewer, and there were also times when he could see none, as if having entered a 'hole' where no world flickered. It was then that myriad colored particles would appear in the shroud of the Great Mana Tide before disappearing, gone in a single flash just like the sparks wafting off a bonfire, as if an illusion. Only the warrior whose observation ability had transcended boundaries could catch it distinctly.

The starry cluster of Steel Shards in his hand hence multiplied by a notch—the ones he gathered in the last five minutes was much more than what he could gather a few hours ago. Noticing the extremely unusual phenomenon, the warrior paused.