Chapter 739 Absolute Protection (1/2)
Built upon a sturdy stone foundation at the edge of a narrow earthen rift, the exploration base was placed full of equipment. The five members of the expedition party were walking back and forth to the instrument or left the camp from time to time for extracting study samples.
Most of the equipment were actually built by the Alchemist using materials from that otherworld itself, with only certain precise core parts carried around by their team leader. It was a fortunate coincidence that World Zero One was rich with metals, which was why the party quickly built some apparatus to establish a makeshift laboratory.
”Eh? Mage, take a look—the mana concentration here isn't quite right.”
At the moment, Alchemist, who had been monitoring the surrounding energy and elemental concentration gasped softly, before calling out to Mage. Rider, Clergy, and Priest who all happened to be nearby all turned towards the shifting meters as well.
”Hey, that's not right!” Rider exclaimed loudly, taken aback. ”How did it suddenly leap to thirty or more times above standard values? Isn't your tool broken?”
”I think so too, that's why I called Mage here to take a look.” Alchemist nodded calmly. ”No need to panic, Mage and I will check if that's the case.”
Soon, however, there was no need to examine their equipment for malfunction. Everyone present could sense the distinct, exponential rise of mana concentration at once as all elements were beginning to condense in the air. Rider, who did not understand magic at all was now actually able to see the radiances of the six great elements—those were the signs that veins of magical crystals were gathering, a phenomenon that left the expedition party bewildered briefly.
But soon, even that brief moment to be bewildered was gone—for as the skies rumbled over them, the Black Fog finally descended upon the land as if it was a dark rain.
Whoosh—
A black line plummeted vertically down from the vacuum beyond the world, sinking into the dense metallic clouds and splitting incessantly along the way. Like an ink droplet falling into clear water, it pervaded all substances around it, and within instants, the Black Fog had consumed all metal clouds within dozens of kilometers, turning the grey-white metal particles into a dull, crystalline watery surface.
In the very next moment, the surface collapsed into endless cascading turbulences, surging toward the bottomless earthen rift. More than forty streams of Black Fog, moving from above the skies of World Zero One simultaneously dived into an equal number of earthen rifts, driving deep into the center of the world. However, as the Black Fog tunneled, the tectonic plates that had been shaking ceaselessly calmed instantly, while searing magma cavities ceased. The now serene lava lakes cooled, while the rifts that had been releasing substantial metal smoke and broiling steam were no longer active as if having died, and even before all that, the tremors and volcanic eruptions were all gone.
That orange-red sea of magma at the depths of the earth's mantle could also be seen darkening, as if all vigor had been taken away… They can be sure that the Black Fog was rampantly absorbing all energies from the planet, using the earthen rifts as a pathway.
The planet was merely its resupply station.
And the Elite Party who were standing at the laboratory near one of the rifts were 'blessed' to witness it all.
***
Mage, who almost intended to continue with examining mana concentration watched in astonishment at the footage relayed from the depths of the rift. He and his companions were silenced as they saw firsthand how the Black Fog entered the inner reaches of the planet to absorb magma, fearful of catching its attention.
”What the hell is that thing…” Clergy murmured quietly, ”diving inside the planet's core, absorbing magma and self-replicating? And it's at least Supreme Pinnacle?”
”No…” Priest swallowed as he watched the screen, staring as the Black Fog gulped magmas by the mouthful, cleanly devouring all energies from the rifts. ”It's Legend. We are encountering a Legendary otherworld being—what are you all standing around for? Run!”
Everyone in the laboratory hurried away at Priest's command, and in seconds, all of them had taken the most vital data while abandoning any apparatus, since those things would never compare to the fact that they had stumbled upon a Legendary-tier otherworld being. Their most important task now was to distance themselves from the terrible being as much as they could and contact Mycroft for rescue.
In thirty seconds, all of them were onboard the off-road vehicle, and with Rider stamping the magical pedal, the car engine bellowed and instantly changed form, rising into the air.
Be that it may, it was only then that the Elite Party truly witnessed the terror wreaked upon World Zero One.
”Heavens…”
Rider's hand began to shudder at the very sight, but he quickly reacted and grasped the steering wheel firmly. Still, the flying car abruptly turned an entire circle in the air, prompting everyone to cry out in surprise.
Still, Rider was not completely at fault since everyone else reacted more or less the same… After all, what they all saw would leave even Supreme champions unhinged.
—It was a black colored sky.
The gray-white metal clouds that blanketed the skies of World Zero One were now all gone, having completely turned into a smooth black substance that appeared to reflect energy ripples. The black vapor covered half the surface of the plant, absorbing all energy and heat it could from within, just as more than forty sucker-tubes like black needles were extended into various earthen rifts. Golden-red clumps of energy would flow from beneath the needlepoints up to the black vapors above, causing its dark form to glint in golden-red faintly as well.