Chapter 1359 (1/2)
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Paolo’s dominant image finally crushed the resistance of the main Corrupted Invader, shattering the crystalline walls of the surrounding cavern in the process. Such was the potent impact of the strike that as Randidly and Mrs. Hamilton walked into the room, glimmering fragments of crystal drifted around them like snow. Waves of chaotic images also radiated outward toward them, but Mrs. Hamilton waved her hand and the reverberations immediately faded to nothing.
That got Randidly’s attention. Wow, her ability to neutralize power with images is far beyond the strength of her image… but I suppose manipulation was always Mrs. Hamilton’s strong suit…
As the cracked crystal and dust slowly settled, the interior of the cave revealed itself to their eyes. Most of Donnyton’s soldiers were taking long drinks from their waterskins by the entrance, covered in scorched armor and blood from the invaders. As they saw the new arrivals, they stiffened and bowed, hastily putting their weapons away.
Ahead of the in the center of the large cavern, Kayle was practically a blur, ripping the fleeing remnants of the Corrupted Invaders to pieces. They screamed in pain with a weird series of clicks, their spasming bodies collapsing in pools of their own blood.
It was a butcher’s work, but Randidly felt rather grimly pleased to see it happening. Despite the fact that he knew these Corrupted Invaders were also in a rather pathetic situation, that didn’t manage to extinguish the frigid flame of wrath that was born in Randidly’s chest when the Invaders arrived. They were a threat to Earth. Obviously he wouldn’t condone torturing them, but he certainly wasn’t going to soften his heart to their plight until the threat of bearing their Aether burden was neutralized.
This System makes monsters out of us all one day… literally or figuratively.
Cracking his knuckle and smacking his lips, Paolo crunched across the cave floor covered in broken crystals. There was a screeching groan as the wall by where Paolo had fought the Corrupted Invader Leader. It collapsed and sent a way of dust and flecks of crystal in a billowing gust. Gradually, Paolo’s fuzzy form became sharp as he cleared most of the debris. “Zone 11’s forces are mopping up the remnants in the side caves… but we’ve basically completely cleaned all the buggers out. Now, what remains is to declare our victory to the world~. Ah, it feels good to be champions.”
Another portion of the cavern behind him collapsed, sending another wave of dust forward. This time, Mrs. Hamilton grimaced and cut sharply with her hand, splitting the approaching wave of dust before it could engulf them again.
“As much as I am loath to admit it…” Kayle wiped the blood from the Corrupted Invaders from his long knives and carefully slid them back into their sheaths. Then he waved his hand toward the strange building at the center of the cave. Standing amongst the settling dust, it seemed strangely surreal. “Announcing that declaration is actually something we need to do. There is an array in the middle of the house that can be activated.”
“Then by all means,” Mrs. Hamilton showed a wide smile and stepped forward. “Let’s inform the Nexus of our success.”
Almost instinctively, Randidly was wary as he peered at the building. It appeared to be made of a light blue plastic that Randidly had never seen before, clearly an alien element in an especially alien locale. Crystal fragments slid off the roof and clattered onto the ground. Randidly hesitated. Yet it was clear from the Aether construct that something did need to be done.
Paolo bowed to Mrs. Hamilton. “If you would do the honors…?”
Shaking her head in amusement, Mrs. Hamilton waggled a finger at Paolo. “Of course we won’t be doing it immediately. Let’s wait until our allies return. They deserve to be part of this as well.”
Which meant that Randidly had the opportunity to take a long look at the Aether construct in front of him.
Congratulations! Your Skill Aether Detection has grown to Level 204!
For the ten minutes it took for Zone 11 to mop up the remnants of the enemy forces, Randidly scrutinized every inch of the building. Even as he dragged Neveah’s consciousness away from her near-constant study of Yystrix’s Engravings, all she was able to deduce was that the Aether formed some sort of inert transmitter. Activating would release a signal of some kind.
Which seemed to confirm that this was what they wanted, but Randidly still was vigilant.
Finally, Warlord arrived. His eyes twitched slightly when he saw Randidly, but after nodding to him, he turned to Mrs. Hamilton with a serious expression. “You waited for us? You shouldn’t have. This is a time-sensitive matter. The sooner we finish this the better.”
Randidly was surprised at the rebuke in his tone, but Mrs. Hamilton took it in stride. She sighed and said. “In an ideal world, you are right. We should trigger this as soon as possible, then head to reinforce other task forces to reveal the Epic Danger Zone sooner. But do you really think anyone would be willing to ask for our assistance at this point…?”
Warlord sighed in a strange mirroring of Mrs. Hamilton. “...perhaps you are right. Then thank you. But still, I must insist that it is you be the one to activate this... thing. Your forces formed the vanguard today.”