I wonder how Vallak is doing.
The thought flashed through Linde's mind on his way back to the Iron Sky, but was quickly suppressed by more pressing considerations—
Esmerald's chilling power of "denial of existence" and her eerie connection to the god of magic.
However, once back in the cold and absolutely controlled environment of the Steel Sky, in the main control room, surrounded by the stable blue data streams and the low hum of energy, the oppressive feeling from the unknown diminishes slightly, replaced by the researcher's inherent, almost cold, curiosity and desire to explore.
Vallak's final fate is an extremely crucial data point.
He needs to confirm this.
Returning directly to the scene would be foolish, but perhaps we could use the magic network... This is a bold attempt.
The Magic Network is a creation of the God of Magic, and its essence is a network for the flow of energy and information. Esmeralda's power seems to lean more towards "silence" and "annihilation," which is a denial of flow and existence.
The two are incompatible to some extent.
Using the magic network for remote observation might be able to resist the encroachment of that "silent" realm to some extent, at least securing a brief observation window.
Linde took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and immersed his mind in the vast sea of magic. After several node jumps, he arrived at the Eternal Silent Forest.
There was no image, no sound.
The first thing you feel is an incredibly vast... "emptiness".
It is neither darkness nor nothingness, but a conceptual "absence".
It's like a region in a system file that's marked "deleted" and cannot be recovered, or like a dead zone of absolute zero in the cosmic microwave background radiation, devoid of any fluctuations.
When the energy of the magic net flows through that area, it is not absorbed or blocked, but rather... "detours".
It was as if there was an invisible, absolutely smooth barrier there, preventing any form of "flow" or "information" from staying on it, and forcing it to slide away helplessly.
Vital activity? Zero.
No, it's in an "undefined" state.
Energy fluctuation? Zero.
It is also "undefined".
Even the rules of space and time seemed ambiguous in that area, as if some force had forcibly "smoothed out" all the fluctuations.
This is the scene left by the remnants of Esmeralda's power—an area that has been completely "formatted".
Linde's heart sank slowly.
He manipulated the perception probe of the magic network, carefully probing towards the core point where Valak had originally been, as if touching an object at absolute zero with the most precise sensor.
The feedback caused even Lin De's usually calm and collected mind to tighten suddenly!
there is none left.
That enormous tree, the "Ancestor of All Trees," coexisting with countless roots, that ancient being deeply integrated with the will of the forest... has vanished.
It is not a collapse, not a withering, not an energy dissipation.
It is a complete and utter erasure at the level of "existence".
In place, the feedback from the magic network was an extreme "smoothness" and "homogeneity," without any structure, without any residue, and without any trace of the giant tree or legendary powerhouse that had ever existed.
It was as if Vallak, the ancient tree, and everything in that area were just a canvas that had been wiped clean.
Only at the very edge of the boundary did the magic network's perception detect some extremely faint, rapidly dissipating "information remnants"—the lingering echo of extreme pain and terror, and the last fragmented thought, filled with incomprehension and despair:
"……Why……"
And this residue is being rapidly swallowed up and assimilated by that absolute "emptiness," becoming part of it.
Linde fell silent.
He slowly severed the connection with the magic network and opened his eyes.
The cold light in the control room shone on his face, revealing no expression whatsoever. Only in the depths of his purple eyes did it seem as if cold stardust was slowly rotating and gathering.
Valak, the ancient "Old Man of Deep Roots," the being with whom we had just been having a difficult conversation, exploring the mysteries of life fusion, is gone just like that...
It was not defeat, nor extinction, but rather being erased directly from the very foundation of "existence" in a more advanced and ruthless way.
Along with the core of the ancient forest he guarded, it all became part of "Silence".
And all of this happened simply because... he went out to "explore the path"?
A cold emotion, not fear but extreme anger, like magma buried deep underground, began to slowly surge in Lind's heart.
This is not out of sympathy for Varak (although there is a little), but rather out of extreme disgust for this kind of tyrannical, absolute, and unquestionable rule of "annihilation"!
On what grounds?
What's wrong with seeking knowledge and pursuing higher paths?
Is it because this action might infringe upon certain existing interests, or simply because it "should not" be done, that it should be eliminated in such a thorough manner?
This is completely contrary to his pursuit of controlling his own destiny and unraveling the mysteries of all things!
Esmeralda, or rather the power she might represent (whether it be the God of Magic or something else), has now transformed in Lind's mind from a "phenomenon" that needs to be studied into a "shackle" that needs to be broken, a potential "obstacle" that must be overcome!
But his reason quickly suppressed his turbulent emotions.
Anger is useless.
Esmerald's displayed level of power is something he cannot currently contend with head-on.
It was a strike at the rule level, and ordinary energy and material means were almost ineffective.
This escape was partly due to luck, but also thanks to Valak's final warning and the ultimate performance of the "Starry Sky Apostle".
"All plans must be reassessed."
Linde's voice rang out in the empty control room, cold and resolute.
"Supreme Order: Suspend all proactive contact plans with legendary external experts. All related projects are postponed indefinitely."
"Research priorities have been readjusted: the first priority is to analyze the power characteristics of the 'Silent Saintess' Esmeralda, establish a mathematical model, simulate her 'existence denial' effect, and find her mechanism of action and potential weaknesses."
"Second priority: accelerate the 'Ark of the Other Shore' project (based on the cross-dimensional static field of the Shadow Abyss Rift) and elevate its priority to the highest level. We need an absolute safe zone that can isolate and even resist this rule-based 'annihilation'."
"The third sequence involves in-depth exploration of the Zedu civilization's heritage, especially technologies related to 'rule-based weapons,' 'conceptual protection,' and 'high-dimensional information carriers.' We need a stronger 'shield' and a sharper 'spear.'"
"The fourth sequence strengthens the guidance and observation of Weiss and 'Triss' (divine beings). Their unique forms of existence may contain the key to resisting or even understanding this 'negative' power."
Instructions were issued rapidly, and the vast computing resources of the Steel Sky began to be directed toward these new targets.
Linde stood in front of the control panel, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of decks, looking towards the infinitely deep starry sky.
Valak's complete demise was like a bucket of icy, bone-chilling sewage, waking him from the slight, imperceptible slackening that had arisen from his rapid increase in power.
This world is far more dangerous and... "petty" than he imagined.
Some entities seem unwilling to see new challengers emerge.
But this will never stop him.
It will only make him more cautious, more determined, and more eager to completely grasp the "rules" that are high above and arbitrarily obliterate the paths of others.
His legendary journey was destined to be anything but smooth.
Linde's gaze became incredibly profound.
The storm is coming, and he must be the one to steer it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com