The steel sky pierced through the solidified darkness, like an uninvited otherworldly deity approaching the desolate island formed by divine bodies.
It is less an island and more a massive, immeasurable mass of wreckage floating on the Sea of Shadow Abyss.
Its outline is twisted and bizarre, like the corpse of a giant that has been forcibly torn apart and haphazardly pieced together, with countless jagged, charred black "bones" piercing the "ground" and pointing to the void of the "sky".
This is the place where Nocturnus, the Lord of the Shadow Abyss, fell.
It exudes an aura of "end" and "nothingness" that is purer and more ancient than the surrounding Shadow Abyss Sea, enough to drive any being with a weak mind into madness or turn into nothingness in an instant.
However, at this moment, this island of death, which should have been absolutely silent, was plunged into a strange and terrifying "noise".
Countless Shadow Abyss Sea Beasts—each with a bizarre and varied form, some resembling twisted giant whales, others like arthropods with multiple limbs and eyes, and still others merely a dense shadow constantly shifting in shape—are surging forth from the darkness in all directions, emitting silent yet soul-shaking greedy howls, and frantically rushing toward the center of the island!
They tore at and devoured each other, yet they were united in purpose, as if driven by some irresistible instinct or calling, forming a dark beast tide that swept across the entire island!
The Steel Sky hovered in the safe airspace at the edge of the island. In the main control room, Lin De's cold gaze swept over the chilling scene on the holographic projection.
[Energy Scan: An extremely high-intensity Shadow Abyss energy convergence point has been detected, located in the central region of the island. The energy reaction pattern is abnormal, not naturally dissipated, and exhibits...activation and attraction characteristics.]
[Bio-scan: A large number of Shadow Abyss native creatures have been drawn to the central energy source and entered a state of extreme frenzy. Their behavior is similar to... phototaxis, but their target is extreme darkness.]
[Structural scan: The island's central geological structure is abnormal, containing a huge cavity or fissure, with the energy source located beneath it.]
“Father…” Weiss squirmed uneasily in his arms, her empty eyes fixed on the center of the island, her small arms raised, “They… all want to go there… to eat… that 'heartbeat'…”
Data surged within Linde's purple eyes. A heartbeat? Nocturnus had long since perished; how could he have a heartbeat?
unless……
He immediately increased the scanning precision to the highest level, while slightly raising Weiss in his arms so that she could more clearly "perceive" the source that attracted all beasts.
Weiss's body trembled slightly, as if she were both afraid and eager.
"I'm...so hungry..." she mumbled incoherently, "but...I'm also so scared...the things inside...it seems like they're...about to wake up?"
woke up?
Linde's heart skipped a beat. What was about to "awaken" within the remains of a fallen god?
Was it that fragments of Nocturnus's remaining will began to coalesce under certain conditions? Or did His divine remains spontaneously give birth to some terrifying, instinctive "new life" over the long years?
Or perhaps... just as the God of Magic covets the power of the Light Veins, there is an external force attempting to stimulate, or even... steal the ultimate power of this Shadow Abyss?
Either possibility implies uncertainty. And Lind dislikes unforeseen variables.
"Aster, analyze the beast tide's impact pattern and calculate the precise coordinates of the energy source. Activate the 'Static Field Generator,' covering the main path of the beast tide at 30% intensity, to slow them down, but not completely block them," Linde calmly ordered.
"Understood. Static field activation in progress."
An invisible force field spread out from the steel sky, like slightly cooling a boiling pot of oil.
The Shadow Abyss Sea Beasts that were frantically rushing toward the center of the island suddenly slowed down, as if they had sunk into a viscous swamp. Their movements became sluggish, and the tearing and obstruction between them became more intense, greatly reducing the speed of the entire beast tide.
But this is only a temporary measure. It only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.
Linde needs to know exactly what happened at the core.
He looked down at Weiss, who had calmed down slightly in his arms after sensing the static force field.
“Vision,” his voice came through the crystalline shell, carrying a strange, soothing frequency (derived from the exquisite manipulation of the light veins), “could you 'hear' it more clearly? What is that 'heartbeat'?”
Weiss tilted her head, trying hard to "listen," her little face showing confusion and struggle.
“So many…so many sounds…so chaotic…” she said haltingly, “It sounds like…so many fragments…fighting…shouting…crying…and there’s also…a bigger…cold…voice…trying to…put them together?”
Fragments? Fighting? Integration?
Lind instantly grasped the crucial information!
Noctoos's remaining will is not complete, but fragmented! At this moment, an external or internally born "cold" will is forcibly integrating these fragmented pieces of will?
This seems like... gathering scattered divine essence? An attempt to reunite the authority of the Shadow Abyss?!
Who is it?!
Was it the work of the God of Magic? Or a terrifying entity born from the Shadow Abyss itself?
We absolutely cannot let them succeed!
If Shadow Abyss's authority is reintegrated, even partially, it would mean the resurgence of a terrifying will that controls "End" and "Nothingness," which would completely disrupt his plans and could even lead to his annihilation!
It must be stopped!
A resolute glint flashed in Linde's eyes.
"Aster, lock onto the energy source core. Plan the optimal path. 'Starry Sky Apostle', prepare to attack. Charge the cannons, await my command, and be ready to launch a precise 'surgical' strike to breach the bunker!"
"Command confirmed. Route planning complete. 'Starry Sky Apostle' ready. Annihilation Cannons charging."
Linde gently set Weiss down and instructed her, "You stay here and sense any changes in that 'cold voice,' and tell me through the magic network as soon as possible."
After saying that, he turned and strode towards the launch bay. The crystalline skeleton's body was instantly covered by the silver and blue "Starry Sky Apostle" mech.
Meanwhile, on the outer side of the Steel Sky's hull, the muzzle of the largest secondary gun began to gather a chilling, dark light. It was not the power of light veins, but a negative energy aggregate that simulated the devouring properties of the Shadow Abyss, specifically designed for destructive excavation in this environment.
A moment later, a dark streak of light shot out from the belly of the Steel Skyship, like a shooting star moving in reverse, along the edge of the beast tide that had been slowed down by the static force field, and rushed toward the center of the island at an astonishing speed.
Inside the "Starry Sky Apostle," Linde's gaze was sharp as a knife.
Whatever is trying to integrate the remains of Noctoos, it must be stopped.
The ultimate power of the Shadow Abyss can only be controlled by him, Lind Truk!
The final stage of the hunt for the divine remains suddenly begins, accompanied by unexpected changes and crises.
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