Chapter 1,252.

"Damn, these things are relentless! Grass should know its place," Kruta swore as he released a halo of flames. "Would you hurry up?"

"It'd go faster if you stopped disrupting my Domain with your outbursts," Catheya snarled as waves of fiery warmth put further pressure on her [Black Ice Cosmos].

She knew Kruta didn't have much of a choice since they were being attacked from every direction, and her actions were undeniably the reason they were under attack. Catheya still found it difficult to rein in her frustration over the situation. Being separated from Zac and the others was already bad enough. Adding the vibrant environment that felt like nettles on her soul, she was already about to blow a gasket.

She'd even prefer the corruption to the burgeoning life and Stellar Energy exuded by the jungle around them. [Three Purities] had proven quite effective at limiting its corrosion, and it was only a matter of time before she figured out the right cadence to have [Black Ice Cosmos] reject the taint while keeping the insights.

Catheya channeled her anger into digging into the steel-like roots barring her path. Finally, she found what had triggered her sensation. It was a bulbous pod hidden within one of the ridge's main roots. Cutting it open with a blade of ice exposed two rows of seeds that emitted an irresistible aura.

Extracting the pod made the frantic resistance taper off. The roots retreated into the ridge, curling up for protection. Kruta looked like a fiery God of War as he tore off the last sets of branches restraining him before jumping over.

"How practical. They immediately slunk away to conserve energy after losing the prize," Kruta hummed. "This is it?"

Catheya took a calming breath before extracting one of the seeds from the pod. "Here, don't choke on it."

"Girl, staring at me with those spooky eyes won't work," the orc grinned while inspecting the frozen seed. "Kruta has lived through far scarier things than you. Have you ever seen a mountain range destroyed by spittle?"

"Quick, before it's too late," Catheya said with exasperation.

Kruta threw it into his mouth with a laugh, almost failing to swallow it from the surprise. "These plants can store the insights?"

"Don't get too excited. The mountain is still our target," Catheya reminded.

"I know, I know. These outer pods aren't enough to help us anyway," Kruta nodded. "More importantly, it confirms our suspicion. The plants in this jungle are really feeding on the purple muck. No wonder this place is completely clean."

The two had been deposited in a dead sector of the base, where plants had taken over everything. There were no rooms nor arrays. Even the "sky" was verdant green. Since they were in an enormous open space eclipsing the "ring-world" Zac once described, Catheya deduced they'd either been sent to a residential section or Spiritual Farms. Such quarters would have the proper arrays and materials necessary to kickstart such a transformation.

Dozens of meters of vengeful overgrowth made it nigh impossible to say for certain, though the lack of ruins or defining structures made Catheya lean toward the latter. Catheya also suspected the species bred here had been modified to be resilient against the Dead Dao of the Lost Plane. With eons of expansion and mutation, resistance had evolved into predation.

It was the only explanation as to why the air was so utterly void of purple mist. The plants were taking it all in, somehow turning it into sustenance without being corrupted themselves. And if seeds at the level of Peak F-grade Natural Treasures appeared on the periphery, what would they find in the center?

Catheya glanced at the towering mountain a few hours about. The jungle on its slopes was the densest one Catheya had ever seen. In fact, it shouldn't be a mountain at all. The plants had simply kept growing because of the boundless energy provided by the structure within.

"Doesn't this mean our plan ought to be changed?" Kruta said.

"This again?" Catheya said with a raised brow.

"I'm not saying we should turn back. We knew these guys were feeding on Stellar Energy," the orc said as he kicked at the ridge they'd been rushing along for the past hours. "The only reason root systems will form such unnaturally straight hogbacks is if there's something tasty along the route. Energy channels beneath the surface make the most sense."

"And the source has to be that thing," Catheya said, pointing at the mountain. "The generator can't be completely dead—the ambient Stellar Energy has to come from somewhere. There is certainly enough to teleport away, seeing how root systems this far are benefiting."

"Provided there's a teleporter to use," Kruta nodded. "But now we've found stockpiled insights this far out. There must be a huge amount of corruption hidden inside the mountain. Who knows how that'll affect the plants? What if there are Qriz'Ul Plant Emperors waiting for us? Ones smart enough to see us flying over."

"That's a possibility," Catheya aceeded.

"So why not start looking for alternatives?" Kruta said. "Such a large construct ought to have supporting structures. If we dig around the periphery, we might find a service tunnel or such."

"Who knows how long that will take? This place is huge," Catheya said. "We can split up if you feel it's too dangerous."

Kruta rolled his eyes. "Kruta isn't blind. There's another reason you're insisting on this route. If you want my help, you need to properly explain things first. If you treat me as an outsider, that's what I'll become."

Catheya slowly nodded. "…I'm sorry, you're right. I have another reason to go there. We've already seen how the base is only semi-operational. The teleportation gate was lacking energy, and the precautions against the corruption have clearly failed."

"Ah? You're not looking for a teleporter? You want to fix up the power plant?" Kruta gawked.

"Why not?" Catheya said. "Let's face it. We're not finding the others anytime soon, even if there's a functional gate waiting for us. Just a single wing is the size of a world, not to mention the tower in the center. So, I'm looking for ways to help Zac from afar. Restoring the energy supply is my only option, so that's what I'll do. I've expected it to be extremely dangerous since the start, so I planned on sending you away first."

Kruta looked at Catheya with awe. "You know how to fix Stellar Extractors?"

"Well, no," Catheya blushed. "But I know how to freeze plants and rip out roots that have gotten stuck in the machinery. I'm hoping that'll be enough. You'd be even better at it if you decided to join me. You're a natural weed whacker."

"It would be nice to be the one burning down a mountain for once," Kruta mused.

A tremendous shockwave coming out of nowhere made the whole jungle come alive. Catheya urgently transformed her domain, focusing on erasing their traces. The two looked on in stupor as shimmering fractures spread across the mountain. Cascading flames filled with Stellar Energy poured out of the cracks, perfectly resembling a volcano eruption.

Smaller bursts took place along the dozens of ridges moving out of the mountain. It had to be the energy circuits below being overloaded by the sudden surge. Thankfully, the even spacing of the flames indicated the activation of release valves rather than damage to the channels.

"Was that us?" Kruta whispered, fearfully looking at the pod still in Catheya's hands. "It was just a couple of seeds."

"Impossible," Catheya frowned. "Something's happened elsewhere. Has the extractor received orders to draw more energy? Or is it the sun acting out, causing additional strain?"

"Uh, so you're still—"

"Yes. More than ever." Catheya threw away the pod and rushed forth, even activating a movement skill.

"I knew it," the orc lamented as he caught up. "Like husband, like wife."

-----------

The utmost limit of exuberant joy was crushed with a thought, dragging it down to the depths of despair. The vast yet unrefined consciousness trembled from the sudden turn. Some of it darkened to never light up again, unable to endure the heart-wrenching rollercoaster.

A trickle of ichor ran down Vilari's nose. It was part of the prize she had to pay. Only by stepping into the extremities of the Seven Sensation herself could she convey it to the enormous mind. Practicing [Ember of the Seven Sensations] couldn't fully inure her from the effect. A few times wouldn't cause her any harm. Keeping it up for eight straight hours was another matter.

She ignored the agony, using it as fuel as she began another cycle.

"It's futile."

Vilari glanced at the severed puppet head placed on the altar. "You said the same thing when I faced you and your thralls. Now they're scrap maintaining the connection."

She had been shocked to come face to face with the goal of their journey the moment she stepped through the gate. The fleshy power exuded from the slumbering giant below was beyond Vilari's comprehension. She was certain the giant could rip apart stars with its bare hands without relying on energy or skills. Without the faded runes covering its rough skin, its mere aura might have caused a spatial collapse.

It was the embodiment of Body Refinement, especially since it lacked a mind or heart. Or at least it was supposed to. Seeing a group of Qriz'Ul Puppets maintain a complex array that interfaced with the puppet was more alarming than facing its tyrannical aura. There'd been no time to worry about why the others had been alone. She'd been forced to go all out to take out the group of puppets and interrupt the ritual.

She was lucky, in a sense. All sixteen puppets were clearly once C-grade Qriz'Ul, but the ritual had taken almost everything from them. Four had crumbled from a single touch. Even the leader had been drained to the level of a Late Hegemon. Even their puppet bodies had helped maintain the ritual so long they'd lost the ability to move.

They were still far smarter than normal Qriz'Ul, and they'd been shockingly skilled at defending against her mental attacks. Meanwhile, their mere existence was poison to a Mentalist, who'd have to face the madness of Dead Dao and twisted desire with their soul.

Vilari would have succumbed in minutes if not for her experience in the [Epiclesis Bell]. It still took an hour of silent combat before she narrowly eked out a victory. That would have been enough to thwart their plot if not for the sudden attack on the base.

"This is different. The predecessors will not give up, and there is no one to stop them. Proximity will stir the seed we've nurtured. Your efforts will be undone, and our lord will lead us into the great beyond. It's the start of a new era. One you will not get to witness."

Vilari ignored the Qriz'Ul's crude taunt. Its digs were nothing after years with Jalach. Unfortunately, the talking head was right. The Foreign God's artificial Ego had grown increasingly active since the base came under attack. Each shock stirred the consciousness, prompting it to draw more corruption from the breach on its forehead. She had no chance of strangling the budding life in its cradle.

That didn't mean she could stop. If anything, her efforts were more important than ever.

She only needed to stall until her father lit the beacon and triggered dense inscriptions across the giant's body. The consciousness would be purged so long as it hadn't taken control already. Failing meant giving it the opportunity to undo the ancient restraints. Vilari couldn't allow that, and not just because the immediate threat of having to face another Foreign God.

Vilari had scoured the [Foreign Gods] compendium since she woke up from her nightmare, searching for similarities and differences between the Centurion Project and Jalach. It was clear that the Foreign Gods and Qriz'Ul were not truly creatures of a previous era like her malevolent master. It was more accurate to call them an unholy mix of this Era's Dao and the twisted energy of the Lost Era.

It allowed them to avoid the fierce retaliation from the Heavens, but it also left them restricted. Neither Foreign Gods nor Qriz'Ul could survive in the wild for long. They needed continued sustenance from the other side, especially the Qriz'Ul, with their energy bodies. It was different with the refined puppet before her. Vilari had no idea how, but the Limitless Empire had removed the God's dependence on Dead Dao while maintaining its strength. It was fully integrated with this Era.

If the Qriz'Ul God left the base before the beacon was lit... Vilari shuddered at the thought of a Foreign God without its safeguards activated, leaving the Imperial Graveyard. Where Jalach waited. The misgivings in her heart came creeping back. The Pasho'Har Bell, the Anima Court… Was it all a ruse? Couldn't Jalach get everything it needed by possessing this Foreign God? It was the perfect vessel.

This wasn't a new suspicion. Coming face-to-face with the Foreign God had put the matter to its edge. Vilari had grappled with it since learning about the mission, and she'd discussed the matter with the others a few times. Thinking back to those talks made Vilari wince. She'd confidently said that possessing a Foreign God exceeded Jalach's capacity, especially now that he was grievously wounded.

Any combat puppet would have methods to stop possession or enemies from wresting control. The [Centurion Guardian Array] integrated with the giant's body would tear Jalach apart long before he could settle in. Likewise, if a living Foreign God appeared, its consciousness would easily overwhelm a discarnate soul like her master.

A Qriz'Ul God was a variable she hadn't considered. The puppets must have done something to the [Centurion Guardian Array] to put it in a passive state. Even deactivated, the puppet should have stopped any attempts at possession. Worse, a huge, newborn consciousness wasn't a problem for Jalach. It was a gift. The Qriz'Ul God would become a tonic to aid his recovery.

Vilari could almost hear Jalach's laughter from the shadows as he waited to reap his reward. She would nip this problem in the bud. No matter what.

----------

Zac grunted when [Profane Exponents] failed. It had only lasted three minutes, and the damage to the fractal had worsened further. A shroud of shadows replaced the coffin, protecting them from the glaring light. The gap lasting less than a second was enough to add another set of blisters on Galau while Emily's skin turned a shade redder.

"That's it. We can't wait any longer," Zac said with a grim expression. "We need to pick one option and go."

"We can endure a bit longer," Kator said.

"Maybe so, but the vault can't."

Another shockwave drove home Zac's point by collapsing a part of the ceiling. A finger-wide crack had grown to the width a thigh, and more streaks of starlight managed pierce Ogras' curtain. As bad as it looked, it wasn't even the most damaged section of the Polaris Vault.

Not a single tile remained whole after 18 hours of increasingly intense shocks to the subspace. Radiant gold poured from roughly a third of the cracks, courtesy of the immense sun they'd seen hanging overhead. Its appearance had been both a blessing and a curse when the vault's defenses ultimately failed.

The Polaris Vault fought back for eight hours before going dark, but the Lost Plane breach began growing after just three. It was the size of a barn door at this point and the amount of corruption it spewed matched. The Stellar Treasure and Zac had furiously worked to keep them safe, but they would have been overwhelmed long ago if not for the addition of direct sunlight.

The bad was that the light was undiluted and raw, a stark contrast to the somewhat gentle starlight that had kept them safe. It was beyond what Hegemons could endure, and even Zac would quickly turn to ash if directly exposed. They had long since been forced into the guardroom, which was a slightly better off. Even then, the light pierced right through the wall, forcing them to constantly maintain barriers while Galau furiously worked on the console.

There was no point in staying, especially since the remaining treasure pillars had sunk into the ground and disappeared the moment the arrays failed. Except, leaving was easier said than done. Eighteen hours wasn't enough for Galau to find a solution, especially with new damage being added all the time.

"We would have been sent out long ago if this deathtrap planned on lending us a helping hand," Ogras added. "Any emergency functions are either missing or broken."

"Still nothing, human?" Kator growled. "This is not the time for games."

"I'm nowhere near," Galau said with despair, his hands and chest scorched from being zapped by the circuits over and over. "I've been trying to bypass the console to open the exit for the past hour. It just won't activate. The damage is too great."

"Hey, it's not his fault," Emily glared when Killing Intent began leaking from Kator. "You haven't been any help this whole time, only stuffing your pockets without contributing."

"Maybe we should settle our differences so we can welcome the great beyond without regret?" Kator sneered, his bones rumbling menacingly.

"Enough," Zac growled, ready to activate his safeguards at a moment's notice.

Kator wasn't the person to lash out from frustration, but he was a ruthless survivor. He would sacrifice them all if he thought it would give him a shot at survival, and there was no telling what kind of methods he had prepared.

"I vote the breach," Ogras said. "Between the sun and the Lost Plane, I'd have to go with the corruption. If lucky, we'll find another breach that takes us back to the base."

"If not, we'll become twisted horrors," Kator said.

"Sure, but high risk beats certain death," Ogras said. "Because I can't see any path to survival from jumping into the sun."

Zac sighed. "I'm with Ogras. You've all improved on the [Starfall Scripture] over the past hours. Between that and my abilities, we should last a few seconds."

"…Fine!" Kator growled, placing himself between Zac and his companions. "You better not have any funny ideas, Draugr."

"That's rich, coming from you," Zac snorted.

Galau made a final, desperate attempt to resurrect the dead console. It melted the circuitry, dashing their last hope of a safe exit.

"Let's go. Never stop rotating the scripture and stay close to me no matter what," Zac said as he fastened the others with at least two chains each. "Kator, you'll have to block the light."

"Go," the reaver grunted.

The door slid open, blasting them with blinding light. Zac rushed right into the mayhem while Kator conjured a huge dome above their heads. It wouldn't last even a second against the unrelenting pressure from above. A moment was all Zac needed. They appeared before the breach in a single step. The next took them into one of the deepest corners of history.