Chapter 690: The Dark Gate Opens
A week later, the large-scale platform that was expected to take months to build was finished in just seven days.
Nash could only remark that the drive of people when given the right incentive was truly something else.
Looking at the large-scale trading platform now, one would never guess it had been nothing but a block of packed dirt just weeks ago.
With various reinforcements of materials, greenery, and architecture, it had transformed into a metropolis the size of a continental world.
At the far edges, it was still quietly expanding, being reinforced and built upon section by section.
As long as the Breathing Earth Loom continued to expand and they had sufficient materials, the large-scale platform could eventually cover the entire domain.
At the center of the trading platform, Nash erected a server tower housing a dozen of his celestial beasts, all running the universal module system.
"This should be enough to cover the entire area."
Although the trading platform would continue to grow, a grand amplification array should be more than sufficient to extend the signal across it.
Bringing the server online, Nash adjusted the permissions and logical operations of the universal runic system before initiating the activation sequence.
...
On the other side of the large-scale platform, Veyra, who was busy directing his subordinates, suddenly sensed an unfamiliar energy drifting through the air.
"What is this?" Veyra thought warily.
"Leader, it appears to be the universal runic system Lord Nash mentioned before." His subordinate said, reading the notification that had come through via the virtual net.
"Ah, I see."
Reading through the message and its instructions, Veyra channeled the foreign energy through his body with a hint of caution.
Then, as the energy solidified, a panel materialized before him.
[Universal Runic System initializing...]
[Detecting public user...]
[Runic function activating...]
[User: Veyra
Runic Assistance Module...]
"Runic Assistance Module? What is that supposed to be?"
During their time at the Neon Star Public Trading Zone, they had picked up basic information about the universal runic system.
According to what they had learned, the universal runic system contained ten runic modules: the Workshop, Mission Board, Communication, Map, Analysis, Disguise, Adaptive, Training, Sensing, and Combat modules.
He had assumed that even if they couldn’t access everything, they would at least be given one or two of the standard modules.
But by the looks of it, they hadn’t even been granted one.
After experimenting for a while, Veyra quickly got a feel for how the Runic Assistance Module worked.
In essence, it was a stripped-down version stitched together from several modules.
With it, they could scan the basic properties of a material, carve runic engravings with greater precision, refine the purity of their power, and submit their completed works once finished.
Beyond the functions needed to build the dark technology Nash had commissioned, there was essentially nothing else they could do with it.
"Tsk. Stingy."
"Then again, we’re just contractors working for Lord Nash. Why would he let us freely use everything?"
"What a waste! I’m dying to know just how powerful those other runic modules actually are."
"If you’re that curious, just join the Neon Star Alliance."
"Ha! Who knows if it’s all it’s cracked up to be? We’re here to work and earn, that’s it."
"Enough chatter, get back to work." Veyra reined in the surrounding banter and guided everyone back to their tasks.
Although the large-scale platform had taken shape, most of its facilities were still empty shells.
This place would serve as their headquarters going forward; they couldn’t just leave it bare.
Furthermore, with abundant materials on hand, construction of additional defensive modules for the Neon Defense System had to continue in parallel.
As for the production of dark energy purification devices and Neon Battleships, that would have to be picked up shortly after.
There were only a few days remaining before the appointed time when the dark gate would open.
If they weren’t prepared, even with hundreds of cosmic team alliances gathered together, they would be overwhelmed.
...
A few days later, the apocalypse everyone had braced for arrived right on schedule.
Imperceptible to the naked eye, a wave of dark energy surged through the void.
This wave not only amplified its corrosive properties but also sent the dark beasts into a frenzy.
With their senses sharpened by the surge, every gathering place of every team became like a lighthouse in the open sea.
Swarmed from all sides, the allied teams at the Neon Star Public Trading Zone did not panic.
Before the Neon Defense System had even activated, they had already deployed their entire battleship fleets to meet the oncoming swarm.
While the dark beasts had been strengthened by the wave of dark energy, it also made the resources and merits they dropped richer and more abundant.
Killing wave after wave, they no longer had to agonize over the cost-to-kill ratio for every engagement.
Fueled by ferocity, it was as though the dark beasts themselves were at a disadvantage in the initial surge of the dark wave.
But this wave was not the only one; another followed, then a third, a fifth, a tenth, and still they kept coming.
For every dark gate that opened, a wave of dark energy swept through the surrounding void, further empowering every dark beast in its path.
This enhancement was not limited to the beasts’ raw ability; it also swelled their numbers and bolstered their ability to resurrect.
If not purified immediately, a slain beast could resurrect within minutes, rendering every kill utterly meaningless.
Furthermore, their rate of generation began to skyrocket.
Where ordinarily only one or two dark beasts would emerge from the void, it now became ten, a hundred, or even a thousand, depending on the local concentration of dark energy.
As the hours wore on, those who had entered the battle in confidence and aggression gradually came to realize just how small they were before the roaring tide.
"Retreat! Fall back now! There are too many of them!"
"We can’t hold this. How are we supposed to fight all of this?!"
"It’s not just the numbers, they’re too strong!"
"And have you noticed, they seem to have some kind of intelligence now!"
"You’re right! They’re dodging attacks and coordinating with each other!"
If the dark beasts before had been mindless creatures that charged forward without thought, now each one was weaving through attacks and organizing offensive patterns.
Thick-armored dark beasts surged to the front as living shields while long-range dark beasts unleashed firepower from behind, a formation that caught even veteran fighters off guard.
Not even the lord-level dark beasts of the dark plane had operated with this kind of coordination.
"This is the manifestation of law unshackling itself, the restrictions binding them are loosening with every dark gate that opens..." Nash thought, his expression clouded with unease.
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