Following the cleanup of the 3rd Dark World Zone, the same pattern happened to the following three zones that we passed by.
One out of three has a Transcendent who fought back but instead got steamrolled in a one versus one fight against any of us.
When that Transcendent showed up, Boris stepped forward and showed his mettle. With the other three standing by not to allow the Dark World Transcendent to escape, I and the World's Will Incarnation do our job to empty out the place.
The opposing Transcendent whose retreat was blocked from all sides became desperate to defeat Boris. However, the reality was proven cruel for him.
Boris somehow inherited his master's calm in battle. Even if the Transcendent kept using his heavy skills, he would meet it with a Water Elemental Spell aimed to reduce its force before hitting his opponent with his whip.
Before long, the opposing Transcendent kneeled on the ground to beg for his life. And with me being seen as the leader of this group, they all turned to me for a decision.
We never spared anyone until now, why would we change it just for him? Call it cruel but that's always the nature of war, especially here when the Human Race was already near extinction if I didn't arrive to somehow help them by becoming one of the deterrence.
More often than not, those who you spared will be the ones leading the charge to get back at you. That's why it's better to always nip the trouble in the bud before it grows and stab you in the back. I'd rather see them die than let those important to me fall under their threat.
With that, in less than three hours, we went deep into the lands where the Dark World Zones filled the land.
Also, due to the numerous zones within our surroundings, the connection with the World's Will became somewhat distorted that even her Incarnation couldn't clearly receive a new command from her.
Either way, it could think for itself and continued on our plan to reach the Portal location before the first Zone we cleared shattered and got found out by the enemies.
"The Zones here have already merged. Where should we start looking for the real portal?"
Jayna asked as she controlled the miniature Spirit Ocean to wade through the sky, dodging Energy Senses and faint Transcendent Aura that could be felt expanding from some of the Dark World Zones.
If we counted since the start, we already reduced the number of their Transcendents by more than 10 while none died on our side yet.
In hindsight, we're doing well, however, we're still at a disadvantage if they could send more Transcendents from their World.
Besides, the likes of Remilia and Yulan who are probably more than just a Rank 2 Transcendent couldn't descend in any of the worlds yet. We will be in for a more desperate situation if these Portals continue to widen and start to accommodate them.
I don't know what's happening in most of the Otherworlds but at least, I aimed to settle the worlds of my Companions first before moving on to provide reinforcements to them.
If we did that with days left to spare before the two months which the Principal reminded, then I'll take them to tour the other Heroes' World and go on a Portal Closing Spree.
"The real Portal Location is hidden deep beneath these Zones. It's in the middle of a Merged Zone which consists of 5 initial Dark World Zones."
The Incarnation answered.
We've only started seeing these Merged Zones so we're still away from that. The question is… how many Transcendents will be left behind in these Zones? And is it possible for the enemies to travel fast if they found out our goal?
Either way, we could only continue forward.
If we stopped here, the effort spent will be wasted and surely, these Zones will grow even bigger that they would be able to continue enhancing their strength within it. The difference between Level 1 and Level 2 Source Energy will be shown. Their Mortal Ranks whose strength stagnated when they were sent here will start reaching the threshold adding more Transcendents for their ranks.
-
-
"As you guessed, they started moving with much fanfare. The one they called the 'His Excellency' was riding some kind of flying Equipment which ran through their Source Energy. Much like the Metal Giant you have or how your women from another world used that amalgamation of her Spirit Pathway."
The World's Will's voice entered my ears once more before we entered the first Merge Zone we had to pass through.
Though it's possible to not clear the Zones and just continue in a straight path, the cleared Zones will become our path of retreat later. If ever we became surrounded.
"I see. How many are there?"
I replied but after two minutes of waiting, I failed to hear a reply.
I looked at her Incarnation which shook her head in reply. That World's Will lost her connection again.
But really? Flying equipment like the Metagen or how Jayna and Yumiko used their miniature Spirit Ocean like some kind of convenient plane. We're starting to see more and more advanced equipment that could only be found in a higher world.
Starting from Storage Equipment, Output Enhancing Equipment, Energy Restricting Equipment, and now Flying Equipment. And it seems that even if they're all from the same world, there are varying differences in their ability, wealth, and equipment.
I guess that could be attributed to how they're an Invasive World that preys upon lower worlds by forcefully assimilating them. The survivors of those worlds started integrating them into their world but in the end, they wouldn't be treated as good as the original denizens.
Since they started marching, we have to increase our already fast pace and clear the zones quicker. If the first Zone shattered, it would probably buy the territories time. I left the defenses to Sofiel, Yumiko, and Arland. The three Luxian Transcendents were still devotedly following the doctrine of the so they will also provide help. However, if the enemies attack at them with full force, they could only fight them defensively…
It's a race against time.
I shook my head and cleared my mind before leading them inside the first Merged Zone.
[You've entered a special zone. Merged Dark World Zone A8]
[This zone is cut off from the World's Source Energy.]
[The existing Source Energy inside this zone is Level 2 Dark Energy.]
[You aren't adapted to the Level 2 Dark Energy]
[Flux Energy Automatic Energy Conversion can be activated]
[Rate of Conversion: 1 unit of Dark Energy = 3 units of Flux Energy]
[Conversion Debuff: -15% Strength and Endurance]
[This Merged Zone has placed certain restrictions to beings not adapted to the existing Source Energy. 10% Reduced Energy Control and Stats]
Restriction… Just when I thought of increasing our pace, we were met with this.
"Spread out and take care, this one's special so ready a defensive spell or skill which you could activate at any moment."
I said before turning to the World's Will.
"This time, we'll lead the charge. You felt the restriction, right?"
I'm the only one who got the system notifications about this place but everyone also felt the restriction placed in here. The other four already had a serious look on their faces as they all nodded towards me before taking off to seal any possible exit for any of the Dark World guards to report.
"Yes. I will follow your instruction, that's what my real ego's message before my connection with her got interrupted once more. I also felt that following your decision will produce better results."
"I see. Thanks for your confidence. What do you think about taking up a name?"
"That's… completely unnecessary."
"Calling you as the 'World's Will' isn't that original, there's a lot of World's Will after all."
"I'm not in any place to decide about that."
"I see. I will bring it up again when the connection gets re-established with her then."
It might just be me getting tired of calling her World's Will, I don't know. If giving her a name can make an impact on her desire to learn then it will be good for her.
With the four gathering the Dark World guards' attention, I led the World's Will and flew towards the center.
We're still disguised as Noxians but it's not as effective anymore.
After observing everyone in this Merged Zone, I couldn't spot Noxians expendable. And everyone stood vigilant against us
Due to that, I discerned that this will be a lot different than our first clean up. The good thing is… there are no Transcendents. However, their quality is higher than the Zones we passed.
A handful of Rank 3 Mortal and the rest are Rank 4 and Rank 5 Mortals…
Looks like what I'm thinking about just before entering was already happening. They're now enhancing their Mortal Ranks in these Merged Zones.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
The one who looks like someone who already reached the threshold shouted at me. He's most likely the leader of the guards here and someone in charge of everything.
This Zone is merged from three separate Zones. That's why the devices weren't situated in the middle but they're in a triangular position with each one filled with guards.
The one thing to note though is that these Dark World denizens' attire all looked the same, long white silk robes that covered themselves completely. I don't know if they're attending a funeral or what but I deduced that they're all from one specific tribe in the Dark World.
"We're just passing inspectors sent by 'His Excellency'. Will you mind showing us the result of your work here?"
I don't know if he will bite through it but let's see if we could fish some info before I activated the Orb of Ailment.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is fre(e)webnovel