A Dark Energy surge right after seeing the Portal Location… I don't know how many are stationed there but at least we can expect more than two. It's the most important passageway for them. If it was closed, they would be trapped in this world. They could probably swim in the Outer Space and find a way back to their world or they could wait for one of the six Great Ones to open up another Portal. But even then, they had to wait for long before it could allow them to pass through it…
"Finally. It's the last stop."
Boris somewhat exhaustively said as he looked onto the Zone we're about to approach.
Though it's not clearly shown on their faces, our continuous assault on Zone after Zone has started to take a toll on some of them. Fleur and Jayna still looked fine due to how I always stick with them and how attentive I am to their body's state. Most especially, whenever Jayna is controlling the miniature Spirit Ocean, I will stay by her side to share some of the burdens she might've been feeling from the continuous use of it.
The Incarnation is fine as long as she refilled the Energy she used. However, a few minutes wasn't enough for her to completely fill up at least 20% of the stored Energy she used earlier. That was 20% of her Incarnation's body after all.
I have more types of boosts to use now but the Psyche Boost which was important for the two Heroes' replenishment of Psyche Energy was already about to be depleted that I even asked them to sparingly use their Abilities.
That's why earlier inside that previous Merged Zone, they limited themselves to only using their Elemental Pathway. That is so they can use it in the Portal Location.
This will probably become the most important battle in this World. The threat of more Transcendents descending is higher than that lone Descendant of a Great One. We could deal with him slowly if he's really so strong but this Portal… we only have this one chance.
"Fleur, Jayna. Let's go on a much better date after I brought you two to Earth."
Though I thought of saying something romantic, this is all I can come up with at the moment. These two willingly followed me here but surely, inside Fleur's mind, I'm risking my life for her world so she had to do her part. Inside Jayna's mind, however, I'm risking my life again for an important Companion so she wanted to see me succeed.
Upon hearing it, the two girls tilted their heads. They don't have any idea what 'date' means.
"Date?"
"What's a date?"
"Here, here. Let me explain. It's going out together or spending time together without any worries. He will take you to watch movies, visit a park, eat at a restaurant and lastly… take you to a place where you do those naughty things as a couple!"
Hikari interjected and excitedly broke down what a date will consist of on Earth. But when she exclaimed that last sentence, her glasses fogged up due to how hot her face became from embarrassment.
"I see. Sounds fun!"
Jayna grinned with her eyes shining brightly again.
"Those things… I have no idea most of what those meant but if it's about how I will get to spend more time with you alone… It's certainly not a bad idea."
Fleur thought for a while before coming up with an answer as her face sneakily reddened.
Though I alternately stayed with Sofiel and Fleur before Yumiko and Jayna arrived here. Fleur and I always spent those times while bogged down with the matters of the Elementals. Only at night will we have some sort of reprieve, snuggling together until Fleur falls asleep in my arms. However, we haven't done the deed yet. She's as pure as Nysia when it comes to that subject despite their ages being the one more advanced than my other girls. That's why it's better to take it slowly with her.
Sofiel is an exception though, that girl has memories of what we already did back in my previous life. So she had no shame in doing those things with me.
Well, that's it for lightening up our mood and loosening our nerves. It's too tense that no one wanted to talk earlier. Seeing that smile on their faces, the others were infected as well.
Well, except the Incarnation who's watching intently at what preceded in front of her eyes.
"The emotion which those two are projecting to you and what you're projecting back to them… Is that what you called 'love'?"
The Incarnation innocently asked. That's a part of what she would learn after all so it's not surprising that she would ask about it.
"Yes."
I answered confidently. I couldn't be sure if that's what they really felt currently though. Even if that's not love yet, it will get there eventually without forcing it on them. Our destinies are already tied together.
I know that I'm still relying on that vague concept but just looking at them like this… I'm sure that what I'm feeling for them is true.
As I was thinking that, the two of them turned their heads towards me and gave me their enchanting smiles. And though this sounds like a cringy line in a rom-com novel, those two truly made my heart skip a beat.
"I see."
The Incarnation nodded before lifting her head up. Probably she's trying to communicate with her real ego wherever it is.
-
-
We've seen the Zone from afar when we exited the previous one. However, it still took us another 15 minutes to reach it despite flying at top speed.
As we flew down to the entrance, the cold atmosphere and the sense of danger started ticking me up. Inside there, the opened Portal will appear before our eyes…
I know we have to close it… but… I couldn't help but think about entering it to take a look at our enemies' world.
It's a bit foolish, I know. But I couldn't help but become tempted to do that. Well, let me curb that temptation for now. It's better to focus on what's in front of us.
With Bulwark of Invulnerability, Energy Shield and Nullification Zone opened, I stepped forward and entered the Dark World Zone.
[You've entered a special zone. Merged Dark World Zone A1]
[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. 20% Reduced Energy Control and Stats]
Upon reading that series of notifications, it instantly made my head hurt. Just an addition of one zone, the restriction doubled. We'll be fighting in here with our original stats. If not for the Domain of Valor to somehow abate the effect of the restriction, we will have to fight while weakened by it.
But… something's odd… I could still feel the danger but why is there no one waiting for us at the entrance?
I looked around and all I could see was a wide plain with a glaring huge hole in space in the middle of the plains. Beside it was the three devices working properly to continuously increase the size of this Dark World Zone.
Well, based on the geography of the land, this place is truly a plain, without hills, mountains or any sort of bodies of water in sight. However, why are there no guards or even some sort of structure and traps to defend that Portal?
"What is this place…"
Fleur muttered when she entered after me. Like me, she was baffled with the sight and not of the stronger restriction.
"That's the Portal?"
Jayna asked as her eyes were fixed on that eye-catching hole, in the middle.
"I don't know but this felt eerie and exciting at the same time."
Hikari fixed her glasses and started to look around our surroundings.
However, when Boris entered, the voice that came out of his mouth was shaky as he instantly moved out of the place.
"Daisuke… I can see it. They're covered in an illusion. Dodge!"
Illusion? Is it too advanced that my Adaptability and Energy Control couldn't pick it up? Or is it because it was stabilized perfectly that there are no unnatural undulations in the surrounding Dark Energy?
"He's right. All of you, dodge. Let me handle this."
Just like the previous Zone, the Incarnation jumped out from behind us and exercised her overwhelming energy control. As soon as the Dark Energy started to turn chaotic, numerous Energy and Physical-based attacks were simultaneously unleashed all around us.
"Get back!"
I hurriedly moved in front of the Incarnation and pulled her behind me. Even if she's just a concentration of Elemental Energy, she's still a part of the World's Will and most importantly, she's not invincible.
Seeing the incoming attacks of varying degrees of strength, I pulled out something from the Necklace and activated it.
From out of nowhere, the towering All-Black Metagen appeared in front of me with its cockpit open.
"Fleur, get them all behind me!"
I shouted to the calmest among them before using an instacast Flash Step spell to enter it. The Metagen booted up in an instant and my Flux Energy quickly circulated through the Metal Giant while using the last bits of Meta Energy inside its engine. With the Regenium Sword in its hand, the blue-colored Swordforce instantly flowed out from me and into the sword.
And a few moments after that, I activated a Sword Skill, a moment before the rain of attacks reached us.
Counter!
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