Inspecting every wall closely, it's not made from solidified Energy. That Formation they activated probably has the effect of creating a labyrinth or a dungeon at the same time as sending the intruders onto different parts of the Zone.
If I think of it like this then it's possible that right at this moment, each of them is fighting alone, somewhere beyond this wall I am currently caged in…
To test its durability, I tried hitting the wall with a regular punch. It's a regular punch of someone who's approaching 200 in Strength Stat alone.
From where I punched it, my fist got embedded halfway in and the spiderweb-like cracks extended up to 20 meters around it.
It could be broken through but I don't know how thick they made it to be. Either way, that's already one thing to be glad about. Also, they probably didn't know that I got stuck here.
The layout of this Zone was memorized by me since it's simple enough without anything hindering our visions earlier.
If I go straight from where I am currently in by breaking down a hole for myself to pass through, I will eventually reach the Portal and the three devices.
But will they let me do that though? The possibility of being noticed after breaking down a hole is almost certain. This is a part of a Formation after all, and there's someone monitoring it.
Ah… I'm wasting time overthinking here. My first priority isn't the Portal. It's the safety of my girls.
Then… let's go out and look for them for now.
Having decided that, I took out the Willful Sword and charged it up with both the Swordforce and my Flux Energy.
As the sword got drunk with the two types of Energy, the Dark Aura which it absorbed from the Dark Elf Transcendent as well as the Lightning Dragon was unleashed by it.
This sword is continuously growing and it doesn't really have a limit on what it can absorb. It might even be stronger than the Regenium Sword that my Metagen wields. Just that… it's somehow picky. The Dark Energy it absorbed from the other Transcendents was only used to strengthen the Dark Aura to let it become on par with the Lightning Dragon. However, I am still not clear on how that Dark Aura will be used. For now, I'm still using it as something like another enhancement for the Willful Sword, giving it a higher destructive power.
Well, enough about that.
I put the Metagen back to its compressed state first before walking towards the northern wall.
With the sword already charged since earlier, I stabbed the tip in front of me.
ROAR!
Though it looks like a casual stab, the Lightning Dragon which covered itself with the Dark Aura roared thunderously as it charged towards the wall and drilled through the point where the Sword was stabbed.
As the sound of crumbling rocks filled the enclosed space, I started to hear the sounds of footsteps approaching my location from three different directions.
"What happened?! What was that sound?!"
"Someone broke a wall!"
"Huh? Aren't the intruders caught by the Formation? They should be scattered and separated already."
"This… This is the entrance. Did someone enter after them? How can we be attacked here? Are the scouts not doing their jobs?"
"Stop asking questions. Go and check it! You! Report this to the Leader."
Soon enough, their voices could be heard as they stopped right before the hole I made. Judging from their conversations, my earlier guess is right. I got stuck at the same place due to the activation of the Nullification Zone but the others were transported somewhere. As I spread out my senses, the newcomers were all Mortal Ranks and none of them were even at Rank 5 Mortal. Looks like those capable enough to last against a Transcendent were all sent to face one.
Let's not waste time here. Fleur already got ambushed before, although I got there on time, I still don't want that to happen again. The same for Jayna… Only after I made sure that the two are fine will I think about anything else.
Having decided that, I activated the Orb of Concealment and stepped out of the hole.
Looking at the wary and nervous expression of these Mortal Ranks as they slowly approached the hole in the wall, I felt that it's a shame not to let them be tormented. I should've activated the Ailment first, no?
Well, enough about that. Looking at the structure and the layout of this place, it looks like that Formation created passageways that led to somewhere. There were three directions here… north, east and west. If I referenced it with the layout I could remember, the north will surely lead me straight to the Portal. Whether there's something or someone waiting there wasn't a concern, we would have no choice but to force our way through to close the Portal after all.
Then let's go east first. There's not really a clue where they are but… this time, I will be trusting my intuition. Those girls were tied to me. In one way or another, we'll be reunited however far they may be.
I have ten minutes in this concealed state. Once the duration ended, they would surely appear to catch me, regardless of whether they have the ability to do that or not.
Ever since getting the orb, no one has ever managed to detect me or us. There were also few instances when the Concealment was torn off. It's easily the most useful orb I acquired. It's not that the others were useless, just that this one helped us in a dangerous situation more than once. But I have to remember that this orb still has its limitations and someone has the possibility to see through it. Maybe not here in a Mortal World but somewhere higher where the gap in power will be like heaven and earth. Well, for now, I just have to be alert at all times to let me get used to this state.
As I continued traversing the eastern passageway, I kept my senses spread wide to observe the flow of Energy. Even a small disturbance to it could be a clue as to where a battle might be happening.
Two minutes later, I passed by at least three forks in the passageway. I have no time to check each one of them, spending a minute or two was all I could spare. Though there were no rooms, the forks lead to another passageway. Since I already started in this one, I will finish this first. If I didn't find anything that could lead me to where Fleur and Jayna are, only then I will move there.
There were times where a group of Mortal Ranks would pass by me. Those who converse while they move, I would stick close to them to get information. However, most of what they knew was limited. Even so, each of them has different pieces of information. So after five minutes, I managed to piece it together and arrange it which could explain the current situation we are in.
The Formation they activated sends the intruders not recognized by the Zone to Separate Parts of this Merged Zone. Since it's five Zones that Merged together, we're supposed to be separated into five different parts of the Zone. There will be two who will be located at the same part but with me nullifying the effect of the Formation, the five of them were far away from each other.
The Formation also sends those who 'signed up' to be part of the Assault Groups which will kill the intruder through overwhelming numbers along with any other methods they could produce.
There were originally five Transcendents stationed here but with the addition of the newly descended one, their numbers went up to six. However, the number of Transcendents who welcomed us numbered only five which meant one of them only watched from the sidelines.
And with the activation of the Formation… the four Transcendents who stepped to the four Plates will be immobilized for as long as the Formation was activated. Pretty inefficient but I guess they factored in the fact that the Zone will be imposing a restriction on us.
Despite losing at least half of the Mortal Ranks who attacked us at the entrance, it's probably not their total number of personnel stationed here.
Then… in this direction I am currently traversing… there should be one of them. I trusted my intuition so… it should be one of my girls.
When there were only 3 minutes left for the Concealment's duration, I reached the end of the eastern passageway. I can turn to the north or south to continue searching.
Without a second thought, my feet turned their heels towards the south passageway and increased the pace of my steps.
At first, it was just my intuition telling me to go south but as I continued traversing the path, the disturbance in the surrounding Dark Energy started to grow stronger. The vibration on the walls also started to ring loudly which indicated a battle somewhere near.
I guess after getting that Passive Skill from Yuko which boosted my Intuition, this is the first time it really showed its worth.
A few seconds before the Concealment ended, I arrived at the point where the disturbance of energy was the highest and at a distance, I saw a group of trembling and injured Mortal Ranks being treated. They had various burns in their bodies and saw even had a limb scorched black. And a few steps from them, a tall metal door was closed shut with a small passageway where someone could enter.
There's no need to guess anymore, someone was fighting behind that door and judging from the injuries of these Mortal Ranks…
"Jayna."
I muttered a bit loudly at the same time as the Concealment ended, gathering their attention.
I hope they're prepared for what's coming to them.
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