Chapter 321: You've Lost Control?

Chapter 321: You've Lost Control?

The Blood Shallows of the Second Layer of the Abyss exuded an unsettlingly sweet metallic tang.

It was the distinctive scent born from the fusion of unknown biological fluids with Abyssmanachimera.

Luo En crouched at the edge of a semi-transparent Spatial Bubble.

Holding his Collector firmly, he was cautiously scraping Pearlescent Microbial Film from the bubble's surface.

This material, known as "Exotic Bacterial Membrane", resembled living silk, subtly trembling with his movements as though savoring every external touch.

Through the Multi-Functional Display Screen of his protective visor, Luo En clearly observed the membrane's real-time reactions.

Its color shifted from pale purple to deep blue, while its texture grew increasingly viscous.

"What an exquisite self-adaptation mechanism..."

He mentally recorded these details while activating "Transcendent Perception" for deeper analysis.

In his specialized vision, these seemingly simple microorganisms revealed complex mana networks.

Each cell functioned like a miniature mana converter, capable of adjusting its biological traits in response to external stimuli.

Suddenly, an almost imperceptible abnormal fluctuation entered his Perception range.

The sensation was difficult to describe—like someone plucking a harp string at an immense distance.

The faint vibration traveled through air and barriers, finally brushing against his razor-sharp spiritual sense.

But this "harp string" was woven from space itself, and the "plucking" force originated from some terrifying existence attempting to forcefully breach dimensional barriers.

Luo En froze mid-motion.

The dual Perception of "Hermit's Insight" and "Transcendent Perception" functioned like a precision radar net, capturing every detail of this twisting fluctuation.

Frequency, intensity, propagation direction, mana characteristics... All data pointed to the same chilling conclusion.

Chaotic wraiths.

These most notorious monsters of the Abyss were stealthily approaching through unknown spatial manipulation techniques.

Luo En slowly straightened, rapidly calculating the precise time until threat arrival.

Spatial distortion acceleration, mana aggregation critical points, Time Required for Dimensional Barrier Breakthrough... Every variable factored into his calculation.

"Fifteen seconds."

Reaching this precise conclusion, he immediately turned to the team members:

"All personnel, cease collection immediately and prepare barrier formation!"

His voice transmitted through communication devices to every team member.

That abnormally firm tone caused his focused colleagues to look up sharply.

"Chaotic wraiths are approaching. They'll create a Spatial Rift northeast of our position in approximately fifteen seconds!"

This sudden warning struck like a stone shattering still waters, instantly disrupting the collection operation's tranquility.

Supervisor Wayne reacted first. His petrified half-face appeared particularly sinister under the crimson glow.

Years of Abyss experience had cultivated a unique habit.

Whenever encountering emergencies, he'd unconsciously tap his Temple with his fingers—the sound of bone striking stone always helped him maintain Calm.

Now, that familiar "tap-tap" rhythm resumed.

"Lalf... What are you talking about?"

Wayne's voice carried obvious confusion, mixed with barely perceptible admiration.

He quickly checked the multifunctional monitor on his wrist. The palm-sized device displayed real-time environmental parameters.

"All detection equipment shows normal readings... Spatial stability at 94.7%, energy fluctuation intensity at 0.3 standard units, threat Rank..."

His voice trailed off as the green "Safe" indicator light on the screen continued its mocking steady pulse.

Team Leader Mi Le reacted more directly.

The Mechanical Left Arm of this Silver-Ring Rank explorer emitted a faint hum—the built-in weapon system's self-diagnostic sound.

But his expression twisted into a sneer bordering on contempt.

"Rookie..."

Mi Le spoke slowly, his voice carrying veterans' typical impatience toward greenhorns:

"I know you're probably just nervous from your first real Abyss Environment exposure. That's normal.

I've seen countless book-smart mages like you—mastered theories on paper but completely paranoid when actually descending into the Abyss."

He patted the two-meter-tall automated sentry colossus automaton "Sentinel-7", producing a crisp metallic clang:

"But our safety systems here are far more reliable than you imagine.

This big guy has Observatory's most advanced threat Perception array—Spatial Distortion Monitor, Energy Fluctuation Analyzer, biometric scanners... Seventeen different sensor types in total."

Mi Le's tone turned even more mocking:

"If there were really threats of chaotic wraiths' caliber, it would've been screaming alarms already instead of..."

He gestured toward the colossus automaton's head where green indicator lights blinked normally:

"Peaceful as ever."

Fa Er Ke, responsible for portable analysis equipment, cast a more complex gaze.

This young researcher prematurely aged from Abyss material exposure had his own habitual motion.

Whenever anxious or troubled, he'd unconsciously stroke his silver hair, as if confirming his own vitality.

"Lalf... perhaps..."

Fa Er Ke caressed his hair, voice trembling slightly with a mix of sympathy and fear:

"Perhaps you need emergency checks? Initial Abyss material exposure does cause various... adverse reactions."

He withdrew a small Spiritual Condition Detector from his medical kit. The silver metallic shell reflected sinister gleams under the crimson light:

"These symptoms aren't uncommon among rookies. Early spiritual contamination symptoms include hallucinations, false perceptions, and hypersensitivity to non-existent threats. Without timely treatment..."

Fa Er Ke didn't finish, but everyone present understood the consequences of that "if."

The Observatory's "Special Containment Zone" housed too many "former colleagues" who'd lost human form due to spiritual contamination.

Supervisor Wayne had already activated his portable erosion detector.

This precision device emitted a low hum as internal rune arrays rapidly preheated, preparing for comprehensive Abyss Erosion Detection on Luo En.

"Lalf, cooperate with the scan. Standard procedure."

Wayne's tone remained mild, yet carried unmistakable authority:

"If this is indeed perception distortion caused by erosion reactions, we need immediate treatment. Earlier detection means higher cure probability."

He paused, his petrified half-face twitching slightly:

"You understand the consequences of delayed treatment."

Faced with colleagues' skepticism and impending forced inspection, Luo En maintained glacial calm internally.

Years of relentless research and meditation had taught him maintaining rational thought even in chaos.

He knew his Perception was correct—the chaotic wraiths' threat approached at terrifying speed.

That spatial distortion fluctuation had grown intense enough to induce slight nausea. This was the direct spiritual impact of high-intensity spatial manipulation.

In this situation, excessive explanations would only be seen as further evidence of a "Spiritual Anomaly."

"There's no time for these protocols anymore!"

Luo En's voice grew more urgent. He could feel the spatial distortion nearing its critical threshold.

The terrifying power threatening to tear reality itself sent his nerves into a frenzy of warning signals.

"Trust me or don't trust me, but activate all barrier protocols immediately! Ten seconds... nine... eight..."

As he counted down with precision, he quickly inspected his equipment configuration.

The tactical pack at his waist, the emergency rune at his sleeve, the protective amulet across his chest—each item was instantly verified for status and order of use.

This almost mechanical preparation only unsettled the other team members further.

To them, Luo En's behavior perfectly matched the typical symptoms of "Abyssspiritual contamination":

hypersensitivity, paranoid delusions, and obsessive-compulsive patterns.

Copper-Ring Explorer Jin Si Hua, standing nearby, had already placed a hand on her weapon, preparing to subdue this "Uncontrolled" newcomer if necessary.

"Five seconds... four... three..."

As Supervisor Wayne sighed and prepared to forcibly initiate the safety protocols, the entire environment inside the Spatial Bubble underwent a horrifying transformation.

The space began twisting at visible speeds, like thick liquid being stirred by an invisible giant's hand.

This wasn't ordinary physical distortion—it was the fundamental structure of reality itself being altered by forces beyond comprehension.

The Blood Shallows' surface, that originally tranquil deep-red liquid, suddenly surged with sinister ripples.

These ripples didn't radiate outward—they contracted inward, forming numerous small vortexes.

Each vortex center displayed completely different colors:

Some were pure black, as if leading to void;

Others emitted blinding white light, impossible to gaze at directly;

Still others exhibited "colors" indescribable in human language—mere glimpses caused inexplicable panic.

"Warning! Spatial anomaly detected! Threat rank: Extreme!"

Watchman-7's alarm system finally activated, its shrill siren echoing through the Blood Shallows like hell's lament.

The mechanical construct's head began spinning wildly, seventeen different sensor types flashing intense crimson light while emitting urgent beeps.

But it was all too late.

Watchman-7's synthetic voice began reporting detailed data:

"Spatial stability: 12%, continuing to drop!

Energy fluctuation intensity: Beyond measurable range!

Time flow anomaly: Detecting multiple concurrent time streams!

Threat rank: Unknown entity!

Recommend immediate evacuation! Recommend immediate evacuation!"

At the exact moment Luo En's countdown ended, the space in the northeast direction tore open an irregular rift several meters long.

The rift's edges shimmered with impossible colors—these weren't reflected lights but projections from another dimension directly manifesting in reality.

From this wound in reality slowly emerged a form capable of shattering rationality itself—chaotic wraiths.

If creatures from the shallow Abyss still retained some recognizable biological traits, then chaotic wraiths were complete negations of the very concept of "life."

It had no fixed form, its body resembling a chaotic mass of pure Chaos Concept.

Under observers' gazes, it transformed constantly in dizzying ways:

Sometimes appearing as a massive tentacled aggregate, each tentacle's surface covered with countless eyeballs of varying sizes—these eyeballs blinked simultaneously, creating a nauseating rhythmic sense;

Sometimes transforming into a grotesque collage of human faces, each facial expression twisted beyond human muscular limits while silently screaming.

"This... this can't be happening..."

Mi Le's voice cracked from extreme shock—his battle-hardened composure completely shattered.

His Mechanical Left Arm trembled uncontrollably under the massive fear impact.

Internal weapon systems emitted chaotic electronic noises, displaying system-wide disarray.

"How can our detection equipment fail completely? This defies theoretical logic!"

Supervisor Wayne stared in disbelief at his monitor.

The screen stubbornly displayed "Safe" as if the horrifying reality before them was merely collective hallucination.

His petrified fingers furiously tapped his temple like machine-gun fire, a conditioned reflex during extreme panic.

Luo En frowned. Mi Le and Wayne's reactions seemed... almost deliberately exaggerated?

Before he could ponder further, another researcher, Ai Lise, began violent vomiting.

Her semi-transparent body clearly revealed gastric juice surging up her esophagus.

Fa Er Ke had completely stopped his habitual hair-stroking motion, clutching his head tightly while emitting suppressed whimpers.

"Space camouflage technology."

Luo En's voice remained unusually calm amidst the chaos:

"Chaotic wraiths create large-scale spatial illusions when approaching targets, causing all physically-based detection equipment to misjudge. This is one of their deadliest hunting techniques."

Hardly finishing his words, the chaotic wraith's "body"—if that ever-shifting Chaos Substance could even be called that—began new, more horrifying transformations.

Its central region gradually gathered a sinister light that surpassed human visual perception limits.

This light transformed based on observers' fears.

The fearful saw despairing darkness; the enraged saw soul-searing crimson; those with complex minds saw an ever-shifting Chaos hue that never stabilized.

"Random Teleportation Beam!"

Mi Le shouted the warning, his voice carrying unprecedented urgency:

"Everyone disperse immediately! Don't cluster together!"

Chaotic wraiths' teleportation beams weren't simple spatial transfers but forced "Reality Reconstructions."

Anyone struck would be randomly scattered across the Abyss—including Death Zones even many Apostles avoided.

Moreover, these teleportations were often incomplete.

Some unfortunate victims were split apart, their body parts appearing in different locations, experiencing pain beyond any conceivable torture.

As panic engulfed everyone, Luo En had already retrieved several silver spherical objects from his tactical pack.

These specially-crafted Scattering Projectiles embodied his total dedication to alchemy, Rune Studies, and Weapon Techniques.

Each projectile's surface bore an extremely complex Three-Dimensional Rune Array.

Stimulated by the Abyss environment, the runes emitted stable blue light—the sign of a functioning Spatial Interference Magic Array.

Additionally, through "Transcendent Perception" combined with "Hermit's Insight", Luo En possessed spatial perception surpassing all present.

In his special vision, the chaotic wraith's seemingly random transformations actually followed a deep pattern.

Though its exterior constantly changed, its manacore—the "True Essence" controlling the entire entity—had a relatively fixed location.

This Insight allowed him to predict every attack the chaotic wraith would launch, including the exact direction and coverage area of the teleportation beam.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end