Chapter 323: Demonstration of Conquest

Chapter 323: Demonstration of Conquest

Back at the Material Analysis Department of the Abyss Observatory.

Luo En's near-perfect performance this time earned him significant recognition and elevated status within two distinctly opposing factions.

On the research team side, Supervisor Wayne was deeply impressed by his exceptionally keen perception ability.

"The early warning capability you displayed today is indeed rare", Wayne candidly expressed his opinion during their private conversation.

"I plan to recommend you for the upcoming 'Deep Material Trait Analysis' project. This project will involve samples retrieved from the Fourth Layer of the Abyss and even deeper regions - research with extremely high value, but corresponding risk ranks are equally formidable."

He paused slightly before adding,

"Also, if you agree, I'd like to recommend you to join the Observatory's 'Anomaly Investigation Team.' This specialized unit handles analysis and resolution of Abyss phenomena that defy conventional explanation. Judging by your demonstrated perception ability, you should be able to make significant contributions in this field."

On the exploration team side, Leader Mi Le also conveyed some explorer-related information to Luo En.

"According to the Observatory's personnel policy, the identities of researcher and explorer are completely compatible", Mi Le explained in detail, "In fact, many of our most outstanding core members hold dual identities. You can continue focusing on material analysis and research work, while participating in relatively safe missions as a part-time explorer."

He retrieved a detailed document from the chest pocket of his uniform:

"Part-time explorers enjoy numerous additional privileges: priority allocation rights for rare Abyss materials, eligibility for high-value missions, additional hazard allowance, and most importantly - legal access permits to Deep Abyss Zones."

This arrangement was indeed highly enticing for Luo En.

As a formal explorer, he would gain more legal opportunities to access deeper Abyss layers, which would be invaluable for his various secret research projects. Meanwhile, the explorer status could also provide perfect cover for his "special activities" - such as today's secret deployment of the Puppet Substitute.

"I've decided to accept this arrangement", Luo En made his decision after careful consideration, "The part-time explorer identity indeed opens up more possibilities for my research."

Beyond these overt gains, today's operation also brought an extremely important intangible achievement.

The Puppet Substitute had successfully infiltrated the "Darkless Sea" region of the Abyss' fifth layer, establishing a critical forward observation point for his deeper explorations. Through the real-time perception information transmitted by the Puppet, he already had preliminary understanding of the fifth layer's basic environmental characteristics:

An endless waterscape shrouded in Eternity Darkness, where seawater possesses intense corrosiveness and some unknown vitality traits. Various malevolent deep-sea lifeforms swim within, with some even exhibiting primitive collective intelligence.

...

Meanwhile, at the secret gathering place of the Supreme Apostles deep within the Abyss' Seventh Layer - a special space even Archmages cannot easily detect or reach.

The surrounding environment itself was a complete negation of normal reality: gravity transformed according to observers' will, colors transmuted into sound, time flowed in spirals, and thoughts left visible light traces in the air.

"The plan has failed", Nas' voice, known as "Formless Mist", was like whispers superimposed from countless different spaces.

"This brat actually managed to precisely foresee the target coordinates of the teleportation", its misty body violently churned, all internal eyes turning to the same direction, staring toward the Observatory.

"I've already swapped the chaotic wraiths' teleportation coordinates, completely deceiving even the Observatory's most advanced detection equipment. But he could still perceive the threat in advance - this perception ability absolutely transcends normal limits."

"Flesh Sculpture" Bradash released an earth-shaking roar of rage, his voice like a thousand beasts howling simultaneously.

"I've said all along this roundabout strategy is too complex! Why not directly dispatch the Awakening Legion to attack the Observatory, capture that brat, and modify him? Wouldn't that be simpler and more effective?"

His enormous flesh tentacles wildly lashed through the void, each swing leaving crimson trails:

"This insignificant runt who just ascended to Full Mage - direct military conquest is the fundamental solution!"

"You still don't understand, Bradash", Nas' tone grew colder, all eyes within the mist turning toward the flesh mass:

"This human possesses some special nature we cannot fully comprehend. It's not just the soul purity of a primordial mage, but something deeper and more mysterious."

His voice became like echoes from the Abyss' deepest depths:

"I can sense that successfully transforming him into our ally would create decisive impact on our grand plan. So rather than simplistic capture and torture, I prefer him to 'voluntarily' join our cause."

Nearby, "Void Spider" Magus used its special perception ability that could peer across different timelines, scrutinizing countless future possibilities.

Its voice resonated with echoes from past, present, and future:

"But the opportunity window has already closed, at least in the near future."

The threads it manipulated trembled:

"Cassandra has already reached the Stargate Outpost at the main world's edge. At most one or two days, she'll formally return to the Central Lands through this transfer station. Before her return, we cannot conduct any large-scale direct actions."

This revelation brought deep frustration to the other two Supreme Apostles.

Cassandra's power was unquestionable - even to Supreme Apostles, she represented an extremely dangerous opponent. And as the main driving force behind the Abyss observation network, her protection of the Observatory and related personnel could be described as meticulous.

"Damn that Stargate Outpost!" Bradash raged, his flesh tentacles violently tearing apart the twisted space: "Those immortal old bastards from Truth Pavilion!"

The Stargate Outpost lay within a special space in the "Labyrinth Domain" of the Abyssal Chasm's sixth layer.

This location was not only the most important strategic facility in the mage world, but also a stable channel connecting the main world to various planes and dimensions. The outpost was equipped with the most advanced barrier system, and maintained constant high-level surveillance by Lich King-class entities.

Even so-called Supreme Apostles would never dare to provoke such a place.

Nas' misty body gradually contracted:

"Since direct action is unfeasible in the short term, we'll have to patiently wait for other opportunities."

His tone turned even more sinister:

"But this human will inevitably be driven by necessity to explore deeper into the Abyssal Chasm's core area. At that time... in the Abyss' absolute home ground, we'll have plenty of methods to 'persuade' him."

"Don't forget about that brat Uther secretly protecting him", Magus timely reminded, its special vision showing the blurred image of the elder's silver Phantom Husk:

"The Phantom Husk has completely adapted and rooted itself in the Abyss environment, possessing terrifying historical retrospection and crisis perception abilities."

Its voice carried a faint warning:

"This attempt will temporarily end here. We must all proceed cautiously to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from the main world."

Three shadows gradually dissipated, marking the end of this secret meeting.

...

Two days later, within the largest "Constellations Hall" in Crystal Spire.

The original gentle academic lighting had been replaced by blazing golden-red magical flames.

Hundreds of floating flame lanterns slowly rotated beneath the dome, transforming the entire hall into a palace of war gods.

The stone tablets previously engraved with academic quotes on the walls were now replaced by three-dimensional reliefs depicting conquest scenes: dragons kneeling before mages, alien cities burning in spell flames, non-human species surrendering on their knees.

Each relief emitted faint mana fluctuations, making the depicted scenes vividly lifelike.

Luo En stood within the Abyss Observatory's delegation.

Beside him were Supervisor Wayne from the research team, and over a dozen other Observatory researchers and explorers.

He activated his "Transcendent Perception" skill, carefully observing the situation among the thousands of attendees.

Everyone present was at least Dawn Star Rank Full Mages, their expressions and postures varied.

Traditionalist mages mostly wore solemn expressions with worried glances in their eyes, while younger mages appeared excited and expectant, as if about to witness a historic moment.

Most disturbing were the transformations within the Observatory delegation.

Those long-suffering from Abyss erosion now displayed sickening excitement.

Wayne's petrified half-face began to faintly glow, Ma Li's artificial eyes blinked rapidly, and even the usually composed Ma Di unconsciously tapped his instrument with keratinized fingers.

"They can sense something I cannot", Luo En analyzed the anomaly internally, "The aftermath of Abyss erosion has created resonances with certain specific energy fluctuations?"

As he pondered, the space at the hall's center began violently twisting.

The air rippled like water waves, emitting a low humming sound.

Then, occupying the entire field of view, a massive portal gradually opened.

This was a complex Hexagram Array, each apex pointing toward different spatial dimensions.

The portal frame was composed of Living Metal that writhed autonomously, its surface inscribed with the Conquest Manifesto using alien glyphs.

The characters continuously changed color and shape, as if recounting the elegies of countless conquered civilizations.

“Truly... an impressive entrance.”

Luo En narrowed his eyes, his Hermit's Insight granting him a unique Perception that detected the terrifying mana radiating from the portal.

A single inter-world teleportation of this scale would likely consume mana equivalent to an entire year’s output from Dawnport.

Even more unsettling was the alien aura seeping through from the other side of the portal.

Cassandra herself did not emerge first. Instead, a massive War Banner appeared.

This banner was stitched together from six smaller flags, each representing a different species from the worlds she had conquered.

At the top floated a transparent flag woven from crystal threads, its surface shimmering with active strands of thought-light.

On the left was a silver banner made from metallic fibers, its surface etched with geometric patterns unique to mechanical civilizations.

To the right, a rainbow-hued flag, composed entirely of mana bindings, continuously shifted into dizzying color patterns.

Most disturbing were the flags at the bottom. Woven from Living Tissues, they writhed subtly, as if still clinging to some remnants of life.

“Each flag is a requiem for an entire civilization.”

As Luo En sensed the faint energy fluctuations from these banners, a complex mix of emotions stirred within him.

As a rational researcher, he understood the value of conquest and plunder.

Yet, seeing entire civilizations reduced to mere decorations still made him frown.

Cassandra followed shortly after, but she did not maintain her human form. Instead, she emerged as a Phantom Husk—a radiant mass of mana stretching hundreds of meters wide.

Inside the Phantom Husk, countless tiny mana particles formed intricate three-dimensional structures.

Each particle pulsed with light at different frequencies, collectively forming a dizzying multidimensional image.

The Phantom Husk resembled a miniature purple sun, radiating an overwhelming, almost blinding aura of majesty.

The moment Cassandra exited the portal, a crushing spirit oppression swept through the entire hall.

Even Full Mages had to activate their strongest spirit protections to withstand this Archmage-level aura.

Luo En felt a wave of dizziness. All the mana within his body instinctively surged, resisting the unbearable pressure.

But what caught his attention more was the reaction of the Observatory members.

The researchers and explorers, long afflicted by Abyss erosion, showed visible relief as they were bathed in the light of Cassandra’s Phantom Husk.

Wayne’s petrified half-face regained color, Mi Le’s artificial eyes stabilized their flickering, and even Mi Di’s keratinized fingers halted their progression into decay.

“Her Phantom Husk... is it capable of suppressing Abyss erosion to some extent?”

Luo En’s sharp mind seized this crucial observation:

“No… It seems more like a harmonious interaction with Abyss mana. Which means…”

His thoughts were interrupted by Cassandra’s transformation.

The radiant Phantom Husk began to shrink, condensing back into a humanoid form.

As the light faded, a young witch in her mid-twenties stood before them.

She was the epitome of a fully matured Eve, her jet-black hair as profound as the night sky, her features sharp and cold, her figure strikingly voluptuous.

Yet her eyes were the most captivating—two swirling purple vortexes, endlessly rotating.

“Esteemed colleagues.”

Cassandra’s voice echoed through the hall. The warmth in her tone sharply contrasted with the oppressive aura she had just displayed:

“After decades of intermittent interdimensional conquests, I return bearing precious gifts for the School Alliance.”

She gently raised her right hand. From beyond the portal, one astonishing existence after another emerged.

First displayed were trophies from the Crystal Mind Civilization.

Six towering transparent crystal giants, each dozens of meters tall, were slowly pushed forward. Their bodies were entirely constructed from living crystal.

Inside, countless luminous points flickered—visible representations of their thought processes.

Each point symbolized a fragment of cognition, forming a complete network of wisdom.

“These are the Thought Carriers from the Fourth Quadrant’s crystal civilization.”

A note of satisfaction tinged Cassandra’s voice:

“They were once the philosophers and scientists of that world, masters of spatial theories and Mana Control techniques beyond our reach. Now, all their knowledge is ours.”

As she spoke, one of the crystal giants began a demonstration.

Its body shimmered with complex light patterns, mana threads weaving intricately within the crystal structure.

Suddenly, a detailed three-dimensional Galactic System Model materialized in the air, showcasing the crystal civilization’s unique understanding of cosmic structures.

The model included not only stars and planets but also hidden dimensions and mana field distributions—knowledge of immeasurable value to mages, especially those specializing in spatial spell research.

Luo En closely observed the crystal giant’s internal structure. Through Transcendent Perception, he discerned their essence.

They had once been independent consciousness-bearing entities, but now were fully subjugated into living knowledge repositories.

“Forced Memory Extraction and Consciousness Reconstruction…”

He analyzed the technique’s mechanism internally:

“Using specialized Formulation Techniques to completely alter a being’s biological structure, retaining knowledge and Memory while erasing individual will. A cruel yet effective method for acquiring interdimensional knowledge.”

Next came an even more astonishing display. Dozens of Synthetic Hunters marched in perfect formation from the portal.

They were the perfect fusion of machinery and flesh.

Their bones and internal organs had been replaced with intricate mechanical structures, yet their skin and muscle tissues retained organic traits.

Each hunter had a streamlined body, hydraulic joint mechanisms at their limbs, and Mana Wings on their backs capable of unfolding.

Their most sinister feature was their eyes—one glowing blood-red organic eyeball, the other a blue-lit Mechanical Sensor.

“These are the elite enforcers of the Iron Dominion. A single unit matches a standard Dawn Star Rank Mage, while a Hunting Squad can fatally threaten even a Moonlight Rank Mage.”

Cassandra stroked one’s head, and the Synthetic Hunter immediately knelt, emitting a low mechanical hum.

“The Iron Dominion once commanded three thousand of these war machines. Now, they obey only me.”

To demonstrate the Synthetic Hunters, Cassandra signaled several to transform.

They instantly shifted into various combat forms:

Some extended their limbs into a spider-like Arachnid Form, moving so fast their trails blurred;

Others unfurled their Mana Wings, hovering as they fired high-energy laser beams from their mouths, leaving scorched marks on the anti-magic floor;

Most astonishingly, one briefly Phase Shifted, its body turning semi-transparent as it passed through a solid pillar.

This fusion of biomechanical and mana technology opened new possibilities for the gathered mages.

Especially those specializing in bloodline formulation and alchemy, whose eyes already gleamed with greed.

“The modification technology of mechanical lifeforms…”

Luo En focused on the Synthetic Hunters’ structure, seeking to unravel their secrets:

“This isn’t mere mechanical augmentation. It’s deep restructuring at the embryonic stage.

Their biological development has been reprogrammed, allowing flesh and machine to achieve perfect fusion at the molecular level.”

The final demonstration was the most promising in practical applications. Several Chromatic Spirits were trapped within specialized Crystal Containers.

They lacked fixed forms, their bodies composed purely of elemental mana, like living rainbows swirling within their prisons.

Even separated by thick crystal walls, the mages could feel waves of overwhelming fear and despair.

The spirits continuously shifted hues—from golden brilliance to deep blue-purple, each transformation accompanied by surges of pain.

“These are the Spectral Plane’s native inhabitants. They innately control light and all forms of mana.”

Cassandra’s tone brimmed with satisfaction, as if showcasing prized artworks:

“Each Chromatic Spirit can supply mana equivalent to a Mana Factory. With lifespans measured in centuries, they are an exceptionally stable energy source.”

To demonstrate their value, she tapped one container’s surface.

The touched spirit began releasing mana in agony. The container’s light flared, doubling the mana concentration in the hall.

The forced Mana Extraction caused unbearable pain. The spirit’s glow dimmed, its color shifting toward a deep, agonized crimson.

Yet Cassandra’s expression remained unchanged, as if indifferent to the suffering.

Many onlookers felt unease, but more eyes gleamed with greed.

Luo En himself wrestled with conflicting emotions.

As a rational researcher, he understood the value of such efficient mana sources.

The Chromatic Spirits’ output was not only stable but also virtually uncontaminated—a dream resource for any study.

“The eternal conflict between morality and utility…”

He analyzed his own feelings internally:

“If these Chromatic Spirits volunteered to cooperate, offering mana in exchange for protection and resources, I’d have no objections.”

Cassandra noticed the mages’ reactions, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.

Fear, greed, awe, reverence… a spectrum of emotions flickered across faces, exactly the effect she intended.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end