There was no ti to lose now that everything was dealt with. They were already running behind the others who had spent weeks, even months inside the Mystic Realm already, and they needed to catch up.
Kenzie imdiately started drawing the final inscriptions that would complete the outer array since Zac had given the go-ahead. The assistants had already moved away just in case, with only Kenzie staying next to the array. The final touches only took a few minutes, and Zac saw the air all around them shudder for a few seconds before it returned to normal.
"It worked!" Kenzie exclaid a few seconds later as the inner array lit up as well.
Uh, it did? Zac asked, feeling there was so lack of payoff.
He had almost expected a massive tear in space to appear, only for Kenzie's array to beat it back after a herculean effort. Zac obviously wasnt the only one feeling this way either. Ogras looked at the array with a visible disappointnt, and Thea was looking at Kenzie with confusion.
Thats it, Kenzie snorted, clearly a bit miffed about everyones reactions. I can add so fireworks to the next array if you want.
Just thought there would be so spatial rifts or sothing, Zac sheepishly smiled before he refocused. Ill go first to make sure its safe.
Im coming with, I know the place best after all, Ogras said. Ive also been inside enough to be able to tell if the array works as intended.
What? In your condition? Zac frowned as he asked with a low voice. "What's your goal? Last ti we almost had to drag you through the teleporter."
I figure Im better off on the other side in case this thing breaks down after one use, Ogras shrugged with a grin. "I'll just hide in your shadows and reap the rewards."
Well, fine, Zac said as he turned to Thea and the other leaders. Ill send a ssage back through the portal in a minute at most. You can begin the transfer as soon as Ive done so, provided Kenzie gives the go-ahead.
Thea looked reluctant at being left behind, but Billy didnt care in the slightest. Nigel on the other hand looked like he was praying for the thing to fail so that he could stay behind. As for the Zhix, they stoically stood in vigil, their facial expressions unreadable.
What should we do if this thing breaks after you enter, Warmaster? Rhubat eventually rumbled. The enemies of the Zhix are on the other side.
If this thing really breaks down after we go through, have Kenzie fix it. If shes unable to Enter through the New World Governnts tunnel. Thea can show you the way, Zac said without hesitation.
This was sothing he had about before, and he eventually decided to sacrifice the New World Governnt if it ca to that. The survival of Earth was more important than anything else, and they simply didn't have any other options. He had sent out dozens of squads in search of other tunnels, including to the uncharted continent. But they hadn't found anything, aning the New World Governnt tunnel was the only other one remaining.
Of course, following the Dominators through their own tunnel would have been the best option, but no one had been able to figure out where it was. Void's Disciple must have tracked down a pathway as secluded as the one on Mystic Island.
Be careful around the New World Governnt though. The tunnel would be filled with traps. And be careful as to not let anything dangerous reach Earth.
You wont mind if we oust your kind? Rhubat asked curiously.
Theyre not my kind, Zac shrugged. But try a non-violent approach if possible, no matter if we et them inside or outside. Were all part of this planet after all.
The Anointed nodded in agreent, and Zac stepped onto the array with the demon following close behind. The darkness lasted just an instant until he appeared in a familiar room, a wave of relief washing over him when he could confirm that the array worked just fine. He didnt even realize that he had been holding his breath as he stepped through, and his hands were clammy as well.
Getting almost killed while teleporting once had undeniably left a shadow in his mind.
Ah! a scream echoed out the second Zac appeared, and he spotted a young woman grasping for a spear that stood balanced against the wall. Intruders! Wait, Lord Atwood?
Its . Tina, right? Zac smiled as he recognized the Valkyrie. Im sorry it took so long to reopen the entrance. Is everyone okay here?
Ogras appeared before Tina had a chance to answer, glancing around the building before walking up next to Zac.
The array seems stable enough, Ogras muttered after he threw the Valkyrie a glance. I didnt notice any differences compared to the last tis. Should be fine I think?
Good, Zac nodded as he sent back an information crystal to the other side, telling the others that it worked.
More people are coming soon, so lets get out of the way, Zac said as he led the two out of the Teleportation Building.
The base camp outside looked pretty much the sa as the last ti Zac visited, except for a couple of new buildings having been added to the mix. The odd lines covered the sky, and the trees created a periter around the fields far off in the distance. Finally, there was the barely discernable wall, and Zac's heartbeat sped up at the thought of what awaited inside.
Everything seems fine here. Have there been any problems? Zac said as soon as he could confirm that there were no imdiate threats.
Nothing much has happened here apart from us going a bit stir-crazy, Tina said as she waved at the other castaways who looked at Zac with relief in their eyes. We have just explored the vicinity and cultivated. Those worm-things dont attack as long as five of us travel together. We have encountered sothing odd though.
Odd? Whats going on? Zac asked as he looked around again, properly this ti.
Only then did he realize that Ogras had stopped in his tracks after stepping outside the teleportation building, a deep frown adorning his face. Zac had only been here for a few short visits when he needed to talk with his sister, but he hadnt actually left the imdiate vicinity of the entrance. However, it appeared as though the demon had figured sothing out.
This world is growing, the demon finally blurted out, his eyes wide with shock.
They are here, Leviala said, her milky-white eyes opening for the first ti in weeks. "The door has been reopened."
Sorry for having you do this, child, Uvek sighed as he hurriedly handed his granddaughter the extract before the backlash kicked in.
She drank the murky texture down with a slight frown, but she didnt complain about the astringent taste. She never did.
Its not more horned beings, Leviala said. Well, there are, but there are other races as well. So I have never seen before.
Any humans? Tictus, the squirrely chief Datamancer, asked with worry in his eyes.
Yes, most, Leviala nodded.
The eyes around the table lit up, but Uvek shook his head.
Things outside are not like in here. Our races will not bring us together. Rember, it is our clan that that needs to stand united, even against other humans, Uvek said.
The other elders soon rembered themselves and low discussion as to what to do next appeared in the sealed Elder's Hall.
How powerful are they? Tictus eventually asked.
I cant see, Leviala said with a shake of her head.
How about another elder muttered.
No! She cannot open the Eyes of Heaven again so soon. She had used her bloodline too much already to keep track of all the changes. It might kill her if we push even further. We need to rember our goal! These outsiders that keep pouring in are after that thing in the center, but what are we after? Uvek said.
Freedom, Tictus muttered.
Exactly! We need to leave here, but then what? Uvek said as he looked across the room.
I have learned so things by speaking with Hekruv Vira of the True Sky faction. They have had ample contact with the outsiders through their terminals. If he is speaking the truth, and I believe he is, then the planet outside has changed, and it will be thrown out into the universe in one hundred years. We need to have a D-Grade warrior before then to protect us, and Leviala is our best hope! She is the first one since the ancestor to awaken [Heaven's Eyes] instead of [King's Eyes] or [Lord's Eyes]. We cant ruin her potential for short-term benefits!
Do not forget Yvian, the decrepit voice of the second elder spoke up, and Uvek forced himself to nod in acquiescence.
However, his inner thoughts werent quite as agreeable. It would be a disaster for Clan Cartava if that impetuous man beca the next Patriarch. They had already been captured once due to their unique bloodline, and he knew they needed to keep a low profile as they stepped out into the true universe. But Yvian carried dreams of grandeur, to lead the clan to the peak.
But he didnt understand that they were just ants in the grand sche of things. Their ancestral holands had been like a fortress, and their echelon elders were known across the sector for their prowess. But their sanctuary was reduced to ashes the mont the ancestor passed away, their elders slaughtered like chickens, proving they were just frogs in the bottom of the well.
Having wealth was a sin if you werent powerful enough to protect it.
Even then, Yvian bore a deep desire for conquest. Before he had wanted to conquer this accursed cage, but now he had turned his sights to the planet outside. He believed that it was ripe for the picking as the outsiders were pathetically weak according to the True Sky Faction. But Uvek knew better. The real powerhouses hadn't made their moves yet, or they moved in the shadows.
So what do we do? Tictus asked.
The storms are acting up again, Uvek muttered. "And we haven't found any terminals that can reach this new faction."
The old patterns no longer holds, and so subsystems have completely shut down, Tictus sighed said with a shake of his head. A unit was caught unaware in Red-04, only three managed to return alive. We cant go to Section 8 at all the mont.
We left a ssage where the horned one appeared, Uvek eventually said. We cant go there now, but we might soon et in the inner sections.
What if theyre hostile? the second elder asked with a rasping voice.
We wont look for trouble, but we will not back away either. We will never be captives again, Uvek said, his eyes burning with determination.
Never again, the others echoed.
This is our edge. The outsiders are treating this as a treasure hunt. We are fighting for survival. Our convictions aren't the sa.
Hes hurt, Yano whispered, the soulgems studding his head glimring as his fury instilled them with power. Another is missing, and the third is in the vat. This is our chance!
We cant, Helo sighed, his own, far grander, gems instead spreading a soothing blue radiance. Only three Masons remain, and they are badly wounded as well. And rember, they are not alone. Their armies outnumber us five to one. Those insectoids might be weaker in general, but you saw how they fought. We cant match that suicidal ferocity. Our kin is not ant for battle like that."
But another opportunity like this wont co again! Yano spat, though the red glow of his gems had clearly dimd.
He knew the horror of their new masters better than anyone. He had seen his own parents getting ripped apart by the bare hands of the one called Voids Disciple, their soulgems being harvested the sa way the old controllers did. What had their kin done to deserve a fate such as this? Captured and experinted on for thousands of years, and when they finally saw a chance at freedom, they were slaughtered and enslaved once more.
But Helo wouldnt give up. To many had fallen for him to give in to despair now.
We need to be patient, Helo eventually said.
You keep saying that, but our people are dying, Yano said, tears already streaming down his face. "Besides. If you help Void's Disciple to create that item... Even if you survive, you'll be cursed. Heaven's won't abide sothing like this. With the old Masons fallen, only you can lead us now."
I will survive. I can't fall here, "Helo said with determination, the soothing gems flashing a sanguine red for a second before he got a hold of himself. We must endure for another ten days. At that ti the thing will be born. The elders believed that would bring about huge changes to our world, with previously inaccessible parts being forced open.
How does that help us? Yano asked. Without our Masons, we are not powerful enough to compete for that thing.
But we might be able to nudge events in our favor. Perhaps we might even be able to nudge those monsters right off a cliff. The Grand Mason told sothing before he succumbed to his wounds, sothing that she only learned recently, Helo said, his voice growing even lower. The Administrator is alive.
What? How is that even possible? The cataclysm back then- Yano exclaid, his gems turning grey out of fear.
I dont understand either, Helo said, his gems shimring yellow in confusion. But if these insectoids want the item, they will have to enter the Administrators domain. These interlopers are strong, but do you really believe they can survive such an encounter?
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