While Lind was happy his ships could convert Qi into usable material, it was still in need of refinent by him. He had no ti so he had several skill Forgers and weavers work on it.
They were far slower than he could be but with the rest of the ship as an example, it was rather simple to make sure the repaired sections were up to snuff in about 7 months.
It was just enough ti to reach the eastern shores of the Southern Continent.
Whatever many expected, the pure white beaches to the dark filled waters of galaxies, what they found left them all solemn.
The krakens and leviathans had quickly appeared but it was not much that anyone could do. Lind floated above it and saw the complete absence of all the stars.
It was not to the horizon, but it was the exact path of the bridge.
It had not even arrived but Lind knew what had happened. The bridge took in the life force of the Divine Lands as fuel. Anything in its path would be no more than fodder.
"Are they–are they gone?" Lind nodded. The empress of the krakens looked forlorn as her daughter caught up to them. Their ho was in the Void Ocean. If any beast lived in that area between continents, which many millions did, they too were gone.
How fast it had happened, Lind had no idea but escape was not an option. He knew that once the pull started, nothing could escape it.
It showed that everything was connected but the changes did not end there. Only Lind and the native races of the Void Ocean understood what was happening.
The sa consumption of the Eastern Continent was also happening in the Void Ocean but it was not simply land! It was lower realms by the billions!
Lind had severely underestimated the Bastard's move. It also changed nothing. They still had to co and they had taken their ti as too much had been left to do. The tragedy of the latent traps in the last few Immortals touched by Fiends had proven it was wise.
If they had been in the midst of tearing through space when those explosions happened. It would have been an unmitigated disaster.
Now, he saw their destination was worse than anyone could imagine. He quickly conjured Daos of Life and Healing.
They crossed freely into the space over the empty Void Ocean stretch but he felt it. His Qi was being stripped from him. If not for his harmony, his lifeforce would be latched onto as well.
"Do not leave the beach, not even flying." He then flew out and all saw the world distort around him. Only 2 Master Tiers in conflict could cause that. The fact there was no apparent set of attacks in place, ant 2 forces fueled by them were acting on the space.
Any that thought to investigate had any inclination almost jumped back from the coast. Lind knew it was only a passive effect but if he had not taken the step to unlock his Mystery of Defiance, he would have been just as dead as anyone.
It was that horrifyingly strong.
Now that the lower realms were gone, just the Void remained. He examined it briefly but it lacked any signs of life. It would still slip through his fingers just as before.
The changes did not stop at the missing realms, either. He could feel there were deeper shifts and he carefully felt it out. He had to use his harmony for everything but it was as if it had always been woven into every Art and skill he had.
The stripping effect no longer could affect him now that he knew what to look for. He explored the region and found that an area at least 5 kiloters across was dead.
At the very edges, he felt a strong dip in the conflicting forces acting on him.
It was only at a good 3 kiloter distance that it stopped entirely but that was the bare minimum. That made him frown deeply.
At that distance, the effectiveness of his weapons would be minimal. It seed the Bastard knew how much of a threat he could make others. He was no longer relying on previous sches or plans.
He sighed as it ant he had to take action first or their war was over before it began.
He studied the currents in the Void Ocean and saw all natives had fled but the lower realms couldn't. They were growing dim even as he floated over the waves.
He quickly flew back but just as he was about to pass over the middle line, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his skull. He quickly turned and looked directly east. That was not a passive force!
Sothing had tried to kill him! It had tried to rip him apart for his energy.
His harmony had just barely fought it off! A cold sweat poured down his back but confusion also crossed his face.
He had crossed that part before, so why had it not reacted?
He looked all around but no further attack ca. He then tried an experint.
He left the affected area once more with no impedint. There was no expansion into the outer void waters in a fairly consistent straight line.
He then flew back inside. There was no reaction until the exact center. Once more, a force ca slamming onto his existence. He was prepared so his harmony flared and the space distorted harshly.
He was sent back like he had been slamd by a bat! It took him a few monts to regain control but he beca grim.
There was an active Fiend array! It was a subtle thing hidden under the torrential force of the bridge absorption. Very clever!
If he had not stumbled on it, many would have died! He would have to take that into account.
He flew back and the army was looking unstable just watching what happened. He sighed before landing at the very border.
The Southern Continent was holding off the force. It was too weak to start leeching off of it yet. He sat down and summoned his little project.
What had once been a purely Fiend Intent was now nothing like before, yet it was not what he needed. Ti was not on his side. If he had been able to plant it a long ti ago, then its current speed would be fine.
He had long past the option of taking a slow course.
His aura flared and it beca very difficult to look at him unless they were a Master Tier. Even then, only the Divine Lords could pull it off.
There were very few of those 2 statuses among the army.
Lind was focused as he grasped the concept behind the Fiend Intent over the months it took for the army to arrive.
His thousands of years of life seed far too short to do it well, but he did not need it to go well. He just needed it to do what he wanted.
"You Bastard, let's see how you like it." The Fiend Intent shattered to dust before gathering once more. Only it no longer had the function to soften up the Divine Lands. It was much more straightforward.
He slamd it into the ground and black clouds instantly gathered. Rather than Heavenly Wrath or tribulation, all felt like Heaven and Earth had grown stronger!
The vibrancy of the very soil they stood on increase and the Void Ocean stirred.
The oppressive feeling of the dead area began to slowly retreat. Lind was covered in sweat but he was smiling.
The very Fiend Qi draining everything away was being transford!
He was going to stand up when the Void Ocean reacted violently!
It surged toward him and then he was blinded as new sparks of light lit up! He had not expected that!
Further, the crude manipulation was transford! It was not Heaven and Earth that did it directly but the very rebirth of new lower realms! It was like he had touched on sothing fundantal by accident!
The intent was strengthened and sped up slightly. It was now moving at a visible rate. It was far greater than he had hoped!
[Lind Frey, what have you–?] One of the demon Master Tiers was about to ask when thunder rumbled above them all. While others flinched, Lind felt a sort of understanding pass through his mind.
"It would seem we are not allowed to discuss it. Accept that for the mont, that bridge cannot be completed." All nodded nearby and quickly relayed that success had been achieved to reverse the process of the bridge.
They broke up then into their previously agreed groups to prepare. They clearly had to focus on following the retreating front to be safe but Lind looked up with a complex look on his face.
It was true they could not discuss it but a chorus of voices had co to him. They felt weaker than they should.
The spirits were hurting.
{You have stemd the flood, but this is the last we can do for you. The rest is up to you now, Lind Frey. We fall forever into his dantian or you break him at long last. There are no other paths.}
Lind sighed as it changed nothing but it only affird their ti was slipping away. If too much more happened, victory would only buy them ti before the true Bastard took them all.
He began to study the effect he had started intensely to see if there were any further lessons he could take from it. He needed every edge he could get.
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