Chapter 321: The Terrifying Super Saiyan
He lowered his head, looking at his trembling, sharp-nailed hands.
These hands had once woven countless contracts that seduced souls and ignited the fires of sin that burned down the World, yet at this moment, they could not even protect his most core power.
In the prolonged silence, only the wind of the Hell Dimension wailed.
2B and A2 waited patiently like two programmed machines, neither urging nor slackening.
Eventually, Mephisto raised his hands extremely slowly, as if every movement weighed immensely.
He did not look at 2B or A2, his gaze staring blankly at some non-existent place ahead.
He closed his eyes and plunged deep into the origin of his soul.
There, an eternally burning flame intertwined with dark red and pitch black was closely connected to the core of his existence.
This Fire leaped, emitting endless whispers of pain, roars of hatred, and wails of despair.
That was the source of his power and the proof of his existence, the origin of Hellfire.
Stripping it away was like forcibly tearing apart a part of his soul.
From Mephisto's throat came a suppressed, inhuman roar of agony to the extreme.
Intense dark red light surged around his body, which was a natural reaction of the Hellfire under his violent emotional fluctuations.
But at this moment, this light was filled with disorder and pain.
The muscles on his face distorted, revealing sharp teeth, and his body spasmed uncontrollably.
The process was obviously extremely painful.
The aura of his power withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The dark magic, which was previously injured but still vast, was now rapidly decaying like a deflated ball.
The magic patterns on his gorgeous dark red dress became dim and dull.
The entire Tower of Pain, and even the surrounding vast scorched earth, trembled slightly with his action of stripping the origin, as if the dimension itself was experiencing labor pains.
It was unknown how long had passed, perhaps only a few minutes, but to Mephisto, it felt as long as centuries.
He opened his mouth abruptly, but no sound came out.
An extremely condensed Fire, only the size of a fist yet exuding a heart-palpitating aura of destruction and pain, slowly drifted out of his mouth.
The core of this Fire was a deep pitch black, with dark red and pale white light threads leaping at the edges.
Inside, countless soul faces seemed to flash and annihilate in an instant, endlessly suffering the torment of burning.
This was the origin of Hellfire.
The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature did not rise.
Instead, it transmitted a weird feeling intertwined with deep coldness and scorching pain that reached the depths of the soul.
Even 2B and A2 automatically activated their energy shields to isolate its invisible influence.
The Fire origin slowly drifted toward Loren.
The moment it left his body, Mephisto slumped to the ground as if his spine had been pulled out, panting heavily.
His originally scarlet and spirited eyes became turbid and dim, and his aura weakened to the extreme, even inferior to some powerful high-tier demons.
Stripping the origin of Hellfire caused him damage far beyond imagination, which almost knocked him into the abyss.
Loren extended his hand, and his hair turned golden in an instant; he transformed into the Super Saiyan form.
Suddenly, an incomparably terrifying ki condensed in his palm.
Then he steadily grasped this restless and rebellious origin of Hellfire.
The origin Fire struggled violently in his hands, emitting strong mental erosion fluctuations.
But it could not cause any impact on him; in terms of spiritual power, no one in this World was likely his match.
The ki in his palm quickly suppressed and shrank the fluctuations of the Fire.
Ultimately compressing it into a crystal-like object less than the size of an egg, with dark red and pitch-black patterns flowing on the surface.
"This is the origin of Hellfire, what an interesting power!" Loren said with a look of interest.
Then he glanced at Mephisto, who was limp on the ground and seemed to have aged countless times.
"Old ghost, you are quite obedient. Since that is the case, I will not treat you unfairly in the future."
Having said that, he did not look at Mephisto again, nor did he give any instructions or warnings.
Instead, he turned around and stepped into the space crack that was still maintained.
The crack rapidly healed after he and a group of harem beauties entered, as if it had never appeared.
Leaving only the former Hell lord at the top of the Tower of Pain, who had lost all his power, whose dignity was swept to the floor, and whose soul core had a piece gouged out.
Mephisto struggled to get up, but only exchanged for a fit of violent coughing and an empty, agonizing pain coming from the depths of his soul.
He had lost his authority, and now he had lost his iconic Hellfire.
What else could he have left?
A hollow title of a lord?
A weak vassal who had to obey Loren?
He looked toward the direction where Loren and his legion left, the initial malice and hatred in his eyes.
finally extinguished completely under the absolute power gap of Loren's Super Saiyan and successive blows.
Only the deepest fear remained, along with a trace of humble obedience to the future will of that terrifying existence, which he himself was unwilling to admit.
The price had been paid, and it was extremely painful.
And he did not know whether this was the end or just the beginning.
The wind of the Hell Dimension blew by, carrying his weak aura, and dissipated over the endless scorched earth and ruins.
"Now, stay here. Without my permission, you are not allowed to leave, and you are not allowed to stir up trouble again."
Just at this moment, Loren's voice resounded throughout the Hell Dimension like a divine punishment.
"Yes, Master!" Mephisto respectfully bowed toward the void, not daring to have the slightest dissatisfaction.
Chapter 322: Hellfire, I bestow it upon you!
When the spatial rift that tore through the Hell Dimensioncompletely stabilized within the precision force field of the underground laboratory of the manor,
and the final trace of sulfur and despair was filtered out by the high-efficiency purification system,
a strange silence descended.
Under the cold white light inside the laboratory, Lorenspread open his palm.
That flame, compressed to the size of an egg with dark red and pitch-black ominous patterns flowing across its surface, was quietly lying in his palm.
Even though it was completely suppressed and sealed by his Super Saiyan ki,
the chilling, soul-burning essence within the flame, which seemed to have condensed endless pain,
still throbbed faintly like a heartbeat, emitting a low-frequency tremor that made the soul feel uneasy.
He did not speak, only lowering his gaze to examine this trophy from the Hell Dimension.
His blonde hair remained upright, and his golden aura had already converged.
Yet those pupils belonging to a Super Saiyan seemed capable of seeing through the structure of every wisp of flame.
He was not the only one in the laboratory. 2B and A2 stood quietly to the side like the most perfect sculptures.
Tsunade leaned against the analyzer in the distance, crossing her arms.
Her gaze carried the dual interest of a healer and a researcher as she sized up the flame in the palm of Loren.
She muttered in a low voice: "What a truly wicked flame; it feels even worse than the most poisonous slug mucus of Shikkotsu Forest."
The most eye-catching one, however, was Mai Shiranui, who stood a little closer.
She could hardly tear her gaze away from the crystal in the palm of Loren.
As the orthodox successor of the Shiranui-ryu ninjutsu, fire was, to her,
both a weapon, a partner, and an even greater part of her life.
She could perceive with utmost clarity just how different the Hellfire was.
It was not the fervent, uninhibited, and vibrant ninja fire she was familiar with,
but a sinister, sticky, evil flame fueled by pain and souls.
Dangerous and fatal, yet exuding an unparalleled temptation to her like an abyss.
Her body even leaned forward slightly, her breathing unconsciously held.
Her chest heaved with her accelerated heartbeat, and those eyes that always burned with passion and fighting spirit
were now occupied by a complex light mixed with extreme desire, shock, and a trace of instinctive fear.
She could feel that the flame inherited within her body
was producing a fierce reaction toward this external, completely opposite kindred.
That was repulsion and attraction, fear, and an even harder-to-suppress impulse to merge.
Loren raised his eyes, his gaze accurately capturing the state of Mai Shiranui.
He could naturally feel her desire, which was almost overflowing.
"Mai." He spoke, his voice calm, breaking the silence of the laboratory.
Mai Shiranui shuddered violently, as if awakened from a certain state of obsession, and immediately straightened her posture.
She respectfully replied: "Yes, Master!"
Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible hoarseness.
"You have quite a feeling for it." Loren spoke, using a declarative sentence.
"Yes!" Mai did not hesitate to admit, her gaze becoming even more fervent.
"Master, this flame... is very special and very powerful.
It is different from any flame I have ever known. I can feel that if... if I can control it and integrate it into my Shiranui-ryu..."
She did not continue, but the light in those eyes had already explained everything; that would be a qualitative leap and the key to a brand-new realm.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow on the side: "Hey, hey, little Mai, this gadget does not look easy to digest; do not end up setting yourself on fire."
Her tone carried banter as well as a trace of curiosity.
Loren ignored the banter of Tsunade and looked at Mai Shiranui.
"This is the origin of Hellfire, an aggregate of extreme negative emotions and soul residues. It is violent, vicious, and extremely prone to backlash.
Direct contact is enough to cause the souls of most so-called fire-players to collapse."
The gaze of Mai did not shrink back in the slightest; instead, it ignited an even stronger fighting spirit.
"Master, I understand its danger. But the flame of Shiranui-ryu has never merely burned physical matter; what it burns is the will, spirit, and Chakra of the ninja!"
"I have the confidence to use my Fire of Will as a furnace to forge and recast this Hellfire, making it a power that belongs to me!"
Her voice was resolute and decisive, filled with unquestionable determination and confidence.
This confidence was not blind, but stemmed from her profound understanding of the heritage of her own school and the resilient mindset forged through years of cultivation.
Loren quietly watched her. This was precisely the kind of subordinate he needed.
Someone with potential, ambition, and the will and awareness to realize it.
The talent for fire of Mai Shiranui was already outstanding, and her disposition was sufficiently resilient and vibrant.
For her, the risks of Hellfire were enormous, but once successful, the rewards would also be astonishing.
After a brief silence, he made his decision.
"Very well." He nodded, supporting that cluster of Hellfirewith his palm and extending it slightly forward.
"Since you have such determination and awareness, then, this power is bestowed upon you."
Chapter 323: Fusing Hellfire
It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in Mai Shiranui's mind!
Although she had anticipated it, when Loren truly said with his own mouth that he would bestow this precious and powerful spoils of war upon her...
immense joy and unbelievable excitement instantly overwhelmed her.
Her cheeks flushed red from extreme excitement, and her eyes widened.
They instantly brimmed with crystalline moisture, which was the ultimate expression of joy and gratitude.
"M... Master...!" Her voice choked up, and for a moment she couldn't even speak a complete sentence.
She immediately knelt on one knee, lowering her head in an unprecedented, almost devout posture.
"How can I be worthy of this! Such great kindness... Mai swears with her life and soul."
"In this life and this lifetime, I will obey only the Master's commands! I will push this power to its absolute limit and will never let down the Sovereign's high expectations!"
Her body trembled slightly from excitement, not just because she had obtained powerful strength.
But even more because of the recognition and trust from Loren that this reward represented behind the scenes.
To her, this validation was even more precious than the power itself.
"Get up."
Loren's tone remained flat, but those familiar with him might detect a hint of imperceptible softening.
"The bestowal of power is an investment in your past performance and future potential; do not let me down."
"Yes!!" Mai Shiranui responded loudly, standing up while still unable to hide her excitement.
"However," Loren changed the subject, "direct fusion carries too high a risk, and the laboratory will prepare a customized plan for you."
Wanda will construct the soul protection baseline using Chaos Magic, and 2B and A2 will be responsible for full monitoring and data adjustment.
"The fusion process may be exceptionally painful, and you need to mentally prepare yourself."
"No matter how painful it is, I can endure it!" Only determination remained in Mai's eyes.
Compared to the chance of acquiring this dreamed-of power, any pain seemed insignificant.
"Go adjust your state first, get your body and mind to their optimal condition, and the fusion procedure will start tomorrow."
Loren lightly tossed the Hellfire crystal in his hand, and 2B immediately stepped forward, reaching out to steadily catch it.
"Directive confirmed. Beginning preparation for high-risk energy individualized fusion protocol - Fire attribute specialized type."
2B's electronic voice sounded.
Mai Shiranui bowed deeply to Loren once more, then forcefully suppressed the urge to leap with joy.
Leaving the laboratory with steps lighter and more powerful than usual, she needed to go meditate immediately.
Adjusting her breathing and Chakra, she would welcome tomorrow's transformation in the most perfect state.
Tsunade watched her retreating figure and shrugged. "Youth is truly great, so driven."
"However, tomorrow is going to be quite busy."
She had already started calculating what medical support and observation plans needed to be prepared.
The laboratory grew quiet again.
Loren's gaze turned to the main screen, which was displaying the new energy balance model of the Hell Dimension, along with the point of light representing Mephisto.
Faint, dim, almost blending into the chaotic background energy.
He had successfully recovered the Hellfire, further weakening this restless vassal.
And he transformed this dangerous power into the cornerstone for strengthening his own combat capability.
Everything was within precise control and calculation.
The next day, in the high-risk energy fusion chamber.
The air was heavy.
Complex instruments emitted a low hum, and various colored lights flowed through the energy conduits.
Mai Shiranui was already lying inside the central fusion chamber, her customized ninja outfit connected to countless sensor nodes.
Her expression was calm, but her slightly tightened fingertips and steady yet slightly deeper-than-usual breathing exposed her inner tension and anticipation.
Wanda stood at the main control station, her hands wreathed in crimson Chaos Magic.
Like weaving the threads of fate, she cast layers of soft yet resilient soul protection and stabilization force fields over the entire fusion chamber.
Her expression was focused and serious.
2B and A2 monitored the physiological data screens and energy flow consoles respectively, data flashing rapidly across their optical lenses.
Loren stood before the observation window, like a calm director reviewing this surgery concerning the sublimation of power.
"System self-check complete."
"Target vital signs are stable, mental fluctuation peak is within the allowable range."
"Chaos Magic protective force field is ready, intensity set to A-3 level."
"Hellfire origin unsealing guide device is ready."
Following a series of cold electronic reporting sounds, Loren spoke indifferently: "Begin."
Chapter 324: Brand-New Flames, Another Sub-Godfather-level Powerhouse Is Born!
At Loren's command, inside the special device storing the Hellfire, the ghostly blue data chains peeled away layer by layer.
The moment the final layer of seal vanished...
"Boom!"
It was not a physical sound, but a silent detonation that acted directly on the soul level!
The fist-sized, dark red and pitch-black torrent of fire twisted frantically, exuding a monstrous intent of malice, pain, and destruction.
The temperature inside the fusion chamber did not rise, but instead plummeted abruptly.
An eerie sensation that was bone-chilling yet mixed with the burning pain of the soul permeated the air!
Even the special alloy walls seemed to emit a faint, overwhelmed groan.
"Inject."
The guidance device activated, and that dark red torrent of fire was like a venomous python that had found its prey.
Being forcibly constrained, it was precisely injected into the energy core position at Mai Shiranui's chest!
Mai Shiranui was originally an artificial human created by Loren, and she used the same permanent energy reactor as No. 18.
Therefore, she could integrate any form of energy. In fact, it was not just Mai Shiranui; all of his artificial humans could do so.
Whether it was Tsunade, Hinata, or Mei Terumi, it was all the same.
"Ugh ah——!!"
The instant the torrent of fire touched her skin, Mai's body suddenly arched, emitting a short and shrill scream!
Her eyes snapped open, and her pupils were instantly invaded by dark red!
Countless dark red and pitch-black fire patterns, like living poisonous vines, centered on her chest and crazily spread across her entire body!
They violently collided with the originally orange-red, blazing and surging ninja flames inside her body!
Conflict!
The most direct, most fundamental conflict!
The dark red Hellfire carried a cold malice, attempting to erode, devour, and assimilate everything.
The orange-red Shiranui-style flames erupted with an unyielding scorching heat and will.
They struggled to resist and counterattack, attempting to drive away this foreign invader.
Two streams of completely opposite natures of flames waged a brutal tug-of-war across Mai's meridians, blood, and even soul level.
Her body became the most cruel battlefield.
Her skin was sometimes covered with chilly, scale-like dark red fire scabs, and sometimes burned red or even cracked by the orange-red flames erupting from within!
The intense pain caused her whole body to spasm, and sweat poured like a waterfall, instantly soaking her ninja outfit.
Her teeth creaked as she bit down on the special cork, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
Her consciousness drifted in the boundless ocean of pain, as if she had been cast into the lowest depths of purgatory.
Enduring the double torture of ice and fire, her soul was repeatedly torn, burned, and frozen.
Fine sweat seeped from Wanda's forehead as she exerted all her strength to maintain the stability of the Chaos Magic, protecting Mai's core consciousness, which was swaying in the storm, from being extinguished.
2B quickly adjusted the input intensity of the energy flow and the support level of the life support system.
"Energy conflict peak! Breaking through the first expected threshold!"
"Mai Shiranui's own ninja flame activity is dropping sharply! The Hellfire erosion rate has risen to 33%!"
"Master, what should we do?"
"Feed her a Senzu Bean!"
"Yes!"
Loren quietly watched the painfully struggling figure inside the fusion chamber, his gaze without the slightest fluctuation.
The only thing he could do was provide external support; to what extent she could ultimately integrate the Hellfirewas something he could not interfere with.
Because this was a necessary process and the price for exchanging power.
However, he believed in Mai Shiranui's will, as well as his own calculations and preparations.
Time passed minute by minute, every second feeling as long as a year.
Following the use of the Senzu Bean, Mai Shiranui's vitality suddenly increased significantly.
Right at this moment, a sudden change occurred!
Deep within those eyes of hers that were almost swallowed by pain and dark red...
A speck of orange-red light, like an undying lighthouse in a storm, stubbornly lit up once again!
That light grew increasingly intense, carrying an indomitable, scorching will that grew stronger the more it was battered!
"Target will peak rebound detected!"
"The nature of her own flame energy has undergone drastic changes! Beginning reverse integration!"
The seemingly weak orange-red flames inside Mai's body were not devoured.
Instead, tempered by the extreme pain and unyielding will, they began to actively absorb those invading torrents of dark red fire!
It was no longer a simple resistance, but an active inclusion, forging, and integration!
The dark red and orange-red no longer distinctly confronted each other, but began to slowly intertwine.
They produced a new color that was deeper, more restrained, yet unpredictably dangerous.
It was a strange fire with a dark red background, flowing with molten-gold-like heat on the inside, and a pale, cold flame leaping at the edges!
The new flames were generated within her body, and wherever they passed, the violently conflicting energies gradually subsided.
Replacing them was a brand-new, more powerful, and unified surging sensation!
"Hellfire integration rate: 65%... 78%... 89%..."
"Target's vital signs are stabilizing! Energy level is climbing rapidly!"
"Unknown energy qualitative change detected... Energy level evaluation in progress..."
When the integration rate finally stabilized at a very high numerical value, the violent energy fluctuations inside the fusion chamber finally subsided completely.
The hatch cover slowly opened, and the cooling mist dispersed.
Mai Shiranui sat up.
She looked somewhat exhausted, her long hair stuck to her cheeks and neck by sweat.
Her special ninja outfit was also damaged in many places, revealing the newly regenerated skin underneath that seemed to have a more lustrous sheen.
But her eyes were astonishingly bright!
That was a sharpness and profundity like rebirth from nirvana after being tempered by the deepest pain.
Deep within her eyes, two clusters of strange flames seemed to be burning quietly—one dark red, one molten gold.
The aura on her body had completely changed.
It was no longer just the scorching Chakra fluctuations, but a sense of power that was more condensed, more obscure, and also more dangerous.
The two contradictory traits of scorching heat and chilling cold were perfectly unified in one body, like a destructive undercurrent surging beneath a calm sea surface.
She extended her hand, her mind moving slightly.
"Hoo——"
A fist-sized flame ignited in her palm.
The flame presented a gorgeous and eerie hue.
The dark red core was like coagulated blood, yet inside it seemed as though molten gold was flowing.
At the outermost periphery, a circle of cold, pale light edges leapt.
It did not emit high temperatures, and even caused the temperature of the surrounding air to drop slightly.
But Loren, Wanda, and even 2B and A2 behind the observation window could clearly feel the power of erosion and burning directly targeting the soul contained within that flame!
The soul-burning trait of Hellfire was perfectly inherited and integrated by her, becoming more covert and lethal.
"How does it feel?" Loren's voice came over.
Mai Shiranui clenched her fist, and the flames extinguished.
She raised her head to look at Loren, a radiant smile blooming on her face, filled with the joy of rebirth and endless gratitude.
This smile was more dazzling than at any other moment in the past, and also carried a trace of majesty after the qualitative change in power.
"Unprecedentedly powerful, Master." Her voice carried a special post-fusion magnetism, steady and full of power.
"I can feel it... The flames now can burn through not just armor and ninjutsu, but also... souls!"
Her aura had steadily stepped into a completely new level, sub-Godfather-level!
A successful and extremely painful fusion allowed her to cross the barrier that ordinary people would need countless years of accumulation to reach, causing her strength to undergo a world-shaking qualitative change!
"Very good." Loren nodded, expressing satisfaction with this result.
A high-risk, high-return investment had yielded the expected excess returns.
"We will test your new abilities in detail later. Master them and use them proficiently as soon as possible. New power requires matching control."
"Yes! I understand!" She responded respectfully, feeling the seemingly endless, surging new power within her body, her heart surging with emotion.
She knew that from this moment on, her status under Loren's command, as well as the responsibilities she could shoulder, would be completely different.
And all of this stemmed from the grace and trust of the Master before her.
This gratitude and loyalty, like the newborn flame in her palm, were deeply branded in the depths of her soul.
Chapter 325: Eternal Flame vs. Hellfire!
On the third day after the successful fusion of the Hellfire.
The ultra-large comprehensive testing ground beneath the estate was cleared and activated.
The walls, floor, and even the dome here were constructed from special alloys and multi-layered energy damping fields, sufficient to withstand the aftermath of high-intensity battles.
The simulated sky projected soft natural light, completely indistinguishable from the outside world.
However, the air was filled with an invisible monitoring force field and an energy suppression system ready to intervene at any time.
Loren sat in the observation room high at the edge of the testing ground, facing several huge holographic screens.
They displayed in real-time the energy distribution within the arena, microparticle movement, force field strength, as well as the physiological and energy readings of both combatants.
Wanda, Tsunade, and others were also watching from the side, with expressions of curiosity or seriousness on their faces.
In the center of the arena, two figures faced each other from a distance.
One side was Mai Shiranui.
She had changed into a deep red ninja outfit more suited for combat, neatly wrapping around her proud and curvy figure.
Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head, making her look capable and spirited.
She stood quietly, her eyes slightly closed, as if adjusting her breathing.
Compared to three days ago, her aura had already become much more restrained and profound.
But that hidden sharpness, feeling like a calm volcano, was even more obvious.
Occasionally, a faint trace of dark red and molten gold intertwined spark would inadvertently brush past her fingertips or hair ends, causing the air to produce a slight distortion.
The other side was 2B.
She still wore her signature pure black combat suit and white short hair, with her eyes covered by a black blindfold.
But that chill and precision belonging to a top-tier combat android rushed right at them.
Unlike usual, her right arm, from shoulder to fingertips,
at this moment presented a strange translucent state, as if liquid pale flames were slowly flowing and rotating inside.
That flame was pure and blazing, lacking the sinister and painful feeling of Hellfire.
Yet it emitted an even more ancient eternal aura, as if it could burn existence itself.
And this was naturally the Eternal Flame.
This was an ultra-strong flame no less inferior to Hellfire.
"This battle is merely to evaluate Mai Shiranui's degree of mastery over her power and her combat adaptability.
The rules are unrestricted combat until one side is judged to have lost combat capability, or I call it off.
You are allowed to use all mastered abilities, and you may begin now."
Loren's calm voice resounded through the testing ground via the amplification system.
The moment the order was given, the atmosphere in the arena suddenly tightened!
"Understood."
2B reacted first. Without any warning, her left foot kicked hard against the ground!
"Boom——!"
A circle of air pressure and spiderweb-like cracks exploded from the ground where she originally stood.
And her body had already turned into a blurred black afterimage.
With a terrifying speed far exceeding the speed of sound, she drew a straight line of death and rushed towards Mai Shiranui!
The Eternal Flame on her right arm suddenly blazed brightly, its pale light illuminating her entire arm like glazed glass.
Where it passed, the air was silently ionized and annihilated, leaving behind a briefly existing twisted vacuum trajectory!
Strike first to gain the upper hand, extreme speed surprise attack!
This was 2B's most classic tactical opening.
However, facing this thunderous strike that was enough to catch the vast majority of powerhouses off guard, Mai Shiranui's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened!
At the bottom of her eyes, dark red and molten gold flames suddenly surged!
She did not choose to take it head-on or retreat.
At the exact same instant 2B launched, her body seemed to lose weight.
With a nimbleness and agility that defied physical common sense, she lightly spun and slid away to the rear-side.
The movement was as smooth as a dance, yet so fast that it left several clear afterimages!
"Whoosh!"
2B's right fist, burning with the Eternal Flame, brushed past Mai's afterimage by a hair's breadth, striking the air behind the position where she originally stood.
"Bang!!"
It was not the dull sound of hitting a solid entity, but a strange energy detonation!
The space swept by the fist wind of the Eternal Flameseemed to have a small piece erased by an eraser.
Leaving behind a briefly existing hollow with its edges flickering with pale sparks!
Even the testing ground's formidable energy damping field fluctuated violently for a moment.
Missing the strike, 2B did not pause at all.
Her combat system had already calculated Mai's evasion trajectory.
Her left leg swept out silently like a steel whip, with fierce wind from the kick.
What was even more fatal was that the lower leg part of her left leg was also covered with a thin layer of leaping pale flames at some unknown time!
Mai Shiranui's eyes narrowed.
She could feel the terror of that pale flame; at the critical moment, her palms slammed fiercely downward against the ground!
"Shiranui Style: Flame Flash!"
"Boom!"
Dark red molten gold flames gushed out from her palms, striking the ground!
Using this force, her body violently ejected upward in a nearly right-angle direction, narrowly avoiding 2B's sweeping leg.
At the same time, while in mid-air, Mai had already finished forming hand seals, so fast that it was indistinguishable to the naked eye!
"Ninja Bee!"
Dozens of lifelike flame bees composed of dark red molten gold flames could be seen.
Emitting a low and terrifying hum, they emerged from all around her body.
Like a swarm of bees smelling blood, they shot overwhelmingly toward 2B below!
Every single flame bee contained highly condensed flame energy and a trace of soul-eroding fluctuation unique to Hellfire, with tricky trajectories and extreme speed!
2B instantly locked onto the trajectories of all the flame bees.
She did not try to dodge all of them, which was almost impossible at such close range.
The Eternal Flame on her right arm surged again, turning into a pale-colored flame round shield, protecting in front of her!
"Puff puff puff puff——!"
The flame bees successively crashed into the shield composed of the Eternal Flame.
There was no earth-shattering explosion; instead, it made a dense sizzling sound like water entering hot oil!
The dark red molten gold flames and the pale Eternal Flame crazily eroded and canceled each other out.
The Eternal Flame demonstrated powerful purification characteristics, quickly burning and destroying most of the colliding flame bees.
But the flame fused with Hellfire, with its sinister soul-eroding power, also penetrated through the collision of flames.
Wisps of it tried to infiltrate 2B's defense, interfering with her sensors and internal energy circuits.
An imperceptible perturbation appeared in 2B's data stream.
Chapter 326: Energy Confrontation and Characteristic Test
Just as the flame bees' attack paused for a fraction of a second, Mai Shiranui's figure already swooped down from the air!
At some unknown moment, a long saber entirely composed of dark red molten gold flames had condensed in her hand.
It was not a physical entity, but a highly compressed and condensed flame energy body, with pale light flames leaping along the edge of the blade!
"Flying Squirrel Dance!"
The flame long saber traced a shrill arc, directly cleaving towards 2B's head!
This strike not only contained the physical cutting force to sever steel, but also carried a bizarre attack blending the chill and scorching heat of burning souls!
2B instantly withdrew her shield, and the Eternal Flameform on her right arm changed once again.
Extending and condensing from the round shield, it transformed into a long sword also composed of pale flames, simple in design yet full of a sense of power!
"Clang—!!!!!"
It was not the sound of metal clashing, but a deafening explosion produced by the violent collision of two top-tier flame energies!
The cutting edges of the dark red molten gold and pale flames locked tightly together, bursting out dazzling light and turbulent energy currents at the point of contact, just like a miniature Sun being born between the two of them!
The ground of the testing arena cracked inch by inch centered around them, and the energy damping field issued a sharp alarm!
A pure strength confrontation!
Mai Shiranui's flame long saber was heavy and bizarre, carrying the erosion of Hellfire and the explosion of her own Chakra.
2B's Eternal Flame long sword was stable, scorching, carrying an immortal burning will and mechanical-like precise immense force.
The stalemate lasted only for an instant.
2B's left arm suddenly reached out like lightning, her five fingers spread open, and a miniature, high-speed rotating pale flame energy sphere instantly formed in her palm!
"Annihilation Pulse!"
Fired at point-blank range!
Mai Shiranui's pupils shrank abruptly!
Her rich battle instincts allowed her to react within a thousandth of a second.
She decisively abandoned the contest of strength with the flame long saber, her body leaning backward with incredible flexibility, almost parallel to the ground.
At the same time, infusing her feet with the power of fire, she viciously kicked toward 2B's chest and abdomen!
"Boom!!!"
The pale flame pulse flew past the tip of Mai Shiranui's nose.
It blasted a deep pit on the testing arena wall far behind her, with its edges flowing with pale flames, and the repair system operated frantically.
Meanwhile, Mai Shiranui's feet also solidly kicked against 2B's crossed defensive arms.
The dark red molten gold flames rubbed violently against the automatically triggered energy shield on 2B's arm armor, producing a teeth-gritting sound.
The immense force kicked 2B sliding backward for more a dozen meters, plowing two scorched marks on the ground.
The two of them pulled apart the distance once again.
The first high-speed engagement, in a flash of lightning, was extremely perilous, appearing to be a draw.
2B steadied her figure, and the Eternal Flame on her right arm flickered slightly.
She quickly analyzed the intensity of the soul-eroding interference felt during the previous contact, as well as the changes in the energy composition of the opponent's flames.
She gently moved her left arm; on the surface of the spot where she was kicked, a trace of imperceptible melting marks appeared.
Mai Shiranui landed with a deft backflip, her breathing slightly uneven, but the fighting spirit in her eyes was even higher.
She could feel that fighting an opponent like 2B was elevating her mastery and application of the new power at an astonishing speed!
The characteristics of the Eternal Flame also opened her eyes.
"Battle data collection complete, switching modes to energy confrontation." Loren's voice sounded again.
The two people in the arena instantly understood the next direction.
2B took the lead in changing her strategy.
She no longer rushed into close-quarters heavy attacks, but instead held her arms horizontally with her palms facing each other.
The Eternal Flame on her right arm and the deep blue light suddenly lighting up on her left arm, representing her own massive energy circuit, began to intersect and intertwine!
An energy sphere about half a meter in diameter, with pale flames and deep blue data streams spinning wildly inside, rapidly formed between her palms.
Tiny pale electric arcs constantly burst from the surface of the sphere, and the emitted energy fluctuations caused the air of the entire testing arena to begin ionizing, emitting a fine crackling sound.
This was not a pure high-heat attack, but rather contained powerful energy annihilation and order purification characteristics.
Feeling the fatal threat emanating from that energy sphere, Mai Shiranui's expression was incomparably solemn.
She knew she couldn't let it fully form or make a direct hit.
She took a deep breath, and her hands began to weave hand signs at a more complex and ancient rhythm.
At the same time, the dark red molten gold flames around her body were no longer just lingering, but boiled like they had life, converging towards her hands!
The color of the flames became deeper, dark red like blood, molten gold like syrup, while the pale edge light flames expanded and diffused, as if swallowing all light.
"Shiranui-ryu Secret Art: Karmic Fire Red Lotus Calamity!"
She pushed her palms forward fiercely!
The energy gathered with the immense new flame power did not turn into a fireball or a beam of light.
Instead, it formed a slowly blooming flame lotus about one meter in diameter!
The lotus had a total of nine petals, each petal composed of extremely compressed and condensed dark red molten gold flames, and at the heart of the lotus was a constantly leaping pale core.
This flame lotus flew forward spinning, not very fast.
But wherever it passed, space showed signs of being doubly distorted by high temperature and negative energy.
Even light seemed to be sucked in and incinerated, leaving a dim trail behind.
On one side was the pale nova of order and annihilation, and on the other was the karmic fire red lotus of destruction and erosion.
The two collided violently in the center of the testing arena!
Chapter 327: The test is over!
There was no loud noise.
At the moment of Impact, time seemed to freeze for a single frame.
The pale and dark red molten gold energies crazily intertwined, permeated, mutually annihilated, and mutually intensified!
A half-black, half-white energy sphere that continuously twisted and expanded formed rapidly at the point of Impact!
Inside the sphere, the pale data streams and Fire attempted to decompose and purify everything.
And the dark red molten gold Fire, like bone-gnawing maggots, carrying the whispers of Hell and the burst of Chakra, stubbornly eroded and burned the opponent's structure!
"Hum—!!!!!"
The roar, deep to the extreme yet seemingly ringing through the soul, finally erupted!
The violent energy Impact spread outward in a spherical shape!
The alloy walls of the testing field, which were enough to withstand a small nuclear explosion, trembled violently, dense cracks appearing on the surface, only to be immediately repaired by the repair system.
The energy damping field flashed wildly, and its power output instantly soared to the critical value!
There were even spiderweb-like cracks on the anti-Impactglass of the observation room!
Wanda immediately took action, a layer of crimson Chaos Magic barrier covering the observation room, isolating the terrifying energy aftermath.
In the field, the Pale Nova and the Karmic Fire Red Lotus were both annihilated.
In their place, a huge charred pit with a diameter of over ten meters was left behind, the bottom of the pit as smooth as a mirror.
Energy embers, intertwined with pale and dark red and not yet completely extinguished, hissed.
Both 2B and Mai Shiranui suffered from energy recoil, sliding backward separately.
The energy shield on 2B's body flickered uncertainly, the Eternal Flame on her right arm noticeably dimmed, and the sensors under her blindfold sent waves of overload alarms.
The energy output of the Eternal Flame was not infinite, and the previous Purifying Nova consumed a huge amount.
Mai Shiranui's condition looked a bit worse.
She knelt on one knee, her chest heaving violently, her face somewhat pale, and a wisp of fresh blood overflowed from the corner of her mouth.
But her eyes were still bright, staring closely at 2B. Although the newly born Fire power in her body was greatly depleted, it was still surging stubbornly.
Even under such extreme squeezing, it became increasingly refined.
Both of them were hugely consumed, but obviously both still had the strength to fight.
Inside the observation room, Loren looked at the detailed data feedback on the screen.
"The peak of energy hedging reached expectations, and the performance of destructive power and energy characteristics both met the sub-Godfather-levelstandard."
"Mai Shiranui's mastery of the new Fire power improved significantly during the battle, estimated to increase from the initial 78% to 89%."
"Neither party suffered irreversible damage, and their fighting will remained high."
The data clearly showed that in the extreme clash just now, both of them reached a very close level in terms of energy tier and destructive power.
Relying on the immortal characteristics of the Eternal Flame, 2B had a slight advantage in energy consumption and defense.
As for Mai Shiranui, relying on the soul erosion after the fusion of Hellfire and bizarre and changeable ninjutsu, she was more threatening in terms of tricky attacks and continuous interference.
Continuing to fight might lead to one side losing due to running out of energy first or making a slight mistake, but that exceeded the core purpose of this test evaluation.
Loren pressed the communication button.
"The test is over."
In the field, the tense atmosphere suddenly relaxed.
The Eternal Flame on 2B's right arm quickly receded, restoring the normal appearance of the mechanical arm.
She stood straight and nodded slightly to Mai Shiranui.
"Little sister Mai Shiranui, your new power is very strong."
Mai Shiranui also stood up with difficulty, but a bright and slightly weak smile appeared on her face.
"You are the real deal, as expected of the immortal Eternal Flame, it's too amazing."
She praised sincerely, and this battle benefited her immensely.
The observation room door opened, Loren walked down, followed by Wanda and Tsunade.
Tsunade had already started rubbing her hands, preparing to check Mai Shiranui's body.
"Not bad performance." Loren's gaze swept across the two.
"Mai Shiranui, the preliminary control of the new power and its practical transformation basically met expectations. 2B, the tactical application data of the Eternal Flame is very valuable."
He paused and continued: "The result of a tie is acceptable, which proves that you have initially qualified to fight at the sub-Godfather-level.
But remember, this is just the beginning. Power needs to be honed, combat skills need to be refined, and the experience of confronting powerhouses with different attributes needs to be accumulated."
"Yes! Master!"
The two responded simultaneously.
Mai Shiranui's heart was filled with excitement and a sense of security.
Fighting to a draw with a powerhouse like 2B was undoubtedly the most powerful certification of her strength.
And Loren's affirmation made her feel that all the pain she endured before fusing with Hellfire was incomparably worthwhile.
The light of the testing field gradually returned to normal, leaving only the huge pit in the center, silently telling of the fierce duel intertwined with Ice and Fire, order and destruction just now.
And for Loren's faction, this undoubtedly meant that another reliable and powerful trump card had already been quenched and formed.
Just at this time, Tsunade on the side suddenly said: "Master, there is still one test that hasn't been done!"
"????? "
"What test?" Loren was stunned.
"Extreme dash test!!!"
"..." Loren.
Chapter 328: Starting to Build the Melee Versatile Angel - Astraea
The testing of Mai Shiranui came to a successful conclusion; her newly acquired Hellfire power stabilized at the sub-Godfather-level, and she exhibited extremely high growth potential and tactical value.
Loren's attention then shifted to the next anticipated project.
Deep underground in the estate, inside another laboratory that was larger and more heavily guarded than the previous one.
Unlike a typical laboratory filled with flashing screens and precision instruments, it looked more like a temple fusing ultra-future technology with a certain sacred forging concept.
At the center of the giant space was a slowly rotating, complex geometric platform composed of pure energy.
Countless fine conduits, flowing with deep blue or golden-white light rays, connected to it from all directions.
They continuously injected countless data and massive, purified, and encoded energy into the core of the platform.
The air was filled with the humming of high-frequency energy flows and a peculiar, holy echo that felt like metal resonating with light.
Loren stood in front of the main control console; there was no traditional control panel here, only a floating light screen constantly shifting with complex three-dimensional runes and energy flow diagrams.
His gaze was focused, and his fingers occasionally tapped and swiped across the light screen, with every operation being precise and stable to guide the operation of the entire massive system.
On the observation platform behind him, the two Versatile Angels, Ikaros and Nymph, stood quietly.
Their gazes were all focused on the central energy platform with varied expressions.
Ikaros still remained expressionless, but data streams refreshed like waterfalls in her pale pink eyes.
She was simultaneously recording and analyzing the massive data of the entire manufacturing process, providing necessary auxiliary calculations for Master.
Nymph's petite face was full of tension and anticipation, her hands unconsciously clasped in front of her chest.
She knew what Master was creating—a new sister.
A Versatile Angel specialized in the melee field, formed by fusing and sublimating their existing experience and data, along with Master's latest technology and concepts.
Ikaros softly said to Nymph, "Nymph, relax. Master will definitely succeed."
"I-I know!" Nymph retorted stubbornly, but her gaze never left the platform for a moment.
One week ago, Loren officially launched the Astraeaconstruction project.
This name originated from the goddess of stars and justice in Greek mythology, and also implied the expectation for her "pure power" and "adjudication" positioning.
Unlike Ikaros's general-purpose firepower suppression, or Nymph's electronic warfare and intelligence manipulation,
Astraea's design core was extremely single-minded: ultimate close-quarters physical destruction and ultra-high-speed mobility.
To this end, Loren integrated multiple cutting-edge technologies.
For example, the spiritual power materialization system was not simply about converting mental intent into impact force,
but deeply bound to Astraea's combat core algorithm.
Enabling her to directly convert her combat will into local interference with real physical laws during close combat,
forming a terrifying effect of absolute attack and absolute defense, though the consumption and load were also extremely massive.
Then there was the Vibranium nano-alloy skeleton and Vibranium muscle fibers, possessing nearly infinite plasticity, self-repair capabilities, and energy conductivity.
After Loren's recoding and biological fusion processing, it would become the foundation of Astraea's body,
providing strength, toughness, and power transmission efficiency that exceeded physical limits.
The super-vibration particle generation organ referenced the physiological structures of certain cosmic monsters and dimensional creatures.
A special matter conversion organ was constructed near Astraea's arms and core power reactor,
which could, when needed, convert massive energy into super-vibration particles capable of destroying all material structures at the molecular level, attaching them to fists, feet, or melee weapons.
There was also the space-jump mobility module, which was not traditional jet or anti-gravity flight,
but utilized Loren's profound understanding of the Space Stone, combined with the energy characteristics of the Versatile Angel itself.
It constructed a short-distance, ultra-high-speed, nearly inertia-defying spatial folding dash ability.
This would be the key for Astraea to create an absolute speed advantage in close combat.
Finally, there was the system's built-in Pandora variable tactical armed system technology.
This drew inspiration from some concepts of Ikaros's Uranus system, but was more focused on close combat.
The core was a pair of Eternal Twin Bracers that could change shape according to the combat mode, ranging from heavy hammers and giant blades to drills and claw blades,
along with the Zeus's Shield module that could be deployed when necessary, integrating defense and energy amplification into one.
At this moment, manufacturing had entered its final and most critical stage: core consciousness infusion and final body integration.
At the core of the energy platform, within that vortex composed of pure light and data,
a vague female figure with the outlines of huge light wings spreading behind her was already clearly visible.
Her body was initially formed by flowing Vibraniumparticles, and the complex internal energy circuits and organ modules flickered like stars.
"Integration degree of all basic modules: 99.8%. Energy circuit self-test passed, biological neural network mapping completed."
"Final calibration of combat core logical links... completed." Ikaros's reporting voice sounded steadily.
"Begin final consciousness infusion. Initialize Astraea's personality archetype and combat data," Loren gave the order.
The brightness of the energy conduits around the platform suddenly increased!
A more massive and purer energy flow surged in.
At the same time, massive amounts of data began to pour into the core of that gradually forming body like a cascading galaxy.
The outline of the light wings suddenly became clear and solid!
Chapter 329: My name is Chthon!
Those were a pair of massive wings gleaming with a cold metallic luster, every single feather resembling a weapon forged to the utmost precision.
The figure on the platform began to contract, completely transforming from an energy state into a solid entity.
Finally, it solidified into a female body full of a sense of strength and streamlined aesthetics. She had neat short orange hair, her face combined the innocence of a young girl with the steadfastness of a warrior, and her eyes were tightly closed.
Finally, an aura full of exuberant vitality and sharp edge slowly awakened and rose from that body!
"Hum—"
Astraea opened her eyes.
Those were a pair of eyes like the purest sapphires, clear and bright, yet concealing a hint of spiral halo deep within.
She slowly turned her neck, looked at her hands that clenched and opened, and the light wings behind her unconsciously fluttered gently, stirring up a soft yet powerful airflow.
Then, her gaze crossed the energy platform and precisely fell on Loren behind the main console.
With almost no hesitation or doubt, the light wings behind Astraea vibrated!
"Whoosh—!"
There was no violent sonic boom, only a slight sound of spatial tremor.
Her figure disappeared from the center of the platform as if by teleportation, and the next moment, she was already kneeling on one knee, appearing before Loren.
So fast was her speed that even a trace of data fluctuation flashed through the eyes of Ikaros on the observation platform.
She raised her head, her blue eyes gazing intently up at Loren.
Her voice was crisp, carrying a trace of newborn crudeness, yet extremely firm and devout.
"Astraea, melee-specialized General Purpose Angel, identifying the sole highest authority owner—Master."
"From now on, all my power, will, and existence are driven for Master."
Loren lowered his head, looking at the perfect creation before him that condensed a week of hard work and top technology.
He could feel the physical strength contained within Astraea, which far surpassed that of Ikaros in her normal state.
As well as the spatial-tearing mobility that could erupt at any time.
This was a humanoid, self-willed, ultimate melee weapon.
"Rise, Astraea," Loren said, his face filled with satisfaction.
"Yes! Master!" Astraea stood up immediately, her posture upright and straight, like the most standard soldier.
But the desire to explore the new World and the sense of closeness to Master in her eyes naturally flowed out.
Nymph couldn't wait to fly down from the observation platform, flew around Astraea twice, and curiously looked her up and down.
"Wow! It really succeeded! Hello, Astraea, I am Nymph, Model Beta! She is Ikaros, Model Alpha. From now on, we are sisters!"
Ikaros smiled and nodded: "Hello, I am Ikaros."
Facing the enthusiastic Nymph and the friendly Ikaros, Astraea seemed somewhat at a loss.
But soon, a somewhat clumsy yet sincere smile also appeared on her face.
"Nymph... Ikaros... Big sisters, please take care of me."
Watching the initial interaction of the three General Purpose Angels, Loren knew that a new force had successfully joined his camp.
Almost at the same exact moment Astraea opened her eyes and swore allegiance to Loren.
Earth, at the bottom of a deep, remote ice valley somewhere in the Himalayas.
This place was shrouded year-round by eternal black ice and violent gales; the air was thin, and life was extinct.
Yet at this moment, in front of a mirror-smooth, hundred-meter-tall black ice wall deep within the ice valley.
A figure draped in a tattered dark red cloak was trembling violently in a prostrate, humble posture.
He was Kaecilius, a former Master of the Mystic Arts of Kamar-Taj and one of the disciples of the Ancient One.
Obsessed with the ultimate power of magic, dissatisfied with the precepts of Kamar-Taj and the blockade of certain "forbidden knowledge," he defected many years ago.
Since then, he had been wandering around magical ruins and dark places all over the World, searching for more powerful and unrestrained magic.
A week ago, guided by an ancient forbidden scroll, he found this legendary "Valley of Shadow Echoes."
This place used to be a weak point where dark forces eroded the current World in ancient times. Although it had been sealed, the lingering dark aura remained strong.
Kaecilius set up a gathering magic array here, preparing to conduct an extremely dangerous ritual.
Attempting to directly extract the stray dark origin within the dimensional fissures to break through his own bottleneck.
However, he underestimated the dangers of this place and overestimated his own control.
When the ritual reached the most critical and dangerous stage of "soul resonance, calling the darkness," the dark power absorbed by the gathering magic array suddenly went out of control!
No longer gentle stray energy, but a terrifying will full of endless malice and thirst, flowing backward through the connection between the array and Kaecilius's soul like a black torrent!
"Ughahhhh—!!!"
Kaecilius let out a shrill scream, feeling as if his soul had been thrown into an ocean of absolute zero ink.
And crazily torn apart by countless barbed tentacles; his consciousness was almost instantly about to be overwhelmed and devoured by this overbearing will.
But at the very last moment when his soul was about to be annihilated, that terrifying will... suddenly stopped.
No, not stopping, but like the most skillful predator, stopping the fatal blow just before the prey was about to die.
Turning instead to... observe, evaluate, and then... inject.
A dark magic containing unimaginable power began to strengthen Kaecilius's soul and body in a relatively "gentle" manner.
His pain did not decrease; instead, it became clearer due to the awakening of his consciousness.
But he could feel that his power was skyrocketing at an unprecedented speed!
The barriers that were difficult to break through after decades of bitter cultivation were easily pierced like paper under the infusion of this dark power!
At the same time, a grand voice, deep and hoarse, as if pieced together from the murmurs of countless demons and ghosts,
Resounded directly in the depths of his soul, every syllable carrying the power to corrode the mind.
"Insignificant... fragile... yet full of pitiful ambition and greed... what an interesting bug."
Kaecilius trembled, even his fear almost crushed to pieces by this coercion acting directly on the level of existence.
"You called upon the darkness, and the darkness responded to you, but the darkness never makes a losing deal.
Insignificant bug, your soul shall become my coordinate, my anchor point, my vanguard."
"You... you are..." Kaecilius used all his willpower to ask hoarsely in his soul.
"My name... is Chthon!" That voice carried endless antiquity and arrogance.
Chapter 330: Dark Chapter
Chthon!
Kaecilius's soul trembled at the name.
That was a name existing in the deepest depths of the oldest myths and forbidden scrolls, the true source of Dark Magic.
It was a dark existence far more ancient and essential than dimensional demonic gods like Dormammu!
He had actually... actually directly summoned such an existence?!
Was it a disaster, or an opportunity?
Amidst extreme fear, Kaecilius's mind, long since corrupted by ambition, actually burst forth with a twisted ecstasy.
If he could become the messenger of such a great existence...
"Your thoughts are as clear as bubbles on the surface of a stagnant pool." Chthon's voice carried mockery.
"Serve me, and you will gain power beyond mortal imagination, even Eternity. Refuse, and your soul will become the most insignificant wisp of fuel in my descent ritual."
There was fundamentally no choice.
"I... Kaecilius, am willing to serve you! Great Chthon!"
Kaecilius pressed his head against the ground, shouting in the most humble and fanatical voice.
"Very good." Chthon's consciousness seemed quite satisfied.
"The first step, you need to stabilize this fragile connection channel, and on Earth's energy nodes, plant the wedges of darkness.
I will grant you the power you need, remember, it must be covert, I do not want anyone to know, and especially do not let that damned fellow know."
With the last sentence, Chthon's voice carried a hint of imperceptible anger.
The fellow he spoke of naturally referred to Loren.
"Yes!" Kaecilius hurriedly nodded, not daring to have any objections.
Just at this moment, a massive amount of madly complex Dark Magic knowledge forcefully poured into his mind like a torrent.
This included how to construct a more stable cross-dimensional communication and energy transmission array, as well as a terrifying ritual called the Shadow Resonance Array, which required seven specific, long-standing dark energy silted points on Earth.
Those accumulated points were often at ancient battlefields or Carnage ruins, or forgotten Loki altars, and so on.
Simultaneously laying down specific magic arrays.
When all seven arrays were fully activated and resonated, a huge dark coordinate tearing through the reality dimension would be formed on the outer periphery of Earth.
Sufficient to allow a part of Chthon's essence, and even his true body, to forcefully break through the barrier of dimensions and truly descend!
At the same time, Kaecilius could feel that his body was filled with unprecedented Dark Magic.
This magic was cold and pure, bearing Chthon's mark, making it seem as though every gesture he made could destroy this World.
His strength had already skyrocketed to a level he dared not imagine before, enough to easily crush most mages of Kamar-Taj.
"Go, my vanguard." Chthon's voice gradually lowered, as if retreating into the depths of the dimensional abyss, leaving only the final echo, "Let the dark chapter descend upon this World once more!"
The connection seemed to temporarily weaken, but that cold brand and infused power had already deeply rooted themselves in Kaecilius's soul.
He slowly crawled up from the cold rock, his tattered cloak fluttering without wind.
The face exposed beneath it remained withered, but those eyes had already turned into pure black like an abyss, occasionally flashing with eerie crimson or purplish-black runes.
Feeling the surging power within his body, a twisted and fanatical expression appeared on his face.
"The dark chapter will be unfolded by my own hands, Kaecilius! All those so-called heroes shall grovel before true darkness!" He hissed in a low voice, his sound echoing in the ice valley.
He had to act immediately, as the seven locations were distributed across different continents.
He needed to travel covertly, arrange craftily, avoid the surveillance of Kamar-Taj, and even more so, avoid that fellow whom My Lord Chthon was slightly concerned about.
Vague information flashed through his mind about that faction possessing powerful technological might and a mysterious Witch, and he sneered inwardly.
Before the great power of ancient darkness, any worldly force was merely a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Kaecilius took one last glance at the black ice wall, where the lingering dark aura remained intense, having become a fixed node of contact between him and Chthon.
He waved his cloak, his figure suddenly transforming into a noiseless shadow, merging into the darkness of the ice valley and disappearing.
The ice valley returned to dead silence, leaving only some extremely obscure dark runes on that ice wall, resembling a slowly beating evil heart.