The aircraft flew steadily at high altitude. Dystopia stared out the window at the black hole suspended over the sea basin, a dark sphere wreathed in bands of light.
She felt her palms grow cold.
Now proficient in using psychokinesis, she understood better than anyone the terrifying power contained within that thing.
Just looking at it from a distance made her own psychic energy stir uneasily, as if it might be torn apart by that gravitational pull at any moment.
She turned to look at Kosma beside her. The boy was also gazing out the window, his brow slightly furrowed, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
So, Dystopia gently nudged his arm and asked,
"Hey, Kosma, nervous?"
Kosma turned his head and nodded, "Mhm…"
Dystopia forced a relaxed smile and reached out to pat his shoulder,
"Lighten up, we're all seasoned veterans! We've pulled through so many times before, this'll be no different."
"I will…"
Kosma replied, but his gaze lingered on her slightly tightened fingers.
He could tell Dystopia wasn't exactly at ease either.
…
In another aircraft, Mei's figure appeared on a virtual screen, carefully explaining key points to Kevin and Ato: "According to monitoring data, this Herrscher can manipulate gravity fields across a wide area, creating a gravitational singularity akin to a black hole with itself as the core."
"Its range already covers the entire sea basin. Above it, the Herrscher has used gravity to piece together architectural fragments from the remains of Mu Continent, forming layered platforms."
She pulled up a set of 3D models:
"The core is also surrounded by an energy barrier, likely similar to the standard protective shields seen on Herrschers. Its hardness is extreme, making ordinary attacks largely ineffective. Therefore, close-quarters combat will be exceedingly difficult; timing is crucial."
"Understood."
Kevin and Ato nodded in unison, their expressions grave.
Ato continued,
"Following the previously agreed plan, I'll still infiltrate first, ascertain the Herrscher's specific abilities and weaknesses, and create an opening for your main assault."
"Yes. Be careful."
Mei nodded,
"I won't disturb your preparations further. Communications will remain open."
With that, her image vanished from the screen.
Ato took a deep breath and began checking his equipment, ready to depart.
Just then, Kevin suddenly called out to him,
"Ato."
"What is it?"
Ato turned to look at him.
Kevin looked at him, silent for a few seconds, before slowly saying,
"Stay safe."
Ato was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of levity,
"Don't worry. I'm a man with a wife and kid; nobody values their life more than I do. I'll definitely come back alive."
After speaking, he turned and walked into the nearby special small aircraft.
The hatch slowly closed. The craft shot like a silver bolt of lightning towards the gravity-engulfed zone.
Kevin stood in place, watching the direction where the aircraft disappeared, his grip on the Judgement of Shamash unconsciously tightening.
…
Inside the MOTH operations command room, Mei stared at the virtual screen before her, which displayed real-time gravitational data and Honkai energy concentration levels for the sea basin. The values were still fluctuating wildly.
'I hope everything goes smoothly for them…'
She murmured to herself.
An assistant beside her softly reminded,
"Dr. Mei, she has also set off."
Mei nodded, her expression complex, "I know."
She looked up at another screen displaying Elysia's signal status.
"Elysia's team hasn't sent any news back yet either… Truly troubled times."
…
"I'm exhausted…"
The wing-sword form of little Dudu lay limply in Vya's palm, its blade devoid of its usual luster, the attached wings drooping as if all its strength had been drained.
"Big sister Vya, can I take some time off?"
Its voice was feeble,
"To open that spatial channel earlier, I used up all the energy I'd stored. Now I can barely manage to change form."
"Mhm mhm~ Dudu, you rest well for now!" Vya carefully cradled it in her hands.
Einstein also walked over, looking at Dudu and offering sincere thanks,
"Yes, thank you, Dudu."
'It was thanks to you and Vya that Mu Continent wasn't completely severed from Earth.'
If not for Dudu slicing through space and Vya's precise positioning, they might truly have been trapped in the Sea of Quanta.
"Next, we should arrange for a group to return to Earth to relay information, ideally establishing stable communication and support channels."
Einstein looked towards the distant shattered continental plates,
"Multiple regions of Mu Continent have been severely corrupted by Honkai energy and are unfit for long-term human habitation. We must find a way to evacuate as soon as possible."
"Mhm, then let's hurry and go help organize things~!"
Elysia took Vya's hand, a note of urgency in her tone.
Einstein nodded, looking at them,
"Elysia, you should head back first too."
"Huh? What about you, Ein?"
Elysia asked, puzzled,
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"Me…?"
Einstein pointed at herself, then glanced at the instruments nearby,
"I'll stay here for now. Need to monitor the spatial channel's stability. If anything goes wrong, I can handle it promptly. Same for Dudu. If the channel fluctuates while it's here, it can help stabilize things."
"Wow! I protest!"
The previously listless little sword suddenly perked up, its blade trembling slightly,
"I still have to work? Unfair!"
"Dudu must listen to big sister!"
Vya gently squeezed the sword's hilt, whispering a reminder,
"Big sister Einstein is thinking of everyone."
"Ah, alright, fine…"
The newly perked-up Dudu deflated again upon hearing this, replying in a pitiful mumble,
"Then… I'll hold on a little longer."
…
"It's coming…"
As Ato piloted the small aircraft near the edge of the gravity field, sharp alarm sounds blared inside the cockpit.
He knew they had entered the Herrscher's gravitational influence zone.
The aircraft's structure was already beginning to strain under the tearing forces. Flying further forward would likely lead to disintegration.
'Time's up. Need to bail out.'
Without the slightest hesitation, Ato slammed the eject button. With a thump, the cockpit canopy was blasted away. A powerful rush of air flooded in, and he was catapulted out, arcing through the sky.
Mid-air, Ato's body began to change—his muscle lines became more defined, and dark patterns surfaced on his skin.
'While the outward change isn't massive, the increase in strength is downright absurd.'
He had undergone the MANTIS surgery after Kevin and Elysia, among the very first to be created.
The Honkai beast he fused with was "Mahoraga," a pure power-type beast.
What it granted him was, naturally, strength and defensive prowess far beyond the ordinary.
Thud! Ato landed solidly on one of the platforms pieced together from rubble by the Herrscher.
He looked up. In the distance, the "black hole" from which even light could not escape hung suspended, still encircled by that eerie halo.
Beneath that "black hole," a tall shadow loomed faintly, seemingly shrouded in a thick cocoon.
On the surrounding platforms, numerous Honkai beasts drawn by the Honkai energy roamed, a dense mass of them. Noticing Ato's arrival, they emitted piercing shrieks and began closing in on him.
Ato flexed his wrists, knuckles cracking pop pop.
He didn't retreat. Instead, he charged headlong towards the nearest Honkai beast.
When just a few steps away, Ato leaped into the air, gathering force before driving his fist down hard onto the beast's skull.
Thwump! A dull impact sound. The Honkai beast's skull was smashed inward by his blow. Its massive body swayed, then crashed to the ground, motionless.
The surrounding beasts seemed enraged by this sight, pouncing forward even more frenziedly.
Ato didn't pause. His figure darted nimbly among the ruins, evading at times, launching powerful strikes at others.
His fists carried immense force. With every punch landed, the sound of shattering could be heard.
Soon, a number of Honkai beast corpses littered the platform.
He shook off bits of Honkai beast residue from his hand. These beasts were nothing, of course. The important things were clearing a path, and… the Herrscher.
Ato lifted his gaze towards the core area, surrounded by fragments of rubble.
…
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