Chapter 1046: Beyond

No matter how many undead there were, Erkigal burned them into ashes. There was one exception: the undead Fhe. He reappeared out of thin air even after being reduced to ashes.

Erkigal dashed forward. Her body was emitting bright and intense flames. She tightened her fist, and a huge amount of energy swirled around it.

[Falling Star Fist]!

In the next moment, she threw her fist as flames surged, swallowing Fhe.

Boom!!

Souta watched all of this from the sidelines. He understood why Erkigal had held back her breakthrough.

"Vermilion Bird... Phoenix," he muttered.

Vermilion Bird was a powerful species of monsters. The Great Vermilion Bird was also one of the four divine beasts of Fengdu Land. It was known as the Guardian of the South.

'Her flames have the characteristics of the Vermilion Bird's flames,' Saya said.

Souta nodded at her words.

Ohm!!

A pillar of white light suddenly erupted in the distance, causing Souta and the others to turn their heads.

In the pillar of light, Alexander was gritting his teeth as he kept pouring his energy into the cube.

"Just a little bit more and we'll be able to start it," said the undead who had the will of the Divine Venerable of Wisdom.

Argh!

Alexander roared as his elemental power surged, filling the air with a crackling intensity. The ground beneath him trembled violently, and a powerful wave of energy radiated outward in all directions, shaking the very fabric of the battlefield.

The undead halted momentarily, their relentless advance pausing as they sensed the overwhelming power emanating from Alexander. But their pause was short-lived. With a renewed frenzy, they surged forward with mechanical precision, their singular focus locked onto Alexander.

"Protect Alexander!" Souta commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. He drew the [Vajra Sword Saya], its blade gleaming ominously as he prepared for the onslaught. Beside him, the [Orb of Arcane Seal] spun with a mesmerizing glow, accumulating and stacking spells with formidable speed.

"Protect the Ninth Head!" echoed the other Nine Heads, their voices brimming with urgency as they moved into position. Each of them sprang into action, their combined might forming a defensive line to shield Alexander from the relentless tide of undead.

The Nine Heads acted with practiced efficiency. As they intercepted the undead, their movements were synchronized, each one covering a different angle of attack. They wielded their respective abilities-ranging from elemental magic to physical prowess-with precision, creating a formidable barrier against the advancing horde.

Erkigal, still enveloped in her intense flames, unleashed a barrage of fiery attacks, incinerating any undead that ventured too close. Her newly achieved Seventh Shackle power made her an indomitable force on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Souta, with the [Vajra Sword Saya] in hand, deflected and cut through the ranks of the undead, his blade crackling with electric energy.

The [Orb of Arcane Seal] beside Souta was a sight to behold. It spun rapidly, its surface shimmering as it gathered and amplified the spells he cast. The energy around him grew dense, creating a protective barrier that repelled the undead while bolstering his offensive capabilities.

In the midst of this chaotic clash, the strategic coordination of Souta and the Nine Heads was critical. Their combined efforts created a buffer zone around Alexander, allowing him to concentrate his energy on the cube without distraction. The immense pressure and relentless assault from the undead made every second count, and their ability to maintain this protective shield was paramount for the success of their mission.

Ohm!

The white light that had been engulfing the area gradually shifted to a deep blue, its swirling energy creating a mesmerizing display in the air. The intensity of the light momentarily halted the advance of the undead, giving Alexander a brief respite.

"Now, let me take over from here!" the undead with the will of the Divine Venerable of Wisdom declared. His voice was filled with authority and resolve. "Activate the platform and leave this place. I'll eradicate these impurities from this world."

Alexander, visibly drained from the immense effort, withdrew his hand from the cube. He took a deep breath, his exhaustion evident but his resolve unwavering. He nodded at the undead's words, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Don't forget my words," the undead continued, his voice carrying a somber tone. "Even though I've experienced the calamity, I still don't fully understand what it is. There are hidden aspects the Imperium that we cannot yet comprehe ,but the right time is approaching. My friend, the Isolated Formation God, has calculated that it will be revealed in the future. The major factions that sit comfortably in their positions will face upheaval. Use this time to solidify your strength. This is the best opportunity for mortals to prepare." Alexander listened intently, absorbing the weight of the undead's words. The gravity of the situation and the enigmatic warnings about the future left him with much to ponder. After a moment, he turned his attention back to the cube, which was now radiating with the

stabilized energy.

"Now, leave this place!" the undead commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Swoosh!!

His figure shot into the distance as the pillar of light erupted.

He arrived beside Souta and the rest. "Let's go!" he said.

Souta, Erkigal, and the others exchanged glances before following Alexander.

The group quickly arrived at the platform.

Alexander placed his palm on the surface.

Ohm!

As Alexander placed his palm on the surface of the platform, a series of blueish lines began to illuminate, spreading across the ground, walls, and ceiling. The lines resembled veins, pulsating with a steady rhythm as they channeled and distributed mana throughout the entire

area.

The platform itself seemed to come alive with the infusion of energy. The lines connected in an intricate pattern, creating a network that glowed with a faint, ethereal light. The energy within the platform surged, amplifying as it synchronized with the mana in the surroundings. "Everyone, hold on!" Alexander commanded as he adjusted his stance, preparing for the platform's activation.

The group, including Souta, Erkigal, and the rest of the Nine Heads, took their positions on the platform. The air crackled with energy as the lines on the platform intensified, their glow becoming more vibrant.

Souta looked ahead. He sensed that the atmosphere had changed and seemed to be countering

the corruption in the air.

"Is everything here done?" Erkigal asked.

Alexander nodded, his face serious.

At the same time, the platform ascended, tearing through the clouds of souls above. The souls tried to drag them down, but under the protection of the platform, they were powerless against Souta and the others.

Souta wondered about the cause of this phenomenon. The souls, the undead, and everything here seemed to be part of the same entity-something that shouldn't belong here.

He pondered the cause of the Great War in the past, the curse in the Archetype, and the secrets

of the calamity.

Swoosh!!

The platform broke through the barrier and shattered into countless fragments.

Souta and the rest arrived at the vast forest where the abandoned town was located. They

landed on the cliff and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Stop! Are any of you possessed?!"

Souta, Erkigal, and the others lifted their heads and saw a woman with blue hair looking at

them warily.

Eilish focused her gaze on Souta. Although she was worried, she noted that Souta and the

others had just emerged from the looming darkness. She wasn't sure if they had been affected, similar to what happened to the members of the Nine Heads who started fighting those who

weren't possessed.

"Possessed?!"

Souta raised his eyebrows and then recalled the corruption. It seemed that the strange energy had even affected the other members of the Nine Heads.

He walked toward her and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm fine. We've finished dealing

with the source of the undead."

Eilish breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his words. She couldn't imagine who could stop them in the entire Hall Plains if they had become possessed.

"We're finally out of that place... I thought I was going to die," Fourth Head said as he

collapsed onto his knees.

Eight Head and Sixth Head were covered in wounds, exhausted from their front-line battles.

Erkigal glanced at Alexander and asked, "Are you sure it's done?"

"Yes..." Alexander nodded, his gaze fixed on the looming darkness.

In the depths of the darkness...

The shrine in the depths of the darkness seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. The

souls trapped within, once held captive by the strange corruption, were now being slowly drawn away by the invisible chains. These chains, forged from the very essence of the soul realm, began to extract and channel the wailing souls, liberating them from their torment. The undead who possessed the will of the Divine Venerable of Wisdom stood silently, their eyes reflecting the tumultuous energy around them. They observed the process with a mixture of satisfaction and somberness. The strange power that had once held sway was indeed weakening, and with it, the souls that had been confined here were being freed. "There is a balance to be restored," the undead murmured, their voice echoing through the shrine. "The interference of this alien power has disrupted much. It is a reminder of the forces beyond our understanding and control."

The shrine's powerful ripple continued to sweep through, its effect resonating far beyond its immediate vicinity. The energy that had been distorted by the alien force was being realigned, signaling a shift in the equilibrium of this realm.

Though they had sealed it long ago, the partial reopening had revealed the vast and unsettling power that lay beyond. This served as a stark warning to the people of Imperium:

the threat was not only real but also profound, capable of impacting even divine beings.

"If you gaze long into it, it also gazes back..."

A seemingly huge eye opened in the depths.

The undead widened his eyes as he found himself in a dark space filled with countless stars.

An infinite array of realities flowed through the Great Gap.

It was far beyond the sight of anyone.

He looked down and realized that he wasn't in the body of the undead; he was merely a spirit

at this moment.

"You're here."

A voice sounded behind him.

He turned around and saw a young girl in a black dress, holding a fan that covered half of her

face.

The young girl's presence seemed to distort the space around her, her playful smile contrast against the infinite, dark expanse. Her black dress flowed like liquid shadows, and the tentacles that emerged from it writhed in an eerie, hypnotic rhythm.

The undead, though merely a spirit in this realm, could still sense the gravity of the situation.

He was aware that this was no ordinary encounter. The space around them defied the fundamental rules of existence, making him feel both awed and unsettled.

"You've prevented the two from making direct contact with this. That's great," the young girl

said, her voice carrying an almost musical quality. Her eyes, partially obscured by the fan, gleamed with an unsettling mix of curiosity and mischief.

The undead, though no longer bound by physical form, could still communicate. "Who are

you?" he asked, his voice echoing in the boundless space. "And what is this place?" "You are...?" he asked.

"Naruse Ichimon, but that doesn't matter anymore now that I'm here. This place contains

knowledge that doesn't exist in the Imperium." The young girl paused, glancing at him before continuing, "You will disappear soon..."

"I know..." The Divine Venerable of Wisdom looked around.

"Follow me," Naruse said as she turned around. "Before you disappear, I want to show you something. The calamity is inevitable. It will arrive no matter what. So when you slightly opened it, it wasn't entirely a bad thing. After all, we need to understand the calamity before

it's too late."

"Countless people died because of my actions..."

"It's a necessary sacrifice. It's better to give some people a glimpse of what's to come.

Otherwise, when the real calamity breaks out, people will have no idea how to respond, leading to even more deaths."

Naruse Ichimon led the Divine Venerable of Wisdom through the shifting expanse of the Great

Gap. Her form glided effortlessly, and the surroundings warped and twisted with each step, reflecting the gravity of their journey.

The Divine Venerable's spirit, though no longer bound by physical constraints, felt an overwhelming pressure. It was as if the Great Gap itself was a living entity, its vastness pressing down upon him, a reminder of how minuscule his existence was in the grand scheme

of things.

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