Apocalypse Forecast

After the encounter on the lunar surface, Huai Shi had a deep realization that in space, his adaptability... might not be stronger than a dog’s.

Moreover, it was a Behemoth’s puppy, a super combat dog that could pull a sled with its tongue in a vacuum.

It must be helpful.

According to Garandor’s data, if the dog stays in Huai Shi’s bag, it should be verified as an accessory belonging to Huai Shi.

Theoretically, it’s not a problem, but there are always accidents.

What if something happens and the little dog of friendship dies?

That would be a thermal radiation comparable to the surface temperature of the sun, which could destroy not just the dog, but maybe even humans.

And inside the saddlebag, the broken dog’s gaze became increasingly disdainful, poking out to give him a sideways glance.

What’s the hold-up? Let’s get going!

The vehicle is ready to start; all it’s waiting for is you.

Fine, if the dog isn’t afraid, why should I be?

Since you want to try... then let’s go ahead and try.

Huai Shi shook his head, hoisted the saddlebag, turned around, and walked towards the departing queue.

The other alchemists had long grown impatient, but only Iz remained unhurriedly playing with his phone, laughing heartily at the pre-saved silly videos.

Compared to him, Rachelle, who seemed about to urinate in his spacesuit, was a complete opposite.

Unlike the others, Rachelle was accompanying them as a physician. Everyone had no expectations of his performance and sincerely hoped he wouldn’t be needed.

Just like that, after adjusting the air pressure, with the cabin door of the Child of the Leviathan slowly opening, they sank into the endless dark space beneath them.

It felt like falling into the Abyss.

An infinite storm surged over the multicolored starry body below their feet, above the enormous Demon’s Eye, Helios’ wreckage reflected sunlight from billions of kilometers away, unable to hide its decay and strange aura.

Initially, Huai Shi thought the Stone Pot Society would have more mystical and magical tools, but he didn’t expect the transportation they provided was merely an upgrade of an underwater scooter.

A brass-colored oval jet engine, like a rocket, towing a folded frontline exploration base.

At the same time, it also carried the safety ropes of their group of ten.

Propelled by airflow, it moved swiftly downward, appearing slow but actually quick.

They could vaguely feel the gravity of Jupiter.

And increasingly feel the misery of Helios.

The ship’s hull, riddled with scars, erupting with countless blood-like colors, the scarlet paths dancing in the vacuum, like thirsty hands trying to grasp every living thing that approached them.

Like lava spewing from a volcano.

It was a disaster of activation formed by an extraordinary reversal when the great secret was out of control.

Like the radiation from a nuclear reactor leak, the uncontrolled Helios now continuously created phenomena occurring only in Depth Hell.

It’s hard to imagine how bad the internal condition must be.

While theoretically, the exploration team also served as a rescue mission, was there really any survivor still inside?

Countless space horror films conveyed one point:

——Don’t expect anything good from a drifting derelict ship.

Now, Huai Shi finally had a profound understanding.

At the same time, he discovered... isn’t this wreck too large?

From afar, it seemed only thumb-sized, but the closer they got, the faster its size magnified, eventually occupying Huai Shi’s entire view.

Yet the distance between them remained on a grand scale.

Half an hour into the descent and they were still far from boarding the ship.

In the deathly silence, no one spoke. Even though they hadn’t been burnt to death by the lunar corona’s flames, having safely approached Helios’ surroundings, they felt no sense of relief.

Only suppressed heavy breathing could be heard on the public channel.

Helios’ distorted remains rapidly approached; the closer they got, the more they could perceive its history of suffering and torment.

The once solemn and magnificent sacred decorations had become completely dull, broken apart, with enormous cracks continually spewing frozen liquid and air.

Like a corpse still bleeding.

At intervals of the descent, alchemists of the Stone Pot Society released a few cubes to drift in the vacuum, allowing them to fly downward.

These miracle-activated relics would collect data and feedback to their eyes and the Child of Leviathan.

The swiftly descending observation eyes reached there before them.

The transmitted scenes took everyone’s breath away.

Unfathomable enormity like mountainous gates, overlapping armor like scales, and giant stone columns piercing the cracks.

The gigantic column seemingly like obsidian even slightly pulsated, revealing purple-blue vascular veins.

More observation eyes transmitted continuous updates.

Attempting deeper investigations but found no further possibilities.

Right below them, the massive door, about the size of a football field, had lost response, covered by squirming stony substance.

Numerous branching like sea snakes swam across it.

It looked nowhere close to harmless.

"It seems to be some kind of parasitic substance incubated in deep sediment... Do not approach."

The analysis from the Child of Leviathan sounded in everyone’s ear: "The basic gate seems no longer passable, proceed with the second plan, enter from the Gate of the Kingdom."

The jet descending straight soon adjusted its angle, heading for the end of Helios stretching hundreds of miles.

Helios Workshop has a total of eleven entrances, with the main entrance never having been opened. The other ten are used for the circulation of goods and personnel.

Each is named after the ten major Source Substances in Alchemy.

The nearest Basic Gate is already contaminated, approaching it rashly is akin to entering a tiger’s den and is not suitable as a supply base point for the frontline.

It can only be switched to the Kingdom Gate planned as a backup.

The Kingdom represents the ring of the four major elements, symbolizing the existence of people and matter, and is also the end of the ring of ten major Source Substances.

When witnessing this vast cycle entity that leaves one astonished, Huai Shi felt a sudden revelation.

It was like a missing puzzle piece filled a gap; uncountable understandings concerning Metallography collided, forming a picture he had never imagined.

Once again, gaining a new understanding and insight into Alchemy.

"I see..."

For a moment, Huai Shi actually forgot where he was.

Unable to contain his excitement, he widened his eyes, staring down at Helios, hoping to discern traces of its former integrity from its ravaged surface, seeking more inspiration and knowledge.

The more he focused, the clearer his inner understanding became, continuously emerging...

Until a terrible scream echoed in the public channel.

The ear-piercing sound and the imminent Death Perception awakened him instantly, finally hearing the repeated warnings in the public channel.

Amidst the static and harsh noise, someone was shouting with all their might:

"—Don’t look!"

But it was already too late.

Before being awakened, someone had already become engrossed in the sight.

On the outermost side, the person was wide-eyed, immersed in an indescribable vast understanding, stretching the safety rope to its limit, yet instinctively lunging toward the hull below, groping in the void with both hands.

Immersed in the ever-increasing understanding and knowledge.

Until a piercing scream erupted from the throat.

It was too much.

Too much understanding and too much knowledge flooded into his brain through his eyes, filled with the weight and miracle of human knowing, pouring endlessly into his skull, occupying his soul, dominating everything.

The infinite knowledge seemed to bring infinite power.

"I understand!" Amid the painful screams, that face actually showed a frenzied smile: "I see, I understand!!!"

In a daze, everyone saw it.

Something thick and glue-like extended from Helios, the dispersed wisdom and knowledge within Helios now transformed into an indescribable curse by the out-of-control furnace.

Like seaweed, swaying its gaze all around.

Now, those strands of memory had already penetrated that person’s head.

Deep into the soul.

Granting him understanding, bestowing him the essence, gifting him unreserved comprehension!

The terrifying understanding, akin to a disaster, spurred his soul to operate by itself, in this Source-depleted space, using his spacesuit as a furnace, autonomously transforming his shell and Source Substance.

Using the soul as fire, true knowledge as fuel, an irreversible alchemy began...

Horrible flames erupted from the person’s nose and mouth, turning the throat into charcoal instantaneously amid the searing pain, followed by teeth and bones, and even the outer texture...

Complex mystic rituals emerged from his shell, using human bodies to correspond with the cosmos and the nine planets’ theory, starting bizarre recreation!

No one knew what he truly comprehended, and no one knew what kind of oddity he could transform himself into.

But without exception, they could feel the frenzy-filled Source Fluctuation within it.

Even... like a needle pricking in back, an impending Death Crisis.

In the moment of reaction, Huai Shi instantly retracted the safety rope, swinging around the jet engine in the vacuum forming an arc, charging straight toward the figure engulfed in flames.

Resentment Water trembled violently in his pocket, now gripped tightly by Huai Shi.

Slicing onto the outer shell of the jet engine, without a loud sound in the vacuum, only sparks flew.

The heavy force spread along the steel shell, resonating, instantly converging on the other side, shattering the hook of the safety rope, detaching the burning figure from the rushing jet engine.

In an instant, flung backward.

In a terrified stare, the figure gradually twisted, contracted, mutated, countless sharp crystals piercing through his spacesuit, extending outward.

Breaking through the limits of matter, it unexpectedly expanded over thousands of meters instantly, swelling to an unbelievable size.

Like a blooming flower, shimmering with radiant iris glow.

Soon, freezing in the vacuum, shattering, turning into flying ash, disappearing without a trace.

Huai Shi vigilantly held Resentment Water, surveying the surroundings, after a long time, confirming no abnormalities, he finally exhaled a long breath, relaxing.

Unexpectedly, they had not even boarded Helios, and already lost one person from their seven-member team...

Which means there should now be... wait!

Huai Shi froze for a moment, feeling an icy chill.

Counting in his mind repeatedly.

But no matter how he counted, he was incredulous.

—Why were there still seven people in the team now?