Chapter 567 - 560: Unexpected
In truth, if the Celestial Demons had been willing, they wouldn’t have been imprisoned by the Seal for so many long years, not with the strange abilities of the True Spirit System and the contingency plans they’d left behind.
For one, the grievous injuries from the great war had plunged their wills into a long slumber. For another, remaining within the Seal was a strategic move to avoid provoking another counterattack from the world’s will while they searched for a way to overcome it.
Besides, this method of escaping the Seal—using Celestial Demon Blood and a fragmented will—was not without its drawbacks.
"You’re awake? Desolate?"
Doctor Nightmare wiped away the blood that was seeping from Hui Ming’s every orifice and looked at the man before him, now a completely different person, before asking the question.
"This gray mist... this feeling... you’re ’Nightmare’?"
Andrew’s pale-yellow eyes, which held a terrifying light, swept over his surroundings before finally settling on Doctor Nightmare. "What’s going on? You actually used ’fragment reassembly’ to revive me? Didn’t we agree not to use this method unless it was a last resort?"
Andrew’s brow furrowed deeply as he felt the constant weakness and frailty emanating from within his body.
This was the negative side effect of resurrection via fragment reassembly. Although his will had been revived, it was no easy task to cultivate a mere fragment of consciousness back into the dominant one and restore his power to its peak.
That was why it was a method to be used only as a last resort.
"It’s a complicated situation, difficult to explain quickly. It’s not just you; if necessary, the others will be summoned and revived this way as well. Of course, it would be best if they could return along with their peak power. That was my original plan, but there have been too many unexpected developments. I was forced to resort to this."
"Besides, once we truly break open the Seal, you can retrieve your ’Heart of Desolation.’ Then you’ll be able to skip the entire cultivation process and instantly return to your peak state. It’s not a major issue," Doctor Nightmare said.
"That’s true," Andrew said coolly. "But I’m not like you. I can’t use your nightmares to constantly sever my connection with the outside world. Our wills are so unique that even a mere fragment of mine will cause ripples in the world’s will. Have you dealt with that potential problem? It wouldn’t be pleasant to face a counterattack from humanity’s heroes in this frail state."
"Normally, that would be a concern. But not anymore."
"Oh?"
"A ’wall-breaker’ has emerged from the human race. Most of the world’s restrictions and suppressions against us have likely been lifted."
Andrew fell silent for a moment.
’So, someone from the human race has finally broken through the barrier?’
"However, that’s not the real emergency. This isn’t the place to discuss the details. Come with me."
Andrew nodded. The two of them flickered, their presence masked by a shroud of gray mist as they moved quickly away from the Forest Race Ancestral Land.
...
...
「Meanwhile, on the Forest Race battlefield.」
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Endless light and heat erupted across the battlefield. The Power of the Primordial Core, similar in nature to a nuclear blast, scoured everything in the vicinity.
The ground crystallized and the vegetation withered, leaving the surroundings utterly desolate. The members of the Forest Race had been forced to take defensive measures, completely sealing off the battlefield. Otherwise, the terrifying shockwaves would destroy everything within their Ancestral Land.
In a way, Yukun was a true Human Form Nuclear Bomb.
Even among the Ancient True Kings, few could match the explosive force of Yukun, master of the Power of the Primordial Core.
Amid the ceaseless explosions, two figures were locked in a tangled struggle.
This time, however, Yukun’s previously unstoppable explosive power didn’t seem to be having much of an effect.
He found that even with such terrifying attacks, he was unable to defeat his opponent.
His opponent seemed to have used his True Self ability to adjust the specialization of all his cells, converting them into a purely defensive state of supreme toughness.
Although the Power of the Primordial Core could break through his opponent’s defenses and inflict damage, it was useless. His opponent’s Recovery Ability in this state was simply monstrous.
During one exchange, his opponent’s entire arm was blown clean off. Then, he watched as the man casually picked up the severed limb, placed it back against his shoulder, and the arm instantly reattached, good as new in the very next moment.
What was most terrifying was that this level of Recovery Power obviously required immense stamina. Yet, after fighting for so long, his opponent’s energy reserves still seemed bottomless, as if he held a vast ocean within his body.
He, on the other hand, had sustained massive damage from the backlash of his own Power of the Primordial Core.
After all, the Power of the Primordial Core worked by borrowing external forces. The explosions affected him as well, and he had to expend enormous stamina and power just to counteract the backlash.
It was, in essence, a technique that wounded both enemy and user.
After using it for so long, he could feel his own stamina nearing its limit.
’Is this the power of the True Self System?! How can he be this strong right after breaking through?!’
’Don’t tell me only an Ancestral Level being can truly suppress him?!’
In truth, what he didn’t know was that they had attacked at a very bad time for them.
During his breakthrough, Zhou Yuanjue had absorbed a massive amount of Source Liquid, storing the immense energy within his cells. That was the only reason he could remain so unfazed by the exertion. Otherwise, at his current rate of consumption, the energy provided by normal food and power sources would never have been enough to sustain him.
"It looks like... you’re running on fumes. Your explosions are getting a little weak."
Just then, a telepathic message from Zhou Yuanjue, tinged with a hint of pity, echoed in Yukun’s mind.
Yukun’s already churning blood began to boil with rage. If the blinding glare of the nuclear explosions hadn’t washed out all color, his face would have been a visible shade of crimson.
He wanted to argue, but he had nothing to say in his defense.
Because, right now, he really was... on his last legs.
’This bastard!!’
Yukun’s eyes blazed with fury. In the next instant, however, he saw Zhou Yuanjue’s physique suddenly transform.
It was expanding wildly!
’Dammit!’
"Yukun, the objective has been met. You can use this chance to retreat."
Just then, Doctor Nightmare’s voice suddenly echoed in Yukun’s mind.
Yukun breathed a small sigh of relief. He was about to use the shockwave from an explosion as cover to withdraw.
However, he had barely retreated any distance at all when he saw his opponent’s swollen form suddenly contract, shifting states once more.
Speed form!
WHOOSH!
The next moment, the figure caught up to him with terrifying speed, and another telepathic message echoed in his mind:
"Since you came all this way..."