On the leaf of a dwarf tree a few dozen meters behind Linley, a green mass of energy appeared, then formed into a small green snake. The green snake stared fixedly at Linley and Bebe’s backs, and then merged into the leaf once more.
As Linley and Bebe advanced at high speed, the little green snake constantly moved forward as well, as though it was following Linley and Bebe.
Only, the green snake was choosing to wait for an opportunity.
“Boss, this—” Just as Bebe was speaking, he suddenly sent mentally in astonishment, “Boss, careful!”
“BANG!” From high up above, a bolt of lightning came crashing down towards Linley. The speed of the lightning bolt was simply too astonishing, but since Linley had been vigilant this entire time, as soon as he noticed it, without hesitating at all, he launched off from the ground, his body dodging away to one side at high speed.
“BOOM!” The lightning bolt hit the ground, and the branches and leaves on the ground instantly turned into dust, and a large hole in the ground appeared.
Right at this moment…
“Swish!” The green serpent that had been following them the entire time suddenly shot out, and a green blur appeared in midair, charging straight towards Linley.
Linley was in mid-dodge, having just avoided the dangerous lightning bolt. His attention was all on the lightning bolt as well, and so the amount of attention he was paying to the rest of his surroundings had lowered. When the green snake reached a distance of five meters from Linley, its speed suddenly lessened dramatically, and only now did Linley suddenly turn to look at it.
“Fortunately, I kept up my Blackstone Space this entire time.” Linley, upon seeing it, was badly startled.
After Bebe had suffered that last attack, Linley had immediately set up his Blackstone Space within a range of five meters. Although the green serpent had seen that earthen yellow glow, it thought that it was the ordinary divine power protection which normal Highgods used, and so it hadn’t paid it any heed… but that earthen yellow aura had caused it to suffer a major disadvantage now!
Blackstone Space – Repulsive Force!
This repulsive force was proportional to an object’s size. The little green snake’s speed slowed down dramatically when affected by the repulsive force, but it was still able to fly forward towards Linley at high speed. From this, one could imagine how astonishing its original speed had been.
“Die.” A calm look on his face, Linley swept out with his godspark sword, ‘Mirage’.
His divine power filled Mirage, when instantly turned completely translucent as it swung towards the serpent, and wherever it passed by, a clear tear in space appeared. The green snake, its speed lessened, was unable to dodge easily. It strove to turn its body, but Linley’s ‘Mirage’ sword still chopped down towards it.
One sword blow. Two pieces!
“Swoosh!” The remaining half of the green serpent, its speed not lessening in the slightest, charged directly towards Linley.
“Oh? It’s fine?” Linley was shocked.
They were too close, and Linley wasn’t able to use his sword to block. He immediately swept out with a draconic claw, clawing down towards it.
The green serpent delightedly charged straight towards Linley’s draconic claw, and then ‘bit down’ towards the ‘palm’ of Linley’s claw. With a “crunch” sound, Linley’s draconic scales in the palm of his hand split apart, but at the same time, Linley squeezed down with his claws. A terrifying energy pressed down, instantly reducing the green serpent into mush.
Violet blood flowed everywhere.
“Not good.” Linley’s face changed.
Linley felt a strange, numb sensation that instantly passed through his entire body. The strange energy poured directly towards his head.
“Hmph.” Linley’s spiritual power in his mind flowed out like repeated waves, completely obliterating that strange energy.
“Boss, are you alright?” Bebe asked hurriedly.
“I’m fine. Fortunately, it was just a little bit of serpent’s venom that entered my body. If this green serpent had entered my body, however, it would have been troublesome.” Linley was still very nervous. That strange energy had indeed been quite powerful. The only reason why he had been able to defeat it so easily was because after becoming a Highgod, he had been absorbing amethysts for centuries and strengthened his soul tens of times over, compared to when he was a God.
But if the entire snake had entered his body…
Even Linley felt rather apprehensive.
“His fangs really are sharp.” Linley lowered his head to look at his palm.
A small patch of draconic scales in the palm of his hand had been split apart, revealing two very small ‘spots’.
The defensive power of Linley’s draconic scales was simply too powerful. When the green serpent had bitten down upon them, although its fangs had broken through at those two points, it hadn’t been able to completely bite out a hole which it could burrow through. Naturally, the green snake was then crushed to death. Only… as the fangs of the serpent had pierced the draconic scales, its venom had passed into Linley’s blood and flesh.
“And this is the white fog region, the ‘safest’ region! What of the gray fog region, or the highest violet fog region?” Linley couldn’t help but feel a sense of pressure. “No wonder anyone who acquires the Abyssal Fruit will become a Sovereign’s Emissary! Given the danger level of the Abyssal Mountain, anyone capable of acquiring the Abyssal Fruit should be at an impressive level of power already. With the help of the Abyssal Fruit, the victor would indeed have enough power to become a Sovereign’s Emissary.”
Linley and Bebe continued to advance.
Moments later… the white fog grew sparse.
“We returned to the borders again. Hopefully, we reached the base of the mountain.” Bebe was no longer calling out in celebration as he had previously.
But then, Linley and Bebe’s eyes both lit up. As they walked out of the white fog region, they saw that up ahead, there was an empty area of no fog. And further up ahead… was a dark, gloomy region of gray fog.
“We made it out?” Bebe said in delight.
“Haha…” Linley couldn’t help but start to laugh. “Bebe, your premonition was an accurate one, it seems. We really did succeed on our fifth try.”
Just as Linley and Bebe were celebrating, a series of angry bellows rang out from the gray fog region.
“Eh?” Linley and Bebe couldn’t help but feel puzzled, and they looked towards the gray fog region. What was within this gray fog region?
22
THE GRAY FOG REGION – SLAUGHTER!
The white fog region and the gray fog region had an empty region between the two areas which encircled the mountain. Linley and Bebe were in no hurry to enter the gray fog region. They remained outside, carefully listening to the sounds emanating from within.
“Humans, shouting angrily.” Linley frowned.
“What’s going on inside this gray fog?” Bebe was puzzled as well.
Even if the gray fog held danger within, only a few people had entered it, most likely. In addition, those people should have been spread out throughout the area. “Even if they are fighting, the fighting shouldn’t go on nonstop. Why are those angry shouting sounds ringing out again and again? And we are here at the borders, but can still hear them!” Linley’s forehead was creased.
The gray fog region was similar in size to the white fog region.
Given the enormous amount of surface it took up, battles that went on within it from afar shouldn’t be hearable by Linley and Bebe, who were only at the border.
“Eh?” Linley suddenly turned his head.
In the distant white fog region, two male figures suddenly emerged. These two had azure armor formed over their bodies, and when they emerged, they looked vigilantly towards Linley and Bebe. Seeing the two of them, they relaxed slightly. “Haha, I didn’t expect to run into you two here. It seems we two brothers are meant to encou
nter you.”
The man who spoke was a skinny man who had a smile on his face. The other man by his side seemed rather sturdy, and had some stubble on his chin.
“Indeed,” Linley said. “I am Linley, and this is my brother, Bebe. Who are you??”
“Lache!” The skinny man laughed.
“Valette!” the bearded man said emotionlessly.
“Lache, Valette, we come from the Infernal Realm and don’t know much about the Abyssal Mountain. Listen… there are angry bellows and roars constantly ringing out from the gray fog region. Do you know what is going on in there?” Linley immediately asked. The reason why he was conversing with these two was for the sake of gaining information.
Lache and Valette both listened carefully, frowns appearing on their faces.
“Hey, that is rather queer,” Lache said with a frown. “There were a few dozen people who entered the mountain this time, and there should have been less than ten people who entered the gray fog region ahead of us. Such an enormous region… if ten people entered, they would be like drops of water in the sea. How could the sounds of angry shouts and battle ring out nonstop?”
Bebe said helplessly, “You don’t know either?”
“No idea. The affairs of Abyssal Mountain are very mysterious,” Lache explained. “The outside world has some rumors, at least, of the white fog region, but no one knows anything about the gray fog region or the violet fog region. Most likely, even if someone knows something, they wouldn’t tell anyone. What do the two of you plan to do?”
Linley and Bebe looked at each other.
“Wait!” Linley said.
“The same decision as we two brothers.” Lache chortled. “Most likely, the people who go in will come back here due to having no sense of direction within. When they emerge, we’ll ask them and so be better prepared.”
Linley nodded slightly.
Lache laughed, “Then we two brothers will go over there to that part of the mountain. You two can move over there. That way, the two of us can keep watch over a region of a hundred kilometers. We’ll easily see anyone who emerges.”
“Fine.” Linley nodded.
And then, Linley and Bebe immediately hurried to a prominent, arching spot on the mountain. They stood there, able to see to a great distance.
“Boss, we’re just going to wait here?” Bebe was rather impatient.
Linley swept the gray fog region with a glance, then shook his head and said, “Let’s wait half a day. If we don’t find anyone in half a day’s time, we’ll go in! The white fog region we passed through just now was already rather dangerous. This gray fog region will most likely be even more troublesome. It is best if we go in after finding out what the situation inside is like!”
They had hurried for thirty years to get to this place. Linley had the patience to wait here for half a day. Rashly running inside might result in them suffering for it.
They waited quietly.
The distance between Linley’s group and Lache’s group was roughly ten kilometers. But because there was no fog here, they were still able to see each other at a glance. Roughly half an hour of quiet waiting went past, and the result was… Linley’s ‘squad’ grew more powerful!
Another person had walked out from the white fog region; the effeminate-looking silver-haired man.
The effeminate-looking man was patient as well. He was in no hurry to enter, and began to wait quietly.
A long time later…
“Eh?” Linley, who had been seated atop a rock in the meditative posture with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes, turning to look into the distance. That black-robed, violet-haired youth emerged from the gray fog. Seeing that the black-robed youth was about to turn and re-enter the gray fog region, Linley immediately called out, “Bloan!”
During the battle in the inn, Linley had heard the violet-haired man’s name be called out.
“Swoosh.” Linley and Bebe immediately flew over, while more than ten kilometers away, the three other Highgods also saw them and immediately flew over.
“Eh?” The violet-haired youth, Bloan, turned his head.
“Hello, Bloan,” Linley greeted him.
“Oh… is there something you need?” There was no expression on Bloan’s face. At the same time, he noticed that the other three were hastening here as well. Lache laughed and said, “So it’s Bloan. I knew that given your power, Bloan, you would be able to easily emerge from the white fog region. Right, my friend Bloan, we aren’t familiar with the gray fog region. Can you tell us a bit?”
The violet-haired youth, Bloan, glanced at them, seeming rather concerned about Linley and Bebe. He still said calmly, “I can tell you, but there’s a price!”
“Pray tell.” Lache laughed.
“In the gray fog region, I will travel with you two!” The violet-haired youth, Bloan, looked towards Linley and Bebe…
Linley, hearing this, raised an eyebrow. Travel with them? Although he wasn’t too familiar with the violet-haired youth, in the short period of time they had known each other, Linley had come to understand that this Bloan should be a very cold, arrogant person. But… Bloan was asking to travel alongside Linley. Clearly, the gray fog region was very dangerous!
Lache and the other two immediately looked towards Linley and Bebe.
“Fine.” Linley nodded.
The violet-haired youth said calmly, “The ‘fog’ in this gray fog region is actually a type of unusual energy. If your soul is weak, the gray fog region will ensnare you in countless, endless illusions! By then, you won’t be able to tell friend from foe, and you’ll constantly slaughter others… you will never be able to emerge from the gray fog region, and will forever be trapped in illusions!”
Everyone who heard this felt their hearts tremble.
Forever be trapped in illusions?
They had eternal life, but if they were eternally trapped in illusions… that would be more miserable than death.
“There are many, many Highgods within!” the violet-haired youth, Bloan, said emotionlessly. “Over the course of countless years, I imagine that on each trip, there are Highgods who are trapped within the gray fog region. Because Highgods will not starve to death, the only possibility for death is in battle. Thus… over the course of countless years, an astonishingly high number of Highgods have accumulated within this region. Once we encounter those Highgods who have become trapped in illusions, they will consider us to be their mortal foes and immediately battle against us.
The faces of Linley and the others grew ugly.
“On each night of the full moon, some people will go in,” Lache said with a frown. “This Abyssal Mountain has existed for who knows how many years… how many Highgods are there in this gray fog region?!”
Linley couldn’t help but look towards the gray fog region as well.
Angry shouts. The sounds of slaughter. Bellows. They continued to ring out nonstop from within. Linley’s group now understood why these angry roars were continuing unabated; it was because the number of Highgods within was far too great!
“I want to warn you of something; don’t underestimate the Highgods who have been trapped in illusions,” the violet-haired Bloan said with a cold laugh. “In training, there are those who specialize in the soul and those who specialize in material attacks. Those who were trapped in illusions were just a bit weak in terms of the soul, but their material attacks might be terrifyingly strong, even at the Seven Star Specter level.”
Linley couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
“In addition, slaughter goes on unabated within this region. Over the course of countless years, this has resulted in the deaths of many Highgods, but those who remain alive are virtually all exceedingly powerful in terms of material attacks,” the violet-haired Bloan said solemnly. “Just now, when I entered, if it hadn’t been for the fact that I am fast, I probably would have…”
Lache and the other two had ugly looks on their faces now.
They knew how strong Bl
oan was. A Seven Star Specter! And yet, he had almost been destroyed as well.
“However, don’t worry. Those who were trapped within and still alive are roughly at the Six Star Specter level of power. Seven Star Specters are rare,” Bloan said.
Linley and Bebe glanced at each other.
“Boss, the experts within the gray fog region are most likely even more numerous than within the Four Divine Beasts clan,” Bebe said.
Linley nodded slightly. Who could say how many experts had been attracted to the Abyssal Mountain over the course of countless years?
Bebe sent mentally, “No wonder he wants to go with us.”
Linley swept the others with his gaze, all of whom felt the pressure. “Everyone, prepare to enter. Those who enter should enter together. If you feel that you don’t have the power to do so, wait outside.”
“I’ll go,” the effeminate looking man was the first to speak.
“Enter.” Valette nodded.
“I… will go in as well, then,” Lache hesitated momentarily before speaking.
“Big Brother,” Valette immediately barked. “It’s best if you don’t enter. Your soul…”
Lache just shook his head and said, “Don’t worry. Although I’m somewhat weaker than you in terms of the soul, I’m not actually weak. I should be able to handle it!”
Linley gave this Lache a calm look.
“Let’s head out,” Linley said calmly.
This squad naturally accepted Linley and Bebe as their leaders. In a dangerous situation, everyone, mortal or Deity alike, would naturally follow the most powerful individuals around.
As soon as he entered the gray fog region, Linley felt his head go slightly dizzy, while at the same time, Linley noticed… that a misty layer of gray energy was already beginning to accumulate atop the translucent membrane that was his soul-protecting Sovereign artifact. The gray fog energy was currently trying to invade his soul, but Linley was able to resist it.
“Halt!” Linley barked.
After having just entered the gray fog region, everyone was now under the influence of the gray fog. Bebe had a soul-protecting artifact and so was able to resist it as well. As for the violet-haired youth, he had prior experience. The effeminate man was frowning, but he maintained his clarity of mind. Valette, that sturdy-looking fellow, remained clear-headed as well. But that Lache…
The Planar Wars Page 18