Chapter 466: Void Diver, Endless Troubles Future

The towers rising within the Bloodfang Empire were performing their intended function, blurring—or perhaps rupturing—the boundary between the material world and the Void. They carved out a passage between the two realms, allowing matter to traverse that lake-like threshold and seep from the physical world into the abyss.

"Is this... an escape? They intend to enter the Void? Are they mad? No, that cannot be right. While current theory dictates that no sentient being can survive within the Void, if it is the Utopia organization, given their understanding of that realm, it may not be impossible. No, we must stop them!"

Within the high command, a wizard observed and sensed the true state of the Bloodfang Empire, now revealed after the colossal structure had pierced the veil of concealment. His thoughts raced; the enemy’s intent was obvious, yet the reasoning behind such a desperate act, and the means by which they could achieve it, remained beyond his comprehension.

One thing, however, was certain: whatever the Utopia organization sought to do, the Alliance must oppose it. To thwart their every ambition was the mission.

"Wizards, stall their descent by any means necessary! While they are still here, the material world’s attacks can reach them, but once they slip into the Void, our methods will be useless!"

The command was issued instantly. As the commander pondered the enemy's motives, a chilling hypothesis took root in his mind: if they possessed the foundation to survive and operate within the Void, the consequences would be catastrophic. They had to be stopped before they crossed the threshold.

"Requesting support from the Sky Mechanical City. Proceed to the battlefield immediately and initiate an annihilation-level bombardment. Their next move must be prevented!"

Without a moment’s hesitation, the command team signaled the Sky Mechanical City, which lay at a distance from the front lines.

"Acknowledged. The main city is in motion. Estimated time to reach effective range for a magi-tech annihilation strike: five minutes."

The reply from the Sky Mechanical City was swift.

"Damn it, I only hope it is not too late."

The commander’s brow furrowed as he stared at the battlefield feed. At the current rate of descent, the city-state would be completely submerged within the Void in under five minutes.

Though the Sky Mechanical City was a relic of the old era—a formidable war machine and a destroyer that walked the heavens—its current firepower remained peerless. Technological advancements had only amplified its original, terrifying destructive potential.

Yet, the city was now primarily an academic sanctuary. Its transcendent firepower was reserved for continental-scale disasters or the preservation of its own sovereignty.

Without evacuating its scholars and transitioning to a full war footing, it would not engage in combat. This meant that even a strike akin to a "nuclear bombardment" required a lead time that, while short, might prove fatal in this race against time.

"Such a massive entity... can we impose sufficient restraint?"

The wizards acted upon the command immediately. Their minds reached into the Void, attempting to use their mastery of void energy to anchor the kingdom that was slowly sinking. Their consciousnesses soon brushed against the vast, singular entity—the "will-aggregate" residing within that kingdom.

The scale of that existence exceeded all expectations. Most wizards had never encountered anything of such magnitude within the Void. Those few "lucky" ones who had brushed against the Void’s malevolent deities felt a sickening sense of déjà vu, yet they could not determine which entity held greater command over the Void—a realization that was, in itself, terrifying.

Regardless, they had to try. They sought to slow the kingdom’s descent by channeling their own affinity for the Void, filling the space beneath the sinking city with energy that did not belong to the enemy, hoping to act as a drag against its momentum.

"Such... overwhelming power!"

Gritting their teeth, the wizards felt a crushing pressure rebound upon their souls. Even with the entire Alliance legion working in unison, they felt their control over the void energy being stripped away by the gargantuan object.

"Boom!"

At that moment, the colossal structure fired again, its newly reloaded "head" unleashing a torrent of energy that tore through the sky, annihilating all obstacles in its path before slamming directly into the sinking kingdom, triggering a cataclysmic shockwave.

"Hum!"

The entire Bloodfang Empire shuddered violently. As the fire dissipated, the city-state remained largely unscathed; the towers had mobilized vast quantities of void energy to warp reality, forcibly nullifying the impact of the siege-mode bombardment.

"It’s working! Push harder! They must expend energy to deflect our attacks while they descend. We have a chance to significantly slow their progress!"

The towers’ need to consume massive amounts of void energy to warp the material world eased the pressure on the wizards. Previously, it had been like fighting an immovable array, but now, forced to defend against the bombardment, the enemy’s defenses were strained, creating an opening.

With the Alliance’s coordinated efforts, the wizards’ persistence bore fruit. The city-state’s descent slowed, nearly stalling. If they could hold until the Sky Mechanical City arrived, they might yet crush the Utopia organization.

"This..."

Gilbert’s gaze remained fixed on the city-state sinking into the Void. The scene felt hauntingly familiar.

During the war between Alastrelle and Sewentan, when the God of Fear descended, the citizens of Sewentan had also sunk into the Void. They had not brought their city with them, nor were they in physical form, but the act of breaching the boundary between the Void and the material world was identical.

"What exactly are you?"

Gilbert muttered to himself. He recalled that the people of Sewentan had spoken of things similar to "Utopia." Looking back at that war, the shadow of the Utopia organization seemed increasingly pervasive.

"Wait, if that is the case... careful!"

As the thought struck him, Gilbert realized the danger. If the nature of these events was similar, would the tragedy that befell the capital of Alastrelle repeat itself here? Specifically, mental corruption.

As if to validate his fear, the wizards struggling to hold the city-state suddenly sensed a presence—a powerful, complex, and violent will emanating from the sinking city. It traveled directly along the psychic links they had established, tracing the connection back to their minds.

Just as it had with the first investigation team, their pre-prepared mental defenses failed entirely. The immense will surged into their minds without resistance.

"Ugh!"

The wizards groaned in unison, their eyes losing focus as they fell into a stupor. Above their bodies, a phantom image began to manifest in the material world, much like the avatar of a descended god.

"What is that? A divine projection!?"

The Alliance soldiers who were not wizards cried out in alarm. The sudden turn of events left them reeling, and with the wizards’ resistance broken, the city-state’s descent accelerated once more.

The wizards themselves were in dire straits. Their souls and wills were under constant assault by the vast aggregate of will flowing through their psychic links, like small boats in a hurricane, on the verge of capsizing.

Had the erosion not been spread across all the wizards present, they might have been assimilated in an instant. Even so, they could not hold much longer; their souls were fading, their consciousnesses blurring...

"Hum!"

Just as the first wizards began to collapse, a radiant light swept across the area. Upon touching them, it seeped into their bodies, gently enveloping and shielding their souls.

"Argh! Why did the mental defenses fail!?"

A wizard gasped, recovering from his trance, his face deathly pale as he gulped for air, bewildered by the failure of his protections and grateful for his narrow escape.

"Divine light...?"

Gilbert paused. A small number of Paladins and priests from the Church of Light were praying, beseeching their god for protection. As always, the God of Light responded generously.

The divine power descended, shielding the wounded wizards, severing their connection to the city-state, and slowly mending their shattered minds.

Within the ranks of the Nightfall Church, a faint darkness had appeared the moment the mental influence surged back. The automatic defense mechanism of the Tree of Nightfall had triggered, dispersing the invading force. Their wizards were perhaps the only ones who remained unscathed.

The dire situation stabilized due to the intervention of divine power, and the "divine phantom" above the wizards vanished. However, even though the Nightfall Church and other casters maintained their interference, without the concerted effort of the wizard legion, the city-state’s descent was simply too fast.

"It is too late."

The commander spoke the heavy judgment with resignation. He realized that the enemy’s descent could no longer be stopped. Perhaps if the war had started earlier, the outcome would have been different, but there were no "ifs." This time, they had failed.

Under the watchful eyes of the Alliance, the Bloodfang Empire’s city-state sank completely beneath the "surface." It could no longer be observed in the material world; it had entered the Void entirely. The wizards could still sense its presence—it was diving deep, moving away from the boundary of the two worlds, plunging into the depths of the abyss.

About a minute later, the Sky Mechanical City reached firing range, but it was already meaningless.

"I fear we are in grave trouble."

The lead wizard of the command team pressed a hand to his forehead, his voice heavy with anxiety and dread. The consequences of failing to prevent the Utopia organization from entering the Void would be beyond imagination.