Kalium Gate, within the barrier between reality and the Warp, rainbow hues shimmered at the points where the Void Whale contacted the barrier.
It was constantly being pulled and distorted but had not successfully breached the barrier.
Stormbirds departed from the destroyer, flying towards the Void Whale.
Arsena looked in astonishment at the colossal creature whose form seemed endless, his eyes filled with awe.
'Only in the Warp, with its infinite possibilities, could harbor such a behemoth.'
Nareth's gaze through the viewport saw the Void Whale's tail and hooked claws thrashing, stirring waves of rainbow light as it struggled.
In the "Baron of Corruption's" vision, spiritual radiance leaped within the rainbow light.
'As expected, the Void Whale does contain potion ingredients. But its skin, eyes, and mouth aren't the ones.'
As Nareth pondered, he walked to the hatch and issued a command: "Return to the destroyer, back to realspace."
"My Lord..." Arsena and Santiago Bogdan began to plead, but Nareth said authoritatively:
"That is an order."
Then, Nareth pressed the hatch release button. With a hydraulic hiss, he spread his golden wings and flew out.
"Let's go back. We lack the ability to participate in such a battle." Arsena said helplessly.
"Withdraw." Santiago clenched his fist, his gaze passing through the viewport to look outside.
He saw countless monsters with razor-like wings flying towards the Black Emperor.
Images from his previous encounter flashed through Santiago's mind: they crashing against the frigate, their long sharp beaks stabbing the hull repeatedly.
They breached the ship's protective shields and hull, swarming inside like locusts.
Now, the number of razor-winged monsters in Santiago's sight was even greater than that day, blanketing the entire area, even overshadowing the massive Void Whale.
Just then, golden flames ignited within his vision.
Santiago saw that as the golden wings beat, showers of golden flames were cast towards the razor-winged monsters.
The golden flames scattered over the razor monsters like fiery rain, brilliant as fireworks under the rainbow light.
Subsequently, those monsters vanished rapidly, burned into embers.
Santiago saw the Black Emperor swiftly charging through the midst of the razor monsters.
Wherever he passed, the monsters disappeared in large swathes.
The last scene Santiago saw before returning to the destroyer was the Black Emperor charging to the front of the Void Whale and drawing a spear from his back.
He saw the Black Emperor thrust the spear he held, striking between the whale's massive eyes.
In his heart, Santaigo thought to himself 'As expected, the Black Emperor is invincible.'
Once on deck, he issued his order:
"Withdraw, and begin scanning the void whale."
Santiago then called for his attendant to bring a crystal ball.
The crystal ball's material came from the Crystal Reverie, crafted using his psychic skills.
After becoming an "Astrologer," having gained the "Astrology" ability, he had invested much in using the crystal ball as a divination focus.
He cradled the crystal ball in his left hand, gently stroked it with his right, his right palm hovering over the top, stroking back and forth. He continuously whispered, inquiring about the Black Emperor's battle with the Void Whale.
The "Astrologer's" voice was a murmur. Gradually, the crystal ball began to glow with points of dazzling radiance.
The light grew brighter and more distinct, as if a reflection of the starry sky cast down.
Santiago and Arsena simultaneously looked at the stars appearing one after another, forming a three-dimensional star chart interwoven with many symbolic glyphs.
Arsena with his fondness for reading, he had extensively studied related books, accumulating considerable knowledge in this area.
The Student of Ratiocination" began deducing based on a glyph symbolizing fire.
After a moment, Arsena spoke:
"Our Lord will release fire within the Void Whale, incinerating its internal organs."
"Our Lord will drag this behemoth out of the gate?"
The "Astrologer" affirmed: "Indeed. Our Lord uses telekinesis to drag it out of the gate."
The crystal ball's light gradually dimmed, finally extinguishing. Santiago handed the crystal ball to his attendant.
Arsena, recalling the Nareth's fondness for capturing trophies, decided to have the 5th Chapter's fleet disperse later and prepare.
The Void Whale's size was too massive; sufficient space would be needed.
.....
Nareth incinerated the countless flying monsters within the Void Whale into ashes. After stabbing over a dozen times with the Dionysian Spear between the Void Whale's eyes, opening a large hole, he flew into the Void Whale's interior.
The "Baron of Corruption" did not release fire as the "Astrologer" had divined.
Inside the 3,200 kilometer-long Void Whale stood a forest shimmering with light.
Golden trees bore fruits shaped like eyeballs.
Nareth instantly recognized them as Golden-eyed Fruits, the main ingredient for the potion of Sequence 7 "Psychiatrist" on the "Visionary" pathway.
He casually threw the Dionysian Spear, lodging it inside the Void Whale.
Light and shadow flickered between the rimarch's eyes. Telekinesis extended, uprooting golden trees along with the red flesh, pulling them into the "Kingdom of Disorder."
Golden trees hung down within the second layer of the "Kingdom of Disorder."
After repeated practice, he had begun to master the method of using spirituality to construct environments.
After promoting to "Baron of Corruption," Nareth's control over the "Kingdom of Disorder" strengthened, and his skill in using rule-lines to construct environments increased.
In the "Baron of Corruption's" vision, the rock-like flesh "soil" rapidly decomposed into the most basic rule-lines.
Concentrating his will, he raised his hand, spirituality surging forth.
Spirituality rapidly coalesced into red, rocky red flesh, filling the gaps between the golden trees.
Constructing environments within the "Kingdom of Disorder" consumed spirituality that would have been significant during his "Barbarian" period, but for him now, it wasn't substantial, almost balancing with the recovery rate from the blood-red chain.
He returned to reality, advancing over twenty kilometers, sending golden trees one after another to the "Kingdom of Disorder."
Suddenly, the scene before him changed dramatically. Blue grass grew on the blood-red "plains."
Bullish creatures with tails and five curved horns galloped across the "grasslands."
Confirming they weren't potion ingredients, Nareth continued flying forward.
He saw blood-red lakes and bone mountains...
Nareth couldn't help but think: 'The Void Whale's interior is truly diverse. All kinds of terrain can be found.'
As he pondered, the scene before him changed again. A blood-red swamp appeared.
Countless python-like plants emerged, as they shooked their heads, a sky full of thorny spikes was shooting towards Nareth.
'The main ingredient for Sequence 6 "Potions Professor" of the Moon Pathway: Bloodsucking Thorn Tree'
Nareth raised his left hand, erecting a force shield before him.
Thud! Thud! Thud!...
A continuous barrage of impacts sounded, then fell.
Nareth went back and forth the "Kingdom of Disorder" countless times, sending encountered potion ingredients inside.
He found that the closer to the central region, the more dangerous the creatures, and the higher the ingredient grade.
The Dionysian Spear repeatedly appeared in his hand and was thrown three more times before he reached the Void Whale's center.
Nareth saw a Titan-sized goat-like monster ahead.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu