The journey to the Void-Scarred Plains was a desolate, chilling experience, a grim prelude to the horrors it contained. Kenji Tanaka traveled alone, a lone shadow against a corrupted landscape, every step a calculated risk. This was a covert mission, demanding absolute secrecy and precise infiltration. The land itself lived up to its grim name. As he ventured further from Silverhaven, the vibrant spiritual energies of Aethelgard gradually gave way to a twisted, barren wasteland. The ground was cracked and dry, choked with strange, skeletal flora that pulsed with faint, sickly void energy, its touch sapping at his vitality.
His Architect's Corruption Resistance (Basic) skill (from his System Upgrade after Elder Riana's capture) provided a crucial, subtle shield, making the oppressive void energy tolerable, though he could still feel its insidious pull, a constant, low hum against his spiritual essence. His Spatial Blink (Intermediate) skill (from his System Upgrade after the Voidwalker Abomination's defeat) allowed him to traverse treacherous terrain with silent speed, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. He bypassed jagged rock formations that glowed with unnatural light, and evaded the more obvious dangers of mutated, void-twisted beasts that lurked in the deeper shadows, their forms grotesque parodies of Aethelgard's native fauna.
The System's map overlay, precise and invaluable, guided him unerringly towards the suspected Obsidian Hand outpost. As he neared the designated coordinates, the desolation deepened. The very sky seemed to darken, a perpetual twilight cast by swirling, void-infused clouds that hung low and heavy, pregnant with crackling energies. The air itself crackled with raw, untamed void lightning, occasionally striking jagged crystalline formations, illuminating the terrifying landscape in stark, momentary flashes of malevolent light. The ground vibrated faintly with a constant, low thrum, hinting at immense power harnessed beneath.
And then, he saw it. The Obsidian Hand outpost. It was not merely an outpost, but a colossal, black citadel, a monstrous edifice carved from dark, volcanic rock, its jagged spires piercing the angry, void-infused sky. It radiated an immense, palpable void energy, a pervasive spiritual pressure that made the air itself thrum with profound malevolence. Its sheer scale was daunting, its architecture chillingly reminiscent of the twisted runes that had fueled the Forbidden Arcane Ritual Kenji had witnessed (Chapter 15). Countless small, black dots, the figures of cultivators and void-corrupted constructs, moved across its vast battlements, a grim testament to its formidable garrison. This was clearly a primary stronghold.
The System hummed with purpose, its blue text sharp in his vision.
Notification: Fortress Detected: Obsidian Hand Citadel (Primary Stronghold).Warning: High Defensive Capabilities. Void-Infused Formations Active.Recommendation: Utilize Covert Operation Skill for Infiltration.
Kenji nodded to himself. The System's analysis confirmed his fears. Conventional assault was impossible. This was a mission for stealth, for precision, for the subtle manipulation of shadow and essence.
He activated his Covert Operation Skill (Chapter 39). He felt a surge of energy, subtly enhancing his senses, making him acutely aware of the smallest vibrations in the ground, the faintest Qi fluctuations in the air, the most minute shifts in the wind. He approached the citadel, not directly, but using the twisted terrain, the jagged rocks, and the swirling mists as his allies. He moved through the desolation, a spectral hunter in a cursed land, his presence almost entirely undetectable.
The citadel's outer defenses were formidable, living up to their reputation. Invisible energy barriers, woven from void energy, hummed with suppressive power, designed to detect and incapacitate any intruder. Automated sentinels, shadowy constructs wreathed in void lightning, patrolled the perimeter with chilling efficiency, their glowing red eyes ceaselessly scanning the barren landscape. Kenji, relying on the honed instincts of his Covert Operation Skill and the instantaneous precision of his Spatial Blink, moved with preternatural grace. He slipped through fleeting gaps in the patrols, phased through minor energy barriers using precise bursts of his True Aetherial Roots Qi, his movements silent as a thought.
He encountered his first active Obsidian Hand operatives guarding a secluded service entrance. They were powerful cultivators, draped in dark, featureless robes that seemed to absorb the dim light, their Qi auras radiating a cold, vigilant energy. They moved with a disturbing, almost robotic synchronicity, their senses constantly sweeping. Kenji used his Stealth Skill (Chapter 14) to bypass their initial detection. He waited for the opportune moment, then used a swift, precise Spatial Blink to appear directly behind them, delivering a single, incapacitating strike to their spiritual meridians with his Iron Palm (Chapter 4), rendering them unconscious without a sound. He quickly dragged their limp forms into a shadowed alcove nearby, ensuring they were completely hidden from patrolling sentinels.
He slipped inside the citadel's interior. The air inside was stifling, thick with the pervasive stench of ozone, burnt spiritual energy, and something else—something metallic and acrid, reminiscent of the research labs Master Thorne had briefly seen in his void-tainted memories. The corridors were wide, but dimly lit by pulsating, void-infused crystals embedded in the walls. The silence was unnerving, broken only by a distant, rhythmic thrumming sound that vibrated through the very stone beneath his feet, a low, ominous heartbeat emanating from the depths of the fortress.
He peered into various chambers as he passed, guided by the System's internal map. Some were vast barracks, filled with more Obsidian Hand operatives, their faces grim, their auras cold, their movements stiff, almost inhuman. Others were colossal storage facilities, containing immense stockpiles of spiritual minerals and void-corrupted artifacts, some of which pulsed with a raw, malevolent power. Then he stumbled upon something far more disturbing.
He found himself overlooking a vast, circular chamber, filled with chilling sights. Strange, bubbling vats of black, viscous liquid pulsed ominously, their surfaces churning with faint, dark energies. Intricate arcane arrays covered the floors and walls, shimmering with malevolent light. And suspended in glass tubes, or strapped to cold, metal tables, were grotesque, experimental creations—mutated spiritual beasts, their forms twisted by void corruption, their eyes vacant and lifeless, yet still faintly glowing. Some looked like mangled vestiges of familiar creatures from Aethelgard, others were entirely new, horrifying aberrations that defied any natural classification. This was a research facility. They were breeding and experimenting with void creatures, perfecting their horrors, creating legions of monstrous, mind-controlled soldiers.
He moved on, his stomach churning, a cold fury hardening his resolve. He knew this was the enemy's lair, their heart of darkness. He continued his infiltration, following the rhythmic thrumming sound, which grew louder, more insistent with every step, vibrating through the very soles of his feet.
He reached what appeared to be the central command hub, a vast chamber filled with glowing tactical displays and numerous high-ranking Obsidian Hand commanders. They moved with a chilling efficiency, their voices low, guttural, issuing orders in a language Kenji's System immediately translated as a dialect of ancient Aethelgardian, subtly corrupted with void phonetics. Kenji slipped into the deepest shadows, his Covert Operation Skill and Spatial Blink allowing him to move like a ghost, utterly unseen and unheard amidst the cacophony of their chilling commands. He used his Soul Sense to absorb the torrent of information, sensing their ambitions, their chilling, absolute loyalty to the Architect, their hunger for conquest.
And then, he saw him. Standing at the very center of the command hub, his back to Kenji, his form radiating an immense, cold power that was unmistakable. He was taller, broader than Kenji remembered, his figure draped in the darker, more ornate robes of a full Obsidian Hand member, symbols of void energy intricately embroidered into the fabric. His posture was rigid, authoritative, commanding the loyalty of the commanders around him with a mere gesture.
A wave of profound shock, then bitter recognition, washed over Kenji. He hadn't expected to see him here, not like this. Not commanding such a formidable stronghold.
The figure turned slightly, his face partially illuminated by the cold, glowing tactical displays. His features were still handsome, aristocratic, but harsher, sharper, his eyes gleaming with a cold, ruthless intelligence that replaced his former arrogance. A subtle, almost imperceptible scar ran across his temple, a grim memento of his humiliating defeat in the arena. His aura, while familiar, was now subtly infused with a powerful, dark energy – a pervasive void corruption that twisted his very essence, making him terrifyingly powerful, his cultivation methods clearly warped by the insidious influence.
It was Lord Valerius.
He was no longer just an arrogant noble seeking petty revenge. He was a hardened commander, a true adherent of the Obsidian Hand. He had embraced the void, allowed himself to be corrupted, to gain power. His rage and ambition had made him a perfect tool for the Architect. Kenji remembered Ryuu's sacrifice in the Outer Sanctum Trial, indirectly caused by Valerius's petty scheme. This fight was no longer just about their past; it was about the true soul of Aethelgard.
The System flared, overriding all other notifications.
WARNING! Recurring Antagonist Detected: Lord Valerius.Threat Level: HIGH (Void-Enhanced Commander).Status: Fully Integrated with Obsidian Hand.
Lord Valerius was speaking now, his voice resonant with cold authority, devoid of his usual pompousness. "The Architect's will must be absolute. The Grand Void Maw ritual will begin as planned. We have secured the final Spirit Essence Conduits. The sacrifices are prepared. Elder Kaelen himself oversees the final preparations in the ritual chamber."
Kenji froze. Lord Kaelen. The Architect's favored disciple. He was here too. He was overseeing the true horror.
Lord Valerius then pointed to a large, glowing diagram on one of the tactical displays. It was a complex arcane array, pulsing with dark energy. It depicted a massive ritual site, vast in scale, located deep within the Void-Scarred Plains. It emanated a chilling, familiar aura of profound malice. The Grand Void Maw ritual. It was being prepared.
"The Grand Void Maw ritual will be initiated from here, my lord," a nearby commander reported, bowing deeply. "The Architect's will shall manifest fully upon Aethelgard."
Kenji stared at the tactical display, his heart pounding. The Grand Void Maw ritual. Master Thorne had warned him. Grand Elder Seraphina had feared it. And now, he was seeing its preparation firsthand. It was designed to consume their entire realm, to fuel the Architect's terrifying ascent to cosmic power.
Lord Valerius nodded, a cold, satisfied smile touching his lips. "Excellent. Let the Architect's hunger be sated. Let Aethelgard be consumed. And let the Emberlight Sanctum burn."
Kenji felt a surge of raw, unadulterated rage, cold and precise. He closed his eyes for a split second, taking a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, utterly unseen. He had his intel. He knew the location of the ritual. He knew Lord Valerius was here, and Lord Kaelen was overseeing it. This was critical. He had to get this information back to Grand Elder Seraphina.
He carefully, silently, slipped away from the command hub, his Covert Operation Skill and Spatial Blink allowing him to vanish as seamlessly as he had appeared. He moved through the cold, silent corridors, his mind reeling with the horrifying discoveries. The terrifying reality of the Architect's plan. Lord Valerius's complete descent into pure evil. The imminent threat to all of Aethelgard.
He reached a secluded, less guarded service exit, his fingers already working to bypass its wards. He had his intelligence. He had to escape.
As he worked on the final ward, he heard a chilling, rhythmic chanting begin to echo from deeper within the citadel, growing louder, more insistent, vibrating through the very stone beneath his feet. It was a low, guttural sound, identical to the chanting he had heard during Master Thorne's ritual in the Forbidden Archives. It emanated from the same location as the glowing tactical diagram of the Grand Void Maw ritual.
Kenji froze, his blood running cold. The chanting. The ritual. It had begun.
He peered through a narrow vent, seeing into a vast, cavernous chamber. His eyes widened in horror. The chamber was filled with hundreds of Obsidian Hand cultivators, their hooded forms swaying. In the center, on a massive, rune-etched platform, lay countless bodies. Not cultivators. But captured spiritual beasts, their eyes vacant, their bodies twitching faintly. And a few, barely visible, human figures – bound, terrified, their auras dim. They were performing a "Sacrifice" ritual. A mass sacrifice. Their dying screams powering a massive, pulsating void portal that was slowly, horrifically, tearing open above the platform.
This was the true meaning of the "Sacrifice" Kenji had heard about. This was the fuel for the Grand Void Maw. And it was happening right now, the final phase of their terrifying plan. The portal above the platform was indeed the Grand Void Maw, slowly manifesting, pulsating with a dark, consuming hunger, its edges already tearing at the fabric of reality.