Chapter 75: Devouring Annihilation Layer
Su Xiao furrowed his brow in thought. He could be certain that this cyan crystal was definitely a good item, but he had no idea what to use in exchange for it.
Jormungandr's tentacles slapped against the ground, seemingly growing a bit impatient.
Cyan Steel Shadow energy gathered in Su Xiao's hand. This was almost the symbol of the Shadow of Law Destruction. Sensing the Cyan Steel Shadow energy, Jormungandr's tentacles coiled toward it.
With a sizzling crackle, the Cyan Steel Shadow energy swept across Jormungandr's tentacle. The appendage trembled a few times, then nothing more.
It wasn't the Cyan Steel Shadow energy itself, but after Su Xiao released it, Jormungandr's tentacles immediately wrapped around it.
After a moment's hesitation, Su Xiao formed an energy shield with 800 points of strength in front of him. This thing was made entirely of Cyan Steel Shadow energy.
As soon as the energy shield formed, Su Xiao felt a pulling force. Jormungandr's tentacle had coiled around the shield, and another tentacle tossed the cyan crystal in front of Su Xiao.
With a plop, the cyan crystal landed in the soft mud beside the pool. A splash of muddy water from the impact nearly hit Bubu Wang's face.
Su Xiao severed his connection to the energy shield. The shield no longer shared his gravity field. As the pulling force disappeared, the 800-point strength energy shield was dragged away.
Jormungandr's massive head emerged from the pool water. Contrary to expectations, it didn't devour the energy shield. Instead, it used several tentacles to hold the shield above its head.
A purple energy enveloped the shield. Jormungandr adjusted the angle, pointing the shield toward the sun.
As sunlight passed through the shield, the surroundings gradually darkened. All light sources within half a kilometer were drawn to that energy shield. Su Xiao could confirm that his energy shield didn't have this ability. It was likely a reaction between the shield and that purple energy.
The sunlight, after penetrating the shield, converged together, as if passing through a magnifying glass.
A blinding point of light appeared above Jormungandr's head. It paid no heed to the heat generated by the concentrated sunlight, instead rapidly devouring the gathered rays. It looked somewhat lazy, enjoying itself.
Crack, crack...
Cracks gradually appeared on the energy shield—a normal reaction after severing the energy connection.
With a sharp shattering sound, the energy shield exploded. Jormungandr, who had been absorbing sunlight, froze. This was different from what it remembered.
Jormungandr's tentacles trembled. When it turned to look for Su Xiao and Bubu Wang, the man and dog were already gone, leaving only the muddy pit where the cyan crystal had landed.
"Hummm..."
Jormungandr let out a strange cry. After a long while, it slowly sank back into the pool. It was about to fall into slumber.
In the nearby forest, Su Xiao examined the basketball-sized cyan crystal in his hand.
[Coalescent Crystal]
Quality: Legendary ~ ???
Type: Rare Material / Consumable
Effect 1: Can be used to set up spatial array diagrams, forge space-type equipment, etc.
Effect 2: After forcibly shattering the "Coalescent Crystal," it will form an absolute sealing zone approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. All space within this zone will be locked, lasting 30 to 40 minutes.
Rating: 530++
Introduction: A special resource produced by the void creature "Jormungandr." Legend has it that only the Shadow of Law Destruction and the Demon Race have obtained this type of rare resource.
...
Su Xiao tossed the [Coalescent Crystal] in his hand. This thing could lock down a space for a long time. Its rank was unknown for now, but considering that Reincarnation Paradise used [Secondary Coalescent Crystal] as a material to carry spatial coordinates, this item's rank should be quite high.
He stored the [Coalescent Crystal] in his storage space. As for how to use it, that would depend on the situation. This was an unexpected gain. Even if its practical use was limited, Su Xiao wasn't disappointed.
Just as Su Xiao was about to continue searching for other Apocalypse Paradise contractors to "gift" them spatial coordinates, an announcement appeared.
[Announcement: A "Devouring Annihilation Energy Layer" has formed around the outer perimeter of the Hot Rain Forest. No contractors are located outside the Hot Rain Forest. No contractors are subject to the Void Tree's judgment.]
[Announcement: The "Devouring Annihilation Energy Layer" will rapidly shrink its coverage area, eventually forming a 5-kilometer-diameter deathmatch zone.]
...
As the two announcements appeared, Su Xiao noticed an energy barrier forming 300 meters above him. This barrier was nearly invisible. If not for the energy meridians flickering on its surface, he wouldn't have detected it at all.
As soon as the "Devouring Annihilation Energy Layer" appeared, a burning pain struck the back of Su Xiao's hand. A ф-shaped pattern emerged on his hand, entirely blood-red.
At the same time, symbols representing their respective Paradise attributes appeared on the hands of both Apocalypse Paradise and Sanctuary Paradise contractors.
The symbol for Reincarnation Paradise was: ф, entirely blood-red.
The symbol for Apocalypse Paradise was: €, entirely sky-blue.
The symbol for Sanctuary Paradise was: ?, entirely gold.
The meaning of these symbols was unknown, but after being branded on the contractors' hands, it meant they could not safely pass through the "Devouring Annihilation Energy Layer."
...
At the edge of the Devouring Annihilation Layer, several contractors looked up at the layer ahead. The surging energy meridians gave them a sense of crisis.
These were several Sanctuary Paradise contractors. They intended to test the power and effects of the Devouring Annihilation Layer.
A contractor with a slicked-back hairstyle picked up a branch from the ground and tossed it toward the Devouring Annihilation Layer.
The branch passed through the layer. The energy ripples on it undulated like water waves. The branch landed on the other side, not being annihilated.
After a moment of hesitation, the contractor clasped his hands together. A formation diagram appeared before him. When the diagram's light faded, a rabbit with long ears appeared. On the back of this summoned creature was a ?-shaped mark, identical to the mark on the hands of the Sanctuary Paradise contractors.
The contractor grabbed the summoned rabbit and threw it out of the Devouring Annihilation Layer.
With a sizzling sound, the rabbit passed through the layer. Its skin, muscles, and bones were completely stripped away. Mid-air, the rabbit turned into a pile of ash, gradually disintegrating in the air.
"Let me try."
A bald man quickly walked toward the Devouring Annihilation Layer. Without hesitation, he extended his left arm through it.
The flesh and blood of the bald man's arm didn't penetrate the layer, but his bones did indeed pass through.
The bald man tried to move his arm bones. With a sharp crack, the arm bone that had extended through the layer shattered.
"Inform Lord Shenna. No one can pass through the Devouring Annihilation Layer. If a whole person goes through, they'll suffer 20% of their maximum health as true damage per second. With my abilities, I can last at most five seconds."
The bald man's left arm gradually regenerated. Throughout the process, his expression remained unchanged.
"What about healing?"
The female contractor beside him spoke.
"First of all, it's questionable whether healing skills can penetrate the Devouring Annihilation Layer. Under the devouring state, the body's recovery functions are nearly nonexistent. It's like trying to light a match underwater. Similarly, in the devoured state, there's no possibility of recovery. Do you think true damage is just for show? Anyone who rushes out of the Devouring Annihilation Layer will die within five seconds."
"Understood. I'll relay this to Lord Shenna."
The several Sanctuary Paradise contractors left. On a nearby tree, light and shadow twisted, and a figure stepped out from within the light.