Endless Debt

Chapter 1321 - 99: The Last Bastion (Part 2)

The symphony that had been gradually increasing in volume transformed into an execution piece for Bologue, both his consciousness and body suffering under the torment of pain, as chaotic hallucinations floated before his eyes.Bologue realized that the hard, flat mirror surface beneath him had somehow softened like liquid, creating a large depression where he stood, throwing his body off balance and causing him to fall uncontrollably.

Instinctively, Bologue tried to brace himself with his hand, pressing against the mirror surface, and immediately, a bone-chilling coldness spread from his fingertips, racing up his spine.

"Ha... Ha..."

All the musical notes blurred and receded, as if Bologue had sunk into water; amidst the muffled sounds, he could hear his own heavy breathing.

Bologue tried to support his body, but he felt something even colder grasping his hand. Looking down, he saw his reflection in the mirror.

The shadow broke through the boundary of reality, grabbing Bologue tightly, his fingers completely interlocked, while the liquid smoothness of the mirror surface seemed to find its prey, becoming crystalline, almost gelatinous, winding around his arm, freezing him in place.

A strong sense of crisis surged within Bologue. He wasn’t afraid of death but feared powerlessness. Yet no matter how he struggled, his body refused to respond, unable to summon any strength, and the Ether remained silent, offering no reply.

Just as Bologue was about to be completely enveloped, a flaw appeared in the relentless musical piece, like the snap of a bowstring, and the sharp tone shattered the previous ambiance. The hallucination before Bologue’s eyes cracked with countless fractures.

Bologue seized this only chance.

In the flaw, the lost power briefly returned, and the Ether became restless. Bologue growled as he drew the Blade; this time, he didn’t strike at the illusory hallucination but at the one thing he was sure of.

His own arm.

Amidst the flowing blood, Bologue cut off his arm to survive, his body tipping heavily backward, as a bright light flashed from him, and another figure emerged from behind Bologue.

Aimou wrapped her arms around Bologue’s waist, using all her strength to pull him back swiftly while she and Bologue released Ether together, with the restless power surging like a tide and cleansing everything in its path indiscriminately.

It was only at this moment that the ethereal symphony was completely disrupted, the hallucinations dispersed, and his body regained control.

Bologue, supporting himself with a sword, blinked hard, then abruptly stood upright, raising the Blade parallel, as his severed arm quickly regenerated. Meanwhile, the Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid split into several Rhombus Shields, silently hovering around him.

Bologue calmed his breathing; gradually, he couldn’t feel the air currents anymore, and even those resonant melodies were fading away.

It seemed safe here.

"What was that just now?" Bologue turned to Aimou, who had just let go of him. "The report from the Order Bureau didn’t mention anything like this."

Aimou shook her head in confusion; she didn’t understand what was happening, but as a professional recognized by Bologue, she quickly offered her perspective from a scholar’s angle.

"This should be an Alchemy Matrix that uses sound as the medium of release. Whenever the wind passes over this city, the unique structure of the city sings in response."

"Moreover... this defense mechanism is layered one upon another."

Aimou pointed ahead, where Bologue had just been, as the flat ground suddenly sprouted numerous crystalline structures, reaching half a person’s height, encasing a severed arm within—Bologue’s severed arm.

If Bologue hadn’t escaped in time, he might have been sealed within the crystal.

A dry, scraping sound emerged as the cluster of crystals seemed to celebrate their successful hunt, slowly dragging Bologue’s severed arm back below the ground. But as Bologue’s body self-healed, the arm within quickly disintegrated into dust, and the raised crystal mound smoothed over entirely, as if it had never existed.

Watching this eerie scene, Bologue pondered for a moment. He suddenly unleashed Ether, pounding against the ground, sweeping a large swath of ash away and revealing the crystal floor of the hallway.

Bologue couldn’t determine how deep the crystal layer went. It emitted a deep-sea blue hue, and upon close observation, Bologue noted many indistinct shadows within. He began attempting to invade the crystal ground with Ether.

The process wasn’t difficult. Though similar to invading the Cultivation Room, Bologue could feel the material laden with repelling Ether, but Raymond Gaudent had been in ruins for many years, and its overall strength was far inferior to the Cultivation Room.

Bologue easily carved a small hole in the crystal floor, and Ether seeped in. Within seconds, it had completely dissipated.

"Its internal Ethereum Mutual Exclusion is stronger than I imagined," Bologue analyzed.

Aimou disagreed with Bologue’s assessment. "No, I think your Ether was more like it was absorbed by them."

"Are you suggesting these crystals can absorb Ether?"

"I’m not sure; it might be a special alchemical material, or perhaps the Alchemy Matrix shrouding this area gives it such properties."