Chapter 181
Chapter 181
On that day, disaster suddenly descended.
Even though everyone had prepared for it, when it actually happened, all preparations still proved insufficient.
Burning flames, thunderous roars, sounds of collapsing buildings, the scent of flowing blood, human cries, and the silhouettes of extraordinaries rushing to rescue – along with sword lights like auroras crossing the sky dome, illusory scrolls that blocked out the sun, and countless ethereal flowers that fell and planted seeds in everyone’s hearts... All of these elements intertwined to become the theme of this day.
Countless stars had fallen from the sky.
After hours that felt both eternal and fleeting, the grand meteor shower finally ceased, but the world had fallen into complete silence.
Those who had fortunately survived the lightning-like bombardment carefully emerged from their hiding places and looked around.
The earth was devastated, and the sky dome was covered with a thick layer of stellar remnants, like ashes that would take tens of thousands of years to burn out, covering the originally azure sky and blocking the sun’s radiance.
The entire world seemed to be covered in a layer of grayness.
And then, without warning, a great rain began to fall.
Whoosh...
Endless black rain poured down as if the sky dome had split open, pouring what seemed like endless ink onto the human realm. Within that pure blackness was the essence of corruption that could erode everything.
—— It was the Void essence, so concentrated it had become liquid.
On Blue Star, countless people writhed and groaned in agony under the vast black rain, falling in endless despair and unwillingness. They could only let the Void essence erode their bodies, watching helplessly as their body parts twisted and decayed like they were infected with a deadly plague, continuously deforming.
And this was already the result of them having practiced martial arts or Spirit Forger techniques, with their bodies having been transformed by spiritual energy, improving their physical qualities and mental strength compared to before.
But even in the present age where extraordinaries were numerous, there were still many ordinary people who had never practiced any extraordinary system.
Cultivation required persistence. Before spiritual energy revival, many people had fantasized about having extraordinary powers, but when true extraordinary powers manifested in reality, they discovered they lacked sufficient determination and willpower to put in the effort, preferring to remain content with ordinary lives.
This was especially true for pampered children of wealthy families.
While those from lower classes strived to master extraordinary powers to transcend their social station, those born at heights others could only dream of naturally lacked the willpower and determination to cultivate. They could even obtain protection from extraordinaries through their wealth and power.
And these people who had never seriously cultivated extraordinary powers, who willingly remained ordinary even in an age of spiritual energy revival, finally tasted on this day the bitter fruits of their own indulgence.
Under the erosion of the Void essence, those who controlled extraordinary powers could at least resist, but these ordinary people with inferior physical and mental qualities had almost no resistance and fell.
Their bodies deformed and twisted in the black rain, turning to sludge, contributing new life force to the Calamity Truth Palmer.
Compared to humans, animals with insufficient intelligence had even less resistance. Any touched by the black rain were corrupted by Void essence, transforming into twisted monsters amid howls and struggles.
In the Yao Country, Chenxing Empire, Island Alliance, and other nations... whether humans, ordinary animals, or soulless plants, all were rapidly polluted under the black rain’s wash.
In an instant, twisted monsters wandered everywhere across the land, and the entire world seemed to have changed its artistic style.
At residential doorways, formerly gentle and lovable pet dogs had already become black monsters with unrecognizable forms, scratching at doors like mindless zombies. Inside, trembling young women pressed against doors while sobbing, as some twisted and filthy force spread beneath their originally fair necks like writhing snakes.
In street crevices, plant seeds germinated in the rain water, quickly breaking through soil. Hideous and twisted roots extended like thick tentacles, expanding unrestrained through the city, directly corroding through buildings and impaling several unfortunate victims who couldn’t dodge in time.
In the zoo sectors, the animal enclosure doors had long been violently broken open, and masses of unrecognizable beasts like black marsh monsters rampaged through the grounds...
Crack crack crack.
Sounds that ordinary people couldn’t perceive rang out – the sound of the world cracking.
This seemed to trigger a chain reaction.
“...More importantly now, this rain can’t continue. At this rate of corruption, this world probably won’t last more than a few days.”
“Well then, it’s time for the Child of the Sun to make an appearance.”
Holy Federation. Holy City. Sun God Temple Church.
The spacious church was now packed with people.
As soon as the strange black rain began falling, nearby people had rushed toward the church until it was filled.
But despite the church’s thick and tall walls, they provided no sense of security. They were like a group of panicked deer – even having temporarily escaped the beast’s claws, they couldn’t shake off their fear.
Whoosh...
Whoosh...
The rain kept falling.
Though it had been less than ten minutes, to everyone here it felt like a century. The crowd listened to the sound of rain washing over heaven and earth, their faces completely colorless.
People frequently began rolling on the ground, the corrupted parts of their bodies gradually expanding, like pustules or soft mud.
Those nearby hurriedly retreated, some wanting to drive them out, leading to angry shouts and arguments as the atmosphere grew heavier.
Creeeeak——
Suddenly, a small door in the innermost part of the church slowly opened.
Church members who were familiar with the place recognized it as a prayer room.
Looking at the gradually opening small door, their expressions became confused: if they remembered correctly, there was only one person inside. It was that powerful mage who allegedly came from another world.
But it was said they had only walked around outside on their first day arriving at the Holy Federation, then returned to this church and stayed in the prayer room the whole time, never showing their face during this period. Even the terrifying meteor shower from the heavens hadn’t disturbed them.
...Why had they come out now?
Under everyone’s subtle gazes, a petite “young woman” completely wrapped from head to toe slowly walked out.
She showed no intention of speaking with anyone, moving straight toward the church’s main doors like a wound-up puppet.
Due to the aura emanating from her, others didn’t dare speak to her. Even those who had been arguing quietly made way.
The young woman wrapped in mage robes walked straight to the entrance, suddenly reaching out to push the tightly closed main doors.
This made others’ expressions change.
...Who wasn’t terrified of that black rain’s horrible pollution and transmission? Was she trying to get everyone killed?
“Wait! Don’t open the door! The rain outside will pollute—”
“I know,” the young woman who had been silent like a puppet finally spoke as the heavy church doors opened as light as paper in her hands, “I smell His essence.”
That damp, rotting, sickeningly twisted smell.
“This time, I don’t want to run away anymore.”
“Perhaps... this is the destiny of the Child of the Sun!”
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