Chapter 1256: Chapter 1256: Shadow of the Earth
The black mud sprayed from the "fountain" splashed on the Red Butterfly and the Stone Man, and the area they fought on was already flooded with the black mud that bore the Curse of the Earth and malice. The Red Butterfly, above the black mud, seemed to lose its original brightness like a faded color, but the Illusion Technique was still effective.
People outside the black mud could only see countless crimson light spots dancing within the silvery mist, and from the eyes of the Gray Stone Giant, Shard’s figure emerged from the silvery mist’s interior. With the dual Illusion Technique acting as a barrier, he wielded the Holy Silver [Moonlight Greatsword] and slashed at the Gray Stone Giant’s arm, only for the great sword to be shattered by the giant’s right arm:
"Blade of Chaotic Time!"
In the next instant, three identical great swords slashed down from the void, one being shattered again by the stone arms, while the other two struck the stone figure, leaving just shallow marks on the surface.
"So hard?"
The arm, carrying great force, struck towards Shard’s head, but upon contact, it was still a bunch of Red Butterflies dispersing within the silvery mist.
Jet-black Great Sin Chains shot out from the illusory silvery mist like a long snake, coiling around the Stone Man’s right arm. But the Gray Stone Giant yanked fiercely, pulling Shard out of the silvery mist instead:
"Even though I know you’re strong, isn’t this a bit too much... Power of the Red Dragon!"
This time, Shard neither dodged nor avoided, as a gentle Spiritual Light enveloped his body, he unleashed his ultimate strength with a punch. Likewise, the Gray Stone Giant threw its fist, and in the next second’s dull heavy sound, Shard was sent flying backward, but the Gray Stone Giant was also forced to take two steps back.
Both their arms showed unnatural shapes, clearly both had suffered severe damage. This agonizing pain finally brought some clarity to the "Gray Stone Giant." Once again, it let out a maddened roar and charged with large strides towards the depths of the silver mist. Within [Silvermoon’s Illusion Technique], it should have lost directions and be unable to escape, yet in its crazed state, it ran wildly by instinct, actually breaking out of the silver mist, charging at the people tangled outside the black mud, with people dodging in panic, it ran towards the dark, unlit expanse of the manor.
Every stride caused vibrations in the surroundings, its weight absolutely an exaggeration compared to its height.
Taking advantage of the temporary lull in battle, the group fighting against the Church and Miss Lathis also retreated silently. It wasn’t until the next attack hit them that people discovered that the originally living beings had turned into stone statues. This scene was quite similar to what Shard and Miss Benanis had encountered outside the city.
"Let’s go!"
Even though the enemy escaped, Shard didn’t mind. He didn’t have Luviya’s special ability to identify The Chosen One, but felt that this person using the Power of the Earth to become the Gray Stone Giant did not seem to be The Chosen One. There would be plenty of chances to track him down and verify his judgment next.
After shaking off the black mud splattered on him, intending to rendezvous with Miss Lathis and swiftly leave the place, at the moment of turning around, the ground shook violently once again, this time catching Shard off-guard, he staggered, had to bend over, and press against the ground with his hand.
Once he stood up, looking at the black mud covering his hands, feeling the stinging sensation on his skin, this time’s Crazy Earth was indeed more severe than those he had encountered before.
Another aftershock made the erupting black mud even fiercer; people hurriedly fled towards the outer perimeter. Being close to the black mud "spout," Shard sensed more. From the start, he was curious about what exactly that spring eye connected to.
Initially, it was just curiosity, but as that "spring eye" enlarged, inspiration suddenly caught a power that made his heart race wildly.
Beneath the "black rain," he gazed unbelievably at the source of the black mud. The trembling of his soul signified an ultimate craving, the essence concentration in the "Desire" small bottle in his pocket condensed to the point of almost glowing by itself at that moment.
He felt it, sensed something that could satisfy both body and soul, what he needed most:
"How can it be? Divinity!"
"I will handle things here, you all retreat outward!"
Grabbing tightly onto the door pendant retrieved from his pocket, he shouted to those beyond the black mud range, then took off his coat packed with various toys and spellcasting materials, rolled it into a ball, and wrapped it with a new garment, turning it into a stone-like toy to prevent petrification.
Then, under the surprised or bewildered gazes of people, he plunged into the source of the black mud.
Since the spring eye spewing black mud allowed the waist-broad Gray Stone Giant, which was as wide as three Shards, to pass, it naturally could let Shard through. He knew it was extremely risky, but also knew it was something he had to do.
No opportunity to gain divinity should be missed, not to mention, in the earthquake’s instant, he truly sensed the power from deep within the Earth:
Taking a deep breath, he plunged entirely into the black mud, followed the pit on the ground, as if falling into a bottomless abyss.
"No!"
Miss Lathis watched this scene from outside in horror, her mouth agape, frozen in disbelief. Yet, as a wave of sorrow was just surging, the vibrant green light representing Nature and vitality broke through the black soil, rushing toward the vast night sky.
Silvermoon, illuminating the people.
(Mia running...)
Falling into the black mud, there wasn’t a sensation of sinking in water or being trapped in a pit... Shard didn’t know this feeling; instead, there was a warmth like returning to a mother’s embrace. The descent wasn’t a free fall but rather a buffered sinking.
Especially when Shard sank deep enough, wrapped by the black mud, he couldn’t feel the stinging of soul and flesh, only an overwhelming comfort that made him want to sleep.
The boundless black mud seemed to vanish, and Shard fell into eternal darkness. He perceived a maddening emotion, yet also felt a warm embrace. Even with his sensitivity to space, he couldn’t determine if he was still sinking or had stopped in some spot within the black mud.
Divinity and the Fire of the Primordial both warned Shard of the danger here. As the first crack pierced through his left eye, brilliant golden cracks spread across his body, carrying a distinct fiery light.
The appearance of glimmers illuminated this dark space. Shard floated within, gradually seeing the figure not far ahead, opening its arms toward him.
The figure was a female form, barefoot, draped with a tattered black robe, wearing a black hood obscuring her face, yet her skin was eerily gray-white. Her stature was exceptionally tall, arms outstretched, floating in the darkness. The strips of the robe turned back elegantly around her slender, crossed legs.
Notably, the front of the robe was utterly open, revealing parts of her front. However, rather than displaying desire, it exuded a unique divinity and maternal aura.
The voice of that figure, directly in Shard’s ear:
"Do you wish to return to the embrace of the earth?"
The voice was full of pity; she did not tempt Shard, merely extended an invitation. Shard gazed at the tall woman, his mental state still normal, yet he didn’t immediately refuse.
He could feel how warm and reassuring the open embrace was. As soon as such thoughts surfaced, the pressure of reality appeared extraordinarily heavy. Embracing the figure, returning to the earth, seemed to make those pressures vanish, no longer chasing The Chosen One, no longer caught up in bizarre incidents, no longer interacting with odd individuals, no longer worrying about what to eat every night.
[Is it so?]
"She" asked with a light chuckle, as if warm wind touched his ear alongside the voice.
Pale silver glimmer spread around Shard, he felt a bit more awake:
"Sorry, if I don’t complete the path of Deification, I’ll eventually return to the earth one day. But not now, many people and a cat are waiting for me to return, thank you for the invitation, but I cannot return to the earth now."
He gently apologized, the figure with outstretched arms seemed to sigh silently, some earthy-yellow light spread toward Shard, while the figure melted and vanished into the darkness.
"What is she? I didn’t sense divine power in her."
[The consciousness formed from the Earth of Randall Valley, not a real soul or consciousness entity, merely an instinct from the center of the earth at Randall Valley. It saw your divinity, saw your uniqueness, wishing to merge with you to delay the earth’s madness. It is, the Shadow of Randall Valley.]
"She" explained softly.
The earthy-yellow light that flew from the vanished figure touched Shard, imparting some peculiar but not powerful abilities.
[Outlander, you’ve touched on miracles and enlightenment.]
[Outlander, you’ve acquired the sorcery - Fossil to Mud. Transform naturally unprocessed hard rock, or non-natural stone with a volume not exceeding your own, into equal amounts of fluid mud.]
"Fossil to Mud" is a type of advanced spell that requires prior learning of basic sorcery "Soil Malleability" and arcane technique "Land Affinity." In contrast, there’s the sorcery "Turn Mud to Stone." Normally, "Fossil to Mud" can only be used on naturally unprocessed stone, thus barely used for direct destruction of buildings. However, the sorcery Shard acquired is notably enhanced, only limiting non-natural stone with a volume not exceeding Shard’s body. Immediately, he thought of stone statues.
"She" hadn’t finished speaking:
[Randall Valley has expressed friendliness to you, when you walk on this land, plague and hunger won’t trouble your body or soul.]
[Outlander, you’ve gained insights on "Shadow."]