Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: 126. Earth Fissure_6

Chapter 327: 126. Earth Fissure_6

Translator: 549690339

A circle of yellow sand cascaded down the dark edge of the rift, forming a sand waterfall.

The distinct odor of Aberrations seeped out from the seemingly bottomless rift, spreading to the surrounding areas of Savage Stone Wasteland along the night breeze.

Philia stared at the fissure in an incredulous daze, her facial expression frozen in shock.

Confronted with the pitch-black rift, Noland Lee was able to maintain his composure, albeit with difficulty.

The length of the fissure that appeared in Sand Sea was only about one-tenth that of the large rift in the Union City.

A difference in a ratio of 10:1 indicated that there potentially were only 10% of Aberrations beneath the Sand Sea compared to that of Union City’s large rift.

Though the percentage seemed small, it was quite an alarming number.

That was because the expansion rate of the Aberrations was incredibly fast.

Without any constraint, the fissure on the Sand Sea would soon expand into an extensive rift that stretched for dozens of kilometers.

But a question arose.

The alchemy textbook, “A Brief History of Alchemy in the Golden Federation,” clearly mentioned:

There were nine large rifts caused by the Aberrations within the whole Federation, and their quantity was fixed.

Among the nine, eight were in a closed state.

Only in Union City was there an active large rift.

Over the past decades, the Alchemy Cathedral had repeatedly confirmed that at least one active large rift would exist within the Federation.

Only by closing the large rift in Union City could they randomly activate another large rift in another location.

However, given that the large rift in Union City was not closed, why had a new large rift appeared in the Savage Stone Wasteland?

There was no large rift in a closed state in the Savage Stone Wasteland. The eight large rifts closed by the Alchemy Cathedral were all in the cities north of Union City, and they had nothing to do with the Savage Stone Wasteland.

Noland Lee’s pupils slightly dilated.

After ruling out all the wrong answers, there was only one truth left.

The large rift in the Savage Stone Wasteland was not caused by the closure of other large rifts.

It was an entirely new rift!

The Golden Federation was witnessing the arrival of the tenth large rift in the entire Federation territory on this night!

Moreover, it was an active rift!

Philia took a deep breath, puffed up her cheeks like a full moon, then snapped out of her daze:

“The Aberration nest beneath the Savage Stone Wasteland has given birth to a Nest Core! The earthquake just now was caused by the Nest Core opening the large rift!”

“A Nest Core?” Noland Lee asked:

“What is that? Why is there no mention of it in the books?”

“Yes, the books available for purchase won’t mention this.”

Philia pressed her throbbing cheeks before saying:

“Aberrations are very strange creatures. Our Elemental Judgement has studied them for many years but only came up with some vague conclusions.

“They can silently grow from the depths of caves that we overlook, like fungi. At the beginning, there are only a few weak Aberrations in the group. After about half a year, their group gradually grows, and more powerful Aberrations like Seeders and Devourers are born.

“The appearance of Seeders signifies that the Aberration nest has somewhat taken shape. If not restrained, the Nest Core will emerge in the nest in as short as a year or as long as three years.

“After the Nest Core accumulates enough power, it will trigger an earthquake, creating a rift on the ground connecting the outside world.”

Philia scratched her head, looking puzzled:

“But why did the Nest Core form so quickly here? It’s only been half a month since you and Kent discovered the Aberration nest.”

Noland Lee replied:

“Maybe the Aberration nest here has been around for almost a year before we discovered it. We might have just stumbled upon it when it birthed the Nest Core.”

“No, that’s impossible,” Philia shook her head decisively:

“Nests that have been around for a year must have more than just Seeders. After alerting the nest, you and Kent must have encountered double-winged Aberrations; finding only traces of Seeders is highly unlikely.”

“The double-…winged…mutants…” Noland pointed outside the window:

“You mean the ones with wings out there?”

Philia rushed to the window and looked down:

“Yes, yes, yes, the ones with two sets of wings that fly around in the sky. They are double-winged mutants. Even more advanced Aberrations would have three wings, four wings, or up to a dozen wings. We evaluate the development of Aberration nests based on the number of wings on their flying mutants.”

Philia picked up the telescope with a change in her tone:

“Strange, why do these double-winged mutants look all skin and bones, like malnourished premature babies?”

Noland Lee locked his gaze on the double-winged Aberrations flying out of the rift and cast Deconstruction from a distance.

[System Message:]

[You are about to use Deconstruction on “Birthed Double Winged Mutant.”]

[It is estimated to consume 10,000 Energy Points, allowing a deconstruction completion rate of 100%.]

Birthed?

Noland raised an eyebrow, seemingly detecting an important clue.

On closer inspection, there was a mutant holding a magic wand at the center of the flock of double-winged mutants.

The magic wand was broken into two pieces with cracks covering the surface of the bones.

Though battered and broken, Noland instantly recognized its origin!

A Bone-mending Wand!

This wand, crafted by the Death Herald Guild, was actually in the hands of an aberration!

“Philia, let me drive,” Noland Lee turned and said:

“I found the Bone-mending Wand. It’s in the hand of the aberration in the center of that group of double-winged aberrations. I’ll drive and scatter those double-winged aberrations; you seize the chance to snatch the wand.”

Philia shifted the telescope and looked at the double-winged aberrations flying south:

“Yes, I see it… Come, you drive, and I’ll cast spells.”

The two exchanged seats.

Noland Lee sat in the driver’s seat but didn’t immediately step on the accelerator.

With the invisibility of the magic car, he followed the strangely behaving double-winged aberrations from a distance.

Philia summoned her alchemy weaponry, transformed into a white-furred Meow Meow person, drew her wand, and was always ready for battle.

But facing the double-winged aberration team, she couldn’t help but ask:

“Where are they going? Why are they constantly flying south? Are they heading to the Blade Mountain Range?”

Noland Lee pursed his lips tightly, shaking his head silently, a complex look with a hint of enlightenment flashing in his eyes.

He actually knew the answer, but he couldn’t tell Philia.

Because the answer was obtained through Deconstruction.

[System Message:]

[You consumed 100 Energy Points to launch Deconstruction on the “Birthed Double-winged Aberration.”]

[You have obtained part of the target’s panel information:]

[Name] Birthed Double-winged Aberration

[Level] 15 (20)

(The level in brackets is for normal double-winged aberrations)

[Type] Living Alchemy Product, Cursed One, Tatis Empire Biochemical Mutation

[Tier] Middle-tier Aberration Elite

[Identity 1] Flying Guard of Aberration Den

[Identity 2] Tatis Empire Military Intelligence Sergeant

[Soul Strength] 7.5 points

[Attributes]

(Values in brackets are for normal double-winged aberrations)

Power: 5 (9)

Toughness: 17 (35)

Vitality: 15 (5)

Agility: 16 (30)

Spirit: 12 (3)

Charm: -12 (-6)

[Features]

1. Inhuman mind:

Aberrations are sentient human-like creatures. Due to significant differences in habits, body structure, and thought processes from human beings, the system does not recommend using Deconstruction or Mental Magic to obtain their memories and knowledge. If you forcibly deconstruct their memories, you will gain memory fragments full of smells and sounds but no pictures. This kind of memory fragment is identified by the system as having mental pollution and will be forcibly stripped of the polluted content.

2. Winged creature:

Has the ability to fly, requires gas as a medium to exercise flying ability.

3. Metal Purification:

Aberrations’ unique digestive system turns them into unique all-purpose metal powder extractors. Is this a gift? Or a curse?

4. Birthed Product

This creature is birthed due to external stimuli and has only half the combat power of normal.”

(Due to the degree of deconstruction, you could not obtain more deconstruction results.)

…

Intelligence Department 5.

Noland Lee sighed softly, finally completing the functions of the Empire’s intelligence departments.

Intelligence Department 1, related to the Emperor and his children, commonly known as the Imperial Guard.

Intelligence Department 2, fighting against the Ulnas Circle’s First Level Magic Research Institute.

Intelligence Department 3, researching the “Twilight Dream”, developing the “Imperial Fist” and biochemical soldiers.

Intelligence Department 4, exploring physical ways to combat the Undead Cult.

Intelligence Department 5, studying aberrations.

Intelligence Department 6, infiltrating the Golden Federation.

Noland Lee sensed the ambition of the Tatis Emperor.

Given time, with the success of Intelligence Departments 5 and 6, the Fission Wilderness would be transformed.

The group of double-winged aberrations bearing the identity of sergeants from the Tatis Empire Intelligence Department 5 in front of him was the most vivid example.