Chapter 1864 - 1864. Orange

'Us?' Noah wondered, and his companions showed a similar confusion.

The middle tier specimen's explanation had blank spots that the group couldn't fill, but the situation was too interesting to refuse answers.

The Kesier ape had stated that the creatures had modified their species, changed their instincts, and built a city at the apex of the inscription world. Still, simple magical beasts couldn't accomplish that with some knowledge and a bit of power. Those transformations and feats required far more, especially since they had to affect an entire pack.

Noah knew that the city could hide traps, but he found it impossible to hold back his steps. The other experts felt similar fears and curiosity, so they followed him toward the buildings while chasing the floating throne.

The lightning bolts that ran from roof to roof intensified as the group approached the city, but no defense appeared in sight. Noah and the others didn't even trigger the hidden traps, so they could reach the buildings in no time.

The vast city expanded in their vision as the group continued to follow the floating throne. Many inscriptions and glowing formations shone of the various experts as they crossed building after building, and the array of lightning bolts above them applied a constant pressure that tried to make them land on the ground.

Smooth and clean streets divided the various buildings. Kesier apes of different levels occupied those areas and stared at the group floating above their heads.

Noah and the others replied to those stares with inspections devoid of mental energy, but even their mere eyes could understand that something was off in those creatures. Most of them wore the same resolute expressions of the three lower tier specimens that had fought Heaven and Earth, but a few seemed detached like the middle tier creature.

Noah and King Elbas often exchanged meaningful gazes to express how off the situation appeared. Both of them had initially thought that those magical beasts were trying to imitate cultivators, but there seemed to be far more to the matter.

Space seemed to bend inside the city. The dead zone was relatively big, but it couldn't even come close to the size of the black landmass outside of the storms. Instead, the area among the buildings stretched immensely. It almost appeared endless when that multitude of structures hid its edges.

One of the most stunning aspects of the city was its population. The group flew past countless divine Kesier apes that featured the same odd features as the rank 9 specimens met outside. The creatures with blank or detached expressions even increased as the group continued to follow the throne.

The group flew until the pale-orange light intensified so much that the shapes of the buildings disappeared. The experts had to use their mental energy to keep track of the throne, but the journey proceeded smoothly nonetheless.

"Sorry," The ancient female voice eventually resounded among the blinding halo that blocked the experts' vision. "We didn't prepare for guests. It seems that the city still needs improvements."

The halo slowly dimmed and revealed an area devoid of buildings. Noah and the others could finally inspect their surroundings. The area above them still had the dense array of lightning bolts, but the ground featured countless shining lines converging into a deep pit. It seemed that all the inscriptions of the city passed through that hole.

"You can descend," The middle tier specimen said as its voice started to change source.

It began by coming out of the creature's mouth, but its source slowly moved across the sky until it came out from the pit.

The middle tier specimen's expression changed. A resolute face replaced its previous lazy look as the creature abandoned the throne and flew back to the city without saying a word. Noah and the others wanted to say something, but the magical beast disappeared among the pale-orange halo that surrounded the visible area before words could escape their mouths.

The group remained alone, with the throne floating next to them. Yet, the item descended toward the pit and disappeared among the blinding light released by the countless inscriptions converging toward the hole's bottom.

"I don't like this," Robert whispered. "It's too similar."

Robert didn't need to explain himself any further. His companions were experiencing similar sensations. The pale-orange light carried a faint trace of Heaven and Earth's aura, and the pit wasn't an exception.

"Noah?" King Elbas asked while fixing his eyes on the pit.

"The storms hide old secrets," Noah uttered as a cold smile appeared on his face. "I didn't think they could be so interesting."

"Are you having strange ideas already?" Alexander laughed.

"I know nothing right now," Noah replied, "Which leaves countless possibilities open."

Noah began to descend after those words, and the other experts followed him. They immersed their bodies into the light and flew until their mental waves found a large chunk made of an orange material connected to all the inscriptions that flowed into the hole.

"What should we call you?" Noah asked as the light slowly dimmed and allowed the group to inspect the orange chunk with their own eyes. "I believe Heaven and Earth is taken."

"We've heard whispers about your c.o.c.kiness, Noah Balvan," The same ancient female voice from before resounded from the orange chunk. "We are happy to see that they were correct."

"Happy?" Noah asked. "Didn't you forsake your emotions to conquer the world?"

"Who spread this false rumor?" The orange chunk asked. "We live, so we feel. That has always been the main issue with the world. Planes should just exist, not think."

"I'm surprised Heaven and Earth let you live for so long," Noah revealed. "Aren't you a major threat to their current power?"

"We are but a shadow which still retains a faint connection with the world," The orange chunk explained. "Our knowledge is outdated, and our power is unstable. Yet, we are smarter than they will ever be."

"Is this even possible?" Steven asked. "How can you exist when your existence transformed?"

"We don't really exist," The orange chunk stated. "We are rumors, voices, and ideas that the magical beasts have defeated and forgotten a long time ago."

"Stop playing with words," Noah snorted as he descended further. "Why didn't Heaven and Earth destroy you? You might be weak, but you remain dangerous. This city proves that."

"Do you know how we took control of the world and filled it with "Breath"?" The orange chunk asked before replying right away. "We summoned the world's will and absorbed its power. We might have failed to attune with it and contain its laws, but we still ruled over everything for eras. We even had loyal followers grateful for our gift and our fair system. I don't even recall the number of dimensions ready to hide us."

"But the world fell apart," King Elbas contradicted the chunk, "Many times even."

"You don't realize it, do you?" The orange chunk exclaimed while giving voice to a faint laugh. "The "Breath" is our law. We would only reappear somewhere else if this metal of ours falls apart."