Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 468 - 467 - Bottomless Nightmare

Halcyon was bleeding but steady as he recovered in yet another disturbing lit tunnel beneath the surface of Severis Island.  The torches of Fiend flame were vile but any attempt to replace them failed.

It gave even more thought to what was actually behind the whole operation as thus far only possessed demons had been their enemy.  What was terrifying was they could harm Star Tiers despite being Sky Realms from what they could tell.

"Senior, here is another pill."  An older woman in lighter gray robes handed him a pill that made Halcyon smile.

"I never thought we would fight side by side again Maggie."  The woman frowned a bit but could only nod.  She was from the Sword Breakers Sect afterall.

"The formation masters have given up trying to pierce these walls but confirmed there is no trap they can tell.  Given how the portal was hidden, it seems Lind Frey was correct once more."  Halcyon was surprised there was no anger in her eyes.

His face must have revealed his thoughts.

"Little Baihu's issues are well known to me, but he did not see the truth of that worm of a grandson.  I have no doubt he deserved to die."  Halcyon slowly nodded but knew Maggie would kill Lind Frey for the honor of her sect if asked to.

They had been underground for what felt like eternity but was closer to 2 months.  Several teams had been set to guard the entrance while Star Tiers led the way and Sky Realms followed.

There was a maze underneath and until Lind Frey revealed the truth about Fiend formations, they had indeed been stuck in loops.  Formation masters at peak grade 5 had been able to find the illusions and some traps but strangely it had all vanished shortly after.

It was such swift changes and alterations that made Halcyon near certain they were being spied on but the method was unknown.

"Junior Solon has a report, he has found a large room full of caskets but can't enter."  Halcyon perked up.  They quickly figured out the path and made their way down.

The Star Tiers were still going strong but Halcyon noticed several Sky Realm parties that looked pale and tired.  It was odd as while there had been battles, there was plenty of recovery time.

It took the batter part of a day to reach Solon who looked strangely lively compared to others.

The contrast only made it stand out more.

Still, the open doorway did look at something they wanted to find for a long time, an actual room of proof!

The very caskets filled with corpses across the Floating Isles lay empty and yet to be used along the walls of the massive chamber.  The rows were deep into the island but Halcyon suspected some space manipulation.

He could feel a quiver of it with his senses.

He brushed his wrinkled fingers across the doorway and felt a solid resistance to his pressure.  It was not a formation, but the effect of one.

"The space is inverted beyond this doorway.  We have to find the actual entrance.  This is a place to receive orders or to let out those caskets most likely."  Halcyon nodded at Maggie's words.  He agreed entirely.

Creating an inverted space was essentially like storage treasure but on a grand scale.  The doorway in front of them was an exit only portal.  It was wise to set up fixed entrance and exit points as there was no way to tell until encountered.

There was a problem, however, and Halcyon pointed at the center of the chamber.

"If I am not mistaken, that is the source of our problems."  The other Star Tiers sharpened their gazes and frowned deeply as they all nodded.

A large teleportation array was set in the middle of the room but while it looked like it was not working, there was no certainty what they saw was live.  If they could manipulate space to the current scale, time was also possible.

"Elder, have you seen the other patrols on the way here?"  Solon suddenly spoke up.  He seemed fine but concerned as he looked at the 5 people with him.  Halcyon felt they looked worse than others but he nodded.  "Do they seem sweaty, tired, and strangely run down?"

The other Star Tiers suddenly saw the contrast between Solon and the others.  What was that?

"Junior Sheila, please come here."  Another man stepped forward.  He was an alchemist of low grade 6 but he was now examining her but he shook his head.  "There is nothing wrong with her I can find."

Halcyon could not fault him but he then had a thought.

"Solon and Sheila, stand near the doorway."  The others looked at him but the pair obeyed.  As they looked on, Solon only had eyes for Sheila and seemed as steady as he should be but Sheila seemed to have trouble keeping her eyes open.

"Senior, may I try something?"  Solon suddenly spoke and got permission.  One of the bracers was snapped off and a few sharp eyed refiners saw they were Forged items.  They were silvery in color but seemed to hum with profound power despite being peak Heaven grade 4.

The moment the bracer snapped around Sheila's wrist a glow covered her body.  It was not like before with the sword but a feature built into the bracer itself!  Sheila instantly recovered and looked much better if still tired.

"GET OUT NOW!"  Halcyon shouted as that was all the confirmation he needed.  Orders were relayed as all their forces retreated.

The tunnels seemed endless but they only ran into a few scattered possessed demons before their group entered daylight.

The moment they left the tunnel, Halcyon felt a pressure life he had not realized was there!  The other Star Tiers were the same as the Sky Realms nearly collapsed in relief.  Only Solon and Sheila looked fine then.

"I assume Master Frey made those as well?"  Solon nodded.  "Anyone else have Forged items from the Moebius Sect or their disciples?"  Halcyon saw a scattered raising of hands.

He examined them but they also seemed wiped out if a little better.  It was as simple as being Forged, Lind Frey had done something specifically.

The more time passed, the more it was clear that Lind Frey understood something about Fiends they did not.

"What exactly do your bracers do?"  Halcyon put Solon on the spot.  Normally it would be taboo to ask but circumstances demanded an answer.  Solon scratched his scraggly chin as there had been no time to shave underground.

"I almost lost my hand once and he told me he did not trust me not to be risky in the future.  He made them to guard my body and soul as he put it.  They are incredibly resilient but it is the first time I have seen the feature they used today."  Solon usually fought aether beasts or other cultivators that had gone rogue.

He also was a very skilled swordsman who rarely let his foes unleash their skills if he could help it.  His success rate was part of why he was so respected.

"These are extremely tough but we would need a Forger to reveal how they work."  One of the refiners examined them.  His peppered hair revealed he was a tempered expert of many centuries.

Halcyon shook his head.

"The other Forged items were not as effective as these.  We need Master Frey.  We need him now."  Many nodded but Maggie frowned as she looked at her disciples.  Halcyon looked hard before turning to the crowd.

"I am aware some of you have issues with him for various reasons but you have seen what is inside that complex.  You now know it is doing something to us as well that was likely killing us.  He has what we need and until this crisis is over, he will be under my personal protection."  Halcyon was well respected, even in the Sword Breakers Sect, so his words were heavy but accepted.

Many glanced at the gaping portal into the bottomless nightmare and nodded.  There were things of greater importance and that was definitely one.  Maggie nodded and sent a communication to her sect with strict orders to not do a thing if Lind Frey agreed to come.

They were all recuperating when messengers came running.  They whispered words up the chain but shock covered all their faces as storage treasures were carried over to the Star Tiers and one went directly to Solon.

"Seniors, the Moebius Sect has sent a consignment of weapons and armors."  Surprise flared on all their faces but all froze as Solon summoned a massive black broadsword.  It hummed in joy that all could tell it was high Heaven grade 5 and had a weapon spirit!

A set of armor followed with a jade stone.

Glancing at the rest he infused his Qi into it and a complex set of sigils appeared.  Many narrowed their eyes but then Lind Frey appeared.  He had dark circles under his normally lively eyes and his hair looked disheveled.

"Greetings to the expedition force.  I have overcome my bottleneck for Forging.  I have spent the last 2 months creating as much weapons and armor as we had materials.  My disciples are not there yet but time was of the essence."  His exhausted voice actually touched many in the crossroads.

"Master Frey, did you know what was in that place?"  Halcyon was suspicious at the timing of the arrival but Lind shook his head.

"It is not that I knew what was down there but the more we examine the cache's setup the more troubling they become.  The environment inside is inimical to us over time.  It will actually leech your soul without a Fiend doing a thing.  I already include protection from Fiend Qi in my creations but it is hard for others to do so."  A yawn suddenly came from him and all realized he had rushed the consignment to them as soon as it was ready.

"Apologies.  The point is that all of the things I sent have rudimentary spirits now.  If they accept you, they will serve you for all of your days.  Treat them well and I pray they will keep you all safe."  His face turned to the Sword Breakers Sect and bowed.  "No one is denied but I sent only what I could make.  I leave it up to the seniors to divy it out."

Lind was about to break the connection when Halcyon waved his hand to stop him.

"Would you be able to come and examine a chamber we found?  It is an inverted space we cannot enter."  Silence descended as Lind paused and considered.  He then summoned a scroll before swiftly writing some things down.

He then held it up and all felt shocked to see a formation array was set up so quickly!

"It will need work but try that to see if you can find the entrance.  If there is no luck, I will come but make no promise I can do any better."  Halcyon nodded and saw several formation masters take down the notes while nodding.  "Good luck to you all–"

Lind Frey passed out in the transmission but someone cut the connection on his end.  Solon bowed low and many followed suit.  The armor and weapons came to enough to arm half the force!  If they distributed the armor sets they could get a piece for them all but the bracers and greaves were treated as single sets.

Halcyon revised his opinion of Lind Frey greatly and saw many nod in appreciation but all noted Solon dividing up the armor made for him to his group.  They began again after all were recovered and noticed a change instantly.

The spirits inside each piece shielded them from whatever was hurting them before.  The battle began again.