Chapter 376 - 329: I Saw the Future and Hope of Humanity

Chapter 376: Chapter 329: I Saw the Future and Hope of Humanity

Therefore, the material needed to be as unique as possible to prevent anyone from deciphering it. It also needed to be rich with Spiritual Energy to make it easier to control.

At first, Lloyd had planned to use the "Ancient Strongman’s Remains"—the reward from Master Alfred meant for his advancement to Tier Five.

For the other two districts, he would use the other Tier Five material from the Master, along with the "Time to be Remembered" from his butler.

Although it pained him to use three Transcendence-grade materials here, Lloyd felt it was a worthwhile trade, considering the invaluable opportunity a Spatial Storm presented.

But as Lloyd rummaged through his Storage Bag, he unexpectedly came across something he had nearly forgotten—an item that perfectly suited his current needs.

The bronze fragments dropped by the hexahedron he had faced before.

The material of the fragments themselves was unremarkable—just ordinary bronze. But they were mixed with a bit of the Evil God’s Offspring’s flesh and blood, giving them an incomparable advantage over common materials in both Spiritual Energy and their plane of existence.

They were perfectly suited for creating the Marks.

And as a bonus, they could even emit Lloyd’s favorite—Spiritual Contamination.

Coincidentally, Lloyd had never found the time to do anything with these fragments. The main reason was that he wouldn’t have been able to figure them out anyway. They were too mysterious, so he’d just stored them away, unable to find a proper use for them.

Now, however, after coming into contact with and learning about Alternate Space, he realized that the ’sense of mystery’ about them—which he previously couldn’t comprehend—was actually related to Alternate Space.

Clearly, the hexahedral offspring had also employed some method of control over the Cult Sanctuary. Its line of thought happened to coincide with Lloyd’s own plan.

’Perhaps ’coincidence’ isn’t the right word. Since I gained [Spatial Domination] by destroying that creature’s Alternate Space, this is more like things coming full circle, right?’

Lloyd took out one of the larger bronze fragments and carefully inspected it with his inspiration. He confirmed that it was purely a material with no hidden tethers. Just because it contained a bit of the Evil God’s Offspring’s flesh and blood didn’t mean it would come to life on its own, nor could the Evil God’s Offspring use it to control him. It was safe to use.

’It seems even a being on the level of an Evil God’s Offspring can’t control its own detached flesh and blood.’

Once his inspection confirmed it was safe, Lloyd infused some of his Spiritual Power into the fragment, turning it into his exclusive [Mark]—and one of a very high tier.

Then, with a casual toss, he made the bronze fragment disappear into thin air.

This was one of the initial functions of [Spatial Domination]: telekinesis. Using this ability, Lloyd moved his [Mark] deep into the core of the district, burying it securely.

’I originally thought this function was for moving things like lead blocks, bombs, or poison over an enemy’s head and dropping them for a surprise attack. It seems my thinking was too narrow. This current application is where the ability’s true value lies.’

With the [Mark] deployed, the preparations were complete. Lloyd then had his [Projection] cease its repair work, deliberately leaving the spatial rift open.

Then, with a swipe of his hand, he opened a second Teleportation Gate and arrived at the second district. He continued the same process: repair, reinforce, and leave behind a [Mark].

Next was the third district. After repeating the process there, Lloyd recalled the [Projection] to his side, where it once again took the form of an invisible bubble to protect him.

His movements were swift and his actions deft. It took him less than five minutes to complete all the preparations.

’And now... it is time to witness a Miracle!’

Lloyd thought.

Then, he used the guidance function of [Spatial Domination] to arrange the three districts into a ’breakwater’ on a spatial level, placing them directly in the storm’s path.

Lloyd didn’t leave. Instead, he remained in place, intending to stand on the front lines and face the terrifying storm head-on.

He might have seemed insignificant compared to the immense storm, like a lone figure beneath a colossal tsunami.

But Lloyd stood ramrod straight, refusing to let his smallness make him seem lowly.

At that exact moment, the "Storm Arrival Countdown" estimated by the Space System division reached "0:00".

............

"It’s here..."

Watching the countdown reach its end, Professor Lawrence clenched his fists.

He had no way of contacting Lloyd, so he had no idea what progress, if any, he had made.

’In any case, there’s no point thinking about that now. All we can do is quietly wait for the end.’

The words had barely left the professor’s mouth when the lab’s floor and walls began to tremble faintly, as if a real hurricane were bearing down on them.

The trembling was a result of the lab’s Spatial Anchor still being in place. It was holding fast against the storm, preventing them from being instantly swept away.

The students and researchers who had been bustling about moments before now put down their work, closed their eyes, and awaited the storm’s descent.

The floating light screens began to go dark one by one before crashing to the floor, creating a cacophony of shattering glass, like windows being blown out by a hurricane.

One or two screens remained suspended in mid-air, their readouts frozen, indicating that their corresponding monitoring equipment had been completely destroyed.

The spatial tremors rapidly intensified, and the shaking in the lab grew more violent.

Yet everyone present prayed for the shaking to continue.

For if it stopped, it would mean the Spatial Anchor had been torn out by its roots, the lab completely dragged into the storm, heralding an unimaginable end...

But contrary to their hopes, the shaking lasted a mere ten seconds before quickly subsiding.

"It’s over..."

"The Spatial Anchor’s been ripped out. We’re dead..."

"I was so stupid. Really. I knew coming back would be dangerous, but I never thought I’d actually die here..."

"Dammit, I still haven’t read the end of that novel! The author updates so slowly!"

No one dove under a desk or cowered in a corner, as they all knew it was pointless. They simply remained where they were, quietly uttering their last words.

No one was wailing or crying for their parents; when death is truly upon you, the tears often refuse to come...

Based on their understanding of such events, what came next would be people inexplicably vanishing, or parts of their bodies disappearing, as if scrubbed from existence with an eraser, leaving only a deep, dark fissure...

"It won’t be too painful, will it? I can’t stand pain..."

"Then you’d better hope it’s your head that goes first, not your arms and legs or your lower half..."

"Sigh... It doesn’t matter anymore. Even if it hurts, it’ll only be for a second or two, right?"

"Those might be the longest two seconds of my life, then..."

"Wait! Why does it feel like time is moving so slowly? Is it because we’re about to die, so our perception of time is slowing down?"

"Uhh... Are we already dead? Is this us talking as spirits?"

"But my life isn’t flashing before my eyes..."

The group continued to chat idly, until a full three minutes had passed and someone finally realized something was wrong.

"Um... I just had a thought. Do you guys think it’s possible... that we didn’t actually die? That we survived?"

Upon hearing this, everyone instinctively put a hand to their chest to check for a heartbeat. Then they began patting down their own bodies, checking to see if all their limbs were still attached.

Then, an explosive cheer erupted:

"I’m not dead! I’m really not dead! I’m alive!"

"The storm passed! It passed!"

"Haha! AHAHAHAHA!"

"I’m going to confess to that guy, and then I’m taking him to a hotel! Nobody try and stop me!"

The lab, which moments ago had been thick with a grim, life-or-death atmosphere, instantly became a sea of revelry. The students, Teaching Assistants, and researchers, normally a prim and proper bunch, were now like "madmen," jumping around and shouting like baboons.

Only Dandy, who was beside Professor Lawrence, remained relatively calm. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and said, slightly embarrassed:

"Professor... I think I need to go change my pants..."

"Mm..."

Professor Lawrence nodded.

After Dandy left, the professor’s entire body seemed to lose all its strength, and he collapsed limply to the floor.

Yet his face bore a smile of relief and elation as he murmured:

"I saw it... I saw the future and hope of humanity!"