CHAPTER 1005: A BIG PROBLEM (7).

The explosion was soundless.

But the resulting wave of heat caused the nearly walls to crack, some of the stalactites turning into molten slag.

Since there was no air in the chamber, the explosion of flames didn’t spread far. Instead, most of the force was concentrated on the body of the {Mecurion Manabeast}.

Because it had been frozen before hand, the impact had caused it to shatter into countless pieces, all of which were strewn across the rocky walls, floor and ceiling.

It was a dreadful sight.

Cain took it all in with a sigh— or at least he tried to.

His eyes widened. Of course he couldn’t sigh. There was no damn air!

He grimaced and immediately activated {Wind Weaver}.

The skill was a wind attribute skill, so even though filling up an underground chamber with air wasn’t its intended purpose on creation, it could still work one way or the other.

’It was getting pretty uncomfortable.’

Very slowly, so as to avoid any air pressure shocks that could cause further damage, the space began to fill up with air.

At first, Cain still couldn’t hear anything.

Then came a subtle blowing sound.

It started off faint at first, then continue to grow until it firmly established its existence in the background.

He could finally heave a sigh. This time, much more comfortably.

Then he turned his gaze towards the area that was now painted silver.

Shockingly, the {Mecurion Manabeast} had not died yet.

Its shattered body had finally melted as the temperature returned to normal.

Those melted pieces slowly and weakly struggled to find other pieces to bond to.

On the other hand, the piece that had the eye slowly wriggled around, twitching and spasming erratically.

"A strange but fascinating creature," Cain muttered to himself.

He walked in closer and stretched out a hand.

The resistance the creation had towards his {Divine Essence of Metallurgy} skill seemed to have drastically reduced.

His expression suddenly changed.

Cain looked down at the squirming pools of liquid metal with a raised brow.

"Are those..."

The undulating pieces were surprisingly forming runes as they tried to locate one another.

Cain frowned.

’Strange...’

Although he could tell they were Tier 2 runes, he couldn’t make out what they meant. It was a completely different runic language from the one he knew.

To make matters worse, there were even a few Tier 3 runes mixed in.

The eye of the {Mecurion Manabeast} fixed on him again, emitting endless malice without intent or desire once again. A vast will that was created with an inclination to seek and create death.

The pieces pulsed strangely, multiple runes swimming around on their surfaces.

Cain was instantly consumed by curiosity...

’System, what is this?’

{Replying to Host: This runic language seems to have a few similarities to the arcane languages that existed before the great war between the Devils and the Celestials}.

Cain furrowed his brows,

’The war that predates even the thousand millennia war?’

{Replying to Host: Affirmative}.

Cain raised a brow, ’That old? Then...’

{Replying to Host: This runic language is not one used by either the Celestials or the Devils. However, it has ties to both. It was used by several unique species that were alive during that era}.

Cain paused then asked,

’What exactly is this elemental?!’

{Replying to Host: The Mecurion Manabeast is a metal attribute elemental Manabeast. Manabeasts were one of the species that existed during the age where gods and Devils alike perished in equal measure}.

Cain summoned a golden stick and poked at a particularly jiggly piece of silver {Mecurion Manabeast} flesh as the system continued,

{The records state that the Manabeast in particular were concept-defying elementals created by one of the Suns of Aether, particularly the Soul Consuming Beetle}.

’The Soul Consuming Beetle...’ Cain thought to himself.

Although the name of the creature was rather terrifying, it didn’t evoke feelings of near-divine might.

{Replying to Host: Would the host like to see the form the Soul Consuming Beetle preferred to take?’

’What do you mean?’

{Replying to Host: The Soul Consuming Beetle was a creature of mind and illusion. An being with intelligence that rivaled the wisdom of both the Celestials and Devils. It was a frightening thing. Till this day, many do not know what it truest form was. However, it did appear in several ways. Would the Host like to see them?}

Cain’s eyes narrowed...

Something about the system’s tone made him feel a bit cautious.

He was hesitant for some time before asking,

’Does seeing this Soul Consuming Beetle come with any risks, perchance?’

{Replying to Host: None whatsoever}.

Cain was still a bit skeptical. The system didn’t often give him offers to see knew things. This could very well be a trap.

He sighed and shook his head.

’I’m getting riled up for nothing. ’

If the system was malicious, he most definitely wouldn’t have made it this far.

He hummed, ’Sure. Why not?’

The moment he said those words, Cain felt his mind go blank.

And then, there was darkness.

All his senses vanished without a trace, and even the feelings of standing or even floating were gone.

In this state, he began to doubt if he even existed. If not for the existence of his consciousness that miraculously kept him grounded, he would have faded away.

Finally, something appeared.

All around him, small dots of light began to appear. Very soon, he was floating in a cosmos filled with distant burning stars.

Something urged him to turn around and look, the suggestion sizzling against his will until he couldn’t take it anymore and instinctively looked.

The moment he did...

Cain let out a soundless scream of horror.

Before him, was the very definition of terror and evil personified. Of infestation and of rot.

He had never seen anything like it before.

Its insectoid form looking over everything with eldritch authority.

Madness was its carapace and nightmares were born of its beating wings.

Its many eyesbwere in fact, the stars of the cosmo around him, gazing down on his insignificance.

Cain felt his very soul and form begin to crumble into pieces.

He let out another soundless scream of terror.

This thing was looking at him.

Instantly, the starry void crackled, and his consciousness shot back into his body.

His glassy eyes regained their color as he returned to his body.

He collapsed to the ground and violently threw up.

Once he was done, he lay on the cold stone, his face pale and his back sweaty as he gasped vigorously.

It was a good thing he had filled this place with air before hand.

He grit his teeth as he slowly spat out a curse;

"You damned system— !"