Hearing Xia Qian mention that the domain field had suddenly accelerated its expansion speed, Feng Qi, who was studying cultivation techniques, felt his heart sink.
"Open the granary," he said, standing up immediately.
"Follow me!" Xia Qian responded, turning and walking out of the command room.
Without hesitation, Feng Qi followed.
He had always known that the apocalypse would come sooner or later. However, he had not given up hope for the human survivors in the shelter.
With the "Flesh Sacrifice" technique's latent danger yet to be resolved, Lin Ran seemed to be humanity's only hope for the future. But Feng Qi refused to leave everything to fate and wait passively for whatever was to come.
He still had one plan, albeit a risky one. By helping Suction Cup recover her strength, he might create a chance to confront the Mist Lord. If Lin Ran failed to succeed in reverse-parasitizing the Mist Lord, Suction Cup might have to take on the impossible task of eliminating it before it could "snap its fingers."
Whether Suction Cup could truly stand against the Mist Lord, he didn't know. Nor did he know the odds of success. But he had to try. He couldn't abandon humanity's last glimmer of hope.
As he followed Xia Qian out of the command room, members of various combat teams were assembling in the corridors, preparing to move to the surface through the metal passageways. Their determined faces made it clear that they had already embraced the possibility of sacrifice.
Though Star City Shelter had a self-sustaining system, the population had grown far beyond its capacity. The resources generated internally were insufficient, and most of the time, the shelter relied on its warriors venturing out for supplies.
These warriors knew well that their abilities could never withstand the expanding domain fields. Yet, they chose to fight and die rather than retreat.
Suppressing his emotions, Feng Qi followed Xia Qian through the crowd to the shelter's western iron gate. Xia Qian swiped his hand over the scanner beside the gate, and the heavy iron door slowly slid into the wall.
Behind it lay a second layer, made of reinforced metal.
After another identity verification, the inner door slid aside, revealing a vast storage area.
"The resources are in there. Take what you need. I must return to prepare for the fight," Xia Qian said, turning to leave.
"Understood!" Feng Qi nodded.
As Xia Qian departed, Feng Qi turned toward the entrance but was momentarily distracted by the sight of an open armory to the side. Inside, cold weapons of all kinds—swords, knives, spears, staves, halberds—lined the walls in perfect order.
This armory brought back memories. He recalled finding a mysterious scroll here once. The scroll depicted landscapes of mountains and rivers, with three gilded characters, "Ascension Society," written prominently at the center.
At the time, he had suspected the scroll might be connected to the Path of Ascension. Reflecting on it now, he thought it might have been left by the domain creatures infiltrating the shelter.
Yet, with the domain infiltrators now eradicated, and no time to investigate the scroll's origin, he turned his focus back to the mission at hand.
He stepped inside the storage area.
As motion-sensitive lights flickered on, he advanced down a narrow sloped passageway for about fifty meters before pushing open a door at the end of the tunnel. A chill swept over him as he entered a massive cold storage room.
Rows of shelves lined the corridor, each marked with detailed labels.
Potato seeds, sorghum seeds, rice seeds… The cold storage held countless samples of carefully curated plant seeds. Even with the end of the world looming, these seeds had been preserved as humanity's hope for a future return to the surface, where they could once again flourish.
The sight weighed heavily on Feng Qi. It was a reminder of humanity's resilience and their dream of reclaiming the earth.
He walked down the central aisle, covering over a hundred meters before reaching another iron door at the far end. Pushing it open, he found himself in a sprawling warehouse.
The warehouse was divided into two main sections. To the left, food supplies were stored, separated into transparent glass compartments. Each compartment featured a display screen showing details about the stored items—temperature, oxygen levels, and other environmental metrics. The automated monitoring system ensured the food remained safe from pests and spoilage.
To the right, resources were meticulously organized. The front section contained stacks of energy crystals, ranging from purified spiritual energy blocks to spirit stones harvested from domain fields and other rare, energy-rich minerals. Behind these were rows of massive metal tanks, each over two meters tall, labeled as containing spirit plant extracts.
At this moment, Suction Cup, who had been resting on Feng Qi's chest, stirred. She sniffed the air, her eyes lighting up with a sparkle.
"Go eat, Suction Cup," Feng Qi said, patting her small head.
Sliding down from his chest, Suction Cup landed on her feet and bolted toward the resource section on the right. The transparent glass barrier shattered upon impact as she pounced.
Her first target was one of the metal tanks filled with spirit liquid. Crashing through, she plunged into the tank. Spirit liquid began to leak from the opening, releasing a potent herbal aroma. Feng Qi could hear her eagerly gulping it down.
[Your Suction Cup is currently upgrading: +100 experience, +100 experience.]
Ignoring the sarcastic commentary, Feng Qi turned his gaze to the neatly stacked spirit stones.
Before completing his bloodline advancement, his lack of digestive organs had prevented him from consuming resources like Suction Cup to grow stronger or replenish his energy. But that limitation no longer applied.
Standing before the pile of spirit stones, he picked up one glowing faintly gold. Bringing it to his mouth, he bit down. With his "Steel Fang" ability, the once-impenetrable stone crumbled like soft tofu.
As he chewed and swallowed, he felt an intense surge of spiritual energy coursing through his blood, invigorating his entire body.
As Feng Qi continued experimenting with consuming spiritual resources, a familiar frustration quickly surfaced. Much like during cultivation, the spiritual energy entering his body dissipated just as quickly, unable to integrate into his system. His energy progression bar remained static, showing no signs of change.
Unwilling to give up, Feng Qi approached one of the metal tanks. Pressing the release switch, a pale green liquid spouted from the valve. Without hesitation, he bent down and drank directly from the flow.
With each gulp, he felt a sense of fullness building within him. His body rapidly metabolized the liquid, filling him with surging vitality and an unmistakable sense of increasing strength. Yet, his bloodline evolution points and energy progression bar remained untouched.
[If I'm not mistaken, you can only grow stronger by slaying domain creatures. Any other method won't yield permanent results.]
Feng Qi frowned. "But I can feel my strength growing noticeably. Isn't that real improvement?"
[Remember our earlier hypothesis? The abilities you gain by seizing powers from domain creatures are inherently tied to your time-traveling capability. In contrast, any strength you gain through external resources doesn't carry over between timelines.]
"So, you're saying the blood energy I've accumulated here can't travel back with me?"
[Exactly. If it could, you'd see it reflected in your bloodline evolution points. But since those points haven't changed, it's clear that this method of improvement is localized and temporary.]
Feng Qi sighed in frustration, digesting the explanation.
[Unlike Mu Qing, who could grow stronger indefinitely through devouring, you lack the capacity to consume spiritual resources at the necessary scale. Even if you could, your digestive abilities simply aren't advanced enough to process them efficiently. Trying to bulk up this way in a short timeframe is hopeless.]
Before Feng Qi could retort, Suction Cup leapt out of one of the metal tanks. Her body shimmered with a jade-like glow, and the green liquid clinging to her slid off effortlessly. She let out a satisfied burp before locking her gaze on another metal tank, ready for another feast.
Suction Cup's unparalleled digestive ability turned her into a bottomless pit. The spiritual liquid she consumed was metabolized almost instantaneously, allowing her to devour endlessly. The fractured, dim rune crystal embedded in her arm began to heal visibly, regaining its original luster as energy filled it.
Watching Suction Cup grow visibly stronger in real-time left Feng Qi awestruck. "I really want to know which domain creature left behind that rune crystal. It's terrifyingly powerful."
[It's probably from a creature even stronger than Little Black. But with our limited intel, there's no way to verify that. Of course, if you killed Suction Cup, you might be able to seize her ability to devour and grow stronger.]
Feng Qi rolled his eyes at the suggestion. Killing a creature like Suction Cup would likely erase her, and perhaps even Mu Qing, from the timeline entirely—a risk he wasn't willing to take.
Watching Suction Cup continue her voracious spree, Feng Qi felt the weight of time pressing down. All he could do now was wait, his heart heavy with anticipation. The only hope was that the domain field's expansion wouldn't accelerate too quickly, giving him a sliver of time to make one last stand. Even if the ending wasn't in his favor, he would fight for every chance.
Meanwhile, outside the shelter.
The blood moon hung ominously in the sky, casting an oppressive red glow as the expanding domain field pushed the sun toward the horizon. It was as though the world itself was flipping upside down.
The delicate balance between the real world and the domain world had been irrevocably broken. Reality was being devoured, piece by piece, by the domain's relentless encroachment. The skies flickered between light and shadow, arcs of lightning and space-time fractures appearing briefly before vanishing as the void healed itself.
Everywhere the domain field extended, the environment withered and died. Trees, flowers, and grass crumbled to ash as if centuries of decay had occurred in mere seconds. The accelerated expansion also brought with it an unsettling ripple effect.
The ground quaked violently as countless domain creatures surged toward Star City Shelter, drawn by an unseen will. Massive beasts emerged from the shadows, their movements like a tidal wave of destruction.
In the skies above, swirling spatial vortices opened, releasing an array of domain creatures with grotesque forms. Among them were colossal beasts whose mountainous bodies were shrouded in clouds, thunder entities that commanded lightning with ease, and strange, shape-shifting aberrations.
A cacophony of roars filled the air as the domain world declared war on reality.
From the western horizon, another spatial vortex appeared. Thick gray mist spilled out, and within it, the Mist Lord emerged. Flanked by countless spectral apparitions, the Mist Lord advanced toward Star City Shelter like an unstoppable tide.
Inside the city, the gathered warriors of the shelter stared at the unfolding apocalypse with a mix of fear and resolve. The sheer magnitude of the unknown filled their hearts with terror, but their eyes burned with the determination to fight until the end.
Atop the city walls, Xia Qian, clad in silver-white battle armor, gazed out at the seemingly endless tide of domain beasts stretching into the horizon. A wave of powerlessness washed over him.
Just as Feng Qi had said, they were humanity's last spark.
This battle held no chance of victory.
Gripping the battle blade in his hand, Xia Qian's voice was heavy but resolute.
"This battle, we do not retreat."
No one was immune to the fear of death, but for Xia Qian and his soldiers, some things were more important than survival.
Activating the "war mode" switch on his wrist, he triggered the dormant weapons within the shelter. Instantly, an array of weapons across the city sprang to life.
A swarm of drones ascended from the city, flying toward the expanding domain field. They transmitted real-time footage back to the command center, showing the advancing wave of destruction. Moments later, a barrage of carpet bombings commenced.
Explosions tore through the advancing tide, fire and chaos lighting up the city. Every war machine was pushed to its operational limits, managing to hold the beast tide at bay—if only briefly.
Soon, however, the tide of beasts breached the perimeter of firepower, pressing forward with the domain field as it continued to devour the reality of the world. Among them, a winged domain creature resembling a massive bat broke through the defensive line, swooping down toward the shelter.
Before it could attack, its body was suddenly restrained by an invisible force, its neck seemingly gripped by an unseen hand. A human warrior extended his hand toward the creature and clenched his fist. With a crushing sound, the beast exploded mid-air, scattering its remains.
At the city gates, lines of soldiers stood in formation, their cold gazes fixed on the advancing tide of beasts. Feeling the tremors of the ground beneath their feet, they tightened their grips on their weapons.
They had long accepted what their fate would be, anticipating this day for years. Yet witnessing the apocalypse unfold before their eyes was still a jarring, almost surreal experience.
It felt as though the very fabric of the world was unraveling, and their insignificance had never been clearer. Against the overwhelming power of the heavens and earth, all resistance seemed futile.
On the right flank of the formation, a towering man clad in black armor stood alone at the vanguard. He turned to face his comrades behind him, grinning broadly.
"Tell me, are you afraid?"
"Captain, we're not afraid!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices loud and unwavering.
"Bullshit! I'm scared, so there's no way you're not!" the black-armored man barked back with a laugh.
"But do you know why we can't run? Why we can't hide inside the shelter?" His gaze swept across the familiar faces of his comrades as he continued.
"Because we are the elite. When the sky collapses, we're the ones who have to hold it up. If humanity is destined to be destroyed, then it's only right that we, the elite, die first. That is the spirit we have always upheld."
Pausing, his gaze hardened.
"As strong warriors, as soldiers, as elites, you've enjoyed the flowers and applause. But with that comes the responsibility you carry. You should feel proud to stand here today. You are humanity's finest."
The words struck deep, filling the soldiers' eyes with determination.
Turning back toward the incoming beast tide, the black-armored captain drew the massive blade strapped to his back. Pointing it toward the endless horde, he roared:
"Destiny Battalion, charge!"
The earth trembled beneath them as the warriors of the Destiny Battalion raised their weapons in unison.
Like a single drop of water falling into the river of history, the ripples they created would grow into waves, culminating in a storm 1,500 years later.