Above The Sky
Chapter 244 - 244 232 Ruins - Apocalypse Armament 23

244: Chapter 232 Ruins – Apocalypse Armament (2/3) 244: Chapter 232 Ruins – Apocalypse Armament (2/3) “Such vigorous vitality, yet so fragile, multiplying in massive numbers only in conditions that are suitable, which is to say, within a biological body?”

She muttered thoughtfully to herself, the nun’s expression stern.

Extending her hand, her arm was also enveloped by a layer of metal; the Iron Nun peeled back the charred flesh and blood of the scout, intently examining his head, the inner side of the flesh of his arm, and removed the counterpart’s eyes to closely observe the parasitic corpses within the eye sockets.

She tapped on the skull, realizing that deep within the brain were still some parasites that hadn’t completely died out.

They were rapidly dying, but they had managed to resist the scorch of flames reaching thousands of degrees for a brief period…

“It’s a Demon Beast Level parasite,” she concluded, “previously parasitizing that great beaked bobber, developing to near maturity before quickly transferring to Vieira for rapid reproduction… If it had been in the larval form, there might have been hope, but such a secondary transferal infection is too late.”

Rising from in front of the corpse, the nun from Sleepless Eye spoke with somber tones, no longer affecting the ‘seductive’ tone she had previously used.

It was as if she had switched to a different voice module, dispassionately analyzing, “This is an unprecedentedly malignant parasite, even more vicious than gut-strivers and heart-snatchers.

Its main invasion target is the brain, a brain-eating species that has undergone specialized evolution over a long period!”

“Weakness to fire, spreads through bodily fluids.”

“Alert!

Level two biological hazard, scouts retract, carry out a comprehensive check!”

Upon hearing the professional’s report, the captain raised his sword.

Without hesitation, he gave his decisive order, “Everyone wear gas masks and apply ‘clay coating’ on exposed skin to avoid contact with abnormal water sources!”

Responding to the command, all special forces members donned their gas masks and applied the protective coating…

As for the monks of the Spiritual Tool Church, they were fully armored from the start.

Every one of them wore fully enclosed clothing and carried gas masks with independent oxygen supply.

“We should retreat.

This place is too dangerous, clearly not an area we’re equipped to explore at the moment.”

After ensuring no second infection post personal check, the captain and the leader of the monks moved aside.

The Crimson People solemnly said, “Our mission is not this.

With the emergence of large relic clusters, it is time for the special forces to stir up trouble.

We should leave this place quickly and convey the message to all the surrounding forces, about Whale Song Cliff and Canaan Moore…”

“No.”

But the Iron Nun interrupted, “It’s precisely because of these extremely dangerous parasites that I can confirm that this is our true mission target.”

Turning her head, her voice once again becoming seductive, the nun’s gem-like eyes rotated and focused ceaselessly.

Her tone was full of anticipation and desire, “Before this mission, the King of the Desolate Sea, Abassalom, must have told you.”

“If it comes to a critical moment, prioritize the goals of our Spiritual Tool Church first — that’s the condition for our assistance in your mission, as well as the reason we break with our neutrality principle to provide you and the natives with firearm maintenance and manufacturing.”

“And now is the time.”

Raising her head, she looked towards the profound darkness of the caverns, her artificial eyes burning with radiance as if light was emanating from within her, illuminating the darkness before her: “Heterogenous Ecosystem — Ascension Experiment Ground…

Indeed, as the books record, within this ancient relic cluster along the Southern Region coastline, lies the highest creation we seek!”

“Its name is ‘Ladder to Godhood’ and ‘Path of Ascending Light,’ reportedly key elements related to the highest ascension!”

“This is the most critical condition for ascension, our Sacred Object!”

“Sacred Object!” the monks of the church exclaimed in unison.

Although the members of the Spiritual Tool Church appeared very fervent, the captain frowned, “Ladder to Godhood and Path of Ascending Light?

Too abstract and grandiose.

If such things truly existed, I fear the King himself would lead the expedition.”

He cast a side glance at the scout’s body, charred to a crisp, then stared down the nun in front of him, taking a step closer.

The captain’s tone was aggressively demanding, “Spit out the truth, Monk!

I refuse to let my men continue to perish for such elusive, empty words!”

The Iron Nun gazed at the captain silently, and as confrontation ensued between the two, the special forces and the monks of the Spiritual Tool Church began to subtly divide.

“Alright.”

A minute passed, and having confirmed the man’s determination, the monk spoke calmly, “If it can promote our cooperation, then I will tell you some information.”

“Captain, do you know about the Ether Furnace Core?”

As soon as this question was posed, both the captain and Ian, who was secretly listening from behind, furrowed their brows.

The Ether Furnace Core…

This question was, in one sense, simple—this was the energy core of Aether Armament, or in other words, the Ether Furnace Core.

It is an evolved version of the Elemental Alchemy Furnace, with a higher energy utilization rate, a higher upper limit, and it can even directly affect the surrounding Spirit Energy Field, forming an advantageous field centered around the core itself…

Simply put, a Complete Form Aether Armament can create a considerably vast ‘Advantageous Spirit Energy Field’ based on its own attributes and the inheritance of its pilot.

For example, the vehicle of Viscount Grant, the Aether Armament: Conquest Ripple—if its Ether Furnace Core could be repaired properly, as long as it is driven by the inheritor of the Abyssal Whale, it can create a misty water domain with a radius of over a kilometer at any time, and Viscount Grant could then freely condense water blades and mist shockwaves within this domain.

If it were at sea, it could even create a domain almost like a tsunami.

This is why the least impressive Aether Armament still surpasses the best Armor Suit—such large-scale natural domain influence and Sublimation Power is a ‘strategic power capability’ that can affect the situation on the battlefield!

However, when the monk brought up the Ether Furnace Core, it was clear she was not asking such a simple question.

“The initial Ether Furnace Cores were adapted from engines of the pre-era civilization found in the ruins, which is well known.

The most famous is the national treasure of Steep Ridge Fortress, Armament of Dawn, which houses a True Aether Furnace adapted from a pre-era high-level engine with a completion level of over ninety percent.”

As expected, the monk’s question was only meant to lead into the topic.

She didn’t wait for the captain to respond and, after a brief pause, continued, “But did you know that the Ether Furnace Core is, in a sense, also a kind of incomplete product?”

“All the Ether Furnace Cores we can manufacture and retrofit are incomplete remnants, hence they require a large amount of high-purity Elemental Crystals to maintain a connection with the Natural Spiritual Energy Field.”

Ian listened intently to the monk’s words, reflecting in his mind.

As an Inscription Craftsman who had studied the inscription arrays of Aether Armament, he was naturally aware of the various modules and structures of Aether Armament…

therefore, he was also very clear about the significance of the Ether Furnace Core.

An Alchemy Furnace releases the energy within Elemental Crystals by burning them.

Essentially, this is no different from burning charcoal; it is the most superficial utilization of Elemental Crystals.

But the Ether Furnace Core is different.

The Ether Furnace Core uses strategic-grade Elemental Crystals with a purity above 99% to release ‘Origin Quality,’ which is nearly of ‘absolute purity’ as a conduit between the furnace core and nature, siphoning the limitless natural energies from the omnipresent Natural Spiritual Energy Field to power the engine and the machinery.

By connecting the ‘lesser source’ with the ‘great source,’ it achieves extraordinarily high output in a short amount of time!

Because it’s directly connected to the Natural Spiritual Energy Field, the engine—being a part of the ‘world’ itself—naturally draws the ‘tidal’ energy of the natural great source towards itself, easily affecting all things and creating domains.

And, before the high-purity Elemental Crystals are depleted, it can use energy without restraint!

To put it plainly, the Alchemy Furnace is like heating with charcoal, which runs out once consumed, and the intensity of heat depends on the quality of the coal, furnace, and airflow.

Meanwhile, the Ether Furnace Core provides heating for a limited time; as long as the machinery can withstand it, you can use as much energy as you need during that period.

As for the True Aether Furnace…

It is said to be a ‘semi-perpetual motion core’ that could, during its operation time, accumulate power almost indefinitely regardless of the machine’s load, then release all the accumulated power at once.

“And here…

right in the midst of this large complex of ruins.”

Looking up, gazing into the distance, the monk’s voice remained calm, yet her demeanor was filled with longing, “Perhaps there exists an almost complete, or even a ninety-five percent finished True Aether Furnace!”

“It is called the ‘Spark’!

It might potentially change the entire structure of every furnace core engine on Terra Continent, a brand-new example of an Aether Furnace Core!”

“And even the Apocalypse Armament is no exception!”