Crossing the Boundary

Jain was stunned by that answer for quite a while.

Punch through the Black Barrier's boundary?

Even seawater could not pass through there. Any living thing that approached would be "frozen" within the Black Barrier. How were they supposed to cross it?

And what did she mean by the other side of the world?

Could it be that there was not simply void behind the Black Barrier, but other continents?

Questions surfaced in the commander's mind one after another, leaving him standing there like a fool, unable to utter a single word.

"Don't be nervous." Aurora smiled. "This is indeed a great undertaking, but it is not reckless. The Empire has been planning for this for a long time. In truth, breaking through the boundary is not difficult. The real challenge is coming back alive."

"Coming back alive means...?"

"According to the intelligence obtained from the mages, the world beyond the boundary is the truly silent and desolate wasteland." She shrugged. "We do not know what turned the other side into this state. Perhaps it is some terrifying Evil Spirit, or perhaps it was never meant for humans to tread upon in the first place? If we want the answer, we must go and see for ourselves."

The Deity surely would not approve of this.

Jain could not help shuddering. Since the barrier existed, it naturally had its reasons. Of the Duchess's two theories, he was more inclined toward the latter.

Even the seawater here had become dark green and unfathomable, while the climate was brutally harsh. It was plainly warning everyone to stay away.

Yet humanity had always hungered for forbidden fruit.

He blurted out, "Why must we investigate what lies beyond the Black Barrier? Will it be of any help to the Empire's expansion?"

Aurora looked deeply at