By the time Benjamin returned to the rift in the Plane Barrier, the nest was drifting lazily in the depths of the void.
The immense azure creature had spread itself out until it was nearly the size of a gas giant.
Its translucent outer membrane rose and fell slowly, like a deep-sea jellyfish breathing in a dark ocean.
The wreckage of warships it had not yet fully digested floated around it. Broken armor plates and melted engine cores were drawn inside by countless tiny tentacles, becoming streams of glowing energy.
Sensing Benjamin's approach, a gentle ring of azure ripples spread across the nest's surface, as if in greeting.
Benjamin gave it a slight nod, then descended toward the edge of the rift.
The Black Giant Priests had already turned the place into a makeshift war platform.
Hundreds of dark-gold metal pillars were embedded along the edge of the void rift, interweaving into a stabilizing array that held back the planar turbulence. At the platform's center, a circular Restraint Array turned slowly. Dozens of rune chains hung in the air, giving off a low, oppressive pulse of energy. Benjamin raised a hand, and Godly Armament 0-001 crashed into the center of the array.
The instant the several-hundred-meter-tall, dark-gray armor touched the platform, the entire array lit up.
The chains wound themselves around its limbs and torso to keep it from activating again under unforeseen circumstances.
Only when that was done did Benjamin slowly raise his head. The golden vertical eye on his brow snapped open.
All-Purpose Eye, activate!
Pale golden light spread like a tide, enveloping the entire suit. Layer upon layer of information unfolded in his mind.
The alloy structure of the armor's outer shell was swiftly analyzed.
Its material shared more than eighty percent of its origins with the