Under the sudden upheaval of the corruption, the air grew thick as congealed oil.
With every breath they took in battle, the priests felt a tangible resistance in their lungs, along with the sickly-sweet stench of rust mingled with rotting flesh.
The mechanical umbrella formation hummed overhead. Its pale blue energy halo barely blocked the direct gaze of the Ancient God's Eye, but everyone knew it wouldn't hold for much longer.
"Four minutes and seventeen seconds left on the umbrellas." His voice was flat and calm, but the slight tightening of his fingertips betrayed his tension. "We're burning through our strength 12% faster than expected, and the corruption is still rising."
Hubert wiped the filthy blood from his face and planted his warhammer heavily on the ground.
"Four minutes... Is that enough time to reach the top floor?"
No one answered.
Ahead, a translucent barrier shimmering with starlight blocked the stairs to the third floor. Countless tiny vortices spun across its surface, each with a dark red point of light at its center, like a miniature starry sky.
"What is this now?"
"It has to do with the starry sky, so it's definitely corruption—don't look directly at it!" someone warned.
Yu Xing recognized it. It was a defense Aiven had set up himself. At present, only he, a fanatical believer, could combine the corrupting power granted by the Ancient God with esoteric runes to create a domain.
"Should we break through by force?" a battle priest asked between gasps.
"No. I have a bad feeling about this." Hubert shook his head. "We need someone to go up and scout first."
His gaze swept over the group.
The investigators were in decent shape, but the battle had taken its toll. The people from the Mechanical Church were focused on maintaining the